Sadlier Vocab Level G Unit 13

Ethereal

(adj.) light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly (rather than earthbound) SYN: heavenly, celestial, gossamer ANT: infernal, hellish, thick, heavy

Incongruous

(adj.) not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible SYN: discordant ANT: compatible, harmonious, consistent

Contrite

(adj.) regretful for some misdeed or sin; plagued by a sense of guilt; thoroughly penitent SYN: remorseful, rueful ANT: unapologetic, impenitent

Ghoulish

(adj.) revolting in an unnatural or morbid way; suggestive of someone who robs graves or otherwise preys on the dead SYN: barbarous, monstrous

Decorous

(adj.) well behaved, dignified, socially proper SYN: seemly, becoming, tasteful ANT: unbecoming, improper, tasteless

Desiccated

(adj., part.) thoroughly dried out; divested of spirit or vitality; arid and uninteresting SYN: dehydrated, shriveled ANT: sodden, waterlogged, drenched

Machination

(n.) a crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some (usually evil) end SYN: plot, maneuver

Canard

(n.) a false rumor, fabricated story SYN: hoax

Affront

(n.) an open or intentional insult; a slight; (v.) to insult to one's face in defiance, confront SYN: (n.) offense; (v.) offend ANT: (n., v.) compliment, praise

Opprobrium

(n.) disgrace arising from shameful conduct; contempt, reproach SYN: infamy, dishonor, odium ANT: acclaim, honor, glory, renown

Cynosure

(n.) the center of attraction, attention, or interest; something that serves to guide or direct SYN: focus

Facade

(n.) the front or face of a building; a surface appearance (as opposed to what may lie behind) SYN: exterior, surface, mask ANT: interior

Efficacy

(n.) the power to produce a desired result SYN: effectiveness, potency, reliability ANT: impotence

Engender

(v.) to bring into existence, give rise to, produce; to come into existence, assume form SYN: generate, cause, form ANT: stop, deter

Mesmerize

(v.) to hypnotize, entrance; to fascinate, enthrall, bewitch

Deign

(v.) to think it appropriate or suitable to one's dignity to do something; to condescend SYN: deem

Cognizant

(adj.) aware, knowledgeable, informed; having jurisdiction SYN: acquainted ANT: unaware, unconscious, oblivious

Abstruse

(adj.) extremely difficult to understand SYN: arcane, recondite, occult ANT: simple, straightforward

Putative

(adj.) generally regarded as such; reputed; hypothesized, inferred SYN: supposed, presumed ANT: corroborated, confirmed

Captious

(adj. ) excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism; intended to trap, confuse, or show up SYN: faultfinding, carping ANT: uncritical