Vocab 7-12

austere

(adj.)severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple plain; harsh or sour
syn. forbidding, rigorous, puritanical, ascetic, unadorned, subdued
ant. mild, indulgent, luxurious, flamboyant

beneficent

(adj.)performing acts of kindness or charity; conferring benefits, doing good
syn. humanitarian, magnanimous, charitable
ant. selfish, cruel, harmful, deleterious

cadaverous

(adj.)pale, gaunt, resembling a corpse
syn. corpselike, wasted, haggard, emaciated, ghastly
ant. robust, portly, rosy, the picture of health

concoct

(v.)to prepare by combining ingredients, make up (as dish); to devise, invent, fabricate
syn. create, fashion, rustle up

crass

(adj.)coarse, unfeeling; stupid
syn. crude, vulgar, tasteless, oafish, obtuse
ant. refined, elegant, tasteful, polished, brilliant

debase

(v.)to lower in character, quality or value; to degrade, adulterate; to cause to deteriorate
syn. cheapen, corrupt, demean, depreciate
ant. elevate, uplift, improve, enhance

desecrate

(v.) to commit sacrilege upon, treat irreverently; to contaminate, pollute
syn. profane, defile, violate
ant. revere, honor, venerate, consecrate

disconcert

(v.)to confuse; to disturb the composure of
syn. upset, rattle, ruffle, faze, perturb
ant. relax, calm, put at ease

grandiose

(adj.)grand in an impressive or stately way; marked by pompous affectation or grandeur, absurdly exaggerated
syn. majestic, bombastic, highfalutin
ant. simple, modest, unaffected, humble

inconsequential

(adj.)trifling, unimportant
syn. trivial, negligible, petty, paltry
ant. important, essential, crucial, vital

infraction

(n.)a breaking of a law or obligation
syn. violation, transgression, breach, offense

mitigate

(v.)to make milder or softer, to moderate in force or intensity
syn. lessen, relieve, alleviate, diminish
ant. aggravate, intensify, irritate, exacerbate

pillage

(v.)to rob of goods by open force (as in war), plunder; (n.) the act of looting; booty
syn. (v.) ravage, sack, loot; (n.) booty

prate

(v.) to talk a great deal in a foolish or aimless fashion
syn. chatter, prattle, blab, blabber, palaver
ant. come to the point, not waste words

punctilious

(adj.) very careful and extract, attentive to fine points of etiquette or propriety
syn. precise, scrupulous, exacting, fussy, finicky
ant. careless, negligent, lax, prefunctory

redoubtable

(adj.) inspiring fear or awe; illustrious, eminet
syn. formidable, fearsome, awesome, august
ant. laughable, risible, contemptible

reprove

(v.) to find fault with, scold, rebuke
syn. chide, chastise, upbraid, reproach
ant. praise, commend, laud, pat on the back

restitution

(n.) the act of restoring someone or something to the rightful owner or to a former state or position; makin good on a loss or damage
syn. compensation, reimbursement, redress, restoration

stalwart

(adj.) strong and sturdy; brave; resolute; (n.) a brave, strong person; a strong supporter; one who takes an uncompromising position
syn. (adj.) sturdy, stout, intrepid, valiant; (n.) mainstay
ant. (adj.) weak, infirm, irresolute, vacillating

vulnerable

(adj.) open to attack; capable of being wounded or damaged; unprotected
syn. defenseless, exposed, unguarded
ant. invincible, protected, safe, secure

