Unit 7 Vocab

(v.) to calm or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve
syn: reduce, alleviate, moderate
ant: aggravate, exacerbate, intensify

The politician made a speech in order to _____ his constituents fears.

(adj.) beast-like; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility
syn: animal, depraved, loathsome
ant: human, human, clement, virtuous, upright

In beating their prisoner, the guards were guilty of a truly ____ act.

(adj.) festive, sociable, having fun together, genial
syn: fun-loving, jovial, merry
ant: dour, grim, sullen, unsociable

thanksgiving dinner at grandmas house is always a ____ family gathering.

(n.) a circle of aquaitances; a close-knit, often exclusive, group of people with a common interest
syn: clique, set

Robert Browning and his _____. had ideas about poetry that seemed revolutionary in their day.

(n.) a person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another; a complement
syn: match

I had to admit I was frightened of my ___ on the other team because she held the high-jump record.

(v.) to object or take exception to; (n.) an objection
syn:(v.) protest, object to
ant:(v.) assent to, consent to, accept, agree to

the rank and file will ___ if they are not consulted regulary by the union leadership.

(n.) shameless boldness, impudence
syn: gall, chutzpah, nerve, impertinence, cheek
ant: shyness, diffidence, timidity

After having been suspended for disrespectful behavior, the student had the ___- to talk back to his teacher again.

(v.) to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details
syn: ornament, garnish
ant: strip, mar, disfigure

The best storytellers ____ their tales ion ways that help readers visualize the setting.

(adj.) lasting only a short time, short-lived
syn: fleeting, transient, evanescent, transitory
ant: durable, long-lasting, permanent, perpetual

Only the greatest of writers and artists achieve anything other than ___ popularity.

(adj.) appropriate, apt, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy
syn: fortunate, well-put
ant: inappropriate, inept, graceless, unhappy

In view of the high prices for home heating oil, the mild winter was a ___- turn of events.

(adj.) done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen
syn: clandestine, covert, surreptitious
ant: forthright, aboveboard, open

The girl was caught taking a ____ glance at the test paper of the student sitting next to her.

(adj.) glaring; tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way
syn: gaudy, flashy, tawdry
ant: subdued, muted, understated, quiet

The store front was painted in ___ colors so that it would attract the attention of passerby.

(adj.) misleading, decemptive; lacking in or not based on reality
syn: specious, spurious, fanciful, imaginary
ant: actual, real, factual, objective

Police state tactics provide an ___ sense of security in an unjust society.

(adj.) needy, impoverished
syn: penniless, poverty-stricken, destitute
ant: wealthy, affluent, prosperous

The number if homeless an ___- persons has increased since the economy took a downturn.

(adj.) far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive
syn: exorbitant, extravagant
ant: moderate, reasonable, equitable

The press showered the popular actor with ____ praise for what seemed a rather ordinary performance.

(v.) to cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome
syn: cast off, discard, dump, junk, abandon
ant: conserve, retain, hold on to, keep

The captain ordered the crew to ____ the ballast so the ship could move more quickly through the water.

(n.) a person who hates or despises people
syn: people-hater

The millionaire ___ left all her money to an animal shelter and not a penny to a single human being.

(adj.) very persistent; holding firmly to a course of action or a set of beliefs; hard to get rid of, refusing to be put off or denied
syn: stubborn, dogged, determined

The defense attorney was as ___ as a bulldog in his cross-examination of the witness.

(adj.) of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded
syn: inconsequential, piddling, trifling
ant: important, significant, huge, gigantic

A supervisor who fusses about every ___ fault of the workers will lower morale and productivity.

(n.) clothing, garments
syn: apparel, attire

When the chorus in the Greek tragedy hears that the king has died, they tear their ____ in anguish.