Unit 6 Vocab

Atone

v. to make up for

syn. expiate, make amends for

Bondage

n. slavery; any state of being bound or held down

syn. servitude, captivity, subjection, dependence

ant. freedom, liberty, independence

Credible

adj. believable

syn. plausible, acceptable, likely

ant. unbelievable, implausible, improbable

Defray

v. to pay for

syn. settle, bear the cost, foot the bill

Diligent

adj. hardworking, industrious, not lazy

syn. assiduous, sedulous

ant. lazy, indolent, cursory, perfunctory

Doleful

adj. sad; dreary

syn. sorrowful, mournful, melancholy, dolorous

ant. cheerful, blithe, jaunty, buoyant

Ghastly

adj. frightful, horrible; deathly pale

syn. dreadful, appalling, gruesome, grisly

ant. pleasant, agreeable, attractive, delightful

Hamper

v. to hold back

syn. hinder, obstruct, impede, inhibit

ant. facilitate, ease, smooth the way

Hew

v. to shape or cut down with an ax; to hold to

syn. chop, hack, fell, adhere, conform

Impoverished

adj. poor, in a state of poverty; depleted

syn. poverty-stricken, destitute, indigent

ant. rich, wealthy, affluent, prosperous

Incessant

adj. never stopping, going on all the time

syn. ceaseless, constant, uninterrupted

ant. occasional, sporadic, intermittent

Intricate

adj. complicated; difficult to understand

syn. complex, convoluted

ant. simple, uninvolved, uncomplicated

Lucid

adj. easy to understand, clear; rational, sane

syn. limpid, intelligible

ant. murky, muddy, obscure, unintelligible

Posthumous

adj. occuring or published after death

syn. postmortem

ant. prenatal

Prim

adj. overly neat, precise, proper, or formal; prudish

syn. fussy, fastidious, squeamish

ant. dowdy, frumpy, sloppy, untidy, loose, lax

Sardonic

adj. grimly or scornfully mocking, bitterly sarcastic

syn. caustic, mordant, acerbic, wry

ant. bland, mild, saccharine, good-natured

Superfluous

adj. exceeding what is sufficient or required, excess

syn. surplus, supererogatory

ant. necessary, essential, vital, indispensable

Supplant

v. to take the place, supersede

syn. replace, displace, oust

Taunt

v. to jeer at, mock

n. an insulting or mocking remark

syn v. ridicule, deride

ant v. cheer, applaud, acclaim

Tenacious

adj. holding fast; holding together firmly; persistent

syn. obstinate, stubborn, dogged

ant. yielding, weak, gentle, lax, slack