Vocabulary Level E
Unit 12
abjure
DEF = (v.) to renounce, repudiate under oath; to avoid,
to shun
SYN = forswear, retract, recant, abstain from
ANT = affirm, avow, aver, profess
If you tell someone to,
“Talk to the hand!”
you’re telling him to,
“Go away!”
You are ABJURING him.
acrid
DEF = (adj.) harsh in taste or color; sharp in manner or
temper
SYN = irritating, stinging, bitter, caustic
The scent of a skunk
ANT = gentle, soothing, mild
can be very ACRID .
Word Connection:
Think = “It can be hard to
get RID of an acRID smell.”
Rotten fish
can have an
ACRID smell.
august
Caesar Augustus was an
AUGUST and ADMIRABLE
Roman Emperor.
DEF = (adj.) majestic, inspiring
admiration and respect
SYN = stately, dignified, exalted, venerable
ANT = humble, base, mean, lowly, abject
The lion is the
AUGUST and NOBLE
“King of the Jungle”
The Bald Eagle is so
AUGUST
that it was chosen to
represent our
DIGNIFIED
country.
callous
DEF = (adj.) emotionally hardened; unfeeling
SYN = insensitive, unsympathetic, thick-skinned
ANT = sensitive, compassionate, tenderhearted
A person can get
CALLOUSES in his hand
from doing hard work.
A CALLOUS is
THICK, HARD SKIN
that
LOSES FEELING.
This emoticon is
CALLOUS
because it does
not feel
anything.
clandestine
DEF = (adj.) secret, concealed; underhanded
SYN = covert, furtive, surreptitious, stealthy
ANT = open, overt, undisguised, aboveboard
Ninjas are well known
for their STEALTHY
abilities to complete
CLANDESTINE
operations.
A SECRET agent
goes on
CLANDESTINE
operations to
SECRET
DESTINations.
compunction
DEF = (n.) remorse, regret
SYN = scruple, qualm, misgiving, contrition
ANT = shamelessness, insouciance, nonchalance
Even when
breaking a vase is
an accident, you
could still feel
COMPUNCTION
if it was your fault.
conflagration
DEF = (n.) a large destructive fire
SYN = holocaust, wildfire
ANT = deluge, flood
Word Connection:
Think = conFLAgration and FLAme
Forest CONFLAGRATIONS
are very destructive.
elated
DEF = (adj., part.) in high spirits, jubilant; extremely
pleased
SYN = overjoyed, ecstatic, tickled pink
ANT = depressed, crestfallen, despondent, blue
Word Connection:
Think = INFLATED
A balloon inflated with helium
Floats high up to the ceiling.
ELATED = high spirits/happy
indelible
DEF = (adj.) not able to be erased or removed;
memorable
A Sharpie is a
SYN = lasting, permanent, unforgettable
PERMANENT,
INDELIBLE
ANT = erasable, impermanent, ephemeral
The Lincoln Memorial is a monument
that was created because Lincoln had
an INDELIBLE, LASTING impact on
the United States of America.
marker.
indulgent
DEF = (adj.) yielding to the wishes or demands of others
SYN = lenient, permissive, tolerant, liberal
ANT = strict, severe, inflexible, hard-nosed
INDULGENT parents give their
children whatever they want - even if
it’s not good for them.
Some INDULGENT
people will “bend
over backwards” to
do anything they can
for other people.
compunction
clandestine
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
elated
acrid
abjure
indulgent
People caught in house fires face two dangers: being
burnt by flames and inhaling the ______ smoke.
I was so _______ after winning 1st place in the 100
meter dash that I couldn’t stop smiling all the way home.
As part of the divorce settlement, either Pamela or Steven
will have to ______ their claim on their home.
Because it was clear that the murderer had planned his
crime, the jury had no ______ about sentencing him to
death.
The ______ world of the CIA and FBI has more secrets
than any ordinary citizens could ever guess!
indelible
callous
indulgent
august
conflagration
compunction
1. The funeral procession honoring the police officer who had
been killed in the line of duty was a noble and _____ affair.
2. The first book of poems I ever read, A Light in the Attic,
made a(n) _______ impression on me. When I grew up, I
became a poet!
3. When parents are too ______, their children grow up
believing that everyone in the world will give in to their
wishes.
