VERBAL ADVANTAGE

By: Charles Harrington Elster

1.

ADVOCATE
Meaning:

Synonym:

to support; be in favor of; defend by

argument; to speak or write in favor
of something; a person who speaks
for another (ex.lawyer)
Convoke; convocation

9.

TACIT
Meaning:
Sentence:

10. ALLEGATION
Meaning:
2.

DELEGATE
Meaning:

3.

UNPRECEDENTED
Meaning:

4.

POIGNANT
Meaning:
Notes:

5.

NEBULOUS
Adjective:
Note/s:

6.

CLANDESTINE
Meaning:

Synonym/s:

7.

TIRADE
Meaning:
Sentence:

8.

RECUR
Meaning:
Sentence:

to entrust with authority or power;

hand over management or control to
another

unheard of; novel; new; having no

prior example/justification

piercing; sharp; penetrating

senses (poignant odor)
Emotional (poignant family reunion)
Piercing to the intellect (Poignant
critique)
Comes from Latin pungere to
pierce

unclear; vague; hazy; indistinct;

obscure
Nebula in astronomy, it means cloudy
mass of dust

kept secret; done in secrecy

especially for illegal or immoral
purpose
A clandestine affair or business
sly; furtive; surreptitious

abusive and vehement long drawn

out speech
His bosss frequent tirades made him
decided to quit the job.

to happen again esp. after intervals

Recur (suggests repetition more than
once) ex. economists think recession
recurs.
reoccur (one time repetition)

Sentence:

unspoken; silent; implied

tacit consent (ex. giving a nod)

assertion; declaration; especially

made without proof
the judge dismissed the allegations
citing lack of evidence to support it.

QUIZ (Answer Yes or No)

Can someone advocate an unworthy cause?
Can you maintain control by delegating it?
If something has happened before, is it unprecedented?
Can a strong odor, an emotional moving story be described as
poignant?
5. Can a poignant sensation or thought can be nebulous?
6. Are clandestine arrangements made in public?
7. Are tirades delivered in clandestine manner?
8. Could an unprecedented event ever recur?
9. Is an oral agreement also a tacit agreement?
10. Can a tirade contain an allegation?
ANSWERS: (1) Y, (2) N, (3) N, (4) Y, (5) N, (6) N, (7) N,(8) N, (9) N,
(10) Y
1.
2.
3.
4.

VERBAL ADVANTAGE
L

By: Charles Harrington Elster

11. GULLIBLE
Meaning:
Synonym/s:

12. BENIGN
Meaning:
Sample usage:
13. PERIPHERAL
Meaning:
Sample usage:
Note:

14. REBUFF
Meaning:
Sentence:

15. ANIMOSITY
Meaning:
Sentence:
Synonym/s:
16. TENUOUS
Meaning:
Sample usage:
17. COMPLACENT
Meaning:

Sentence:

easily deceived, fooled or cheated

credulous (to believe; accepting
something
as
true
without
questioning); to dupe (means to take
advantage of); to gull (means to take
advantage and also suggests
willingness to be deceived)

kindly; good-natured; mild; not deadly

or severe (medicine)
a benign smile, a benign intention

external; outer; lying at the edge; not

essential; irrelevant
Ex. peripheral issues
it also means boundary.
Ex. exploring the periphery of the
polar ice caps (literal); the periphery
of consciousness (figuratively)

to refuse bluntly; reject sharply; turn

down abruptly; snob
rebuff means rejection especially of a
request or an offer to help

ill-will; hostility; antagonism; strong

dislike or hatred
There was long standing animosity
between the two families
Malevolence; aversion; enmity

slender; flimsy; weak; lacking strong

basis
A tenuous grip; a tenuous argument

self-satisfied; overly pleased with

oneself; so satisfied with oneself and
lacks proper concern for the condition
of others
complacent smile (smug);

Note/s:

18. ACME
Meaning:
Note/s:
Antonym:
19. DEFUNCT
Meaning:
Sentence

20. ABET
Meaning:
Note/s:

not the same as complaisant which

means gracious, obliging; inclined to
please (positive) while complacent is
negative

peak; highest point; zenith; summit

highest point in the development or
progress of something (Ex: the acme
of his career)
nadir (lowest point)

dead; extinct; obsolete

a defunct law is no longer in
existence or effect; a defunct
expression is no longer in use; a
defunct person is dead
to encourage; support; help; promote;
Example of word usage that
connotes positive. (abet the
committees efforts; abet the cause of
justice).
It is negatively noted in some
dictionaries, abet means especially to
encourage or assist in wrongdoing.
(Legal clich) ex: to aide an abet
meaning to assist a criminal in a
commission of a crime

