UNIT 10 VOCABULARY

ACQUIESCE

• (V) to accept without protest; agree or submit
• Syn: comply with, accede
• Ant: resist, protest
• Ex: Teachers are most likely not to acquiesce to student demands.

ALLURE

• (V) to entice, tempt; to be attractive to; (N) a strong attraction
• Syn: beguile, tantalize
• Ant: repel, turn off
• Ex: The fantastic sports program at the school allures students to apply there.

ASKEW

• (ADJ/ADV) twisted to one side, crooked; disapprovingly
• Syn: awry, lopsided
• Ant: straight, symmetrical
• Ex: I am not able to cope with askew papers in my school work.

BLITHE

• (ADJ) cheerful, lighthearted; casual, unconcerned
• Syn: carefree, nonchalant, indifferent
• Ant: glum, morose, despondent

CONTENTIOUS

• (ADJ) quarrelsome, inclined to argue
• Syn: argumentative, disputatious, combative
• Ant: agreeable, amiable, affable
• Ex: Teachers at Canisius do not tolerate any contentious remarks.

COVET

• (V) to desire something belonging to another
• Syn: crave, yearn for
• Ant: disdain, scorn
• Ex: Coveting something is wrong as you should appreciate what you own.

CRESTFALLEN

• (ADJ) discouraged, dejected, downcast
• Syn: despondent, disconsolate
• Ant: elated, cheerful
• Ex: I am always crestfallen when doing my homework.

DISHEVELED

• (ADJ) rumpled, mussed, hanging in disorder
• Syn: untidy, disarranged
• Ant: tidy, well groomed
• Ex: I am always disheveled after a long trip to the gym.

EXPONENT

• (N) one who advocates, speaks for, explains, or interprets.
• Syn: defender, champion
• Ant: critic, adversary
• Ex: It is important that we have an exponent to explain the task we are doing.

GARRULOUS

• (ADJ) given to much talking; tediously chatting
• Syn: talkative, loquacious
• Ant: reticent, mum
• Ex: I dislike chatting with garrulous people as I can never get a word into the conversation.

INSUPERABLE

• (ADJ) incapable from being overcome
• Syn: invincible
• Ant: surmountable
• Ex: Many diseases are insuperable as people can live with them everyday.

LAMENTABLE

• (ADJ) to be regretted or pitied
• Syn: deplorable
• Ant: praiseworthy
• Ex: The streets of Buffalo are in a lamentable state of disrepair due to the harsh winter.

MISNOMER

• (N) an unsuitable or misleading name
• Syn: assert, proclaim
• Ex: The Super Bowl is a misnomer because it is a National League Football championship.

PROFESS

• (V) to affirm openly; to state belief in
• Syn: assert, proclaim
• Ant: disclaim, disavow
• Ex: My coach professes himself on the improvement that I have made throughout the year.

RESPITE

• (N) a period of relief
• Syn: interval, intermission
• Ex: A retreat is a respite from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

RETRIBUTION

• (N) a repayment, deserved punishment
• Syn: recompense, requitual
• Ex: A crime can only be forgiven through retribution.

SINUOUS

• (ADJ) winding having many turns, lithe and flexible
• Syn: twisting, convoluted
• Ant: direct, unbending
• Ex: The road was sinuous and difficult to drive on in the weather.

SONOROUS

• (ADJ) full, deep, or rich in sound; impressive style
• Syn: forefront
• Ant: tinny, reedy
• Ex: The piano in the auditorium is sonorous when played.

VANGUARD

• (N) the foremost part of an army, leading position
• Syn: forefront, cutting edge
• Ant: rear guard, stragglers
• Ex: The vanguard of the army is the first toe gage in battle.

WASTREL

• (N) a wasteful person, spendthrift
• Syn: loafer, idler
• Ant: skinflint
• Ex: My mom has taught me not to be a wastrel and to make my decisions wisely.