Vocab Midterm

Vocabulary List - Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop Level F Units 1-6

Unit Vocabulary

1 - 20

  • ameliorate: to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming (v)

    • Synonyms: amend, better

  • aplomb: poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity (n)

    • Synonyms: composure, self-possession, levelheadedness

  • bombastic: pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas (adj)

    • Synonyms: inflated, highfalutin, pretentious

  • callow: without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers (adj)

    • Synonyms: green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced

  • drivel: saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk; nonsense; to let saliva flow (n)

    • Synonyms: balderdash, tommyrot

  • epitome: a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality (n)

    • Synonyms: abstract, digest, archetype

  • exhort: to urge strongly, advise earnestly (v)

    • Synonyms: entreat, implore, adjure

  • ex officio: by virtue of holding a certain office (adj or adv)

  • infringe: to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds (v)

    • Synonyms: encroach, impinge, intrude

  • ingratiate: to make oneself agreeable, gain favor or acceptance by others (v)

    • Synonyms: cozy up to, curry favor with

  • interloper: one who moves in where he or she is not wanted (n)

    • Synonyms: trespasser, meddler, buttinsky

  • intrinsic: belonging to someone or something by its very nature (adj)

    • Synonyms: immanent, organic

  • inveigh: to make a violent attack in words (v)

    • Synonyms: harangue, remonstrate

  • lassitude: weariness of body or mind (n)

    • Synonyms: fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor

  • millennium: a period of one thousand years (n)

    • Synonyms: chiliad, golden age

  • occult: secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means (adj)

    • Synonyms: esoteric, abstruse, arcane

  • permeate: to spread through, penetrate, soak through (v)

  • precipitate: to fall as moisture; to bring about suddenly (v)

    • Synonyms: provoke, produce; reckless, impetuous

  • stringent: strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding (adj)

    • Synonyms: stern, rigorous, tough

  • surmise: to think or believe without certain supporting evidence (v)

    • Synonyms: infer, gather

21 - 40

  • approbation: expression of approval or favorable opinion (n)

    • Synonyms: sanction

  • assuage: to make easier or milder, relieve (v)

    • Synonyms: mitigate, slake, allay

  • coalition: a combination, union, or merger for a specific purpose (n)

    • Synonyms: alliance, league, federation

  • decadence: decline, decay, or deterioration; excessive self-indulgence (n)

    • Synonyms: degeneration, corruption

  • elicit: to draw forth, bring out (v)

    • Synonyms: evoke, extract

  • expostulate: to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision (v)

    • Synonyms: protest, remonstrate

  • hackneyed: used so often as to lack freshness or originality (adj)

    • Synonyms: banal, trite, commonplace

  • hiatus: a gap, opening, break (n)

    • Synonyms: pause, lacuna

  • innuendo: a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (n)

    • Synonyms: insinuation, intimation

  • intercede: to plead on behalf of someone else (v)

    • Synonyms: intervene, mediate

  • jaded: wearied, worn-out, dulled (adj)

    • Synonyms: sated, surfeited

  • lurid: causing shock, horror, or revulsion (adj)

    • Synonyms: gruesome, gory, grisly

  • meritorious: worthy, deserving recognition (adj)

    • Synonyms: praiseworthy, laudable

  • petulant: peevish, annoyed by trifles (adj)

    • Synonyms: irritable, testy

  • prerogative: a special right or privilege (n)

    • Synonyms: perquisite

  • provincial: pertaining to an outlying area (adj)

    • Synonyms: narrow-minded, parochial

  • simulate: to make a pretense, imitate (v)

    • Synonyms: pretend, affect

  • transcend: to rise above or beyond (v)

    • Synonyms: surpass

  • umbrage: shade cast by trees; offense, resentment (n)

    • Synonyms: irritation, pique

  • unctuous: excessively smooth or smug (adj)

    • Synonyms: mealymouthed, fawning

  • abominate: to have an intense dislike or hatred for (v)

    • Synonyms: loathe, abhor

41 - 60

  • acculturation: modification of social patterns by contact with another group (n)

    • Synonyms: adaptation

  • adventitious: resulting from chance; accidental (adj)

    • Synonyms: extrinsic, incidental

  • ascribe: to assign or refer to (v)

    • Synonyms: impute

  • circuitous: roundabout, not direct (adj)

    • Synonyms: indirect, meandering

  • commiserate: to sympathize with (v)

    • Synonyms: feel sorry for

  • enjoin: to direct or order; to prohibit (v)

    • Synonyms: bid, charge

  • expedite: to make easy; to accelerate (v)

    • Synonyms: facilitate, speed up

  • expiate: to make amends for (v)

    • Synonyms: redeem

  • ferment: a state of great excitement (n); to produce alcohol (v)

    • Synonyms: commotion, turmoil

  • inadvertent: resulting from lack of attention (adj)

    • Synonyms: accidental

  • nominal: existing in name only (adj)

    • Synonyms: titular, inconsequential

  • noncommittal: not decisive or definite (adj)

    • Synonyms: cagey, uninformative

  • peculate: to steal something entrusted to one (v)

    • Synonyms: defraud

  • proclivity: a natural inclination (n)

    • Synonyms: penchant, propensity

  • sangfroid: composure, especially in trying circumstances (n)

    • Synonyms: poise, self-assurance

  • seditious: resistant to lawful authority (adj)

    • Synonyms: mutinous, rebellious

  • tenuous: thin, slender, lacking clarity (adj)

    • Synonyms: flimsy, insubstantial

  • vitriolic: bitter, sarcastic (adj)

    • Synonyms: withering, acerbic

  • wheedle: to use coaxing or flattery (v)

    • Synonyms: inveigle