Level F, Unit 7

crass

(adj.) coarse, unfeeling; stupid *SYNONYMS:* crude, vulgar, tasteless, oafish, obtuse *ANTONYMS:* refined, elegant, tasteful, polished, brilliant

grandiose

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

redoubtable

(adj.) inspiring fear or awe; illustrious, eminent *SYNONYMS:* formidable, fearsome, awesome, august *ANTONYMS:* laughable, risible, contemptible

vulnerable

(adj.) open to attack; capable of being wounded or damaged; unprotected *SYNONYMS:* defenseless, exposed, unguarded *ANTONYMS:* invincible, protected, safe, secure

cadaverous

(adj.) pale, gaunt, resembling a corpse *SYNONYMS:* corpse-like, wasted, haggard, emaciated, ghastly *ANTONYMS:* robust, portly, rosy, the picture of health

beneficent

(adj.) performing acts of kindness or charity; conferring benefits, doing good *SYNONYMS:* humanitarian, magnanimous, charitable *ANTONYMS:* selfish, cruel, harmful, deleterious

austere

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

stalwart

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

inconsequential

(adj.) trifling, unimportant *SYNONYMS:* trivial, negligible, petty, paltry *ANTONYMS:* important, essential, crucial, vital

punctilious

(adj.) very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette or propriety *SYNONYMS:* precise, scrupulous, exacting, fussy, finicky *ANTONYMS:* careless, negligent, lax, perfunctory

infraction

(n.) a breaking of a law or obligation *SYNONYMS:* violation, transgression, breach, offense

restitution

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

desecrate

(v.) to commit sacrilege upon, treat irreverently; to contaminate, pollute *SYNONYMS:* profane, defile, violate *ANTONYMS:* revere, honor, venerate, consecrate

disconcert

(v.) to confuse; to disturb the composure of *SYNONYMS:* upset, rattle, ruffle, faze, perturb *ANTONYMS:* relax, calm, put at ease

reprove

(v.) to find fault with, scold, rebuke *SYNONYMS:* chide, chastise, upbraid, reproach *ANTONYMS:* praise, commend, laud, pat on the back

debase

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

mitigate

(v.) to make milder or softer, to moderate in force or intensity *SYNONYMS:* lessen, relieve, alleviate, diminish *ANTONYMS:* aggravate, intensify, irritate, exacberate

concoct

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

pillage

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

prate

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