Vocab. Level F | Unit 2 | Synonyms | Antonyms |
ameliorate | (v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming | amend, better | worsen, aggravate, exacerbate |
aplomb | (n.) poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity | composure,self-possession, levelheadedness | confusion, embarassment, abashment |
bombastic | (adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas | inflated,highfalutin, high-flown,pretentious | unadorned, simple, plain, austere |
callow | (adj.) without experience; immature, not fully developed, lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers | green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced | mature,grown-up, polished, soophisticated |
drivel | (n.) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense; (v.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly | balderdashed, hogwash, tommyrot | |
epitome | (n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality | abstract, digest, model, archetype | |
exhort | (v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly | entreat, implore, adjure | discourage, advise against, deprecate |
ex officio | (adj., adv.) by virtue of holding a certain office | | |
infringe | (v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds | encroach, impinge, intrude, poach | stay in bounds |
ingratiate | (v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes in a critical or derogatory sense) | cozy up to, curry favor with | alienate, humiliate onesself, mortify oneself |
interloper | (n.) one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder | trespasser, meddler, buttinsky | |
intrinsic | (adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part | immanent, organic | extrinsic, external, outward |
inveigh | (v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval | rail, harangue, fulminate, remonstrate | acclaim, glorify, extol |
lassitude | (n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy | fatigue, lethargy, torpor, langour | energy, vitality, animation, liveliness |
millenium (pl. millenia) | (n.) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy | chiliad, golden age, prosperity, peace | doomsday, day of judgement |
occult | (adj.) mysterious, magical supernatural; secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; (v.) to hide, conceal, eclipse; (n.) matters involving the supernatural | supernatural, esoteric, abstruse, arcane | mundate, common, public, exoteric |
permeate | (v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak through | | |
precipitate | (v.) to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to; (adj.) characterized by excessive haste; (n.) moisture; the product of an action or process | provike, producereckless, impetuous | wary, cautious, circumspect |
stringent | (adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste | stern, rigorous, tough, urgent, imperative | lenient, mild, lax |
surmise | (v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof | inder, gatherinference, presumption | |