sadlier unit 2 test

accost

to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way

accost synonyms

buttonhole, approach

animadversion

a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

animadversion synonyms

rebuke, reproof

avid

desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager

avid synonyms

keen, enthusiastic, grasping

brackish

having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink

brackish synonyms

saline

celerity

swiftness, rapidity of motion or action

celerity synonyms

promptness, speed

devious

straying or wandering from a straight or direct course; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way

devious synonyms

roundabout, indirect, tricky, sly, artful

gambit

in chess, an opening move that involves risk or sacrifice of a minor piece in order to gain a later advantage; any opening move of this type

gambit synonyms

ploy, ruse, maneuver

halcyon

a legendary bird identified with the kingfisher; of or relating to the halcyon; calm, peaceful; happy, golden; prosperous, affluent

halcyon synonyms

tranquil, placid, palmy

histrionic

pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial; melodramatic

histrionic synonyms

affected, stagy

incendiary

deliberately setting or causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion; one who deliberately sets fires, arsonist; one who causes strife

incendiary synonyms

inflammatory, provocative, firebrand

maelstrom

a whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction

maelstrom synonyms

chaos, turbulence, tumult

myopic

nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment

myopic synonyms

shortsighted

overt

open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

overt synonyms

clear, obvious, manifest, patent

pejorative

tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling

propriety

the state of being proper, appropriateness; standards of what is proper or socially acceptable 

propriety synonyms

fitness, correctness

sacrilege

improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred

sacrilege synonyms

desecration, profanation, defilement

summarily

without delay or formality; briefly, concisely

summarily synonyms

promptly, peremptorily

suppliant

asking humbly and earnestly; one who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, suitor 

talisman

an object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet, fetish

undulate

to move in waves or with a wavelike motion; to have a wavelike appearance or form

undulate synonyms

fluctuate, rise and fall