VOCABULARY

UNIT 1

3

ADAPT

Definition:

(verb) to adjust or change to suit conditions

Sample sentence:

As anyone who moves to a new home or starts a new job can tell you, it

takes time to adapt to new surroundings.

SYNONYMS: regulate, alter, acclimate

ANTONYMS: remain unchanged

ATTEST

Definition:

(v.) to bear witness, affirm to be true or genuine

Sample sentence:

I can attest to the truth of her story, because I, too, saw what

happened.

SYNONYMS: witness, verify, confirm, corroborate

ANTONYMS: deny, disprove, refute, rebut

DOVETAIL

Definition:

(v.) to fit together exactly; to connect so as to form a whole

(n.) a carpentry figure resembling a dove’s tail

Sample sentences:

We may be able to dovetail activities with theirs, if we all plan ahead.

We examined the fine dovetails the carpenter used to make the cabinet.

SYNONYMS: mesh, jive, harmonize

ANTONYMS: clash, be at odds

ENORMITY

Definition:

(n.) the quality of exceeding all moral bounds; an

exceedingly evil act; huge size, immense

Sample sentence:

The enormity of the disaster shocked and saddened the nation.

SYNONYM: atrociousness, heinous,

vastness

ANTONYM: mildness, harmless,

innocuous

FALTER

Definition:

(v.) to hesitate, stumble, lose courage, to speak hesitatingly; to lose drive, weaken, decline

Sample sentence:

The newscaster’s voice faltered as he announced to the nation that

the president was dead.

SYNONYMS: waver

ANTONYMS: persevere

FOREBODING

Definition:

(n.) a warning or feeling that something bad will

happen

(adj.) marked by fear, ominous

Sample sentence:

As the hurricane neared, residents of towns

along the coast were filled with foreboding.

SYNONYMS: misgiving, premonition

FORLORN

Definition:

(adj.) totally abandoned and helpless; sad and

lonely; wretched or pitiful; hopeless

Sample sentence:

When my best friend moved to another state

halfway across the country, I felt extremely forlorn.

SYNONYMS: woebegone, forsaken, bereft, pathetic

ANTONYMS: jaunty, buoyant, blithe, chipper

HAUGHTY

Definition:

(adj) chillingly proud and scornful

Sample sentence:

The haughty tone of your voice

when you refused my invitation

offended me deeply.

SYNONYMS: disdainful, supercilious

ANTONYMS: meek, humble, unassuming,

modest

IMPEDIMENT

Definition:

(n.) a physical defect; a hindrance, obstacle

Sample sentence:

You must not let impediments in your path keep

you from pursuing your dreams.

SYNONYMS: obstruction, stumbling block

ANTONYMS: help, advantage, asset, plus

IMPERATIVE

Definition:

(adj.) necessary, urgent

(n.) a form of verb expressing a command;

something that is required

Sample sentence:

If a tick bites you, it is imperative that you see a doctor.

Writing a thank-you note after receiving a gift

is a social imperative.

SYNONYMS: essential, indispensible, mandatory

ANTONYMS: nonessential, unnecessary

LOITER

Definition:

(v.) to linger in an aimless way, hang around, dawdle, tarry

Sample sentence:

Some students always loiter in the

hallway, instead of getting to class

on time.

ANTONYM: hurry along

MALINGER

Definition:

(v.) to pretend illness to avoid duty or work

Sample sentence:

If you malinger too often, no one will believe you

when you really are sick.

SYNONYMS: goof off, shirk

PITHY

Definition:

(adj.) short but full of meaning and to the point

Sample sentence:

A good editorial should be pithy.

SYNONYMS: terse, short and sweet, meaty

ANTONYMS: wordy, verbose, foolish

PLUNDER

Definition:

(v.) to rob by force, especially during wartime; to

seize wrongfully;

(n.) property stolen by force

Sample sentences:

In the Old West, rustlers plundered ranches and farms

for cattle and horses.

Thieves often use a third party called a fence

to sell jewelry and other plunder.

SYNONYMS: pillage, loot, sack; (n.) spoils, pelf

SIMPER

Definition:

(v.) to smile or speak in a silly, forced/faked way;

(n.) a silly, fake smile

Sample sentences:

Strangers may find it easier to simper about trivial matters

than to have a serious conversation.

The camera caught me with a simper

on my face.

SYNONYMS: snicker, smirk

STEADFAST

Definition:

(adj.) firmly fixed; constant, not moving or

changing

Sample sentence:

I urge you to be steadfast in your efforts to achieve your goals in life.

SYNONYMS: loyal, faithful, unwavering

ANTONYMS: inconstant, fickle, unreliable,

vacillating

VAUNTED

Definition:

(adj.) much boasted about in a vain or

swaggering way

Sample sentence:

The rookie’s vaunted strength was no match

for the veteran’s skill and experience.

SYNONYMS: trumpeted, heralded

ANTONYMS: downplayed, soft-pedaled,

de-emphasized

VILIFY

Definition:

(v.) to abuse or belittle unjustly or maliciously

Sample sentence:

Voters have become thoroughly disgusted with

candidates who vilify their rival’s reputations.

SYNONYMS: malign, defame, denigrate, traduce

ANTONYMS: glorify, extol, lionize

WAIF

Definition:

(n.) a person (usually a child) without a home or

friend; a stray person or animal; something that

comes along by chance

Sample sentence:

The spunky waif who triumphs over many

hardships is a popular character in film

and fiction.

SYNONYMS: stray, ragamuffin, street urchin

WRY

Definition:

(adj.) twisted, turned to one side, cleverly and

often grimly humorous

Sample sentence:

Charles Addams was famous for wry

cartoons chronicling the adventures

of a ghoulish family.

SYNONYMS: dryly amusing, ironic,

ANTONYMS: humorless, solemn