1. Focus on the goal. Voc. UNIT 13 Ms. B. Wulchak
By Ashley DeGolier

2. ABSTRUSE (adj.) – Extremely difficult to understand
Synonyms: Esoteric, Arcane, Recondite, Occult
Can you find the sum of algebraic fractions, or is that too abstruse?
Antonyms: Simple,
Straightforward

3. AFFRONT (N.) – An open or intentional insult, a slight;
(V.) – To insult to one’s face, to face in defiance, confront
Synonyms: (N.) an insult, (V.) to insult
It takes patience to ignore someone who openly affronts you.

4. CANARD (N.) – A false rumor, fabricated story Synonyms: Hoax
Every year we hear the
canard that half of the Seniors
won’t graduate.

5. CAPTIOUS
(adj.) – Excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism; intended to trap, confuse, or show up
Synonyms: Faultfinding, nit-picking, carping
My 7th grade grammar teacher was so captious about correcting sentences that we had to stay in at lunch until we got them right.
Antonyms: Uncritical

6. COGNIZANT (adj.) – Aware, knowledgeable, informed, having jurisdiction
Synonyms: Conscious, acquainted
To understand the class’s
subject matter, it helps to
be awake, aware, and
cognizant during
Instructional time.
Antonyms: Unaware, unconscious,
oblivious

7. CONTRITE
(adj.) – Regretful for some misdeed or sin, Plagued by a sense of guilt; thoroughly penitent
Synonyms: Remorseful, rueful
We could tell that the student was not in the least contrite for his actions even after serving a suspension.

8. CYNOSURE
(n.) The center of attraction, attention, or interest; something that serves to guide or direct
Synonyms: Focus
When you fly into New York,
you see that the Statue of Liberty
is the cynosure of attention.

9. DECOROUS (adj.) – Well behaved, dignified, socially proper
Synonyms: Seemly, becoming, tasteful
Because Prom should be a decorous
occasion, the administration maintains
a dress code and requires i.d.

10. DEIGN
(v.) – To think it appropriate or suitable to one’s dignity to do something
Synonyms: condescend, stoop, lower one’s self
Ben told us that Ryan
Sheckler would not deign
to sign an autograph.

11. DESICCATED
(adj.) – Thoroughly dried out; divested of spirit of vitality; arid and uninteresting
Synonyms: Dehydrated, shriveled, parched
If you are anemic, would you rather get more iron by eating liver and onions or by taking a desiccated liver pill?
VS.
Antonyms: soggy,
waterlogged, drenched

12. EFFICACY (N.) – The power to produce a desired result
Synonyms: Effectiveness, potency, reliability
Antonyms: Ineffectiveness
She signed up for the pharmaceutical trial experiment to test the efficacy of the new drug.

13. ENGENDER
(V.) – To bring into existence, give rise to, produce, to come into existence
Synonyms: Generate, cause, create
We tried to engender interest in
joining Scouts by holding a
Soapbox Derby.
Antonyms: Stop, deter

14. ETHEREAL (adj.) – Light, airy, delicate, highly refined, heavenly
Synonyms: celestial, gossamer
Antonyms: Infernal,
hellish, thick, heavy
Children’s choirs are known
for having angelic, ethereal
voices.

15. FACADE (N.) – The front or face of a building; a surface appearance
Synonyms: fake front, exterior, surface, mask, pretense
Although she felt miserable, she dressed up, wore make up, and put on a façade to hide her true feelings.

16. GHOULISH
(adj.) – Revolting in an unnatural or morbid way; suggestive of someone who robs graves or otherwise preys on the dead
Synonyms: Fiendish, barbarous, monstrous
It is ghoulish to watch extraterrestrial creatures explode from the guts of walking corpses in the movie “Alien.”

17. INCONGRUOUS
(adj.) – Mismatched, not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible
Synonyms:
discordant, jarring
How incongruous it is to imagine a 6 ft. 7 in. basketball player wearing a wedding dress.
Antonyms: Compatible,
harmonious, consistent

18. MACHINATION
(N.) – A crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some (usually evil) end
Synonyms: Plot, Scheme, maneuver
The evil machinations that “Pinky and The Brain” came up with had one goal– to rule the world!

19. MESMERIZE
(V.) – To hypnotize, entrance, to fascinate, enthrall, bewitch, captivate
Paul McKenna mesmerizes volunteers from the audience by having them watch a crystal swing back and forth.

20. OPPROBRIUM
(N.) – Disgrace arising from shameful conduct; contempt, reproach
Synonyms: Infamy, dishonor, odium, shame
Hester Prynne in The
Scarlet Letter suffered shame
and opprobrium for having
a child with a man who
was not her husband.
Antonyms: Acclaim,
honor, glory, renown

21. PUTATIVE
(adj.) – Generally regarded as such; reputed; hypothesized, inferred
Synonyms: Supposed, presumed,
alleged, said to be
Casey Anthony is the
presumed and putative
murderer of her daughter.
Antonyms: known,
corroborated, confirmed

22. PREEMPT (V.) – To substitute in that time or place
Headline January 8th, 2010:
Lost Fans Rejoice! State Of The Union Won’t Preempt Season Premiere

23. SIMPLISTIC (adj.) – Oversimplified
If you don’t like your job, the quick and easy solution of quitting seems like a simplistic way to deal with the issue. Quitting might cause more problems —like being unemployed and having to move out of your apartment.