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139 Cards in this Set
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Ascertain (Verb) Detective Jimmy was able to quickly ascertain the suspect was not being honest with him. |
Definition: to find out definitely; learn with certainty or assurance Synonym: determine; discover Antonym: misunderstand; invalidate |
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Aberration (Noun) Walking to work instead of driving is a huge aberration for my lazy friend. |
Definition: a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome Synonym: abnormality; strangeness Antonym: normality; regularity |
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Hedonist (Noun) Because he is a hedonist, Bob never does anything which does not give him joy. |
Definition: a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification Synonym: pleasure seeker; bon vivant Antonym: ascetic |
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Presage (Noun) Dark clouds normally presage a storm. |
Definition: a sign or warning that something, typically something bad, will happen; an omen or portent. Synonym: forecast, predict Antonym: truthteller, historian |
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Surfeited (Verb) We had such a surfeit of food during the holidays that we gave a large portion of it to the family across the street. |
Definition: cause (someone) to desire no more of something as a result of having consumed or done it to excess. Synonym: overindulge; plenitude Antonym: lack |
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Benefaction (Noun) My uncle was praised for his benefaction to the neighborhood. |
Definition: an act of conferring a benefit; the doing of good; a good deed Synonym: contribution; donation Antonym: loss |
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Ablution (Noun) Some religions require believers to perform an ablution before prayer so that they are clean and worthy in the presence of their God. |
Definition: a cleansing with water or other liquid, especially as a religious ritual Synonym: cleansing; purification Antonym: dirty |
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Baneful (adjective) The baneful toxic gas leaked from the factory. |
Definition: destructive; pernicious Synonym: harmful; disastrous Antonym: harmless; safe |
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Respite (Noun) Gardening is the perfect hobby for those who need respite from hectic city life. |
Definition: a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant Synonym: relaxation, downtime Antonym: continuation |
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Tarries (Verb) If he tarries too long at the store, he won't be home in time for dinner. |
Definition: to delay something Synonym: linger; loiter Antonym: hurry; rush |
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Castigation (Verb) When the police chief discovers his officers let the criminal escape, he is sure to castigate them. |
Definition: to criticize or reprimand severely Synonym: scolding; berate Antonym: forgiveness; reward |
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Venerable (adjective) The Pope is a venerable leader who is recognized for his commitment to helping others. |
Definition: commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character Synonym: honorable; respected Antonym: unrespected |
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Blight (noun) I was looking forward to bushels of fresh, home-grown tomatoes, but a blight killed all my plants just before they became ripe. |
Definition: a plant disease, especially one caused by fungi such as mildews, rusts, and smuts. Synonym: infestation Antonym: health |
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Soothsayer (Noun) The soothsayer warned Captain Bob not to travel the Atlantic Ocean for it is stormy. |
Definition: a person who professes to foretell events Synonym: forecaster; fortune-teller Antonym: truth teller, historian |
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Vehement (Adjective) In hopes of changing their school menu, the students staged a vehement protest outside the cafeteria. |
Definition: showing strong feeling Synonym: forceful; passionate; intense Antonym: gentle; unpassionate |
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Disheveled (Adjective) After the twenty-four hour plane ride, all of the passengers looked tired and disheveled. |
Definition: hanging loosely or in disorder; unkempt Synonym: untidy; disarranged Antonym: tidy; neat |
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Covetousness (Adjective) His covetousness was so great that it made him want everything his brother owned. |
Definition: inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions Synonym: greedy Antonym: selfless |
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Goads (verb) He sometimes allowed his friends to goad him into trying dangerous stunts. |
Definition: annoy (someone) so as to stimulate some action or reaction Synonym: pressure, provoke Antonym: indifference |
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Insolence (Noun) Betsy is filled with insolence as she acts as though she has no manners at all. |
Definition: rude and disrespectful behavior Synonym: arrogance; impertinent Antonym: politeness; respect |
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Austere (Adjective) Even though she appeared austere, my teacher was a very kind woman. |
