ACT Power Plus
Vocabulary
Lesson Four
celibate (adj.) – abstaining from intercourse;
unmarried
In that religion, the priests take vows to remain
impoverished and celibate.
fortuitous (adj.) – happening by chance or
accident
My father said meeting my mother was fortuitous;
my mother said it was fate.
Synonyms
• accidental
• unexpected
Antonyms
• premeditated
• intentional
recapitulate (verb) – to summarize; to repeat
briefly
Television newsmen always recapitulate
presidential news conferences, as if the audience
were incapable of understanding what had been
said.
perfunctory (adj.) – done without care; in a
routine fashion
She greeted her guests in a perfunctory manner.
Synonyms
• indifferent
• offhand
Antonyms
• diligent
• attentive
baroque (adj.) – overly decorated
The new dance club had a great light show; the
baroque furnishings seemed right in place.
Synonyms
Antonyms
• ornate
• simple
hedonism (noun) – pursuit of pleasure,
especially of the senses
John favors hedonism over self-sacrifice.
obloquy (noun) strong disapproval; a bad
reputation resulting from public opinion
His behavior brought shame to his family and
obloquy on himself.
Synonyms
• censure
• rebuke
Antonyms
• acclaim
• praise
debacle (noun) – a complete failure; a total
collapse
After reading the reviews, the actors knew the
play was a debacle and would close in one night.
Synonyms
• calamity
• catastrophe
Antonyms
• success
• triumph
quasi- (adj.) – resembling; seeming; half
Grandfather was only in quasi-retirement because
he couldn’t give up control of the business.
besmirch (verb) – to make dirty; to stain
My ex-best friend tried to besmirch my reputation
with her vicious gossip.
Synonyms
• soil
• sully
• smear
Antonyms
• cleanse
imperative (adj.) – extremely necessary; vitally
important
It is imperative that you leave immediately.
sacrosanct (adj.) – extremely holy
The detective’s orders were to investigate
everyone; no person was so sacrosanct that he or
she was above suspicion.
Synonyms
• divine
• angelic
sadistic (adj.) – deriving pleasure from
inflicting pain on others
Donna took sadistic pleasure in tormenting her
little sister.
Synonyms
• barbarous
• perverse
Antonyms
• civilized
• humane
demeanor (noun)– behavior, manner of
conducting oneself
Believe me, his shy demeanor is just an act; he is
really quite wild.
Synonyms
• deportment
facetious (adj.) – comical; jocular; flippant
Her facetious comments were beginning to get
tiresome.
Synonyms
• joking
• witty
• jocose
Antonyms
• solemn
• serious