Vocab U13

  1. Abet→ (v.) to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy) 

    1. Synonyms: n/a

    2. Antonyms: hamper, hinder, impede, frustrate 

    3. To allow a man in his condition to get behind the wheel of a car is to ________ a potential crime. 

 

  1. Blatant→ (adj.) noisy in a coarse, offensive way; obvious or conspicuous, especially in an unfavorable sense 

    1. Synonyms: flagrant, glaring, egregious, disagreeably loud 

    2. Antonyms: inconsequential, trifling, piddling, petty 

    3. Your comments showed a __________ disregard for my feelings. 

 

  1. Broach→ (v.) to bring up or begin to talk about (a subject); to announce, introduce; to break the surface of the water; to turn sideways to the wind and waves; to pierce (a keg or cask) in order to draw off liquid; (n.) a spit for roasting; a tool for tapping casks

    1. Synonyms: n/a 

    2. Antonyms: n/a 

    3. She opted not to _________ the subject of the moldy smell in the bedroom for fear of insulting her hosts. 

 

  1. Buttress→ (v.) to support, prop up, strengthen; (n.) a supporting structure

    1. Synonyms: (v.) bolster, reinforce, brace, shore up 

    2. Antonyms: (v.) undermine, weaken, impair  

    3. I had to add __________ on either side of my rickety shed to keep it from collapsing. 


  1. Connoisseur→ (n.) an expert; one who is well qualified to pass critical judgements, especially in one of the fine arts 

    1. Synonyms: savant, pundit

    2. Antonyms: ignoramus, philistine 

    3. She was a __________ of both music and film. 


  1. Encumber→ (v.) to weigh down or burden (with difficulties, cares, debt, etc.); to fill up, block up, hinder 

    1. Synonyms: overload, clog 

    2. Antonyms: unburden, unload, relieve 

    3. I feared that joining another club would __________ me with too many obligations. 

 

  1. Foment→ (v.) to promote trouble or rebellion; to apply warm liquids to, warm 

    1. Synonyms: instigate, incite, stir up 

    2. Antonyms: quell, quash, squelch, suppress

    3. Toward the end of the film, the peasant leader attempts to __________ a storming of the scientist’s castle. 

 

  1. Inauspicious→ (adj.) unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future 

    1. Synonyms: unpropitious, unpromising, untimely

    2. Antonyms: propitious, favorable 

    3. Our road trip got off to an __________ start when we ran out of gas within five miles of home. 

 

  1. Opportune→ (adj.) suitable or convenient for a particular purpose; occurring at an appropriate time. 

    1. Synonyms: timely, appropriate, felicitous

    2. Antonyms: untimely, inconvenient, inappropriate 

    3. If you intend to give that dog a bath, you had better pick an ________ moment, and then pounce! 

 

  1. Prolific→ (adj.) abundantly productive; abundant, profuse 

    1. Synonyms: fruitful, fecund, proliferous 

    2. Antonyms: barren, unproductive, sterile, sparse 

    3. Haydn was a more _________ composer than Mozart, in part because he lived much longer.