Unit 4 January

Alliance Noun A joining together for some common purpose. The two nations formed an ALLIANCE to defend each other in case of attack. SYN-pact, league, coalition ANT-rift, split

To puzzle completely, confuse bewilder Verb To puzzle completely, confuse The captain continues to BEWILDER his troops by giving contradictory orders. SYN-perplex, confound ANT-set straight, enlighten

A clown, a coarse, stupid person BUFFOON NOUN A clown, a coarse, stupid person Some students think that they need to play the BUFFOON in order to entertain their classmates and charm their teachers. SYN-jester, dunce

Arousing argument, dispute, or disagreement CONTROVERSIAL ADJECTIVE Arousing argument, dispute, or disagreement The school board waited until all members were present before issuing the CONTROVERSIAL proposal to ban after-school programs. SYN-arguable, at issue

Do not let your low score on the math test DISHEARTEN you. Verb To discourage Do not let your low score on the math test DISHEARTEN you. SYN-demoralize, dispirit ANT-encourage, hearten

FRUITLESS ADJECTIVE Not producing the desired results, unsuccessful When their efforts to fight the infection with penicillin proved FRUITLESS, the doctors tried a new antibiotic. SYN-useless, vain, unproductive ANT-productive, effective

Unfriendly, unfavorable, warlike, aggressive HOSTILE Adjective Unfriendly, unfavorable, warlike, aggressive Relations between the two nations have been HOSTILE for decades. SYN-None ANT-friendly, cordial

Easily set on fire; easily angered or aroused INFLAMMABLE ADJECTIVE Easily set on fire; easily angered or aroused Always be cautious when using INFLAMMABLE cleaning solvents. SYN-flammable, excitable ANT-fire-resistant, calm

To give or cause something unpleasant, impose INFLICT Verb To give or cause something unpleasant, impose Despite all the jokes, doctors do not like to INFLICT pain on their patients. SYN-deal out, visit upon ANT-suffer, undergo, sustain

Deadly, extremely harmful, evil; spiteful, malicious MALIGNANT ADJECTIVE Deadly, extremely harmful, evil; spiteful, malicious Much to the patient’s relief, the x-ray revealed no MALIGNANT growth. SYN-wicked, malevolent ANT-wholesome, beneficial

MORTIFY Verb To hurt someone’s feelings deeply; to cause embarrassment or humiliation; to subdue or discipline by self- denial or suffering The teacher was MORTIFIED by the students’ childish behavior on the field trip. SYN-embarrass, abash ANT-none

ORTHODOX ADJECTIVE In agreement with established or generally accepted beliefs or ways of doing things. Our principal, who believes in proven teaching methods, takes an ORTHODOX approach to education. SYN-traditional, standard, customary ANT-unusual, unconventional

To obtain through special effort, to bring about PROCURE Verb To obtain through special effort, to bring about The hospital held a raffle to PROCURE the necessary funds for the new children’s wing. SYN-gain, achieve ANY-none

To run quickly, scamper, hurry SCURRY Verb To run quickly, scamper, hurry The reappearance of the teacher caused the students in the class to SCURRY back to their seats. SYN-rush, dash, scramble ANT-trudge, plod, creep, crawl

SODDEN Adjective Soaked with liquid or moisture, expressionless, dull, listless, spiritless All at once, and with much loud honking, the flock of geese rose from the SODDEN marshlands. SYN-waterlogged, saturated ANT-parched, arid

Full of life and vigor; courageous SPIRITED Adjective Full of life and vigor; courageous The royal soldiers put up a SPIRITED defense against the invading army. SYN-lively, animated, gallant ANT-lifeless, dull

VIRTUAL Adjective Having a certain force or effect in fact but not in name; so close as to be equivalent to the real thing To those who worked in the office, the bossy new manager was a VIRTUAL dictator. SYN-functioning as ANT - none

VOID Adjective, Noun, Verb Completely empty, having no legal force or effect, empty or unfilled space, to cancel or nullify I thought the poem was completely VOID of sense. Grandmother’s death left a great VOID in my grandfather’s life. Do you know how to VOID a check? SYN-invalid, vacant, bare ANT-in effect, confirm

Disobedient, willful; unpredictable, capricious WAYWARD Adjective Disobedient, willful; unpredictable, capricious Tracking the WAYWARD path of a comet is no easy matter. SYN-insubordinate, rebellious ANT-docile, well-behaved, predictable

WINCE Verb To draw back suddenly, as though in pain or fear; the act of drawing back in this way The animal’s bite made the child WINCE in pain. The patient’s WINCE told the doctor to press more gently. SYN-flinch, shudder