Transcript ACT Vocab 8
ACT Power Plus Vocabulary Lesson Eight deride – (v.) to ridicule; to mock The unpopular professor derided students who made mistakes. Synonyms • scorn Antonyms • praise censure – (v.) to criticize sharply The judge censured the repeat offender for his criminal behavior. Synonyms Antonyms • condemn • scorn • praise • applaud gambol – (v.) to frolic; to romp about playfully The pre-schoolers liked to gambol about on the playground. Synonyms • play • caper • rollick immolate – (v.) to kill someone as a sacrificial victim, usually by fire Some Buddhist monks immolated themselves in protest of the government’s policies. recondite – (adj.) difficult to understand; profound Only a few students understood the recondite explanation of the theory. martinet – (n.) a strict disciplinarian; taskmaster The teacher was a martinet who never made exceptions to the rule. quagmire – (n.) a swamp; a difficult or inextricable situation The war was a political quagmire for three U.S. presidents. gibe – (v.) to scoff; to ridicule; to make fun of His favorite pastime was to gibe at everything his wife said. Synonyms • jeer • taunt • sneer Antonyms • compliment • praise agape – (adj.) open-mouthed; surprised; agog Even the judge was agape when the witness told the ridiculous story in court. Synonyms • astonished carcinogen – (n.) causing cancer Benzene, a component of gasoline, is a carcinogen. olfactory – (adj.) pertaining to smell If you have a cold, then your olfactory senses will not detect the gas leak. imperious – (adj.) domineering; haughty The judge pronounced his findings in an imperious voice. Synonyms • overbearing • arrogant • masterful Antonyms • servile • submissive grotesque – (adj.) absurd; distorted The boy made a grotesque face behind the teacher’s back. neologism – (n.) a new word or expression Some writers coin neologisms to confuse and impress their readers. Synonyms • coinage hackneyed – (adj.) commonplace; overused “Good as gold” is a hackneyed expression. Synonyms • trite • banal Antonyms • fresh • imaginative