noun
Word List #8
1. consternation
[kon-ster-neyshuhn]
a sudden, alarming feeling of dread that results in utter confusion; dismay
2. dissension
[dih-sen-shuhn]
strong disagreement, sharp difference of opinion
SYNONYMS: shock, bewilderment
ANTONYMS: calm, aplomb
His father looked at the mess with consternation, hardly knowing what to say first.
SYNONYMS: quarrel, contention
ANTONYMS: agreement, harmony
The political party was torn by dissension and finally split into two wings.
3. gauntlet
[gawnt-lit]
an armored or protective glove; a challenge
verb
SYNONYMS: dare, confrontation
ANTONYMS: truce, peace
In the Middle Ages, a knight threw down his gauntlet as a challenge.
4. curtail
[ker-teyl]
to cut short; bring to a halt or end sooner than expected; to reduce
SYNONYMS: limit, diminish
ANTONYMS: extend, develop
It is time yet again to curtail the flow of unwanted nonsense that somehow reaches me via email.
5. dissipate
[dis-uh-peyt]
to cause to disappear; to scatter, dispel
SYNONYMS: disperse, diffuse
ANTONYMS: collect, conserve
The dragon-shaped cloud dissipated before she could show it to her brother.
6. disavow
[dis-uh-vou]
to deny any responsibility, support, or connection to inappropriate actions
SYNONYMS: repudiate, retract
ANTONYMS: acknowledge, certify
The suspect stubbornly continued to disavow any part in the kidnapping plot.
7. impugn
[im-pyoon]
to dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of a statement or motive
SYNONYMS: criticize, dispute
ANTONYMS: approve, verify
You can impugn the senator’s facts, but you cannot accuse her of concealing her intentions.
8. relegate
[rel-i-geyt]
to put (someone or something) in a lower or less important position
adjective
SYNONYMS: transfer, demote
ANTONYMS: promote, advance
Even if they relegate him to a mere desk job, he is determined to make his presence felt.
9. acrimonious
[ak-ruh-moh-neeuhs]
stinging, bitter in temper or tone
10. blatant
[bleyt-nt]
obvious or conspicuous, especially in an unfavorable sense; (of bad behavior) done openly and
unashamedly
SYNONYMS: rancorous, hostile
ANTONYMS: warm, cordial
She whirled to face me when I spoke, and her answer startled me by its acrimonious intensity.
SYNONYMS: overt, flagrant
ANTONYMS: concealed, subtle
Your comments showed a blatant disregard for my feelings.
11. bovine
[boh-vahyn]
resembling a cow or ox; sluggish, unresponsive
Word List #8
SYNONYMS: dull, slow
ANTONYMS: bright, quick
After I told him what had happened, he sat there with a bovine expression and said nothing.
12. dispassionate
[dis-pash-uh-nit]
impartial; calm, free from emotion
SYNONYMS: unbiased, detached
ANTONYMS: committed, interested
Being a neighbor, but not quite a family friend, he was called in to give a dispassionate view of
our plan.
13. enigmatic
[en-ig-mat-ik]
puzzling, perplexing, inexplicable, not easily understood
14. fortuitous
[fawr-too-i-tuhs]
happening by chance; fortunate, lucky
SYNONYMS: baffling, mysterious
ANTONYMS: intelligible, fathomable
The discovery of an abandoned ship in mid ocean remains one of the most enigmatic episodes
in seafaring history.
SYNONYMS: random, serendipitous
ANTONYMS: calculated, deliberate
You could not have arrived at a more fortuitous time.
15. hypothetical
[hahy-puh-thet-ikuhl]
based on an assumption or guess; used as a provisional or tentative idea to guide or direct
investigation
SYNONYMS: assumed, supposed
ANTONYMS: actual, tested
Science is not based on hypothetical assumptions, but on proven facts.
16. ignoble
[ig-noh-buhl]
of low character; mean
SYNONYMS: dishonorable, despicable
ANTONYMS: admirable, meritorious
Most people will agree that a noble purpose does not justify ignoble means.
17. intemperate
[in-tem-per-it]
lacking in self-control; inclement
SYNONYMS: extreme, unrestrained
ANTONYMS: moderate; cool and collected
Experience taught her to control her intemperate outbursts of anger.
18. squeamish
[skwee-mish]
inclined to nausea, disgusted; easily shocked or upset
SYNONYMS: queasy, oversensitive
ANTONYMS: strong stomach, indifferent
If I am called squeamish for disliking the horror movie, what do we call those who say that they
liked it?
19. subservient
[suhb-sur-vee-uhnt]
subordinate; submissively obedient; serving to promote a purpose or end
20. susceptible
[suh-sep-tuh-buhl]
vulnerable; easily influenced; lacking in resistance
SYNONYMS: inferior, dutiful
ANTONYMS: bossy, domineering
The officers were taught to be respectful of but not blindly subservient to their superior’s
wishes.
SYNONYMS: open; impressionable
ANTONYMS: resistant; immune
The trouble with being susceptible to flattery is you can never be sure the flatterer is sincere.