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simplistic (adjective). Variants: simplistically (adverb) Definition: oversimplified; avoiding or ignoring complexities Synonym: unsophisticated, naive Antonym: sophisticated, complicated His simplistic plan for economic improvement failed to account for foreign investment and the GNP. . - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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simplistic (adjective)Variants: simplistically (adverb)Definition: oversimplified; avoiding or
ignoring complexitiesSynonym: unsophisticated, naiveAntonym: sophisticated, complicatedHis simplistic plan for economic improvement
failed to account for foreign investment and the GNP.
incredulous (adjective)Variants: incredulously (adverb);
incredulousness (noun)Definition: unwilling or unable to believe;
showing disbeliefSynonym: skepticalAntonym: credulous, gullibleThe politician’s lavish promises provoked
incredulous responses rather than the admiration he sought.
ascetic (adjective) Variants: ascetically (adverb)Definition: Reflecting self-denial (as in
religious discipline); choosing minimal comforts
Synonyms: austere, SpartanAntonym: self-indulgent, hedonisticHer modest room reflected the ascetic values
she advocated.
vicarious (adjective)vicariously (adverb), vicariousness (noun)Definition: Experienced through someone
else rather than first hand; endured as substitute for someone else; delegated
synonym: second-hand [experience]antonym: actual [experience]Because she loved her son, she found
vicarious pleasure in his tremendous successes.
allocation (noun)Variants: allocate (verb), allocatable (adjective);
allocator (noun)Definition: the act of setting aside for a special
purpose; designationSynonym: allotment, apportionmentAntonym: abandonmentSentence: The mayor insisted the park district
include an allocation of land in order to build a playground.
The mayor insisted the parked district allocate land for a playground.
admonish (transitive verb)Variants: admonishment (noun)Definition: To caution, criticize, or counsel
gently againstSynonym: chastise, reproach, rebukeAntonym: approve, commend, praiseThe anti-tobacco lobbyist admonished the
President for his inability to quit smoking.
presumptuous (adjective)presumptuously (adv.), presumptuousness
(noun)overconfident, excessively forward, taking
too much for grantedSyn: arrogantAnt: humble, modestDarcy’s presumptuous manner
understandably offends Elizabeth Bennet.
subversive (adjective,noun)variants: subvert (verb), subversively
(adverb)Definition: tending or seeking to subvert,
overthrow or destroy (an established government, institution, belief, etc)
Synonym: rebellious, disloyalAntonym: loyal, faithfulSentence: The Canadian government—
indeed, the majority of Canadian citizens—believed the Nisei to be subversive operatives.
vacuous (adjective)Variants: vacuously (adverb)Definition: without contents, emptySynonym: bare, blank, devoidAntonym: full, abundantSentence: When the class looked at her with
vacuous stares, the teacher knew the lesson had failed.
avocation (noun)Variants: avocational (adjective)Definition: something a person does in
addition to a principal occupation, especially for pleasure
Synonym: pastime, hobbyAntonym: job, occupationSentence: Oddly enough, the math teacher’s
avocation was the study of Old Norse epics.
impetus (noun)Variants: Definition: a moving force; impulse, stimulusSynonym: encouragement, incentive,
motivationAntonym: hindrance, blockSentence: Dr. Martin Luther King’s speeches
were the impetus behind the civil rights movement.
reticent (adjective)Variants: reticently (adverb), reticence (noun)Definition: inclined to keep one’s thoughts
and feelings to oneself, secretive, quietSynonym: reluctant, restrained, reservedAntonym: communicative, forward,
unrestrainedSentence: The reticent student hid in the
back row, unwilling to participate in the class discussion.
physiognomy (noun)Variants: physiognomic (adj),
physiognomically (adv)Definition: The features of somebody’s face
especially used as indicators of character or temperament.
