Unit Six

Grade Seven

1. anonymous (adj) unnamed, without the name of the person involved; unknown, lacking individuality or character

syn: (adj) namelessEx. The writing was

anonymous.

2. browse (v) to nibble, graze; to read casually; to window-shop

syn: skim, scan, dip into grazeant: pore over, scrutinizeEx. While I was in the waiting

room at the doctor’s office, I browsed through a magazine.

3. dupe (n) a person easily tricked or deceived

(v) to deceivesyn: (v) fool, mislead, hoodwink, deludeant: (v) undeceive, disabuseEx. The young child was easily

duped by her older cousins.

4. dynamic (adj) active, energetic, forceful

syn: vigorous, high-poweredant: lazy, lackadaisical,

lethargic, sluggishEx. Her speaking was dynamic and motivated the crowd.

5. eradicate (v) to root out, get rid of, destroy completely

syn: wipe out, uprootant: implant, instill, foster, promoteEx. The vaccine will

eradicate the disease.

6. frustrate (v) to prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; to cause feelings of discouragement

syn: thwart, foil, baffle, disappointant: help, assist, abetEx. The traitor frustrated the

secret plans by revealing them to the enemy.

7. grim (adj) stern, merciless; fierce, savage, cruel

syn: dreadful, frightful, ferociousant: mild, merciful, delightfulEx. The girl’s face was grim

when she saw that the fire had destroyed all of her possessions.

8. inimitable (adj)not capable of being copied or imitated

syn: matchless, incomparable, unique

Ex. Apparently Elvis was not inimitable. There are many successful impersonators.

9. makeshift (n) a temporary substitute for something else (adj) crude, flimsy,

temporarysyn: (n) stopgap, substituteant: (adj) permanent, durable,

solid, sturdyEx. The travelers built a makeshift

tent to protect themselves from the sun.

10. marginal (adj) in, at, or near the edge or margin; only barely good, large, or important enough for the purpose

syn: borderline, minimal, peripheral

ant: central, pivotal, focalEx. He had marginal grades, but

they were not exceptional enough to earn him a scholarship.

11. pending (adj) waiting to be settled (prep) until

syn: (adj) undecided, unsettledant: (adj) settled, decided,

resolvedEx. The patent was pending but

not yet approved.

12. prescribe (v) to order as a rule or course to be followed; to order for medical purposes

syn: specify, appoint, recommend

Ex. The prescribed fitness plan included a healthy diet and daily exercise.

13. preview (n) something seen in advance

(v) to view beforehand

syn: (n) foretasteEx. The movie preview

made me want to see the film when it comes out.

14. prominent (adj) standing out so as to be easily seen; important, well-known

syn: conspicuous, noticeableant: inconspicuous,

unnoticeable, obscureEx. The movie star was

prominent and rarely had any privacy.

15.quaint (adj) odd or old-fashioned in a pleasing way; clever, ingenious; skillfully madesyn: picturesque, peculiar, strange, curiousant: familiar, commonplace, modern,

contemporaryEx. The rocking chair made from

twigs of varying widths and lengths was quaint.

16. reluctant (adj) unwilling, holding backsyn: hesitant, loath, disinclinedant: willing, eager, inclinedEx. The girl was reluctant to

admit that the ringing cell phone was hers. She knew she would be in trouble if she admitted it.

17. scrimp (v) to handle very economically or stingily; to supply in a way that is small, short, or scanty

syn: economizeant: splurgeEx. I had to scrimp on the

ingredients for the salad since I had not had time to grocery shop.

18. snare (v) to trap, catch (n) a trap or

entanglementsyn: (n) pitfall (v) entrapant: liberateEx. The bug was snared in

the spider web.

19.utmost (adj) greatest, highest, farthest (n) the extreme limit

syn: (adj and n) maximum, supreme, best

ant: leastEx. Her Nobel Prize in Literature

gained her the utmost respect from other writers.

20. vengeance (n) punishment in return for an injury or wrong; unusual force or violence

syn: revenge, retaliation, reprisal

ant: forgiveness, pardonEx. The mob was notorious for

its acts of vengeance.