Level F

Unit 5

Noun

Definition: a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution

Synonyms: reprieve

Sentence: Nelson Mandela received amnesty after 27 years in prison, his pardon allowed him to one day become President of South Africa a nation that had imprisoned him for his political beliefs.

AMNESTY

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Noun

Definition: a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior

Synonyms: word to the wise

Sentence: The parent stated this caveat before the teen left the house, “You won’t drive again if you get a ticket!”

CAVEAT

Adjective

Definition: fair, just, embodying principles of justice

Synonyms: right, reasonable, evenhanded

Antonyms: unjust, unfair, one-sided

Sentence: In a divorce the division of property should be fair and equitable.

EQUITABLE

Verb

Definition: to free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort

Synonyms: disentangle, extract

Antonyms: entangle

Sentence: The “Jaws of Life” are designed to extricate victims from vehicle accidents freeing them from entrapment in twisted piece of metal.

EXTRICATE

Verb

Definition: to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts

Synonyms: pilfer, swipe

Sentence: Pickpockets attempt to filch a wallet without the owner’s knowledge thus stealing it and getting away with it.

FILCH

Noun

Definition: a rule of conduct or action

Synonyms: principle, maxim

Sentence: Abraham Lincoln developed a Code of Conduct the precepts by which many people still live by.

PRECEPT

Adjective

Definition: bitterly severe, withering; causing great harm

Synonyms: searing, harsh, savage

Antonyms: bland, mild

Sentence: Many people use websites such as YELP to read reviews of restaurants before choosing where to dine, but some reviews posted are scathing with comments that are bitterly harsh.

SCATHING

Adjective

Definition: extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; prudish, puritanical

Synonyms: highly conventional, overly strict, stuffy

Antonyms: lax, loose, indulgent, permissive

Sentence: In the Harry Potter series, Dolores Umbridge was straitlaced, strict and controlling.

STRAITLACED

Adjective or Noun

Definition: (adj.) lasting only a short time, fleeting; (n.) one who stays only a short time

Synonyms: (adj.) impermanent, ephemeral

Antonyms: (adj.) permanent, imperishable, immortal

Sentence: Many people in today’s society find themselves to be transient, moving from place to place with no permanent home.

TRANSIENT

adjective

Definition: not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity

Synonyms: bulky, clumsy, impractical

Antonyms: manageable, easy to handle

Sentence: The mule found the load to be so unwieldy that the unmanageable size and weight of it literally lifted him off his feet suspending him in midair.

UNWIELDY