Power Practice
for use with Vocabulary Power Plus for the New SAT
Book Four
21 Lessons
315 Words
Introduction to
Vocabulary Words
BOOK FOUR
Table of Contents
Introduction
Lesson 1
Lesson 8
Lesson 15
Lesson 2
Lesson 9
Lesson 16
Lesson 3
Lesson 10
Lesson 17
Lesson 4
Lesson 11
Lesson 18
Lesson 5
Lesson 12
Lesson 19
Lesson 6
Lesson 13
Lesson 20
Lesson 7
Lesson 14
Lesson 21
Introduction
The first slide provides the
vocabulary word. Use this to begin
thinking about the definition.
Contents
Introduction
The first click will reveal a context in
which the word might be used.
Infer the definition of the word by
studying its context.
Contents
Introduction
A second click provides the definition
of the word.
Contents
Lesson One
Contents
Lesson One
camaraderie
The race was highly competitive, but the runners
shared a congratulatory camaraderie when it
was over.
n. rapport and goodwill
syn: friendship; amity
ant: enmity; hostility
Contents
Lesson One
frangible
It is dangerous to transport gasoline in a
frangible container.
adj. fragile; easy to break
syn: delicate; breakable
ant: sturdy; strong
Contents
Lesson One
litany
Every day, the employees gathered to share a
litany of grievances against their employer.
n. any long, repetitive, or dull recital
Contents
Lesson One
moratorium
After the earthquake, the city announced a
moratorium on driving in areas with damaged
streets.
n. a suspension of activity; an authorized delay
syn: postponement; cessation
ant: rush; continuation
Contents
Lesson One
zealous
The zealous activist was willing to have a
criminal record if it meant she got her point
across.
adj. fervent; fanatical
syn: passionate; enthusiastic
ant: uninterested; indifferent
Contents
Lesson One
desiccate
The editor desiccated the novel, removing the
juice and the vigor from the author’s prose.
v. to dry out; to remove moisture
syn: dehydrate
ant: moisten; dampen
Contents
Lesson One
wrenching
Jill’s ankle turned violently, and she felt a
wrenching pain that spread throughout her
body.
adj. causing mental or physical pain
syn: distressing; agonizing
ant: pleasant; comforting
Contents
Lesson One
replete
Aaron had trouble understanding the computer
system even though it was replete with full
instructions.
adj. full; abundant
syn: abounding; rife
ant: lacking; empty
Contents
Lesson One
interminable
The clock seemed to run backward as Edgar
listened to the interminable lecture.
adj. tiresome and long; seemingly endless
syn: tedious
ant: fleeting; limited
Contents
Lesson One
arable
Prolonged droughts can turn arable land into
desert.
adj. suitable for cultivation of land
syn: fecund; fertile
ant: barren; infertile
Contents
Lesson One
lugubrious
The clock struck the lugubrious hour of
midnight, and the crypt door opened with a
groan.
adj. mournful; gloomy
syn: somber; depressing
ant: joyful
Contents
Lesson One
truncate
The editor truncated the story to fit the limited
available space in the magazine.
v. to shorten
syn: abridge; abbreviate
ant: lengthen; increase
Contents
Lesson One
ubiquitous
Whenever Sam did something wrong, the
ubiquitous school principal always seemed to
be there to catch him.
adj. occurring or seeming to occur everywhere;
omnipresent
syn: universal
ant: nonexistent
Contents
Lesson One
vernacular
The vernacular of the novel brought readers
even closer to the little known subculture living
deep in the Appalachian Mountains.
n. everyday language
Contents
Lesson One
equanimity
With uncanny equanimity, the bomb disposal
expert gently brushed the sand off the top of a
buried antitank mine.
n. composure; calmness
syn: sangfroid; poise
ant: anxiety; agitation
Contents
Lesson Two
Contents
Lesson Two
metamorphosis
The company experienced a metamorphosis
during World War II, during which it became
more efficient at manufacturing aircraft engines
than making the automobiles it made prior to
the war.
n. a transformation or dramatic change
syn: mutation
ant: stasis
Contents
Lesson Two
donnybrook
Les disrespected his friend’s mother, and a
donnybrook broke out.
n. a fight; an uproar
syn: brawl; quarrel; altercation
ant: agreement
Contents
Lesson Two
nonchalant
With flak bursting around his plane, the pilot
somehow maintained a nonchalant calm.
adj. unconcerned; indifferent
syn: detached; relaxed
ant: excited; concerned; alarmed
Contents
Lesson Two
vestige
Terrorists conducted the execution without even
a small vestige of civility.
n. a trace or evidence of something that once
existed
syn: remnant; hint
Contents
Lesson Two
interlocutor
The interlocutors talked over each other,
destroying the value of their conversation.
n. someone who participates in a conversation
Contents
Lesson Two
procrustean
The procrustean debater minimized or
exaggerated the views of his opponents and
forced them into agreement with him.
adj. strictly disregarding individual differences
or circumstances
syn: ruthless; undiscriminating
ant: sympathetic; compassionate
Contents
Lesson Two
stygian
Marie blindly entered the stygian barn and at
once felt the cobwebs creep across her face.
adj. dark and forbidding
syn: shadowy
ant: bright; illuminated
Contents
Lesson Two
sophistry
Instead of a rational and logical presentation, the
politician resorted to sophistry.
n. a deliberately deceptive or misleading
argument
syn: chicanery; ruse
ant: truth
Contents
Lesson Two
carte blanche
The owners gave the architect carte blanche to
redecorate their house, and she turned it into a
showplace.
n. boundless authority; unlimited power to act
syn: license; sanction; free rein
ant: restriction
Contents
Lesson Two
incantation
Uttering a mysterious incantation, the carnival
magician made his assistant disappear.
n. a chant; a recited magical spell
syn: invocation
Contents
Lesson Two
cosmopolitan
The farmer applied some country common sense
and took advantage of the cosmopolitan
visitors.
adj. worldly; sophisticated
syn: cultured
ant: provincial
Contents
Lesson Two
rife
An overabundance of cynicism and greed is rife
within today’s TV programming.
adj. abundant; prevalent
syn: overflowing; rampant
ant: lacking; limited
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Lesson Two
nomenclature
The latest stealth aircraft was so shrouded in
secrecy that outsiders did not even know its
nomenclature.
n. technical names or naming system in an art or
science
syn: terminology
Contents
Lesson Two
brigand
Some misguided people believe that welldressed, attractive brigands deserve celebrity
treatment.
n. a robber or bandit
syn: highwayman; outlaw
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Lesson Two
contemptuous
The contemptuous wine expert rejected twelve
bottles of fine wine and then abruptly left the
restaurant.
adj. haughty; scornful
syn: arrogant; derisive
ant: humble; polite
Contents
Lesson Three
Contents
Lesson Three
scapegoat
Instead of admitting his own errors, the
president first made scapegoats of his advisors
and then fired them.
n. one who bears the blame for others
syn: patsy; sucker
Contents
Lesson Three
peremptory
The hasty critic passed peremptory judgment
on the new novel without considering it
carefully.
adj. not allowing refusal or delay; imperative
syn: authoritative; unconditional
ant: roundabout; passive; equivocal
Contents
Lesson Three
atelier
Isolated in her lonely atelier, the poet produced
works that had no real-world feeling in them.
n. an artist’s or a designer’s workshop
Contents
Lesson Three
axiom
The perfectionist’s favorite axiom was, “If you
want it done right, do it yourself.”
n. a universal truth; an established rule
syn: fundamental; theorem
ant: absurdity
Contents
Lesson Three
dulcet
Sonia had a knack for making her complaints
sound nicer by expressing them in dulcet tones.
adj. melodious; pleasing to the ear
syn: harmonic; melodic
ant: cacophonous; dissonant
Contents
Lesson Three
usurp
With his horde of vicious raiders, warlord Thulsa
Doom attacked the palace, deposed the king, and
usurped the throne.
v. to take over; to seize power
syn: commandeer; seize; co-opt
ant: abdicate; relinquish
Contents
Lesson Three
patronizing
Sean’s patronizing air turned friends into
enemies.
adj. treating with condescension; acting superior
syn: lofty; arrogant
ant: humble; friendly
Contents
Lesson Three
iniquity
A civilized society punishes iniquity by applying
just and rational legal standards.
n. an evil or wicked act
syn: abomination; injustice; sin
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Lesson Three
archaic
The man’s use of archaic words revealed his age
and his familiarity with an earlier era of
literature.
