Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop Level G Units 7-8

illusory

misleading, deceptive; lacking in or not based on reality synonyms: specious, spurious, fanciful, imaginary antonyms: actual, real, factual, objective

indigent

needy, impoverished synonyms: penniless, poverty-stricken, destitute antonyms: wealthy, affluent, prosperous

saturnine

of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in a mood synonyms: sullen, morose antonyms: lighthearted, cheerful, vivacious

picayune

of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded synonyms: inconsequential, piddling, trifling antonyms: important, significant, huge gigantic

echelon

one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a steplike formation or arrangement synonyms: level, rank

effrontery

shameless boldness, impudence synonyms: gall, chutzpah, nerve, impertinence, cheek antonyms: shyness, diffidence, timidity

fatuous

stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way synonyms: silly, vapid, inane, doltish, vacuous antonyms: sensible, intelligent, perceptive, bright

arrant

thoroughgoing, out-and-out; shameless, blatant synonyms: egregious, unmitigated

allege

to assert without proof or confirmation synonyms: claim, contend antonyms: prove, deny

allay

to calm or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve synonyms: reduce, alleviate, moderate antonyms: aggravate, exacerbate, intensify

countermand

to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first synonyms: recall, revoke antonyms: reaffirm, reassert

slough

to cast off, discard; to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary; to plod as if through mud; a mire; a state of depression synonyms: shed, slog antonyms: take on, acquire, assume

jettison

to cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome synonyms: cast off, discard, dump, junk, abandon antonyms: conserve, retain, hold on to, keep

embellish

to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details synonyms: ornament, garnish antonyms: strip, mar, disfigure

portend

to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen, to give advance warning of synonyms: bode, foretell, foreshadow, suggest

exacerbate

to make more violent, severe, bitter, or painful synonyms: aggravate, intensify, worsen antonyms: alleviate, mitigate, ameliorate

demur

to object or take exception to; an objective synonyms: protest, object to antonyms: assent to, consent to, accept, agree to

conciliate

to overcome the distrust of, win over; to appease, pacify; to reconcile, make consistent synonyms: placate, mollify, propitiate antonyms: antagonize, alienate, estrange

saturate

to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity; to satisfy fully synonyms: permeate, drench, flood, imbue antonyms: drain

raze

to tear down, destroy completely; to cut or scrape off or out synonyms: pull down, demolish, shave off antonyms: build, construct, raise, erect

recant

to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed; renounce, retract synonyms: repudiate, disavow antonyms: reaffirm, reassert

pertinacious

very persistent; holding firmly to a course of action or a set of beliefs; hard to get rid of, refusing to be put off or denied synonyms: stubborn, dogged, determined

coterie

a circle of acquaintances; a close-knit, often exclusive, group of people with a common interest synonyms: clique, set

juggernaut

a massive and inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path

counterpart

a person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another; a complement synonym: match

misanthrope

a person who hates or despises people synonym: people-hater

litany

a prayer consisting of short appeals to God recited by the leader alternating with responses from the congregation; any repetitive chant; a long list synonyms: rigmarole, catalog, megillah

paucity

an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth synonym: lack antonyms: abundance, glut, plenitude, deluge

felicitous

appropriate, apt, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy synonyms: fortunate, well-put antonyms: inappropriate, inept, graceless, unhappy

bestial

beastlike; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility synonyms: animal, depraved, loathsome antonyms: human, humane, clement,virtuous, upright

raiment

clothing, garments synonyms: apparel, attire

furtive

done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen synonyms: clandestine, covert, surreptitious antonyms: forthright, aboveboard, open

inordinate

far too great, exceeding the reasonable limits, excessive synonyms: exorbitant, extravagant antonyms: moderate, reasonable, equitable

convivial

festive, sociable, having fun together, genial synonyms: fun-loving, jovial, merry antonyms: dour, grim, sullen, unsociable

garish

glaring; tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way synonyms: gaudy, flashy, tawdry antonyms: subdued, muted, understated, quiet

macabre

grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject synonyms: grotesque, grim, ghoulish

irrefutable

impossible to disprove; beyond argument synonyms: indisputable, incontrovertible, undeniable antonyms: disputable, indefensible, untenable

lackadaisical

lacking spirit or interest; halfhearted synonyms: listless, indolent, indifferent, lax antonyms: energetic, vigorous, wholehearted

ephemeral

lasting only a short time, short-lived synonyms: fleeting, transient, evanescent, transitory antonyms: durable, long-lasting, permanent, perpetual

badinage

light and playful conversation synonyms: banter, persiflage, repartee antonym: sermon