Building An Enriched Building An Enriched Vocabulary Vocabulary

Lesson 1 Lesson 1

abdicateabdicate

Verb Verb (performing an action)(performing an action) To give up formally, as an office, To give up formally, as an office,

duty, power or claim duty, power or claim Synonyms: Synonyms: resign, renounce, resign, renounce,

relinquish relinquish Example: Example:

Since the responsibilities of being class Since the responsibilities of being class president became too much, Sasha will president became too much, Sasha will abdicateabdicate her position next month and her position next month and the vice president will take over. the vice president will take over.

abdicate abdicate

adjournadjourn

Verb Verb To close formally; to put off until To close formally; to put off until

another time another time Synonyms:Synonyms: conclude, terminate, conclude, terminate,

defer, postpone defer, postpone Example:Example:

Class is Class is adjournedadjourned by the bell by the bell signaling students to leave the room. signaling students to leave the room.

adjournadjourn

alienatealienate

VerbVerb To cause hostility or indifference; to To cause hostility or indifference; to

exclude exclude Synonyms: Synonyms: estrange, exclude estrange, exclude Example: Example:

Sam felt Sam felt alienatedalienated when all of his when all of his friends went to the beach together friends went to the beach together but did not invite him to go. but did not invite him to go.

alienatealienate

anomalyanomaly

Noun (person, place, thing or idea) Noun (person, place, thing or idea) A deviation from what is normal or A deviation from what is normal or

expectedexpected Synonyms: Synonyms: abnormality, freak, abnormality, freak,

irregularity, misfit irregularity, misfit Example: Example:

There was an There was an anomalyanomaly in Jake’s in Jake’s schedule because it was missing a first schedule because it was missing a first block class. block class.

anomalyanomaly

astuteastute

AdjectiveAdjective (describes a noun) (describes a noun) Keen in mind and judgment; Keen in mind and judgment;

practical; cunningpractical; cunning Synonyms: Synonyms: perceptive, sharp, cleverperceptive, sharp, clever Example: Example: Since she was an Since she was an astuteastute child, Jane child, Jane

learned sophisticated vocabulary at learned sophisticated vocabulary at an early age from listening to her an early age from listening to her parents’ conversations. parents’ conversations.

astuteastute

avariceavarice

NounNoun An excessive desire to acquire and An excessive desire to acquire and

possess wealth possess wealth Synonyms: Synonyms: stinginess, greed stinginess, greed Example:Example: Scrooge’s Scrooge’s avariceavarice left his employees left his employees

struggling for money when he did not struggling for money when he did not want to part with his money to give want to part with his money to give them a raise. them a raise.

avariceavarice

bleakbleak

AdjectiveAdjective Cold and gloomy; desolate; unpromising Cold and gloomy; desolate; unpromising Synonyms: Synonyms: barren, harsh, dismal, barren, harsh, dismal,

sombersomber Example: Example:

1. Much of the coast of northern Alaska 1. Much of the coast of northern Alaska is is bleakbleak and uninviting. and uninviting.

2. The chances of going to the beach 2. The chances of going to the beach today are today are bleakbleak due to threats of rain. due to threats of rain.

bleakbleak

bunglebungle

VerbVerb To mismanage or make a mess ofTo mismanage or make a mess of Synonyms: Synonyms: botch, mangle, spoil botch, mangle, spoil Example: Example:

Since the chef’s assistant was not Since the chef’s assistant was not paying attention, he added salt paying attention, he added salt instead of sugar and instead of sugar and bungledbungled the the recipe. recipe.

bunglebungle

causticcaustic

AdjectiveAdjective Able to dissolve from chemical action; Able to dissolve from chemical action;

sharp and biting sharp and biting Synonyms: Synonyms: corrosive, stinging, pungent, corrosive, stinging, pungent,

venomous venomous Example: Example:

The The causticcaustic substance must be handled substance must be handled very carefully in the lab because it will very carefully in the lab because it will leave a serious burn on your skin if leave a serious burn on your skin if spilled. spilled.

causticcaustic

coercecoerce

VerbVerb To force someone to do something To force someone to do something

against his or her will using pressure, against his or her will using pressure, threats or intimidationthreats or intimidation

Synonym: Synonym: pressure, forcepressure, force Example: Example: When the bank was robbed, the When the bank was robbed, the

burglar burglar coercedcoerced the teller to hand over the teller to hand over all the money by threatening to use a all the money by threatening to use a weapon. weapon.