adj. no longer current or applicable; antiquated
syn: obsolete; outmoded
ant: current; modern
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Lesson Three
vacillate
Professor Roberts urged Jaime not to vacillate
as usual, but to make up her mind and take
action.
v. to waver; to sway indecisively
syn: fluctuate; swing; waffle
ant: decide
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Lesson Three
perspicacious
The perspicacious gambler knew that he
would need to make a hasty exit after winning
most of the cowboys’ money.
adj. keen; mentally sharp
syn: shrewd; keen; clever
ant: dull; stupid
Contents
Lesson Three
abstemious
After many days of abstemious behavior,
Selma rewarded herself with a huge slice of
chocolate cake.
adj. using or consuming sparingly
syn: frugal; moderate
ant: gluttonous; greedy
Contents
Lesson Three
talisman
The adventurer wore a magical talisman that
protected her from orcs.
n. a magic charm or superstitious object for
protection or luck
Contents
Lesson Three
expurgate
Fearing censorship, the shock jock fled to
satellite radio, where no federal authority could
expurgate him.
v. to remove vulgar or objectionable material
syn: censor; bowdlerize; sanitize
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Lesson Three
pellucid
Marilyn remembered a lake that was so
pellucid she could easily see the red bands on
the rainbow trout.
adj. transparent; clear
syn: limpid
ant: obscure; opaque
Contents
Lesson Four
Contents
Lesson Four
efficacious
Federal authorities help assure that a
prescription drug is both safe and efficacious.
adj. effective; producing the desired outcome
syn: productive; useful
ant: ineffective
Contents
Lesson Four
catharsis
Making the punishment fit the crime can bring
about a catharsis within the general public.
n. a release of emotional tension
syn: purgation
Contents
Lesson Four
inundate
The tsunami inundated the surrounding
islands, bringing death and destruction with it.
v. to overwhelm; to fill beyond capacity
syn: flood; overwhelm
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Lesson Four
revere
Fans usually revere athletes more for their
performance on the field than their behavior
off it.
v. to regard with respect, awe, or adoration
syn: venerate; respect; honor
ant: revile
Contents
Lesson Four
internecine
World War I resulted in a truly internecine
bloodbath, claiming the lives of some 17 million
people from nine countries.
adj. mutually destructive
ant: constructive; beneficial
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Lesson Four
risible
Standing right behind the speaker, Sarah made
insulting gestures and produced risible results.
adj. relating to laughter; laughable
syn: comical; jocular; jocund
ant: grave; solemn
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Lesson Four
sybaritic
After a sybaritic adolescence, the prince
became a strong and disciplined king.
adj. marked by luxury or pleasure
syn: luxurious; ostentatious; grandiose
ant: modest; simple; plain
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Lesson Four
crepuscular
Sneaking home in the crepuscular morning
hours, Kyle entered the living room so quietly
the family dog never awakened.
adj. pertaining to twilight
Contents
Lesson Four
kudos*
Though she received welcome kudos from the
general public, Sabrina placed more value on the
approval of her father.
n. acclaim or praise
syn: honor; distinction
ant: disapproval; rejection
*Kudos always takes a singular verb
Contents
Lesson Four
estrange
The coach uttered a steady stream of complaints
that eventually estranged her basketball team.
v. to alienate
syn: disaffect; antagonize
ant: unite; endear
Contents
Lesson Four
intrinsic
The props used in the movie were common
household items, but they held enormous
intrinsic value to fans and collectors.
adj. of or relating to a thing’s basic nature;
inherent
syn: basic; elemental; inborn
ant: extrinsic
Contents
Lesson Four
maxim
Mark Twain once wrote that an effective maxim
must contain “a minimum of sound” and “a
maximum of sense.”
n. an established principle; a truth or rule of
conduct
syn: axiom; apothegm; proverb
Contents
Lesson Four
putrid
The various bags of fast food remnants created a
putrid stench in the car that had been sitting in
the sun all week.
adj. rotten and foul smelling
syn: fetid; rancid; malodorous
ant: aromatic; fragrant
Contents
Lesson Four
servile
Though the slave acted servile, it was merely a
ruse to cover his escape plan.
adj. submissive; slavish
syn: subservient; ignoble
ant: haughty; domineering
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Lesson Four
apocryphal
After years of repetition, an apocryphal story
becomes an urban legend that defies facts.
adj. of questionable authenticity, but widely
believed
syn: dubious; equivocal; spurious
ant: genuine; authentic
Contents
Lesson Five
Contents
Lesson Five
consternation
The sheriff and the outlaw stared briefly at each
other in consternation before the lawman
drew and fired.
n. alarming dismay or concern
syn: bewilderment; shock; trepidation
ant: composure; tranquility
Contents
Lesson Five
anomaly
One winter day, the temperature soared to 80
degrees in Buffalo, New York, and became a
famous weather anomaly.
n. a deviation from the norm; an odd or peculiar
occurrence
syn: eccentricity; irregularity; oddity
Contents
Lesson Five
vitriolic
A boss with a bad back and a vitriolic tongue
makes everyone’s life miserable.
adj. harsh in tone; bitterly critical
syn: caustic; offensive; scathing
ant: flattering; genial
Contents
Lesson Five
preamble
Certain speakers treat a preamble like a long,
slow walk in the park while their audience is
hoping for a sprint.
n. a preliminary statement; an introduction
syn: prologue; preface; opening
ant: epilogue; finale
Contents
Lesson Five
coterie
At first, Rhonda wanted to join the cool girls’
coterie, but then she was put off by their
meanness.
n. a small group of people who share interests
and meet frequently
syn: circle; clique; society
Contents
Lesson Five
expiate
After 30 years of leading a brutal dictatorship,
the dying despot decided to expiate his sins.
v. to make amends for
syn: atone; correct; rectify
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Lesson Five
compendium
Journalist H.L. Mencken called a compendium
of his writings a “chrestomathy,” which is
derived from a Greek word that means “useful
learning.”
n. a list or collection of items
syn: compilation; index; anthology
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Lesson Five
comprise
This simple usage rule helps students: “the
whole comprises the parts; the parts compose
the whole.”
v. to include or consist of; contain
syn: constitute; encompass; incorporate
ant: exclude; lack
Contents
Lesson Five
eidetic
Using his eidetic skills, Ben Pridmore
memorized the order of a randomly shuffled, 52card deck in 31.03 seconds.
adj. pertaining to extraordinarily detailed and
vivid recall
syn: vivid
ant: vague
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Lesson Five
innocuous
The beautiful daffodil looks innocuous, but its
bulbs contain poisonous alkaloids.
adj. harmless
syn: inoffensive; innocent
ant: injurious
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Lesson Five
foist
William foisted cubic zirconia on unsuspecting
customers, who thought the lab-created stones
were real diamonds.
v. to pass off as genuine or valuable
syn: fob
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Lesson Five
plethora
John wanted a brief outline, but George gave
him a plethora of mostly useless information.
n. an overabundance; excess
syn: surplus ant: deficiency; shortage; paucity
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Lesson Five
flippancy
TV shows fill the air with flippancy that lowers
the tone and content of conversation.
n. disrespect
syn: irreverence; rudeness; impertinence
ant: respect; reverence
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Lesson Five
incongruous
Humor thrives on incongruous situations, like
seeing fifty clowns emerging from a tiny car.
adj. incompatible; unsuitable for the situation
syn: discordant; improper
ant: compatible; fitting
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Lesson Five
disconcert
The elderly man became disconcerted when
the fast-talking salesman tried to persuade him
to invest in worthless stock.
v. to frustrate; confuse
syn: agitate; fluster; perplex
ant: enlighten; comfort; encourage
Contents
Lesson Six
Contents
Lesson Six
sectarian
The sectarian violence swept across the
country as religious groups warred with one
another over conflicting beliefs.
adj. narrowly confined to a particular group
syn: insular; dogmatic
ant: tolerant
Contents
Lesson Six
peregrination
After miles of peregrination across the empty
desolation of the moor, Simon entered an old
tavern and found werewolves.
n. travel by walking
syn: trekking; exploration
Contents
Lesson Six
accoutrement
Emily spent a small fortune acquiring the
accoutrement for her up-scale senior prom.
n. an accessory item of dress or equipment
syn: device; gear
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Lesson Six
contrive
Stranded on the island, the professor contrived
a way to build a generator out of parts from the
wrecked fishing boat.