Definition: severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance Synonym: rigorous; rigid Antonym: gentle; mild |
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Jocular (Adjective) The jocular man is known for his funny jokes. |
Definition: fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful Synonym: humorous; cheerful Antonym: serious; unhappy |
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Indolence (Noun) Because I enjoy indolence, there is nothing I find more pleasant than relaxing in bed. |
Definition: avoidance of activity or exertion Synonym: laziness; procrastination Antonym: diligence |
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Haughtily (Adjective)Because she was not nice, the haughty girl had few friends. |
Definition: disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant Synonym: egotistical; supercilious Antonym: humble |
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Supplicate: (Verb) Every Sunday, my grandmother goes to church to supplicate for the forgiveness of her sins. |
Definition: ask for something earnestly or humbly Synonym: seek; begAntonym: give; refuse |
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Palliative: (adjective) My Grandmother is near death, and my family decided her experience should be as peaceful as possible, so we registered her in palliative care. |
Definition: (of a treatment or medicine) relieving pain or alleviating a problem without dealing with the underlying cause. Synonym: soothing, alleviating Antonym: damaging, harmful |
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Ab-, A-, Abs- English word example: abnormal We have received an abnormal amount of rain for this time of the year. |
Definition: away from Origin: Latin Root Origin: ab "away" |
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Ac- English word example: acupuncture The best way to relieve a headache is by having acupuncture done. |
Definition: sharp or pointed Origin: Latin Root Origin: acere |
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Acerb- English word example: acerbic The acerbic lemon was extremely sour. |
Definition: sharp, bitter, sour Origin: Latin Root Origin: acerbus |
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Acid- English Word Example: acidosis You can cure acidosis naturally and quickly with proper nutrition. |
Definition: sour or acid Origin: Latin Root Origin: acidus |
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Acr- English Word Example: Acrobatics It's dangerous to perform this acrobatic act without a safety net. |
Definition: height, summit, tip Origin: Greek Root Origin: ἄκρος (ákros) "high", "extreme" |
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Acr- English Word Example: Acrid The acrid fumes from the plant made my eyes water. |
Definition: bitter, pungent, sharp, sour Origin: Latin Root Origin: acer, acris |
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Acu- English Word Example: acutifoliate The plant had acutifoliate leaves. |
Definition: sharp Origin: Latin Root Origin: acutus, past participle of acuere"to sharpen", from acus "needle" |
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Ad Infinitum- (Adverb) She just kept talking ad infinitum; I wanted her to just shut up. |
Definition: to infinity; endlessly; without limit. Synonym: forever, endlessly Antonym: ending, ceasing |
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Apportion- (Verb) The corporate officers apportioned all the profits among themselves and left the stockholders with nothing. |
Definition: to distribute or allocate proportionally; divide and assign according to some rule of proportional distribution Antonym: combine, take |
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Bona Fide- (adjective) The jeweler stated the large diamond was bona fide and valuable. |
Definition: made, done, presented, etc., in good faith; without deception or fraud: Synonym: authentic, true Antonym: fake, false |
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Buoyant- (adjective) With a great deal of confidence, the buoyant model strolled down the runway. |
Definition: not easily depressed; cheerful. Synonym: happy, joyful Antonym: depressed, sad |
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Clique- (noun) The girls in that clique are very popular, but are also very mean. |
Definition: a small, exclusive group of people; coterie; set. Synonym: crew, society Antonym: individual |
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Concede- (verb) After John beat me at chess five times, I had to concede he was the better player. |
Definition: to acknowledge as true, just, or proper; admit Synonym: accept, allow Antonym: refuse, reject |
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Congenial- (adjective) Mark is a congenial host who always makes everyone feel welcome. |
Definition: agreeable, suitable, or pleasing in nature or character Synonym: favorable, harmonious Antonym: disagreeable, unfriendly |
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Lofty- (adjective) The football players have set a lofty goal in their bid to win all their home games this year. |
Definition: extending high in the air; of imposing height; towering: lofty mountains or exalted in rank, dignity, or character; eminent. Synonym: towering, elevated Antonym: beneath, below |
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Migration- (noun) Most birds fly in a similar migration route each fall to their warmer destination. |
