Vocabulary Workshop
Unit 6: #’s 1-20
www.vocabularyworkshop.com
agenda
• (n.) the program for a meeting; a list,
outline, or plan of things to be considered
or done
• Synonyms: schedule, docket
The agenda for today’s assembly includes a
plan for recycling in the classroom.
amiable
• (adj.) friendly, good-natured
• Synonyms: pleasant,
agreeable
Marty, whose sense of humor
and good spirits never fail,
is an amiable companion.
befuddle
• (v.) to confuse, make stupid
• Synonyms: bewilder, boggle,
stupefy
A difficult scientific experiment
with many steps is likely to
befuddle most beginners.
blight
• (n.) a disease that causes plants to wither
and die; a condition of disease or ruin
• Synonym: eyesore
• (v.) to destroy, ruin
• Synonym: spoil, nip
Dutch elm disease was a blight that forever
changed the look of my neighborhood.
Though she received several letters of
rejection, she determined not to let them
blight her hopes of going off to college.
boisterous
• (adj.) rough and noisy in a
cheerful way; high spirited
• Synonym: loud, unruly,
disorderly
The boisterous schoolchildren
made it clear to their
teacher how much they
enjoyed the class trip.
clarity
• (n.) clearness, accuracy
• Synonyms: lucidity, precision
• The vet explained with
great clarity how best to
housebreak our new
puppy.
compliant
• (adj.) willing to do what
someone else wants;
obedient
• Synonyms: meek, docile,
submissive
A compliant child is easy to
discipline, even when in an
unfamiliar environment.
conserve
• (v.) to preserve; to keep
from being damaged, lost,
or wasted; to save
• Synonym: guard, care for
• Responsible citizens try to
conserve our precious
natural resources.
debut
• (n.) a first public appearance; a
formal entrance into society
• Synonyms: coming out
• (v.) to make a first appearance
The talented flute player in the
marching bank finally made her
debut as a soloist today.
Many theaters will debut the film
tonight.
gory
• (adj.) marked by
bloodshed, slaughter, or
violence
• Bloody, gruesome
The Civil War battle of
Antietam is, to this day,
the most gory one-day
fight in our history.
gross
• (adj.) overweight; course, vulgar;
very noticeable; total
• Synonyms: fat, sheer, utter, flagrant
• (n.) an overall total (without
deductions); twelve dozen
• (v.) to earn
• They responded to the gross
injustice in an unsatisfactory manner.
• A gross of pencils lasts all year.
• She expects to gross $3000 in tips.
induce
• (v.) to cause, bring about;
to persuade
• Synonyms: prevail upon,
influence
Can drinking warm milk
induce sleep?
leeway
• (n.) extra space for moving
along a certain route;
allowance for mistakes or
inaccuracies; margin of error
• Synonyms: latitude, elbow
room
• Experienced planners allow
leeway of a week or so in
case a project runs into
snags or delays.
limber
• (adj.) flexible
• Synonyms: supple, pliable
• (v.) to cause to become flexible
• Synonyms: stretch
Dancers work hard to develop
limber bodies.
Runners limber up before a race.
maze
• (n.) a network of paths
through which it is hard to find
one’s way; something very
mixed-up and confusing
• Synonyms: labyrinth, puzzle,
tangle
Ancient Rome was a maze of
narrow streets and winding
alleys.
oracle
• (n.) someone or something
that can predict the future
• Synonyms: prophet, seer,
sibyl
According to Greek legend,
people sought prophecy at the
great oracle at Delphi.
Oracle at Delphi
partisan
• (n.) a strong supporter of a person,
party, or cause; one whose support is
unreasoning; a resistance fighter,
guerilla
• (adj.) strongly supporting one side
• Synonyms: (v.) fan, booster (adj.)
partial, biased
That mayoral candidate is a strong
partisan of term limits.
Partisan hometown fans can be hostile
to those from out of town.
reimburse
• (v.) to pay back; to give
payment for
• Synonyms: repay, refund,
compensate
When mom goes on business
trips, she records the cost of
hotels and meals so her
company will reimburse her.
vacate
• (v.) to go away from,
leave empty; to make
empty; to void, annul
• Synonyms: depart, give
up, abandon
We have a lot of cleaning
up to do before we
vacate the apartment at
the end of the month.
vagabond
• (n.) an idle wanderer; a
tramp
• Synonyms: vagrant, hobo
• (adj.) wandering,
irresponsible
• Synonym: unsettled,
footloose
The vagabond carried his few
belongings in a shabby
cardboard suitcase.
The vagabond life interests
some people, but it doesn’t
appeal to me.