Vocabulary Power Plus Book 3: Lesson 3

pedestrian (adj.)

ordinary or dull
syn: commonplace; mediocre
ant: imaginative, compelling

bona fide (adj.)

in good faith
syn: legitimate; genuine
ant: phony, fraudulent

adventitious (adj.)

accidental; nonessential
syn: incidental

fecund (adj.)

fertile; productive
syn: prolific
ant: sterile

deviate (v.)

to turn aside from a course; to stray
syn: digress

obfuscate (v.)

to confuse; to bewilder
syn: muddle; obscure
ant: clarify, elucidate

impale (v.)

to pierce with a sharp stake through the body

extenuate (v.)

to lessen seriousness by providing partial excuses

parochial (adj.)

local; narrow; limited
syn: provincial; narrow-minded
ant: universal, catholic

glower (v.)

to stare angrily
syn: frown; scowl
ant: grin

edify (v.)

improve someone morally

ambiguous (adj.)

open to more than one interpretation
syn: unclear; uncertain; vague
ant: explicit, definite

cataclysm (n.)

a violent change
syn: disaster; catastrophe
ant: triumph, boon

optimum (adj.)

best; most favorable; ideal

importune (v.)

to ask persistently; to beg
syn: appeal; badger