Here are some helpful online vocabulary reference tools:
http://oaadonline.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/
Week 3
| Verbs | Meaning | Usage |
| CANDID | Frank, outspoken (noun: CANDOR) | Impartial a candid reply that could hardly be more forthright. Synonyms: artless, ingenuous, unbiased Antonyms: guileful, evasive |
| CANTANKEROUS | Ill-natured; quarrelsome | Showed a cantankerous and sullen disposition. Synonyms: petulant, peevish, contentious, pugnacious, testy, choleric, fretful Antonyms: amiable, affable, equable |
| CAPRICIOUS | Inclined, through some whim or fancy change the mind, purpose, or actions suddenly | a capricious person, undependable in mood or temper. Synonyms: fickle, fitful, changeable, erratic, inconstant, crotchety, whimsical, mercurial Antonyms: steadfast, constant, even-tempered |
| CAPTIOUS | Quick to find fault about trifles | a captious critic pouncing on slight laws. Synonyms: hypercritical, carping, caviling, censorious |
| CARICATURE | A picture or other description of a person which exaggerates ludicrously one or more of his distinctive features | not a realistic portrait but a malicious caricature |
| CASTIGATE | To punish or criticize severely | Castigated for using improper language. Synonyms: reprove, upbraid, reprehend, censure, reprimand, chasten Antonyms: commend, eulogize, laud |
| CELESTIAL | Pertaining to the sky; heavenly | A celestial pageant of bright stars. Synonyms: ethereal; (noun) firmament |
| CHAUVINIST | An extreme patriot | A chauvinist with most pride in his country. Synonym: jingoist |
| CHICANERY |
Trickery, deception |
Practiced chicanery all his shady dealings. Synonyms: duplicity, craft, stratagem, wile, subterfuge |
| CHRONIC | Continuing a long time; habitual | A chronic complaint, persisting for years Synonyms: persistent, unremitting, inveterate, incessant, constant Antonyms: intermittent, sporadic, infrequent |
| CIRCUMSPECT | Cautious | looked about him circumspectly. Synonyms: prudent, vigilant, discreet, wary Antonyms: rash, indiscreet, reckless, precipitate, foolhardy, temerarious, headstrong |
| CIRCUMVENT | To gain an advantage by the use of trick to evade by the use of deception; to go around | Circumvented the law by evasive practices. Synonyms: thwart, balk, outwit, delude |
| CIVIL | Of or having to do with citizens or the state | We I civil duties as well as civil liberties. Polite, courteous - answered in a civil fashion. Synonyms: respectful, gracious |
| CLAMOROUS | Loud and noisy | A clamorous outburst the crowd outside. Synonyms: vociferous, obstreperous, blatant, raucous, strident Antonyms: muted, quiet |
| CLANDESTINE | Secret; stealthy | A clandestine meeting known only to a few. Synonyms: furtive, covert, surreptitious Antonyms: overt, manifest, above-board |
| CLEMENT | Merciful; gentle | A clement judge who tempered justice with leniency. Synonyms: compassionate, forbearing Antonyms: relentless, ruthless |
| COALITION | (verb: COALESCE): Alliance; merging of various units into one unit | Three parties forming a coalition to rule the country. Synonyms: amalgamation, consolidation, fusion |
| COERCION | Compelling a person by physical force or other means to do something against his will | Rendered his services without the slightest coercion. Synonyms: constraint, restraint, impelling |
| COGENT | Having the force to compel, usually by appealing to reason | Persuaded by cogent arguments. Synonym: persuasive |
| COLLUSION | Working together secretly for an evil purpose | Acted in collusion to overthrow the government. Synonyms: collaboration, conspiracy, conniving, machination |
| COMMODIOUS | Roomy | A commodious apartment. Synonyms: spacious, capacious, ample |
| COMPATIBLE |
Harmonious; able, to get along together |
