Just Vocabulary's Podcast
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Just Vocabulary's Podcast is for anyone who wants to improve their English. This daily (Monday through Friday) 2-3 minute podcast covers new interesting words to amaze your friends. The ESL Podcast is hosted by Jan Folmer. If English is your Second Language; this podcast is for you.
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JV434 (Jettison and Insolent)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Sun, Jul 20, 2008
JETTISON = 1. to discard or abandon something such as an idea or project. 2. to throw something from a ship, aircraft, or vehicle.
Examples:
- As ratings dropped, the station jettisoned educational podcasts.
- Seawater filled the Titanic so rapidly that Leonardo began to frantically jettison unnecessary items.
- Microsoft was forced to jettison some of their ideas when it became clear that their plans were too elaborate.
Synonyms:
abandon, cast off, discard, expel, unload, eliminate
Antonyms:
keep, retain
INSOLENT = 1. disrespectful and rude; 2. unrestrained by convention
Examples:
- The insolent child always talked back to his mother.
- The lawyer's insolent behavior got him thrown out of the courtroom.
- That kind of insolence will not be tolerated in my classroom.
Synonyms:
impolite, rude, disrespectful, brazen, insulting, arrogant.
Antonyms:
respectful, considerate, polite
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JV433 (Revive and Pontificate)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Fri, Jul 18, 2008
REVIVE = 1. to bring back to life; 2. to give new life or energy to something; 3. to restore and renew.
Example:
- A hot shower and a cup of tea will revive you.
- Traditional skills are being revived by local craftsmen.
-
The paramedics revived the unconscious man after several minutes.
Synonyms:
restore, renew, rejuvenate, revitalize, refresh, resurrect,
Antonyms:
extinguish, kill
PONTIFICATE = speak pompously: to speak about something in a knowing and self-important way, especially when not qualified to do so.
To speak about something in as if you are the authoritative expert on the subject.
Example:
- Experts get on the tube and pontificate about the economy.
- I think it should be illegal for non-parents to pontificate on/about parenting.
-
I have a feeling he's going to get up and pontificate about the subject as if he's the foremost authority.
Synonyms:
expound, expatiate, preach
Antonyms:
ask, deliberate
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JV432 (Virtuous and Strident)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Wed, Jul 16, 2008
VIRTUOUS = with moral integrity: having or showing moral goodness or righteousness. A good moral quality in a person, or the general quality of goodness in a person
Example:
- I've been up working since six o'clock this morning so I'm feeling very virtuous.
- He described them as a virtuous and hard-working people.
- I'm convinced he only does that charity work so that he can feel virtuous.
Synonyms:
moral, ethical, honest, conscientious, scrupulous, principled, upstanding,
Antonyms:
virtueless, immoral, unethical, dishonest
STRIDENT = 1. harshly loud, grating, and offensive; 2. loudly, strongly, or urgently expressed.
Synonyms:
harsh, grating, shrill, noisy, loud, vulgar, bold
Antonyms:
respectful, quiet, reserved
Example:
- People are put off by his strident voice.
- The strident committee member openly complained during the meeting.
-
Whenever Lisa drinks too much, her voice becomes strident.
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JV431 (Drawl and Vociferous)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Sun, Jul 13, 2008
DRAWL = a way of speaking in which the speaker draws out the vowel sounds and pronounces words slowly
Examples:
- Frank drawled when he spoke, so that all his words ran together as one.
- I find his Texas drawl to be rather charming.
Synonyms: accent
Antonyms:
enunciation
VOCIFEROUS = shouting noisily: shouting in a noisy and determined way
Examples:
- The vociferous coach yelled at the players throughout the entire game.
- Vociferous people express their opinions
and complaints loudly and repeatedly in speech, and vociferous demands,
etc. are made repeatedly and loudly.
Synonyms:
loud, boisterous, clamorous, noisy, shrill, vocal
Antonyms:
quiet, silent
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JV430 (Inveterate and Fatuous)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Mon, Jul 7, 2008
INVETERATE = 1. fixed in a habit or practice, especially a bad one.
2. firmly established and of long standing.
Examples:
- Frank was an inveterate smoker and there was little hope of him being able to quit.
- Even after retiring from the army, he was unable to discontinue
his inveterate visual scanning of a room.
- Tracy is known as an inveterate liar, so beware of believing her.
