English II Q4 Exam
fortuitous
(adj.) accidental, occurring by a happy chance
gauche
(adj.) awkward, lacking in social graces, tactless, clumsy
hypothetical
(adj.) based on an assumption or guess; used as a tentative idea to direct an investigation s: assumed, supposed, conjectural, conditional a: actual, real, tested, substantiated
palpable
(adj.) capable of being touched or felt; easily seen, heard, or recognized
sedentary
(adj.) characterized by or calling for continued sitting; remaining in one place
nebulous
(adj.) cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct synonyms: hazy, fuzzy, cloudy, vague, murky, opaque, indeterminate antonyms: definite, distinct, clear, sharply focused
crass
(adj.) coarse, unfeeling; stupid SYNONYMS: crude, tasteless, oafish, obtuse ANTONYMS: refined, elegant, tasteful, polished, brilliant
egregious
(adj.) conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used particularly in an unfavorable sense) synonyms: glaring, flagrant, blatant antonyms: unnoticeable, paltry, piddling
specious
(adj.) deceptive, apparently good or valid but lacking real merit
culpable
(adj.) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation synonyms: guilty, delinquent, peccant, blameworthy antonyms: blameless, innocent, laudable, meritorious
censurable
(adj.) deserving of blame or correction
pretentious
(adj.) done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one's skill or abilities, ambitious synonyms: inflated, ostentatious, affected antonyms: unassuming, unaffected, modest
efficacious
(adj.) effective, producing results
recondite
(adj.) exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding
munificent
(adj.) extremely generous, lavish
pernicious
(adj.) extremely harmful; deadly, fatal
corpulent
(adj.) fat; having a large, bulky body s: overweight, heavy, obese, stout, portly a: slender, lean, spare, gaunt, emaciated
gratuitous
(adj.) freely given; not called for by circumstances, unwarranted
grandiose
(adj.) grand in an impressive or stately way; marked by pompous affectation or grandeur, absurdly exaggerated SYNONYMS: majestic, bombastic, highfalutin ANTONYMS: simple, modest, humble
perceptive
(adj.) having sympathetic insight or understanding, capable of keen appreciation
covert
(adj.) hidden, disguised, purposefully kept secret; sheltered, secluded; (n.) a sheltered place, a hiding place
florid
(adj.) highly colored, reddish; excessively ornate, showy
intemperate
(adj.) immoderate; lacking in self-control; inclement s: excessive, extreme, unrestrained, inordinate a: moderate, restrained, cool and collected
dispassionate
(adj.) impartial; free from emotion s: unbiased, disinterested, cool, detached a: committed, engaged, partial, biased
torpid
(adj.) inactive, sluggish, dull synonyms: sluggish, lethargic, otiose, languid antonyms: energetic, dynamic, vigorous
squeamish
(adj.) inclined to nausea; easily shocked or upset; excessively fastidious or refined s: nauseated, queasy, delicate, oversensitve, priggish
redoubtable
(adj.) inspiring fear or awe; illustrious, eminent SYNONYMS: formidable, august ANTONYMS: laughable, risible
salient
(adj.) leaping, jumping, or springing forth; prominent, standing out, conspicuous; (n.) a projection or bulge, a land form that projects upward or outward
contingent
(adj.) likely but not certain to happen, possible; dependent on uncertain events or conditions; happening by chance; (n.) a representative group forming part of a larger body
ignoble
(adj.) mean, low, base s: inferior, unworthy, dishonorable, sordid a: admirable, praiseworthy, lofty, noble
abstemious
(adj.) moderate, sparing (as in eating and drinking), characterized by abstinence and self-discipline
vulnerable
(adj.) open to attack; capable of being wounded or damaged; unprotected SYNONYMS: defenseless, unguarded ANTONYMS: invincible, protected, safe, secure
susceptible
(adj.) open to; easily influenced; lacking in resistance s: vulnerable, receptive, impressionable a: resistant, immune
imperious
(adj.) overbearing, arrogant; seeking to dominate; pressing, compelling
cadaverous
