Vocabulary Workshop Level H Units 13-15

apropos

(adj.) appropriate, opportune; (adv.) relevantly; incidentally, by the way; speaking of Synonyms: (adj.) pertinent, germane, apposite, relevant Antonyms: (adj.) irrelevant, inappropriate, immaterial

unimpeachable

(adj.) beyond doubt or reproach; unquestionable Synonyms: irreproachable, irrefutable, unassailable Antonyms: questionable, debatable, dubious

dogmatic

(adj.) certain of the truth of one's own ideas; inclined to state opinions as if they were indisputable facts Synonyms: opinionated, doctrinaire, authoritarian Antonyms: open-minded, disinterested, dispassionate

mercurial

(adj.) characterized by rapid and unpredictable changes of mood; fickle or inconstant Synonyms: erratic, flighty, capricious, volatile Antonyms: phlegmatic, sluggish, constant, steady

disparate

(adj.) completely distinct or different; entirely dissimilar Synonyms: divergent Antonyms: similar, homogeneous, uniform

chronic

(adj.) continuing over a long period of time or recurring often Synonyms: recurrent, persistent, inveterate, habitual Antonyms: transitory, transient, sporadic

chauvinist

(adj.) extravagantly patriotic; blindly devoted to a cause; (n.) such a person Synonyms: (n.) superpatriot, flag-waver, jingoist

populous

(adj.) full of people; filled to capacity; densely populated; having a large population Synonyms: crowded, teeming, swarming Antonyms: uninhabited, unpeopled, deserted, barren

noxious

(adj.) harmful to physical health or morals Synonyms: pernicious, noisome, deleterious, toxic Antonyms: wholesome, salubrious, beneficial

didactic

(adj.) intended to instruct, especially morally; inclined to moralize too much Synonyms: educational, instructional, moralistic

disingenuous

(adj.) lacking in sincerity or candor Synonyms: artful, sly, two-faced, insincere Antonyms: candid, frank, artless, sincere

licentious

(adj.) morally or sexually unrestrained; having no regard for accepted rules, customs, or laws Synonyms: wanton, dissolute, lascivious Antonyms: chaste, modest, restrained, prudish

ineluctable

(adj.) not able to be avoided, changed, or overcome Synonyms: unavoidable, inescapable, inevitable Antonyms: avoidable, escapable, reversible, revocable

unconscionable

(adj.) not guided or restrained by conscience, prudence, or reason; unscrupulous; immoderate Synonyms: unjustifiable, indefensible, unforgivable Antonyms: justifiable, reasonable, honorable

contumacious

(adj.) obstinately or willfully disobedient; openly rebellious Synonyms: impudent, unruly, defiant, refractory Antonyms: docile, meek, deferential, cooperative

fulminate

(v.) to denounce or condemn vehemently; to explode, detonate Synonyms: rail, inveigh Antonyms: praise, applaud, commend, extol

mete

(v.) to distribute or apportion by or as if by measure; to allot Synonyms: assign, parcel out

bicker

(v.) to engage in a petty or peevish dispute; to move or run rapidly, rush; to flicker, quiver Synonyms: squabble, wrangle, quarrel, plash Antonyms: concur, agree, acquiesce

expound

(v.) to explain in detail Synonyms: elucidate, explicate, delineate

palliate

(v.) to make less serious or severe by glossing over; to relieve without actually curing, mitigate Synonyms: alleviate, extenuate Antonyms: intensify, magnify, aggravate

beguile

(v.) to mislead or deceive; to cheat; to divert; to cause to vanish unnoticed Synonyms: delude, dupe, lure, while away

adumbrate

(v.) to outline or sketch broadly; to foreshadow or prefigure; to disclose partially Synonym: indicate

cull

(v.) to pick out or select; to gather or collect Synonyms: glean, choose, pluck

burgeon

(v.) to put forth new buds, leaves, or greenery; to develop rapidly or suddenly Synonyms: sprout, blossom, bloom, flourish Antonyms: atrophy, wither, shrivel, diminish

inhibit

(v.) to restrain or hold back; to hinder or arrest; to prohibit Synonyms: repress, check, suppress Antonyms: foster, promote, expedite, facilitate

truncate

(v.) to shorten by or as if by cutting off, lop Synonyms: trim, abbreviate, curtail Antonyms: lengthen, elongate, extend, protract

supervene

(v.) to take place or occur as something additional or unexpected; to follow immediately after Synonyms: ensue, succeed Antonyms: precede, antecede

ascetic

(adj.) practicing strict self-denial for the sake of personal or spiritual discipline; (n.) one who leads a life of self-discipline, especially to express religious devotion Synonyms: (adj.) austere, spartan; (n.) celibate Antonyms: (adj.) wanton, dissolute; (n.) hedonist