Synonyms:
habitual, confirmed, chronic, abiding, protracted, customary
Antonyms:
intermittent, temporary, occasional
FATUOUS = showing a lack of intelligence or thought combined with complacency.
Examples:
- My hopes of manning a space shuttle are fatuous, I am scared of heights.
- I couldn't believe Mugabe's fatuous statement to the press.
- Phil is not very smart and is known for making fatuous comments before thinking them through.
Synonyms:
asinine, imbecile, ludicrous, moronic, vacuous, delusive, stupid, foolish, unreal
Antonyms:
brilliant, intelligent, smart, wise, knowing
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JV429 (Harangue and Pluck)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Fri, Jun 27, 2008
HARANGUE = (n.) a forceful, public criticism made in a speech or sometimes in
writing; (v.) to criticize or question somebody, or try to persuade somebody to do something in a forceful angry way
Examples:
- Frank's lawyer made comments, which were marked by a vicious harangue against the defendant.
- Joanne's parents will sometimes come up to her room and harangue her for playing her music too loud.
- Marc delivered a long harangue to his students.
Synonyms:
diatribe, rant, tirade, attack, criticism, invective, lecture, peroration
Antonyms:
encomium
PLUCK =
courage and determination
Examples:
- Lisa's got a lot of pluck to stand up for herself like that.
- My grandfather is 85 but he has a lot of pluck.
- Phil never shown a lot of pluck and routinely lets people walk all over him.
Synonyms:
courage, spirit, heart, mettle, moxie, determination, fortitude, bravery
Antonyms:
cowardice, indifference
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JV428 (Insular and Respite)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Mon, Jun 23, 2008
INSULAR = 1. not interested in new or foreign ideas; 2. originating on an island; 3. alone, like an island
Examples:
- Marc's insular attitude toward foreign cultures restricted his desire to travel.
- My sister was quite happy to grow up in her
insular environment, but once she got older, she was ready to break
free and explore the world.
-
Many older people cling to insular beliefs without ever considering other people's opinions.
Synonyms:
narrow-minded, provincial, confined, conservative,
Antonyms:
broad-minded, open, welcoming
RESPITE = 1. a pause from doing something, often for relaxation; 2. a usually
short interruption of relief in the intensity or amount of something,
especially harm or discomfort; 3. a temporary suspension of a punishment.
Examples:
- We needed a few moments of respite in the shade during our strenuous marathon.
- Lisa worked in the garden all day, with only five minutes of respite for a drink of water.
- The end of the difficult project was in sight, and I looked forward to some respite.
Synonyms:
pause, reprieve, rest, recess, interruption, lull, letup, cessation, deliverance, hiatus, suspension
Antonyms:
continuation
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JV427 (Transitory and Stratify)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Wed, Jun 18, 2008
TRANSITORY = not permanent or lasting, but existing only for a short time.
Examples:
- The Dutch soccer team took an early but transitory lead in the first half of Sunday's game.
- According to the government, the sudden shift in consumer spending will prove to be transitory.
- The "green flash" is a transitory green glow on the horizon at the moment the sun sets.
Synonyms:
temporary, short-term, short-lived, momentary, fleeting, transient
Antonyms:
lengthy, long-lived, permanent
STRATIFY = 1. to make, arrange, or divide into layers; 2. to divide (society)
into social status groups; 3. to preserve seeds for germination by
placing between layers of earth
Synonyms:
tier, layer, divide, classify
Examples:
- Marc stratified the research document into several smaller reports.
- The professor stratified our research group by age and level of education.
- Alcoholism is an epidemic that has touched every stratum of our society.
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JV426 (Furtive and Foible)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Thu, Jun 12, 2008
FURTIVE = (adjective) Secretive: done in a way that is intended to escape notice. Shifty: presenting the appearance, or giving the impression, of somebody who has something to hid
Examples:
- Marc knew what Frank was about to say and shot his friend a furtive glance.
- James Bond's actions were furtive enough not to arouse suspicion.
- Lisa's furtive manner made Phil question what exactly he was up to.
Synonyms:
sly, stealthy, surreptitious, shifty, sneaky, secretive,
Antonyms:
open, obvious
FOIBLE = (noun) 1. weakness or quirk: an idiosyncrasy or small weakness ( usually used in the plural ). 2 Blade part: the weakest part of a sword blade from the middle to the point
Examples:
- Frank overcame his foible of chronic tardiness.
