Vocabulary Workshop Level D Unit 4
pliant
(adj.) bending readily; easily influenced *SYNONYMS:* supple, flexible, elastic, plastic *ANTONYMS:* rigid, stiff, inflexible, set in stone
fated
(adj.) determined in advance by destiny or fortune *SYNONYMS:* destined, preordained, doomed *ANTONYMS:* accidental, fortuitous, chance, random
auspicious
(adj.) favorable; fortunate *SYNONYMS:* promising, encouraging, propitious *ANTONYMS:* ill-omened, ominous, sinister
biased
(adj.) favoring one side unduly; prejudiced *SYNONYMS:* unfair, partial, bigoted *ANTONYMS:* fair, impartial, unprejudiced, just
arduous
(adj.) hard to do, requiring much effort *SYNONYMS:* hard, difficult, laborious, fatiguing *ANTONYMS:* easy, simple, effortless
inanimate
(adj.) not having life; without energy or spirit *SYNONYMS:* lifeless, dead, inert, spiritless *ANTONYMS:* living, alive, energetic, lively, sprightly
pompous
(adj.) overly self-important in speech and manner; excessively stately or ceremonious *SYNONYMS:* pretentious, highfalutin, bombastic *ANTONYMS:* unpretentious, unaffected, plain
intrepid
(adj.) very brave, fearless, unshakable *SYNONYMS:* valiant, courageous, audacious, daring *ANTONYMS:* timid, cowardly, craven, pusillanimous
reprieve
(n.) a temporary relief or delay; (v.) to grant a postponement *SYNONYMS:* (n.) stay, respite; (v.) postpone, delay *ANTONYMS:* (v.) proceed
precipice
(n.) a very steep cliff; the brink or edge of disaster *SYNONYMS:* cliff, crag, bluff, promontory, ledge *ANTONYMS:* abyss, chasm, gorge
access
(n.) approach or admittance to places, persons, things; an increase; (v.) to get at, obtain *SYNONYMS:* (n.) entry, admittance, entree *ANTONYMS:* (n.) total exclusion
anarchy
(n.) lack of government and law; confusion *SYNONYMS:* chaos, disorder, turmoil, pandemonium *ANTONYMS:* law and order, peace and quiet
larceny
(n.) theft *SYNONYMS:* stealing, robbery, burglary
revile
(v.) to attack with words, call bad names *SYNONYMS:* inveigh against, malign, vilify, denounce *ANTONYMS:* praise, acclaim, revere, idolize
incinerate
(v.) to burn to ashes *SYNONYMS:* burn up, cremate, reduce to ashes
disentangle
(v.) to free from tangles or complications *SYNONYMS:* unravel, unwind, unscramble, unsnarl *ANTONYMS:* tangle up, ensnarl, snag
rectify
(v.) to make right, correct *SYNONYMS:* remedy, set right *ANTONYMS:* mess up, botch, bungle
hoodwink
(v.) to mislead by a trick, deceive *SYNONYMS:* dupe, put one over on *ANTONYMS:* undeceive, disabuse, clue in
daunt
(v.) to overcome with fear, intimidate; to dishearten, discourage *SYNONYMS:* dismay, cow *ANTONYMS:* encourage, embolden, reassure
abscond
(v.) to run off and hide *SYNONYMS:* bolt, make off, skip town
The treasurer who had ______ with the company's funds was quickly captured by alert federal agents.
absconded
This master key will give you _____ to any of the rooms in the building.
access
With no government around to restore order, the small country remained in a state of _____ for weeks after the revolution.
anarchy
Since I'm only an average linguist, mastering the irregular verbs in French was one of the most ____ tasks I have ever undertaken.
arduous
Since everything had gone so smoothly, we felt that the campaign to elect Ellen captain was off to a(n) _______ beginning.
auspicious
It isn't logical to infer that the referee is _____ against our team just because he makes a few calls against our players.
biased
Her extraordinary faith in her own abilities enabled her to overcome many obstacles that would have _____ someone less confident.
daunted
The audiotape had gotten so badly entwined in the machinery that i had a hard time _______ it.
disentangled
For someone who believes in astrology, what is _____ to happen to a person is determined by the stars.
fated
No matter how much protective legislation we pass, there will probably always be gullible consumers for swindlers to _______.
hoodwinked
Though many people firmly believe that life-forms exist somewhere in outer space, everything that our astronauts have so far encountered has be decidedly ______.
inanimate
The steak I'd accidentally left in the broiler too long wasn't just over-done; it was positively _____.
incinerated
Without the slightest hesitation, _____ fighterfighters will enter a blazing building to rescue anyone who may be trapped.
intrepid
The youths who had "borrowed" the car for joyriding were caught by the police and charged with ______.
larceny
Though somewhat massively built, the gymnast's body was as supple and _____ as a ballet dancer's.
pliant
The overly ornate style of many 19th century writers seems rather forced and _______ to us today.
pompous
The guardrail was reinforced to prevent cars from skidding over the edge of the _____ and falling into the abyss below.
precipice
As soon as I discovered that the project was being mismanaged, I tried my best to _____ the situation.
rectify
Since I did not feel well prepared, the three-day postponement of final exams was a most welcome ______.
reprieve
One of the most controversial figures of his time, the former president was revered by some and _____ by others.
reviled
