Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop Level G Units 9-10
obsequious
marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons synonyms: fawning, servile, sycophantic, mealymouthed antonyms: assertive, bumptious, overbearing, candid, frank, independent
imperturbable
not easily excited; emotionally steady synonyms: unflappable, unexcitable, serene, unruffled antonym: excitable
unremitting
not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless synonyms: constant, incessant, unrelenting antonyms: desultory, intermittent
sporadic
occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order synonyms: intermittent, spasmodic antonyms: constant, steady, continuous, uninterrupted
charlatan
one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack synonyms: fraud, mountebank
penitent
regretful for one's sins or mistakes; one who is sorry for wrongdoing synonyms: remorseful, regretful, rueful, sorry antonyms: unrepentant, remorseless
collusion
secret agreement or cooperation synonyms: conspiracy, plot, connivance, cahoots
refulgent
shining, radiant, resplendent synonyms: luminous, splendid antonyms: dim, dark, obscure, dingy, dull, murky
peregrination
the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country synonyms: journey, wandering, odyssey
forgo
to do without, abstain from, give up synonyms: refrain from, renounce antonyms: indulge in, partake of
reconnoiter
to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection synonym: scout
cavil
to find fault in a petty way, carp; a trivial objection or criticism synonyms: nitpick, quibble
decimate
to kill or destroy a large part of synonyms: ravage, devastate
attenuate
to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value synonyms: thin out, dilute, water down antonyms: thicken, strengthen, bolster
calumniate
to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously synonyms: defame, libel antonyms: flatter, whitewash, praise
rebuff
to snub, to repel, drive away; a curt rejection, a check synonyms: spurn, repulse, reject, setback antonyms: accept, welcome
oscillate
to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver synonyms: vibrate, vacillate
vacillate
to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will synonyms: seesaw, fluctuate, oscillate antonym: persevere
inure
to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure synonyms: accustom, acclimate
paltry
trifling, insignificant; mean, despicable; inferior, trashy synonyms: measly, meager, piddling, trivial antonyms: gigantic, immense, colossal
askance
with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval synonyms: distrustfully, suspiciously, skeptically
tyro
a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill synonym: neophyte antonyms: veteran, past master, expert
dilettante
a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way; superficial synonyms: amateur, trifler antonym: professional
pedantry
a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details synonyms: nit-picking, hairsplitting, pettifoggery
acclamation
a shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval synonyms: ovation, cheering, plaudits antonyms: booing, hissing, jeers, catcalls
shambles
a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess
paroxysm
a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion synonyms: fit, seizure
foible
a weak point, failing, minor flaw synonyms: shortcoming, defect, quirk antonyms: forte, virtue
shibboleth
a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truism synonyms: catchphrase, password, slogan
mandate
an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; to issue such an order synonym: directive antonyms: forbid, ban, outlaw
increment
an enlargement, increase, addition synonyms: accretion, gain antonyms: loss, reduction, decrease
obtuse
blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; measuring between 90 and 180; not causing a sharp impression synonyms: stupid, dumb, thick, mild, dull-witted antonyms: acute, perceptive, quick-witted
bucolic
characteristic of the countryside, rural; relating to shepherds and cowherds, pastoral synonyms: rustic antonyms: urban, metropolitan
luminous
emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating synonyms: radiant, bright, refulgent, lustrous antonyms: dark, opaque, dim, murky
chary
extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow (to); reserved, diffident synonyms: wary, skittish antonyms: heedless, reckless, incautious
redolent
fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create and aura synonyms: evocative, reminiscent, aromatic antonyms: unevocative, odorless
fraught
full of or loaded with; accompanied by synonyms: charged with antonyms: devoid of, lacking, deficient in
benign
gentle, kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant synonyms: benevolent, salutary, salubrious, harmless antonyms: malevolent, deleterious
vituperative
harshly abusive, severely scolding synonyms: abusive, scurrilous, insulting antonyms: complimentary, laudatory, flattering
peremptory
having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal; offensively self-assured, dictatorial; determined, resolute synonyms: high-handed, unconditional antonyms: irresolute, tentative, mild, unassuming