Unit 12

Vocabulary Level E

abjureDEF = (v.) to renounce, repudiate under oath;

to avoid, to shunSYN = forswear, retract, recant, abstain fromANT = affirm, avow, aver, profess

If you tell someone to, “Talk to the hand!”

you’re telling him to, “Go away!”

You are ABJURING him.

acridDEF = (adj.) harsh in taste or color; sharp in

manner or temperSYN = irritating, stinging, bitter, causticANT = gentle, soothing, mild

Word Connection:Think = “It can be hard toget RID of an acRID smell.”

The scent of a skunk can be very ACRID .

Rotten fish can have an

ACRID smell.

augustDEF = (adj.) majestic, inspiring admiration and respectSYN = stately, dignified, exalted, venerableANT = humble, base, mean, lowly, abject

The lion is the AUGUST and

NOBLE “King of the

Jungle”

Caesar Augustus was an AUGUST and

ADMIRABLE Roman Emperor.

The Bald Eagle is so AUGUST

that it was chosen to represent our

DIGNIFIED country.

callousDEF = (adj.) emotionally hardened; unfeelingSYN = insensitive, unsympathetic, thick-skinnedANT = sensitive, compassionate, tenderhearted

A person can get CALLOUSES in his

hand from doing hard work. A CALLOUS is THICK, HARD SKIN

that LOSES FEELING.

This emoticon is CALLOUS because it

does not feel anything.

clandestineDEF = (adj.) secret, concealed; underhandedSYN = covert, furtive, surreptitious, stealthyANT = open, overt, undisguised, aboveboard

A SECRET agent goes on CLANDESTINE operations to

SECRET DESTINations.

Ninjas are well known for their STEALTHY abilities to complete

CLANDESTINE operations.

compunctionDEF = (n.) remorse, regretSYN = scruple, qualm, misgiving, contritionANT = shamelessness, insouciance, nonchalance

Even when breaking a vase is an accident, you could still feel

COMPUNCTIONif it was your

fault.

conflagrationDEF = (n.) a large destructive fireSYN = holocaust, wildfireANT = deluge, flood

Word Connection:Think = conFLAgration and FLAme

Forest CONFLAGRATIONS are

very destructive.

elatedDEF = (adj., part.) in high spirits, jubilant;

extremely pleasedSYN = overjoyed, ecstatic, tickled pinkANT = depressed, crestfallen, despondent, blue

Word Connection:Think = INFLATEDA balloon inflated with heliumFloats high up to the ceiling.ELATED = high spirits/happy

indelibleDEF = (adj.) not able to be erased or removed;

memorableSYN = lasting, permanent, unforgettableANT = erasable, impermanent, ephemeral

A Sharpie is a

PERMANENT,

INDELIBLE marker.

The Lincoln Memorial is a monument that was created

because Lincoln had an INDELIBLE, LASTING impact on

the United States of America.

indulgentDEF = (adj.) yielding to the wishes or demands of

othersSYN = lenient, permissive, tolerant, liberalANT = strict, severe, inflexible, hard-nosed

INDULGENT parents give their children whatever they

want - even if it’s not good for them.

Some INDULGENT

people will “bend over backwards” to do anything

they can for other people.

compunction elated abjureclandestine acrid indulgent

1. People caught in house fires face two dangers: being burnt by flames and inhaling the ______ smoke.

2. I was so _______ after winning 1st place in the 100 meter dash that I couldn’t stop smiling all the way home.

3. As part of the divorce settlement, either Pamela or Steven will have to ______ their claim on their home.

4. Because it was clear that the murderer had planned his crime, the jury had no ______ about sentencing him to death.

5. The ______ world of the CIA and FBI has more secrets than any ordinary citizens could ever guess!

indelible indulgent conflagration

callous august compunction

1. The funeral procession honoring the police officer who had been killed in the line of duty was a noble and _____ affair.

2. The first book of poems I ever read, A Light in the Attic, made a(n) _______ impression on me. When I grew up, I became a poet!

3. When parents are too ______, their children grow up believing that everyone in the world will give in to their wishes.