(adj.) pale, gaunt, resembling a corpse SYNONYMS: corpselike, wasted, haggard, emaciated, ghastly ANTONYMS: robust, portly, rosy, the picture of health
discursive
(adj.) passing aimlessly from one place or subject to another, rambling,roving, nomadic
beneficent
(adj.) performing acts of kindness or charity; conferring benefits, doing good SYNONYMS: humanitarian, magnanimous, charitable ANTONYMS: selfish, cruel, harmful, deletorious
debonair
(adj.) pleasant, courteous, lighthearted; smooth and polished in manner and appearance
dowdy
(adj.) poorly dressed, shabby; lacking smartness and good taste
bovine
(adj.) resembling a cow or ox; sluggish, unresponsive s: stolid, dull, slow, stupid a: alert, sharp, bright, keen, quick
austere
(adj.) severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple, plain; harsh or sour in flavor SYNONYMS: forbidding, rigorous, puritanical, ascetic, unadorned ANTONYMS: mild, indulgent, luxurious, flamboyant
motley
(adj.) showing great variety, composed of different elements or many colors; (n.) a jester's costume; a jester
astute
(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom synonyms: shrewd, acute, sagacious, judicious, wily antonyms: obtuse, doltish, empty-headed, dumb
acrimonious
(adj.) stinging, bitter in temper or tone s: biting, caustic, rancorous, hostile, peevish a: gentle, warm, mild, friendly, cordial
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
subservient
(adj.) subordinate in capacity or role; serving to promote some end; submissively obedient, serving to promote some end s: secondary, servile, obsequious, useful a: primary, principal, bossy, domineering
dilatory
(adj.) tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone synonyms: stalling, slow, tardy, laggard antonyms: prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious
provocative
(adj.) tending to produce a strong feeling or response; arousing desire or appetite; irritating, annoying
inconsequential
(adj.) trifling, unimportant SYNONYMS: trivial, negligible, paltry ANTONYMS: important, essential, crucial
irresolute
(adj.) unable to make up one's mind, hesitating synonyms: indecisive, vacillating, wavering antonyms: determined, decisive, unwavering
slovenly
(adj.) untidy, dirty, careless synonyms: unkempt, slatternly, slipshod, lax antonyms: neat, tidy, careful, meticulous
evanescent
(adj.) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy synonyms: ephemeral, transient, transitory antonyms: everlasting, immortal, imperishable
punctilious
(adj.) very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette or propriety SYNONYMS: precise, scrupulous ANTONYMS: careless, perfunctory
infraction
(n.) a breaking of a law or obligation SYNONYMS: violation, transgression, offense
annotation
(n.) a critical or explanatory note or comment, especially for a literary work
reprobate
(n.) a depraved, vicious, or unprincipled person, scoundrel; (adj.) wicked, corrupt, or unprincipled; (v.) to disapprove of, condemn
avarice
(n.) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth synonyms: cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness
bedlam
(n.) a state or scene of uproar and confusion
invective
(n.) a strong denunciation or condemnation; abusive language; (adj.) abusive, vituperative
denizen
(n.) an inhabitant, resident; one who frequents a place
anathema
(n.) an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation (often used adjectivally without the article) synonyms: malediction, imprecation, abomination antonyms: benediction, blessing
equanimity
(n.) calmness, composure, refusal to panic
penury
(n.) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency synonyms: destitution, want, indigence antonyms: affluence, abundance, luxury, opulence
novice
(n.) one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience (also used adjectivally) synonyms: neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice antonyms: veteran, past master, pro, expert
adulation
(n.) praise or flattery that is excessive synonyms: adoration, idolization, hero-worship antonyms: ridicule, derision, scorn, odium
supposition
