abrogate
to repeal, cancel, declare null and void
Often with no legal or moral ground, the US government would ______ treaties made with Native Americans.
syn- annul, revoke
ambient
completely surround, encompassing
The new filtering system is capable of cleaning and deodorizing the _______ air.
asperity
roughness, severity; bitterness or tartness
The ______ of the drama critic's statements undermined the young actor's confidence.
syn- rigor, harshness
burnish
to make smooth or glossy by rubbing, polish; gloss, brightness, luster
The hotel manager ordered the waiters to ______ all the brass candlesticks before the formal banquet.
The _______ on the metal frame had faded with age and neglect.
syn-shine,buff
cabal
a small group working in secret
The members of the ______ met at an unknown location for the purpose of fixing prices and stifling competition
syn- clique, ring, gang, plot, conspiracy
delectable
delightful, highly enjoyable; deliciously flavored, savory, an appealing or appetizing food or dish
The banquet ended with a truly _______ dessert made of peaches, raspberries, and ice cream.
The eatery attracted customers with a mouth-watering display of
deprecate
to express mild disapproval ; to belittle
The administration ________ such foolish practices as the hazing of new students but did not ban them outright.
syn- deplore, frown upon
detritus
loose bits and pieces of material resulting from disintegration of wearing away; fragments that result from any destruction
Pieces of people's homes, furniture, and toys could be seen in the _____ of the landslide.
syn- debris, wreckage, ruins, rubble
ebullient
overflowing with enthusiasm and excitement; boiling, bubbling
After a string of very favorable reviews, the dance company was in an______ mood for weeks.
syn- exhilarated, elated, exuberant
eclectic
drawn from different sources; one whose beliefs are drawn from various sources
Standford White developed an ______ style of architecture that made use of classic and modern elements.
The critics accused the composer of being a mere _______ with no origina
flaccid
limp, not firm; lacking vigor or effectiveness
Because the injured bodybuilder had not worked out for weeks, his muscles grew _____.
syn-soft,flabby
impecunious
having little or no money
In my present ______ state, i will not be able to pay for dinner.
syn-penniless, impoverished, indigent
inexorable
inflexible, beyond influence, relentless, unyielding
In the Greek tragedies, nothing could save characters like Oedipus Rex from their ____ fates.
syn- inescapable, ineluctable, obdurate
moribund
dying, on the way out
In the age of electronic communication, writing letters by hand seems to be a _____ custom.
syn-obsolescent
necromancer
one who claims to reveal or influence the future through magic, especially communication with the dead; in general, a magician or wizard
When the stock market began to tumble, some desperate investors resorted to _____ for financial advice.
syn- sorcerer,
onerous
burdensome, involving hardship or difficulty
Informing patients of bad news is an ____ duty that every doctor has to perform.
syn- oppressive, weighty
rife
common, prevalent, widespread, happening often, full, abounding, plentiful, abundant, replete
Since rumors were ________, the president announced that the company had been bought out by its major competitor.
rudiments
the parts of any subject or discipline that are learned first; the earliest stages of anything
At a very young age, the girl learned the _____ of chess from her father, a professional player.
syn- fundamentals, basics
sequester
to set apart, separate for a special purpose, to take possession of and hold custody
The parties agreed to _____ the disputed funds pending a decision by the court.
syn- seclude, segregate, isolate, closet
winnow
to get rid of something unwanted, delete; to sift through to obtain what is desirable; to remove the chaff from the wheat by blowing air on it; blow on, fan
Spelling and grammar software programs are designed to help writers _____ inaccuracies from their