Definition: process of going from one country, region, or place to another. Synonym: movement, shift Antonym: idleness, inaction |
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Perceive- (verb) Sometimes I am so concerned about how others perceive me that I do not always listen to my own voice. |
Definition: to become aware of, know, or identify by means of the senses Synonym: recognize, realize Antonym: misinterpret, disregard |
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Perverse- (adjective) The serial killer found perverse pleasure in every murder he committed. |
Definition: willfully determined or disposed to go counter to what is expected or desired; contrary Synonym: unreasonable, unmanageable Antonym: agreeable, reasonable |
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Prelude- (noun) Movie trailers are often used as a prelude to feature films. |
Definition: a preliminary to an action, event, condition, or work of broader scope and higher importance. Synonym: introduction, foreword Antonym: ending, epilogue |
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Rancid- (adjective) The milk which was left out overnight developed a rancid smell. |
Definition: having a rank, unpleasant, stale smell or taste, as through decomposition, especially of fats or oils Synonym: contaminated, odor Antonym: perfumed, sweet |
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Rustic- (adjective) The worn, dusty cabin was very rustic and made me feel at home. |
Definition: of, relating to, or living in the country, as distinguished from towns or cities; rural. Synonym: primitive, natural Antonym: city, refined |
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Sever- (verb) She had to sever ties with her family. |
Definition: to separate (a part) from the whole, as by cutting or the like. Synonym: cut, slice Antonym: connect, join, unite |
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Sordid- (adjective) If people learn of the politician’s sordid past, they will not vote for him. |
Definition: morally ignoble or base; vile: Synonym: shameful Antonym: reputable |
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Untenable- (adjective) The losing debate team had an untenable argument. |
Definition: incapable of being defended, as an argument, thesis, etc.; indefensible. Synonym: unsupportable Antonym: supportable |
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Versatile- (adjective) Because I want to make a toy that is tough yet bendable, I am looking for a versatile construction material. |
Definition: capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to another of various tasks, fields of endeavor, etc.: Synonym: facile, easy Antonym: inflexible, unadjustable |
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Vindicate- (verb) You can vindicate your claim to this property by showing us the original deed. |
Definition: to clear, as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like Synonym: justify, prove Antonym: disprove, deny |
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Wane- (verb) John asked his wife for a divorce when his feelings for her started to wane. |
Definition: to decrease in strength, intensity, etc. Synonym: weaken, decline Antonym: grow, strengthen |
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Adip- English word example: adipose Example Sentence: Adipose tissue contains a type of cell which stores energy in the form of fat. |
Definition: fat Origin: Latin |
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Aer- English word example: aeronautics Example Sentence: In aeronautics he succeeded in demonstrating the practicability of mechanical flight. |
Definition: air, atmosphere Origin: greek |
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Aesthet- English word example: aesthetics Example Sentence: Our aesthetic enjoyment of the art show was increased by the presence of the open bar. |
Definition: feeling, sensation Origin: Greek |
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Agr- English word example: agronomy Example Sentence: If more people wouldpractice agronomy, the state of the earth would drasticallyimprove. |
Definition: field Origin: Greek |
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agri-, -egri English word example: agriculture Example Sentence: Mankind began to build towns and cities once they developed agriculture. |
Definition: field Origin: Latin |
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alb- English word example: albino Example Sentence: The beautiful white bird was an albino peacock. |
Definition: dull white Origin: Latin |
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am-, amat-, amor- English word example: amateur Example Sentence: I am only an amateur ballet dancer. |
Definition: love, loved Origin: Latin |
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Annex- (Verb) The United States annexed Texas in 1845. |
Definition: to attach, append, or add, especially to something larger or more important. Synonym: adjunct, attachment Antonym: lessening, subtraction |
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Cleave (Verb) The child cleaved to it's mothers leg. |
Definition: to adhere closely; stick; cling (usually followed by to). Synonym: attach, join, unite Antonym: disconnect, disjoin |
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Cordial (adjective) The bellman’s cordial greeting made me instantly fall in love with the hotel. |
Definition: courteous and gracious; friendly; warm: Synonym: affectionate, warmhearted Antonym: sad, uncaring |
