VOCAB 15 Flashcards
to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way SYN: buttonhole, approach
accost
a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval SYN: rebuke, reproof
animadversion
desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager SYN: keen, enthusiastic, grasping
avid
having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink SYN: saline
brackish
swiftness, rapidity of motion or action SYN: promptness, speed
celerity
straying or wandering from a straight or direct course; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way SYN: roundabout, indirect, tricky, sly, artful
devious
in chess, an opening move that involves risk or sacrifice of a minor piece in order to gain a later advantage; any opening move of this type SYN: ploy, ruse, maneuver
gambit
a legendary bird identified with the kingfisher; of or relating to the _______; calm, peaceful; happy, golden; prosperous, affluent SYN: tranquil, placid, palmy
halcyon
pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial; melodramatic SYN: affected, stagy
histrionic
deliberately setting or causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion; one who deliberately sets fires, arsonist; one who causes strife SYN: inflammatory, provocative; firebrand
incendiary
a whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction SYN: chaos, turbulence, tumult
maelstrom
nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment SYN: shortsighted
myopic
open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized SYN: clear, obvious, manifest, patent
overt
tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling
pejorative
the state of being proper, appropriateness; standards of what is proper or socially acceptable SYN: fitness, correctness
propriety
