unit 10 Flashcards
adept (adj.)
thoroughly skilled
Not only is the soloist an accomplished singer, but he is also adept at playing the saxophone.
SYNONYMS: masterful, proficient
ANTONYMS: clumsy, unskilled, maladroit
Are you looking for another word to describe a person who is highly skilled, very proficient or expert at something? Try the adjective adept!
adept (n.)
an expert
An adept at chess, she hopes to compete in tournaments against top-rated players.
ANTONYM: novice
chide (v.)
to blame; scold
The teacher chided the student for truancy and tardiness.
SYNONYMS: upbraid, reprimand, rebuke, chastise
ANTONYMS: approve, praise, compliment, pat on the back
To chide someone is to ride them or get on their case, without really getting in their face.
despicable (adj.)
worthy of scorn, contemptible
Whatever the provocation, there is no justification for such despicable behavior.
SYNONYMS: low, cheap, sordid, detestable
ANTONYMS: praiseworthy, commendable, meritorious
Stealing the last piece of food from a starving child goes way beyond mean. It’s despicable — a vile and harmful act.
erroneous (adj.)
incorrect, containing mistakes
An erroneous first impression is not easily corrected.
SYNONYMS: mistaken, fallacious, all wrong
ANTONYMS: accurate, correct, exact, unerring
The adjective erroneous describes something or someone as mistaken and incorrect. Early explorers had the erroneous notion that the oceans were full of dragons.
exploit (v.)
to make use of, develop; to make improper use of for personal profit
A good debater knows how to exploit weaknesses in an opponent’s argument.
SYNONYMS: turn to advantage, misuse
exploit (n.)
a feat, deed
The exploit of Robin Hood and his Merry Men are so well known that they have become a part of Western culture.
An exploit is a heroic act or notable deed. The King Arthur legends are full of stories of the exploits of the Knights of the Round Table, including Sir Lancelot and King Arthur himself.
impair (v.)
to make imperfect, damage, harm
I am fortunate that the scratch on my eye will not permanently impair my vision.
SYNONYMS: injure, disable, cripple, enervate
ANTONYMS: improve, strengthen, promote, advance
When something is impaired, it’s diminished or damaged. Someone who can’t see very well has impaired sight.
languid (adj.)
drooping; without energy, sluggish
A big lunch makes me feel languid for the rest of the day.
SYNONYMS: lazy, listless, slack, lethargic
ANTONYMS: lively, energetic, vigorous, enlivening
Describe a slow-moving river or a weak breeze or a listless manner with the slightly poetic adjective, languid.
render (v.)
to cause to become; to perform; to deliver officially; to process, extract
The freelance writer presented the managing editor with a bill for services to render.
SYNONYMS: present, furnish, submit, make, effect
Render is a synonym of make — technically it means “cause to become.” An illness might render you unable to walk, or a shocking site might render you speechless.
skeptical (adj.)
inclined to doubt; slow to accept something as true
I am skeptical of promises made by politicians when they are running for office.
SYNONYMS: suspicious, incredulous
ANTONYMS: believing, credulous, gullible, ingenuous
If a friend told you that her family was perfect and they never had any problems, would you believe her? If not, you may be skeptical. Skeptical people look at the world with a certain amount of doubt.
slipshod (adj.)
untidy in dress, personal habits, etc.; careless, sloppy
The commission attributed the unfortunate collapse of the apartment building to its slipshod construction.
SYNONYMS: messy, untidy, slovenly, slapdash, cursory
ANTONYMS: tidy, neat, orderly, careful, painstaking
When someone does something in a slipshod manner, they do it in a way that’s careless and sloppy — that isn’t right.
bleak (adj.)
bare, dreary, dismal
Urban renewal can turn a run-down city with bleak economic prospects into a flourishing metropolis.
SYNONYMS: grim, cheerless, gloomy, desolate, barren
ANTONYMS: rosy, cheerful, sunny, promising, encouraging
Something that is bleak is gloomy and depressing. If it’s raining and dark, you might describe the night as bleak. If you have looked for work and no one will hire you, you could describe your prospects as bleak.
diminutive (adj.)
small, smaller than most others of the same type
The diminutive lapdog was so small that it actually fit in its owner’s purse.
SYNONYMS: undersized, miniature, tiny, compact
ANTONYMS: oversized, gigantic, huge, enormous
Diminutive means small. A diminutive person is short and small. A diminutive word is a “cute” version of a word or name: for example, “duckling” is a diminutive of “duck” and Billy is a diminutive form of the name William.
emancipate (v.)
to free from slavery; to release or liberate
Scientific knowledge can emancipate humanity from blind superstition.
SYNONYMS: set loose, unchain, unfetter
ANTONYMS: enslave, snare, chain, shackle
If you emancipate someone, you set them free from something. At the end of the Civil War, slaves were emancipated and became free men and women.
