Level E Unit 13
Vocabulary Words
1. Antipathy
• (n.) strong dislike; hostile feeling
Sensible people normally view any form of
bigotry with the most profound ANTIPATHY.
Synonyms: hostility enmity, aversion, bad blood
Antonyms: attraction, appeal, allure, sympathy
2. Applicable
• (adj.) capable of being applied; relevant,
suitable.
The protection against being tried for the same
crime twice is not APPLICABLE in some cases.
Synonyms: appropriate, fit, apt, apposite
Antonyms: inappropriate, unsuitable, irrelevant
3. Asset
• (an.) something of value; a resource; an
advantage
By law, an annual report must include a detailed
breakdown of a company’s ASSETS and
liabilities.
Synonyms: property, possession, holding,
endowment
Antonyms: drawback, handicap, liability
4. Beset
• (v.) to attack from all sides; to surround, hem in,
• (adj., part.) harassed, troubled; studded (as with
jewels)
Every federal administration must grapple with the
economic woes that BESET the nation.
The crown worn by England’s monarchs are BESET
with fabulous precious stones.
Synonyms: assail, harass, badger, pester, torment
5. Compassion
• (n.) sympathy for another’s suffering; pity
Without the COMPASSION and generosity of
donors and volunteers, many charities would
shut their doors.
Synonym: concern, commiseration, empathy
Antonyms: indifference, callousness,
heartlessness
6. Decorum
• (n.) proper behavior, good taste; orderliness
Legislative assemblies preserve DECORUM by
operating under the rules of parliamentary
procedure.
Synonyms: Seemliness, good form, propriety
Antonyms: impropriety, bad form, bad taste
7. Duress
• (n.) compulsion by threat; forcible
confinement
Political prisoners are sometimes subjected to a
mild form of DURESS called house arrest.
Synonyms: intimidation, coercion
Antonyms: persuasion, coaxing, sweet talk,
cajolery
8. Exuberant
• (adj.) high-spirited, enthusiastic, unrestrained;
excessive, abundant
Unable to control their EXUBERANT spirits, the
fans of the popular singer cheered their idol
loudly.
Synonyms: lively, ebullient, irrepressible, lavish
Antonyms: depressed, despondent, sulky,
restrained
9. Facsimile
• (n.) an exact copy
A FACSIMILE of the U.S. Constitution is displayed
in many classrooms.
Synonyms: replica, duplicate, reproduction,
clone
Antonyms: variation, modification, permutation
10. Imbibe
• (v.) to drink; to take in, absorb
An inquisitive person can IMBIBE knowledge
from many sources.
Synonyms: swallow, gulp, quaff, assimilate,
digest
Antonyms: eject, emit, expel, discharge
11. Implacable
• (adj.) not to be satisfied or pacified; unyielding
The peoples of the Arctic have shown that
nature need not be an IMPACABLE foe.
Synonyms: relentless, inexorable, unappeasable
Antonyms: lenient, indulgent, permissive,
flexible
12. Infinitesimal
• (adj.) so small as to be almost immeasurable;
minute
To a fussy housekeeper, even an INFINITESIMAL
amount of dust on a table is unacceptable.
Synonyms: tiny, miniscule, microscopic,
unnoticeable
Antonyms: vast, immense, huge, infinite
13. Innocuous
• (adj.) harmless, inoffensive, insignificant
Conversation at a dinner party may sometimes
be confined to pleasant and INNOCUOUS
generalities.
Synonyms: feeble, impotent, unobjectionable,
insipid
Antonyms: harmful, dangerous, pernicious,
toxic, virulent
14. Militate
• (v.) to have effect or force on or against
someone or something; fight against
Health concerns MILITATE strongly against the
habitual use of tobacco.
Synonyms: counter, oppose, work against
15. Patent
• (n.) an exclusive right over an invention; copyright
• (v.) to arrange or obtain such rights
• (adj.) plain, open to view, copyrighted
When the PATENT on a drug expires, any
manufacturer may produce it.
By the time of his death in 1931, Thomas Edison
had PATENTED many inventions.
During cross-examination a skilled lawyer may catch
a key hostile witness in a PATENT falsehood.
Synonyms: exclusive license, evident
Antonyms: concealed, hidden, secret, clandestine
16. Prowess
• (n.) distinguished bravery; superior skill or
ability
The Greek hero Achilles won fame for his
PROWESS in the Trojan War.
Synonyms: valor, courage, heroism, mastery,
proficiency
Antonyms: cowardice, incompetence,
ineptitude
17. Sedate
• (adj.) quiet, settled, sober
• (v.) to administer a tranquilizer
At concerts of classical music, audiences generally
behave in a SEDATE manner.
A doctor may decide to SEDATE a patient who has
suffered emotional shock or physical injury.
Synonyms: unruffled, composed, cool and collected
Antonyms: loud, brash, flashy, flamboyant, garish,
flighty
18. Stentorian
• (adj.) extremely loud
Some public speakers favor a STENTORIAN
delivery and emphatic gestures to drive home
their message to their listeners.
Synonyms: thundering, booming, deafening,
earsplitting
Antonyms: hushed, inaudible, whispered, mute
19. Stipulate
• (v.) to arrange specifically; to requires as a
condition of agreement
A financial institution my STIPULATE that all its
employees be fingerprinted.
Synonyms: specify, contract, provide for
20. Ultimatum
• (n.) a final proposal or statement of conditions
As a strike deadline draws near, both labor and
management can be expected to issue
ULTIMATUMS.
Synonyms: final terms