VU9

1. Abate (v.) – To make in less amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit.

Synonyms: diminish, decrease, subside, let up.

Antonyms: intensify, increase, magnify, wax.

2. Adulation (n.) – Praise or flattery that is excessive.

Synonyms: adoration, idolization, hero-worship.

Antonyms: ridicule, derision, odium.

3. Anathema (n.) – An object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation (often used adjectivally without the article).

Synonyms: malediction, imprecation, abomination.

Antonyms: benediction, blessing.

4. Astute (adj.) – Shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom.

Synonyms: acute, sagacious, judicious, wily.

Antonyms: obtuse, doltish, empty-headed, dumb.

5. Avarice (n.) – A greedy desire, particularly for wealth.

Synonyms: cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness.

6. Culpable (adj.) – Deserving blame, worthy of condemnation.

Synonyms: guilty, delinquent, peccant, blameworthy.

Antonyms: blameless, innocent, laudable, meritorious.

7. Dilatory (adj.) – Tending to delay or procrastinate; not prompt; intended to delay or postpone.

Synonyms: stalling, slow, tardy, laggard.

Antonyms: prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious.

8. Egregious (adj.) – Conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used particularly in an unfavorable sense).

Synonyms: glaring, flagrant, blatant.

Antonyms: unnoticeable, paltry, piddling.

9. Equivocate (v.) – To speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague or ambiguous.

Synonyms: to talk out of both sides of one’s mouth, palter, hedge.

Antonyms: to speak one’s mind plainly.

10. Evanescent (adj.) – Vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy.

Synonyms: ephemeral, transient, transitory.

Antonyms: everlasting, immortal, imperishable.

11. Irresolute (adj.) – Unable to make up one’s mind, hesitating.

Synonyms: indecisive, vacillating, wavering.

Antonyms: determined, decisive, unwavering.

12. Nebulous (adj.) – Cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct.

Synonyms: hazy, fuzzy, cloudy, opaque, indeterminate.

Antonyms: definite, distinct, clear, sharply focused.

13. Novice (n.) – One who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience (used adjectivally).

Synonyms: neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice.

Antonyms: veteran, past master, pro, expert.

14. Penury (n.) – Extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency.

Synonyms: destitution, indigence.

Antonyms: affluence, luxury.

15. Pretentious (adj.) – Done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; ambitious.

Synonyms: ostentatious, inflated.

Antonyms: unaffected, modest.

16. Recapitulate (v.) – To review a series of facts; to sum up.

Synonyms: review, summarize, sum up, go over.

17. Resuscitate (v.) – To revive, bring back to consciousness or existence.

Synonyms: revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate.

18. Slovenly (adj.) – Untidy, dirty, careless.

Synonyms: unkempt, slatternly, lax.

Antonyms: neat, meticulous.

19. Supposition (n.) – Something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence.

Synonyms: assumption, presumption, hypothesis.

20. Torpor (adj.) – Inactive, sluggish, dull.

Synonyms: lethargic, languid.

Antonyms: energetic, vigorous.