- The foible portion of the fencing sword blade is weaker, but has more agility and speed.
- Interrupting people while they are speaking is probably Marc's greatest foible.
Synonyms:
imperfection, frailty, failing, shortcoming, defect, quirk
Antonyms:
strength, perfection
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JV425 (Intercede and Mandatory)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Sat, Jun 7, 2008
INTERCEDE = 1. to plead on behalf of someone, especially when the person is about to be punished; 2. to act as a mediator
Examples:
- Lisa decided not to intercede in the argument because she was afraid of getting .
- I would be thankful if you would intercede in this matter on my behalf.
- Marc asked his friend to intercede with the journalist
Synonyms:
mediate, advocate, intervene, intrude, assist, arbitrate
Antonyms:
remove oneself, antagonize
MANDATORY = compulsory: needing to be done, followed, or complied with, usually because of an official requirement. resembling or having the power of a mandate.
Examples:
It is mandatory to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle.
To become a diver your must undergo a mandatory drug test before you apply for this position.
All soccer players must undergo a mandatory drugs test before competing in the EURO'08 championship.
Synonyms:
compulsory, required, imperative, requisite, obligatory
Antonyms:
voluntary, optional, elective
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JV424 (Nascent and Penury)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Wed, Jun 4, 2008
NASCENT = (adjective) 1. just beginning to develop: in the process of emerging, being born, or starting to develop
2. produced in reaction medium: in the process of being created in a reaction medium, often in a highly active form
Examples:
- The nascent space industry is already beginning to garner results.
- Although we are still in our nascent stages, we certainly have high hopes for the future .
- Lisa's mom was very lucky they caught the cancer early, because in its nascent stages, it is still highly treatable.
Synonyms:
new, primary, initial, developing, evolving, growing, budding, incipient
Antonyms:
old, dying
PENURY = (noun) state of extreme poverty
Examples:
Marc's dad is a gambler and he spent his entire fortune and died in penury.
Lisa may have had a penurious childhood, but she is quite rich now.
The lottery winner went from penury to wealth overnight.
Synonyms:
poverty, misery, need, destitution, misfortune, affliction, indigence
Antonyms:
wealth, abundance, affluence
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JV423 (Scathe and Tonic)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Mon, Jun 2, 2008
SCATHE = (verb) criticize somebody: to subject somebody to severe criticism.Newspaper cartoonists scathed the dishonest politician with a series of cruel caricatures.
The angry employee wrote a scathing letter to the CEO.
Marc's scathing review of the movie changed my mind about wanting to see it.
TONIC = (adjective) 1. lifting the spirits and creating a feeling of general well-being
2. designed or serving to boost energy and generally create a feeling of strength and healthExamples:
The romantic comedy was a tonic for his saddened heart.
A cold beer is a great tonic on a hot summer day.
My dad's grandchildren are a perfect tonic for him.
Synonyms:
medicine, remedy, refresher, refreshing drink
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JV422 (Wane and Vindictive)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Wed, May 28, 2008
WANE = 1. show less lighted area (waning moon) or to get smaller or less: to decrease gradually in intensity or power. To finish: to draw to a close.
Examples:
- We wanted to hike this weekend, but when we hear the weather forecast, our enthusiasm waned.
- As the restaurant gained popularity, the quality of the food seemed to wane.
- My cravings for hamburgers gradually waned as I began to eat less of them.
Synonyms:
decline, decrease, fade, diminish, subside, abate
Antonyms:
grow, increase, intensify
VINDICTIVE = vengeful: looking for revenge or done through a desire for revenge. spiteful: feeling, showing, or done through a desire to hurt somebody
Examples:
- Don't offend Marc, he has a very vindictive personality.
- Marc can be spiteful and vindictive if he thinks he's been wronged in some way.
- Even though I was badly hurt by Marc's actions, I chose to forgive him rather than be vindictive.
Synonyms: vengeful, spiteful, malicious, vicious, resentful
Antonyms:
forgiving
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JV421 (Fulminate and Fervid)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Mon, May 26, 2008
FULMINATE (VERB) 1. to vehemently criticize or denounce; 2. to
explode loudly and violently
Examples:
- Frank is always fulminating about how bad our government is.
- The new CEO fulminated against recent lapses in customer service.
- The lightning was followed by a large roar of fulminating thunder.
