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31 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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adversary (n) |
a committed enemy or opponent |
The lawsuit turned former friends into adversaries |
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antipathy (adj) |
deep-seated dislike |
Despite the long-standing antipathy between their families, Romeo and Juliet believed their love would triumph. |
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audacious (adj) |
willing to take bold risks |
Desperate to score points, the audacious quarterback called a trick play against the coach's wishes. |
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averse (adj) |
having a strong dislike |
Although many considered Will a daredevil, he was actually scrupulous in his planning and highly averse to senseless risk. |
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belligerent (adj) |
hostile and aggressive |
We might take your suggestions more seriously if you were not so belligerent when you presented them. |
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berate(v) |
to scold angrily |
The coach berated us for not keeping in shape during the off-season. |
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cantankerous (adj) |
grouchy and argumentative |
Mrs. Grieves was a cantankerous old woman who would scream at us from her porch for not wearing shoes. |
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circumspect (adj) |
wary; cautious |
Ken's unpleasant experiences with telemarketers made him circumspect about answering the phone. |
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clamor (n) |
an uproar, usually from a crowd showing disapproval |
The guards were awakened by a clamor at the gate. |
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condescend (v) |
to act superior to someone else |
Teachers should give clear instructions and not condescend to their students. |
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encroach (v) |
to intrude on a territory or domain |
The teachers were beginning to worry that the school board was encroaching on their right to teach as they see fit. |
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estranged (adj) |
no longer emotionally close to someone; alienated |
After being estranged for many years, the couple finally reconciled. |
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evade (v) |
to escape or avoid, usually through clever means |
The fighter pilot was able to evade the missile with his deft maneuvers. |
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flout (v) |
openly disregard (a rule or convention) |
It was shocking how openly Gino flouted school rules. |
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heresy (n) |
a belief or act that contradicts religious orthodoxy |
The Republican senator's vote for the tax increase was regarded as an unforgiveable heresy. |
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iconoclast (n) |
(literally a "breaker of icons") one who attacks cherished beliefs |
The Cubist movement consisted of bold iconoclasts shattering the definition of art and reassembling its pieces in disarray. |
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indignant (adj) |
angered by unjust treatment |
Perry became indignant at the suggestion that he was cheating |
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instigate (v) |
bring about or initiate (an action or event) |
The regime instigated a brutal crackdown on intellectuals |
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insurgent (n) |
a rebel |
We were attacked by armed insurgents. |
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malign (v) |
a person who thinks independently |
Lowell Weicker was a maverick Republican senator who later ran as an independent and was elected governor of Connecticut. |
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misanthrope (n) |
one who dislikes and avoids humans |
Ebenezer Scrooge was a miserly and miserable misanthrope until he learned the value of friends and family. |
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rancor (n) |
deep-seated resentment |
The rancor endured from their acrimonious divorce. |
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rebuke (v) |
to express sharp and stern disapproval for someone's actions |
His Wife rebuked him for staying out too late. |
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renounce (v) |
to give up or put aside publicly |
He renounced his membership in the club when he heard that it would not allow women as members. |
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reprehensible (adj) |
deserving of condemnation |
David's reprehensible behavior during practice earned him a benching for the next two games. |
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reprove (v) |
to reprimand |
The teacher reproved Jonah for insulting Caroline in front of the class. |
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revoke (v) |
to take back a formal decree, decision, or permission |
Glen's hunting license was revoked soon after the shotgun accident. |
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subvert (v) |
to undermine the authority or power of another |
The opposition planned to subvert the Democrats and thwart the lawmaking process. |
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supplant (v) |
to replace in importance or relevance |
The old economic system was supplanted by a more sustainable one |
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vilify(v) |
to denounce someone bitterly |
After her callous remarks about the poor, Michelle was vilified in the press. |
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vindictive (adj) |
showing a deep desire for revenge |
The vindictive tone of the letter showed that Tom harbored deep resentments |