v. to plan cleverly; to devise
syn: concoct; design; engineer
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Lesson Six
hubris
Napoleon’s hubris caused him to invade
Moscow and then endure a disastrous and costly
retreat.
n. overbearing pride; arrogance
syn: conceit; smugness; pompousness
ant: humility; modesty
Contents
Lesson Six
platitude
The team sought inspiration from the coach, but
received useless platitudes instead.
n. an obvious remark; a cliché
syn: banality; maxim; truism
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Lesson Six
venerate
Fans venerated the homerun king until they
discovered that he had used both steroids and a
corked bat to attain his status.
v. to respect or revere
syn: glorify; treasure
ant: abhor; despise
Contents
Lesson Six
scullion
Every employee in the prestigious company had
to spend time as a scullion, fetching coffee and
running errands, before he or she was offered a
professional position.
n. a servant for menial tasks
syn: peon; toiler
ant: patrician; aristocrat
Contents
Lesson Six
quotidian
Look closely, and you’ll find that even a boring,
quotidian experience can bring you an exciting
discovery.
adj. everyday; commonplace
syn: ordinary; routine
ant: rare; uncommon
Contents
Lesson Six
prognosticate
Back in the day, a shaman used bones to
prognosticate the sex of an unborn child.
v. to predict
syn: forecast; foreshadow
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Lesson Six
antediluvian
Griselda arrived at the vintage car show in a
shiny, antediluvian Ford Model T.
adj. extremely old; antiquated
syn: ancient; archaic
ant: modern; new
Contents
Lesson Six
stringent
The rebellious students received no sympathy
from the stringent principal.
adj. restrictive; imposing demanding standards
syn: severe; rigid; inflexible
ant: lenient; flexible
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Lesson Six
haughty
Talked down to by the haughty waiter during
the meal, Mary got in the last word by refusing to
leave a tip.
adj. condescendingly proud; arrogant
syn: conceited; snobbish; supercilious
ant: humble; modest
Contents
Lesson Six
sanctimonious
The sanctimonious leader of the neighborhood
association noticed when any of her neighbor’s
hedges were uneven, but never seemed to notice her
own dog running all over her neighbors’ lawns.
adj. showing false piety or righteousness
syn: hypocritical; specious
ant: humble; modest
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Lesson Six
imbroglio
When challenged, Dorian frequently turned an
awkward imbroglio into an all-out fight.
n. a difficult and embarrassing situation
syn: predicament
ant: peace; serenity
Contents
Lesson Seven
Contents
Lesson Seven
gibberish
Shook up by his accident, Clyde could speak only
gibberish when asked what had happened.
n. nonsense; unintelligible speech
syn: babble; chatter; prattle
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Lesson Seven
inimical
Mutually inimical combatants glared at one
another across the conference table and forced
an end to the truce talks.
adj. unfriendly; hostile; injurious
syn: mean; malicious; harmful
ant: encouraging; flattering
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Lesson Seven
nexus
Logical people recognize the important nexus of
cause and effect.
n. a link, tie, or bond
syn: connection; correlation
ant: disruption; gap
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Lesson Seven
coeval
The woman was so old that she seemed coeval
with her antique, tumbledown apartment
building.
adj. of the same time period
syn: contemporaneous
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Lesson Seven
dilatory
When the Senator disliked legislation, he made
painfully dilatory speeches to prevent its
passage.
adj. tending to delay or procrastinate
syn: dallying; laggard; unhurried
ant: diligent; prompt
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Lesson Seven
convoluted
To express ideas clearly, avoid convoluted
phrases.
adj. complicated; intricate
syn: involved; jumbled
ant: simple; obvious
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Lesson Seven
entreat
The criminal entreated the judge for mercy and
received 500 hours of community service
mowing the courthouse lawn.
v. to earnestly request or petition
syn: importune; implore
ant: demand
Contents
Lesson Seven
anecdote
Maria made her guests watch a slide
presentation of her trip and accompanied it with
embarrassing anecdotes.
n. a short account of an incident
syn: narrative
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Lesson Seven
incumbent
The club owner said that it was incumbent on
the audience to laugh at the comedian’s lame
jokes.
adj. obligatory; necessary
syn: required; essential
ant: voluntary; unnecessary
Contents
Lesson Seven
churlish
It is churlish to bite the hand that feeds you.
adj. boorish or vulgar
syn: uncouth; rude; surly
ant: courteous; polished; civil
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Lesson Seven
promulgate
Seth promulgated his love for Cecile on a giant
billboard overlooking Times Square in New York
City.
v. to announce; to make known
syn: declare; exhibit
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Lesson Seven
staid
Beneath the librarian’s staid and cautious
exterior, a wild personality was trying to escape.
adj. showing dignity and often strait-laced
propriety
syn: composed; serious; solemn
ant: agitated; excited; nervous
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Lesson Seven
livid
She was so livid she couldn’t speak through her
clenched teeth.
adj. extremely angry
syn: enraged; furious; fuming
ant: contented; pleased
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Lesson Seven
lurid
Paparazzi followed the wayward actor day and
night, hoping for the chance to snap a lurid
photograph to sell to the tabloid newspapers.
adj. shocking; explicit
syn: sensational; extreme
ant: dull; boring; mediocre
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Lesson Seven
cogent
Nathan’s cogent reasoning and respectful
demeanor got him out of a parking ticket.
adj. convincing; reasonable
syn: compelling; pertinent; influential
ant: ineffective; weak
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Lesson Eight
Contents
Lesson Eight
pander
The publisher pandered to its audience’s low
tastes and sold many trashy magazines.
v. to exploit weaknesses of others; to cater to the
vices of others
syn: cajole; indulge
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Lesson Eight
otiose
When no one is paying attention, advice is just
otiose words.
adj. useless; futile
syn: unimportant; worthless
ant: productive; necessary
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Lesson Eight
puerile
The players were embarrassed by the puerile
rule that each team receive a trophy whether it
had won or lost.
adj. childish; juvenile
syn: immature; infantile
ant: mature
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Lesson Eight
aleatory
In most instances, gambling is a futile, aleatory
exercise: the odds are always for the casino and
against the gambler.
adj. dependent on luck or chance
Contents
Lesson Eight
asperity
Asperity was often a job requirement for the
editor, because only the best writing was allowed in
the publication, and there was no time for writers
who failed to follow the magazine’s guidelines.
n. roughness or harshness; severity
syn: acerbity; irascibility
ant: mildness; kindness
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Lesson Eight
renunciation
To lose weight, Elise decided on a
renunciation of binge eating and an
acceptance of exercise.
n. rejection; refusal to acknowledge
syn: denial; refusal
ant: admittance; concession
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Lesson Eight
unimpeachable
After serving a prison sentence for hacking,
Shannon went straight and became an honest
and unimpeachable network security
consultant.
adj. unquestionable; beyond doubt
syn: trustworthy; infallible
ant: questionable; flawed
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Lesson Eight
inveigh
It is a citizen’s duty to inveigh against unfair
and unjust government acts and legislation.
v. to disapprove angrily; to protest
syn: berate; condemn; remonstrate
ant: commend; laud; praise
Contents
Lesson Eight
lionize
The city lionized the mayor, who had led
flawlessly during the major catastrophe.
v. to assign great social importance to; to treat as
a celebrity
syn: acclaim; exalt; honor
ant: ignore; overlook
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Lesson Eight
allay
The airline’s perfect safety record allayed
Raymond’s fear of flying.
v. to relieve; to alleviate
syn: calm; ease; pacify
ant: excite; intensify; agitate
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Lesson Eight
vitiate
Luxury vitiated the despot’s judgment, and his
country fell into decay and anarchy.
v. to corrupt morally; to contaminate
syn: defile; devalue; spoil
ant: purify; clarify; cleanse
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Lesson Eight
recalcitrant
The recalcitrant resident refused to evacuate
his home, even though it would surely be
destroyed in the volcanic eruption.
adj. stubbornly resistant; showing opposition
syn: defiant; insubordinate; unwilling
ant: agreeable; obedient
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Lesson Eight
exegesis
Dr. Smith told her class that reading a superficial
exegesis was a poor substitute for the original
textbook.
n. an explanation of a text; a critical
interpretation
syn: analysis; exposition; commentary
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Lesson Eight
ameliorate
You’ll need more than a small bandage to
ameliorate a deep wound.
