Building An Enriched Vocabulary Lesson 1

abdicate Verb (performing an action) Verb (performing an action) To give up formally, as an office, duty, power or claim To give up formally, as an office, duty, power or claim Synonyms: resign, renounce, relinquish Synonyms: resign, renounce, relinquish Example: Example: Since the responsibilities of being class president became too much, Sasha will abdicate her position next month and the vice president will take over. Since the responsibilities of being class president became too much, Sasha will abdicate her position next month and the vice president will take over.

abdicate

adjourn Verb Verb To close formally; to put off until another time To close formally; to put off until another time Synonyms: conclude, terminate, defer, postpone Synonyms: conclude, terminate, defer, postpone Example: Example: Class is adjourned by the bell signaling students to leave the room. Class is adjourned by the bell signaling students to leave the room.

adjourn

alienate Verb Verb To cause hostility or indifference; to exclude To cause hostility or indifference; to exclude Synonyms: estrange, exclude Synonyms: estrange, exclude Example: Example: Sam felt alienated when all of his friends went to the beach together but did not invite him to go. Sam felt alienated when all of his friends went to the beach together but did not invite him to go.

alienate

anomaly Noun (person, place, thing or idea) Noun (person, place, thing or idea) A deviation from what is normal or expected A deviation from what is normal or expected Synonyms: abnormality, freak, irregularity, misfit Synonyms: abnormality, freak, irregularity, misfit Example: Example: There was an anomaly in Jake’s schedule because it was missing a first block class. There was an anomaly in Jake’s schedule because it was missing a first block class.

anomaly

astute Adjective (describes a noun) Adjective (describes a noun) Keen in mind and judgment; practical; cunning Keen in mind and judgment; practical; cunning Synonyms: perceptive, sharp, clever Synonyms: perceptive, sharp, clever Example: Example: Since she was an astute child, Jane learned sophisticated vocabulary at an early age from listening to her parents’ conversations. Since she was an astute child, Jane learned sophisticated vocabulary at an early age from listening to her parents’ conversations.

astute

avarice Noun Noun An excessive desire to acquire and possess wealth An excessive desire to acquire and possess wealth Synonyms: stinginess, greed Synonyms: stinginess, greed Example: Example: Scrooge’s avarice left his employees struggling for money when he did not want to part with his money to give them a raise. Scrooge’s avarice left his employees struggling for money when he did not want to part with his money to give them a raise.

avarice

bleak Adjective Adjective Cold and gloomy; desolate; unpromising Cold and gloomy; desolate; unpromising Synonyms: barren, harsh, dismal, somber Synonyms: barren, harsh, dismal, somber Example: Example: 1. Much of the coast of northern Alaska is bleak and uninviting. 1. Much of the coast of northern Alaska is bleak and uninviting. 2. The chances of going to the beach today are bleak due to threats of rain. 2. The chances of going to the beach today are bleak due to threats of rain.

bleak

bungle Verb Verb To mismanage or make a mess of To mismanage or make a mess of Synonyms: botch, mangle, spoil Synonyms: botch, mangle, spoil Example: Example: Since the chef’s assistant was not paying attention, he added salt instead of sugar and bungled the recipe. Since the chef’s assistant was not paying attention, he added salt instead of sugar and bungled the recipe.

bungle

caustic Adjective Adjective Able to dissolve from chemical action; sharp and biting Able to dissolve from chemical action; sharp and biting Synonyms: corrosive, stinging, pungent, venomous Synonyms: corrosive, stinging, pungent, venomous Example: Example: The caustic substance must be handled very carefully in the lab because it will leave a serious burn on your skin if spilled. The caustic substance must be handled very carefully in the lab because it will leave a serious burn on your skin if spilled.

caustic

coerce Verb Verb To force someone to do something against his or her will using pressure, threats or intimidation To force someone to do something against his or her will using pressure, threats or intimidation Synonym: pressure, force Synonym: pressure, force Example: Example: When the bank was robbed, the burglar coerced the teller to hand over all the money by threatening to use a weapon. When the bank was robbed, the burglar coerced the teller to hand over all the money by threatening to use a weapon.