Level F
Unit 9
Verb
Definition: to make less in amount,
degree, etc…; to subside, become less; to
nullify; to deduct, omit
Synonyms: diminish, decrease, subside,
let up
Antonyms: intensify, increase, magnify
Sentence: The man said, “We can’t go
home until my wife’s temper abates!” The
police officer realized that the man and
his dog might be there a long time if the
man’s wife’s temper didn’t subside
.
quickly.
ABATE
Noun
Definition: praise or flattery
that is excessive
Synonyms: adoration,
idolization, hero-worship
Antonyms: ridicule, derision
Sentence: Athletes who are
often worshiped and idolized
by their fans enjoy the
adulation. Derek Jeter gives
his final salute to his adoring
fans in his last All-Star game.
ADULATION
Adjective
Definition: shrewd, crafty,
showing practical wisdom
Synonyms: acute, judicious, wily
Antonyms: obtuse, empty-headed,
dumb
Sentence: If animals were astute,
then during hunting season they
would post NO HUNTING signs
and this shrewd behavior would
save many lives by fooling hunters
into not hunting on posted land.
ASTUTE
Adjective
Definition: deserving of
blame, showing practical
wisdom
Synonyms: guilty,
delinquent, blameworthy
Antonyms: blameless,
innocent, meritorious
Sentence: Marvin, the
Great Dane, was clearly
culpable in the destruction
of the chair fully deserving
of blame since he was the
only one home at the time.
CULPABLE
Adjective
Definition: conspicuous,
standing out from the mass
(used particularly in an
unfavorable sense)
Synonyms: glaring, flagrant,
blatant
Antonyms: unnoticeable, paltry,
piddling
Sentence: It was an egregious
penalty and a flagrant violation
of the rules when Michael
Adams grabbed quarterback
Aaron Rodgers by his facemask.
EGREGIOUS
Adjective
Definition: cloud-like,
resembling a cloud; cloudy in
color, not transparent; vague,
confused, indistinct
Synonyms: hazy, fuzzy, cloudy,
opaque, indeterminate
Antonyms: definite, distinct,
clear, sharply focused
Sentence: The view through the
foggy window was nebulous and
cloudy due to the condensation
on the inside of the window thus
obstructing a clear view.
NEBULOUS
Noun
Definition: one who is just a
beginner at some activity
requiring skill and
experience (also use
adjectivally)
Synonyms: neophyte,
trainee, apprentice
Antonyms : veteran, pro,
expert
Sentence: Babies are
novices at life as they are
just beginning to learn how
to talk, how to crawl, and
how to feed themselves.
NOVICE
Adjective
Definition: done for show, striving
to make a big impression; claiming
merit or position unjustifiable;
making demands on one’s skill and
abilities, ambitious
Synonyms: ostentatious, inflated
Antonyms: unaffected, modest
Sentence: There are handlebar
mustaches and then there are
handlebar mustaches, but
Franklin’s handlebar mustache was
quite pretentious, big, and
impressive.
PRETENTIOUS
Verb
Definition: to revive, bring
back to consciousness or
existence
Synonyms: revitalize,
reanimate, restore, reactivate
Sentence: When patients have
experienced a heart attack and
the heart stops beating,
doctors use paddles that shock
the patients with an electrical
charge to resuscitate them
reviving and bringing them
back to life.
RESUSCITATE
Noun
Definition: something that is
assumed or taken for granted
without conclusive evidence
Synonyms: assumption,
presumption, hypothesis
Sentence: The supposition that
crop circles are made by aliens has
been proven false many times, but
many people still assume, despite
the lack of any conclusive
evidence, that beings from other
planets must be responsible for
these intricate designs.
SUPPOSITION