Vocab 9 Flashcards
Provocative
(Adj). Tending to excite or stimulate.
Syn: Provoking, exciting
Ant: dull, boring
The daughter considered her mother’s short skirt too provocative.
Bumpkin
(N). An unsophisticated, awkward person
Syn: yokel, hayseed, rube
Ant: intellectual
Pickpockets often prey on bumpkins who forget to protect their wallets.
Toady
(N). A person who flatters for personal gain
Syn: sycophant, flatterer
Ant: None
The toady followed the queen around, agreeing with every idiotic statement she uttered.
Culpable
(Adj). Deserving blame or condemnation; guilty
Syn: blameworthy, liable
Ant: innocent, blameless
The prosecutor said the crime boss was culpable for the murders even though he himself did not kill the victims.
Hortatory
(Adj). Encouraging, inciting
Syn: exhorting
Ant: discouraging, dampening
The troops cheered during the generals hortatory speech.
Penultimate
(Adj). Next to last
Syn: none
Ant: none
The penultimate step before graduation will be passing my final.
Orotund
(Adj). Full and rich in sound (in speech)
Syn: resonant, resounding
Ant. quiet, reserved
The narrator of the movie advertisements spoke in a deep, orotund voice.
Blithe
(Adj). Carefree and lighthearted
Syn: cheerful, radiant
Ant: burdened, worried, troubled
The sight of his childhood home caused Jerry to reminisce about his blithe days of picking blueberries and fishing in the creek behind the house.
Soporific
(Adj). Tending to induce sleep
Syn: somniferous, monotonous
Ant: dramatic, exciting, stimulating
I stopped reading the soporific novel and found a more exciting one.
Pervasive
(Adj). Permeating; spreading throughout
Syn: sweeping, persistent
Ant: contained, restricted, limited
In two days, everyone in the small-town had heard the pervasive rumor.
Benign
(Adj). Beneficial, favorable
Syn: benevolent, harmless
Ant: harmful, malevolent
She let down her guard when she saw his benign expression.
Frenetic
(Adj). Wildly excited
Syn: frenzied, frantic
Ant: calm, composed
The neighbors heard the frenetic barks the dog that fell into the well.
Recrimination
(N). A counteraccusation
Syn: countercharge
Ant: none
The burglar had the nerve to express recriminations against the homeowner for hitting with him with a shovel.
Indecorous
(Adj). Lacking good taste; improper
Syn: inappropriate, vulgar
Ant: Decent
The heckler made indecorous comments during the candidates speech.
Corroborate
(V). To strengthen by adding evidence
Syn: confirm, substantiate, validate
Ant: contradict
The doctors note corroborated Bill’s excuse for missing a week of work.