Synonym: aspect, look, visageAntonym: noneSentence: In Great Expectations, Pip is
frightened by the convict, for his physiognomy is menacing.
insipid (adjective)Variants: insipidness (noun), insipidly
(adverb)Definition: without distinctive, interesting, or
stimulating qualitiesSynonym: bland, dullAntonym: exhilaratingSentence: Cauliflower’s insipid taste requires
cheese or spices to make it palatable.
tedium (noun)Variants: tedious (adjective), tediously
(adverb)Definition: quality or condition of being
wearisome or boringSynonym: dullness, monotonyAntonym: entertainment, excitement,
diversionSentence: In order to take the tedium out of
exercise, aerobic instructors rely on loud, exciting music.
cajole (verb)Variants: cajolery(noun), cajolingly(adverb)Definition: to persuade by flattery or
promisesSynonym: wheedle, coax, flatterAntonym: bully, force, repelSentence: The boy cajoled her into giving
him some of her cookies.
blasé (adjective)Variants: noneDefinition: not impressed or worried by
something, usually because of previous experience
Synonym: unconcerned, nonchalantAntonym: uptight, worriedSentence: Paris Hilton’s blasé attitude
towards spending money is typical of the very wealthy: they do not have to worry about paying bills.
indolent (adjective)Variants: indolence (n), indolently (adv) Definition: Lethargic and not showing any
interest. Also describes a disease that is slow to develop and causes no pain.
Synonym: sluggish, apathetic, lazyAntonym: industrious, productiveSentence: It is difficult to move from
summer’s indolence to the necessary productivity of the school year.
choleric (adjective)Variants: choler (noun)*, cholerically (adverb) *NOT cholera—that’s a disease!Definition: showing or tending to show anger
or irritation Synonym: bad-tempered, irascibleAntonym: phlegmatic, impassiveSentence: Ivan Ilyich’s choleric manner
intimidates his family.
phlegmatic (adjective)Variants: phlegmatically (adverb)Definition: unemotional, difficult to excite to
action or display of emotion synonym: indifferent, undemonstrativeantonym: energetic, livelySentence: Obasan’s phlegmatic approach to
life irritates the crusading Emily.
impasse (noun )Variants: noneDefinition: predicament from which there is
no escape; impassible road or waySynonym: stalemate, deadlockAntonym: progressSentence: After days of deliberation, the jury
reached an impasse, necessitating a new trial.
adulation (noun)Variants: adulate (verb)Definition: excessive flattery or adorationSynonym: obsequiousness, sycophancyAntonym: insult, offenseSentence: Robert Pattinson is the object of
young girls’ adulation.
censure (noun, verb)Variants: censure (transitive verb)Definition: judgment involving condemnation Synonym: rebuke, reproachAntonym: honor, acclamationSentence: Following the lawyer’s emotional
outburst, the judge had no choice but to censure him.
dissimulation (noun)Variants: dissimulate (verb), dissimulative
(adjective), dissimulator (noun)Definition: act of deceiving/concealing true
feelings and intentionssynonym: deception, deceit, disguise,
dissemblingantonym: frankness, honesty, truthfulness Sentence: As he becomes more desperately
ill, Ivan Ilyich finds dissimulation more difficult, and his family is frightened by the anger he reveals.
droll (adjective)variants: droller, drollest (more adjectives),
drolly (adverb)definition: humorous, amusing in an odd waysynonym: amusing, clownish, comicalantonym: serioussentence: The professor entertained the class
with his droll impersonations of literary characters.
expectorate (verb)variants: expectoration (noun), expectorant
(noun)definition: to expel matter, esp. phlegmsynonym: flush out, ejectantonym: inject, inhale, consumesentence: The doctor instructed the patient
to expectorate regularly to speed healing.
surfeit (noun)variants: surfeiter (I have never seen this!) definition: too great an amount or supply;
excess; overindulgence, esp. in food or drinksynonym: satiate, excess, surplus antonym: deficit, insufficiency sentence: In the child’s opinion, his plate held
a surfeit of vegetables.