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Cornerstone (Noun) He was the cornerstone of the company. |
Definition: something that is essential, indispensable, or basic: Synonym: essential, key Antonym: unimportant, unessential |
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Debacle (Noun) When the movie was released, it was called a debacle by the critics. |
Definition: a general breakup or dispersion; sudden downfall or rout: Synonym: collapse, devastation Antonym: creation, combine, success |
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Devitalize (Verb) Smoking and drinking alcohol could devitalize you're body. |
Definition: to deprive of vitality or vital properties; make lifeless; weaken. Synonym: depletion, enervation Antonym: strengthen |
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Embroil (Verb) I avoided my two best friends because I did not want to get embroiled in their dispute. |
Definition: to bring into discord or conflict; involve in contention or strife. Synonym: trouble, entangle, involve Antonym: exclude, free |
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Exonerate (Verb) The job of the defense attorney is to exonerate his clients and keep them out of jail. |
Definition: to clear, as of an accusation; free from guilt or blame; exculpate: Synonym: vindicate, free, release Antonym: keep, punish, sentence |
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Glib (Adjective) How could he have been so glib about such a traumatic event? |
Definition: readily fluent, often thoughtlessly, superficially, or insincerely so: Synonym: easy, loquacious, talkative Antonym: quiet, silent |
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Haphazard (adjective) Compared to her mother’s organized system, Jen’s approach to housekeeping was haphazard, at best. |
Definition: characterized by lack of order or planning, by irregularity, or by randomness; determined by or dependent on chance; aimless. Synonym: aimless, unorganized Antonym: careful, methodical |
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Improvise (Verb) Since I forgot my lines, I tried to improvise the role during the audition. |
Definition: to compose and perform or deliver without previous preparation; extemporize: Synonym: devise, brainstorm, off the top of the head Antonym: plan |
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Incite (Verb) During the pep rally, the cheerleaders worked hard to incite school spirit. |
Definition: to stir, encourage, or urge on; stimulate or prompt to action: Synonym: provoke, arouse Antonym: block, discourage |
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Influx (Noun) I was unprepared for the influx of joy I felt when my boyfriend proposed. |
Definition: act of flowing in. Synonym: rush, incursion Antonym: retreat, departure |
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Pallor (Noun) After working on the project for four months, Carl was anxious to take a cruise in the sun and work on getting rid of his office pallor. |
Definition: unusual or extreme paleness, as from fear, ill health, or death; wanness. Synonym: colorlessness, pastiness Antonym: full of color, normal |
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Pedigree (Noun) The dog’s pedigree identifies his parents as two purebreds. |
Definition: an ancestral line; line of descent; lineage; ancestry. Synonym: chart, purebred Antonym: lowly |
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Precipitous (Adjective) As they neared the summit, one false step would have meant a precipitous fall. |
Definition: of the nature of or characterized by precipices Synonym: steep Antonym: calm, flat |
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Profuse (Adjective) Jonathan has gained so much weight that even his doctor is concerned about his profuse growth. |
Definition: spending or giving freely and in large amount, often to excess; extravagant Synonym: abundant, excessive Antonym: scarce, lacking |
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Reconcile (Verb) After being separated for several months, the couple decided to attempt to reconcile for the emotional well being of their distraught children. |
Definition: to cause (a person) to accept or be resigned to something not desired Synonym: make peace, adjust Antonym: agitate, fight, incite |
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Shackle (Noun) In court the violent suspects wear shackles that circumscribe their ability to flee. |
Definition: a ring or other fastening, as of iron, for securing the wrist, ankle, etc.; fetter. Synonym: restraint, handcuff, chain Antonym: unbind |
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Threadbare (Adjective) The homeless man's hand-me-down coat was so old, it was threadbare. |
Definition: having the nap worn off so as to lay bare the threads of the warp and woof, as a fabric, garment, etc. Synonym: worn, frayed Antonym: new, unworn |
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Abase (Verb) Because Mark hated himself, he often tried to abase others by calling them names. |
Definition: to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation; humble; degrade. Synonym: demean, dishonor Antonym: honor, raise, respect |
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Actuate (Verb) He actuated the machine by pressing the red button. |
Definition: to incite or move to action; impel; motivate: Synonym: stimulate, cause Antonym:halt, prevent |
