Vocabulary Level E
UNIT 11
allude
DEF = (v.) to refer to casually or
indirectly
SYN = suggest, insinuate, hint at,
intimate
LITERARY DEVICE CONNECTION:
An ALLUSION is a
reference to another text or
historical occurrence.
People who might be too afraid to
complain face-to-face can ALLUDE to
their problems in a “suggestions box.”
clairvoyant
DEF = (adj.) supernaturally perceptive; (n.) one who
possesses extrasensory powers, seer
SYN = insightful, discerning, uncanny; visionary
ANT = blind, unseeing, sense, myopic
On the TV show
Medium, Allison
Dubois sees
future murders
in her dreams.
She is
CLAIRVOYANT.
conclusive
DEF = (adj.) serving to settle an issue; final
SYN = decisive, indisputable, convincing
ANT = unsettled, indefinite, provisional
WORD CONNECTION:
A CONCLUSION paragraph
is the
CONCLUSIVE
idea in
an essay.
disreputable
DEF = (adj.) not respectable, not esteemed
SYN = disgraceful, discreditable, shady
ANT = honest, aboveboard, respectable, creditable
Lindsay Lohan’s bad behavior has led to
some people thinking of her as a
DISREPUTABLE person.
WORD CONNECTION:
Think of “dis + REPUTATION =
disreputable
endemic
DEF = (adj.) native or confined to a particular region
or people; characteristic of or prevalent in a field
SYN = indigenous, restricted to
ANT = alien, foreign, extraneous
Corn is
ENDEMIC to
Illinois. It
grows here
NATURALLY.
exemplary
DEF = (adj.) worthy of imitation, commendable;
serving as a model
SYN = praiseworthy, meritorious, sterling, illustrative
ANT = infamous, notorious, disreputable, scandalous
WORD CONNECTION:
Think of “good EXAMPLE” =
EXEMPLARY
fathom
DEF = (v.) to understand, get to the bottom of; to
determine the depth of; (n.) a measure of depth in
water
SYN = grasp, comprehend, figure out
Submarines
travel
FATHOMS
below the
surface of the
water.
guile
DEF = (n.) treacherous cunning, deceit
SYN = trickery, duplicity, chicanery
ANT = candor, artlessness, plain dealing, naivete
Word Connection:
Someone who uses
GUILE is
GUILTY
of lying.
A dishonest person uses GUILE.
integrity
DEF = (n.) honesty, high moral standards;
an unimpaired condition,
“Honest Abe” was
known to have
completeness, soundness
HIGH MORAL
SYN = rectitude, probity
STANDARDS.
He had
ANT = dishonesty, corruption, turpitude
INTEGRITY.
itinerary
DEF = (n.) a route of travel; a record of travel; a guide
book
SYN = schedule, program
guile
allude
endemic
disreputable
conclusive
itinerary
1. Science Fiction fans love to speculate about aliens, but to date
there is no ________ evidence of life on other planets.
2. Con-artists use _______ to trick unsuspecting victims into
giving up their money.
3. When we went scuba diving in Barbados, we saw many colorful
fish _______ only to that region. It was a unique experience!
4. Instead of constantly ________ to the birthday present you
want, why can’t you just be straightforward and tell me?
5. Justine’s parents began to worry when she began associating
with a very ________ group of people.
integrity
clairvoyant
itinerary
fathom
exemplary
1. Although many of us will never reach the same pinnacle of
goodness as Mother Teresa, we can all view her life as
_____.
2. With psychics it is hard to tell if they are _______ or actors.
3. During our vacation to the Southwest this summer, it would
be fun to add a trip to the Grand Canyon to our ______.
4. As patients, we must trust that our doctors are people of the
highest ________ and will do their best to care for us.
5. Modern researchers use high-tech gadgetry to _______ the
dark depths of the ocean.
misconstrue
DEF = (v.) to interpret wrongly, mistake the meaning
SYN = misjudge, misinterpret
WORD CONNECTION:
Think = MIStake - MISconstrue
This guy is
seriously
MISCONSTRUING
her meaning!
Alright! She
must want me
to ask her out
again on a
night when she
is free!
“I can’t go out
with you
because I’m
busy.
Thanks
anyway.”
obnoxious
DEF = (adj.) highly offensive; arousing strong dislike
SYN = disagreeable, repugnant, hateful, odious
ANT = agreeable, pleasing, engaging, personable
OBNOXIOUS people
are very hard to be
around!!
placate
DEF = (v.) to appease, soothe, pacify
SYN = satisfy, mollify, allay, conciliate
ANT = vex, irk, provoke, exasperate, annoy
+
=
Pacifiers are used to
PLACATE babies.
placid
DEF = (adj.) calm, peaceful
SYN = undisturbed, tranquil,
serene, quiet
ANT = stormy, agitated, turbulent, tempestuous
WORD CONNECTION:
After you’ve PLACATED something,
it becomes PLACID.
Think of the smooth, glassy, undisturbed surface
of calm water. That is PLACID.
plagiarism
DEF = (n.) passing off or using as one’s own the
writing (or other materials) of another person
SYN = piracy, theft
ENGLISH CLASS CONNECTION:
NONE of YOU will EVER
COMMIT the act of PLAGIARISM!
potent
DEF = (adj.) powerful, highly effective
SYN = mighty, formidable, forceful
ANT = weak, inept, powerless, ineffective
WORD CONNECTION:
Think = POtent - POwerful
MIGHTY Mouse
is a POTENT
force against
evil!!
pretext
DEF = (n.) a false reason, a deceptive excuse
SYN = pretense, cover story, rationale, evasion
WORD CONNECTION:
In a Sentence =
As a PREtext for not going
on a date with Sam,
I’m PREtending I have to babysit.
protrude
DEF = (v.) to stick out, thrust forth
SYN = project, jut out, bulge
This man’s
nose
PROTRUDES
from his face.
stark
DEF = (adj.) harsh, unrelieved, desolate; (adv.) utterly
SYN = (adj.) sheer, grim, bleak, downright; (adv.)
absolutely
ANT = (adj.) bright, cheerful, embellished, ornate
A War Zone is a STARK
environment.
The frozen tundra
is a STARK
environment. It’s
always cold and
unforgiving.
superficial
DEF = (adj.) on or near the surface; concerned with or
understanding only what is on or near the surface;
shallow
SYN = skin-deep, insubstantial, cursory, slapdash
ANT = deep, profound, thorough, exhaustive
This leaf is floating
ON THE SURFACE of the water.
It is SUPERFICIAL debris.
Someone who
cares too much
about what they
look like
is a
SUPERFICIAL
person.
pretext
superficial
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
stark
misconstrue
plagiarism
protrude
The ____ contrast between the opulent wealth and the
poverty in Chicago makes me want to help the poor.
The language in the student’s book review was so advanced
that it was clearly an example of __________.
Don’t be fooled between any _____ resemblance between my
twin sister and I. Actually, we are very different people.
Cindy produced a very “convenient” headache as a ______
for needing to leave the meeting early.
In a time of warfare, all nations must make sure that no
military exercises are _______ by other countries as hostile
acts of aggression.
protrude
placid
potent
obnoxious
placate
misconstrue
The potential for high salaries right out of college is a _____
argument for studying computer science.
2. Even though I was a ball of nerves, I managed to control
myself so that onstage I seemed completely _______.
3. In our neighborhood of small family homes, the new highrise apartment building ______ into the skyline in an
unsightly manner.
4. When you work in customer service, the first lesson you learn
is how to __________ angry customers.
5. There are few things more ________ than someone who
constantly chews with his mouth open. YUCK!
1.