unit 1 Flashcards
admonish (v.)
to caution or advise against something; to scold mildly; to remind of a duty
The librarian had to admonish the noisy students several times before they settled down.
SYNONYMS: reprimand, call on the carpet
ANTONYMS: praise, pat on the back
brigand (n.)
a bandit, robber, outlaw, highwayman
Ancient caravans passing through desolate areas were sometimes attacked by brigands.
diffuse (adj.)
wordy, long-winded, or unfocused; scattered or widely spread
The speech was so long and diffuse that most audience members were thoroughly confused by it.
SYNONYMS: verbose, prolix
ANTONYMS: brief, concise, succinct
cumbersome (adj.)
clumsy, hard to handle; slow-moving
The bus was filled to capacity with holiday shoppers carrying large and cumbersome packages.
SYNONYMS: ponderous, difficult, uncomfortable
ANTONYMS: manageable, easy to handle
diffuse (v.)
to spread or scatter freely or widely
The scent of lilacs slowly diffused through the open window.
SYNONYM: disperse
ANTONYM: concentrate
unbridled (adj.)
lacking in restraint
Sometimes the unbridled enthusiasm of sports fans can get a little out of hand.
SYNONYMS: unrestrained, unchecked
ANTONYMS: restrained, held in check, muted
commandeer (v.)
to seize for military or official use
Under certain circumstances the U.S. government has the right to comandeer private property.
SYNONYMS: take over, requisition, expropriate
muddle (n.)
a hopeless mess
The muddle was principally caused by their failure to carry out the general’s orders properly.
SYNONYMS: confusion, disorder
ANTONYMS: orderliness, neatness
predispose (verb)
spurious (adj.)
not genuine, not true, not valid
Manufacturers who make spurious claims for their products may face fines or lawsuits.
SYNONYMS: false, counterfeit, fraudulent, bogus
ANTONYMS: genuine, authentic, bona fide, valid
muddle (v.)
to make a mess of; muddle through: to get by
Too much stress and too little sleep will almost certainly muddle a person’s ability to concentrate.
SYNONYMS: jumble, mess up
predispose (v.)
to incline to beforehand
My genetic makeup seems to predispose me to colds and sore throats.
SYNONYMS: tending to, liable to
ANTONYMS: immunize against, shield from
breach (v.)
to create an opening, break through
Our troops were unable to breach the enemy’s lines during the battle.
ANTONYMS: close, seal
breach (n.)
an opening, gap, rupture, rift; a violation or infraction
Because of a serious breach of the rules, two players were ejected from the game.
deadlock (v.)
to bring to such a standstill
The refusal of labor and management to modify their demands deadlocked the contract negotiations.
deadlock (n.)
a standstill resulting from the opposition of two equal forces or factions
After fifteen innings, the score remained a frustrating 3-to-3 deadlock.
SYNONYMS: standoff, impasse
ANTONYMS: agreement, accord, breakthrough
debris (n.)
scattered fragments, wreckage
After the storm, the beach was littered with driftwood and other debris.
SYNONYMS: remains, detritus, flotsam and jetsam
dilemma (n.)
a difficult or perplexing situation or problem
During the crisis the President found himself caught in a painful dilemma.
SYNONYMS: predicament, quandary, pickle, bind
ANTONYM: cinch
perennial (adj.)
lasting for a long time, persistent
Pizza is a perennial favorite of young and old alike in the United States.
SYNONYMS: enduring, recurring
ANTONYMS: brief, short-lived, fleeting, ephemeral
efface (v.)
to wipe out; to keep oneself from being noticed
Time had effaced almost all signs of the struggle that took place on that famous battlefield.
SYNONYMS: blot out, erase, expunge
spasmodic (adj.)
sudden and violent but brief; fitful; intermittent
Spasdomic flashes of lightning and booming thunderclaps were accompanied by torrential rain.
SYNONYMS: irregular, occasional
ANTONYMS: steady, continuous, chronic
perennial (n.)
a plant that lives for many years
A garden of perennial is relatively easy to maintain.
salvage (n.)
property thus saved
Salvage from sunken ships can be of great value to archaeologists and historians.
circumspect (adj.)
careful, cautious
It is important for a diplomat to behave in a manner that is both discreet and circumspect.
SYNONYMS: wary, prudent, guarded
ANTONYMS: incautious, rash, reckless, heedless
relinquish (v.)
to let go, give up
Severe illness forced me to relinquish my role in the school play.
SYNONYM: surrender
ANTONYMS: hold on to, keep, cling to