v. to make better; to improve
syn: enhance; upgrade
ant: weaken; damage; corrupt
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Lesson Eight
profligate
The college fraternity residing in the dilapidated
house had a reputation for profligate behavior
and poor academics.
adj. wasteful and immoral
syn: licentious; decadent
ant: virtuous; principled
Contents
Lesson Nine
Contents
Lesson Nine
provocative
Falsely shouting “fire” in a crowded room is a
provocative act.
adj. tending to excite or stimulate
syn: provoking; exciting
ant: dull; boring
Contents
Lesson Nine
bumpkin
The bumpkin finally cracked open the
computer with his crowbar, but he still couldn’t
find the files he had heard about.
n. an unsophisticated, awkward person
syn: yokel; hayseed; rube
ant: intellectual
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Lesson Nine
toady
The toady did everything to get the promotion
except shine the boss’s shoes.
n. a person who flatters for personal gain
syn: sycophant; flatterer
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Lesson Nine
culpable
None of the inmates believed they had
committed any culpable acts.
adj. deserving blame or condemnation; guilty
syn: blameworthy; liable
ant: innocent; blameless
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Lesson Nine
hortatory
Raising his saber in a hortatory gesture,
Captain Jenks led his troops out of the gully and
into the fight.
adj. encouraging; inciting
syn: exhorting
ant: discouraging; dampening
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Lesson Nine
penultimate
The trip from Point A to Point C requires a
penultimate stop at Point B.
adj. next to last
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Lesson Nine
orotund
Even when relaxing at home, the actor spoke in
orotund tones, as if he were still in the theater.
adj. full and rich in sound (in speech)
syn: resonant; resounding
ant: quiet; reserved
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Lesson Nine
blithe
Despite having lost her home to the fire, Celine
kept her blithe spirit and sought to help the rest
of her family.
adj. carefree and lighthearted
syn: cheerful; radiant
ant: burdened; worried; troubled
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Lesson Nine
soporific
Suffering from insomnia, Carol was forced to
take a soporific medication.
adj. tending to induce sleep
syn: somniferous; monotonous
ant: dramatic; exciting; stimulating
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Lesson Nine
pervasive
The poisonous smell of sulfur was so pervasive
that people in all five boroughs could smell it.
adj. permeating; spreading throughout
syn: sweeping; persistent
ant: contained; restricted; limited
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Lesson Nine
benign
The doctor detected a growth on John’s liver, but
fortunately determined that it was benign.
adj. beneficial; favorable
syn: benevolent; harmless
ant: harmful; malevolent
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Lesson Nine
frenetic
The dancing was frenetic, the noise was
deafening, and then the police arrived.
adj. wildly excited
syn: frenzied; frantic
ant: calm; composed
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Lesson Nine
recrimination
The couple loudly exchanged recriminations
for an hour, but never really figured out who
started the whole thing.
n. a counteraccusation
syn: countercharge
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Lesson Nine
indecorous
Ben and Queenie changed seats to escape the
indecorous loudmouth talking on his cell
phone in the restaurant.
adj. lacking good taste; improper
syn: inappropriate; vulgar
ant: decent
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Lesson Nine
corroborate
In surprise testimony, the shifty pickpocket
corroborate the detective’s version of events.
v. to strengthen by adding evidence
syn: confirm; substantiate; validate
ant: contradict
Contents
Lesson Ten
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Lesson Ten
majordomo
Wherever Samuel wandered in the mansion, the
ubiquitous majordomo seemed to be there,
attending to his every need.
n. a chief butler or assistant
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Lesson Ten
untenable
Most people have at least some untenable
beliefs, adopted with little or no analytical
thought.
adj. impossible to defend or justify
syn: groundless; unsupported; indefensible
ant: sound; irrefutable
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Lesson Ten
perambulate
Francis perambulated down the main drag,
lazily enjoying displays of goodies in the upscale
stores.
v. to walk about; to stroll
syn: saunter; wander
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Lesson Ten
veneer
With intensive coaching, Tarzan acquired a thin
veneer of social graces to hide his wild
background of surviving on his own in the
jungle.
n. a thin, attractive layer that conceals something
common or coarse
syn: disguise; gloss; facade
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Lesson Ten
timorous
After taking the strength-and-conditioning class,
Sandra lost her timorous demeanor and found
an aggressive attitude.
adj. timid
syn: bashful; sheepish; reticent
ant: bold; confident; courageous
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Lesson Ten
luminous
Thaddeus enjoyed luminous things, so he
slapped a coat of glow-in-the-dark paint on his
car.
adj. emitting light
syn: glowing; radiant ant: dim; dark
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Lesson Ten
circuitous
The teacher liked circuitous lectures and
seldom arrived at the main point.
adj. indirect; roundabout
syn: roundabout; meandering
ant: direct; straight
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Lesson Ten
perquisite
Receiving only a small hourly wage, the waitress
used her charm and good service to gain major
perquisites.
n. a tip or payment in addition to regular wages
syn: fringe benefit; perk; benefit
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Lesson Ten
probity
Despite long exposure to opportunities for
bribes, the Senator had earned a reputation for
probity.
n. integrity; respectability
syn: rectitude; decency; trustworthiness
ant: wickedness; impiety
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Lesson Ten
polemical
Students having polemical inclinations might
enjoy their school’s debate team.
adj. relating to controversy or argument
syn: controversial; contentious
ant: indisputable; agreeable
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Lesson Ten
tacit
Reading between the lines, the book club
members thought they understood the author’s
tacit opinions.
adj. indicated but not expressed; implied silently
syn: hinted; suggested; unspoken
ant: explicit; frank
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Lesson Ten
largesse
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and famously
rich, is also known for the largesse of his
charitable foundation.
n. generosity
syn: magnanimity; munificence
ant: stinginess
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Lesson Ten
indolent
When winter arrives, bears stop raiding
campgrounds and enter a state of indolent
hibernation.
adj. lazy
syn: torpid; idle; lethargic
ant: industrious; busy; productive
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Lesson Ten
circumlocution
Gifted in the art of circumlocution, the
senator could speak for an hour and not even
come close to answering a simple question.
n. unnecessarily wordy or evasive language
syn: discursiveness; indirectness; evasion
ant: conciseness; brevity
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Lesson Ten
depredate
When Attila the Hun, well recognized for his
savagery, decided to depredate provinces, not
many people resisted.
v. to plunder and pillage
syn: pilfer; ransack; ravage
ant: enhance
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Lesson Eleven
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Lesson Eleven
canard
“My reputation for dishonesty is a great
canard,” said the Senator at his carefully
controlled press conference.
n. a deliberately misleading story
syn: lie; pretense; sham
ant: fact; truth; reality
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Lesson Eleven
wont
The author is wont to trash others and make
herself look good.
adj. likely
syn: accustomed
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Lesson Eleven
etymology
According to strict etymology, myriad means
“ten thousand,” but now it is more often used to
indicate “a great multitude.”
n. the history of a word; the study of word
origins
Contents
Lesson Eleven
cortege
To the mournful muttering of snare drums, the
slow cortege accompanied the casket to the
burial site.
n. a group of attendants; a retinue
syn: entourage; followers; posse
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Lesson Eleven
solecism
“Whom shall I say is calling?” said the secretary,
committing a solecism by not using “Who.”
n. a deviation or error in speech, manners, or
deeds
syn: mistake; faux pas; blunder
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Lesson Eleven
demotic
Displaying a keen ear for demotic language, the
author excelled at writing realistic dialogue.
adj. relating to ordinary people
syn: colloquial; common
ant: formal; elevated
Contents
Lesson Eleven
simian
With simian, close-set eyes and a continual
smirk, the official resembled his less-thanhuman policies.
adj. related to or resembling an ape or monkey
Contents
Lesson Eleven
impresario
The impresario was brilliant at handling
difficult celebrity divas, notorious for their
faultfinding ways.
n. an entertainment producer or manager
syn: organizer; proprietor
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Lesson Eleven
requisite
The lawyer questioned the witness relentlessly,
but could not drag the requisite information
out of her.
adj. required; necessary
syn: imperative; needed; important
ant: incidental; nonessential
Contents
Lesson Eleven
bulwark
Enemy artillery pounded away at the bulwark,
attempting to clear a path for the advancing
infantry.
n. a defensive wall or embankment
syn: fortification; barrier
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Lesson Eleven
malaise
Silence fell over the crowd, and then came the
malaise, a sense that something bad was about
to happen.
