Vocabulary Units 7 & 8
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Transcript of Vocabulary Units 7 & 8
Vocabulary Units 7 & 8
Noun A state of being temporarily inactive,
suspended, or set aside Synonym: suspension
Abeyance
Adjective Having opposite and conflicting feelings
about someone or something Unsure Synonym: Equivocal Antonym: Unequivocal
Ambivalent
Verb To set upon from all sides; to surround with
an army; to trouble, harass Synonym: Pester
Beleaguer
Noun Full freedom or authority to act at one’s
own discretion Synonym: blank check
Carte Blanche
Noun A sudden, violent, or devastating upheaval;
a surging flood, deluge Synonym: Disaster
Cataclysm
Verb To corrupt morally, seduce; to indulge in
dissipation Synonym: Carouse Antonym: Inspire
Debauch
Noun Dazzling or conspicuous success or acclaim;
great brilliance (of performance or achievement)
Synonym: Celebrity Antonym: Dullness
Éclat
Adjective Overly demanding or hard to please;
excessively careful in regard to details; easily disgusted
Synonym: Finicky Antonym: Slovenly
Fastidious
Verb To jump or skip about playfully Synonym: Frolic
Gambol
Verb To soak or stain thoroughly; to fill the mind Synonym: Infuse Antonym: Erase
Imbue
Adjective Just beginning; not fully shaped or formed Synonym: Embryonic Antonym: Developed
Inchoate
Noun A malicious satire Synonym: Parody Antonym: Flattery
Lampoon
Adjective Capable of being formed into different
shapes; capable of being altered, adapted, or influenced
Synonym: impressionable Antonym: inflexible
Malleable
Noun An agent or force inflicting vengeance or
punishment; retribution itself; an unbeatable rival
Synonym: Comeuppance Antonym: ally
Nemesis
Verb To make a choice or decision Synonyms: choose, select, decide **OPTION**
Opt
Adjective Lacking in, hostile to, or smugly indifferent
to cultural and artistic values or refinements
Noun Such a person Synonym: Boorish Antonym: Refined
Philistine
Adjective Involving or characteristic of clever rogues or
adventurers Synonym: Roguish
Picaresque
Adjective Nauseated or uneasy; causing nausea or
uneasiness, troubled Synonym: Unsettled Antonym: Calm
Queasy
Adjective Stubborn; hard or
difficult to manage; not responsive to treatment or cure
Synonym: Unruly Antonym: Docile
Refractory
Noun The ability to say and do the right thing in
any situation; social competence Synonym: Sophistication Antonym: Tactlessness
Savoir-faire
Noun A departure from what is
proper, right, expected, or normal; a lapse from a sound mental state
Synonym: Deviation
Aberration
Adjective For this specific purpose; improvised Synonym: makeshift Antonym: long-standing
Ad hoc
Noun The source or cause of fatal injury, death,
destruction, or ruin; death or ruin itself; poison
Synonym: Spoiler Antonym: Solace
Bane
Noun The intrusion of commonplace or trite
material into a context whose tone is lofty or elevated; grossly insincere or exaggerated sentimentality; the lowest phase, nadir; an anticlimax, comedown
Synonym: mush
Bathos
Adjective Ill-tempered, quarrelsome; difficult to get
along or deal with Synonym: Irascible Antonym: Good-natured
Cantankerous
Noun The determination of right and wrong in
questions of conduct or conscience by the application of general ethical principles; specious argument
Synonym: Sophistry
Casuistry
Adjective Actually existing or in
effect, although not legally required or sanctioned
Synonym: In actuality Antonym: De jure
De Facto
Noun The act of preying upon or plundering Synonym: Looting
Depredation
Noun A sympathetic understanding of or
identification with feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of someone or something else
Synonyms: Sympathy, compassion Antonym: Insensitivity
Empathy
Noun A forerunner, herald Synonym: Precursor Antonym: Sequel
Harbinger
Noun The belief that the attainment of pleasure is
life’s chief aim; devotion to or pursuit of pleasure
Synonym: Pleasure seeking Antonym: self-denial
Hedonism
Adjective Lacking brilliance or vitality; dull Synonym: Flat Antonym: Dazzling
Lackluster
Adjective Discontented with or in open defiance of
prevailing conditions Synonym: Dissatisfied Antonym: Satisfied
Malcontent
Adjective Flowing sweetly or smoothly, honeyed Synonym: Musical
Mellifluous
Noun Undue favoritism to or excessive patronage
of one’s relatives
Nepotism
Verb To cater to or provide
satisfaction for the low tastes or vices of others
Synonym: Indulge
Pander
Noun A minor sin or offense;
a trifling fault or shortcoming
Synonym: Indiscretion Antonym: Felony
Peccadillo
Noun The principal dish of a meal; the principal
event, incident, or item; an outstanding accomplishment
Synonym: Centerpiece Antonym: Hors D’ouvre
Pièce de résistance
Verb To send or order back; in law, to send back to
jail or to a lower court Synonym: return Antonym: release
Remand
Noun A group of symptoms or signs that
collectively characterize or indicate a disease, disorder, abnormality, etc.
Synonym: pattern
Syndrome