Vocabulary Set – 29

1. Ignoble – not honourable in character or purpose.

Synonyms: dishonourable, unworthy, contemptible, despicable, shabby

Antonyms: noble, dignified, worthy, reputable

Usage: Ignoble feelings of intense jealousy.

 

2. Imbibe – absorb or assimilate (ideas or knowledge)

Synonyms: assimilate, guzzle, ingest, quaff, gorge, ingurgitate, partake

Antonyms: abstain

Usage: If one does not imbibe the culture one cannot succeed

 

3. Magnate – a wealthy and influential businessman or businesswoman.

Synonyms: baron, lord, king, proprietor, entrepreneur, prelate

Antonyms: pawn

Usage: A property magnate.

 

4. Grumpy – bad-tempered and sulky.

Synonyms: crotchety, crabby, tetchy, twaspish, irascible, crusty, cantankerous

Antonyms: cheerful, pleasant

Usage: She can be grumpy first thing in the morning.

 

5. Fluke – an unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck.

Synonyms: quirk, contingency, windfall, fortuity, fortunate

Antonyms: misfortune, certainty, plan

Usage: Winning the lottery is always a fluke due to buying the lucky ticket completely by chance.

 

6. Evince – reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling); indicate.

Synonyms: manifest, demonstrate, proclaim, impart, bespeak, divulge

Antonyms: conceal. deny, secrete

Usage: The news stories evinced the usual mixture of sympathy and satisfaction

 

7. Demur – raise objections or show reluctance.

Synonyms: deprecate, vacillate, protest, cavil, dissent

Antonyms: commend, sanction, endorse

Usage: Normally she would have accepted the challenge, but she demurred

 

8. Implore – beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something.

Synonyms: entreat, beseech, solicit, supplicate, importune, exhort

Antonyms:  disgust, refuse, donate

Usage: He implored her to change her mind.

 

9. Abrade– to wear off or down by scraping or rubbing.

Synonyms: chafe, triturate, erode, scour

Antonyms: rebuild, please

Usage: The paintwork had been abraded over the years by the weather

 

10. Tenuous – very weak or slight.

Synonyms: delicate, dubious, gossamer, nebulous, shaky, flimsy

Antonyms: certain, strong, substantial, definite, firm

Usage: The tenuous link between interest rates and investment.

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