Vocabulary Unit 7Mrs. Frazee

Meander

When I travel, I like to meander through unfamiliar towns and cities.

Verb To wander about, wind about Noun A sharp turn or twist (For example, Lombard

Street in San Francisco is famous for its many meanders.)

Synonyms: (v.) ramble, roam, zigzag, twist Antonyms: go direct, stay on path

Meander

Tirade

The dictator’s televised tirade against his opponents lasted for four hours.

Noun A long, angry speech, usually very critical

Synonyms: tongue-lashing, rant, outburst Antonyms: calm, harmony, peace

Tirade

Momentous

A momentous decision by the Supreme Court in 1954 declared public school

segregation unconstitutional.

AdjectiveVery important

Synonyms: important, vital, significant, crucial

Antonyms: trivial, unimportant, slight

Momentous

Perilous

Episodes of old-time movies usually ended with the hero or heroine in

perilous circumstances.

Adjective Dangerous

Synonyms: risky, chancy, hazardous, unsafe

Antonyms: safe, secure, harmless

Perilous

Assurance

What assurance can you provide me that if I jump out of the plane and pull

the rip-cord, this parachute WILL open?

Noun A pledge; freedom from

doubt, self-confidence Synonyms: promise, sureness,

poise, self-possession Antonyms: uncertainty,

doubt, insecurity

Assurance

Console

A neighbor tried to console the sobbing child whose cat had

wandered away.

Verb – to comfort Noun – the keyboard of an organ; a

control panel for an electrical or mechanical device The console of the large church

organ had an assortment of keys, knobs, and pedals.

Synonyms: (v.)soothe, solace, alleviateAntonyms: (v.) distress, aggravate,

bother , torment

Console

Flippant

Parents and other adults are often upset by a teenager’s flippant

responses.

Adjective Lacking in seriousness;

disrespectful, saucy

Synonyms: frivolous, insolent, superficial, jokey

Antonyms: serious, respectful

Flippant

Rejuvenate

A few minutes of conversation with my best friend helped to rejuvenate my

melancholy spirits.

Verb To make young

again; to make like new

Synonyms: revitalize, renew

Antonyms: wear out, exhaust, enervate, debilitate

Rejuvenate

Preposterous

The theory that Stonehenge was constructed by alien life-forms is

utterly preposterous.

Adjective Ridiculous, senseless

Synonyms: nonsensical, absurd, incredible

Antonyms: sensible, reasonable, realistic, plausible

Preposterous

Liability

A limited attention span is his biggest liability as a student.

Noun A debt; something disadvantageous

Synonyms: handicap, difficulty, drawback

Antonyms: advantage, asset

Liability

Enriched English

Warp

The carpenter explained that humidity caused the kitchen door to warp.

Verb To twist out of shape - Noun An abnormality – Criminal

behavior often shows a striking lack of judgment or a warp in thinking.

Synonyms: (v.) bend, distort, misshape; (n.) irregularity

Antonyms: (v.) straighten, unbend, rectify

Warp

Assimilate

A well read person assimilates knowledge of wide range of subjects.

Verb To absorb fully or make one’s own; to adapt

fully

Synonyms: digest, incorporate, blend in Antonyms: misunderstood, reject, unlearn

Assimilate

Surly

Passengers stranded in an airport because their flight is canceled may

become quite surly.

Adjective Angry and bad

tempered; rude

Synonyms: gruff, sullen, cranky, grouchy, hostile

Antonyms: polite, gracious, civil, friendly, genial

Surly

Emancipate

Scientific knowledge can emancipate humanity from blind superstition.

Verb To free from slavery; to

release or liberate

Synonyms: set loose, unchain, unshackle, unfetter

Antonyms: enslave, snare, chain, shackle

Emancipate

Shoddy

That designer watch I bought from a street vendor turned out to be a

shoddy knockoff.

Adjective Of poor quality; characterized by

inferior workmanship

Synonyms: flimsy, cheap, tacky, sloppy, substandard

Antonyms: well-made, solid, durable, superior

Shoddy