acrimonious

(adj.) stinging, bitter in temper or tone

synonyms: biting, caustic, rancorous, hostile, peevish

antonyms: gentle, warm, mild, friendly, cordial

bovine

(adj.) resembling a cow or ox; sluggish, unresponsive

synonyms: stolid, dull, slow, stupid

antonyms: alert, sharp, bright, keen, quick

consternation

(n.) dismay, confusion

synonyms: shock, amazement, bewilderment, dismay

antonyms: calm, composure, aplomb

corpulent

(adj.) fat; having a large, bulky body

synonyms: overweight, heavy, obese, stout, portly

antonyms: slender, lean, spare, gaunt, emaciated

disavow

(v.) to deny responsibility for or connection with

synonyms: disown, disclaim, retract, abjure

antonyms: acknowledge, admit, grant, certify

dispassionate

(adj.) impartial; calm, free from emotion

synonyms: unbiased, disinterested, cool, detached

antonyms: committed, engaged, partial, biased

dissension

(n.) disagreement, sharp difference of opinion

synonyms: strife, discord, contention

antonyms: agreement, accord, harmony

dissipate

(v.) to cause to disappear; to scatter, dispel; to spend foolishly, squander; to be extravagant in pursuit of pleasure

synonyms: disperse, strew, diffuse, waste

antonyms: gather, collect, conserve, husband

expurgate

(v.) to remove objectionable passages or words from a written text; to cleanse, purify

synonyms: purge, censor, bowdlerize

gauntlet

(n.) an armored or protective glove; a challenge; two lines of men armed with weapons with which to beat a person forced to run between them; an ordeal

synonyms: dare, provocation, trial, punishment

hypothetical

(adj.) based on an assumption or guess; used as a provisional or tentative idea to guide or direct investigation

synonyms: assumed, supposed, conjectural, conditional

antonyms: actual, real, tested, substaniated

ignoble

(adj.) mean, low, base

synonyms: inferior, unworthy, dishonorable, sordid

antonyms: admirable, praiseworthy, lofty, noble

impugn

(v.) to call into question; to attack as false

synonyms: challenge, deny, dispute, query, question

antonyms: confirm, prove, verify, validate

intemperate

(adj.) immoderate, lacking in self-control; inclement

synonyms: excessive, extreme, unrestrained, inordinate

antonyms: moderate, restrained, cool, and collected

odium

(n.) hatred, contempt; disgrace or infamy resulting from hateful conduct

synonyms: abhorrence, opprobrium, shame, ignominy

antonyms: esteem, admiration, approbation

perfidy

(n.) faithlessness, treachery

synonyms: betrayal, disloyalty, treason, duplicity

antonyms: faithfulness, loyalty, steadfastness

relegate

(v.) to place in a lower position; to assign, refer, turn over; to banish

synonyms: transfer, consign, demote, exile

antonyms: promote, elevate, advance, recall

squeamish

(adj.) inclined to nausea; easily shocked or upset; excessively fastidious or refined

synonyms: nauseated, queasy, delicate, oversensitive, priggish

subservient

(adj.) subordinate in capacity or role; submissively obedient; serving to promote some end

synonyms: secondary, servile, obsequious, useful

antonyms: primary, principal, bossy, domineering

susceptible

(adj.) open to; easily influenced; lacking in resistance

synonyms: vulnerable, receptive, impressionable

antonyms: resistant, immune

abate

(v.) to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit

synonyms: diminish, decrease, subside, let up

antonyms: intensify, increase, magnify, wax

adulation

(n.) praise or flattery that is excessive

synonyms: adoration, idolization, hero-worship

antonyms: ridicule, derision, scorn, odium

anathema

(n.) an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation (often used adjectivally without the article)

synonyms: malediction, imprecation, abomination

antonyms: benediction, blessing

astute

(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

synonyms: shrewd, acute, sagacious, judicious, wily

antonyms: obtuse, doltish, empty-headed, dumb

avarice

(n.) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

synonyms: cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness

culpable

(adj.) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation

synonyms: guilty, delinquent, peccant, blameworthy

antonyms: blameless, innocent, laudable, meritorious

dilatory

(adj.) tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone

synonyms: stalling, slow, tardy, laggard

antonyms: prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious

egregious

(adj.) conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used particularly in an unfavorable sense)

synonyms: glaring, flagrant, blatant

antonyms: unnoticeable, paltry, piddling

equivocate

(v.) to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague or ambiguous

synonyms: to talk out of both sides of one's mouth, palter, hedge

antonyms: to speak one's mind plainly

evanescent

(adj.) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

synonyms: ephemeral, transient, transitory

antonyms: everlasting, immortal, imperishable

irresolute

(adj.) unable to make up one's mind, hesitating

synonyms: indecisive, vacillating, wavering

antonyms: determined, decisive, unwavering

nebulous

(adj.) cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct

synonyms: hazy, fuzzy, cloudy, vague, murky, opaque, indeterminate

antonyms: definite, distinct, clear, sharply focused

novice

(n.) one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience (also used adjectivally)

