Honors English III Vocabulary List III

1) Abominate (v.) to have an intense dislike or hatred for (v.) to have an intense dislike or hatred for Synonyms: loathe, abhor, despise, detest Synonyms: loathe, abhor, despise, detest Antonyms: relish, savor, cherish, esteem Antonyms: relish, savor, cherish, esteem

2) Acculturation (n.) the modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures, of one group or society by contact with those of another; the resultant blend (n.) the modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures, of one group or society by contact with those of another; the resultant blend Synonyms: adaptation Synonyms: adaptation Antonyms: None Antonyms: None

3) Adventitious (adj.) resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired (adj.) resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired Synonyms: extrinsic, incidental, fortuitous Synonyms: extrinsic, incidental, fortuitous Antonyms: essential, intrinsic, inherent, congenital Antonyms: essential, intrinsic, inherent, congenital

4) Ascribe (v.) to assign or refer to (as a cause or source) (v.) to assign or refer to (as a cause or source) Synonyms: impute, credit, attribute Synonyms: impute, credit, attribute Antonyms: none Antonyms: none

5) Circuitous (adj.) roundabout, not direct (adj.) roundabout, not direct Synonyms: indirect, meandering, winding Synonyms: indirect, meandering, winding Antonyms: straight, direct, as the crow flies Antonyms: straight, direct, as the crow flies

6) Commiserate (v.) to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress (v.) to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress Synonyms: feel sorry for, empathize Synonyms: feel sorry for, empathize Antonyms: feel no sympathy for Antonyms: feel no sympathy for

7) Enjoin (v.) to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit (v.) to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit Synonyms: bid, charge, command, adjure Synonyms: bid, charge, command, adjure Antonyms: allow, permit Antonyms: allow, permit

8) Expedite (v.) to make easy; cause to progress further (v.) to make easy; cause to progress further Synonyms: accelerate, facilitate, speed up Synonyms: accelerate, facilitate, speed up Antonyms: hinder, hamper, impede, obstruct Antonyms: hinder, hamper, impede, obstruct

9) Expiate (v.) to make amends, make up for; to avert (v.) to make amends, make up for; to avert Synonyms: redeem, make amends for, atone, make reparation Synonyms: redeem, make amends for, atone, make reparation Antonyms: none Antonyms: none

10) Ferment (n.) a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence; (v.) to be in or work into such a state; to produce alcohol by chemical action (n.) a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence; (v.) to be in or work into such a state; to produce alcohol by chemical action Synonyms: (n.) commotion, turmoil, unrest Synonyms: (n.) commotion, turmoil, unrest Antonyms: (n.) peace and quiet, tranquility, placidity Antonyms: (n.) peace and quiet, tranquility, placidity

11) Inadvertent (adj.) resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental (adj.) resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental Synonyms: accidental, unconsidered Synonyms: accidental, unconsidered Antonyms: deliberate, intentional, premeditated Antonyms: deliberate, intentional, premeditated

12) Nominal (adj.) existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously (adj.) existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously Synonyms: titular, token, trifling, inconsequential Synonyms: titular, token, trifling, inconsequential Antonyms: real, actual, exorbitant, excessive Antonyms: real, actual, exorbitant, excessive

13) Noncommittal (adj.) not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no (adj.) not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no Synonyms: cagey, uninformative, playing it safe, playing it close to the vest Synonyms: cagey, uninformative, playing it safe, playing it close to the vest Antonyms: positive, definite, committed Antonyms: positive, definite, committed

14) Peculate (v.) to steal something that has been given into one’s trust; to take improperly for one’s use (v.) to steal something that has been given into one’s trust; to take improperly for one’s use Synonyms: embezzle, defraud, misappropriate Synonyms: embezzle, defraud, misappropriate Antonyms: none Antonyms: none

15) Proclivity (n.) a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior) (n.) a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior) Synonyms: natural bent, penchant, propensity Synonyms: natural bent, penchant, propensity Antonyms: inability or incapacity Antonyms: inability or incapacity

16) Sangfroid (n.) composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances (n.) composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances Synonyms: poise, self-assurance, equanimity Synonyms: poise, self-assurance, equanimity Antonyms: excitability, hysteria, flappability Antonyms: excitability, hysteria, flappability

17) Seditious (adj.) resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an establishment (adj.) resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an establishment Synonyms: mutinous, rebellious, subversive Synonyms: mutinous, rebellious, subversive Antonyms: supportive, loyal, faithful, allegiant Antonyms: supportive, loyal, faithful, allegiant

18) Tenuous (adj.) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported (adj.) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported Synonyms: flimsy, insubstantial, vague, hazy Synonyms: flimsy, insubstantial, vague, hazy Antonyms: strong, solid, substantial, valid Antonyms: strong, solid, substantial, valid

19) Vitriolic (adj.) bitter, sarcastic, highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid) (adj.) bitter, sarcastic, highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid) Synonyms: withering, acerbic, mordant Synonyms: withering, acerbic, mordant Antonyms: bland, saccharine, honeyed, sugary Antonyms: bland, saccharine, honeyed, sugary

20) Wheedle (v.) to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end (v.) to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end Synonyms: cajole, inveigle, soft-soap, sweet- talk Synonyms: cajole, inveigle, soft-soap, sweet- talk Antonyms: coerce, browbeat, intimidate, strong-arm Antonyms: coerce, browbeat, intimidate, strong-arm