Sadlier-Oxford Vocab Level H - Unit 6
iconoclastic
(adjective) attacking or seeking to overthrow popular or traditional beliefs, ideas, or institutions Synonyms Image-breaking, irreverent, heretical Antonyms: Conservative, reverent, orthodox
saturnalian
(adjective) characterized by riotous or unrestrained revelry or licentiousness Synonyms: Dissipated debauched, orgiastic Antonyms: Prim, decorous, sedate, seemly
salubrious
(adjective) conducive to health or well-being; wholesome Synonyms: Healthy, invigorating Antonyms: Harmful, unhealthy, deleterious, noxious
maudlin
(adjective) excessively or effusively sentimental Synonyms: mushy, mawkish
abortive
(adjective) failing to accomplish an intended aim or purpose; only partially or imperfectly developed Synonyms: miscarried, fruitless Antonyms: Realized, consummated
waggish
(adjective) fond of making jokes; characteristic of a joker; playfully humorous or droll Synonyms: whimsical Antonyms: Serious, grave, grim, humorless
portentous
(adjective) foreshadowing an event to come; causing wonder or awe; self-conciously weighty, pompous Synonyms: Foreboding, ominous, pretentious Antonyms: Auspicious, encouraging, propitious
contumelious
(adjective) insolent or rude in speech or behavior; insultingly abusive; humiliating Synonyms: Vituperative, excoriating Antonyms: laudatory, commendatory, defential
maladroit
(adjective) lacking in skill or dexterity; lacking tact, perception, or judgment Synonyms: inept, awkward, gauche Antonyms: Dexterous, deft, tactful
internecine
(adjective) mutually destructive; characterized by great slaughter and bloodshed Synonyms: Murderous, Savage, ruinous Antonym: peaceful, harmonious, constructive
traumatic
(adjective) so shocking to the emotions as to cause lasting and substantial psychological damage Synonyms: Jolting Antonyms: soothing, comforting, pleasant, agreeable
in media res
(adverb) in or into the middle of a plot; into the middle of things
touchstone
(noun) a means of testing worth or genuineness Synonmys: criterion, benchmark, yardstick
dictum
(noun) a short saying; an authoritative statement Synonyms: Maxim, precept, aphorism, axiom
prescience
(noun) knowledge of events or actions before they happen; foresight Synonyms: Foreknowledge Antonyms:Hindsight
quid pro quo
(noun) something given in exchange or return for something else Synonyms: Swap, Trade
modulate
(verb) to change or vary the intensity or pitch; to temper or soften; to regulate, adjust Synomys: adapt, moderate
ensconce
(verb) to settle comfortably and firmly in position; to put or hide in a safe place Synonyms: Lodge, entrench Antonyms: unseat, oust
bruit
(verb) to spread the news, reports, or unsubstantiated rumors Synonyms: Noise abroad, blazon Antonyms: Cover up, hush up
vitiate
(verb) to weaken, debase, or corrupt; to impair the quality or value of Synonyms: degrade Antonyms: Purify, fortify strengthen, enhance