Building An Enriched Building An Enriched Vocabulary Vocabulary

Lesson 6 Lesson 6

abstainabstain

VerbVerb To refrain completely and voluntarily. To refrain completely and voluntarily. Synonyms: Synonyms: forgo, avoid, shun forgo, avoid, shun Example: Example:

If you want to lose weight, you will have If you want to lose weight, you will have to to abstain abstain from eating the rich desserts from eating the rich desserts you love.you love.

abstainabstain

affectationaffectation

NounNoun A pretentious display of manners or A pretentious display of manners or

sentiments that are not genuine; a sentiments that are not genuine; a peculiar habit of dress or behavior that has peculiar habit of dress or behavior that has been adopted to impress others. been adopted to impress others.

Synonyms:Synonyms: pretense, mannerism pretense, mannerism Example:Example: Beneath her Beneath her affectationaffectation of elegance and of elegance and

refinement, I could easily recognize the refinement, I could easily recognize the crude and awkward girl I had known years crude and awkward girl I had known years before. before.

affectationaffectation

amnestyamnesty

NounNoun An official pardon granted to An official pardon granted to

offenders against the government, offenders against the government, especially for political reasons. especially for political reasons.

Synonyms: Synonyms: forgiveness, immunity forgiveness, immunity Example: Example: A new government will often grant A new government will often grant

amnestyamnesty to people formerly to people formerly convicted of political offenses. convicted of political offenses.

amnestyamnesty

arbitratearbitrate

VerbVerb To act as an impartial judge; to settleTo act as an impartial judge; to settle Synonyms: Synonyms: mediate mediate Example: Example:

Because he was fair-minded, he was Because he was fair-minded, he was chosen to chosen to arbitratearbitrate the dispute. the dispute.

arbitratearbitrate

attritionattrition

NounNoun A gradual wearing down resulting from A gradual wearing down resulting from

friction, pressure, or harrassment.friction, pressure, or harrassment. A gradual decrease in size, strength, or A gradual decrease in size, strength, or

number as a result of retirement, number as a result of retirement, resignation, or death.resignation, or death.

Synonyms: Synonyms: erosion, reductionerosion, reduction Example: Example: The sales department is The sales department is

overstaffed, but the normal rate of overstaffed, but the normal rate of attritionattrition should solve that problem quickly. should solve that problem quickly.

attritionattrition

BelligerentBelligerent

AdjectiveAdjective Warlike or hostile Warlike or hostile Synonyms: Synonyms: contentious, hostile, contentious, hostile,

quarrelsome quarrelsome Example:Example:

We cannot hope to arrive at a fair We cannot hope to arrive at a fair settlement when your attitude is so settlement when your attitude is so belligerentbelligerent. .

BelligerentBelligerent

BoorishBoorish

AdjectiveAdjective Rude or unrefined Rude or unrefined Synonyms: Synonyms: vulgar, crude, vulgar, crude,

unmannerlyunmannerly Example: Example:

The obnoxious and The obnoxious and boorishboorish behavior behavior of the guests ruined the party.of the guests ruined the party.

BoorishBoorish

CalumnyCalumny

NounNoun A false statement deliberately made A false statement deliberately made

up to injure a person.up to injure a person. Synonyms: Lie, falsehood, slanderSynonyms: Lie, falsehood, slander Example: Example:

The The calumnies calumnies used by both used by both candidates made it impossible to candidates made it impossible to believe or respect either. believe or respect either.

ChronicChronic

AdjectiveAdjective Continuing over a long period of time Continuing over a long period of time

or recurring often. or recurring often. Synonyms: Synonyms: Continual, constant Continual, constant Example: Example:

His inability to arrive anywhere on His inability to arrive anywhere on time has become a time has become a chronicchronic problem. problem.

ChronicChronic

ComplacentComplacent

Adjective Adjective Overly self-satisfied; smug.Overly self-satisfied; smug. SynonymSynonym: self-contented: self-contented Example: Example:

We must never become We must never become complacent complacent about our fight against terrorism.about our fight against terrorism.

ComplacentComplacent