1. VOCABULARY
UNIT 2

2. (n. pl.) ridiculous and unpredictable behavior or actions
ANTICS
(n. pl.)
ridiculous and unpredictable behavior or actions

3. The ANTICS of the chimpanzees amused the crowds at the zoo.
Synonyms
pranks, shenanigans
Antonyms

4. (adj., part.) declared openly and without shame, acknowledged
AVOWED
(adj., part.)
declared openly and without shame, acknowledged

5. Synonyms admitted, sworn
The governor was an AVOWED supporter of the plan to aid public libraries throughout the state.
Synonyms
admitted, sworn
Antonyms
unacknowledged, undisclosed

6. BANTER (v.) to exchange playful remarks, tease
(n.) talk that is playful and teasing

7. Synonyms joking, raillery
There is nothing my friends and I enjoy more than to BANTER good-naturedly for hours.
Synonyms
joking, raillery
Antonyms
serious talk

8. (adj.) giving freely, generous; plentiful, given abundantly
BOUNTIFUL
(adj.)
giving freely, generous;
plentiful, given abundantly

9. Synonyms liberal, abundant, copious
On Thanksgiving Day, people all over America celebrate the BOUNTIFUL gifts of nature.
Synonyms
liberal, abundant, copious
Antonyms
scarce, scanty,
in short supply

10. (adj., part.) overcrowded, filled or occupied to excess
CONGESTED
(adj., part.)
overcrowded, filled or occupied to excess

11. Synonyms jammed, packed, choked
The doctor grew very concerned when the patient’s lungs became CONGESTED with fluid.
Synonyms
jammed, packed, choked
Antonyms
uncluttered, unimpeded

12. DETRIMENT (n.) harm or loss; injury, damage; a disadvantage;
a cause of harm, injury, loss or damage

13. Synonyms hindrance, liability
The home team survived a six-game losing streak with almost no DETRIMENT to its standing in the league.
Synonyms
hindrance, liability
Antonyms
advantage, help, plus

14. (n) Consumer goods used repeatedly over a series of years
DURABLE
(adj.) sturdy, not easily worn out or destroyed; lasting for a long time
(n) Consumer goods used repeatedly over a series of years

15. Denim is a very DURABLE type of fabric.
Synonyms
long-lasting, enduring
Antonyms
fragile, perishable, fleeting, ephemeral

16. ENTERPRISING
(adj.)
energetic, willing and able to start something new;
showing boldness and imagination

17. Synonyms vigorous, ambitious, aggressive, audacious
An ENTERPRISING young person may turn a hobby into a way of earning money to pay for college.
Synonyms
vigorous, ambitious, aggressive, audacious
Antonyms
lazy, indolent, timid, diffident

18. (adj.) economical, avoiding waste and luxury; scanty, poor, meager
FRUGAL
(adj.)
economical, avoiding waste and luxury; scanty, poor, meager

19. At home, we usually prepare FRUGAL but nourishing and delicious meals.
Antonyms
wasteful, improvident, lavish, extravagant
Synonyms
thrifty, skimpy

20. (adj., adv.) with extreme care or caution
GINGERLY
(adj., adv.)
with extreme care or caution

21. Synonyms cautiously, warily, circumspectly
Difficult and demanding customers should be handled in a GINGERLY and courteous manner.
Antonyms
firmly, confident, aggressively
Synonyms
cautiously, warily, circumspectly

22. GLUT
(v.) to provide more than is needed or wanted; to feed or fill to the point of overstuffing
(n.) an oversupply

23. Synonyms flood, inundate surplus, plethora
Hollywood studios GLUT theaters with big-budget action movies during the summer season.
Antonyms
shortage, scarcity, dearth, paucity
Synonyms
flood, inundate
surplus, plethora

24. INCOGNITO
(adj., adv.) in a disguised state; under an assumed name or identity
(n.) the state of being disguised;
a person in disguise

25. In a way, makeup artists are practitioners of the fine art of INCOGNITO.
Antonyms
undisguised
Synonyms

26. (v.) to make valueless, take away all force or effect
INVALIDATE
(v.) to make valueless,
take away all force or effect

27. Lawyers will try to INVALIDATE the contract.
Antonyms
support, confirm, back up, legalize
Synonyms
cancel, annul, disapprove, discredit

28. LEGENDARY
(adj.)
described in well-known stories; existing in old stories rather than in real life

29. Synonyms mythical, fabulous, famous, celebrated
Ajax was one of the LEGENDARY Greek heroes who fought before the walls of Troy.
Antonyms
Synonyms
mythical, fabulous, famous, celebrated

30. (v.) to cripple, disable, injure, mar, mutilate, disfigure
MAIM
(v.)
to cripple, disable, injure, mar, mutilate, disfigure

31. Each year, falls MAIM thousands of people, some of them for life.
Antonyms
Synonyms

32. MINIMIZE (v.) to make as small as possible, make the least of,
to make smaller than before

33. Synonyms belittle, downplay, underrate
Whenever you are in a car, you should wear your seatbelt to MINIMIZE the risk of injury in an accident.
Antonyms
magnify, enlarge, exaggerate
Synonyms
belittle, downplay, underrate

34. (adj.) slanting or sloping; not straightforward or direct
OBLIQUE
(adj.) slanting or sloping;
not straightforward or direct

35. The boxer’s OBLIQUE blow left his opponent unscathed.
Antonyms
direct,
straight to the point
Synonyms
diagonal, indirect

36. (v.) to change direction or course suddenly, turn aside, shift, swerve
VEER
(v.)
to change direction or course suddenly, turn aside, shift, swerve

37. The huge storm finally VEERED out to sea, leaving much destruction in its wake.
Antonyms
Synonyms

38. (v.) to regard with reverence, look up to with great respect
VENERATE
(v.)
to regard with reverence,
look up to with great respect

39. Synonyms worship, revere, idolize
In a number of religions, it is customary for people to VENERATE saints and martyrs to the faith.
Antonyms
despise, detest, ridicule, deride
Synonyms
worship, revere, idolize

40. WANTON (adj.) reckless; heartless, unjustifiable, loose in morals;
(n.) a spoiled, pampered person; one with low morals

41. Synonyms rash, malicious, spiteful, unprovoked
The gas chambers at Auschwitz are a grim testimony to the WANTON cruelty of the Nazis.
Antonyms
justified,
morally strict, responsible
Synonyms
rash, malicious, spiteful, unprovoked