resplendent

(adj.) shining or gleaming brilliantly; splendid or magnificent Synonyms: radiant, dazzling, glorious Antonyms: dull, drab, lusterless

immaculate

(adj.) spotless; without blemish or fault Synonyms: unsoiled, impeccable Antonyms: blemished, tarnished, stained, sullied

sub rosa

(adv.) in secret; confidentially; privately; (adj.) secretive Synonyms: (adv.) secretly, covertly, stealthily, furtively Antonyms: (adv.) overtly, openly

imprecation

(n.) a curse; the act of cursing Synonyms: execration, malediction Antonyms: blessing, benediction

convolution

(n.) a rolling up, coiling, or twisting together; a sinuous folding or design Synonyms: twist, turn, complication

faux pas

(n.) a slip in manners or conduct; a social blunder Synonyms: indiscretion, gaffe Antonyms: coup, tour de force

bauble

(n.) a small, showy ornament of little value or use Synonyms: trifle, gewgaw, knickknack, bagatelle Antonyms: gem, precious jewel, treasure

repartee

(n.) a swift, witty reply; conversation full of such remarks; skill in making such replies or conversation Synonyms: retort, comeback, banter, verbal sparring

vestige

(n.) a trace or visible evidence of something that once existed but now is lost or vanished Synonyms: artifact, relic, remains

bromide

(n.) a trite or commonplace remark; a tiresome or boring person; a sedative Synonyms: cliche, platitude

polemic

(n.) an aggressive attack on or refutation of a specific opinion or dotrine Synonyms: diatribe, controversy

jeremiad

(n.) an elaborate or prolonged lamentation; any tale of woe Antonyms: paean, song of praise

contretemps

(n.) an inopportune or embarrassing occurrence; a mishap Synonyms: blunder, mischance, faux pas, gaffe

curmudgeon

(n.) an irascible, churlish person Synonyms: grouch, crank, sorehead, churl

probity

(n.) complete and confirmed honesty; total integrity Synonyms: uprightness, rectitude Antonyms: corruption, venality, immorality, iniquity

protocol

(n.) customs and regulations dealing with official behavior and etiquette, as in a court or among diplomats; a type of international agreement; a memorandum, official account, or record Synonyms: code of conduct, minutes

vainglory

(n.) excessive pride in and boastfulness about one's own accomplishments or qualities; a vain show or display Synonyms: vanity, conceit, swagger, pretentiousness Antonyms: humility, modesty, diffidence

hauteur

(n.) haughtiness of bearing or attitude Synonyms: conceit, superciliousness, snobbishness Antonyms: modesty, humility, diffidence, mousiness

fustian

(n.) inflated or pretentious language in speech or writing; a cloth made of cotton and flax Synonyms: rant, claptrap, bombast, grandiloquence

opportunist

(n.) one who makes a practice of taking advantage of circumstances to further his or her own self-interest, regardless of principles or ultimate consequences Synonyms: self-seeker, exploiter

factionalism

(n.) party strife and intrigue Synonyms: infighting, dissension Antonyms: unanimity, harmony, agreement, consensus

accolade

(n.) priase or approval; a ceremonial embrace or greeting Synonyms: kudos, acclaim, cheers, plaudits Antonyms: boos, disapproval, censure, criticism

complement

(n.) something that completes a whole; the quantity or number needed to make up a whole; the full number or allowance; (v.) to complete Synonyms: (n.) balance; (v.) round out

acerbity

(n.) sourness or bitterness of taste; harshness or severity of manner or expression Synonyms: acidity, astringency, mordancy, asperity Antonyms: blandness, mellowness, mildness

apotheosis

(n.) the elevation of a person to a divine rank or status; the glorification of a person as an ideal; a glorified ideal Synonym: deification

apogee

(n.) the oint in the orbit of a heavenly body or artificial satellite farthest from the earth; the farthest or highest point Synonyms: zenith, apex, summit, pinnacle Antonyms: nadir, bottom, pits, perigee

volition

(n.) the power to choose, will, or decide; the act of choosing, willing, or deciding Synonyms: free will, choice Antonyms: coercion, compulsion, duress

attrition

(n.) the process of wearing down by friction or gradual impairment Synonyms: abrasion, erosion, exhaustion, reduction Antonyms: augmentation, proliferation, enlargement

accoutrements

(n., pl.) accessory items of clothing or equipment; a soldier's outfit, usually not including arms or clothing; trappings Synonyms: gear, equipage, appurtenances

coalesce

(v.) to blend together or fuse so as to form one body or substance Synonyms: amalgamate, merge, combine, unite Antonyms: scatter diffuse, separate

stigmatize

(v.) to brand or mark as in some way discreditable, disgraceful, or ignominious Synonyms: sully, taint, disgrace Antonyms: whitewash, laud, extol

exculpate

(v.) to clear of guilt or blame Synonyms: absolve, exonerate, acquit Antonyms: convict, condemn