unit 6
Vocabulary Definitions and Explanations
Unit 6 Vocabulary List
1. Anomalous (ǝ näm' a lǝs) - adjective
Definition: Abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual
Example: Feeling protective of my friend but knowing of his difficulties placed me in an anomalous position.
Synonyms: Exceptional, unusual, aberrant
Antonyms: Normal, regular, customary, typical, ordinary
2. Aspersion (a spar' zhan) - noun
Definition: A damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming
Example: Think twice before casting aspersion on his honesty, for he might be telling the truth.
Synonyms: Innuendo, calumny
Antonyms: Endorsement, praise
3. Bizarre (bi zär') - adjective
Definition: Extremely strange, unusual, atypical
Example: Years from now I will look at this picture and wonder what sort of bizarre costume I was wearing.
Synonyms: Grotesque, fantastic, outlandish
Antonyms: Normal, typical, ordinary, expected
4. Brusque (brask) - adjective
Definition: Abrupt, blunt, with no formalities
Example: His request for a large loan for an indefinite length of time was met with a brusque refusal.
Synonyms: Tactless, ungracious
Antonyms: Tactful, diplomatic
5. Cajole (ka jōl') - verb
Definition: To coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises
Example: With a smile, a joke, and a second helping of pie, she would cajole him into doing what she wanted.
Synonyms: Wheedle, inveigle
Antonyms: Coerce, force
6. Castigate (kas' tǝ gåt) - verb
Definition: To punish severely; to criticize severely
Example: After he castigate the unruly children, they settled down to study quietly.
Synonyms: Chastise, censure
Antonyms: Honor, praise, laud
7. Contrive (kan triv') - verb
Definition: To plan with ingenuity; to bring about through a plan
Example: She can contrive wonderful excuses; but when she tries to offer them, her uneasiness gives her away.
Synonyms: Think up, concoct, fabricate
8. Demagogue (dem'a gäg) - noun
Definition: A leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
Example: Often a show of angry concern conceals the self-serving tactics of a demagogue.
Synonyms: Rabble-rouser, firebrand
9. Disabuse (dis ǝ byüz') - verb
Definition: To free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking
Example: He thinks that all women adore him, but my sister will probably disabuse him of that idea.
Synonyms: Undeceive, enlighten
Antonyms: Deceive, delude, pull wool over one's eyes
10. Ennui (än we') - noun
Definition: Weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom
Example: Some people seem to confuse sophistication with ennui.
Synonyms: Languor, world-weariness, listlessness
Antonyms: Enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity
11. Fetter (fet' ǝr) - noun/verb
Definition: A chain or shackle placed on the feet (often used in plural); anything that confines or restrains; to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent
Example: The old phrase "chain gang" refers to a group of prisoners forced to work, each one joined to the next by linked fetters.
Synonyms: (n.) Bond, restraint; (v.) Bind, hamper
Antonyms: (v.) Free, liberate, emancipate
12. Heinous (ha' nǝs) - adjective
Definition: Very wicked, offensive, hateful
Example: A town so peaceful, quiet, and law-abiding was bound to be horrified by such heinous crime.
Synonyms: Evil, odious, outrageous
Antonyms: Excellent, wonderful, splendid
13. Immutable (i myü' tǝ bǝl) - adjective
Definition: Not subject to change, constant
Example: Scientists labored to discover a set of immutable laws of the universe.
Synonyms: Unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable
Antonyms: Changeable, inconstant, variable, fickle
14. Insurgent (in sǝr' jant) - noun/adjective
Definition: One who rebels or rises against authority; rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on
Example: George Washington and his contemporaries were insurgent against Britain. The army was confident that they could crush the insurgent forces.
Synonyms: (adj.) Revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous; (n.) Insurgent
Antonyms: (adj.) Loyalist, loyal, faithful
15. Megalomania (meg a lo ma' nė ǝ) - noun
Definition: A delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality
Example: Sudden fame and admiration can make people feel unworthy or it can bring on feelings of megalomania.
Synonyms: Delusions of grandeur
Antonyms: Modesty, self-abasement
16. Sinecure (si' na kyür) - noun
Definition: A position requiring little or no work; an easy job
Example: The office of Vice President of the United States was once considered little more than a sinecure.
Synonyms: "No-show" job, cushy job, "plum"
17. Surreptitious (sar ap tish' as) - adjective
Definition: Stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud
Example: The movie heroine blushed when she noticed the surreptitious glances of her admirer.
Synonyms: Furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed
Antonyms: Open, frank, aboveboard, overt
18. Transgress (tranz gres') - verb
Definition: To go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law
Example: The penitent citizens promised never again to transgress the laws of the land.
Synonyms: Overstep, trespass
Antonyms: Obey, toe the line
19. Transmute (tranz myüt') - verb
Definition: To change from one nature, substance, or form to another
Example: To transmute distrust into cooperation along that war-torn border will take more than talk and treaties.
Synonyms: Transform, convert
Antonyms: Preserve, maintain
20. Vicarious (vi kâr' è ǝs) - adjective
Definition: Performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another
Example: In search of excitement, we watched movies of action and adventure for vicarious thrills.
Synonyms: Surrogate, secondhand
Antonyms: Actual, firsthand