Vocabulary Unit 6 Yay!

Brusque (adj) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities Syn: curt, tactless Ant: gracious, diplomatic

Castigate (v) to punish severely; to criticize heavily Syn: chastise, rebuke Ant: reward, laud

Contrive (v) to plan with ingenuity; invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan Syn: devise, concoct

Heinous (adj) very wicked, offensive, hateful Syn: odious, abominable Ant: excellent, wonderful

Surreptitious (adj) stealthy, secret, intended to escape notice or observation; made or accomplished by fraud Syn: furtive, clandestine Ant: open, overt

Transgress (v) to go beyond a limit or boundary; to violate a law; to sin Syn: overstep, exceed Ant: obey

Vicarious (adj) performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another Syn: surrogate, substitute Ant: actual, firsthand

Challenge Word: Cajole (v) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises Syn: wheedle, sweet-talk Ant: coerce, force

Challenge Word: Demagogue (n) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power Syn: firebrand, rabble-rouser

Challenge Word: Ennui (n) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest; boredom Syn: languor, listlessness Ant: enthusiasm, intensity