English 111
Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary
Level G, Unit 3
Articulate (v and adj) think: a
true artist would be articulate
 To pronounce distinctly; to express well
in words
 Expressed clearly and forcefully; able to
employ language clearly and forcefully
 Syn: pronounce, elucidate, eloquent
 Ant: mumble, slur; tongue-tied, halting
Cavort: think of cavorting in a
cabin
 (v) to romp or prance
around exuberantly;
to make merry
 Synonyms: gambol
Credence: root word = cred
(like incredible)
 (n.) belief , mental
acceptance
 Synonyms: credit,
trust, confidence
 Antonyms: disbelief,
skepticism,
incredulity
Decry: think of crying out the
witches!
 (v.) to condemn,
express strong
disapproval, to
officially depreciate
 Synonyms:
denounce, censure,
devalue
 Antonyms: tout,
commend, extol,
laud, praise
dissemble
 (v.) to disguise or
conceal, deliberately
give a false
impression
 Synonyms:
dissimulate, mask,
feign
Distraught: think distressed
 (adj.) very much
agitated or upset due
to emotional or
mental conflict
 Synonyms: frantic,
distracted
 Antonyms: calm,
composed, collected
Eulogy: think of “eu” as a
positive word part
 (n.) a formal
statement of
commendation
(funeral), high praise
 Synonyms:
panegyric,
encomium, tribute,
testimonial
 Antonyms: philippic,
diatribe, invective
Evince: think of making
evident
 (v.) to display clearly,
to make evident, to
provoke
 Synonyms: exhibit,
manifest, occasion
Exhume: think of digging up an
ex-human
 (v.) to remove from a
grave; to bring to
light
 Synonyms: disinter,
unearth, uncover
 Antonyms: bury, inter
Feckless: think of feeble and
helpless put together
 (adj.) lacking in spirit and
strength; ineffective,
weak; irresponsible;
unreliable
 Synonyms: feeble,
helpless, incompetent,
ineffectual
 Antonyms: competent,
capable, effective
Murky: think of muddy
 (adj.) dark and
gloomy, obscure;
lacking in clarity and
precision
 Synonyms: dim,
cloudy, unclear
 Antonyms: clear,
transparent, lucid,
limpid
Nefarious: think of Jafar in
Aladin
 (adj.) wicked,
depraved, devoid of
moral standards
 Synonyms:
iniquitous,
reprehensible
 Antonyms: virtuous,
honorable,
praiseworthy,
meritorious
Piquant: think of picante sauce
 (adj.) stimulating to
the taste or mind;
spicy, pungent,
appealingly
provocative
 Synonyms: tangy,
zesty
 Antonyms: bland,
insipid, tasteless,
mild
Primordial: think prime-original
 (adj.) developed or
created at the very
beginning; going
back to the most
ancient times or
earliest stage;
fundamental, basic
 Synonyms: original,
primeval, primal
Propinquity: sounds like
proximity
 (n.) nearness in
place or time; kinship
 Synonyms: proximity,
similarity
 Antonyms:
remoteness, distance
Substantive: think of
substantial
 (adj.) real, having a solid
basis; considerable in
number or amount;
meaningful and on topic
 Synonyms: firm,
substantial, meaty
 Antonyms: imaginary,
unreal, meaningless
Unwonted: think of all the
synonyms that start with “un”
 (adj.) not usual or
expected; not in
character
 Synonyms: unusual,
uncommon,
unexpected, atypical
 Antonyms: usual,
customary, typical
Utopian: think of Utopia
 (adj.) founded upon
or involving a
visionary view of an
ideal world;
impractical
 Synonyms: idealistic
 Antonyms: realistic,
pragmatic
Verbiage: think of lots of verbs
 (n.) language that is
too wordy or inflated
in proportion to the
sense or content,
wordiness; a manner
of expression
 Synonyms: verbosity,
prolixity, diction,
jargon
Verdant: verde = green in
Spanish
 (adj.) green in tint or
color; immature in
experience or
judgment
 Synonyms: artless,
naive
 Antonyms: scorched,
sere, barren, arid
Viscous: think of mucous
 (adj.) having a
gelatinous or gluey
quality, lacking in
easy movement or
fluidity
 Synonyms: gummy,
thick
 Antonyms: runny,
watery, aqueous