Parted company because they were not compatible. Synonyms: congruous, consistent Antonyms: incongruous, discordant, incompatible |
| COMPENDIUM | (adj.: COMPENDIOUS): A brief summary of the main ideas of a larger work | A compendium of chemistry in a slim volume. Synonyms: synopsis, digest, precis, abstract, epitome |
| COMPENSATION |
Payment for services |
Just compensation for his labor. Synonyms: stipend, remuneration, recompense, emolument |
| COMPLACENT | Self-satisfied | Looked on his own performance with a complacent smile. Synonym: smug |
| COMPUNCTION | Regret for wrongdoing | Displayed slight compunction for his misdeed. Synonyms: contrition, penitence, atonement, remorse, qualm |
| CONCEDE | To yield; to admit as true; to grant | Conceded victory to a superior force. Synonyms: acquiesce, capitulate |
| CONDIGN | Well-deserved (applied chiefly to punishment) | Received condign punishment for his crime |
| CONDOLE | (noun: CONDOLENCE): To express sympathy with another in sorrow, pain, or misfortune | Condoled with each other in their grief. Synonyms: commiserate, show compassion, solace |
| CONDONE | To forgive or overlook (an offense) | Condoned the deed, in view of the offender's age. Synonyms: extenuate, palliate, mitigate, gloss |
| CONFEDERATE | (noun): A person allied with others for a special purpose (frequently a bad one) (adj.): United or allied in a conspiracy |
Joined his confederate in secret enterprise Two confederate groups hurrying to their rendezvous Synonyms: collaborator, accomplice |
| CONGENIAL | (1) Possessing similar interests and tastes; able to get on well with others (2) Agreeable |
Congenial people with similar backgrounds. Synonym: compatible Congenial to his taste |
| CONSECRATE | (1) To set apart as sacred (2) To devote or dedicate to some aim |
Consecrate the battlefield with a monument to the dead heroes Synonyms: hallow, sanctify Antonym: desecrate Consecrated his life to teaching. |
| CONJECTURE | To guess | Without facts, we can only conjecture about his guilt. Synonyms: surmise, presume |
| CONSENSUS | General agreement | The consensus of the committee was that no action should be taken. Synonym: accord |
| CONSTERNATION |
Amazement; lack of courage caused by fearful prospect |
The threat struck deep consternation into John. Synonyms: dismay, bewilderment |
| CONSTRUE | (noun: CONSTRUCTION): To interpret, explain the sense of, or analyze | construed the statement to his own advantage |
| CONSUMMATE | (adj.): Perfect or highly accomplished (verb): To complete, bring to perfection |
achieved with consummate skill. Antonyms: botched. bungled, inept Consummated the deal without delay |
| CONTEMPTUOUS | Expressive of contempt (an emotion involving anger and disgust) | Cast a contemptuous look at his subordinate. Synonyms: supercilious, scornful, disdainful, contumelious |
| CONVIVIAL | Festive; gay | A convivial party. Synonyms: jovial, jocund, mirthful Antonyms: lugubrious, dolorous, mirthless |
| COPIOUS |
Plentiful |
Shed copious tears at the bad news. Synonyms. profuse, bountiful, abundant Antonyms: meager, scant |
| CORPULENT | Fat | Corpulent due to excessive eating. Synonyms: obese, portly Antonyms: gaunt, lank, emaciated, peaked |
| COSMOPOLITAN | (noun): One who is at home in all countrie (adj.): Free from local prejudices |
A cosmopolitan can feel at ease anywhere in the world A world-wide traveler, cosmopolitan in tastes and attitudes. Synonyms: Catholic Antonyms: parochial, provincial |
| COTERIE | A group of people joined by common interests | A coterie of select friend. Synonym: clique |
| COUNTENANCE | (noun): A face (verb): To approve |
His countenance expressed his complete disgust. |
| CRASS | Coarse and stupid | Displayed crass ignorance. Synonym: gross |