vocab workshop level g unit 2

v. to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way

buttonhole, approach (syn.)

avoid, shun (ant.)

n. a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

rebuke, reproof (syn.)

praise, compliment (ant.)

adj. desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager

keen, enthusiastic, grasping (syn.)

reluctant, indifferent, unenthusiastic (ant.)

adj. having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink

saline (syn.)

clear, sweet (ant.)

n. swiftness, rapidity of motion or action

promptness, speed (syn.)

slowness, sluggishness, dilatoriness (ant.)

adj. straying or wandering from a straight or direct course; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way

roundabout, indirect, tricky, sly, artful (syn.)

direct, straightforward, open, aboveboard (ant.)

n. in chess, an opening move that involves risk or sacrifice of a minor piece in order to gain a later advantage; any opening move of this type

ploy, ruse, maneuver (syn.)

n. a legendary bird identified with the kingfisher

adj. of or relating to the halcyon; calm, peaceful; happy, golden; prosperous, affluent

tranquil, placid, palmy (syn.)

turbulent, tumultuous (ant.)

adj. pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial; melodramatic

affected, stagy (syn.)

muted, untheatrical, subdued (ant.)

adj. deliberately setting or causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion

n. one who deliberately sets fires, arsonist; one who causes strife

inflammatory, provocative; firebrand (syn.)

soothing, quieting; peacemaker (ant.)

n. a whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction

chaos, turbulence, tumult (syn.)

adj. nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment

shortsighted (syn.)

farsighted (ant.)

adj. open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

clear, obvious, manifest, patent (syn.)

clandestine, covert, concealed (ant.)

adj. tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling

complimentary, ameliorative (ant.)

n. the state of being proper, appropriateness

pl. standards of what is proper or socially acceptable

fitness, correctness (syn.)

unseemliness, inappropriateness (ant.)

n. improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred

desecration, profanation, defilement (syn.)

adj. without delay or formality; briefly, concisely

promptly, peremptorily (syn.)

adj. asking humbly or earnestly

n. one who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, suitor

n. an object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet, fetish

v. to move in waves or with wavelike motion; to have a wavelike appearance or form

fluctuate, rise and fall (syn.)