1. Vocabulary Workshop
Unit 7: #’s 1-20

2. authorize (v.) to approve or permit; to give power or authority to
Synonyms: order, entitle, empower
I wonder if Congress will someday authorize U.S. citizens to cast official votes over the Internet.

3. culprit
(n.) a person who has committed a crime or is guilty of some misconduct; offender
Synonyms: lawbreaker, wrongdoer
Thanks to their efficient tracking methods, the police were able to catch the culprit red-handed.

4. dawdle
(v.) to waste time; to be idle; to spend more time in doing something than is necessary
Synonyms:delay, loiter, dillydally
It’s relaxing to dawdle in the shower, but it wastes water.

5. dissect
(v.) to cut apart in preparation for scientific study; to analyze with great care
Synonym:examine
I can’t wait to dissect a frog in biology class next week.

6. expend (v.) to pay out, spend; to use up
Synonyms:utilize, consume, disburse
The most experienced long-distance runners learn not to expend their energy too soon.

7. fatality (n.) an event resulting in death; an accidental death
Synonyms: casualty, mortality
The driver slammed on the
brakes, but it was too late to
prevent the traffic fatality.

8. gullible (adj.) easily fooled, tricked, or cheated
Synonyms: trusting, innocent, naïve, credulous
Are you gullible enough to believe everything you hear on the radio?

9. illicit (adj.) not permitted, unlawful, improper
Synonyms: illegal, unauthorized, forbidden
Students will be suspended
for one week if they bring
any illicit materials to school.

10. immerse (v.) to plunge or dip into a fluid; to involve deeply
Synonyms: dunk, engross
I find it’s easier to immerse my entire body in a swimming pool than try to get used to the water slowly.

11. inflammatory
(adj.) causing excitement or anger; leading to violence or disorder
Synonyms: provoking, incendiary, provocative
The candidate made an inflammatory speech that incensed all those who heard it.

12. memorandum (n.) a note to aid one’s memory; an informal note or report
Synonyms: reminder
The principal posts a weekly memorandum to remind teachers of programs, deadlines, and special events.

13. pathetic
(adj.) marked by strong emotion, especially pity and sorrow; able to move people emotionally; worthy of pity; woefully inadequate
Synonyms: moving, distressing, pitiable, heartrending
It was a pathetic sight to see so many starving people desperately begging for food.

14. persevere
(v.) to keep doing something in spite of difficulties; to refuse to quit even when the going is tough
Synonyms: plug away, pursue, stick to it
The patient needs to persevere with the painful exercises in order to be able to walk normally again.

15. prevaricate (v.) to lie, tell an untruth; to mislead on purpose
Synonyms: fib, stretch the truth, equivocate
His reputation has suffered because of his unfortunate tendency to prevaricate.

16. quash (v.) to crush, put down completely Synonyms: suppress
Swift military action was required to quash the revolt before anyone was injured.

17. relish
(n.) enjoyment of satisfaction; something that adds a pleasing flavor; (v.) to enjoy greatly
Synonyms: (n.) pleasure, gusto; (v) take delight in
She opened the tiny box with relish knowing that is contained a piece of jewelry.

18. reminisce (v.) to recall one’s past thoughts, feelings, or experiences
Synonyms: remember, recollect
At the family reunion, we got to hear 94-year-old Tia Luzia reminisce about life in old Havana.

19. scour
(v.) to clean or polish by hard rubbing; to examine with great care; to move about quickly in search of
Synonyms: scrub, search, comb
The pot roast was delicious, but it won’t be any fun to scour the burned roasting pan.

20. tribute
(n.) something done or given to show thanks or respect; a payment
Synonyms: praise, honor, homage, recognition, commendation, glorification, money, tax, levy
The best-selling author offered tribute to the teacher who inspired her.

21. writhe
(v.) to make twisting or turning movements in a way that suggests pain or struggle
Synonyms: twist, squirm, thrash
It’s so sad to see an injured bird writhe in pain.