Vocabulary Unit 6

1. Vocabulary Unit 6 Mrs. Williams English 9

2. atone (v.) to make up for • Synonyms: expiate, make amends for • EX • At one time or another, everyone has done something he or she needs to atone for.

3. credible (adj.) believable • Synonyms: plausible, acceptable, likely • Antonyms: unbelievable, implausible, improbable • EX • Do you have a credible explanation for not completing your assignment on time?

4. defray (v.) to pay for • Synonyms: settle, bear the cost, foot the bill • EX • Corporate sponsors helped to defray the cost of the charity’s annual telethon.

5. diligent (adj.) hardworking, industrious, not lazy • Synonyms: assiduous, sedulous • Antonyms: lazy, indolent, cursory, perfunctory • EX • Diligent employees are likely to be well rewarded for their dedication and hard work.

6. doleful (adj.) sad; dreary • Synonyms: sorrowful, mournful, melancholy, dolorous • Antonyms: cheerful, blithe, jaunty, buoyant • EX • One look at the players’ doleful faces told me the team had lost the championship game.

7. hamper (v.) to hold back • Synonyms: hinder, obstruct, impede, inhibit • Antonyms: facilitate, ease, smooth the way • EX • Poor grades will hamper you in your effort to get a college education.

8. incessant (adj.) never stopping, going on all the time • Synonyms: ceaseless, constant, uninterrupted • Antonyms: occasional, sporadic, intermittent • EX • The loud and incessant chatter of the people at the next table made it hard for us to hear each other.

9. intricate (adj.) complicated; difficult to understand • Synonyms: complex, convoluted • Antonyms: simple, uninvolved, uncomplicated • EX • Our teacher took us through the intricate solution to the equation step by step.

10. lucid (adj.) easy to understand, clear; rational, sane • Synonyms: limpid, intelligible • Antonyms: murky, muddy, obscure, unintelligible • EX • The ability to speak in a lucid and persuasive fashion is a great asset to a politician.

11. posthumous (adj.) occurring or published after death • Synonyms: postmortem • Antonyms: prenatal • EX • Many artists and writers have been ignored during their lifetimes only to achieve posthumous fame.

12. sardonic (adj.) grimly or scornfully mocking, bitterly sarcastic • Synonyms: caustic, mordant, acerbic, wry • Antonyms: bland, mild, saccharine, good-natured • EX • Great satirists save their most sardonic wit for the greedy, the corrupt, and the hypocritical.

13. superfluous (adj.) exceeding what is sufficient or required, excess • Synonyms: surplus, supererogatory • Antonyms: necessary, essential, vital, indispensable • EX • Neat and well-organized people know how to eliminate all superfluous clutter.

14. supplant (v.) to take the place of, supersede • Synonyms: replace, displace, oust • EX • Computers rapidly supplanted typewriters in the workplace, just as photocopiers replaced carbon paper.

15. taunt (v.) to jeer at, mock; (n.) an insulting or mocking remark • Synonyms: (v.) ridicule, deride; (n.) derision • Antonyms: (v.) cheer, applaud, acclaim • EX • It is not at all unusual for brothers and sisters to tease and taunt one another good-naturedly. • For umpires and referees, the taunts of angry fans are just part of the job.

16. tenacious (adj.) holding fast; holding together firmly; persistent • Synonyms: obstinate, stubborn, dogged • Antonyms: yielding, weak, gentle, lax, slack • EX • Athletes must be tenacious in the pursuit of excellence if they hope to become Olympic champions.