Question

synonyms
choose the word or form of the word from this unit that is the same or most nearly the same in meaning as the boldface word or expression in the phrase. enter that word in the space provided. use a dictionary if necessary.

1. their pretense used to fool unwary customers
2. pressured into confessing
3. a castigatory campaign against a political rival
4. to sell off poor stock investments
5. that unproductive phase in the artists long career
6. pestered by flies and mosquitoes
7. was a model for future innovations
8. postponed due to blustery weather
9. a relaxing stopover on a tropical island

adversary incl ement
alienate liquidate
artifice muse
coerce negligible
craven perpetuate
culinary precedent
demise punitive
exhilarate redress
fallow sojourn
harass urbane

Explanation:

1. "pretense" means a false show, and "artifice" means a clever trick or deception, so they are synonyms.
2. "pressured into confessing" implies being forced, and "coerce" means to persuade an unwilling person by using force or threats.
3. "castigatory" means critical or punishing, and "punitive" means intended as punishment.
4. "to sell off" can be related to "liquidate" which means to convert assets into cash by selling them.
5. "unproductive" is similar to "fallow" which means (of land) ploughed and harrowed but left unsown for a period in order to restore its fertility or to avoid surplus production, and can also mean inactive or unproductive in a non - land context.
6. "pestered" means troubled or harassed, so "harass" is a synonym.
7. "a model for" is similar to "precedent" which is an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.
8. "blustery weather" is rough or stormy, and "inclement" means (of the weather) unpleasantly cold or wet.
9. "stopover" means a short stay during a journey, and "sojourn" means a temporary stay.

Answer:

1. artifice
2. coerce
3. punitive
4. liquidate
5. fallow
6. harass
7. precedent
8. inclement
9. sojourn