QUIZ (True or False)

1. A gullible person is hard to fool.
2. A benign expression is a gentle, good natured expression.
3. If something is peripheral, its essential.
4. To rebuff a proposal is to reconsider it.
5. A benign person is full of animosity.
6. A tenuous grasp of the facts is weak or insubstantial.
7. Complacent people are thoughtful and considerate with others.
8. A peak of a persons career is the acme.
9. A defunct corporation is likely to profit.
10. You can abet a criminal or abet a worthy cause.
ANSWERS: (1) F,(2) T,(3) F,(4) F,(5) F,(6) T,(7) F,(8) T,(9)F,(10)T

VERBAL ADVANTAGE
L

By: Charles Harrington Elster

21. HAGGARD
Meaning:
Sentence/s:
22. WAIVE
Meaning:
Note/s:

worn out; tired (may be from

exhaustion, illness or grief)
Lack of sleep can easily make you
haggard.
to give up; forego; to relinquish
voluntarily
relinquish implies one that gives up
something that he doesnt want to
part with, may be because he is
compelled or forced.
Waive also means voluntary refusal
to insist ones right.

Sentence:
23. CARNAL
Meaning:

Sample usage:
24. SANCTION
Meaning:

Sentence:

25. AMBIGUOUS
Meaning:

Synonyms:
26. SPENDTHRIFT
Meaning:
Other form/s:
Sentence:

Synonym:

27. MOLLIFY
Meaning:
Note/s:
Sentence:

To waive ones claim on a title of

property.

28. UNEQUIVOCAL
Meaning:

bodily; pertaining to the flesh as

opposed to the spirit; corporeal;
sensual; basic physical appetites of
the body esp. the sexual appetite.
carnal desire; carnal lust; carnal
knowledge

Note/s:
Sentence:

to approve or to give authoritative

approval; allow; permit; authorize;
certify (officially approve compliance
with requirements or standards);
ratify (officially approve done by a
representative)
The companys Board of Directors
sanctioned the merger.
Many religions do not unmarried
sexual relations.
The law sanctions free speech.
uncertain; unclear; doubtful; dubious;
questionable; having an obscure
meaning;
capable
of
being
understood in more than one way
enigmatic; cryptic; equivocal
wasteful; spending extravagantly;
squandering ones resources
may be used as an adjective
(wasteful) or a noun (to mean a
wasteful person)
There isnt a thrifty bone in his body.
He is a gambler and a spendthrift to
the core.

29. MALLEABLE
Meaning:

Sentence:

30. VERBOSE
Meaning:
Synonyms:
Note/s:

improvident - means not providing for

the future. An improvident person
does not save money for retirement
or for a rainy day.
Prodigal means spending money in
a reckless way, usually to support a
luxurious lifestyle.
to calm; soothe; pacify; appease;
make less harsh or severe
Latin origin: Molis (soft) and facare
(to make) = to make soft
A good manager should be adept at
mollifying conflicts that can damage
morale.
clear
and
direct;
definite;
straightforward; having a single,
obvious meaning
Reporters are so accustomed to
equivocal answers from government
officials that they are often surprised
and suspicious when they get an
unequivocal response.
capable of being shaped; able to be
molded
or
manipulated;
impressionable; adaptable; can be
honed or easily hammered to a
shape
Gold and iron are malleable.
A young persons mind may be
malleable.
wordy; having too many words; long
winded; full of verbiage (excess of
words)
garrulous; loquacious; voluble
It uses more words than what is
necessary. Verbum means word.

