Vocabulary: 1984

Word, part of speech

Definition

Synonym & Antonym

Sentence

Fitfully

not regularly or continuously; intermittently.

Irregular unevenly, systematically methodically

he dozed fitfully, waking often from unhappy dreams

Sanguine (color)

a blood-red color.

Blushing flush, Bloodles pale

There were sanguine streaks of blood on her arm.

Adherent

someone who supports a particular party, person, or set of ideas.

Follower supporter, opponent rival

the eggs have thick sticky shells to which debris is often adherent

Specious

superficially plausible, but actually wrong.

Misleading deceptive, authentic factual

The claim that the merger will create more jobs is even more specious

Archaic

very old or old-fashioned.

Antique aged, new modern 

He cringed at his own use of such an archaic word.

Urbane

courteous and refined in manner (typically used of a man).

Sophisticated elegant, boorish clownish

she was charmed by his urbane wit

Gesticulate

use gestures, especially dramatic ones, instead of speaking or to emphasize one's words.

Gesture signal, speech fixed

He gesticulated with his shoulders and barely moved his arms.

Sordid 

  • involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt.

  • dirty or squalid.

Foul unsavory, 

High-minded respectable



Filthy mucky, clean pristine

He shared the sordid details of his past.



The last straw came when Serra was getting in her car to head to work and slipped in one of the sordid mounds.

Aureole

a circle of light or brightness surrounding something, especially as depicted in art around the head or body of a person represented as holy.

Aura corona, dullness darkness

Its scintillating rays glorified the dark corner with the aureole of a great hope.

Tableaux

a group of models or motionless figures representing a scene from a story or from history; a tableau vivant.

Picture painting, movement film

The houses are grouped together in a charming tableau.

Mutable

liable to change.

Changeable fluctuate, invariable constant 

"Everything was mutable: eye color, hair color, skin tone."

Myriad

a countless or extremely great number.

Countless infinite, limited numbered

"There are countless types available in a myriad of colors, shapes, and sizes."

Zealot

a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.

Enthusiast fanatic, moderate 

"The Religious zealot vehemently opposes curiosity or concern for anyone outside their circle."

Vapid

offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging.

Uninspired flat, interesting fascinating

"Somewhere through the course of their vapid conversation, she caught my eye and smirked knowingly."

Invariably

in every case or on every occasion; always.

Always constantly, sometimes never

"the meals here are invariably big and hearty"

Pugnacious

eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.

Combative aggressive, gentle friendly

"The adult males are extremely pugnacious and fight fiercely with one another."

Thwart

prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.

Impede hinder, encourage allow

The army thwarted the attempt at a coup.

Drivel

nonsense

Gibberish randomness, rationally reasonable

Don't waste your time reading such drivel.

Compendium

a collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject, especially in a book or other publication.

Collection compilation, expansion dispersal

Overall, I found the book to be an impressive compendium of useful information and resources.

Harangue

a lengthy and aggressive speech.



lecture (someone) at length in an aggressive and critical manner.

Lecture rant,  praise commend

His colleagues listened politely to his harangue but ignored him.