English Honors Vocab 12

aesthetic

adj. pertaining to beauty, sensitive or responsive to beauty
syn: artistic

defunct

adj. no longer in existence or functioning, dead
syn: extinct, nonexistent
ant: alive

discomfit

v. to frustrate, thwart, or defeat; to confuse, perplex, or embarrass
syn: nonplus, foil

espouse

v. to take up and support; to become attached to, adopt; to marry
syn: embrace, wed
ant: repudiate, disavow, renounce

fetish

n. an object believed to have magical powers; an object of unreasoning devotion or reverence
syn: charm, obsession

gregarious

adj. living together in a herd or group; sociable, seeking the company of others
syn: outgoing, extroverted
ant: aloof, introverted, reclusive

hapless

adj. marked by a persistent absence of good luck
syn: unlucky, ill-starred, unfortunate
ant: lucky, charmed, fortunate

impeccable

adj. faultless, beyond criticism or blame
syn: flawless, spotless, immaculate
ant: grimy, soiled, spotted

importune

v. to trouble with demands; to beg for insistently
syn: implore, dun, tax

interpolate

v. to insert between other parts or things; to present as an addition or correction
syn: interpose, introduce

irreparable

adj. incapable of being repaired or rectified
syn: irremediable
ant: remediable, fixable, reversible

laconic

adj. concise, using few words
syn: succint, pithy, compact
ant: garrulous, prolix, loquacious

languish

v. to become weak, feeble, or dull; to drrop; to be depressed or dispirited; to suffer neglect
syn: flag, fade, pine

mendacious

adj. given to lying or deception; untrue
syn: untruthful, false
ant: veracious

nadir

n. the lowest point
syn: rock bottom
ant: pinnacle, zenith

omnipressent

adj. present in all places at all times
syn: ubiquitous, ever-present

perfunctory

adj. done in a superficial or halfhearted manner; without interest or enthusiasm
syn: slapdash, shallow
ant: thorough, assiduous, diligent, meticulous

plaintive

adj. expressive of sorrow or woe, melancholy
syn: sad, lugubrious
ant: cheerful, blithe, joyous, merry

requite

v. to make suitable repayment, as for a kindness, service, or favor; to make retaliation, as for an injury or wrong; to reciprocate
syn: reimburse, avenge

tantamount

adj. equivalent, having the same meaning, value, or effect
syn: indistinguishable from