English 111
Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary
Level G, Unit 11
Cathy Murphy
Abrogate (think: close the gate on
that idea)
 (v.) to repeal, cancel,
declare null and void
 Synonyms: annul,
revoke
 Antonyms: reaffirm,
renew, ratify
Ambient (think of the sleep aid
Ambien)
 (adj.) completely
surrounding,
encompassing
Asperity (think of how aspirin tastes
or an asp [snake])
 (n.) roughness,
severity; bitterness or
tartness
 Synonyms: rigor,
harshness
 Antonyms: mildness,
blandness, softness,
lenience
Burnish (think: polish)
 (v.) to make smooth
or glossy by rubbing,
polish; (n.) gloss,
brightness, luster
 Synonyms: (v.) shine,
buff
 Antonyms: (v.)
tarnish, dull, abrade
Cabal (spells “lab” backward)
 (n.) a group working
in secret
 Synonyms: clique,
ring, gang, plot,
conspiracy
Delectable (think: delightful and
delicious at the deli)
 (adj.) delightful, highly
enjoyable; deliciously
flavored, savory; (n.)
an appealing or
appetizing food or
dish
 Synonyms: (adj.)
delicious, scrumptious
 Antonyms: (adj.)
repugnant, repulsive,
distasteful
Deprecate (opposite of appreciate)
 (v.) to express mild
disapproval; to
belittle
 Synonyms: deplore,
frown upon
 Antonyms: smile on,
countenance,
approve
Detritus (think: debris)
 (n.) loose bits and
pieces of material
resulting from
disintegration or
wearing away;
fragments that result
from any destruction
 Synonyms: debris,
wreckage, ruins,
rubble
Ebullient (think: e-bubble-ient)
 (adj.) overflowing with
enthusiasm and
excitement; boiling,
bubbling
 Synonym:
exhilarated, elated,
exuberant
 Antonyms: gloomy,
morose, sullen,
apathetic, blasé
Eclectic (think: electricity can be
drawn from many different places in
your house)
 (adj.) drawn from
many different
sources; (n.) one
whose beliefs are
drawn from various
sources
 Synonyms: (adj.)
selective, synthetic,
pick-and-choose
 Antonyms: (adj.)
uniform, monolithic
Flaccid (think: flabby)
 (adj.) limp, not firm;
lacking vigor or
effectiveness
 Synonyms: soft,
flabby
 Antonyms: hard, firm,
solid
Impecunious (think: I’m-penny-less)
 (adj.) having little or no
money
 Synonyms: penniless,
impoverished, indigent
 Antonyms: affluent,
wealthy, prosperous,
rich
Inexorable (looks like inflexible)
 (adj.) inflexible, beyond
influence; relentless,
unyielding
 Synonyms: inescapable,
ineluctable, obdurate
 Antonyms: avoidable,
yielding, pliant
Moribund (looks like morbid)
 (adj.) dying, on the
way out
 Synonyms:
obsolescent
 Antonyms:
flourishing, thriving
Necromancer (necro = death)
 (n.) one who claims
to reveal or
influence the future
through magic,
especially
communication with
the dead; in general,
a magician or wizard
 Synonyms: sorcerer,
conjurer
Onerous (think: the burden is on us)
 (adj.) burdensome;
involving hardship or
difficulty
 Synonyms: oppressive,
weighty
 Antonyms: light, easy,
undemanding, untaxing
Rife (think: ??)
 (adj.) common, prevalent,
widespread, happening
often; full, abounding;
plentiful, abundant,
replete
 Antonyms: devoid of,
lacking
Rudiments (like rudimentary)
 (n. pl.) the parts of
any subject or
discipline that are
learned first; the
earliest stages of
anything
 Synonym: basics,
fundamentals
Sequester (think: separate, seclude,
segregate)
 (v.) to set apart,
separate for a special
purpose; to take
possession of and
hold in custody
 Synonyms: seclude,
segregate, isolate,
closer
Winnow (think: throw something
unwanted out the window)
 (v.) to get rid of
something unwanted,
delete; to sift through to
obtain what is
desirable; to remove
the chaff from the
wheat by blowing air on
it; to blow on, fan
 Synonyms: sift, strain,
filter, sort