Level F Unit 5

transient

(adj.) lasting only a short time, fleeting; (n.) one who stays only a short time SYNONYMS: impermanent, ephemeral, evanescent ANTONYMS: permanent, imperishable, immortal

scourge

(v.) to whip, punish severely, to cause great suffering to; (n.) a source or severe punishment or criticism, a person that causes great trouble or suffering SYNONYMS: (v.) flog, beat; (n.) bane, plague, pestilence ANTONYMS: (n.) godsend, boon, blessing

precept

a general rule of conduct or action SYNONYMS: principle, maxim

caveat

a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior SYNONYMS: admonition, word to the wise

amnesty

an official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses.; an act of forgiveness SYNONYM: reprieve

salutary

beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome SYNONYMS: salubrious, curative ANTONYMS: detrimental, deleterious

unwieldy

difficult to move or handle bc of its size, shape, or weight SYNONYMS: bulky, clumsy, impractical ANTONYMS: manageable, easy to handle

vapid

dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force SYNONYMS: lifeless, colorless ANTONYMS: zesty, spicy, colorful

straitlaced

extremely strict regarding moral standards and conduct SYNONYMS: highly conventional, overly strict, stuffy ANTONYMS: lax, loose, indulgent, permissive, dissolute

equitable

fair, just, embodying principles of justice SYNONYMS: right, reasonable, evenhanded ANTONYMS: unjust, unfair, one-sided, disproportionate

sepulchral

funereal, relating to a tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal SYNONYMS: lugubrious, mortuary

axiomatic

self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle SYNONYM: taken for granted ANTONYMS: questionable, dubious

autonomy

self-government, political control SYNONYM: home rule ANTONYMS: dependence, subjection

scathing

severely critical, withering; causing great harm SYNONYMS: searing, harsh, savage ANTONYMS: bland, mild

fractious

tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome; unpredictable; difficult to control SYNONYMS: refractory, recalcitrant, peevish ANTONYMS: docile, tractable, cooperative

soporific

tending to cause sleepiness or a thing that induces sleep SYNONYMS: (n.) narcotic, anesthetic ANTONYMS: (adj.) stimulating; (n.) stimulant, stimulus

blazon

to adorn or embellish; to display prominently or vividly SYNONYMS: broadcast, trumpet ANTONYMS: hide, conceal, bury

extricate

to free from constraints or difficulties; to remove with effort SYNONYMS: disentangle, extract ANTONYMS: enmesh, entangle

flout

to mock, treat with contempt SYNONYMS: sneer at, snicker at, scorn ANTONYMS: obey, honor

filch

to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts SYNONYMS: pilfer, purloin, swipe