English 111

Sadlier-Oxford VocabularyLevel G, Unit 4

Atrophy: someone whose muscles have atrophied would not win a trophy.

(n.) the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; (v.) to waste away

Synonyms: (n.) degeneration, deterioration, (v.) wither

Antonyms: (n.) growth, development (v.) mature, develop

Bastion: think of the Bastille

(n.) a fortified palace, stronghold

Synonyms: citadel, rampart, bulwark, parapet

Concord: think of how you’d feel if your parents bought you an Accord

(n.) a state of agreement, harmony, unanimity; a treaty, pact, covenant

Antonyms: disagreement, strife, discord

Consummate: think perfect mate

(v.) to bring to a state of completion or perfection; (adj.) complete or perfect in the highest degree

Synonyms: (v.) clinch, conclude; (adj.) masterful

Antonyms: (v.) launch, initiate, begin, kick off

Disarray: think of all the dis words

(n.) disorder, confusion; (v.) to throw into disorder

Synonyms: (n.) disorganized; (v.) dishevel, mess up

Antonyms: (n.) organization, order, tidiness

Exigency: ends like urgency

(n.) urgency, pressure; urgent demand, pressing need; an emergency

Synonyms: requirement, crisis

Flotsam: float-sam

(n.) floating debris; homeless, impoverished people

Synonyms: floating wreckage

Frenetic: think frantic

(adj.) frenzied, highly agitated

Synonyms: frantic, overwrought, distraught

Antonyms: calm, controlled, relaxed, leisurely

Glean: gather grain (g sounds)

(v.) to gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of grain left in a field by the reapers

Synonyms: collect, cull, pick up

Grouse: grouch

(n.) a type of game bird; a complaint; (v.) to complain, grumble

Synonyms: gripe, kvetch, bellyache

Incarcerate: you’d be incarcerated for stealing a car

(v.) to imprison, confine, jail

Synonyms: intern, immure

Antonyms: liberate, release, free

Incumbent: like the prez

(adj.) obligatory, required; (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of

Synonyms: (adj.) mandatory, necessary

Antonyms: (adj.) optional, unnecessary

Jocular: joke-ular

(adj.) humorous, jesting, jolly, joking

Synonyms: waggish, facetious, droll, witty

Antonyms: humorless, solemn, grave, earnest, grim

Ludicrous: ends like ridiculous

(adj.) ridiculous, laughable, absurd

Synonyms: risible, preposterous

Antonyms: heartrending, poignant, pathetic

Mordant: morbid

(n.) biting or caustic in thought, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh

Synonyms: acrimonious, acidulous, sardonic, scathing

Antonyms: bland, mild, gentle, soothing

Nettle: needle (n.) a prickly or

stinging plant; (v.) to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely

Synonyms: (v.) peeve, annoy, incense, gall, irk

Antonyms: (v.) please, delight, soothe, pacify

Pecuniary: penny-cuniary

(adj.) consisting of or measure in money; of or related to money

Synonyms: monetary, financial

Pusillanimous: wusillanimous

(adj.) contemptibly cowardly or mean spirited

Synonyms: craven, lily-livered

Antonyms: stouthearted, courageous, daring

Recumbent: recline (don’t confuse with incumbent!

(adj.) in a reclining position, lying down, in the posture of one sleeping or resting

Synonyms: prone, prostrate, supine, inactive

Antonyms: erect, upright, energetic, dynamic

Stratagem: singular of strategy

(n.) a scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain an end

Synonyms: ruse, trick, ploy, subterfuge