120 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT
Vocabulary Lesson 23: Like a Pit Bull
Today’s roots: tract pull tenax holding fast
ob- against per- very❑ dogged(adj) determined; unwilling to give up
Outmanned and overmatched, the doggedfighters nevertheless refused to surrender the Alamo.
Synonyms:tenacious, inexorable Antonyms:yielding, irresolute❑ inexorable(adj) relentless (in-not+exorabilisable to be swayed)
Inexorablein his wooing, Jason vowed to send Kathy roses every day until she accepted his prom invitation.
Synonyms:obstinate, dogged Antonyms:yielding, irresolute❑ obstinate(adj) stubborn (obstinatusto stand stubbornly)
No matter what she tried, she could not make her obstinatehusband change his mind.
Synonyms:adamant, relentless, obdurate Antonyms:acquiescent, obsequious❑ intransigent(adj) uncompromising (in-not+transigentecompromising)
Pat’sintransigentnature showed itself when he adamantly refused to shift his appointment from 5:00 to 5:05.
Synonyms:obstinate, intractable Antonyms:concordant, accommodating, complaisant❑ contentious(adj) quarrelsome (contendereto strive after +-iousfull of)
Julia sighed as her excessively contentioushusband started another unnecessary argument with their waiter.
Synonyms:pugnacious, belligerent Antonyms:passive, conciliatory❑ pertinacity(n) stubbornness (per-very+tenaxholding fast)
Kyle showed incredible pertinacityafter breaking his leg, making it back in time for the championship game.
Synonyms:doggedness, steadfastness❑ steadfast(adj) unchanging; unswerving (stedestand+foestfirmly fixed)
Despite many hardships, the team was steadfastin its pursuit of the summit.
Synonyms:obdurate, inexorable Antonyms:fickle, vacillatory❑ recalcitrant(adj) stubbornly rebellious
Synonyms:defiant, stubborn, wayward❑ tenacious(adj) holding firmly; persistent (tenaxholding fast)
Synonyms:persistent, steadfast, resolute❑ disputatious(adj) inclined to arguing (disputareto argue)
Synonyms:contentious, litigious, polemical❑ obdurate(adj) intractable; not easily persuaded (obdurareto harden)
Synonyms:inexorable, dogged❑ intractable(adj) hard to manage; stubborn (in-not+tractpull)
Synonyms:obstinate, headstrong❑ adamant(adj) refusing to yield (adamasunbreakable)
Synonyms:inexorable, obdurate❑ litigious(adj) prone to bringing lawsuits (lis-lawsuit+agereto drive)
Synonym:contentious