4. I’ve never understood how someone could be so _____ that they could watch a person get bullied and do nothing to help him.

5. Firefighters battled day and night to put out the _______ that destroyed thousands of acres of the forest preserve.

inveterateDEF = (adj.) firmly established, long-standing;

habitualSYN = persisting, chronic, dyed-in-the-woolANT = sporadic, intermittent, occasional

Word Connection: An old WWII VETERANis an inVETERate memberof the army.

The American flag is an INVETERATE symbol of our LONG-STANDING

country.

irrelevantDEF = (adj.) not to the point, not applicable or

pertinentSYN = inapplicable, immaterial, beside the pointANT = pertinent, material, apropos, germane

Word Connection:IRRegular = IRRelevant

One of these things doesn’t belong here…the chicken!!

All of these arrows are NOT TO THE POINT.

nocturnalDEF = (adj.) of or occurring in the night;

under cover of darknessSYN = nighttimeANT = daytime, diurnal Owls are NOCTURNAL.

They hunt and eat at NIGHT.Vampires are supposedly only able

to go out at NIGHT. They are NOCTURNAL monsters.

platitudeDEF = (n.) a commonplace, stale, or trite

remarkSYN = cliché, truism, bromideANT = epigram, quip, witticism, bon mot

Hallmark cards are full of common PLATITUDES such as

“I’m sorry for your loss” and “Happy Birthday!”.

Fortune cookies always contain PLATITUDES that could apply to

anyone.

quellDEF = (v.) to subdue, put down forciblySYN = suppress, pacify, squelch, quash,

crushANT = incite, provoke, arouse

Steven Segal is QUELLING

his enemy.

quiescentDEF = (adj.) inactive; at restSYN = still, inert, motionless, dormant,

tranquilANT = active, thriving, lively, bustling,

volatile

Word Connection:QUIET = QUIEscent

ruminateDEF = (v.) to meditate, think about at

length; to chew the cudSYN = ponder, reflect, mull over, muse

tacitDEF = (adj.) unspoken, silent; implied,

inferredSYN = unexpressed, unvoiced, understoodANT = explicit, express, specific

Mimes convey all their TACIT

messages through movement

and facial expressions. They NEVER SPEAK.

tangibleDEF = (adj.) capable of being touched; real, concreteSYN = perceptible, actual, evident, palpableANT = immaterial, imperceptible,

insubstantialWhen CONCRETE

hardens, you can stand on it.

It is TANGIBLE.

This apple is TANGIBLE. It is capable of being

HELD in one’s hand (or TOUCHED).

trenchantDEF = (adj.) incisive, keen; forceful,

effective; cutting, caustic, clear; distinct,

clear-cutSYN = penetrating, cutting, telling, acuteANT = dull, bland, insipid, vapid,

imperceptive

Word Connection:You can CUT a TRENCHinto the ground.

Dr. House has a CUTTINGLY

sarcastic wit. He has a TRENCHANT

wit.

irrelevant tacit ruminatetangible quell trenchant

1. Although he didn’t say anything, Mike rolled his eyes to send a ______ sign that he was unhappy with his parent’s decision.

2. Unfortunately, too many people focus on collecting ______ items in life, but those will rarely make a person truly happy.

3. As Sandi approached her senior year of high school, she began to _______ about which college would be the best fit for her.

4. As the tornado sirens screamed in the distance, Hank and Pat tried to _____ their fears and stay calm.

5. It’s great that you love turkey sandwiches, but as we’re having a conversation about math right now, I would say that fact is completely ________!

trenchant quiescent platitudenocturnal inveterate tacit

1. Although it was a bit mean, Simon Cowell’s ______ criticism of the singer was keen and clear-cut .

2. Sometimes it seems like political candidates speeches are filled with _______ ; we’ve heard all the vague promises before!

3. Everyone worried when the long _______ volcano suddenly began emitting smoke and loud rumbles.

4. Anyone with a(n) _______ habit knows that it can be very difficult to break.

5. Just before going to sleep, we set traps to stop the ______ raids of raccoons into our garbage cans.