Vocabulary Level F

Vocabulary Level FUnit 121ABSOLVE(v.) to clear from blame, responsibility, or guiltSyn: acquit, exonerate, vindicate, excuse, pardonAnt: condemn, convict, incriminate, inculpate

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The detective SOLVED the case and ABSOLVED the defendant from any guilt!CARICATURE(n.) a representation (especially a drawing) in which the subjects characteristic features are deliberately exaggerated(v.) to present someone or something in a deliberately distorted waySyn: cartoon, burlesque,Parody, lampoon

4He was so frequently the subject of CARICATUREthat he seemed almost a fictionalCHARACTER.

CLANGOR(n.) a loud ringing sound(v.) to make a loud ringing soundSyn: din, clamor, uproarAnt: silence, stillness, peace and quiet

6The CLANGOR of the bells summoned everyone to the town square. CLANG! CLANG!

CONTIGUOUS(adj.) side by side, touching; near; adjacent in timeSyn: adjoining, abutting, next door toAnt: detached, apart, distant, remote

8Zoning laws attempt to add some CONTINUTIY to businesses and other buildings that are CONTIGUOUS to each other.

CUPIDITY(n.) an eager desire for something; greedSyn: avarice, rapacity, craving, lustAnt: generosity, contentment, satiation, gratification

10CUPIDs only STUPIDITYmay be found in his CUPIDITY for love.

DELETERIOUS(adj.) harmful, injuriousSyn: detrimental, destructive, pernicious, damagingAnt: helpful, beneficial, harmless, innocuous

12When I accidentally DELETED my entire paper, it was DELETERIOUSto my grade.

ENHANCE(v.) to raise to a higher degree; to increase the value or desirability ofSyn: improve, magnify, heighten, elevateAnt: diminish, reduce, lessen, degrade

I think Ill do my homework to ENHANCE my grade in English14The quality of an image is oftenENHANCED by police in the movies.

ENTHRALL(v.) to captivate, charm, hold spellbound; to enslave; to imprisonSyn: fascinate, enchant, attract, bewitchAnt: bore to tears, repel, put someone off

16The crowd was so deeplyENTERTAINEDyou could saythey wereENTHRALLED

EXTENUATE(v.) to lessen the seriousness or magnitude of an offense by making partial excusesSyn: moderate, mitigate, diminish, downplayAnt: intensify, aggravate, worsen, exacerbate

Would it be okay to steal bread in an EXTENUATING circumstance?18Those TEN YOU ATEcan only be explained by the EXTENUATING circumstances of your extreme hunger.

IMPLICIT(adj.) implied or understood though unexpressed; without doubts or reservations, unquestioning; potentially contained inSyn: inferred, tacit, unspoken, unconditionalAnt: explicit, expressed, stated, revealed

20SomethingIMPLIED-- Even if it is not said is IMPLICIT.

INCISIVE(adj.) sharp, keen, penetrating (with a suggestion of decisiveness and effectiveness)Syn: acute, cutting, perceptive, trenchant

22Her remarks had great INSIGHT.

Her words were INCISIVE

OSTENTATIOUS(adj.) marked by conspicuous or pretentious display, showySyn: flashy, overdone, affected, flamboyantAnt: modest, plain, simple, demure, retiring

24Old OSSENBERGERwas so full of himself, but was his building as OSTENATIOUS as this one?

PARAGON(n.) a model of excellence or perfectionSyn: exemplar, ideal, paradigm, model, good example

26M.C. Escher is aPARAGONofPARADOX

PARAPHRASE(v.) to restate in other words(n.) a statement that presents a given idea in new languageSyn: reword, rephrase, a rendition, versionAnt: repeat verbatim, duplicate, quote

28Ill use a PAIROF PHRASEStoPARAPHRASEwhat he said.

POLITIC(adj.) prudent, shrewdly conceived and developed; artful, expedientSyn: tactful, diplomatic, judicious, circumspectAnt: unwise, injudicious, imprudent, rash

30APOLITICIANmust be POLITICwith his or herwords!

PROSAIC(adj.) dull, lacking in distinction and originality; matter-of-fact, straightforward; characteristic of prose, not poeticSyn: commonplace, humdrum, literal, pedestrianAnt: remarkable, distinctive, poetic, inspiredPOETRY vs. PROSE32Writing that isfilled withPROSEinstead of poetrycan be calledPROSAIC

REDUNDANT(adj.) extra, excess, more than is needed; wordy, repetitive; profuse, lushSyn: unnecessary, superfluous, verbose, prolixAnt: succinct, terse, laconic, scarce, inadequateI, myself, prefer steak over hot dogs.34It was REDONEso many timesit wasREDUNDANT

SANCTIMONIOUS(adj.) making a show of virtue or righteousness; hypocritically moralistic or pious, self-righteous, canting, holier-than-thouAnt: heartfelt, sincere, humble

36He was soSANCTIMONIUSin his speechit was as if hewanted us to think he was aSAINT

SCINTILLATING(adj./part.) sparkling, twinkling, exceptionally brilliant (applied to mental or personal qualities)Syn: stimulating, lively, glittering, flashingAnt: dull, boring, insipid, flat, tame vapid

38Can a SCENTbe so stimulating thatit can be calledSCINTILLATING?

WINSOME(adj.) charming, attractive, pleasing (often suggesting childlike charm and innocence)Syn: winning, engaging, delightful, prepossessingAnt: unattractive, unappealing, repulsive

40He was charming and WINSOME.Even when he lost, hed simply say,You WIN SOME,You lose some.