Vocabulary Level F Unit 11

abstemious (adjective) moderate, sparing (as in eating and drinking); characterized by abstinence and self- discipline SYN: temperate, sober, moderate ANT: indulgent, immoderate, intemperate

censurable (adjective) deserving of blame or correction SYN: blameworthy, discreditable, reprehensible ANT: commendable, laudable, meritorious

contingent (adjective) likely but not certain to happen, possible; dependent on uncertain events or conditions; happening by chance; (noun) a representative group forming part of a larger body SYN: (adjective) conditional, dependent; (noun) a detachment ANT: (adjective) independent of, unconnected with, certain

corroborate (verb) to confirm, make more certain, bolster, substantiate, verify ANT: refute, contradict, undermine, discredit

denizen (noun) an inhabitant, resident; one who frequents a place SYN: resident, dweller, habitue ANT: alien, outsider, stranger, foreigner denizens of the sea

discursive (adjective) passing aimlessly from one place or subject to another, rambling, roving, nomadic SYN: digressive, diffuse, wandering, episodic AYN: short and to the point, succinct

disseminate (verb) to scatter or spread widely, spread far and wide SYN: disperse, publicize, broadcast, circulate ANT: bring together, concentrate, muster, conceal, hide

dowdy (adjective) poorly dressed, shabby; lacking smartness and good taste SYN: frumpy, tacky, frowsy, drab ANT: chic, stylish, elegant, fashionable

florid (adjective) highly colored, reddish; excessively ornate, showy SYN: flushed, ruddy, flowery, frilly, flamboyant ANT: pale, ashen, pallid, sallow, austere, stark

foist (verb) to impose by fraud; to pass off as worthy or genuine; to bring about by stealth; dishonesty or coercion SYN: pass off, palm off, fob off

gauche (adjective) awkward, lacking in social graces, tactless, clumsy SYN: inept, uncouth, maladroit ANT: adroit, tactful, diplomatic, politic

heresy (noun) an opinion different from accepted belief; the denial of an idea that is generally held sacred SYN: unorthodox belief, heterodoxy ANT: orthodoxy

inculcate (verb) to impress on the mind by repetition, teach persistently and earnestly SYN: instill, implant, infuse, ingrain, imbue ANT: efface, extirpate, root out

palpable (adjective) capable of being touched or felt; easily seen, heard, or recognized SYN: tangible, plain, obvious, manifest ANT: intangible, insubstantial, incorporeal

perceptive (adjective) having sympathetic insight or understanding, capable of keen appreciation SYN: insightful, discerning, observant ANT: dense, thick, obtuse, dim-witted

pernicious (adjective) extremely harmful; deadly, fatal SYN: injurious, deleterious, baleful, noxious ANT: harmless, innocuous salutary, salubrious

salient (adjective) leaping, jumping, or springing forth; prominent, standing out, conspicuous; (noun) a projection or bulge, a land form that projects upward or outward SYN: (adjective) striking, notable, protrusive, obvious ANT: (adjective) inconspicuous, recessive

satiate (verb) to satisfy completely; to fill to excess; (adjective) full, satisfied SYN: (verb) gratify, cloy, surfeit, gorge ANT: (verb) starve, deprive entirely of

sear (verb) to make or become dry and withered; to char or scorch the surface of; to harden or make unfeeling; to parch, dessicate, singe

specious (adjective) deceptive, apparently good or valid but lacking real merit SYN: deceptively plausible, sophistic, casuistic ANT: valid, sound, solid, genuine