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Avert (Verb) I always avert my eyes to avoid seeing the bloody movie scenes. |
Definition: to turn away or aside: Synonym: prevent, avoid Antonym:aid, help |
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Boorish (Adjective) The comedian’s jokes were so vulgar and boorish that the only ones left in the audience were those who were too drunk to be offended. |
Definition: of or like a boor; unmannered; crude; insensitive. Synonym: barbaric, rude Antonym:mannerly, sophisticated |
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Brunt (Noun) When the truck hit us, the kids in the back seat bore the brunt of the impact. |
Definition: the main force or impact, as of an attack or blow: Synonym: force, impact, burden Antonym:relaxation, ease |
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Combatant (Noun) All the combatants in the king's army were imprisoned after they lost the war. |
Definition: a nation engaged in active fighting with enemy forces. Synonym: adversary, soldier Antonym: friend, helper |
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Dormant (Adjective) Since the volcano is dormant right now, you do not have to be concerned about it erupting. |
Definition: lying asleep or as if asleep; inactive, as in sleep; torpid: Synonym: asleep, passive Antonym:awake, active |
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Dubious (Adjective) When questioned about the night of the murder, the suspect's memory was dubious. |
Definition: doubtful; marked by or occasioning doubt: Synonym: unsure, debatable Antonym:determined, secure |
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Harangue (Noun) Even though the members of the church were falling asleep, the minister continued his harangue on the evils of society. |
Definition: a scolding or a long or intense verbal attack; diatribe. Synonym: sermon, speech Antonym:short |
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Harry (Verb) We use mounted raids to harry the enemy. |
Definition: to harass, annoy, or prove a nuisance to by or as if by repeated attacks; worry: Synonym: attack, disturb Antonym: comfort, delight |
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Impenitent (Adjective) He was very impenitent after shooting all the animals with his dad's gun even though he got punished. |
Definition: not feeling regret about one's sin or sins; obdurate. Synonym: hardened, remorselessness Antonym:regret |
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Knave (Noun) After the knave stole the king’s crown, he was arrested and placed in the dungeon. |
Definition: an unprincipled, untrustworthy, or dishonest person. Synonym: rascal, lowlife Antonym:honest, trustworthy, principled |
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Legion (Noun) He was at the same time named grand officer of the Legion of Honour, and obtained in 1813 the same rank in the new order of Reunion. |
Definition: a massive force of people Synonym: countless, many Antonym:few, numbered |
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Liberality (Noun) The generous woman was full of liberality! |
Definition: the quality or condition of being liberal in giving; generosity; bounty. Synonym: kindness, nobleness Antonym:unkindness, selfishness |
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Plaintiff (Noun) The plaintiff was unable to convince the jury the defendant owed him money for car repairs. |
Definition: a person who brings suit in a court (opposed to defendant ). Synonym: complainant Antonym:defendant |
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Probe (Verb) We are therefore forced to pause awhile, and probe beneath the surface. |
Definition: to search into or examine thoroughly; question closely: Synonym: study, examination Antonym:glimpse |
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Protract (Verb) My mom says that I protract my bedtime routine by taking a long time to get ready for bed. |
Definition: to draw out or lengthen, especially in time; extend the duration of; prolong. Synonym: prolong, postpone Antonym:shorten, abbreviate |
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Quarry (Noun) At night, the moonlight caused the stones in the quarry to shine. |
Definition: an excavation or pit, usually open to the air, from which building stone, slate, or the like, is obtained by cutting, blasting, etc. Synonym: gouge, tunnel, pit Antonym: fill, cover |
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Spurn (Verb) Mikey is such a picky eater that he will spurn everything except chicken nuggets and ice cream. |
Definition: to reject with disdain; scorn. Synonym: despise, disregard Antonym:accept, approve |
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Subterfuge (Noun) Investigators often resort to subterfuge in an attempt to make criminals admit wrongdoing. |
Definition: an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc. Synonym: dishonesty, evasion Antonym: honesty, openness |
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Approbation Noun I need to write a powerful resume to gain approbation from an employer. |
Definition: approval; commendation. Synonym: consent, permission Antonym: refusal,rejection |
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Assuage Verb In an effort to assuage angry customers, the store issued everyone a full refund. |
Definition: to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; mitigate: Synonym: satisfy, ease, calm Antonym: intensify, irritate |