QUIZ (Synonym or Antonym)

1. Energetic and Haggard
2. To waive and To relinquish
3. Spiritual and Carnal
4. Sanction and prohibit
5. doubtful and ambiguous
6. Economical and Spendthrift
7. To mollify and irritate
8. Unequivocal and ambiguous
9. adaptable and malleable
10. Verbose and long winded
ANSWERS: (1) A,(2) S,(3) A,(4) A,(5) S,(6) A,(7) A,(8) A,(9) S,(10) S

VERBAL ADVANTAGE
L

By: Charles Harrington Elster

31. TRANSIENT
Meaning:
Synonym/s:

Note/s:
Antonym
32. NETTLE
Meaning:
Sentence
Note/s:
33. REPUDIATE
Meaning:
Sentence:

34. IMPETUOUS
Meaning:
Sentence:
Notes:
Antonym:

temporary; passing away with time;

Lasting only a short while; fleeting;
short-lived
transitory (by nature, it ends life is
transitory);
evanescent (meaning it vanishes into
thin air);
ephemeral (lasting only for a day
newspaper writings are ephemeral
literature);
fugitive or fugacious (from Latin
fugere or to fly away)
sounds like ancient
permanent; timeless
to irritate; annoy; vex; provoke;
pester
Someone who is nettled is irritated to
the point of silent anger.
comes from tiny plant which has tiny
hairs that stings or irritate the skin.

Provident (providing for the future)

Parsimonious (extremely frugal;
stingy)
36. INCONGRUOUS
Meaning:
Note/s:
Sentence:
37. ASSUAGE
Meaning:
Sentence:

38. CORROBORATE
Meaning:
Sentence:
Note/s:

to reject; disown; renounce; cast off;

to reject as false; refuse to accept as
true
Repudiate a child (disowning a child);
repudiate a claim (deny its authority);
repudiate a charge (reject it as
untrue)

Synonym/s:
39. EMBELLISH
Meaning:
Sample usage:

hasty; rash; overeager; acting in a

sudden, vigorous, emotional way with
little thought
The impetuous shopper buys on
impulse rather an out of necessity.
It means acting first, then think later.
prudent; circumspect

40. AVARICIOUS
Meaning:
Synonym/s:
Sentence/s:

35. FRUGAL
Meaning:
Sentence:
Note/s:

spending carefully and wisely;

economical; parsimonious
Frugal people are cautious with the
fruit of their labors
thrifty (spends what is necessary)
Economical (using money in the most
advantageous way)

out of place; inappropriate; unsuitable

congruent means coming together
harmoniously. in means not.
An incongruous action is unsuitable
to the occasion or situation.
to relieve; ease; mitigate; make less
severe or intense; to satisfy
When you assuage someones grief,
you make them less severe or
intense.
to confirm; support, make more
certain or believable
Five witnesses corroborated the
victims account of the crime.
Corroborate means to strengthen and
can be done by providing more
evidence or proof
authenticate; verify; substantiate
to decorate; dress up; adorn;
enhance with ornamentations; make
more beautiful, elegant or interesting
Embellish your home with colorful
furniture.
greedy; consumed with a selfish
desire to accumulate money or
property; desire for wealth
greedy; covetous (people who have
excessive/immoral desire for what
another person has)
Steve was not sure if Dave was more
covetous of his sports car or his
attractive wife.

QUIZ (Odd man out)

1. Transient: temporary; passing; portable
2. Nettle: puzzle; irritate; annoy
3. Repudiate: renounce; revoke; reject
4. Impetuous: impulsive; rash; hostile
5. Frugal: prudent; economical; spendthrift
6. Incongruous: inappropriate; inadequate; inconsistent
7. Assuage: ease; sympathize; relieve
8. Corroborate: confirm; explain; support
9. Embellish: make beautiful; show off; dress up
10. Avaricious: lustful; covetous; greedy
ANSWERS: (1) portable, (2) puzzle, (3) revoke (means to take back)(4)
hostile (5) spendthrift, (6) inadequate (7) sympathize (8) explain (9)
show-off (10) lustful

VERBAL ADVANTAGE
L

By: Charles Harrington Elster

41. CURSORY
Meaning:
Synonym/s:
Antonym/s
Note/s:
Sample usage:
42. VACILLATE
Meaning:
Synonym/s:
Sentence:
Notes:
43. CLEMENT
Meaning:
Sentence:

44. LUCRATIVE
Meaning:
Sentence:

45. ALLOCATE
Meaning:
Note/s:
46. RECONCILE
Meaning:
Sentence:

quick; hasty; not methodical; done

rapidly with little attention to details
haphazard; superficial
Thorough; careful; exhaustive
from Latin curere meaning to run, not
standing still
A cursory glance; a cursory reading;
a cursory explanation
be indecisive; hesitate in making up
ones mind
to waiver; fluctuate;
The strong leader is decisive while
the weak leader vacillates
from Latin verb meaning swaying to
and fro
mild, calm, tranquil; temperate;
moderate; not severe; merciful
The weather is inclement. (not mild)
A convicted criminal can only hope
for a clement judge (merciful)
profitable; producing wealth; moneymaking; financially productive
Shakespeare filthy lucre (old word
for money which may mean ill-gotten
gains)
to assign; designate; earmark; set
aside for a specific purpose
means to locate
to make friendly again; resolve;
settle; to bring in agreement or make
consistent
When estranged partners reconcile,
they restore what was wrong before.
The jury found it hard to reconcile the
defendants confession of guilt the
night of the murder with his
profession of innocence during the
trial.

