Sadlier-oxford Vocabulary Level F Unit 9

(v) to make less in amount, degree to subside become less, to nullify deduct omit To abate someone is a cruel thing to do because you are decreasing their confidence.
SYNONYMS: Diminish decrease subside let up ANTONYMS: intensify increase magnify wax

(n) praise or flattery that is excessiveHis adulation of praise made think he was not being sincere in his words. SYNONYMS: Adoration Idolization hero-worship ANTONYMS: ridicule derision scorn odium

(n) An object of intense dislike a curse or strong denunciation (often used adjectivally without the article) He is an anathema because he looks disgusting like an abomination.
SYNONYMS: Malediction Imprecation Abomination ANTONYMS: Benediction blessing

(adj.) Shrewd crafty showing practical wisdom My grandmother had an astute knack for real estate.
SYNONYMS: shrewd acute sagacious judicious wily ANTONYMS: obtuse doltish empty-headed dumb

(n.) a greedy desire particularly for wealth Scrooge was an avarice because he always wanted to have more money.
SYNONYMS: Cupidity rapacity acquisitiveness

(adj) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation We all knew the man was culpable because he was caught on tape and his fingerprints were at the scene of the crime.
SYNONYMS: guilty delinquent peccant blameworthy ANTONYMS: blameless innocent laudable meritorious

(adj.) tenting to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone I am going to rule that dilatory because that can be done at a later time.
SYNONYMS: stalling slow tardy laggard ANTONYMS: prompt punctual speedy expeditious

(adj.) Conspicuous, standing out from the mass He was a egregious one since he stuck out like a sore thumb.
SYNONYMS: Glaring Flagrant blatant ANTONYMS: Unnoticeable Paltry Piddling

(v) to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague or ambiguous Elizabeth I equivocated the bible so that it can be accepted and interpreted well by both sides.
SYNONYMS: to talk out of both sides of one's mouth palter hedge ANTONYMS: to speak one's mind plainly

(adj.) Vanishing, soon passing away light airyThe rice paper will soon evanescent on my tongue because it is so thin. SYNONYMS: ephemeral transient transitory ANTONYMS: everlasting immortal imperishable

(adj.) unable to make up one's mind, hesitating The man was irresolute about proposing but when she saw the ring he had to take the plunge.
SYNONYMS: indecisive vacillating wavering ANTONYMS: determined decisive unwavering

(adj.) cloudlike resembling a cloud cloudy in color not transparent vague confused indistinct The nebulous water cautioned me from drinking.
SYNONYMS: hazy fuzzy cloudy vague murky opaque indeterminate ANTONYMS: definite distinct clear sharply focused

(n) one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience I went to the novice match to learn the ropes of debate in MUN.
SYNONYMS: neophyte tyro trainee apprentice ANTONYMS: veteran past master pro expert

(n) extreme poverty barrenness insufficiency Many people in Africa are stricken with penury causing many to be hungry and sickly. SYNONYMS: destitution want indigence ANTONYMS: affluence abundance luxury opulence

(adj.) done for show striving to make a big impression claiming merit or position unjustifiably making demands on one's skill or abilities ambitious The pretentious material made it so that when the lights were on him he lit up like the northern star.
SYNONYMS: inflated ostentatious affected ANTONYMS: unassuming unaffected modest