1. ACT Power Plus Vocabulary
Lesson Thirteen

2. nirvana – (n.) a condition of great peace or happiness After work, Irene sought nirvana through meditation.

3. salutary – (adj.) healthful; wholesome The country air had a salutary influence on the child’s chronic cough.
Synonyms
Antonyms
beneficial
pernicious

4. despicable – (adj.) contemptible; hateful Only a despicable cad would behave so horribly.
Synonyms
Antonyms
vile
base
laudable
worthy

5. harlequin – (n.) a clown The kind summoned the harlequin to entertain the guests.

6. empathy – (n.) an understanding of another’s feelings The same thing happened to me once, so I felt empathy for the person whose car broke down on the interstate.
Synonyms
appreciation
compassion

7. brevity – (n.) briefness; short duration The brevity of the candidate’s speech surprised everyone.
Synonyms
Antonyms
terseness
conciseness
lengthiness

8. savant – (n.) a person of extensive learning; an eminent scholar Einstein was a savant who will always be remembered for E=MC².

9. obsequious – (adj.) excessively submissive or overly attentive The waiter’s obsequious behavior annoyed the patrons at the expensive restaurant.
Synonyms
Antonyms
servile
fawning
domineering
haughty

10. redundant – (adj.) repetitious; using more words than needed Saying that a person is a rich millionaire is redundant.
Synonyms
Antonyms
excessive
unnecessary
essential

11. offal – (n.) garbage; waste parts No one wanted the task of carrying the offal from the butcher shop to the trash container.

12. hoi polloi – (n.) the common people; the masses The hoi polloi loved to watch the Christians fight the lions.

13. sentient – (adj.) conscious; capable of feeling or perceiving No one knew if the girl in the coma was sentient, but they continued to hold and talk to her.
Synonyms
alert
alive
cognizant

14. impinge – (v.) to encroach; to trespass Do not impinge on your neighbors by walking in uninvited.
Synonyms
infringe
intrude

15. cataract – (n.) a large waterfall Because of the cataract in that part of the river, you can’t put a canoe in the water.

16. animosity – (n.) hatred There was more animosity between the opposing teams’ fans than between the teams themselves.
Synonyms
Antonyms
ill-will
hostility
friendliness
congeniality