Name: ___________________________
English 7
Vocabulary Unit 9 – Words 1-10
1. accelerate
(v.) to speed up, to happen faster or cause something to happen faster
๏ synonym – go faster, increase speed, hurry
๏ antonym – slow down, retard
2. bystander
(n.) someone who watches but does not get involved, someone who looks
on
๏ synonym – onlooker, witness, spectator
๏ antonym – active participant
3. canvass
(v.) to travel around an area asking for votes or asking questions; to
discuss
๏ synonym – campaign, solicit votes, survey, investigate
4. casual
(adj.) happening by chance, showing little concern, not formal
๏ synonym – relaxed, laid-back, careless, nonchalant, accidental,
unplanned
๏ antonym – formal, serious, careful, premeditated, intentional
5. downtrodden
(adj.) treated in a cruel or unfair way by someone in a position of power
๏ synonym – exploited, oppressed, mistreated
๏ antonym – treated fairly, liberated, uplifted
6. entice
(v.) to tempt by offering something desirable, to attract
๏ synonym – persuade, allure, charm
๏ antonym – nauseate, sicken, repel
7. erode
(v.) to wear away land gradually by wind or water; to destroy something
gradually
๏ synonym – eat away at, grind down, corrode
๏ antonym – encourage, nurture, promote
8. flounder
(v.) to make clumsy uncontrolled movements trying to regain balance; to
act confused
๏ synonym – thrash, wallow, struggle
๏ antonym – controlled, have no problems
9. graphic
(adj.) vividly detailed; lifelike; relating to pictorial arts
๏ synonym – realistic, detailed, clear, lively
๏ antonym – dull, boring, unrealistic
10. gruesome
(adj.) horrifying, involving injury or death in a disturbing way
๏
๏
synonym – grisly, shocking, gory, hideous
antonym – pleasant, delightful, appealing
Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop New Edition by Jerome Shostak Level B (orange) Unit 9
Review activities: sadlier-oxford.com/student.cfm; ivocabulary.com;
http://sites.levittownschools.com/hmason/SitePages/Home.aspx/ (Ms. Mason’s website for review and other links)
created by Ms. Mason = teacher, Salk Middle School
Name: ___________________________
English 7
Vocabulary Unit 9 – Words 11-20
11. melancholy
(adj.) feeling or causing sadness, sad, gloomy, unhappy
(n.) a thoughtful sadness, gloominess
๏ synonym – (adj.) depressed, dejected; (n.) depression, sorrow
๏ antonym – (adj.) cheerful, happy; (n.) cheerfulness, joy, elation
12. ordeal
(n.) a very difficult or painful experience, usually lasting a long time; a trial
๏ synonym – torment, test, hardship
๏ antonym – pleasure, cinch
13. parch
(v.) to make dry and thirsty through water deprivation or extreme heat
๏ synonym – dry out, dehydrate, dry up
๏ antonym – soak, drench, saturate
14. persist
(v.) continue steadily despite problems, refuse to stop; remain
๏ synonym – persevere, keep it up, endure
๏ antonym – give up, fade away, discontinue
15. puny
(adj.) very small or weak; of no importance
๏ synonym – scrawny, undersized, insignificant
๏ antonym – gigantic, robust, brawny
16. quibble
(v.) to argue over unimportant things
(n.) an unimportant or petty objection
๏ synonym – (v.) nitpick, split hairs; (n.) trivial objection, nit-picking
๏ antonym – (v.) make a good point; (n.) good objection
17. ratify
(v.) give formal approval to something, to confirm
๏ synonym – endorse, authorize, consent
๏ antonym – cancel, veto, annul
18. regal
(adj.) fit for a king or queen, royal
๏ synonym – majestic, noble
๏ antonym – lowly, humble
19. stifle
(v.) to smother or impair someone’s breathing, to prevent the
development of something, to cut off a yawn or a laugh
๏ synonym – choke, suppress, hold back
๏ antonym – let out, encourage, promote
20. vital
(adj.) extremely important, needed for life; full of life; crucial
๏
๏
synonym – very important, necessary, essential
antonym – unimportant, unnecessary
Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop New Edition by Jerome Shostak Level B (orange) Unit 9
Review activities: sadlier-oxford.com/student.cfm; ivocabulary.com;
http://sites.levittownschools.com/hmason/SitePages/Home.aspx/ (Ms. Mason’s website for review and other links)
created by Ms. Mason = teacher, Salk Middle School