n. vague bodily or emotional discomfort or
uneasiness
syn: illness; distress; discontent
ant: comfort; relief; peace
Contents
Lesson Eleven
disingenuous
With disingenuous humility, the expert in
quantum physics pretended not to understand
simple mathematics.
adj. insincere; calculating
syn: duplicitous; cunning; shifty
ant: honest; sincere; candid
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Lesson Eleven
crescendo
The crescendo of noise culminated in a giant
explosion.
n. a gradual increase in intensity, force, or
volume
syn: increase; buildup
ant: decrease; waning
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Lesson Eleven
intransigent
The foolish, intransigent leader ignored the
dissenting but reasonable voices of others.
adj. uncompromising; refusing to moderate
syn: determined; immovable; obdurate
ant: flexible; yielding
Contents
Lesson Eleven
dogged
With dogged determination, the coyote chased
the road runner across the desert.
adj. unrelenting; persistent
syn: driven; steadfast; unwavering
ant: hesitating; vacillating
Contents
Lesson Twelve
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Lesson Twelve
propensity
The toddler had a propensity for shocking his
parents with his wild crayon drawings on their
walls.
n. a tendency
syn: inclination; predisposition; penchant
ant: aversion
Contents
Lesson Twelve
condescending
A condescending attitude will neither win
friends nor influence people positively.
adj. displaying superiority; patronizing
syn: denigrating; degrading
ant: respectful; honorable
Contents
Lesson Twelve
compunction
The hit man executed his targets without
compunction or remorse.
n. an uneasiness caused by guilt; a qualm
syn: regret
Contents
Lesson Twelve
sepulcher
The greedy man had a five-story sepulcher
built as a memorial to himself, but the price did
not include people to care that he died.
n. a tomb or burial chamber
syn: crypt; catacomb; mausoleum
Contents
Lesson Twelve
bellicose
Laurie, who believed the best defense was a good
offense, unnerved everyone with her bellicose
manner.
adj. warlike; inclined to fight
syn: pugnacious; belligerent; hostile
ant: mild; passive; peaceful
Contents
Lesson Twelve
pulchritude
Pierre enjoyed the pulchritude but not the
philosophy of Miss Universe.
n. physical beauty
syn: loveliness; allure
ant: ugliness; repulsiveness
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Lesson Twelve
wizened
A wizened old bum emerged from the alley and
told Eileen the secret of life.
adj. shriveled or withered from age or illness
syn: shrunken; gnarled
ant: sturdy; robust; stalwart
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Lesson Twelve
rhapsodize
Though the critic rhapsodize about the play, it
still closed after one performance.
v. to express oneself enthusiastically
syn: rave
Contents
Lesson Twelve
physiognomy
Years of squinting at the sun and salty wind had
given the sea captain a physiognomy full of
wrinkles and character.
n. facial features
syn: countenance; visage
Contents
Lesson Twelve
voluble
Usually a quiet soul, Ed became annoyingly
voluble when the subject of English grammar
and usage came up.
adj. talkative
syn: garrulous; fluent
ant: quiet; introverted
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Lesson Twelve
revel
Stella reveled in the wealth of luxury items that
decorated every corner of her five-star luxury
suite.
v. to enjoy; to take pleasure in
syn: bask; delight; indulge
ant: grieve; lament
Contents
Lesson Twelve
umbrage
Oversensitive Harold took umbrage at the
slightest real or imagined put-down.
n. feeling of offense; resentment
syn: displeasure; ire; anger
ant: delight; pleasure
Contents
Lesson Twelve
epiphany
An unexpected epiphany helped Sandra
instantly understand everything about her
boyfriend.
n. a revelation; sudden knowledge or insight
Contents
Lesson Twelve
assiduous
Since the fifth century BC, countless assiduous
workers have built and rebuilt the Great Wall of
China.
adj. diligent; persistent
syn: persevering; industrious
ant: lazy; negligent
Contents
Lesson Twelve
panacea
After pocketing his two dollars, the con man
handed the bumpkin a supposed panacea that
looked suspiciously like useless colored water.
n. a cure-all; a remedy for all diseases
syn: elixir; nostrum
Contents
Lesson
Thirteen
Contents
Lesson Thirteen
implicate
The evidence implicated many high officials in
the conspiracy.
v. to involve or connect unfavorably
syn: entangle; incriminate
ant: extricate; dissociate
Contents
Lesson Thirteen
analgesic
Instead of an efficacious analgesic, the doctor
gave Seth a lollypop and told him to stop
whining.
n. a medication to reduce or eliminate pain
syn: painkiller
ant: irritant
Contents
Lesson Thirteen
turpitude
Censors fear that the unchecked portrayal of sex,
violence, and crime in movies and on television
will foster turpitude among younger viewers.
n. wickedness; vileness
syn: depravity; wantonness; decadence
ant: purity; goodness
Contents
Lesson Thirteen
discretionary
Marketers love consumers loaded with
discretionary income who buy far more than
they really need.
adj. left to one’s own judgment
syn: elective; nonobligatory; unrestricted
ant: mandatory; obligatory
Contents
Lesson Thirteen
flummox
Greek philosopher Socrates flummoxed
authorities by asking them questions they were
unable to answer.
v. to confuse; to perplex
syn: bewilder; baffle; perplex
ant: clarify; simplify
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Lesson Thirteen
unpalatable
Jimmy hid his unpalatable turnips
unsuccessfully under a wide, white covering of
mashed potatoes.
adj. unpleasant to the taste or the mind
syn: displeasing; objectionable; offensive
ant: pleasing; agreeable
Contents
Lesson Thirteen
histrionics
The actor’s histrionics made his performance
appear forced.
n. exaggerated emotional behavior
syn: theatrics; dramatics; hysterics
Contents
Lesson Thirteen
draconian
Winners of the first war imposed draconian
reprisals on the losers and thus unwittingly
helped to cause the second.
adj. extremely harsh; very severe
syn: callous; merciless
ant: lenient
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Lesson Thirteen
noisome
Odors of decay mingled in an especially
noisome manner and drove swamp residents
from their homes.
adj. disgusting; offensive to the senses
syn: nauseating; fetid ant: delightful; pleasing
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Lesson Thirteen
punctilious
The punctilious coach ordered players to run
one lap for each minute they were late to
practice.
adj. attentive to details in conduct or action
syn: conscientious; particular; meticulous
ant: careless; inattentive
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Lesson Thirteen
veritable
Expensive cargo from the wrecked ship washed
up on the beach and gave looters a veritable
department store on the shore.
adj. authentic; genuine
syn: indubitable; bona fide
ant: bogus; counterfeit
Contents
Lesson Thirteen
florid
Years of excessive alcohol consumption gave
Grace a florid complexion.
adj. rosy or red in color
syn: ruddy; reddish; flushed
Contents
Lesson Thirteen
fractious
The arbitrator had a natural talent for
convincing fractious groups to work together.
adj. unruly; disruptive
syn: stubborn; difficult
ant: temperate
Contents
Lesson Thirteen
moribund
“I may be moribund, but I’m not gone yet,”
said the old man to his greedy family waiting for
their inheritance.
adj. near death; about to die
syn: dying; perishing
ant: thriving; flourishing
Contents
Lesson Thirteen
conflagration
In the latest action movie, a helicopter crashes
into a fuel tank, and the hero leaps away from
the resulting conflagration just in time.
n. a large, destructive fire
syn: blaze; inferno
Contents
Lesson
Fourteen
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Lesson Fourteen
protégé
Though the mentor got the recognition, his
protégé quietly did all the work and gradually
emerged from his shadow.
n. a person under the guidance or training of
another
syn: apprentice
ant: mentor
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Lesson Fourteen
indiscernible
The indiscernible scar on Wayne’s neck was
the only remnant of what had been a major
surgical procedure.
adj. difficult or impossible to discern or perceive
syn: imperceptible; indistinguishable; subtle
ant: evident; noticeable; obvious
Contents
Lesson Fourteen
virulent
The evil microbiologist engineered an especially
virulent form of plague for which there was no
vaccine.
adj. extremely infectious or poisonous
syn: venomous; toxic
ant: harmless
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Lesson Fourteen
phlegmatic
The phlegmatic scientist dryly recited the
controversial facts.
adj. calm and unemotional
syn: apathetic; cold; unfeeling
ant: lively; excited
Contents
Lesson Fourteen
artisan
After smashing her thumb with the hammer
again, Sarah hired an artisan to finish
remodeling her living room.
