UNIT 15 VOCABULARY

ABRASIVE

• Def:(adj.) causing irritation, harsh; grinding or wearing down; (n.) a substance used to smooth or polish
• Syn:(adj.) chafing, grating, rasping, erosive
• Ant:(adj.) smooth, polished, satiny, oily, unctuous

ACCLIMATE

• Def:(v.) to adapt to a new climate, environment, or situation
• Syn: accustom, learn the ropes

CHAGRIN

• Def:(n.) irritation or humiliation caused by disappointment or frustration;(v.) to cause such a feeling
• Syn:(n.) vexation,mortification;(v.) abash, mortify
• Ant:(n.) jubilation, exultation, triumph;(v.) exult, delight

COMPLACENT

• Def:(adj.) self-satisfyed; overly content
• Syn: smug, pleased with oneself
• Ant: discontented, chagrined

CONCUR

• Def:(v.) to express agreement, approve
• Syn: agree, assent, ratify, sanction
• Ant: disagree, differ, part function

DEFAMATION

• Def:(n.) slander or libel
• Syn: vilification, calumny, mudslinging
• Ant: salute, tribute, testimonial, praise

EXPLICATE

• Def:(v.) to make plain or clear, explain; interpret
• Syn: clarify, elucidate, untangle, spell out
• Ant: confuse, bewilder, obscure, obfuscate

FRACAS

• Def:(n.) a noisy quarrel or brawl
• Syn:row, altercation, rhubarb, brouhaha
• Ant: agreement, accord, unanimity, harmony

GROTESQUE

• Def:(adj.) unnatural, distorted; bizarre
• Syn: fantastic, outlandish, ugly, deformed
• Ant: appealing, attractive, comely

PANDEMONIUM

• Def:(n.) a wild uproar, din, or commotion
• Syn: chaos, tumult, bedlam, three-ring circus
• Ant: order, calm, tranquility, peace, repose

RAUCOUS

• Def:(adj.) disagreeably, harsh-sounding; disorderly
• Syn: boisterous, clamorous, strident
• Ant: placid, tranquil, peaceful, serene, pastoral

RECEPTIVE

• Def:(adj.) open and responsive to ideas and suggestions
• Syn: open-minded, tolerant, amenable
• Ant: narrow-minded, intolerant, hidebound

RENOUNCE

• Def:(v.) to give up or resign something
• Syn: repudiate, disown, abdicate, abjure
• Ant: retain, secure, affirm, assent, aver

REPRESS

• Def:(v.) to hold back; to put down or check by force
• Syn: subdue, curb, stifle, constrain, bottle up,
• Ant: liberate, set loose, provoke, excite

RETICENT

• Def:(adj.) not inclined to speak; reserved; reluctant
• Syn: taciturn, closemouthed, tight-lipped
• Ant: talkative, garrulous, voluble, long-winded

SAVORY

• Def:(adj.) tasty, appetizing; pungent or salty, not sweet; inoffensive, respectable
• Syn: delectable, flavorful, aromatic, piquant
• Ant: distasteful, unpalatable, malodorous, bland

SOMNOLENT

• Def:(adj.) sleepy, drowsy; inducing sleep
• Syn: groggy, soporific
• Ant: alert, lively, wide-awake, stimulating

VEHEMENT

• Def:(adj.) intense, forceful, powerful
• Syn: emphatic, fierce, vigorous, impassioned
• Ant: apathetic, lukewarm, subdued, muted

VOLUBLE

• Def:(adj.) characterized by a ready flow of words; glib, fluent
• Syn: loquacious, garrulous, long-winded, prolix
• Ant: uncommunicative, reticent, taciturn, terse

ZEALOUS

• Def:(adj.) eager, earnest, devoted
• Syn: ardent, fervent, devout, dogged, gung ho
• Ant: reluctant, unwilling, averse, tepid