Vocabulary WorkshopUnit 4 Level D

Abscond(v.) to run off and hideSynonyms: bolt, make off,

skip town

The thief absconded with the money from the bank hoping to skip town before the police could capture him.

Access(n) approach or admittance to places,

persons, things; and increase, (v) to get at, obtain

Synonyms: (n) entry, admittance, entréeAntonyms: (n) total exclusionIn order to gain access to the movie theater

one must present a ticket to be admitted.

Anarchy (n.) a lack of government and law, confusion

Synonyms: chaos, disorder, turmoil, pandemonium

Antonyms: law and order, peace and quiet

In the final days of the Vietnam War, many civilians tried to evacuate the city of Saigon with United States troops causing a state of anarchy in the city as the government of South Vietnam dissolved and confusion took over.

Arduous(adj) hard to do, requiring much effort

Synonyms: hard, difficult, laborious, fatiguing

Antonyms: easy, simple, effortlessPower lifting is an extremely arduous sport

that requires much effort by competitors.

Auspicious(adj.) favorable;

fortunate

Synonyms: promising, encouraging, propitious

Antonyms: ill-omened, sinister

It was truly an auspicious occasion when American Pharaoh won the Triple Crown in 2015 his fortunate victory made him the first winner since 1978.

Daunt(v.) to overcome with fear,

intimidate; to dishearten, discourage

Synonyms: dismay, cowAntonyms: encourage,

embolden, reassureDespite all its inherent dangers,

space flight did not daunt the Mercury program astronauts they were neither fearful or intimidated by the thought of journeying into space.

Disentangle (v.) to free from tangles or complications

Synonyms: unravel, unwind, unscramble, unsnarl

Antonyms: tangle up, ensnarl, snag

The diver worked for hours to disentangle a whale from the fishing net wrapped around its tail.

Fated(adj.) determined in

advance by destiny or fortune

Synonyms: destined, preordained, doomed

Antonyms: fortuitous, chance, random

Fortune tellers try to convince their customers that they can see the future and predict the destiny of their customers and what is fated for them.

Hoodwink(v.) to mislead by a

trick, swindle

Synonyms: put one over on, fool

Antonyms: disabuseThe wolf in the

children’s story Little Red Riding Hood, tries to hoodwink Little Red Riding Hood by tricking her into believing that he is really her grandmother.

Inanimate(adj.) not having life;

without energy or spirit

Synonyms: lifeless, dead, inert, spiritless

Antonyms: living, alive, energetic, lively, sprightly

Breakfast foods are inanimate objects that lack energy or spirit.

Incinerate(v) to burn to ashes

Synonyms: burn up, cremate, reduce to ashesAntonyms: extinguishThe fire incinerated the building leaving

only ashes.

Intrepid(adj) very brave, fearless,

unshakable Synonyms: valiant,

courageous, audacious, daring

Antonyms: timid, cowardly, craven

Wing walkers, intrepid performers, were popular attractions at state fairs during the 1930’s displaying their fearless acts of playing tennis atop a biplane flying hundreds of feet above the spectators.

Larceny (n.) theft

Synonyms: stealing, robbery

Stealing a car can result in a charge of grand larceny and imprisonment for the offender.

Pliant(adj) bending

readily; easily influence

Synonyms: supple, flexible, elastic, plastic

Antonyms: rigid, stiff, inflexible, set in stone

The gymnast’s pliant body was easily bent producing a human pretzel.

Pompous(adj.) overly self-important

in speech and manner; excessively stately or ceremonious

Synonyms: highfalutin, bombastic

Antonyms: unpretentious, plain

Some think that the British habit of wearing wigs and robes in court is rather pompous, excessively ceremonial and too highfalutin for American’s tastes.

Precipice(n) a very steep cliff; the

brink or edge of disaster

Synonyms: cliff, crag, bluff, promontory, ledge

Antonyms: abyss, chasm, gorge

Daring individuals often get a thrill balanced on the edge of a precipice exhibiting feats such as performing a handstand on the brink of disaster any minute if they slip and fall.

Prototype(n.) an original model on

which later versions are patterned

Synonyms: example, sample

Antonyms: copyDesigners in the

automotive industry are always experimenting with prototypes hoping their design might become a pattern for a new generation of automobile.

Rectify(v) to make right,

correct

Synonyms: remedy, set right

Antonyms: mess up, botch, bungle

When you rectify a situation, hopefully you will get it right the second time.

Reprieve(n) a temporary relief or delay; (v) to grant a

postponement

Synonyms: (n) stay, respite; (v) postpone, delay

Antonyms: (v) proceed

Revile (v.) to attack with words, call bad names

Synonyms: malign, vilify

Antonyms: praise, acclaim, revere, idolize

During a political campaign, many politicians often revile their opponents calling them bad names and attacking them with harsh words in television and radio advertisements.