English 111

Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary, Unit 1

Hannah Burwell

acquisitive

(adj.) able to get and retain ideas or information; concerned with acquiring wealth or property

Synonyms: greedy, avaricious

arrogate

(v.) to claim or take without right

Synonyms: expropriate, usurp, commandeer

banal

(adj.) hackneyed, trite, commonplace

Synonyms: stale, insipid

belabor

(v.) to work on excessively, to thrash soundly

Synonyms: overwork

carping

(adj.) tending to find fault, especially in a petty, nasty, or hairsplitting way; (n) petty, nagging criticism

Synonyms: nit-picking, caviling

coherent

(adj.) holding or sticking together, making a logical whole, meaningful

Synonyms: connected, unified, consistent, cohesive

congeal

(v.) to change from liquid to solid, thicken; to make inflexible

Synonyms: harden, jell, coagulate, solidify

emulate

(v.) to imitate with intent of equaling or surpassing the model

Synonyms: copy, mimic, rival, match, measure up

encomium

(n.) a formal expression of praise, a lavish tribute

Synonyms: panegyric, eulogy, commendation

eschew

(v.) to avoid, shun, keep away from

Synonyms: abstain from, steer clear of, forgo

germane

(adj.) relevant, appropriate, apropos, fitting

Synonyms: pertinent

insatiable

(adj.) so great or demanding as not to be satisfied

Synonyms: unquenchable, ravenous, voracious

intransigent

(adj.) refusing to compromise, irreconcilable

Synonyms: uncompromising, unyielding, obdurate

invidious

(adj.) offensive, hateful; tending to cause bitterness and resentment

Synonyms: malicious, spiteful. Prejudicial, pejorative

largesse

(n.) generosity in giving; lavish or bountiful contributions

Synonyms: liberality, munificence, bounty

reconnaissance

(n.) a survey made for military purposes; any kind of preliminary inspection or examination

Synonyms: scouting, expedition

substantiate

(v.) to establish by evidence, prove; to give concrete or substantial form to

Synonyms: verify, confirm, validate, authenticate

taciturn

(adj.) habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little

Synonyms: tight-lipped, uncommunicative, laconic

temporize

(v.) to stall or act evasively in order to gain time, avoid a confrontation, or postpone a decision; to compromise

Synonyms: hedge, dillydally, procrastinate

tenable

(adj.) capable of being held or defended

Synonyms: defensible, justifiable, maintainable