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Unit 13 Vocab
Term | Definition | Synonyms | Antonyms |
---|---|---|---|
blatant | noisy in a coarse, offensive way; obvious or conspicuous, especially in an unfavorable sense | flagrant, glaring, egregious, disagreeably loud | inconsequential, trifling, piddling, petty |
broach | to bring up or begin to talk about (a subject); to announce, introduce; to break the surface of the water; to turn sideways to the wind and waves; to pierce (a keg or cask) in order to draw off liquid; (n) a spit for roasting; a tool for tapping casks | ||
buttress | to support, prop up, strengthen; (n) a supporting structure | bolster, reinforce, brace, shore up | undermine, weaken, impair |
carousal | noisy revelry or merrymaking (often with a suggestion of heavy drinking) | binge, jamboree | |
collate | to compare critically in order to note differences, similarities, etc.; to arrange in order for some specific purpose | sort out, cross-check | |
connoisseur | an expert; one who is well qualified to pass critical judgement, especially in one of the fine arts | savant, pundit | ignoramus, philistine |
disconsolate | deeply unhappy or dejected; without hope, beyond consolation | grief-stricken, inconsolable | cheerful, blithe, buoyant, juanty |
encumber | to weigh down or burden (with difficulties, cares, debt, etc.) | overload, clog | unburden, unload, relieve |
forment | to promote trouble or rebellion; to apply warm liquids to, warm | instigate, incite, stir up | quell, quash, squelch, suppress |
grisly | frightful, horrible, ghastly | gruesome, gory | pleasant, delightful, delightful |
herculean | (capital H) relating to Hercules; (lowercase h) characterized by great strength; very hard to do in the sense of requiring unusual strength | mighty, powerful, arduous, onerous | puny, Lilliputian, bantam |
impassive | showing no feeling or emotion; inanimate; motionless | emotionless, stoical, insensible | emotional, passionate, excitable |
inauspicious | unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future | unpropitious, unpromising, untimely | propitious, favorable |
incontrovertible | unquestionable, beyond dispute | incontestable, indisputable, indubitable | debatable, dubious, open to question |
nonplussed | puzzled, not knowing what to do, at a loss | perplexed, stumped, flabbergasted | poised, confident, assured |
prolific | abundantly productive; abundant, profuse | fruitful, fecund, proliferous | barren, unproductive, sterile, sparse |
opportune | suitable or convenient for a particular purpose; occurring at an appropriate time | ||
rejoinder | a reply to a reply, especially from the defendant in a legal suit | reply, response, riposte, retort | |
abet | to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy) | hamper, hinder, impede, frustrate | |
aver | to affirm, declare confidently | assert, asseverate, avouch | deny, repudiate, disclaim |