Vocabulary Workshop
Unit 2: #’s 1-20
www.vocabularyworkshop.com
adverse
• (adj.) unfavorable, negative; working
against, hostile
• Synonyms: difficult, trying
Some people suffer an
adverse reaction if they eat
peanut butter or anything with
peanuts.
arid
• (adj.) extremely dry;
uninteresting, dull
• Synonyms: waterless, parched,
boring, unimaginative
Although California leads the
nation in farming, crops won’t
grow in its most arid regions.
assailant
• (n.) a person who attacks
violently (with blows or words)
• Synonyms: assaulter,
attacker, mugger
The jogger was injured by an
unknown assailant who left
him immobile on the side of
the road.
billow
•
•
•
•
(n.) a large wave
Synonym: breaker
(v.) to rise or swell like a wave
Synonym: surge, bulge, balloon
Fans cheered enthusiastically
when they saw their team’s
flags billow over the stadium.
confront
• (v.) to meet face-to-face,
especially as a
challenge; comes to
grips with
• Synonym: face,
encounter
In court, defendants can
confront their accusers
in a controlled setting.
constrain
• (v.) to force, compel, to
restrain, hold back
• Synonyms: pressure, restrict,
confine, limit
You can’t constrain me
against my will.
contemporary
• (adj.) belonging to the same
period of time as oneself
• Synonyms: present-day,
modern, current
• (n.) a person of the same time
• Synonyms: peer
His novel used a contemporary
style but had a historical setting.
Rather than ask parents for
help, teens often turn to a
contemporary for advice.
depict
• (v.) to portray; to represent
or show in a form of a
picture
• Synonym: sketch, draw,
picture, illustrate
The painter chose to depict
a plain prairie landscape
using bold colors and
shadows.
disinterested
• (adj.) fair-minded, free from
selfish motives; indifferent
• Synonyms: neutral, impartial,
unbiased, apathetic
A judge must remain
disinterested in order to render
an evenhanded and logical
decision.
encompass
• (v.) to encircle, go or
reach around; to enclose;
to include with a certain
group or class
• Synonyms: surround,
envelop, comprise
Oceans encompass about
three-fourths of the
surface of our planet.
groundless
• (adj.) without any good
reason or cause, unjustified
• Synonyms: baseless,
unsupported
Joe’s groundless fear of
hurting himself during
exercise has left him weak
and out of shape.
hypocrite
• (n.) a person who pretends to
be what he or she is not or
better than he or she really is;
a two-faced person
• Synonyms: phony, charlatan,
fraud
The speaker who said one thing
but did something else entirely
was regarded as a hypocrite.
incomprehensible
• (adj.) impossible to
understand
• Synonyms: baffling,
confusing, bewildering
Our school’s intercom system
is so old that this morning’s
announcements were almost
incomprehensible.
manipulate
• (v.) to handle or use skillfully; to
manage or control for personal
gain or advantage
• Synonyms: work, maneuver,
exploit, influence
• Scientist should not manipulate
data.
maximum
• (n.) the greatest possible
amount or degree
• (adj.) reaching the greatest
possible amount or degree
• Synonyms: largest, highest,
utmost
• The postage scale can weigh
a maximum of only five
pounds.
mimic
• (n.) a person who does
imitations
• Synonym: copycat,
impersonator
• (v.) to imitate; to make fun of
• Synonym: parrot,
impersonate
• The comedy troupe has
many talented members, but
it still needs to hire a good
mimic.
ruffle
• (v.) to wrinkle, make uneven; to
annoy, upset, to flip through
• (n.) a gathered strip of material
used for trimming edges; a
ripple; a low drumbeat
• Synonyms: (v.) disturb (n.) frill
• Try not to let wisecracks ruffle
your feelings.
• My favorite pillow is soft and
fluffy to the touch and has a
velvet ruffle.
serene
• (adj..) peaceful, calm;
free of emotional upset;
clear and free of storm;
majestic, grand
• Synonyms: tranquil,
composed, fair, august
How does she manage
to stay so serene in the
face of such chaos.
sheepish
• (adj.) embarrassed;
resembling a sheep
in meekness, timid
• Synonyms:
shamefaced, meek
• His sheepish grin
made the crowds
cheer all the more
for his unlikely
victory.
stamina
• (n.) the strength
needed to keep going
or overcome physical
or mental strain;
staying power
• Synonym: endurance
• Marathon runners
need a great deal of
stamina.