(n.) something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence synonyms: assumption, presumption, hypothesis
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: reimbursement, redress, restoration
gist
(n.) the essential part, main part, or essence
heresy
(n.)an opinion different from accepted belief; the denial of an idea that is generally held sacred
gauntlet
(noun) an armored or protective glove; a challenge to combat s: dare, provocation, trial, punishment
dissension
(noun) disagreement, sharp difference of opinion s: strife, discord, contention a: agreement, accord, harmony
consternation
(noun) dismay, confusion s: shock, amazement, bewilderment, dismay a: calm, composure, aplomb
perfidy
(noun) faithlessness, treachery s: betrayal, disloyalty, treason, duplicity a: faithfulness, loyalty, steadfastness
odium
(noun) hatred, contempt; disgrace or infamy resulting from hateful conduct s:abhorrence, opprobrium, shame, ignominy a: esteem, admiration, approbation
desecrate
(v.) to commit sacrilege upon, treat irreverently; to contaminate, pollute SYNONYMS: profane, defile, violate ANTONYMS: revere, venerate, consecrate
corroborate
(v.) to confirm, make more certain, bolster, substantiate, verify
disconcert
(v.) to confuse; to disturb the composure of SYNONYMS: upset, rattle, ruffle, faze ANTONYMS: relax, calm, put at ease
procrastinate
(v.) to delay, put off until later
dun
(v.) to demand insistently, especially in payment of a debt; (n.) a creditor; (adj.) dark, dull, drab, dingy
reprove
(v.) to find fault with, scold, rebuke SYNONYMS: chastise, upbraid, reproach ANTONYMS: praise, commend, laud, pat on the back
accrue
(v.) to grow or accumulate over time; to happen as a natural result
foist
(v.) to impose by fraud; to pass off as worthy or genuine; to bring about by stealth, dishonesty, or coercion
inculcate
(v.) to impress on the mind by repetition, teach persistently and earnestly
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
abate
(v.) to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit synonyms: diminish, decrease, subside, let up antonyms: intensify, increase, magnify, wax
mitigate
(v.) to make milder or softer, to moderate in force or intensity SYNONYMS: lessen, relieve, alleviate ANTONYMS: aggravate, intensify, irritate, exacerbate
sear
(v.) to make or become dry and withered; to char or scorch the surface of; to harden or make unfeeling; to parch, singe
concoct
(v.) to prepare by combining ingredients, make up (as a dish); to devise, invent, fabricate SYNONYMS: create, fashion, rustle up
recapitulate
(v.) to review a series of facts; to sum up synonyms: review, summarize, sum up, go over
resuscitate
(v.) to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence synonyms: revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate
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
satiate
(v.) to satisfy completely; to fill to excess; (adj.) full, satisfied
disseminate
(v.) to scatter or spread widely SYN: disperse, publicize, broadcast, circulate ANT: bring together, concentrate, muster, conceal, hide
equivocate
(v.) to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague or ambiguous synonyms: to talk out of both sides of one's mouth, palter, hedge antonyms: to speak one's mind plainly
prate
(v.) to talk a great deal in a foolish or aimless fashion SYNONYMS: prattle, blab, palaver ANTONYM: come to the point
impugn
(verb) to call into question, to attack as false s: challenge, deny, dispute, query, question a: confirm, prove, verify, validate
dissipate
(verb) to cause to disappear; to scatter, dispel; to spend foolishly, squander; to be extravagant in pursuit of pleasure s: disperse, strew, diffuse, waste a: gather, collect, conserve, husband
disavow
(verb) to deny responsibility for or connection with s: disown, disclaim, retract, abjure a: acknowledge, admit, grant, certify
relegate
(verb) to place in a lower position; to banish; surrender, to assign, turn over s: transfer, consign, demote, exile a: promote, elevate, advance, recall
expurgate
(verb) to remove objectionable passages or words from a written text; to cleanse, clarify s: purge, censor, bowdlerize