English Department | Grade 10

Vocabulary

SET 08

| International College of Benha

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abridge verb

‘Travel by air abridge the time

needed to reach far-distant places.’

Definition
to make shorter

Synonyms
shorten, condense, abbreviate

Antonyms
expand, enlarge, augment

Vocabulary
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relinquish verb

‘I relinquished her hand and stood up.’

Definition
let something go

Synonyms
surrender - give up

Vocabulary
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debris noun

‘After the storm, the beach was

littered with ship debris.’

Definition
scattered fragments, wreckage

Synonyms
remains

Vocabulary
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opinionated Adj.

‘My friend is so opinionated as a mule.’

Definition
stubborn and often unreasonable in
holding to one’s own ideas, having a
closed mind

Synonyms
obstinate - inflexible

Antonyms
open-minded - reasonable

Vocabulary
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dilemma noun
Definition: a difficult or confusing
situation or problem

Synonyms: predicament – quandary

‘I couldn't see any way out of the
dilemma.’ Antonym: cinch

Vocabulary
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circumspect Adj.

‘He was very circumspect

in each move.’

Definition
careful, cautious

Synonyms
wary, prudent, guarded

Antonyms:
incautious, reckless

Vocabulary
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Definition: to tell someone strongly

admonish verb that they have done something wrong

Synonyms: reprimand - reprove -

‘Adela admonished her little son scold - warn – caution - rebuke
for not doing his homework.’
Antonym: praise - compliment

Vocabulary
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cumbersome Adj.

‘The shoppers were carrying large and

cumbersome packages.’

Definition
• heavy and difficult to carry
• [cumbersome process or system]
slow and difficult

Synonyms
Ponderous – difficult – bulky

Antonyms
Manageable – handy – light

Vocabulary
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counterfeit Adj.

‘Manufacturers who make spurious

products may face severe fines.’

Definition
not genuine, not true, not valid

Synonyms
bogus

Antonyms
genuine

Vocabulary
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jeer verb

‘The young kids jeered at their friend.’

Definition
to make fun of rudely or unkindly

Synonyms
laugh at, mock, taunt

Antonyms
applaud, praise

Vocabulary
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fortify verb Definition: to strengthen, build up

Synonyms: reinforce
‘The Great Wall of China was
built to fortify the country.’ Antonym: weaken, dishearten,
undermine

Vocabulary
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unflinching Adj.

Everyone admires the unflinching

courage of firefighters

Definition
firm: showing no signs of fear;
not drawing back

Synonyms
resolute, courageous, unwavering

Antonyms
irresolute, wavering, timid

Vocabulary
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compensate verb

‘He offered to compensate after the

accident.’

Definition
to make up for; to repay for services

Synonyms
recompense

Antonyms
deprive, damage

Vocabulary
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surmount verb

‘He surmounted his injury to win the

Olympic gold medal.’

Definition
to overcome a problem

Synonyms
Overcome

Antonyms
give up, surrender

Vocabulary
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mediocre Adj.

‘According to her scores I can say

that she is a mediocre student.’

Definition
not very good; average

Synonyms
undistinguished

Antonyms
outstanding, distinguished

Vocabulary