Unit 12
Vocabulary Level E
abjureDEF = (v.) to renounce, repudiate under oath;
to avoid, to shunSYN = forswear, retract, recant, abstain fromANT = affirm, avow, aver, profess
If you tell someone to, “Talk to the hand!”
you’re telling him to, “Go away!”
You are ABJURING him.
acridDEF = (adj.) harsh in taste or color; sharp in
manner or temperSYN = irritating, stinging, bitter, causticANT = gentle, soothing, mild
Word Connection:Think = “It can be hard toget RID of an acRID smell.”
The scent of a skunk can be very ACRID .
Rotten fish can have an
ACRID smell.
augustDEF = (adj.) majestic, inspiring admiration and respectSYN = stately, dignified, exalted, venerableANT = humble, base, mean, lowly, abject
The lion is the AUGUST and
NOBLE “King of the
Jungle”
Caesar Augustus was an AUGUST and
ADMIRABLE Roman Emperor.
The Bald Eagle is so AUGUST
that it was chosen to represent our
DIGNIFIED country.
callousDEF = (adj.) emotionally hardened; unfeelingSYN = insensitive, unsympathetic, thick-skinnedANT = sensitive, compassionate, tenderhearted
A person can get CALLOUSES in his
hand from doing hard work. A CALLOUS is THICK, HARD SKIN
that LOSES FEELING.
This emoticon is CALLOUS because it
does not feel anything.
clandestineDEF = (adj.) secret, concealed; underhandedSYN = covert, furtive, surreptitious, stealthyANT = open, overt, undisguised, aboveboard
A SECRET agent goes on CLANDESTINE operations to
SECRET DESTINations.
Ninjas are well known for their STEALTHY abilities to complete
CLANDESTINE operations.
compunctionDEF = (n.) remorse, regretSYN = scruple, qualm, misgiving, contritionANT = shamelessness, insouciance, nonchalance
Even when breaking a vase is an accident, you could still feel
COMPUNCTIONif it was your
fault.
conflagrationDEF = (n.) a large destructive fireSYN = holocaust, wildfireANT = deluge, flood
Word Connection:Think = conFLAgration and FLAme
Forest CONFLAGRATIONS are
very destructive.
elatedDEF = (adj., part.) in high spirits, jubilant;
extremely pleasedSYN = overjoyed, ecstatic, tickled pinkANT = depressed, crestfallen, despondent, blue
Word Connection:Think = INFLATEDA balloon inflated with heliumFloats high up to the ceiling.ELATED = high spirits/happy
indelibleDEF = (adj.) not able to be erased or removed;
memorableSYN = lasting, permanent, unforgettableANT = erasable, impermanent, ephemeral
A Sharpie is a
PERMANENT,
INDELIBLE marker.
The Lincoln Memorial is a monument that was created
because Lincoln had an INDELIBLE, LASTING impact on
the United States of America.
indulgentDEF = (adj.) yielding to the wishes or demands of
othersSYN = lenient, permissive, tolerant, liberalANT = strict, severe, inflexible, hard-nosed
INDULGENT parents give their children whatever they
want - even if it’s not good for them.
Some INDULGENT
people will “bend over backwards” to do anything
they can for other people.
compunction elated abjureclandestine acrid indulgent
1. People caught in house fires face two dangers: being burnt by flames and inhaling the ______ smoke.
2. I was so _______ after winning 1st place in the 100 meter dash that I couldn’t stop smiling all the way home.
3. As part of the divorce settlement, either Pamela or Steven will have to ______ their claim on their home.
4. Because it was clear that the murderer had planned his crime, the jury had no ______ about sentencing him to death.
5. The ______ world of the CIA and FBI has more secrets than any ordinary citizens could ever guess!
indelible indulgent conflagration
callous august compunction
1. The funeral procession honoring the police officer who had been killed in the line of duty was a noble and _____ affair.
2. The first book of poems I ever read, A Light in the Attic, made a(n) _______ impression on me. When I grew up, I became a poet!
3. When parents are too ______, their children grow up believing that everyone in the world will give in to their wishes.
