Lesson 7
Senior Vocabulary
- factious adj. causing disagreement
We tried not to be factious, but we just couldn't agree with the speaker. - fastidious adj. hard to please; fussy
My neighbor is a fastidious housekeeper.
syn: meticulous, exacting ant: casual, lax - fatuous adj. foolish, inane
Her fatuous simperings began to grate on our nerves.
syn: silly ant: sensible, wise - fecund adj. fertile, productive
The rabbits were very fecund, and we now have two dozen of them.
syn: prolific ant: sterile
- ferret noun small animal of the weasel family
verb to search or drive out
Although John knew the answer was in the text, he just couldn't ferret it out. - fervent adj. eager, earnest
We made a fervent attempt to capture the stallion, but he was too quick for us.
syn: burning, passionate, ardent ant: apathetic
- fetish noun an object that receives respect or devotion
The primitive tribes made a fetish of their totem poles.
syn: charm, talisman
- finesse noun diplomacy, tact; artful management
The diplomat was given the task because his superiors felt the had the necessary finesse.
syn: skill, cunning ant: tactlessness - fiscal adj. pertaining to finances
This was the accountant's busiest time because it was the end of the company's fiscal year. - fissure noun opening; groove, split
The small fissure in the tank was cause for great alarm.
- flaccid adj. flabby
The retired athlete now had flaccid muscles because he refused to work out.
syn: weak, feeble ant: solid, taut
- flagellate verb to whip, to lash
The boy's father never beat him, but would flagellate him verbally.
syn: flog
- flaunt verb to show off
Some people flaunt their wealth
syn: to boast, exhibit ant: conceal
- flout verb to ridicule, to show contempt for
He broke the rules and flouted all authority, and now he has to pay.
syn: mock, scoff ant: esteem, revere
- foment verb to stir up, to incite
At the convention, people were hired to foment disruptions during the senator's speech.
syn: instigate; arouse ant: quell, curb
