Vocabulary Level F Unit 5

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

autonomy (noun) self- government, political control SYN: home rule ANT: dependence, subjection, colonial status

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

blazon (verb) to adorn or embellish; to display conspicuously; to publish or proclaim widely SYN: broadcast, trumpet ANT: hide, conceal, cover up, bury

caveat (noun) warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior SYN: admonition, word to the wise

equitable (adjective) fair, just, embodying principles of justice SYN: right, reasonable, evenhanded ANT: unjust, unfair, one-sided, disproportionate

extricate (verb) to free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort SYN: disentangle, extract, disengage ANT: enmesh, entangle, involve

filch (verb) to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts SYN: pilfer, purloin, swipe

flout (verb) to mock, treat with contempt SYN: scoff at, sneer at, snicker at, scorn ANT: obey, honor, revere, uphold

fractious (adjective) tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable SYN: refractory, recalcitrant, peevish ANT: docile, tractable, cooperative

precept (noun) a rule of conduct or action SYN: principle, maxim

salutary (adjective) beneficial, helpful, healthful, wholesome SYN: salubrious, curative ANT: detrimental, deleterious, pernicious

scathing (adjective) bitterly severe, withering; causing great harm SYN: searing, harsh, ferocious, savage ANT: bland, mild

scourge (verb) to whip, punish severely; (noun) a cause of affliction suffering; a source of severe punishment or criticism SYN: (verb) flog, beat; (noun) bane, plague, pestilence ANT: (noun) godsend, boon, blessing

sepulchral (adjective) funereal, typical of the tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal SYN: doleful, lugubrious, mortuary

soporific (adjective) tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy; (noun) something that induces sleep SYN: narcotic, anesthetic ANT: (adjective) stimulating; (noun) stimulant, stimulus

straitlaced (adjective) extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; prudish, puritanical SYN: highly conventional, overly strict, stuffy ANT: lax, loose, indulgent, permissive, dissolute

transient (adjective) lasting only a short time, fleeting; (noun) one who stays only a short time SYN: (adjective) impermanent, ephemeral, evanescent ANT: (adjective) permanent, imperishable, immortal

unwieldy (adjective) not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity SYN: cumbersome, bulky, clumsy, impractical ANT: manageable, easy to handle

vapid (adjective) dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force SYN: insipid, lifeless, colorless ANT: zesty, spicy, savory, colorful, lively