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