n. a skilled manual worker; a craftsperson
Contents
Lesson Fourteen
reciprocate
After the thief kicked the dog, the animal
reciprocated by biting the intruder’s knee.
v. to give in response to receiving something
syn: match
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Lesson Fourteen
tenable
As much as he tried, Dan could not find one
tenable reason to trade in his ugly, old, paid-for
car because it ran just fine.
adj. rationally defensible
syn: sound; viable; credible
ant: questionable; unbelievable
Contents
Lesson Fourteen
boondoggle
Twenty years and twenty billion dollars later, the
boondoggle somehow produced a five-mile
tunnel.
n. an unnecessary, wasteful project
Contents
Lesson Fourteen
curmudgeon
Mel became a curmudgeon at a young age,
draining the pleasure out of everyone else’s life.
n. a stubborn, ill-tempered person
syn: grouch; bellyacher; killjoy
Contents
Lesson Fourteen
moiety
The greedy real estate agent always made sure he
got the largest moiety from every deal.
n. a portion or part of something
syn: division; piece
Contents
Lesson Fourteen
inculcate
Belinda inculated high standards into her
employees until top performance became second
nature to them.
v. to impress upon or teach someone by
repetition
Contents
Lesson Fourteen
fiduciary
The accountant took a fiduciary, but not a
personal, interest in his sister’s estate.
adj. relating to the governing of property or
estate on behalf of others
Contents
Lesson Fourteen
repugnant
The repugnant stand-up comedian had an
insult for each person in the front row of the
audience.
adj. offensive; repulsive
syn: abhorrent; obnoxious
ant: appealing; enjoyable; nice
Contents
Lesson Fourteen
opprobrium
The judges earned public opprobrium for
rendering an extremely unpopular decision.
n. disgrace; extreme dishonor
syn: obloquy; ignominy; shame
ant: esteem; honor; respect
Contents
Lesson Fourteen
potentate
Most employees simply took the train or the bus;
the potentate, however, jumped aboard her
private helicopter parked on the roof of her
downtown headquarters building.
n. a monarch; one who has great power
syn: sovereign; magnate; king
ant: peasant; plebian; serf
Contents
Lesson Fifteen
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Lesson Fifteen
prominent
Any publicity is good publicity, according to the
prominent real estate mogul, whose picture
can be found on every other billboard and poster
in the city.
adj. very noticeable or obvious
syn: conspicuous; clear
ant: inconspicuous
Contents
Lesson Fifteen
autonomy
After working in a huge, bureaucratic
corporation, Rhonda enjoyed the autonomy of
writing a gossip column from home.
n. independence
syn: self-rule; license; sovereignty
ant: subordination
Contents
Lesson Fifteen
gustatory
As a restaurant critic, Craig savored the
gustatory delights of free food from venues
trying to please him.
adj. relating to the sense of taste
Contents
Lesson Fifteen
chthonian
The chthonian devils sprang at her and tried to
drag her back into their hellish world.
adj. pertaining to the underworld; dwelling in or
beneath the surface of the earth
Contents
Lesson Fifteen
extirpate
The DEA tried to extirpate illegal
methamphetamine labs by destroying each one
they discovered.
v. to root out or eradicate; to destroy completely
syn: expunge; uproot; exterminate
ant: generate; propagate
Contents
Lesson Fifteen
coagulate
In three months’ time, the milk in Peter’s
refrigerator had coagulated into something
smelly and scary.
v. to change or be changed from liquid into a
thickened or solid mass
syn: congeal; solidify; curdle
ant: liquefy
Contents
Lesson Fifteen
puissance
The puissance of the king’s army did not offset
its poor organization.
n. power; might
syn: strength; vigor
ant: frailty; weakness
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Lesson Fifteen
appellation
Among the amusing appellations of Charles
Dickens’ fictional characters is Mr. Gradgrind,
an unimaginative bore.
n. name, title, or designation
syn: denomination; classification
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Lesson Fifteen
peripatetic
The peripatetic nomad walked all day and sold
his homemade trinkets in the markets at night.
adj. traveling, especially by foot
syn: ambulant; vagabond; nomadic
ant: stationary
Contents
Lesson Fifteen
misanthrope
Believing that only he spoke the truth, the
misanthrope started writing angry, brutal, and
honest essays.
n. one who hates or mistrusts humankind
ant: samaritan
Contents
Lesson Fifteen
tutelary
Because the parents were rarely home, the nanny
became the main tutelary figure in the
children’s lives.
adj. pertaining to guardianship
syn: custodial; guardian
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Lesson Fifteen
scion
The scions of the railroad fortune lacked the
work ethic that had enabled their grandfather to
build the family’s empire.
n. descendant; heir
syn: successor; progeny
ant: predecessor; ancestor
Contents
Lesson Fifteen
jurisprudence
American jurisprudence tends to favor those
who can afford teams of highly effective lawyers.
n. the science, philosophy, and application of the
law
Contents
Lesson Fifteen
supercilious
The supercilious food critic had a knack for
identifying the subtle faults of even the finest
cuisine.
adj. contemptuous; arrogant
syn: haughty; condescending; conceited
ant: modest; humble
Contents
Lesson Fifteen
malevolent
The bullfighter looked across the ring at the
pawing, snorting animal and sensed
malevolent intent.
adj. having ill-will; wishing harm; evil
syn: malicious; sinister; menacing
ant: benevolent
Contents
Lesson Sixteen
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Lesson Sixteen
trenchant
While others circled around the issue, Antoinette
issued trenchant remarks that struck at the
heart of the matter.
adj. effectively keen and forceful in thought or
expression
syn: cutting; forthright
ant: ambiguous; lenient; insipid
Contents
Lesson Sixteen
bourgeois
“Keeping up with the Joneses” has long been
considered a habit of bourgeois life.
adj. relating to the middle class
Contents
Lesson Sixteen
nascent
In 1983, the Internet was a nascent network
created for limited university use.
adj. emerging; coming into existence
syn: blooming; fledgling
ant: dying; withering
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Lesson Sixteen
indefeasible
The watchdog group warned citizens to protect
the indefeasible rights that the constitution
affords them.
adj. not capable of being undone or voided
syn: immutable; unremitting; constant
ant: varying; irregular; temporary
Contents
Lesson Sixteen
paladin
In compliance with the knightly code of honor,
the paladin engaged only the largest, bravest
opponents during the skirmish.
n. a heroic champion or leader
ant: villain
Contents
Lesson Sixteen
sine qua non
Politeness is the sine qua non of a civilized
society.
n. something essential; a prerequisite
syn: must; requirement; necessity
ant: option
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Lesson Sixteen
arcane
The adventurers took the ancient scroll to the
oracle for translation of the arcane text.
adj. known or understood by only a few;
mysterious
syn: secret; obscure; esoteric
ant: famous; obvious; exoteric
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Lesson Sixteen
tangential
During business sessions with colleagues,
Senator Bluster delighted in tangential gossip
about his opponent’s indiscretions.
adj. merely touching or slightly connected;
digressing from the main point
syn: nonessential; peripheral
ant: vital; crucial; relevant
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Lesson Sixteen
mercurial
Mary’s mercurial tendencies were a boon to
her acting career because they made her
characters seem unpredictable.
adj. quickly changing; volatile
syn: fickle; unstable
ant: unchanging; stable
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Lesson Sixteen
exculpate
The district attorney exculpated Joey “Fingers”
in exchange for his testimony against mobster
“Nice Guy” Eddie.
v. to clear of guilt; to declare innocent
syn: exonerate; acquit; vindicate
ant: condemn; accuse; indict
Contents
Lesson Sixteen
salubrious
In the 1800s, the treatment of deadly
tuberculosis was usually limited to salubrious
stays in the country.
adj. healthful
syn: salutary; wholesome
ant: harmful; useless
Contents
Lesson Sixteen
vicissitude
“What didn’t kill us made us strong,” said the old
man, remarking on the many vicissitudes of
his family’s journey west.
n. a sudden change or shift in one’s life or
circumstances
syn: alteration; variation
Contents
Lesson Sixteen
squelch
Some kids consider “whatever” the best word to
squelch pushy grownups.
v. to suppress; squash
syn: extinguish; muffle; thwart
ant: promote; support; enact
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Lesson Sixteen
tyro
Touristy tyros are conspicuous for their “I’mlost” looks and ever-present cameras.
