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