vocabulary level f unit 6. anomalous (adj.) abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual syn:...
TRANSCRIPT
anomalous• (adj.) abnormal,
irregular, departing from the usual
• SYN: exceptional, atypical, unusual, aberrant
• ANT: normal, regular, customary, typical, ordinary
aspersion• (n.) a damaging or derogatory
statement; the act of slandering or defaming
• SYN: innuendo, calumny, denigration
• ANT: endorsement, testimonial, praise
• The National Enquirer is known for casting aspersions on celebrities.
bizarre• (adj.) extremely strange,
unusual, atypical
• SYN: grotesque, fantastic, outlandish
• ANT: normal, typical, ordinary, expected
brusque• (adj.) abrupt, blunt,
with no formalities
• Synonyms: curt, tactless, ungracious, gruff, rough
• Antonyms: gracious, tactful, courteous, diplomatic
cajole
• (v.) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises
• SYN: wheedle, inveigle, soft-soap, sweet-talk
• ANT: coerce, force, strong-arm
castigate• (v.) to punish
severely; to criticize severely
• SYN: chastise, rebuke, censure, upbraid
• ANT: reward, honor, praise, laud
contrive• (v.) to plan with
ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan
• SYN: think up, devise, concoct, fabricate
demagogue• (n.) a leader who
exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
• SYN: rabble-rouser, firebrand
disabuse• (v.) to free from
deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking
• SYN: undeceive, enlighten, set straight
• ANT: deceive, delude, pull wool over one’s eyes
ennui• (n.) weariness and
dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom
• SYN: languor, world-weariness, listlessness
• ANT: enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity
fetter• (n.) a chain or shackle
placed on the feet (usually used in plural); anything that confines or restrains
• (v.) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent
• Synonyms: (n.) bond, restraint; (v.) bind, hamper
• Antonyms: (v.) free, liberate, emancipate
heinous• (adj.) very wicked,
offensive, hateful
• SYN: evil, odious, abominable, outrageous
• ANT: excellent, wonderful, splendid In his book In Cold Blood,
Truman Capote wrote about a heinous crime that took place in Kansas in 1959.
immutable• (adj.) not subject to
change, constant
• SYN: unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable
• ANT: changeable, inconstant, variable, fickle
The Ten Commandments are considered by Christians to be immutable laws of God.
insurgent(n.) one who rebels or rises
against authority; (adj.) rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on
SYN: (adj.) revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous
ANT: (adj.) loyalist, loyal, faithful
In American literature, we can read about the bravery of many insurgents against Britain.
megalomania• (n.) a delusion marked
by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality
• Synonyms: delusions of grandeur
• Antonyms: humility, modesty, self-abasement
• Based upon his bizarre behavior, Moammar Khadafi appears to suffer from megalomania.
sinecure• (n.) a position
requiring little or no work; an easy job
• Synonyms: “no-show” job, cushy job, “plum”
Our neighbor’s job appears to be nothing more than a sinecure since we rarely see him leave the house.
surreptitious• (adj.) stealthy, secret,
intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud
• SYN: furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed
• ANT: open, frank, aboveboard, overt
The co-workers met surreptitiously to plan a surprise party for their boss.
transgress• (v.) to go beyond a
limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law
• SYN: overstep, exceed, trespass, err
• ANT: obey, toe the line
After spending a week in ISS, the student vowed not to transgress the rules again.
transmute
• (v.) to change from one nature, substance, or form to another
• SYN: transform, convert, translate, metamorphose
• ANT: maintain, unchanged, preserve
After moving to a new school, my friend was able to transmute her image into a positive one.