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Coalition Noun A few politicians have formed a coalition to put prayer back into schools. |
Definition: a combination or alliance, especially a temporary one between persons, factions, states, etc. Synonym: affiliation, combination Antonym: detachment, disassociation |
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Decadence Noun The decadence of traditional values is apparent in the large number of people who go to jail for committing crimes. |
Definition: the act or process of falling into an inferior condition or state; deterioration; decay: Synonym: degradation Antonym: increase, improvement |
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Elicit Verb The comedian hoped his jokes would elicit a great deal of laughter from the audience. |
Definition: to draw or bring out or forth; educe; Synonym: evoke, cause Antonym: hide, keep |
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Expostulate Verb My mother never missed the opportunity to expostulate her opinion anytime my father did something which displeased her. |
Definition: to reason earnestly with someone against something that person intends to do or has done; remonstrate: Synonym: disagreement, argue Antonym: agree |
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Hackneyed Adjective Too often used by young girls, the word “like” has become hackneyed. |
Definition: made commonplace or trite; stale; banal: Synonym: repeated, common, everyday Antonym: fresh, new, original |
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Hiatus Noun The professor will take his family on a long vacation during his hiatus. |
Definition: a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc. Synonym: interval, lapse Antonym: closing |
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Innuendo
Noun The top advertisers frequently use a form of innuendo to sell their products. |
Definition: an indirect intimation about a person or thing, especially of a disparaging or a derogatory nature. Synonym: immoral Antonym: evidence, proof |
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Intercede Verb The lawyer will intercede for his client in the court proceedings. |
Definition: to act or interpose in behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble, as by pleading or petition: Synonym: plead, advocate Antonym: leave alone |
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Jaded Adjective After being on an airplane for nearly twenty-four hours, Henry is a bit jaded and never wants to travel again. |
Definition: dulled or satiated by overindulgence: Synonym: exhausted, worn Antonym: fresh, activated |
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Lurid Adjective The film had an R-rating because of its lurid depiction of the haunted house. |
Definition: gruesome; horrible; revolting: Synonym: disgusting, horrid Antonym: pleasant, delightful |
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Meritorious Adjective Having gotten an “A” in all of his classes, the teenager felt he had proven himself meritorious. |
Definition: deserving praise, reward, esteem, etc.; praiseworthy: Synonym: praiseworthy, winner Antonym: improper, dishonorable |
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Petulant Adjective He was a petulant child who was aggravated by the smallest things. |
Definition: moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some trifling annoyance: Synonym: whiny, cranky Antonym: patient, happy |
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Prerogative Noun Since he was a senior member of the golf club, Allan had the prerogative to reject new member applications. |
Definition: an exclusive right, privilege, etc., exercised by virtue of rank, office, or the like Synonym: claim, liberty Antonym: duty |
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Provincial Adjective Since my cousin lives in a trailer on a dirt road, many people consider her to be provincial. |
Definition: belonging or peculiar to some particular province; local: Synonym: rural, local Antonym: city, urban |
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Simulate Verb Many homeowners use apps that simulate the sound of a barking dog to keep intruders out of their homes. |
Definition: to create a simulation, likeness, or model of (a situation, system, or the like) Synonym: mimic, copy Antonym: destroy, original |
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Umbrage Noun If my freedom of speech was taken away, I'd take umbrage to that. |
Definition: offense; annoyance; displeasure: Synonym: anger, annoyance Antonym: calmness, cheer |
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Unctuous Adjective The head cheerleader made an unctuous effort to get the geeks to give her their prom queen votes. |
Definition: characterized by excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, especially in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave, or smug. Synonym: servile Antonym: genuine |
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Transcend Verb The athlete hoped the increased training would allow him to transcend Olympic records. |
Definition: to rise above or go beyond; overpass; exceed: Synonym: overstep, excel Antonym: fall behind, lose |
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Ameliorate Verb Scratching your eye will not ameliorate the itching. |
Definition: to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve: Synonym: help, amend Antonym: aggravate, decrease |
