Vocabulary: Lesson One

Question 1

Abate (verb)

Answer 1

Definition: To lessen in violence or intensity
Sentence: When the winds abated, the helicopter was able to land.
Synonym: Subside, decrease
Antonym: Intensify, increase

Question 2

Befuddle (verb)

Answer 2

Definition: To confuse; to perplex
Sentence: Did he try to befuddle you with his test talk?
Synonym: Bewilder, fluster
Antonym: Clarify

Question 3

Emaciated (adjective)

Answer 3

Definition: Extremely thin, wasted away
Sentence: The emaciated form of a starved prisoner was burned in the camp cemetery.
Synonym: Shriveled, withered
Antonym: Plump, fattened

Question 4

Fickle (adjective)

Answer 4

Definition: Likely to change without reason
Sentence: Because she never kept one boyfriend for long, her friends said she was fickle.
Synonym: Vacillating, capricious
Antonym: Steadfast, determined, loyal

Question 5

Latent (adjective)

Answer 5

Definition: Present, but not active; hidden
Sentence: After he retired, Johnson took up painting and found that he had latent artistic talent.
Synonym: Dormant, inert, potential, quiescent
Antonym: Operative, manifest, distinct

Question 6

Naive (adjective)

Answer 6

Definition: Simple in nature; not affected; innocent simplicity; childlike
Sentence: Old movies usually portray country girls in the city as naive and vulnerable.
Synonym: unsophisticated, unaffected, unsuspecting
Antonym: Sophisticated, artful, cunning

Question 7

Ominous (adjective)

Answer 7

Definition: Threatening; predicting evil
Sentence: We went on our picnic despite the ominous rain clouds.
Synonym: Foreboding, sinister
Antonym: Nonthreatening, comforting

Question 8

Rabid (adjective)

Answer 8

Definition: Intense; furious or raging, mad
Sentence: The two opposing parties engaged in a rabid struggle for control of the country.
Synonym: Violent, extreme
Antonym: Calm, tame

Question 9

Terse (adjective)

Answer 9

Definition: Brief, to the point
Sentence: The sheriff’s terse command quickly brought the prisoner to his feet.
Synonym: Concise, succinct

Question 10

Vindictive (adjective)

Answer 10

Seeking revenge; bearing a grudge
Sentence: There was no appeasing his vindictive nature once he felt that he had been wronged.
Synonym: Vengeful, spiteful
Antonym: Forgiving