Vocabulary Level F, Unit 6

brusque

(adj.) Abrupt, blunt, with no formalities Synonyms: tactless, ungracious Antonyms: tactful, diplomatic

vicarious

(adj.) Performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another Synonyms: surrogate, secondhand Antonyms: actual, firsthand

anomalous

(adj.) abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual Synonyms: exceptional, atypical, unusual, aberrant Antonyms: normal, regular, customary, typical, ordinary

bizarre

(adj.) extremely strange, unusual, atypical Synonyms: grotesque, fantastic, outlandish Antonyms: normal, typical, ordinary, expected

immutable

(adj.) not subject to change, constant Synonyms: unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable Antonyms: changeable, inconstant, variable, fickle

surreptitious

(adj.) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud Synonyms: furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed Antonyms: open, frank, aboveboard, overt

heinous

(adj.) very wicked, offensive, hateful Synonyms: evil, odious, outrageous Antonyms: excellent, wonderful, splendid

fetter

(n.) a chain or shackle placed on the feet (often used in plural); anything that confines or restrains; (v.) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent Synonyms: (n.) bond, restraint; (v.) bind, hamper Antonyms: (v.) free, liberate, emancipate

aspersion

(n.) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming Synonyms: innuendo, calumny, denigration Antonyms: endorsement, praise

megalomania

(n.) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality Synonym: delusions of grandeur Antonyms: humility, modesty, self-abasement

demagogue

(n.) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power Synonyms: rabble-rouser, firebrand

sinecure

(n.) a position requiring little or no work; an easy job Synonyms: "no-show" job, cushy job, "plum"

insurgent

(n.) one who rebels or rises against authority; (adj.) rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on Synonyms: (adj.) revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous Antonyms: (adj.) loyalist, loyal, faithful

ennui

(n.) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom Synonyms: languor, world-weariness, listlessness Antonyms: enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity

transmute

(v.) to change from one nature, substance, or form to another Synonyms: transform, convert Antonyms: maintain preserve

cajole

(v.) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises Synonyms: wheedle, inveigle Antonyms: coerce, force

disabuse

(v.) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking Synonyms: undeceive, enlighten Antonyms: deceive, delude, pull wool over one's eyes

transgress

(v.) to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law Synonyms: overstep, trespass Antonyms: obey, toe the line

contrive

(v.) to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan Synonyms: think up, concoct

castigate

(v.) to punish severely; to criticize severely Synonyms: chastise, censure Antonyms: honor, praise, laud