synonyms: neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice

antonyms: veteran, past master, pro, expert

penury

(n.) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency

synonyms: destitution, want, indigence

antonyms: affluence, abundance, luxury, opulence

pretentious

(adj.) done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one's skill or abilities, ambitious

synonyms: inflated, ostentatious, affected

antonyms: unassuming, unaffected, modest

recapitulate

(v.) to review a series of facts; to sum up

synonyms: review, summarize, sum up, go over

resuscitate

(v.) to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence

synonyms: revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate

slovenly

(adj.) untidy, dirty, careless

synonyms: unkempt, slatternly, slipshod, lax

antonyms: neat, tidy, careful, meticulous

supposition

(n.) something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

synonyms: assumption, presumption, hypothesis

torpid

(adj.) inactive, sluggish, dull

synonyms: sluggish, lethargic, otiose, languid

antonyms: energetic, dynamic, vigorous

accrue

(v.) to grow or accumulate over time; to happen as a natural result

synonyms: collect, accumulate, proceed from
antonyms: dwindle, decrease, diminish, lessen

annotation

(n.) a critical or explanatory note or comment, especially for a literary work

bedlam

(n.) a state or scene of uproar and confusion

synonyms: commotion, pandemonium, chaos, anarchy
antonyms: peace and quiet, order, tranquility

covert

(adj.) hidden, disguised, purposefully kept secret; sheltered, secluded; (n.) a sheltered place, a hiding place

synonyms: (adj.) undercover, clandestine, sub-rosa
antonyms: (adj.) open, overt, undisguised

debonair

(adj.) pleasant, courteous, lighthearted; smooth and polished in manner and appearance

synonyms: carefree, jaunty, gracious, suave, urbane
antonyms: distraught, agitated, boorish, churlish

dun

(v.) to demand insistently, especially in payment of a debt; (n.) a creditor; (adj.) dark, dull, drab, dingy

synonyms: (v.) hound, pester, harass, nag

efficacious

(adj.) effective, producing results

synonyms: effectual, efficient, potent, powerful
antonyms: ineffective, worthless, useless

equanimity

(n.) calmness, composure, refusal to panic

synonyms: tranquility, imperturbability
antonyms: excitability, flappability, agitation

fortuitous

(adj.) accidental, occurring by a happy chance

synonyms: unintentional, unplanned, random, lucky
antonyms: intentional, deliberate, premeditated

gist

(n.) the essential part, main part, or essence

synonyms: substance, core, nucleus

gratuitous

(adj.) freely given; not called for by circumstances, unwarranted

synonyms: voluntary, unjustified, uncalled-for
antonyms: justified, warranted

imperious

(adj.) overbearing, arrogant; seeking to dominate; pressing, compelling

synonyms: domineering, magisterial, urgent, imperative
antonyms: fawning, obsequious, humble, unassuming

invective

(n.) a strong denunciation or condemnation; abusive language; (adj.) abusive, vituperative

synonyms: (n.) vituperation, abuse, diatribe, philippic
antonyms: (n.) tribute, panegyric, encomium

motley

(adj.) showing great variety, composed of different elements or many colors; (n.) a jester's costume; a jester

synonyms: (adj.) variegated, heterogeneous, diverse; (n.) fool
antonyms: (adj.) uniform, homogenous, monochromatic

munificent

(adj.) extremely generous, lavish

synonyms: bounteous, liberal
antonyms: stingy, miserly, tightfisted, parsimonious

procrastinate

(v.) to delay, put off until later

synonyms: stall, temporize, dillydally

provocative

(adj.) tending to produce a strong feeling or response; arousing desire or appetite; irritating, annoying