4. I’ve never understood how someone could be so _____ that
they could watch a person get bullied and do nothing to help
him.
5. Firefighters battled day and night to put out the _______
that destroyed thousands of acres of the forest preserve.
inveterate
DEF = (adj.) firmly established, long-standing; habitual
SYN = persisting, chronic, dyed-in-the-wool
ANT = sporadic, intermittent, occasional
Word Connection:
An old WWII VETERAN
is an inVETERate member
of the army.
The American flag is an INVETERATE
symbol of our LONG-STANDING country.
irrelevant
DEF = (adj.) not to the point, not applicable or pertinent
SYN = inapplicable, immaterial, beside the point
ANT = pertinent, material, apropos, germane
Word Connection:
IRRegular = IRRelevant
All of these arrows are
NOT TO THE POINT.
One of these things doesn’t belong
here…the chicken!!
nocturnal
DEF = (adj.) of or occurring in the night; under
cover of darkness
SYN = nighttime
Owls are NOCTURNAL.
ANT = daytime, diurnal
Vampires are supposedly only able to go
out at NIGHT.
They are NOCTURNAL monsters.
They hunt and eat at NIGHT.
platitude
DEF = (n.) a commonplace, stale, or trite remark
SYN = cliché, truism, bromide
ANT = epigram, quip, witticism, bon mot
Fortune cookies always contain
PLATITUDES that could apply to anyone.
Hallmark cards are full of common
PLATITUDES such as
“I’m sorry for your loss” and
“Happy Birthday!”.
quell
DEF = (v.) to subdue, put down forcibly
SYN = suppress, pacify, squelch, quash, crush
ANT = incite, provoke, arouse
Steven Segal is
QUELLING
his enemy.
quiescent
DEF = (adj.) inactive; at rest
SYN = still, inert, motionless, dormant, tranquil
ANT = active, thriving, lively, bustling, volatile
Word Connection:
QUIET = QUIEscent
ruminate
DEF = (v.) to meditate, think about at length; to
chew the cud
SYN = ponder, reflect, mull over, muse
tacit
DEF = (adj.) unspoken, silent; implied, inferred
SYN = unexpressed, unvoiced, understood
ANT = explicit, express, specific
Mimes convey all their
TACIT messages
through movement
and facial expressions.
They NEVER SPEAK.
tangible
DEF = (adj.) capable of being touched; real,
concrete
SYN = perceptible, actual, evident, palpable
ANT = immaterial, imperceptible, insubstantial
This apple is
When CONCRETE hardens,
TANGIBLE. It is
you can stand on it.
capable of being
It is TANGIBLE.
HELD in one’s hand
(or TOUCHED).
trenchant
DEF = (adj.) incisive, keen; forceful, effective;
cutting, caustic, clear; distinct, clear-cut
SYN = penetrating, cutting, telling, acute
ANT = dull, bland, insipid, vapid, imperceptive
Word Connection:
You can CUT a TRENCH
into the ground.
Dr. House has a
CUTTINGLY sarcastic
wit. He has a
TRENCHANT wit.
irrelevant
tangible
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
tacit
quell
ruminate
trenchant
Although he didn’t say anything, Mike rolled his eyes to send a
______ sign that he was unhappy with his parent’s decision.
Unfortunately, too many people focus on collecting ______
items in life, but those will rarely make a person truly happy.
As Sandi approached her senior year of high school, she began to
_______ about which college would be the best fit for her.
As the tornado sirens screamed in the distance, Hank and Pat
tried to _____ their fears and stay calm.
It’s great that you love turkey sandwiches, but as we’re having a
conversation about math right now, I would say that fact is
completely ________!
trenchant
nocturnal
quiescent
inveterate
platitude
tacit
1. Although it was a bit mean, Simon Cowell’s ______ criticism of
the singer was keen and clear-cut .
2. Sometimes it seems like political candidates speeches are filled
with _______ ; we’ve heard all the vague promises before!
3. Everyone worried when the long _______ volcano suddenly
began emitting smoke and loud rumbles.
4. Anyone with a(n) _______ habit knows that it can be very
difficult to break.
5. Just before going to sleep, we set traps to stop the ______ raids
of raccoons into our garbage cans.