Sadlier Level E Unit 13-15

magnanimous

(adjective) generous in forgiving, above small meanness syn: unselfish, charitable, noble, bighearted ant: petty, selfish, unforgiving, spiteful The general's victory was so decisive that he could afford to be *magnanimous* toward his former enemies.

vivacious

(adjective) lively, sprightly, full of energy syn: spirited, animated, ebullient ant: dull, spiritless, listless, indolent, languid A *vivacious* individual will certainly never lack for companions.

dissonant

(adjective) not in harmony; disagreeing, at odds syn: grating, strident, unmelodious, irreconcilable ant: harmonious, agreeing, euphonious The clamor of *dissonant* voices could be heard clearly through the closed doors of the meeting room.

antithesis

(noun) the direct opposite, a sharp contrast syn: contrary, antipode Discriminatory practices may be said to constitute the very *antithesis* of our nation's democratic ideals.

acclimate

(v.) to adapt a new climate, environment, or situation syn: accustom, learn the ropes

chagrin

n.) irritation or humiliation caused by disappointment or frustration; (v.) to cause such a feeling syn: (n.) vexation, mortification; (v.) abash, mortify ant: (n.) jubilation, exultation, triumph; (v.) exult, delight

zealous

(adj.) eager, earnest, devoted syn: ardent, fervent, devout, dogged, gung ho ant: reluctant, unwilling, averse, tepid

somnolent

(adj.) sleepy, drowsy; inducing sleep syn: groggy, soporific ant: alert, lively, wide-awake, stimulating

infinitesimal

(adj.) so small as to be almost immeasurable; minute Syn: tiny, minuscule, microscopic, unnoticeable Ant: vast, immense, huge, infinite

savory

(adj.) tasty, appetizing; pungent or salty, not sweet; inoffensive, respectable syn: delectable, flavorful, aromatic, piquant ant: distasteful, unpalatable, malodorous, bland

droll

(adjective) amusingly odd syn: comical, humorous, whimsical, zany ant: humorless, solemn, dour The hero or heroine of a popular sitcom may be surrounded by a cast of *droll* eccentrics.

applicable

(adj.) capable of being applied; relevant, suitable Syn: appropriate, fit, apt, apposite Ant: inappropriate, unsuitable, irrelevant

voluble

(adj.) characterized by a ready flow of words; glib, fluent syn: loquacious, garrulous, long-winded, prolix ant: uncommunicative, reticent, terse

raucous

(adj.) disagreeably harsh-sounding; disorderly syn: boisterous, clamorous, strident ant: placid, tranquil, peaceful, serene, pastoral

stentorian

(adj.) extremely loud Syn: thundering, booming, deafening, earsplitting Ant: hushed, inaudible, whispered, mute

innocuous

(adj.) harmless, inoffensive; insignificant Syn: feeble, impotent, unobjectionable, insipid Ant: harmful, dangerous, pernicious, toxic, virulent

exuberant

(adj.) high-spirited, enthusiastic, unrestrained; excessive, abundant Syn: lively, ebullient, irrepressible, lavish Ant: depressed, despondent, sulky, restrained

vehement

(adj.) intense, forceful, powerful syn: emphatic, vigorous, impassioned ant: apathetic, lukewarm, subdued, muted

reticent

(adj.) not inclined to speak; reserved; reluctant syn: taciturn, closemouthed, tight-lipped ant: talkative, garrulous, voluble, long-winded

implacable

(adj.) not to be satisfied or pacified; unyielding Syn: relentless, inexorable, unappeasable Ant: lenient, indulgent, permissive, flexible

receptive

(adj.) open and responsive to ideas or suggestions syn: open-minded, tolerant, amenable ant: narrow-minded, intolerant, hidebound

sedate

(adj.) quiet, settled, sober; (v.) to administer a tranquilizer Syn: (adj.) unruffled, composed, cool and collected Ant: (adj.) loud, brash, flashy, flamboyant, garish, flighty

complacent

(adj.) self-satisfied; overly content syn: smug, unconcerned ant: discontented

grotesque

(adj.) unnatural, distorted; bizarre syn: fantastic, outlandish, ugly, deformed ant: appealing, attractive, comely

nondescript

(adjective) ordinary, not outstanding; not easily classified syn: plain, unremarkable, unimpressive ant: distinctive, remarkable, vivid, prepossessing Fashion critics judged the designer's clothing like to be disappointingly *nondescript*.

mandatory

(adjective) required, obligatory syn: compulsory, requisite, imperative ant: optional, voluntary, discretionary A union contrast may stipulate that members are t0 receive a *mandatory* annual cost-of-living increase.

phlegmatic

(adjective) slow-moving, sluggish; unemotional syn: lethargic, indolent, torpid, stolid, impassive ant: emotional, sensitive, thin-skinned, excitable Sloths are such *phlegmatic* creature that they have earned the reputation of being the slowest animals on Earth.

loquacious

(adjective) talkative, wordy; fond of talking syn: gossipy, voluble, garrulous, long-winded ant: silent, reticent, closemouthed, terse, taciturn My dinner companion was so *loquacious* that our conversation quickly turned into a monologue.