Synonyms:
criticize, castigate, denounce, declaim, berate, censure, flare, foam, rage, bristle
Antonyms:
appease, calm, assuage
FERVID = (adjective) 1. burning or glowing with intense heat; 2. describes an impassioned, zealous spirit or enthusiasm toward one's beliefs
Synonyms:
burning, fiery, hot, torrid, blazing, impassioned, vehement, zealous, eager
Examples:
It is our fervent hope that a peaceful solution will soon be found
Jeremy is fervid in his support of Barack Obama.
Carl Sagan was the most fervid advocate of space exploration.
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JV420 (Malinger and Insulate)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Thu, May 22, 2008
MALINGER = (verb) to feign illness in order to avoid obligations, especially work
Examples:
- Marc was just malingering when he called in sick.
- Marc got caught malingering in the office and he was let go.
- I would love to malinger today in order to go surfing!
Synonyms:
duck, dodge, loaf, pretend
Antonyms:
oblige
INSULATE (verb) 1. to protect something or prevent the transfer to heat, cold, or
sound by surrounding it in insulating materials; 2. to isolate or set
apart.
Examples:
- Itâs difficult to insulate your children from all the violence shown on on TV.
- The builders used insulation to prevent our house from
becoming too cold in the winter.
- Lisa insulated herself from office politics by not socializing with her coworkers.
Synonyms:
cover, protect, cushion, encase, shield, isolate, separate, sequester
Antonyms:
expose
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JV419 (Scanty and Nefarious)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Fri, May 16, 2008
SCANTY = (adjective) 1. smaller than what is desired; 2. barely enough
Examples:
- Namibia expects another drought this year because of scanty rainfall.
- Lisa quit her job because of her of scanty wage.
- That club downtown is well know for its' scantily-clad dancers.
Synonyms:
deficient, insufficient, meager, skimpy, sparse, stingy
Antonyms:
excessive, sufficient, ample
NEFARIOUS = (adjective) very wicked or evil
Examples:
- The CEO offered his employees nefarious schemes.
- That single nefarious act made Frank's dad infamous as a crook.
- The Godfather was convicted for committing murder and many other nefarious acts.
Synonyms:
evil, wicked, bad, villainous, heinous, treacherous, base, depraved
Antonyms:
good, kind, moral
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JV418 (Vicarious and Perfidy)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Tue, May 13, 2008
VICARIOUS = (adjective) experienced as a result of watching,
listening to or reading about the activities of other people, rather
than by doing the activities yourselfExamples:
- I felt vicarious pain when Lisa told me about how she had accidentally cut herself.
- I felt vicarious excitement to hear that Frank was going for a surf
- Most football fans experience the vicarious thrill of victory every time their team wins.
Synonyms:
indirect, pretended, secondary, delegated, substituted, surrogate, sympathetic
Antonyms:
first-hand, direct
PERFIDY = 1. a betrayal of trust and faith; 2. an act of treachery
Examples:
- Marc is remembered for his perfidy more than for anything else.
- Marc's perfidious actions shocked his students
- Frank is a loyal and patriotic man who would never commit perfidy.
Synonyms:
deception, dishonesty, disloyalty, betrayal, treachery, trickery
Antonyms:
loyalty, faithfulness, honesty
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JV417 (Tirade and Whet
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Sun, May 11, 2008
TIRADE = a long, angry speech, usually denouncing something
Examples:
- Marc's tirades can sometimes make me sick to my stomach.
- Marc's tirade seemed excessive, given that the situation was not all that serious.
- Marc launched into a tirade about the importance of studying with SAT Flashcards.
Synonyms:
rant, harangue, diatribe, fulmination
WHET = 1. to simulate an interest in something or intensify a feeling; 2. to sharpen something, like a knife
Examples:
- Lisa decided to whet my appetite by having starters before dinner.
- Marc will have to whet the knife before using it.
- The small bite of that brownie, whet my appetite for dessert.
Synonyms:
arouse, excite, entice, stimulate, spur, awaken, sharpen, hone, grind
Antonyms:
bore, dull, blunt
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JV416 (Frivolous and Fiasco)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Tue, May 6, 2008
FRIVOLOUS = (adjective) 1. not serious in content, attitude, or behavior; not having any serious purpose or value 2. lacking in
intellectual substance and not worth serious consideration; 3. silly
and trivial
Examples:
The judge dismissed the case as frivolous.
My dad said to watch my spending and avoid frivolous purchases.