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Aplomb Noun Jason handled his first acting role with aplomb and won over his critics. |
Definition: self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation. Synonym: balance, confidence Antonym: fear |
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Bombastic Adjective The cheerleading squad led the crowd in bombastic cheers. |
Definition: (of speech, writing, etc.) high-sounding; high-flown Synonym: inflated; pretentious Antonym: reserved, humble, quiet |
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Callow Adjective Since the callow baker was new to cake decorating, she did not know how to properly frost the multi-layer cake. |
Definition: immature or inexperienced: Synonym: inexperienced, juvenile, untrained Antonym: experienced, mature |
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Drivel Noun Instead of studying, we wasted the hours talking about irrelevant drivel. |
Definition: pointless babble or chatter Synonym: nonsense, irrelevant, gibberish Antonym: sense, truth |
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Epitome Noun Because our mayor is the epitome of a good citizen, he has been in office for over ten years. |
Definition: a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type. Synonym: representation Antonym: enlargement |
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Exhort Verb While I cannot force you to drive the speed limit, I exhort you to do so or else you might end up in jail. |
Definition: to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently. Synonym: encourage, advise Antonym: dissuade, discourage |
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Ex Officio Adverb, Adjective When Janice became the prime minister’s wife, she became an ex officio member of the government. |
Definition: by virtue of office or official position. Synonym: approved Antonym: disapproved |
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Infringe Verb I really think it would infringe on his right to privacy if you were to publish his personal correspondence without his knowledge and permission. |
Definition: to commit a breach or infraction of; violate or transgress: Synonym: violate, obtrude Antonym: obey, comply |
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Ingratiate Verb The con artist hoped to ingratiate himself into the wealthy widow’s life. |
Definition: to establish (oneself or someone else) in the favor or good graces of someone, especially by deliberate effort (usually followed by with): He ingratiated himself with all the guests. Synonym: flatter, attract Antonym: disgust, repel |
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Interloper Noun Since she has never been able to let her son go, my mother-in-law is an interloper in my marriage. |
Definition: a person who interferes or meddles in the affairs of others: Synonym: intruder, meddler Antonym: wanted, invited |
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Intrinsic Adjective A man with a generous heart can see the intrinsic value in something which looks worthless to others. |
Definition: belonging to a thing by its very nature: Synonym: genuine, real, true Antonym: fake, accidental |
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Inveigh Verb No matter how angry I get, I will not inveigh my feelings using social media. |
Definition: to protest strongly or attack vehemently with words; rail (usually followed by against): Synonym: expostulate, condemn Antonym: accept, agree |
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Lassitude Noun After the long race, Jack experienced a feeling of lassitude. |
Definition: weariness of body or mind from strain, oppressive climate, etc.; lack of energy; listlessness; languor. Synonym: laziness, exhaust Antonym: energy |
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Millennium Noun The year 2000 saw the end of another millennium. |
Definition: a period of 1000 years. Synonym: prosperity, long Antonym: short |
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Occult Adjective The occult show about a group of teenage witches living together is one of the highest rated shows on television. |
Definition: of or relating to magic, astrology, or any system claiming use or knowledge of secret or supernatural powers or agencies. Synonym: supernatural, magical, mystical Antonym: real, natural |
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Permeate Verb The light will permeate through the curtain when the sun rises. |
Definition: to pass into or through every part of: Synonym: penetrate, pierce Antonym: take out, remove |
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Precipitate Verb The rising level of unemployment is going to precipitate a huge crowd at the welfare office. |
Definition: cause (an event or situation, typically one that is bad or undesirable) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely Synonym: further, advance Antonym: block, hinder |
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Stringent Adjective I was so happy to move out of my parents’ house and escape their stringent rules. |
Definition: rigorously binding or exacting; strict Synonym: rigorous, stiff, severe Antonym: lenient, calm |
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Surmise Verb Since Bob and Mary are both book addicts, we jokingly surmise the couple met in a library. |
Definition: suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it. Synonym: assumption, guess Antonym: truth, fact, certainty |
