Vocabulary Level E
UNIT 6
accede
DEF = (v.) to yield to; to assume an office or dignity
SYN = consent, concur, comply, assent
ANT = demur, balk at
Sound-alike CONNECTION:
To accept an office (like being governor)
To accede an office
After 3 months of Jeremy pestering me to go
to Prom with him, I finally ACCEDED and
said I would be his date.
brandish
DEF = (v.) to wave or flourish in a menacing or
vigorous fashion
SYN = swing, shake
When the Samurai
BRANDISHED his sword at
me in a threatening way, I
almost fainted from fright!
comprise
DEF = (v.) to include or contain; to be made up of
SYN = compose, constitute, encompass
ANT = exclude
A cake is COMPRISED of:
A recipe is a list of the
ingredients that
COMPRISE a food dish.
deft
DEF = (adj.) skillful, nimble
SYN = dexterous, adroit, proficient, clever, masterful
ANT = clumsy, awkward, bungling, inept
She has DEFT fingers
that create intricate
patterns with thread.
She has a DEFT mind that
solves complex equations.
His DEFT hands
allow him to juggle
dangerous objects.
destitute
DEF = (adj.) deprived of the necessities of life; lacking
in
SYN = wanting, devoid, impoverished, penniless
ANT = rich, wealthy, luxurious
WORD CONNECTION:
DESperate = DEStitute
In this picture a
DESTITUTE man is
living outside because he
doesn’t have a home.
explicit
DEF = (adj.) definite, clearly stated
SYN = distinct, unambiguous, clear
ANT = vague, implied
WORD CONNECTION:
explicitly explained
A dictionary EXPLICITLY
states the exact definition of
many words.
extirpate
DEF = (v.) to tear up by the roots; to destroy totally
SYN = uproot, wipe out
ANT = implant, nourish
Sound-alike CONNECTION:
If something is extirpated,
it exits the ground.
In order to remove unwanted
plants, you must EXTIRPATE
the entire plant.
inopportune
DEF = (adj.) coming at a bad time; not appropriate
SYN = inappropriate, inconvenient
ANT = appropriate, convenient
WORD CONNECTION:
A missed opportunity
is inopportune.
The timing of this fish’s
evolution is very
INOPPORTUNE. 
ironic
DEF = (adj.) suggesting an difference between what
might be expected and what actually happens; given
to irony, sarcastic
SYN = satiric, wry
ANT = straightforward
We might expect a statue
proclaiming
“freedom” would be “free”,
but IRONICALLY
it is in a cage!
musty
DEF = (adj.) stale, moldy; out-of-date
SYN = hackneyed, antiquated
The MUSTY basement
ANT = fresh, up-to-date
smelled like
mold and mildew.
musty
1.
extirpate
brandish
The little old lady ________ her umbrella at the
mugger who was trying to steal her purse.
2. In order to ______ racism from the hearts and
minds of all Americans, schools should teach
diversity awareness classes.
3. Because I didn’t wipe out the cooler before I stored
it away, it developed a gross ______ odor.
explicit
1.
accede
comprise
Packages of cigarettes are required to have ____
warnings about how unhealthy cigarettes are.
2. My summer vacation was ______ of summer
school, family vacation, and lots of hours babysitting my little sister.
3. Because the U.S. government will not negotiate
with terrorists, the president can never ____ to
terrorists’ demands.
ironic
inopportune
destitute deft
It was extremely _____ that I met Sally and Joe
started dating only 2 weeks before they left for
college.
2. Hurricane Katrina left many citizens of New
Orleans _____ and in need of help.
3. The _____ fingers of the concert pianist flew over
the piano keys with lightning-quick speed.
4. The ______ sighting of a mountain lion in the
streets of downtown Chicago had people scared and
interested at the same time.
1.
officious
DEF = (adj.) meddling; excessively forward in offering
services or assuming authority
SYN = meddlesome, prying
ANT = reserved, timid
WORD CONNECTION:
overly official = officious
The OFFICIOUS group
leader thought he could
tell everyone what to do.
ominous
DEF = (adj.) unfavorable, threatening, of bad OMEN
SYN = portentous
Dark clouds gathering on the horizon is an
ANT = promising
OMINOUS sign of a coming storm.
The grim reaper is an
OMINOUS sign of death.
pinnacle
DEF = (n.) a high peak or point
SYN = apex, summit
ANT = low point
Very few mountain
climbers ever reach
the PINNACLE of
Mt. Everest because
the climb is very
difficult.
premeditated
DEF = (adj., part.) considered beforehand, deliberately
planned
SYN = preplanned, rehearsed, calculated
ANT = unplanned, spontaneous
A premeditated
murder will land
you in jail.
If a crime is
premeditated,
the criminal planned
to do it.
rampant
DEF = (adj.) growing without check, running wild
SYN = widespread, unrestrained
ANT = controlled, restrained
This man’s
fingernails have been
growing
RAMPANT.
Someone buy him
fingernail clippers!!
solace
DEF = (n.) comfort, relief; (v.) to comfort, console
SYN = (v.) soothe, cheer up
ANT = (v.) aggravate, upset
This mother is
trying to
solace her
baby.
A massage can provide solace
if you’ve been stressed out.
stately
DEF = (adj.) dignified, majestic
SYN = grand, magnificent
ANT = lowly, humble
Here, the military is holding a STATELY
funeral procession to honor the soldiers
who’ve given their lives.
This European cathedral is
STATELY.
supple
DEF = (adj.) bending easily; bending with agility;
readily adaptable; servile
SYN = flexible, limber
ANT = rigid, unbending
Rubber bands are made
out of SUPPLE material.
Gymnasts have
SUPPLE bodies
that have been
made flexible from
years of stretching
and tumbling.
suppress
DEF = (v.) to stop by force, put down
SYN = subdue, crush, silence
ANT = provoke, instigate
WORD CONNECTION:
SupPRESS = PRESS down
In Tiananmen Square in 1989,
the Chinese military
SUPPRESSED people
protesting against communism
by killing and injuring thousands
of the protesters.
venal
DEF = (adj.) open to or marked by bribery or
corruption
SYN = dishonest, bribable
Slipping money to the host
at a restaurant is a VENAL
ANT = honest, scrupulous
Many people think that
mobsters are VENAL.
way to get a table quickly.
suppress
venal
rampant supple
Many politicians land in jail because of their
_____ activities.
2. The _____ spread of the H1N1 flu last year caused
panic in the medical field.
3. The _____limbs of the weeping willow tree bent
and waved in the strong winds.
4. In communist countries where citizens do not have
freedom of speech, the government ______
everyone whose ideas attack the state.
1.
stately
1.
solace
pinnacle
Winning the lead role in a Broadway musical is the
______ of success for many musical theater
performers.
2. Most capitol buildings have a ____ design to show
the seriousness of the decisions that are made
within its walls.
3. Nothing provides ____ after a stressful day like a
pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
premeditated
1.
ominous
officious
As I approached the German shepherd, I heard a
low, ______ growl that warned me not to come
any closer.
2. It can be hard to work with a(n) _____ colleague
who is always sticking her nose into your business.
3. It was clear from the well-organized get-away that
the bank robbery was _________.