The frivolity with which Marc approached the situation showed that
he wasn't very serious.
Synonyms:
silly, trivial, paltry, petty, senseless
Antonyms:
important, relevant, pertinent
FIASCO = (noun) a thing that is a complete failure, esp. in a ludicrous or humiliating way
Synonyms:
failure, disaster, embarrassment, blunder, breakdown, debacle, flop
Antonyms:
success, accomplishment
Examples:
The rain turned the celebration into a fiasco.
A drunk debater turned the debate into a fiasco.
I got sick and my wife got robbed; I would say the holiday was a fiasco.
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JV415 (Saturnine and Ingenious)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Mon, May 5, 2008
SATURNINE = (adjective) gloomy, bitter, and overly serious
Examples:
- The college students were in a saturnine mood after they got caught drinking alcohol.
- Marc was in a seriously bad mood which was made clear by his saturnine behavior.
- Marc to be happy and easy-going, but he has turned saturnine over the years.
Synonyms: irritable, crabby, surly, sullen, grouchy, harsh, gruff
Antonyms: happy, pleasant, sweet
INGENIOUS = (adjective) 1. clever and imaginative; 2 skillful and adept
Examples:
- Faced with a credit crisis, the President up with an ingenious proposal.
- The book was ingenious, with a clever, intricate plot and a surprise ending I never saw coming.
- Carl Sagan is an ingenious artist and scientist.
Synonyms: brilliant, talented, bright, gifted, clever, imaginative, skilled,
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JV414 (Nebulous and Patent)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Thu, May 1, 2008
NEBULOUS = (adjective) not clear, distinct, or definite
Examples:
Marc's goals for the future were nebulous.
The CEO said that the current plan is nebulous and
doesnât specifically address our weaknesses.
The doctor delivered only a nebulous document that failed to provide any definitive recommendations.
Synonyms:
indistinct, vague, unclear, ambiguous, unfixed, confused
Antonyms:
distinct, defined, specific
PATENT = (adjective) easily perceived, very obvious.
The earth is not orbiting around the moon; that's a patent lie!
Spitting in the police officer's face was a patent disregard for the law.
It could not be more patently obvious that he is in love with her.
Synonyms:
obvious, clear, evident, apparent
Antonyms:
obscure, ambiguous, unclear, incomprehensible
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JV413 (Wry and Verdant)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Tue, Apr 29, 2008
WRY = (adjective) 1. combining amusement and irony for dry humor--sardonic; 2. temporarily contorted or bent to one side.
Examples:
- Marc's wry smile led me to believe Lisa was being sarcastic.
- Some people were offended by his wry humor.
- Mr. Colbert wry commentary on the state of world affairs made him very popular.
Synonyms: sarcastic, sardonic, cynical, crooked, ironic, mocking
Antonyms: serious, solemn, sober, straight
VERDANT = (adjective) 1. covered with green vegetation; 2. green in color
Examples:
- My favorite part of our trip to South Africa was observing the beautiful wildlife of its verdant Kruger Wildpark.
- Her verdant wine lands of Stellenbosch were nearly destroyed by last year's drought.
- The cows and sheep grazed in the verdant countryside.
Synonyms: green, blooming, fresh, grassy, flourishing, lush, leafy
Antonyms: barren, brown
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JV412 (Malleable and Threadbare)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Mon, Apr 28, 2008
MALLEABLE = easily influenced, trained, or controlled.
Example:
- Dad wanted me to be a malleable boy who would take his advice.
- Lead is a substance that is malleable is easily bent and shaped.
- The Netherlands saw its colonies as a source of raw material and a malleable workforce.
Synonyms: suggestible, susceptible, impressionable, pliable
THREADBARE = (of material) looking worn and thin from much use.
A threadbare excuse, argument or idea lacks strength and no longer impresses people because it is old or has been used too much:
Example:
- Lisa's clothes were faded and threadbare.
- The movie was a tissue of threadbare clichÃs.
Synonyms:
worn, well-worn, old, thin, worn out, holey, moth-eaten,
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JV411 (Mischievous and Deplete)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Thu, Apr 24, 2008
MISCHIEVOUS = tending to or exhibiting reckless playfulness. (of a person, animal, or their behavior) causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way .
(Of an action or thing) causing or intended to cause harm or trouble.
Synonyms: naughty, misbehaving, troublesome, playful, teasing, wicked
Antonym: well-behaved.