synonyms: stimulating, arousing, vexing, galling
antonyms: dull, insipid, bland, unstimulating

recondite

(adj.) exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding

synonyms: esoteric, arcane, profound, abstruse
antonyms: simple, uncomplicated

reprobate

(n.) a depraved, vicious, or unprincipled person, scoundrel; (adj.) wicked, corrupt, or unprincipled; (v.) to disapprove of, condemn

synonyms: (n.) scoundrel, blackguard; (adj.) immoral, corrupt
antonyms: (n.) saint; (adj.) upright, virtuous, moral

sedentary

(adj.) characterized by or calling for continued sitting; remaining in one place

synonyms: seated, stationary, static
antonyms: active, peripatetic, migratory

abstemious

(adj.) moderate, sparing (as in eating and drinking); characterized by abstinence and self-discipline

synonyms: temperate, sober, moderate
antonyms: indulgent, immoderate, intemperate

censurable

(adj.) deserving of blame or correction

synonyms: blameworthy, discreditable, reprehensible
antonyms: commendable, laudable, meritorious

contingent

(adj.) likely but not certain to happen, possible; dependent on uncertain events or conditions; happening by chance; (n.) a representative group forming part of a larger body

synonyms: (adj.) conditional, dependent; (n.) a detachment
antonyms: (adj.) independent of, unconnected with, certain

corroborate

(v.) to confirm, make more cetain, bolster, stubstantiate, verify

antonyms: (adj.) refute, contradict, undermine, discredit

denizen

(n.) an inhabitant, resident; one who frequents a place

synonyms: resident, dweller, habitue
antonyms: alien, outsider, stranger, foreigner

discursive

(adj.) passing aimlessly from one place or subject to another, rambling, roving, nomadic

synonyms: digressive, diffuse, wandering, episodic
antonyms: short and to the point, succinct

disseminate

(v.) to scatter or spread widely

synonyms: disperse, publicize, broadcast, circulate
antonyms: bring together, concentrate, muster, conceal, hide

dowdy

(adj.) poorly dressed, shabby; lacking smartness and good taste

synonyms: frumpy, tacky, frowsy, drab
antonyms: chic, stylish, elegant, fashionable

florid

(adj) highly colored, reddish; excessively ornate, showy

synonyms: flushed, ruddy, flowery, frilly, flamboyant
antonyms: pale, ashen, pallid, sallow, austere, stark

foist

(v.) to impose by fraud; to pass off as worthy or genuine; to bring about by stealth, dishonesty, or coercion

synonyms: pass off, palm off, fob off

gauche

(adj) awkward, lacking in social graces, tactless, clumsy

synonyms: inept, uncouth, maladroit
antonyms: adroit, tactful, diplomatic, politic

heresy

(n.) an opinion different from accepted belief; the denial of an idea that is generally held sacred

synonyms: unorthodox belief, heterodoxy
antonyms: orthodoxy

inculcate

(v.) to impress on the mind by repetition, teach persistently and earnestly

synonyms: instill, implant, infuse, ingrain, imbue
antonyms: efface, extirpate, root out

palpable

(adj) capable of being touched or felt; easily seen, heard, or recognized

synonyms: tangible, plain, obvious, manifest
antonyms: intangible, insubstantial, incorporeal

perceptive

(adj.) having sympathetic insight or understanding, capable of keen appreciation

synonyms: insightful, discerning, observant
antonyms: dense, thick, obtuse, dim-witted

pernicious

(adj.) extremely harmful; deadly, fatal

synonyms: injurious, deleterious, baleful, noxious
antonyms: harmless, innocuous, salutary, salubrious

salient

(adj.) leaping, jumping, or springing forth; prominent, standing out conspicuous; (n.) a projection or buldge, a land form that projects upward or outward.

synonyms: (adj.) striking, notable, protrusive, obvious
antonyms: (adj.) inconspicuous, recessive

satiate

(v.) to satisfy completely; to fill to excess; (adj.) full, satisfied

synonyms: (v.) gratify, cloy, surfeit, gorge
antonyms: (v.) starve, deprive entirely of

sear

(v.) to make or become dry and withered; to char or scorch the surface of; to harden or make unfeeling; to patch, dessicate, singe.

