Vocabulary Level E
Unit 14
alacrity
DEF = (n.) a cheerful readiness; brisk and eager action
SYN = promptness, willingness, dispatch, celerity
ANT = reluctance, unwillingness, hesitancy
Yes, sir!! I’ll
get right to
that!
This soldier is showing ALACRITY
because he’s showing that he’s
WILLING and EAGER to
TAKE ACTION!!
alleviate
DEF = (v.) to relieve, make more bearable
SYN = lessen, lighten, allay, mitigate, assuage
It’s right in the name!!
This ALLEVIATES headaches
and body pain!
A shoulder massage can ALLEVIATE
tension and stress. It can also
ALLEVIATE muscle pain.
antithesis
DEF = (n.) the direct opposite, a sharp contrast
SYN = contrary, antipode
Word Connection:
ANTI = OPPOSED TO
A desert
climate is the
ANTITHESIS
of a rain
forest.
appall
DEF = (v.) to fill with dismay or horror
SYN = shock, stun, stupefy, horrify
ANT = please, cheer, gladden, elate, exhilarate
All these faces are
showing how
APPALLED these
people are!
bellicose
DEF = (adj.) warlike in manner or temperament;
quarrelsome
SYN = aggressive, combative, belligerent
ANT = amicable, peaceable, conciliatory, pacific
disparage
DEF = (v.) to belittle, speak slightingly of; undervalue
SYN = degrade, decry, run down, underrate
ANT = praise, extol, laud, plug
Slang Connection!
To “DIS” someone is to
DISparage him.
The other students
put a “Kick Me” sign
on Paul’s back to
DISPARAGE him
and make him feel
bad.
The “L” for “loser” is a
DISPARAGING sign
to make at someone.
dissonant
DEF = (adj.) not in harmony; disagreeing, at odds
SYN = grating, strident, unmelodious, irreconcilable
ANT = harmonious, agreeing, euphonious
Your ALARM
CLOCK going off in
the morning is one of
the most
DISSONANT
sounds in the world.
People who cannot agree
are in DISSONANCE with
one another.
droll
DEF = (adj.) amusingly odd
SYN = comical, humorous, whimsical, zany
ANT = humorless, solemn, dour
A TROLL doll is
amusingly odd.
It’s DROLL.
edict
DEF = (n.) an order issued by someone in authority
SYN = command, decree, proclamation
Word Connection:
A DICTator gives eDICTS.
A dictator like Hitler only issues EDICTS that
people are FORCED TO FOLLOW.
President Lincoln
issued the
Emancipation
Proclamation as his
own EDICT to give
freedom to African
Americans.
elucidate
DEF = (v.) to clarify, explain
SYN = interpret, expound, explicate
ANT = obscure, muddy, becloud, obfuscate
The “…for Dummies”
book series takes difficult
topics and helps
ELUCIDATE them to help
people UNDERSTAND.
laud
DEF = (v.) to praise
SYN = glorify, hail, extol, exalt
ANT = criticize, censure, belittle, disparage
Word Connection:
APPLAUD = to PRAISE
with clapping
Wayne and Garth LAUD people
by saying, “We’re not worthy!
We’re not worthy!”
loll
DEF = (v.) to act in a lazy manner; to lounge; to
recline, droop
SYN = loaf, loiter, sag, dangle
LOLLING in a RECLINER or on the couch is a
great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
loquacious
DEF = (adj.) talkative, wordy; fond of talking
SYN = gossipy, voluble, garrulous, long-winded
ANT = silent, reticent, closemouthed, terse, taciturn
Girls are known
as being the most
LOQUACIOUS of
the genders.
Would you
agree?
magnanimous
DEF = (adj.) generous in forgiving, above small
meanness
SYN = unselfish, charitable, noble, bighearted
ANT = petty, selfish, unforgiving, spiteful
A
MAGNANIMOUS
person is LOVING
and KIND and
FORGIVING of
everyone.
mandatory
DEF = (adj.) required, obligatory
SYN =compulsory, requisite, imperative
ANT = optional, voluntary, discretionary
Jury duty is MANDATORY.