47. PARAGON
Meaning:
Sentence:

Me and my co-workers job

description are analogous.
an analogy is a partial similarity to
form enough basis for comparison;
analogous means similar but not
exactly alike.

Note/s:

49. DIURNAL
Meaning:

daily; recurring each day; also means

active during the day
Nocturnal (active during the night)
The rotation of the earth is diurnal.

Antonym/s:
Sentence:
50. PRETEXT
Meaning:
Sample Usage:

an excuse; ostensible reason or

motive designed to hide the real
reason
Irresponsible employees will invent
pretext for not coming to work.

QUIZ (Find the nearest meaning)

Cursory; unnecessary, offensive or superficial?
Vacillate: lubricate, waiver or deceive?
Clement: gracious, fair or mild?
Lucrative: profitable, prudent or unethical?
Allocate: to place, assign or support?
Reconcile: examine closely, deduce from evidence or make
friendly again
7. Paragon: reproduction, model of excellence, or highest point?
8. Analogous: similar, identical or out of proportion?
9. Diurnal: daily, occasional or constant?
10. Pre-text: introduction, opportunity or excuse?
ANSWERS: (1) 3,(2) 2,(3) 3,(4) 1,(5) 2,(6) 3,(7) 2,(8)1,(9)1,(10) 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Difference between Sensual and Sensuous

Sensuous:

things experienced through senses

Ex: sensuous music, colors, aroma
etc.
Sensuous thoughts have a pleasant
effect on your mind.

Sensual:

model of excellence; perfect example

The inventor, Thomas Edison, is the
paragon of American ingenuity.

gratification of senses or physical

appetite especially in a self-indulgent
or sexual way
Ex: the sensual night life of the city;
the sensual cravings of a drug addict
Sensual thoughts are erratic, sexually
arousing.

Sample usage:
48. ANALOGOUS
Meaning:
Sentence:

similar; akin; sharing some aspects

You can draw an analogy between a
human brain and a computer.

The sensuous feeling of silk against her skin filled her

with sensual desire.

VERBAL ADVANTAGE
L

EXERCISE NO. 1

Tenuous
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
2. Waive
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
3. Impetuous
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
4. Lucrative
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
5. Assuage
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
6. Vacillate
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
7. Clement
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
8. Nettle
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
9. Recur
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
10. Repudiate
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.

21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

COLUMN A
Gullible
Nebulous
Avaricious
Paragon
Acme
Carnal
Clandestine
Defunct
Analogous
Verbose

11. Complacent
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
12. Corroborate
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
13. Poignant
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
14. Rebuff
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
15. Tirade
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
16. Defunct
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
17. Mollify
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
18. Incongruous
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
19. Unprecedented
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.
20. Reconcile
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________.

Match Column A with Column B.

COLUMN B

EXERCISE NO. 3
Write if synonyms or Antonyms.
31. Abet and Advocate
33. Unequivocal and Ambiguous
35. Sanction and Prohibit
37. Frugal and Spendthrift
39. Diurnal and Nocturnal
41. Tacit and Oral
43. Cursory and Thorough
45. Transient and Permanent
47. Animosity and Malevolence
49. Ambiguous and Enigmatic
.
VERBAL ADVANTAGE

Write a sentence for each of the following words.

1.

EXERCISE NO. 2

Long-winded
Easily fooled
obsolete
Hazy
Kept secret
Covetous
Similar or akin
Perfect example
Bodily
Peak; highest point

32.
34.
36.
38.
40.
42.
44.
46.
48.
50.

True or False
Allegation means assertion
Allocate means earmark
Benign means severe
Delegate means having control of
Embellish means decorate
Haggard means energetic
Malleable means can be honed
Peripheral means essential
Pre-text means excuse
Clement means merciful