Level E Unit 10
Vocabulary Words
1. Acquiesce
• (v.) to accept without protest; to agree or
submit
Management is not likely to ACQUIESCE to
union demands for raises because the
company’s profits have been on the decline.
Synonyms: comply with, accede, consent, yield
Antonyms: resist, protest
2. Allure
• (v.) to entice, tempt; to be attractive to; (n.) a
strong attraction; the power to attract, charm
Dreams of stardom ALLURE many gifted young
performers from all over the country to the bright
lights of Broadway.
The ALLURE of get-rich-quick schemes may lead
people down the road to financial ruin.
Synonyms: beguile, tantalize, temptation,
enticement
Antonyms: repel, turn off, repellent
3. Askew
• (adj., adv.) twisted to one side, crooked;
disapprovingly
Some people cannot refrain from straightening
lampshades that are a little ASKEW.
All our plans for a picnic on the beach went
suddenly ASKEW when it began to rain.
Synonyms: awry, lopsided, cockeyed
Antonyms: straight, symmetrical
4. Blithe
• (adj.) cheerful, lighthearted; casual,
unconcerned
It is difficult to deflate the BLITHE optimism of
the young.
Synonyms: carefree, nonchalant, indifferent
Antonyms: glum, morose, despondent,
depressed
5. Contentious
• (adj.) quarrelsome, inclined to argue
The members of the on-line discussion group
were annoyed by the newcomer’s
CONTENTIOUS and rude remarks.
Synonym: argumentative, disputations,
combative
Antonyms: agreeable, amiable, affable, pacific
6. Covet
• (v.) to desire something belonging to another
Those who COVET the good fortune of others
are likely to be unhappy with their own lot in
life.
Synonyms: crave, yearn for, hunger for
Antonyms: disdain, scorn, despise
7. Crestfallen
• (adj.) discouraged, dejected, downcast
Despite the loss of an important labor
endorsement, the candidate appeared in no way
CRESTFALLEN.
Synonyms: despondent, disconsolate
Antonyms: elated, cheerful, self-satisfied, cocky
8. Disheveled
• (adj.) rumpled, mussed; hanging in disorder
Most people look a little bit DISHEVELED when
they get up in the morning.
Synonyms: untidy, disarranged, tousled,
unkempt
Antonyms: tidy, neat, orderly, well-groomed
9. Exponent
• (n.) one who advocates, speaks for, explains or
interprets
• (in math) the power to which a number, symbol,
or expression is to be raised.
President Theodore Roosevelt was one of the first
EXPONENTS of conservation.
The small raised numbers in a math problem are
EXPONENTS.
Synonyms: defender, champion, interpreter
Antonyms: critic, adversary, faultfinder, detractor
10. Garrulous
• (adj.) given to much talking, tediously chatty
If you are conversing with a GARRULOUS
individual, you may find it hard to get a word in
edgewise.
Synonyms: talkative, loquacious, long-winded
Antonyms: reticent, mum, taciturn, laconic,
reserved
11. Insuperable
• (adj.) incapable of being overcome
To the composer Beethoven, increasing
deafness was not an INSUPERABLE handicap.
Synonyms: invincible, insurmountable
Antonyms: surmountable, conquerable
12. Lamentable
• (adj.) to be regretted or pitied
After a long, hard winter, city streets may be in a
truly LAMENTABLE state of disrepair.
Synonyms: deplorable, regrettable, distressing
Antonyms: praiseworthy, commendable,
laudable
13. Misnomer
• (n.) an unsuitable or misleading name
The term World Series is a MISNOMER because
only North American teams participate in the
event.
Synonyms: misnaming, malapropism
14. Profess
• (v.) to affirm openly; to state beliefs in; to
claim, pretend
My music teacher PROFESSED herself satisfied
with my progress so far.
Synonyms: assert, declare, proclaim, purport
Antonyms: disclaim, disavow, repudiate
15. Respite
• (n.) a period of relief or rest
A vacation provides a RESPITE from the worries
and responsibilities of everyday life.
Synonyms: interval, intermission, lull, breather
16. Retribution
• (n.) repayment; a deserved punishment
In most ancient societies RETRIBUTION was
swiftly visited on those who broke promises.
Synonyms: recompense, requital, just desserts
17. Sinuous
• (adj.) winding, having many curves; lithe and
flexible
The trunk of the tree was almost completely
encased by SINUOUS vines.
Synonyms: twisting, convoluted, serpentine,
supple
Antonyms: direct, straight, unbending, stiff,
rigid
18. Sonorous
• (adj.) full, deep, or rich in sound; impressive in
style
The SONOROUS tolling of church bells
announced the passing of the monarch.
Synonyms: resonant, resounding, grandiloquent
Antonyms: tinny, reedy, harsh, grating
19. Vanguard
• (n.) the foremost part of an army; the leading
position in any field
If a high-tech company is to survive in today’s
marketplace, it must remain in the VANGUARD
of innovation.
Synonyms: forefront, cutting edge, trailblazers
Antonyms: rear guard, stragglers, laggards
20. Wastrel
• (n.) a wasteful person, spendthrift, a good-fornothing
Many a novel has told the sorry tale of a
charming but self-destructive WASTREL.
Synonyms: loafer, idler, squanderer, profligate
Antonyms: skinflint, tightwad, miser