Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop Level E Unit 12

tangible

(adj.) capable of being touched; real, concrete s: preceptible, actual, evident, palpable a: immaterial, imperceptible, insubstantial

acrid

(adj.) harsh in taste or odor; sharp in manner or temper s: irritating, stinging, bitter, caustic a: gentle, soothing, mild

nocturnal

(adj.) of or occurring in the night; under cover of darkness s: nighttime a: daytime, diurnal

callous

(adj.) emotionally hardened, unfeelings s: insensitive, unsympathetic, thick-skinned a: sensitive, compassionate, tenderhearted

inveterate

(adj.) firmly established, long-standing; habitual s: persisting, chronic, dyed-in-the-wool a: sporadic, intermittent, occasional

quiescent

(adj.) inactive; at rest s: still, insert, motionless, dormant, tranquil a: active, thriving, lively, bustling, volatile

trenchant

(adj.) incisive, keen; forceful, effective; cutting, caustic; distinct, clear-cut s: penetrating, cutting, telling, acute a: dull, bland, insipid, vapid, imperceptive

august

(adj.) majestic, inspiring admiration and respect s: stately, dignified, exalted, venerable a: humble, base, mean, lowly, abject

indelible

(adj.) not able to be erased or removed; memorable s: lasting, permanent, unforgettable a: erasable, impermanent, ephemeral

irrelevant

(adj.) not to the point, not applicable or pertinent s: inapplicable, immaterial, beside the point a: pertinent, material, apropos, germane

clandestine

(adj.) secret, concealed; underhanded s: covert, furtive, surreptitious, stealthy a: open, overt, undisguised, aboveboard

tacit

(adj.) unspoken, silent; implied, inferred s: unexpressed, unvoiced, understood, implicit a: explicit, express, specific

indulgent

(adj.) yielding to the wishes or demands of others s: lenient, permissive, tolerant, liberal a: strict, severe, inflexible, hard-nosed

elated

(adj., part) in high spirits, jubilant; extremely pleased s: overjoyed, ecstatic, tickled pink a: depressed, crestfallen, despondent, blue

platitude

(n.) a commonplace, stale, or trite remark s: cliche, truism, bromide a: epigram, quip, witticism, bon mot

conflagration

(n.) a large destructive fire s: holocaust, wildfire a: deluge, flood

compunction

(n.) remorse, regret s: scruple, qualm, misgiving, contrition a: shamelessness, insouciance, nonchalance

ruminate

(v.) to meditate, think about at length; to chew the cud s: ponder, reflect, mull over, muse

abjure

(v.) to renounce, repudiate under oath; to avoid, shun s: forswear, retract, recant, abstain from a: affirm, avow, avert, profess

quell

(v.) to subdue, put down forcibly s: suppress, pacify, squelch, quash, crush a: incite, provoke, arouse, foment, stir up