Vocabulary Level F Unit 6

anomalous (adjective) abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual SYN: exceptional, atypical, unusual, aberrant ANT: normal, regular, customary, typical, ordinary

aspersion (noun) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming SYN: innuendo, calumny, denigration ANT: endorsement, testimonial, praise The National Enquirer is known for casting aspersions on celebrities.

bizarre (adjective) extremely strange, unusual, atypical SYN: grotesque, fantastic, outlandish ANT: normal, typical, ordinary, expected

brusque (adjective) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities SYN: curt, tactless, ungracious, gruff, rough ANT: gracious, tactful, courteous, diplomatic

cajole (verb) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises SYN: wheedle, inveigle, soft-soap, sweet-talk ANT: coerce, force, strong-arm

castigate (verb) to punish severely; to criticize severely SYN: chastise, rebuke, censure, upbraid ANT: reward, honor, praise, laud

contrive (verb) to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan SYN: think up, devise, concoct, fabricate

demagogue (noun) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power SYN: rabble-rouser, firebrand

disabuse (verb) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking SYN: undeceive, enlighten, set straight ANT: deceive, delude, pull wool over one’s eyes

ennui (noun) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom SYN: languor, world- weariness, listlessness ANT: enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity

fetter (noun) a chain or shackle placed on the feet (usually used in plural); anything that confines or restrains (verb) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent SYN: (noun) bond, restraint; (verb) bind, hamper ANT: (verb) free, liberate, emancipate

heinous (adjective) very wicked, offensive, hateful SYN: evil, odious, abominable, outrageous ANT: excellent, wonderful, splendid In his book In Cold Blood, Truman Capote wrote about a heinous crime that took place in Kansas in 1959.

immutable (adjective) not subject to change, constant SYN: unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable ANT: changeable, inconstant, variable, fickle The Ten Commandments are considered by Christians to be immutable laws of God.

insurgent (noun) one who rebels or rises against authority; (adjective) rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on SYN: (adjective) revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous ANT: (adjective) loyalist, loyal, faithful In American literature, we can read about the bravery of many insurgents against Britain.

megalomania (noun) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality SYN: delusions of grandeur ANT: humility, modesty, self-abasement Based upon his bizarre behavior, Moammar Khadafi appears to have suffered from megalomania.

sinecure (noun) a position requiring little or no work; an easy job SYN: “no-show” job, cushy job, “plum” Our neighbor’s job appears to be nothing more than a sinecure since we rarely see him leave the house.

surreptitious The co-workers met surreptitiously to plan (adjective) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud SYN: furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed ANT: open, frank, aboveboard, overt The co-workers met surreptitiously to plan a surprise party for their boss.

transgress (verb) to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law SYN: overstep, exceed, trespass, err ANT: obey, toe the line After spending a week in ISS, the student vowed not to transgress the rules again.

transmute (verb) to change from one nature, substance, or form to another SYN: transform, convert, translate, metamorphose ANT: maintain, unchanged, preserve After moving to a new school, my friend was able to transmute her image into a positive one.

vicarious (adjective) performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another SYN: surrogate, substitute, imagined, secondhand ANT: real, actual, firsthand