n. a beginner; novice
syn: amateur; neophyte; rookie
ant: expert; master; guru
Contents
Lesson Sixteen
matriculate
Kim’s unique knowledge of caves allowed her to
matriculate into the spelunking program at
Montana State.
v. to admit or be admitted into a group or a
college
Contents
Lesson
Seventeen
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
depravity
Suddenly wealthy and famous, the undisciplined
actor lived a life of depravity and succumbed to
his drug and alcohol addictions before he had
reached the age of thirty.
n. moral corruption; perversion
syn: immorality; debauchery; vice
ant: virtue; goodness; decency
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
megalomania
Consumed by megalomania, the doughnut
magnate refused to rest until he had built a shop
in every nation on Earth.
n. having delusions of grandeur; an obsession
with grandiose things
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
attribute
Sondra attributed her skills not to practice, but
perfect practice.
v. to relate to a particular cause; to ascribe
syn: credit; blame; impute
ant: dismiss; absolve
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
celerity
When the assembly line exceeded the factory
worker’s celerity, auto parts began falling off
the rollers and rattling across the floor.
n. swiftness of action; speed
syn: haste; rapidity; alacrity
ant: delay; procrastination
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
alimentary
John, whose dogs had always lived on table
scraps, never understood why pet owners
worried about their animals’ alimentary habits
more than their own.
adj. pertaining to food, nutrition, or digestion
syn: dietary; nutritive
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
congenital
When the insurance company found out about
Regina’s congenital abnormality, they refused
to issue her a policy.
adj. dating from birth; inherent or natural
syn: inborn; inherent
ant: acquired; contracted
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
discourse
Short sayings reach people’s minds better than
long discourses.
n. a discussion; a conversation
syn: communication
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
primordial
That joke was so old that dinosaurs sitting in
primordial ooze were the first audience to
hear it.
adj. first in time; original
syn: primeval; prehistoric
ant: recent; current
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
remuneration
The charitable volunteers built houses for the
poor without any expectation of
remuneration.
n. compensation; payment
syn: recompense; restitution; reimbursement
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
attenuate
Aspirin has been shown to attenuate, but not
eliminate, the risk of heart attack.
v. to reduce, weaken, or lessen
syn: diminish; shrink; reduce
ant: strengthen; increase; intensify
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Lesson Seventeen
mutable
A relativist believes that ethical standards are
mutable and merely reflections of temporary
social conditions.
adj. subject to change
syn: variable; inconstant; unstable
ant: consistent; constant; steady; immutable
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
ethereal
On the tennis court, Althea had an almost
ethereal quality, floating, not running, for
each ball.
adj. light or airy; intangible; heavenly
syn: celestial; impalpable; unearthly
ant: heavy; thick; substantial
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
encomium
In the Mutual Admiration Society, all members
had to exchange encomiums each time they
met.
n. formal praise; a tribute
syn: acclaim; endorsement; commendation
ant: insult; condemnation
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
tactile
Reaching into the pigs’ slop to recover a lost gold
ring was a tactile experience that Howard
hoped he’d soon forget.
adj. pertaining to the sense of touch
Contents
Lesson Seventeen
ascetic
The ascetic settled down for a happy night’s
sleep on his bed of nails.
n. a person who renounces material comforts
and practices extreme self-denial
Contents
Lesson
Eighteen
Contents
Lesson Eighteen
poignant
Fernando had had many romances, but he
regarded every one as a poignant
disappointment.
adj. very moving; touching
syn: emotional; affecting; sentimental
ant: unemotional; cold
Contents
Lesson Eighteen
venial
The few venial errors in the book do nothing to
detract from its astonishing value.
adj. easily excused or forgiven
syn: pardonable; remittable; excusable
ant: inexcusable; unforgivable
Contents
Lesson Eighteen
satiate
After the heavy meal had satiated him, Walt
lumbered over to the couch and fell asleep.
v. to satisfy fully
syn: gratify; suit
Contents
Lesson Eighteen
vituperative
The speaker angered the audience and provoked
vituperative responses in highly colorful
language.
adj. fault-finding; verbally abusive
syn: castigating; derisive; scathing
ant: flattering; sweet; kind
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Lesson Eighteen
cumulative
Year after year of unjust criticism had a negative,
cumulative effect on the principal, and she
finally quit.
adj. resulting from accumulation; increasing
syn: aggregate; summative; collective
ant: decreasing; subtracting
Contents
Lesson Eighteen
exhilaration
Making it through the tough Marine Corps boot
camp gave Ed a feeling of exhilaration that has
lingered in his memory.
n. thrill; invigoration
syn: excitement; elation
ant: boredom; apathy; ennui
Contents
Lesson Eighteen
pundit
On TV, pundits often take minor incidents,
exaggerate their importance, and fill airtime with
fact-free opinions.
n. a critic
syn: commentator; reviewer; analyzer
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Lesson Eighteen
propriety
To capture the full attention of certain heedless
people, Rex decided that propriety would have
to be discarded.
n. proper behavior; appropriateness
syn: decency; etiquette; seemliness
ant: rudeness; indecency
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Lesson Eighteen
goad
Constant nagging goaded the normally calm old
man into fits of lunacy.
v. to urge forward; to prod
syn: spur; press; incite
ant: deter; discourage; dissuade
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Lesson Eighteen
impunity
Though accused of participating in the crime, the
important witness was allowed to testify with
impunity.
n. freedom from punishment, penalty, or harm
syn: immunity; liberty
ant: vulnerability; risk
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Lesson Eighteen
surfeit
A surfeit of chefs will almost certainly ruin a
recipe.
n. an excessive amount
syn: excess; overabundance; surplus
ant: shortage; dearth; deficiency
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Lesson Eighteen
trite
“Better to be trite than wrong,” said the glib and
lazy writer.
adj. overused; hackneyed; cliché
syn: banal; routine; timeworn
ant: fresh; provocative; original
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Lesson Eighteen
extricate
Myra cut the seatbelt and extricated the
passenger from the burning vehicle.
v. to release; to disentangle
syn: free; deliver; liberate
ant: entangle; hinder
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Lesson Eighteen
superfluous
The editor improved the article by removing
superfluous words from the writer’s prose.
adj. unnecessary; excessive
syn: exorbitant; gratuitous; extravagant
ant: essential; necessary; imperative
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Lesson Eighteen
lithe
The seasoned burglar dodged the laser tripwires
with lithe, catlike agility.
adj. graceful in motion; moving and bending
with ease
syn: agile; flowing; supple
ant: rigid; clumsy; awkward
Contents
Lesson
Nineteen
Contents
Lesson Nineteen
stentorian
In public debate, the stentorian argument,
rather than the best argument, often wins.
adj. extremely loud
syn: blaring; booming; roaring
ant: quiet; muted
Contents
Lesson Nineteen
propitious
The animal trainer carefully chose a propitious
moment to have the tiger jump through the hoop
of fire.
adj. promising; auspicious
syn: favorable; advantageous; beneficial
ant: ominous; harmful; unfortunate
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Lesson Nineteen
transient
The transient thief never stayed in a town long
enough for anyone to recognize him.
adj. remaining only a short time
syn: temporary; fleeting; provisional
ant: permanent; enduring
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Lesson Nineteen
tremulous
In tremulous tones, Adam broke the news to
his father that he had accidentally driven the
family car through the back wall of the garage.
adj. timid; fearful
syn: anxious; sheepish; nervous
ant: brave; confident; bold
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Lesson Nineteen
fulsome
Hoping for an exclusive interview, the reporter
lavished fulsome praise on the celebrity.
adj. offensively flattering; insincere
]syn: unctuous; ingratiating; fawning
ant: sincere; heartfelt
Contents
Lesson Nineteen
utilitarian
Guided only by utilitarian principles, the
company president had no time for what she
termed “dream-world proposals.”
adj. useful; practical
syn: practical; functional
ant: useless
Contents
Lesson Nineteen
schism
Because his group was not breaking away from
the national association, Renaldo did not think a
schism was occurring.
n. a separation or division
syn: break; estrangement; split
ant: unification; merger; alliance
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Lesson Nineteen
rescind
The heavy rain saturated the forest, so the city
government rescinded the ban on burning piles
of raked leaves.
v. to repeal; to make void
syn: recall; repeal; nullify
ant: adopt; enact; promote
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Lesson Nineteen
extant
Though the writer was rumored to have
destroyed all her works, a friend later found an
extant letter in her basement.
