ACT Power PlusVocabulary

Lesson Four

celibate (adj.) – abstaining from intercourse; unmarriedIn that religion, the priests take vows to remain impoverished and celibate.

fortuitous (adj.) – happening by chance or accidentMy father said meeting my mother was fortuitous; my mother said it was fate.Synonyms

• accidental• unexpected

Antonyms

• premeditated• intentional

recapitulate (verb) – to summarize; to repeat brieflyTelevision newsmen always recapitulate presidential news conferences, as if the audience were incapable of understanding what had been said.

perfunctory (adj.) – done without care; in a routine fashionShe greeted her guests in a perfunctory manner.Synonyms

• indifferent• offhand

Antonyms

• diligent• attentive

baroque (adj.) – overly decorated

The new dance club had a great light show; the baroque furnishings seemed right in place.

• ornate

Synonyms Antonyms

• simple

hedonism (noun) – pursuit of pleasure, especially of the senses

John favors hedonism over self-sacrifice.

obloquy (noun) strong disapproval; a bad reputation resulting from public opinion

His behavior brought shame to his family and obloquy on himself.Synonyms

• censure• rebuke

• acclaim• praise

Antonyms

debacle (noun) – a complete failure; a total collapseAfter reading the reviews, the actors knew the play was a debacle and would close in one night.Synonyms Antonyms

• calamity• catastrophe

• success• triumph

quasi- (adj.) – resembling; seeming; halfGrandfather was only in quasi-retirement because he couldn’t give up control of the business.

besmirch (verb) – to make dirty; to stainMy ex-best friend tried to besmirch my reputation with her vicious gossip.Synonyms

• soil• sully• smear

Antonyms

• cleanse

imperative (adj.) – extremely necessary; vitally importantIt is imperative that you leave immediately.

sacrosanct (adj.) – extremely holyThe detective’s orders were to investigate everyone; no person was so sacrosanct that he or she was above suspicion.• divine• angelic

Synonyms

sadistic (adj.) – deriving pleasure from inflicting pain on othersDonna took sadistic pleasure in tormenting her little sister.Synonyms Antonyms

• barbarous• perverse

• civilized• humane

demeanor (noun)– behavior, manner of conducting oneselfBelieve me, his shy demeanor is just an act; he is really quite wild.Synonyms

• deportment

facetious (adj.) – comical; jocular; flippantHer facetious comments were beginning to get tiresome.Synonyms

• joking• witty• jocose

• solemn• serious

Antonyms