AP English Language Composition Vocabulary Unit #14

beatific

(adj.) blissful; rendering or making blessed SYNONYM: rapturous, ecstatic ANTONYM: disconsolate, dejected, doleful

imminent

(adj) about to happen, threatening SYNONYM: impending, looming ANTONYM: distant, remote, faraway

manifest

(adj.) clear, evident to the eyes or mind; (v.) to show plainly, exhibit, evince; (n.) a list of cargo and/or passengers SYNONYM: (adj.) apparent; (v.) reveal, disclose ANTONYM: to hide, conceal; unrevealed, hidden

wizened

(adj.) dry, shrunken, and wrinkled (often as the result of aging) SYNONYM: withered, shriveled ANTONYM: bloated, distended

febrile

(adj.) feverish; pertaining to or marked by fever SYNONYM: frenetic ANTONYM: leisurely, relaxed, "laid-back"

replete

(adj.) filled to capacity; provided in abundance SYNONYM: bursting, bristling, filled ANTONYM: devoid, empty, barren, lacking

cacophonous

(adj.) harsh-sounding SYNONYM: raucous, discordant, dissonant ANTONYM: harmonious, melodious, mellifluos

innate

(adj.) natural, built-in SYNONYM: inherent, intrinsic ANTONYM: learned, acquired; extrinsic, accidental

visionary

(adj.) not practical, lacking in realism; having the nature of a fantasy or dream; (n.) one given to far fetched ideas; a dreamer or seer characterized by vision or foresight SYNONYM: utopian, idealistic, impractical ANTONYM: realistic, practical, down-to-earth

complaisant

(adj.) obliging wanting to please or serve others SYNONYM: obliging, accommodating, eager to please ANTONYM: uncooperative, unobliging, insubordinate

loath

(adj.) unwilling, reluctant, disinclined SYNONYM: averse ANTONYM: willing, eager, inclined

behemoth

(n.) a creature of enormous size, power, or appearance SYNONYM: mammoth, colossus ANTONYM: a dwarf, pygmy, midget

coup

(n.) a highly successful stroke, tour de force, a sudden takeover of power or leadership SYNONYM: strategm ANTONYM: a blunder, faux pas, gaffe

euphemism

(n.) a mild or inoffensive expression used in place of a harsh or unpleasant one

moratorium

(n.) a suspension of activity; an official waiting period; an authorized period of delay SYNONYM: postponement, stoppage ANTONYM: an acceleration; an escalation

nostrum

(n.) an alleged cure-all; a remedy or scheme of questionable effectiveness SYNONYM: panacea, elixir

blandishment

(n.) anything designed to flatter or coax; sweet talk, apple-polishing SYNONYM: allurement, enticement, cajolery ANTONYM: a threat, intimidation, strong-arm tactic

chicanery

(n.) deceptive practices or tactics, double-dealing SYNONYM: trickery ANTONYM: ethical practices, fair dealings

pariah

(n.) one who is rejected by a social group or organization SYNONYM: outcast, persona non grata

minutiae

(n.) small or trivial details, trifling matters SYNONYM: trivia ANTONYM: major issues or concern; the overall picture

gainsay

(v.) to deny, to dispute, to oppose SYNONYM: contradict ANTONYM: to confirm, corroborate, support

consign

(v.) to give over to another's care, charge, or control SYNONYM: transfer, remit