Unit 2 Vocabulary

Adroit Pronunciation (adj.) Skillful, expert in the use of the hands or mind Synonyms: Clever, deft, dexterous, slick Antonyms: Clumsy, inept, all thumbs The members of the Carolina Crown Drum Line are extremely adroit while playing.

Amicable Pronunciation (adj.) peaceable, friendly Synonyms: congenial, neighborly, cordial Antonyms: hostile, antagonistic

He has always been averse to eating healthy food. Pronunciation (adj.) opposed, unwilling; having a deep-seated distaste Synonyms: disinclined, loath Antonyms: favorably disposed, eager, keen He has always been averse to eating healthy food.

Belligerent Synonyms: assertive, truculent, pugnacious Pronunciation (adj.) given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive; (n.) one at war, one engaged in war Synonyms: assertive, truculent, pugnacious Antonyms: peaceful, conciliatory, placid

Benevolent Pronunciation (adj.) Kindly, charitable Synonyms: benign, well-meaning Antonyms: malicious, spiteful, malevolent

Cursory Pronunciation (adj.) hasty, not thorough Synonyms: quick, superficial, perfunctory Antonyms: thorough, painstaking, careful

Duplicity Pronunciation (n.) treachery, deceitfulness Synonyms: fraud, double-dealing, chicanery We found it difficult to believe that our good friend could be capable of such duplicity.

Extol Pronunciation (v.) to praise extravagantly Synonyms: glorify, applaud, acclaim, hail Antonyms: criticize, belittle, disparage

Feasible Pronunciation (adj.) possible, able to be done Synonyms: workable, practicable, viable Antonyms: unworkable, impractical Is this feasible?

Grimace Synonyms: pained expression, facial contortion Pronunciation (n.) a wry face, facial distortion; (v.) to make a wry face Synonyms: pained expression, facial contortion Antonyms: (n.) smile, grin; (v.) beam

Holocaust Pronunciation (n.) a large-scale destruction, especially by fire; a vast slaughter; a burnt offering Synonyms: conflagration, devastation, annihilation Antonyms: deluge, inundation

Impervious Pronunciation (adj.) not affected or hurt by; admitting of no passage or entrance Synonyms: impenetrable, resistant, proof against Antonyms: porous, permeable, vulnerable

Impetus (n.) a moving force, impulse, stimulus Pronunciation (n.) a moving force, impulse, stimulus Synonyms: impulse, incentive, spur Antonyms: curb, hindrance, impediment, constraint Saving the elephants should get the same impetus as the “save the whales” movement!

(n.) danger Synonyms: risk, hazard, peril Antonyms: safety, security Jeopardy Pronunciation (n.) danger Synonyms: risk, hazard, peril Antonyms: safety, security

Meticulous Synonyms: fussy, painstaking, fastidious Pronunciation (adj.) extremely careful; particular about details Synonyms: fussy, painstaking, fastidious Antonyms: careless, negligent, sloppy The old man was meticulous when it came to his lawn.

Nostalgia Pronunciation (n.) a longing for something past; homesickness Looking at old scrapbooks and reading old letters can bring on a vague sense of nostalgia for days gone by and friends no longer near.

Quintessence Pronunciation (v.) the purest essence or form of something; the most typical example Synonyms: paragon, exemplar Risking one’s own life to save lives of others is considered the quintessence of a selfless hero.

Retrogress Pronunciation (v.) to move backward; to return to an earlier condition Synonyms: revert, degenerate, decline Antonyms: advance, evolve, progress

Scrutinize Pronunciation (v.) to examine closely Synonyms: inspect, pore over Antonyms: skim, scan, glance at

Tepid Pronunciation (adj.) lukewarm, unenthusiastic, marked by an absence of interest Synonyms: insipid, halfhearted, wish-washy Antonyms: heated, excited, enthusiastic The water is tepid.