Vocabulary Workshop

Level F: Unit One

approbation (noun)

the expression of approval or favorable opinion

praise official approval

Synonyms

• commendation

• sanction

assuage (verb)

to make easier or milder relieve to quiet; to calm to put an end to appease

Synonyms mitigate alleviate slake allay

In To Kill a Mockingbird,

Atticus assuages Scout’s

anxieties about school.

Aleve is a pain medication designed to assuage headaches.

coalition (noun)

[a prefix meaning “with” or “together”]

a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose

Synonyms alliance league federation combine (noun)

*decadence (noun)

[root word = decay] decline, decay, or

deterioration

excessive self-indulgence

Synonyms degeneration corruption

*has two very different definitions

elicit (verb)

to draw forth to bring out from some

source (such as another person)

Synonyms call forth evoke extract educe

During a séance, people try to elicit spirits from “beyond.”

A lawyer tries to elicit information from a witness.

expostulate (verb)

to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning

Synonyms protest remonstrate complain

hackneyed (adjective)

used so often as to lack freshness or originality

Synonyms banal trite commonplace corny

hiatus (noun)

a gap, opening, or break (in the sense of having an element missing)

Synonymspauselacuna

A half-time presentation is a

hiatus during the football

game.

innuendo (noun)

a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense)

Synonymsinsinuationintimation

intercede (verb)

[a prefix meaning “among” or “between”]

to plead on behalf of someone else

to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement

Synonyms intervene mediate

It is a referee’s job to intercede during a fight.

jaded (adjective)

wearied, worn out, dull (in the sense of being excessive and indulgent)

To become worn out or cynically insensitive due to experience or age

Synonyms sated surfeited cloyed

Due to an excessive lifestyle, many child stars become jaded at a young

age.

lurid (adjective)

causing shock, horror, or revulsion

vivid and graphic sensational

Synonyms gruesome gory grisly baleful ghastly

The lurid tales of Edgar Allan Poe were considered shocking and horrifying to people during the 19th century.

meritorious (adjective)

worthy deserving

recognition and praise

Synonyms praiseworthy laudablecommendable (similar

to approbation—commendation)

Soldiers wounded in action are meritorious; thus they are awarded with the Purple Heart

medal.

petulant (adjective)

peevish annoyed by trifles

(trivial matters) easily irritated and

upsetSynonyms irritable testy waspish

prerogative (noun)

a special right or privilege

a special quality showing excellence

Synonyms perquisite perk

Whereas in England, the prince has the prerogative to become king one day, in America, any citizen over 18 has the prerogative to vote for president.

provincial(adjective) pertaining to an outlying area; local narrow in mind or outlook countrified in the sense of being

limited and backward of a simple, plain design that

originated in the countryside(noun)• a person with a narrow point of

view• a person from an outlying area• a soldier from a province or

colony

simulate (verb)

to make a pretense of

imitate to show the outer

signs ofSynonyms feign pretend affect

“Insects protect themselves by simulating the appearance of twigs and other objects in their

environment.”

transcend (verb)

[a prefix meaning

“across,” “beyond, “change”]

to rise above or

beyond

Synonyms exceed surpass outstrip

“The magnificence of the scene far transcended my

ability to describe it in words.”

Nelson Mandela, a symbol of freedom and

equality, transcends most people’s concepts

of integrity and altruism.

umbrage (noun)

offense; resentment a vague suspicion shade cast by trees foliage giving shade

Synonyms irritation pique annoyance

Many people took umbrage

with this magazine cover

depicting the Obamas.

unctuous (adjective)

excessively smooth or smug

trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety

Synonyms fawning servile