specious

(adj.) deceptive, apparently good or valid but lacking real merit

synonyms: deceptively, plausible, sophistic, casuistic
antonyms: valid, sound, solid, genuine

absolve

(v.) to clear from blame, responsibility, or guilt

synonyms: acquit, exonerate, vindicate, excuse, pardon
antonyms: condemn, convict, incriminate, inculpate

caricature

(n.) a respresentation (especially a drawing) in which the subject's features are deliberately exaggerated; (v.) to present someone or something in a deliberately distorted way

synonyms: (n.) cartoon, burlesque, parody, lampoon

clangor

(n.) a loud ringing sound; (v.) to make a loud ringing noise

synonyms: (n.) din, clamor, uproar
antonyms: (n.) silence, stillness, peace and quiet

contiguous

(adj.) side by side, touching; near; adjacent in time

synonyms: adjoining, abutting, next door to
antonyms: detached, apart, distant, remote

cupidity

(n.) an eager desire for something; greed

synonyms: avarice, rapacity, craving, lust
antonyms: generosity, contentment, satiation, gratification

deleterious

(adj.) harmful, injurious

synonyms: detrimental, destructive, pernicious, damaging
antonyms: helpful, beneficial, harmless, innocuous

enhance

(v.) to raise to a higher degree; to increase the value or desirability of

synonyms: improve, magnify, heighten, elevate
antonyms: diminish, reduce, lessen, degrade

enthrall

(v.) to captivate, charm, hold spellbound; to enslave; to imprison

synonyms: fascinate, enchant, attract, bewitch
antonyms: bore to tears, repel, put someone off

extenuate

(v.) to lessen the seriousness or magnitude of an offense by making partial excuses

synonyms: moderate, mitigate, diminish, downplay
antonyms: intensify, aggravate, worsen, exacerbate

implicit

(adj.) implied or understood though unexpressed; without doubts or reservations, unquestioning; potentially contained in

synonyms: inferred, tacit, unspoken, unconditional
antonyms: explicit, expressed, stated, revealed

incisive

(adj.) sharp, keen, penetrating (with a suggestion of decisiveness and effectiveness)

synonyms: acute, cutting, perceptive, trenchant

ostentatious

(adj.) marked by conspicuous or pretentious display, showy

synonyms: flashy, overdone, affected, flamboyant
antonyms: modest, plain, simple, demure, retiring

paragon

(n.) a model of excellence or perfection

synonyms: exemplar, ideal, paradigm, model, good example

paraphrase

(v.) to restate in other words (n.) a statement that presents a given idea in new language

synonyms: (v.) reword, rephrase; (n.) a rendition, version
antonyms: (v.) repeat verbatim, duplicate, quote

politic

(adj.) prudent, shrewdly conceived and developed; artful, expedient

synonyms: tactful, diplomatic, judicious, circumspect
antonyms: unwise, injudicious, imprudent, rash

prosaic

(adj.) dull, lacking in distinction and originality; matter-of-fact, straightforward; characteristic of prose, not poetic

synonyms: commonplace, humdrum, literal, pedestrian
antonyms: remarkable, distinctive, poetic, inspired

redundant

(adj.) extra, excess, more than is needed; wordy, repetitive; profuse, lush

synonyms: unnecessary, superfluous, verbose, prolix
antonyms: succinct, terse, laconic, scarce, inadequate

sanctimonious

(adj.) making a show of virtue or righteousness; hypocritically moralistic or pious, self-righteous, canting, holier-than-thou

antonyms: heartfelt, sincere, humble

scintillating

(adj., part.) sparkling, twinkling, exceptionally brilliant (applied to mental or personal qualities)

synonyms: stimulating, lively, glittering, flashing
antonyms: dull, boring, insipid, flat, tame, vapid

winsome

(adj.) charming, attractive, pleasing (often suggesting a childlike charm and innocence)

synonyms: winning, engaging, delightful, prepossessing
antonyms: unattractive, unappealing, repulsive