4. I’ve never understood how someone could be so _____ that they could watch a person get bullied and do nothing to help him.
5. Firefighters battled day and night to put out the _______ that destroyed thousands of acres of the forest preserve.
inveterateDEF = (adj.) firmly established, long-standing;
habitualSYN = persisting, chronic, dyed-in-the-woolANT = sporadic, intermittent, occasional
Word Connection: An old WWII VETERANis an inVETERate memberof the army.
The American flag is an INVETERATE symbol of our LONG-STANDING
country.
irrelevantDEF = (adj.) not to the point, not applicable or
pertinentSYN = inapplicable, immaterial, beside the pointANT = pertinent, material, apropos, germane
Word Connection:IRRegular = IRRelevant
One of these things doesn’t belong here…the chicken!!
All of these arrows are NOT TO THE POINT.
nocturnalDEF = (adj.) of or occurring in the night;
under cover of darknessSYN = nighttimeANT = daytime, diurnal Owls are NOCTURNAL.
They hunt and eat at NIGHT.Vampires are supposedly only able
to go out at NIGHT. They are NOCTURNAL monsters.
platitudeDEF = (n.) a commonplace, stale, or trite
remarkSYN = cliché, truism, bromideANT = epigram, quip, witticism, bon mot
Hallmark cards are full of common PLATITUDES such as
“I’m sorry for your loss” and “Happy Birthday!”.
Fortune cookies always contain PLATITUDES that could apply to
anyone.
quellDEF = (v.) to subdue, put down forciblySYN = suppress, pacify, squelch, quash,
crushANT = incite, provoke, arouse
Steven Segal is QUELLING
his enemy.
quiescentDEF = (adj.) inactive; at restSYN = still, inert, motionless, dormant,
tranquilANT = active, thriving, lively, bustling,
volatile
Word Connection:QUIET = QUIEscent
ruminateDEF = (v.) to meditate, think about at
length; to chew the cudSYN = ponder, reflect, mull over, muse
tacitDEF = (adj.) unspoken, silent; implied,
inferredSYN = unexpressed, unvoiced, understoodANT = explicit, express, specific
Mimes convey all their TACIT
messages through movement
and facial expressions. They NEVER SPEAK.
tangibleDEF = (adj.) capable of being touched; real, concreteSYN = perceptible, actual, evident, palpableANT = immaterial, imperceptible,
insubstantialWhen CONCRETE
hardens, you can stand on it.
It is TANGIBLE.
This apple is TANGIBLE. It is capable of being
HELD in one’s hand (or TOUCHED).
trenchantDEF = (adj.) incisive, keen; forceful,
effective; cutting, caustic, clear; distinct,
clear-cutSYN = penetrating, cutting, telling, acuteANT = dull, bland, insipid, vapid,
imperceptive
Word Connection:You can CUT a TRENCHinto the ground.
Dr. House has a CUTTINGLY
sarcastic wit. He has a TRENCHANT
wit.
irrelevant tacit ruminatetangible quell trenchant
1. Although he didn’t say anything, Mike rolled his eyes to send a ______ sign that he was unhappy with his parent’s decision.
2. Unfortunately, too many people focus on collecting ______ items in life, but those will rarely make a person truly happy.
3. As Sandi approached her senior year of high school, she began to _______ about which college would be the best fit for her.
4. As the tornado sirens screamed in the distance, Hank and Pat tried to _____ their fears and stay calm.
5. It’s great that you love turkey sandwiches, but as we’re having a conversation about math right now, I would say that fact is completely ________!
trenchant quiescent platitudenocturnal inveterate tacit
1. Although it was a bit mean, Simon Cowell’s ______ criticism of the singer was keen and clear-cut .
2. Sometimes it seems like political candidates speeches are filled with _______ ; we’ve heard all the vague promises before!
3. Everyone worried when the long _______ volcano suddenly began emitting smoke and loud rumbles.
4. Anyone with a(n) _______ habit knows that it can be very difficult to break.
5. Just before going to sleep, we set traps to stop the ______ raids of raccoons into our garbage cans.