Sadlier-Oxford: Level F: Unit 1

Lurid

(adj.) Causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint. Synonyms: Gruesome, Gory, Grisly, Baleful, Ghastly Antonyms: Pleasant, Attractive, Appealing, Wholesome

Unctuous

(adj.) Excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily; pliable. Synonyms: Mealymouthed, Servile, Fawning, Greasy Antonyms: Gruff, Blunt

Petulant

(adj.) Peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset. Synonyms: Irritable, Testy, Waspish Antonyms: Even-Tempered, Placid, Serene, Amiable

Provincial

(adj.) Pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside. (n.) A person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outlying area; a soldier from a province or colony. Synonyms: (adj.) Narrow-Minded, Parochial, Insular, Naive Antonyms: (adj.) Cosmopolitan, Catholic, Broad-Minded

Hackneyed

(adj.) Used so often as to lack freshness or originality. Synonyms: Banal, Trite, Commonplace, Corny Antonyms: New, Fresh, Novel, Original

Jaded

(adj.) Wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence) Synonyms: Sated, Surfeited, Cloyed Antonyms: Unspoiled, Uncloyed

Meritorious

(adj.) Worthy, deserving recognition and praise. Synonyms: Praiseworthy, Laudable, Commendable Antonyms: Blameworthy, Reprehensible, Discreditable

Coalition

(n.) A combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose. Synonyms: Alliance, League, Federation, Combine Antonyms: Splinter Group

Hiatus

(n.) A gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing). Synonyms: Pause, Lacuna Antonyms: Continuity, Continuation

Innuendo

(n.) A hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense). Synonyms: Insinuation, Intimation Antonyms: Direct Statement

Prerogative

(n.) A special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence. Synonyms: Perquisite, Perk

Decadence

(n.) Decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence. Synonyms: Degeneration, Corruption Antonyms: Rise, Growth, Development, Maturation

Umbrage

(n.) Shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspicion. Synonyms: Irritation, Pique, Annoyance Antonyms: Pleasure, Delight, Satisfaction

Approbation

(n.) The expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval. Synonyms: Commendation, Sanction Antonyms: Disapproval, Condemnation, Censure

Expostulate

(v.) To attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning. Synonyms: Protest, Remonstrate, Complain

Elicit

(v.) To draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person). Synonyms: Call Forth, Evoke, Extract, Educe Antonyms: Repress, Quash, Squelch, Stifle

Simulate

(v.) To make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of. Synonyms: Feign, Pretend, Affect

Assuage

(v.) To make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench. Synonyms: Mitigate, Alleviate, Slake, Allay Antonyms: Intensify, Aggravate, Exacerbate

Intercede

(v.) To plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third part or go-between in a disagreement. Synonyms: Intervene, Mediate

Transcend

(v.) To rise above or beyond, exceed. Synonyms: Surpass, Outstrip