Unit 10

Question 1

askance

Answer 1

(adj.) with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval

Synonyms: distrustfully, suspiciously, skeptically

Question 2

attenuate

Answer 2

(v.) to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value
Synonyms: thin out, dilute, water down
Antonyms: thicken, strengthen, bolster

Question 3

benign

Answer 3

(adj.) gentle, kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant
Synonyms: benevolent, salutary, salubrious
Antonym: harmful

Question 4

cavil

Answer 4

(v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp; (n.) a trivial objection or criticism
Synonyms: nitpick, quibble

Question 5

charlatan

Answer 5

(n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack
Synonym: fraud
Antonym: mountebank

Question 6

decimate

Answer 6

(v.) to kill or destroy a large part of

Synonyms: ravage, devastate

Question 7

foible

Answer 7

(n.) a weak point, failing, minor flaw
Synonyms: shortcoming, defect, quirk
Antonyms: forte, virtue

Question 8

forgo

Answer 8

(v.) to do without, abstain from, give up
Synonyms: refrain from, renounce
Antonyms: indulge in, partake of

Question 9

fraught

Answer 9

(adj.) full of or loaded with; accompanied by
Synonyms: charged with
Antonyms: devoid of, lacking, deficient in

Question 10

inure

Answer 10

(v.) to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure
Synonyms: accustom, acclimate

Question 11

luminous

Answer 11

(adj.) emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating
Synonyms: radiant, bright, refulgent, lustrous
Antonyms: dark, opaque, dim, murky

Question 12

obsequious

Answer 12

(adj.) marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive
Synonyms: fawning, servile, sycophantic, mealymouthed
Antonyms: assertive, bumptious, overbearing, candid, frank, independent

Question 13

obtuse

Answer 13

(adj.) blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; not causing a sharp impression
Synonyms: stupid, dumb, thick, mild, dull-witted
Antonyms: acute, perceptive, quick-witted

Question 14

oscillate

Answer 14

(v.) to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver
Synonyms: vibrate, vacillate

Question 15

penitent

Answer 15

(adj.) regretful for one’s sins or mistakes. (n.) one who is sorry for wrongdoing
Synonyms: remorseful, regretful, rueful, sorry
Antonyms: unrepentant, remorseless

Question 16

peremptory

Answer 16

(adj.) having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal
Synonyms: high-handed, unconditional
Antonyms: irresolute, tentative, mild, unassuming

Question 17

rebuff

Answer 17

(v.) to snub; to repel, drive away; (n.) a curt rejection, a check
Synonyms: spurn, repulse, reject; setback
Antonyms: accept, welcome

Question 18

reconnoiter

Answer 18

(v.) to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection
Synonym: scout

Question 19

shambles

Answer 19

(n.) a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion; mess

Question 20

sporadic

Answer 20

(adj.) occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order
Synonyms: intermittent, spasmodic
Antonyms: constant, steady, continuous, uninterrupted