If you get a summons, you MUST report for jury duty.
nondescript
DEF = (adj.) ordinary, not outstanding; not easily
classified
SYN = plain, unremarkable, unimpressive
ANT = distinctive, remarkable, vivid, prepossessing
Word Connection:
Think - NON-DESCRIPTIVE
This NONDESCRIPT
wall is a boring beige
color with no
markings to make it
stand out.
phlegmatic
DEF = (adj.) slow-moving, sluggish; unemotional
SYN = lethargic, indolent, torpid, stolid, impassive
ANT = emotional, sensitive, thin-skinned, excitable
Snails and
turtles are
known for
being
PHLEGMATIC.
rescind
DEF = (v.) to repeal, cancel
SYN = withdraw, revoke, retract, annul
ANT = affirm, endorse, uphold, ratify
If you VOID a
check you are
RESCINDING it.
It is CANCELLED
and no one can
cash it.
vivacious
DEF = (adj.) lively, spritely, full of energy
SYN = spirited, animated, ebullient
ANT = dull, spiritless, listless, indolent, languid
Spanish Connection:
VIVIR = to live
ENERGY drinks
can make you
VIVACIOUS even
if you didn’t get
enough sleep!
whet
DEF = (v.) to sharpen, put an edge on;
to make keen or eager
SYN = hone, excite, stimulate
ANT =dull, blunt, deaden, stifle, dampen
WHETTING a knife blade.
CHEERLEADERS are supposed
to WHET the EXCITEMENT of
the crowd by making everyone
SHOUT and CHEER!!
Word Bank:
alacrity
rescind
magnanimous
loll
bellicose
droll
1. When the elderly woman slipped and fell on the wet
pavement, Danny jumped up with ____ to hurry to her aid.
2. Craig’s ____ attitude constantly gets him into trouble with
other students and the police.
3. The _____ behavior of the klutzy character in the play had
the audience rolling in the aisles with laughter.
4. After Sharon’s husband cheated on her, she _______
decided to give him a second chance.
5. When I saw that Joel had several inappropriate and
irresponsible pictures posted on his Facebook account, I
decided to ______ my job offer.
6. Although it can be tempting to ____ around all weekend, I
always feel better on Sunday night if I’ve had a productive 2
days.
Word Bank:
phlegmatic
laud
antithesis
edict
vivacious
mandatory disparage
1. The kids groaned and whined when their father handed down
the _____ that they had to clean the garage or be grounded.
2. The high school held a parade to ______ the state champion
softball team for their hard work.
3. Don’s _____ personality was perfect for his work as a crisis
counselor; he was always able to stay unemotional.
4. Sagging streamers in a hot, steamy gymnasium was the _____
of what I had in mind for my “perfect” senior prom.
5. When you’re frustrated, try to stop yourself from _____ other
people; cruel comments only worsen situations.
6. The _____ sparkle in Eric’s eye told me that we were in for a
night of fun and excitement!
7. Most people don’t want to wait until they’re 16 to get their
driver’s license, but that’s the _____ age.
Word Bank:
whet
nondescript loquacious elucidate
alleviate
appall
dissonant
1. Cindy wanted a prom dress that had bright splashes of color, not
the ______ gray dress her mother liked.
2. The ______ sounds of my 8-year-old brother learning the violin
had everyone in the house wearing ear plugs.
3. My neighbor Marsha was an unfortunate combination of retired
and ____, which meant I could get stuck talking to her for hours.
4. For Mother’s Day my sister and I decided to do the laundry and
clean the kitchen to help ____ our mom’s household duties.
5. The smell of the garlic and butter drifting out of restaurant
_____ my appetite for dinner.
6. Our math teacher used examples to help ____ the concepts that
would be on our upcoming unit test.
7. When Samantha’s cell phone rang and she answered it in the
middle of church, the other church-goers were ______.