Vocab 8 Flashcards
Pander
(V). To exploit weaknesses of others; To cater the vices of others
Synonym: Cajole, indulge
Antonym: none
The trendy clothing store pandered to meet materialistic clients by selling shoddy clothing at outrageously high prices.
Otiose
(Adj). Useless; futile
Syn: unimportant, worthless
Ant: Productive, necessary
The director decided to remove the otiose scenes that increased the length of the film but failed to add to suspense.
Puerile
(Adj). Childish; futile
Syn: immature; infantile
Ant: Mature
Uncle Joe refused to tolerate his teenage nephews puerile behavior.
Aleatory
(Adj). Dependent on luck or chance
Syn: none
Ant: None
Because of the uncertain weather forecast, the success of our company picnic is purely aleatory.
Asperity
(N). Roughness or harshness; severity
Syn: acerbity; irascibility
Ant: mildness; kindness
The teacher felt bad after his asperity caused a student to cry.
Renunciation
(N). Rejection; Refusal to at knowledge
Syn: denial; refusal
Ant: Admittance, concession
Members of the club responded to Bill’s renunciation of their doctrine by asking him to leave.
Unimpeachable
(Adj). Unquestionable; Beyond doubt
Syn: Trustworthy, infallible
Ant: Questionable, Flawed
The Internet is not an unimpeachable source of information for academic research.
Inveigh
(V). To disapprove angrily; to protest
Syn: Berate, condemn, remonstrate
Ant: Commend; laud; praise
Irene inveighed against her company’s hiring of a former competitor for prominent position.
Lionize
(V). To assign great social importance to; to entreat as a celebrity
Syn: Acclaim; exalt; honor
Ant: Ignore; Overlook
The public lionized the boys for saving the child from the burning building.
Allay
(V). To relieve; to alleviate
Syn: Calm; ease; pacify
Ant: Excite; intensify; agitate
Mom tried to allay my fear of flying by reading favorable airline statistics.
Vitiate
(V). To corrupt morally; To contaminate
Syn: Defile; devalue; spoil
Ant: Purify; clarify; cleanse
Mark claims that prisons simply vitiate the spirits of the inmates.
Recalcitrant
(Adj). Stubbornly resistant; showing opposition
Syn: Defiant; insubordinate; unwilling
Ant: Agreeable; obedient
The recalcitrant child kicked and screamed when the barber tried to give him his first haircut.
Exegesis
(N). An explanation of a text; a critical interpretation
Syn: Analysis; exposition; commentary
Ant: None
The students read an exegesis of Macbeth to understand the play better.
Ameliorate
(V). To make better; to improve
Syn: Enhance; upgrade
Ant: Weaken; damage; corrupt
The manager asked for suggestions that might ameliorate working conditions at the factory.
Profligate
(adj). Wasteful and immoral
Syn: licentious; decadent
Ant: Virtuous; principled
The young heir lived a profligate life of alcohol, excess, greed.
