Lesson 4
Sophomore Vocabulary

1. bilk verb to cheat or swindle; to thwart or frustrate
   The crooks tried to bilk the older homeowners by charging them for work the homeowner never authorized. syn: to defraud, elude
   
   
2. blatant adj. offensively noisy; obvious, to conspicuous
   His blatant efforts to get the girl's attention were embarrassing to everyone.
   syn: vociferous
   
   
3. blight  noun anything that destroys, prevents growth, or causes devaluation
   My tomato plants were all affected with blight.
   syn: diseased
   
   
4. cache noun a hiding place; or things hidden, usually valuables
   They used a hole in a hollow tree, known only to the three of them, as their cache.
   
   
5. cadaverous  adjective of or like a corpse; pale, gaunt, thin
   The old pirate's cadaverous face made the young sailor tremble involuntarily.
   syn: ghastly        ant: robust, healthy
   
   
6. calumny  noun a false and malicious accusation
   The old politician said that he was retiring from public life because he could no longer stand the calumnies heaped upon him by his enemies.
   syn: slander, trickery
   
   
7. careen  verb to lean sideways; to lurch from side to side in a motion
   The torrential winds caused the ship to careen on its side.
   syn: tilt
   
   
8. caricature  noun an exaggerated portrayal of one's features
   In his political cartoons he exaggerates a prominent feature of the person in order to make the caricature easily recognized.
   syn: mockery
   
   
9. carnage  noun a bloody and extensive slaughter
   It was a stupid war that resulted only in carnage of many innocent civilians.
   syn: massacre
   
   
10. carp  verb to complain or to find fault in a petty or nagging way
    One reason you are not very popular is that you carp about every little thing.
    syn: nag, nitpick         ant: praise, laud