adj. still in existence
syn: existent; present; remaining
ant: extinct; dead; gone
Contents
Lesson Nineteen
inchoate
Out of a series of inchoate thoughts, the
philosophers formed a complete strategy for
better living.
adj. not yet complete; undeveloped
syn: rudimentary; preliminary; unformed
ant: refined; shaped; developed
Contents
Lesson Nineteen
unwieldy
Always clumsy with even the simplest tools,
Kevin swung the unwieldy sledgehammer and
hit himself in the foot.
adj. not easily carried because of size, shape, or
complexity
syn: awkward; cumbersome; ungainly
ant: convenient; manageable
Contents
Lesson Nineteen
spurious
The forger’s spurious historical signatures
brought high prices at auctions until he was
arrested.
adj. possible but ultimately false; not genuine
syn: counterfeit; bogus
ant: legitimate; genuine; authentic
Contents
Lesson Nineteen
abjure
The congressman abjured corruption in public
statements, but secretly received numbers bribes
from lobbyists.
v. to renounce or recant
syn: retract; revoke
ant: assert; maintain; endorse
Contents
Lesson Nineteen
inveterate
After a few years of repeating the same stories,
the inveterate liar began to believe his own
phony stories.
adj. habitual; continuing
syn: chronic
Contents
Lesson Nineteen
dissipate
By the third overtime, the out-of-shape
basketball star had dissipated his strength and
was gasping for air.
v. to waste recklessly; to exhaust
syn: squander; misuse
ant: save; conserve
Contents
Lesson Twenty
Contents
Lesson Twenty
echelon
When presented the opportunity to join the
executive echelon at his company, Zachary,
who had three young children, passed up the job
because of its frequent travel requirements.
n. a level of authority or responsibility; a rank
syn: level
Contents
Lesson Twenty
waive
The intelligence official agreed to waive
Vladimir’s exile to Siberia if the agent accepted a
final, extremely dangerous mission.
v. to relinquish something voluntarily; to refrain
from enforcing
syn: forfeit; cede; defer
ant: demand; enforce; impose
Contents
Lesson Twenty
serendipity
The old prospector attributed his wealth to
serendipity, because he discovered his first
productive goldmine when he accidentally fell
into a cavern.
n. a knack or faculty of making fortunate
discoveries by accident
syn: luck
Contents
Lesson Twenty
nondescript
Machine-gun Kelly kept his features and
personality nondescript so no one would pick
him out of a police lineup.
adj. lacking individual or distinct characteristics
syn: uninteresting; common; ordinary
ant: unusual; unique; extraordinary
Contents
Lesson Twenty
punitive
The judge awarded the plaintiff punitive
damages because her life had been permanently
altered as a result of the defendant’s crime.
adj. punishing; pertaining to punishment
syn: disciplinary; corrective; retaliatory
Contents
Lesson Twenty
discerning
Knowing how to sell product to upscale
customers, the famous designer claimed his
shoes were for “discerning feet.”
adj. having keen perception
syn: perceptive; sharp; astute
Contents
Lesson Twenty
idyllic
Idyllic villages in the quiet countryside gave
way to mini malls and sterile business parks as
the nearby city continued to grow.
adj. simple and carefree; delightfully serene
syn: charming; picturesque; pleasant
ant: unpleasant; oppressive; dire
Contents
Lesson Twenty
acme
Defeating an enemy without resorting to war is,
possibly, the acme of diplomacy.
n. the highest point
syn: pinnacle; climax; peak
ant: nadir
Contents
Lesson Twenty
soluble
Oil is not soluble in water; it will simply float on
the surface.
adj. easily dissolved
ant: insoluble
Contents
Lesson Twenty
malinger
The fearful soldier habitually malingered
during combat and thus earned himself a court
martial.
v. to feign illness to avoid work
syn: shirk
Contents
Lesson Twenty
cerebral
It was intellectually taxing, and the cerebral
solution kept eluding Marcus.
adj. favoring intelligence over emotions or
instinct
syn: intellectual; rational; logical
ant: intuitive; instinctive
Contents
Lesson Twenty
hypocrisy
The singer’s image was tainted with hypocrisy
when he, after singing about giving up material
possessions, purchased a third summer mansion
in the tropics.
n. professing beliefs, feelings, or values that one
does not have or practice
syn: insincerity; duplicity
ant: sincerity; earnestness
Contents
Lesson Twenty
conundrum
Here’s the classic conundrum: Which came
first, the chicken or the egg?
n. a difficult problem
syn: quandary; predicament
Contents
Lesson Twenty
deleterious
Too much sugar can have a deleterious effect
on one’s health, but few can resist it.
adj. having a harmful effect; injurious
syn: destructive; pernicious; damaging
ant: beneficial; harmless; benign
Contents
Lesson Twenty
relegate
Though clearly smarter than her boss, Madelyn
was relegated to minor clerical work during the
important meeting.
v. to place in an unfavorable place or position
syn: demote; displace; exile
Contents
Lesson
Twenty-One
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Lesson Twenty-One
propinquity
Residents of the town blamed their
propinquity to a chemical factory for virtually
all of the health problems.
n. nearness; proximity
syn: closeness; immediacy; adjacency
ant: distance; remoteness
Contents
Lesson Twenty-One
abrogate
With each new law we enact, we abrogate a
little personal responsibility.
v. to abolish, especially by authority; to revoke
formally
syn: annul; invalidate; repeal
ant: establish; ratify; support
Contents
Lesson Twenty-One
supine
Linda had to sleep in a supine position until her
broken nose healed.
adj. lying on one’s back; lying face-up
ant: prone
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Lesson Twenty-One
prosaic
The prosaic hearings droned on, and Sheila’s
eyelids grew heavier.
adj. straightforward and unimaginative;
uninteresting
syn: banal; humdrum; monotonous
ant: fascinating; inspiring
Contents
Lesson Twenty-One
parity
Parity had finally reached the league: all the
teams were bad.
n. equality
syn: balance; equivalence; proportion ant:
disparity; imbalance
Contents
Lesson Twenty-One
extrinsic
Russ overcame extrinsic factors like wind and
snow and relied on his own abilities to deliver
the mail on time.
adj. not essential; extraneous
syn: unnecessary; adventitious
ant: necessary; crucial; required; intrinsic
Contents
Lesson Twenty-One
outré
Ron’s outré appearance and attitude earned
him lots of attention, but few job offers.
adj. extremely unconventional; bizarre
syn: eccentric; freaky; outlandish
ant: conforming; ordinary
Contents
Lesson Twenty-One
analects
The messages left at the serial killer’s crime
scenes read like the analects of a madman.
n. selections from a literary work
Contents
Lesson Twenty-One
surreptitious
During the exam, Peter took a surreptitious
look at the answers on his palm, but the eagleeyed proctor caught him.
adj. accomplished through stealth and secrecy
syn: furtive; sneaky; clandestine
ant: open; candid
Contents
Lesson Twenty-One
anomie
Several years of effortless growth and profit
caused anomie among company management,
and productivity decreased, decisions were
avoided, and goals were forgotten.
n. societal or personal instability caused by a
lack or erosion of values, standards, or ideals
Contents
Lesson Twenty-One
magniloquent
Instead of her usual magniloquent turns of
phrase, Mandy surprised the audience with a
down-to-earth talk.
adj. lofty in expression; pompous
syn: grandiloquent; grandiose; ostentatious
ant: humble; subtle; reserved
Contents
Lesson Twenty-One
factotum
Tired of juggling projects for the boss, the
factotum ran off to the circus and juggled
plates for the ringmaster.
n. an employee with a variety of jobs or
responsibilities
syn: workhorse; operator
ant: principal
Contents
Lesson Twenty-One
cognizant
If a company is not cognizant of customers’
changing needs, sales drop, and bankruptcy
beckons.
adj. fully informed; having knowledge of
syn: aware; perceptive; sentient
ant: ignorant; unaware; oblivious
Contents
Lesson Twenty-One
febrile
The book’s plot starts quietly but gradually turns
febrile, culminating in a heated climax.
adj. pertaining to fever; feverish
Contents
Lesson Twenty-One
apostasy
When the Germans occupied France in 1940,
French officials, in an act of apostasy, formed a
pro-German government.
n. abandonment of one’s principles, faith, or
religious beliefs
syn: defection; disavowal; renunciation
ant: commitment; dedication; loyalty
Contents