Vocabulary Level F Unit 5

amnesty (n.) a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution.

autonomy (n.) self-government, political control Syn: home rule Ant: dependence, subjection, colonial status

axiomatic (adj.) self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle or rule Syn: taken for granted Ant: questionable, dubious, controversial “All men are created equal” is axiomatic.

blazon (v.) to adorn or embellish; to display conspicuously; to publish or proclaim widely Syn: broadcast, trumpet Ant: hide, conceal, cover up, bury

caveat (n.) a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior Syn: admonition, word to the wise

equitable (adj.) fair, just, embodying principles of justice Syn: right, reasonable, evenhanded Ant: unjust, unfair, one-sided, disproportionate

extricate (v.) to free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort Syn: disentangle, extract, disengage Ant: enmesh, entangle, involve

filch (v.) to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts Syn: pilfer, purloin, swipe

flout (v.) to mock, treat with contempt Syn: scoff at, sneer at, snicker at, scorn Ant: obey, honor, revere, uphold

fractious (adj.) tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable Syn: refractory, recalcitrant, peevish Ant: docile, tractable, cooperative

precept (n.) a rule of conduct or action Synonyms: principle, maxim

salutary (adj.) beneficial, helpful, healthful, wholesome Synonyms: salubrious, curative Antonyms: detrimental, deleterious, pernicious

scathing (adj.) bitterly severe, withering; causing great harm Synonyms: searing, harsh, ferocious, savage Antonyms: bland, mild

scourge (v.) to whip, punish severely; (n.) a cause of affliction or suffering; a source of severe punishment or criticism Synonyms: (v.) flog, beat; (n.) bane, plague, pestilence Antonyms: (n.) godsend, boon, blessing

sepulchral (adj.) funereal, typical of the tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal Synonyms: doleful, lugubrious, mortuary

soporific (adj.) tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy; (n.) something that induces sleep Synonyms: narcotic, anesthetic Antonyms: (adj.) stimulating; (n.) stimulant, stimulus

straitlaced (adj.) extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; prudish, puritanical Synonyms: highly conventional, overly strict, stuffy Antonyms: lax, loose, indulgent, permissive, dissolute

transient (adj.) lasting only a short time, fleeting; (n.) one who stays only a short time Synonyms: (adj.) impermanent, ephemeral, evanescent Antonyms: (adj.) permanent, imperishable, immortal

unwieldy (adj.) not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity Synonyms: cumbersome, bulky, clumsy, impractical Antonyms: manageable, easy to handle

vapid (adj.) dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force Synonyms: insipid, lifeless, colorless Antonyms: zesty, spicy, savory, colorful, lively