- My little sister had been so mischievous that Mom had to pay the babysitter extra.
- Later my sister got punished for her mischievous tricks on the neighbors.
- The opposition spreads mischievous gossip that ruined the president's good reputation.
DEPLETE = (verb) To use up the supply of; exhaust the abundance of.
To diminish in number or quantity.
Synonyms: exhaust, use up, consume, expend, drain,
Antonym: augment.
- Our food supplies are depleting fast.
- In todays busy world it's difficult to avoid getting depleted and depressed.
- The miners depleted the vein of gold after months of working.
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JV410 (Lugubrious and Daunt)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Wed, Apr 23, 2008
LUGUBRIOUS = (adjective) very sad and depressed--mournful. looking or sounding sad and dismal.
Synonyms: sad, gloomy, mournful, melancholy, dismal, morose, dreary, funereal, somber
Antonyms: happy, lighthearted, joyous
- Marc was in a lugubrious state for weeks, after being dismissed from the university.
- I tried to lighten Marc's lugubrious mood with some cheery music.
- But his lugubrious heart felt like it would never feel joy again after his dismissal.
DAUNT = (verb) to frighten or intimidate
Synonyms: frighten, dismay, frustrate, discourage, subdue
Antonyms: hearten, arouse, encourage
- Lisa was not at all daunted by the size of the project.
- Eddy Murphy was undaunted by the lack of laughter and continued his stand-up routine with a smile on his face.
- The raging inferno didn't daunt the firefighters for a moment
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JV409 (Encumber and Incipient)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Tue, Apr 22, 2008
ENCUMBER = (verb) 1. to burden or weigh down; 2. to impede, hamper, or hold back. restrict or burden (someone or something) in such a way that free action or movement is difficult.
Synonyms: burden, impede, hamper, hinder
Antonyms: help, speed, lighten
When you're climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the fewer encumbrances the better.
To encumber Frank with this additional problem may be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
The monk's movements were encumbered by her heavy skirts
INCIPIENT = (adjective) in an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop. In the beginning of development or formation.
Synonyms: developing, growing, emerging, nascent, initial, beginning, inchoate,
Antonyms: developed, finished, full-blown
- The system detects incipient problems early
Marc's ideas were still incipient and vague; he needed to work them out in more detail.
Democracy is incipient in this African country; give it some time to take hold.
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JV408 (Rampart and Tawdry)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Mon, Apr 21, 2008
RAMPART = a defensive fortification, specifically, a mound of earth topped by a wall
Synonyms: fortification, barrier, embankment, wall
Antonyms: opening, passage
The rampart surrounding the fort did not prevent the fort in the battle.
I got lost after wandering around the castle's old ramparts and towers.
TAWDRY = 1. gaudy and cheap in quality; 2. mean-spirited and lacking in human decency.
Synonyms: cheap, flashy, shameful, gaudy, glitzy,
Antonyms: reserved, precious, valuable
Examples:
Lisa's tawdry outfit was in bad taste for the occasion.
Joanne had a tawdry affair with her employer.
Lisa had tawdry rings she wore on her fingers
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JV407 (Flappable and Verbose)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Wed, Apr 16, 2008
= UNFLAPPABLE =
DEFINITION:
(adjective) composed and able to remain calm when facing difficult situations. Having or showing calmness in a crisis.
SYNONYMS:
composed, calm, cool, collected, unflustered
ANTONYMS:
flustered, nervous, anxious, disturbed,
EXAMPLES:
1. I voted for him because I think he is an unflappable leader who will stay calm in this frenetic, high-pressure environment.
2. The witness remained unflappable during the FBI interrogation and he calmly answered the officer's barrage of questions.
3. Richard Dawkings is a great debater, because he is unflappable and he always takes his time to calmly answer the question.
= VERBOSE =
DEFINITION:
(adjective) using or expressed in more words than are needed
SYNONYMS:
wordy, loquacious, garrulous,
ANTONYMS:
succinct, laconic.
EXAMPLES:
1. Many first year students think that much academic language is obscure and verbose.
2. Try not to be so verbose when you're being interviewed.
3. The CEO had to plow through a verbose letter of complaint.
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JV406 (Flout and Platonic)
Author: The useful vocabulary show!
Tue, Apr 15, 2008
FLOUT = (verb) to show contempt or disregard for a |