Grade 12 Sadlier Vocabulary Unit #12

  • Aesthetic
      * Simple meaning: about beauty or art
      * Definition: pertaining to beauty; sensitive or responsive to beauty
      * Synonyms: artistic, tasteful, decorative
      * Antonyms: unattractive, ugly

  • Defunct
      * Simple meaning: no longer exists
      * Definition: no longer in existence or functioning, dead
      * Synonyms: extinct, nonexistent, obsolete
      * Antonyms: alive, active, functioning

  • Discomfit
      * Simple meaning: to embarrass or confuse
      * Definition: to frustrate, thwart, or defeat; to confuse, perplex, or embarrass
      * Synonyms: nonplus, foil, unsettle
      * Antonyms: comfort, reassure, encourage

  • Espouse
      * Simple meaning: to support or believe in
      * Definition: to take up and support; to become attached to, adopt; to marry
      * Synonyms: embrace, wed, support, adopt
      * Antonyms: repudiate, disavow, renounce, reject

  • Fetish
      * Simple meaning: strong obsession
      * Definition: an object believed to have magical powers; an object of unreasoning devotion or reverence
      * Synonyms: charm, obsession, fixation
      * Antonyms: indifference, dislike

  • Gregarious
      * Simple meaning: very social
      * Definition: living together in a herd or group; sociable, seeking the company of others
      * Synonyms: outgoing, extroverted, sociable
      * Antonyms: aloof, introverted, reclusive, antisocial

  • Hapless
      * Simple meaning: very unlucky
      * Definition: marked by a persistent absence of good luck
      * Synonyms: unlucky, ill-fated, unfortunate
      * Antonyms: lucky, charmed, fortunate

  • Impeccable
      * Simple meaning: perfect, no flaws
      * Definition: faultless, beyond criticism or blame
      * Synonyms: flawless, spotless, immaculate
      * Antonyms: grimy, soiled, spotted, flawed

  • Importune
      * Simple meaning: to beg repeatedly
      * Definition: to trouble with demands; to beg for insistently
      * Synonyms: implore, dun, beg, pester
      * Antonyms: ignore, leave alone, discourage

  • Interpolate
      * Simple meaning: to insert something in between
      * Definition: to insert between other parts or things; to present as an addition or correction
      * Synonyms: interpose, introduce, insert
      * Antonyms: remove, delete, omit

  • Irreparable
      * Simple meaning: cannot be fixed
      * Definition: incapable of being repaired or rectified
      * Synonyms: irremediable, permanent
      * Antonyms: remediable, fixable, reversible

  • Laconic
      * Simple meaning: using very few words
      * Definition: concise, using few words
      * Synonyms: succinct, pithy, brief, terse
      * Antonyms: garrulous, prolix, loquacious, wordy

  • Languish
      * Simple meaning: to become weak or lose energy
      * Definition: to become weak, feeble, or dull; to droop; to be depressed or dispirited; to suffer neglect
      * Synonyms: flag, fade, pine, weaken
      * Antonyms: thrive, flourish, strengthen

  • Mendacious
      * Simple meaning: lying or dishonest
      * Definition: given to lying or deception; untrue
      * Synonyms: untruthful, false, deceitful
      * Antonyms: veracious, truthful, honest

  • Nadir
      * Simple meaning: lowest point
      * Definition: the lowest point
      * Synonyms: rock bottom, lowest level
      * Antonyms: peak, highest point

  • Omnipresent
      * Simple meaning: everywhere at once
      * Definition: present in all places at all times
      * Synonyms: ubiquitous, ever-present
      * Antonyms: absent, scarce

  • Perfunctory
      * Simple meaning: done without care
      * Definition: done in a superficial or halfhearted manner; without interest or enthusiasm
      * Synonyms: slapdash, shallow, careless
      * Antonyms: thorough, assiduous, diligent, meticulous

  • Plaintive
      * Simple meaning: sounding sad
      * Definition: expressive of sorrow or woe, melancholy
      * Synonyms: sad, lugubrious, mournful
      * Antonyms: cheerful, blithe, joyous, merry

  • Requite
      * Simple meaning: to repay (good or bad)
      * Definition: to make suitable repayment, as for a kindness, service, or favor; to make retaliation, as for an injury or wrong; to reciprocate
      * Synonyms: reimburse, avenge, repay
      * Antonyms: withhold, ignore

  • Tantamount
      * Simple meaning: equal to something
      * Definition: equivalent, having the same meaning, value, or effect
      * Synonyms: indistinguishable from, equivalent, equal
      * Antonyms: different, unequal