Vocabulary Unit 5 Building your understanding of vocabulary

Vocabulary Unit 5 Building your understanding of vocabulary words will help you better understand a word’s meaning when reading.

Word Analysis Learning Goal: § Identify the part of speech, definition, synonyms, and antonyms in order to use the word correctly in context.

acute § Part of speech: adjective § Definition: with a sharp point; keen and alert; sharp and severe; rising quickly to a high point and lasting for a short time § Synonyms: clever, penetrating § Antonyms: blunted, mild, stupid, obtuse § One who is an acute observer of human nature may notice subtle changes in people’s behavior.

bluster § Part of speech: verb and noun § Definition: to talk or act in noisy and threatening way; to blow in stormy gusts; speech that is loud and threatening § Synonyms: spout, rant, brag, swagger; bravado § When we saw harsh winds bluster around our tent, we decided to change our plans for the weekend. § Dad’s manner is all bluster, but beneath it all, he’s really a kind-hearted man.

bungle § Part of speech: verb § Definition: to act or work clumsily and awkwardly; to ruin something through clumsiness § Synonyms: blunder, mess up § If we bungle this project, we may never get another chance to prove ourselves as a worthy team.

commentary § Part of speech: noun § Definition: a series of notes clarifying or explaining something; an expression of opinion § Synonyms: explanation, narration, description, account, review, analysis § Our spiritual leader gave us a commentary on the true meaning of charity.

duration § Part of speech: noun § Definition: the length of time that something continues or lasts § Even though the story was hard to follow, my friends decided to stay for the duration of the opera.

eerie § Part of speech: adjective § Definition: causing fear because of strangeness; weird, mysterious § Synonyms: frightening, spooky, creepy § It is a lot of fun to tell eerie ghost stories around a campfire.

facet § Part of speech: noun § Definition: one aspect or side of a subject or problem; one of the cut surfaces of a gem § Synonyms: angle, characteristic, factor, element § One important facet of problem solving is to recognize when a solution makes no sense.

fidelity § Part of speech: noun § Definition: the state of being faithful; accuracy of details; exactness § Synonyms: loyalty; faithfulness § Antonyms: disloyalty, treachery § The fidelity of scratchy old records can’t match the clarity of CDs.

fray § Part of speech: noun and verb § Definition: a brawl, a noisy quarrel; to wear away by rubbing; make ragged or worn; to strain, irritate § Synonyms: scuffle, unravel § After the two loudest students began arguing, the whole class jumped into the fray. § A faucet that drips continuously can fray anyone’s nerves.

headstrong § § § Part of speech: adjective Definition: willful, stubborn Synonyms: obstinate, mulish, unruly Antonyms: obedient, docile, submissive Even the most patient caregiver may feel challenged when faced with a headstrong child.

inhabitant § Part of speech: noun § Definition: one living permanently in a given place § Synonyms: resident, native, tenant § Antonyms: stranger, outsider, visitor § Although she enjoys traveling to exotic place, she’s a lifelong inhabitant of this small town.

numb § Part of speech: adjective and verb § Definition: having lost the power of feeling or movement; to dull the feelings of; to cause to lose feeling § Synonyms: unfeeling, insensible, deaden § Antonyms: sensitive, alert § Bitter cold may leave your toes numb. § The injection will numb the area so that the doctor can stitch the cut painlessly.

pacify § Part of speech: verb § Definition: to make peaceful or calm; to soothe § Synonyms: mollify, placate § Antonyms: anger, arouse, stir up, foment, ignite § The factory owners hope to pacify the angry protestors with promises of higher wages.

ravenous § Part of speech: adjective § Definition: greedy; very hungry; eager for satisfaction § Synonyms: starved, voracious, wolfish § Antonyms: not hungry, well-fed, satisfied Exercising vigorously for several hours gives me a ravenous appetite.

refute § § Part of speech: verb Definition: to prove incorrect Synonyms: disprove, rebut Antonyms: prove, confirm, corroborate After analyzing the situation, I now know a foolproof way to refute the original claim.

remorse § Part of speech: noun § Definition: deep and painful regret for one’s past misdeeds; pangs of conscience § Synonym: guilt § Antonym: clear conscience, guiltlessness When the driver realized what a terrible accident he had caused, he was overcome with remorse.

setback § Part of speech: noun § Definition: something that interferes with progress; a disappointment, unexpected loss or defeat; a step-like recession in the wall § Synonyms: failure, reversal § Antonyms: advance, gain, progress, triumph A broken toe can be a major setback for a skater who hopes to qualify for the Olympics.

smug § Part of speech: adjective § Definition: overly self-satisfied, selfrighteous § Synonyms: conceited, complacent § Antonyms: discontented, disgruntled Just because he got the lead in the school play doesn’t justify his irritating air of smug superiority.

synopsis § Part of speech: noun § Definition: a brief statement giving a general view of some subject, book, etc. ; a summary § Synonyms: outline, digest, abstract The teacher’s guide gives a synopsis of the plot of each story in the collection.

tarry § Part of speech: verb § Definition: to delay leaving; to linger, wait; to remain or stay for a while § Synonyms: dawdle, dally § Antonyms: rush, hasten, leave, depart He will be tempted to tarry longer if he thinks that this might be their last visit together.