Vocabulary Unit 4 Level D

Abscond (v) The thieves who absconded with several of the museum’s most valuable paintings have never been found. To run off and hide Synonyms: bolt, make off, skip town

Access (n) You need a password in order to access your email accounts. Admittance to places, persons, things; to obtain Synonyms: entry, admittance, entrée Antonyms: total exclusion

Anarchy (n) In the final days of a war, civilians may find themselves living in anarchy. A lack of government and law; confusion Synonyms: chaos, disorder, turmoil, pandemonium Antonyms: law and order, peace and quiet

Arduous (adj) No matter how carefully you plan for it, moving to a new home is an arduous chore. Hard to do, requiring much effort; difficult, laborious Synonyms: hard, difficult, laborious, fatiguing Antonyms: easy, simple, effortless

Auspicious (adj) My parents describe the day that they first met as a most auspicious occasion. Favorable, fortunate Synonyms: promising, encouraging, propitious Antonyms: ill-omened, ominous, sinister

Daunt (v) Despite all its inherent dangers, space flight did not daunt the Mercury program astronauts. To overcome with fear, intimidate Synonyms: dismay, cow Antonyms: encourage, embolden, reassure

Disentangle (v) Rescuers worked for hours to disentangle a whale from the fishing net wrapped around its jaws. To free from tangles or complications Synonyms: unravel, unwind, unscramble, unsnarl Antonyms: tangle up, ensnarl, snag

Fated (adj) The tragic outcome of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is fated from the play’s very first scene. Determined in advance by destiny or fortune Synonyms: destined, preordained, doomed Antonyms: accidental, fortuitous, chance, random

Hoodwink (v) Many sweepstakes offers hoodwink people into thinking they have already won big prizes. To mislead by a trick, deceive Synonyms: dupe, put one over one Antonyms: undeceive, disabuse, clue in

Inanimate (v) Although fossils are inanimate, they hold many clues to life on Earth millions of years ago. Not having life; without energy or spirit Synonyms: lifeless, dead, inert, spiritless Antonyms: living, alive, energetic, lively, sprightly

Incinerate (v) Because of environmental concerns, many cities and towns no longer incinerate their garbage. To burn to ashes; cremate Synonyms: burn up, cremate, reduce to ashes

Intrepid (adj) Intrepid Polynesian sailors in outrigger canoes were the first humans to reach the Hawaiian Islands. Very brave, fearless Synonyms: valiant, courageous, audacious, daring Antonyms: timid, cowardly, craven, pusillanimous

Larceny (n) Someone who steals property that is worth thousands of dollars commits grand larceny. Theft, robbery Synonyms: stealing, robbery, burglary

Pliant (adj) The pliant branches of the sapling sagged but did not break under the weight of the heavy snow. Bending easily; easily influenced Synonyms: supple, flexible, elastic, plastic Antonyms: rigid, stiff, inflexible, set in stone

Pompous (adj) Political cartoonists like nothing more than to mock pompous public officials. Overly self-important in speech and manner; pretentious Synonyms: pretentious, highfalutin, bombastic Antonyms: unpretentious, unaffected, plain

Precipice (n) During the Cuban missile crisis, the world hovered on the precipice of nuclear war. A very steep cliff; the brink or edge of disaster Synonyms: cliff, crag, bluff, promontory, ledge Antonyms: abyss, chasm, gorge

Prototype (n) A functional prototype of the device was demonstrated at the conclusion of the project. The first form of something new, made before it is produced in large quantities more…; the first or most typical example of something Synonyms: example, sample Antonyms: copy

Rectify (v) The senators debated a series of measures designed to rectify the nation’s trade imbalance. To make right, correct, remedy Synonyms: remedy, set right Antonyms: mess up, botch, bungle

Reprieve (n, v) A vacation is a kind of reprieve from the cares and responsibilities of everyday life. A temporary relief or delay; to grant a postponement Synonyms: stay, respite (n), postpone, delay (v) Antonym: proceed (v)

Revile (v) The enraged King Lear reviles the daughters who have cast him out into a fierce storm. To attack with words, call bad names Synonyms: inveigh against, malign, vilify, denounce Antonyms: praise, acclaim, revere, idolize