ACT Power Plus Vocabulary Lesson Eight deride v
ACT Power Plus Vocabulary Lesson Eight
deride – (v. ) to ridicule; to mock The unpopular professor derided students who made mistakes. Synonyms • scorn Antonyms • praise
censure – (v. ) to criticize sharply The judge censured the repeat offender for his criminal behavior. Synonyms Antonyms • condemn • scorn • praise • applaud
gambol – (v. ) to frolic; to romp about playfully The pre-schoolers liked to gambol about on the playground. Synonyms • play • caper • rollick
immolate – (v. ) to kill someone as a sacrificial victim, usually by fire Some Buddhist monks immolated themselves in protest of the government’s policies.
recondite – (adj. ) difficult to understand; profound Only a few students understood the recondite explanation of theory.
martinet – (n. ) a strict disciplinarian; taskmaster The teacher was a martinet who never made exceptions to the rule.
quagmire – (n. ) a swamp; a difficult or inextricable situation The war was a political quagmire for three U. S. presidents.
gibe – (v. ) to scoff; to ridicule; to make fun of His favorite pastime was to gibe at everything his wife said. Synonyms • jeer • taunt • sneer Antonyms • compliment • praise
agape – (adj. ) open-mouthed; surprised; agog Even the judge was agape when the witness told the ridiculous story in court. Synonyms • astonished
carcinogen – (n. ) causing cancer Benzene, a component of gasoline, is a carcinogen.
olfactory – (adj. ) pertaining to smell If you have a cold, then your olfactory senses will not detect the gas leak.
imperious – (adj. ) domineering; haughty The judge pronounced his findings in an imperious voice. Synonyms • overbearing • arrogant • masterful Antonyms • servile • submissive
grotesque – (adj. ) absurd; distorted The boy made a grotesque face behind the teacher’s back.
neologism – (n. ) a new word or expression Some writers coin neologisms to confuse and impress their readers. Synonyms • coinage
hackneyed – (adj. ) commonplace; overused “Good as gold” is a hackneyed expression. Synonyms • trite • banal Antonyms • fresh • imaginative
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