96 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT
Vocabulary Lesson 10: If You Can’t Say Anything Nice...
Today’s roots: dia thoroughly, through de- down
dictus declared, word pugn to fight❑ censure(n) official condemnation; harsh criticism (censorRoman supervisor for morals)
Congress voted to declare censureon the representative who took money and gifts from a lobbyist.
Synonyms:castigation, derision, rebuke Antonyms:laudation, endorsement❑ calumny(n) slander; false accusation
Too many tabloids know that calumnyabout celebrities is more profitable than the truth.
Synonyms:libel, denigration, defamation Antonyms:acclaim, extolment, approbation❑ diatribe(n) malicious criticism or abuse (dia-through+tribeinto rub)
A good debate must avoid vicious personal diatribe,and focus on a respectful discussion of issues.
Synonyms:castigation, derision, harangue Antonyms:laudation, extolment, honor❑ caustic(adj) corrosive; sarcastic
James immediately regretted making such a causticremark; he could tell his words truly hurt Vanessa.
Synonyms:abrasive, acrimonious Antonyms:mitigating, conciliatory, mollifying❑ repudiate(v) to cast off publicly (repudiumdivorce)
The consumers repudiatedthe shoe company for using sweatshops, and began buying from its competitor.
Synonyms:disavow, abjure, forswear Antonym:condone❑ derogatory(adj) disparaging; belittling (de-down, away)
Derogatoryremarks are not allowed in class; discussions should criticize ideas, not people.
Synonyms:pejorative, derisive, disparaging❑ admonish(v) to reprimand mildly (ad-to+monereto warn)
The boy was admonishedby his mom for spilling his soda on the brand-new rug.
Synonyms:rebuke, reprove Antonyms:laud, revere, endorse❑ disparage(v) to belittle; to demean (dis-apart+paragerank, peer)
Synonyms:deprecate, discredit❑ impugn(v) to attack as untrue; to refute by argument (in-against+pugnto fight)
❑ malediction(n) a curse (mal-bad+dictusdeclared)
Synonyms:anathema, execration❑ denigrate(v) to attack the character of; to disparage
Synonyms:slander, decry❑ harangue(n) a long, critical, and pompous speech
Synonyms:diatribe, discourse❑ pejorative(adj) tending to make worse (pejorworse)
The senator suggested that discussing the issue dispassionately would be more productive than slinging pejorative
personal comments.
Synonym:disparaging❑ slander(n) false comments that injure another’s reputation (scandalumscandal)