Modern Fiction
Vocabulary List #4
31) acrimonious: ac·ri·mo·ni·ous[ak-ruh-moh-nee-uhs]
Adjective-bitter and sharp in language or tone
Subways and buses ground to a halt early Tuesday morning following days of acrimonious labor talks about pay raises, pension and health benefits for new hires.
Synonyms: cutting, rancorous, spiteful Antonyms: civil, kind, sweet
32) approbation:ap·pro·ba·tion / Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ap-ruh-bey-shuhn]
Noun-an expression of warm approval; praise
The fallen movie star had a great need for public approbation.
Synonyms: admiration, endorsement, recognition Antonyms: condemnation, criticism
33) desolate:des·o·late / Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[des-uh-lit]
Adjective -devoid of inhabitants, deserted,
Once the floodwaters receded, only desolate streets remained.
Synonyms: abandoned, lonesome, unoccupied Antonyms: crowded, mobbed, populated
34) disdain:dis·dain / Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[dis-deyn, di-steyn]
Noun-a feeling of contempt for anything regarded as unworthy
The businessman felt disdain for the bum who sat next to him on the subway.
Synonyms: dislike, hatredAntonyms: respect, reverence
35) misnomer:mis·no·mer[mis-noh-mer]
Noun-an error in naming a person or thing
“Occasional smoking" is a misnomer. You either smoke or you don't.
36) moratorium:mor·a·to·ri·um[mawr-uh-tawr-ee-uhm, -tohr-, mor-]
Noun-a suspension of activity; an authorized period of delay or waiting
He was also among four death row inmates whose executions were postponed in February, when Gov. Phil Bredesen placed a 90-day moratorium on the death penalty.
Synonyms: adjournment, reprieve
37) perfidious:per·fid·i·ous[per-fid-ee-uhs]
Adjective -deliberately faithless; treacherous
In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the attacks "perfidious murders" that fill the country with "disgust and horror."
Synonyms: betraying, misleading, untrustworthy
38) renegade:ren·e·gade[ren-i-geyd]
Noun -one who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter
The renegade was finally captured after five years on the lam.
Synonyms: insurgent, traitorAntonyms: follower
39) superfluous:su·per·flu·ous[soo-pur-floo-uhs]
Adjective -being more than is required; unnecessary or needless
"There's an awful lot of superfluous news, the pervert of the day and someone that shot seven people at a fraternity party," Turner told a crowd gathered at a downtown hotel. "Who needs it all?"
Synonyms: redundant, unneededAntonyms: essential, necessary
40) watershed:wa·ter·shed[waw-ter-shed, wot-er-]
Adjective -constituting an important point of division or transition between two phases, conditions, etc.
The eyes of the music industry will be on Radiohead’s "In Rainbows" to see if this is the watershed moment that will change the music business.
1