bellicose

(adjective) warlike in manner or temperament; quarrelsome syn: aggressive, combative, belligerent ant: amicable, peaceable, conciliatory, pacific Teddy Roosevelt's foreign policy was often driver by a rather *bellicose* brand of patriotism.

ultimatum

(n.) a final proposal or statement of conditions Syn: final terms

edict

(noun) an order issued by someone in authority syn: command, decree, proclamation Only in fairy tales can human unhappiness and misery be banished forever by royal *edict*.

antipathy

(n.) a strong dislike, hostile feeling Syn: hostility, enmity, aversion, bad blood Ant: attraction, appeal, allure, sympathy

pandemonium

(n.) a wild uproar, din, or commotion syn: chaos, bedlam, three-ring circus ant: order, calm, tranquility, peace, repose

facsimile

(n.) an exact copy Syn: replica, duplicate, reproduction, clone Ant: variation, modification, permutation

duress

(n.) compulsion by threat; forcible confinement Syn: intimidation, coercion Ant: persuasion, coaxing, sweet talk, cajolery

prowess

(n.) distinguished bravery; superior skill or ability Syn: valor, courage, heroism, mastery, proficiency Ant: cowardice, incompetence, ineptitude

patent

(n.) exclusive rights over an invention; copyright; (v.) to arrange or obtain such rights; (adj.) plain, open to view; copyrighted Syn: (n.) exclusive, license; (adj.) evident Ant: (adj.) concealed, hidden, secret, clandestine

fracas

(n.) noisy quarrel or brawl syn: row, altercation, rhubarb, brouhaha ant: agreement, accord, unanimity, harmony

decorum

(n.) proper behavior, good taste; orderliness Syn: seemliness, good form, propriety Ant: impropriety, bad form, bad taste

defamation

(n.) slander or libel syn: vilification, calumny ant: salute, tribute

asset

(n.) something of value; a resource; an advantage Syn: property, possession, holding, endowment Ant: drawback, handicap, liability

compassion

(n.) sympathy for another's suffering; pity Syn: concern, commiseration, empathy Ant: indifference, callousness, heartlessness

alacrity

(noun) a cheerful readiness; brisk and eager action syn: promptness, willingness, dispatch, celerity ant: reluctance, unwillingness, hesitancy Neighbors responded with *alacrity* to the woman's cry for help.

stipulate

(v.) to arrange specifically; to require as a condition of agreement Syn:specify, contract, provide for

beset

(v.) to attack from all sides; to surround, hem in; (adj., part.) harassed, troubled; studded (as with jewels) Syn: (v.) assail, harass, badger, pester, torment

imbibe

(v.) to drink; to take in, absorb Syn: swallow, gulp, quaff, assimilate, digest Ant: eject, emit, expel, discharge

concur

(v.) to express agreement, approve syn: agree, assent, ratify, sanction ant: disagree, differ, part company

renounce

(v.) to give up or resign something syn: repudiate, disown, abdicate ant: retain, secure, affirm, assent, aver

militate

(v.) to have effect or force on or against someone or something, fight against Syn: counter, oppose, work against

repress

(v.) to hold back; to put down or check by force syn: subdue, curb, stifle, bottle up ant: liberate, set loose, provoke, excite

explicate

(v.) to make plain or clear, explain; to interpret syn: elucidate, untangle, spell out ant: confuse, bewilder, obscure, obfuscate

loll

(verb) to act in a lazy manner; to lounge; to recline, droop syn: loaf, loiter, sag, dangle There is nothing I would rather do on a hot, humid summer afternoon than *loll* in a hammock under a tree.

disparage

(verb) to belitte, speak slightingly of; to undervalue syn: degrade, decry, run down, underrate ant: praise, extol, laud, plug Don't you think voters are getting awfully tired of listening to politicians *disparage* their opponents' voting records?

elucidate

(verb) to clarify, explain syn: interpret, expound, explicate ant: obscure, becloud, muddy, obfuscate The precise meaning of a passage in Middlemarch is sometimes hard to *elucidate*.

appall

(verb) to fill with dismay or horror syn: shock, stun, stupefy, horrify ant: please, cheer, gladden, elate, exhilarate The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 *appalled* the nation and the world.

laud

(verb) to praise syn: hail, extol, glorify, exalt ant: criticize, censure, belittle, disparage At the assemble the principal *lauded* both students and teachers for the schoolwide improvement in reading scores.

alleviate

(verb) to relieve, make more bearable syn: lesson, lighten, allay, mitigate, assuage The doctors and nurses did everything they could to *alleviate* the patient's severe pain.

rescind

(verb) to repeal, cancel syn: withdraw, revoke, retract, annul, abrogate ant: affirm, endorse, uphold, ratify A sitting Congress sometimes *rescinds* statutes passed by its predecessors.

whet

(verb) to sharpen, put an edge on; to make keen or eager syn: hone, excite, stimulate ant: dull, blunt, deaden, stifle, dampen In most mystery novels, the first character is designed to *whet* your curiosity to find out "who done it."

abrasive

adj.) causing irritation, harsh; grinding or wearing down; (n.) a substance used to smooth or polish syn: (adj.) chafing, grating, rasping, erosive ant: (adj.) smooth, polished, satiny, oily