List of Synonyms and Antonyms.

LIST OF SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS

English (Precis & Composition)

ABANDON: To give up completely - abandoned the sinking ship.

Synonyms: relinquish, forgo, forsake

ABASH: To lose self-confidence; to confuse, put to shame – abashed before the assembled

dignitaries. 

Synonyms: fluster, disconcert, discomfit, discompose.

Antonym: (adj.) self-possessed

ABDICATE: To give up claim to - abdicated the throne.

Synonyms: renounce, abandon, relinquish

ABET: To encourage -or support - treacherously abetted the enemy.

Synonyms: spur, incite. 

Antonym: deter

ABRIDGE: To shorten - abridged his lengthy speech.

Synonyms: curtail, diminish, retrench.

Antonyms: protract, elongate, amplify

ABROGATE: To abolish or render void - a treaty abrogated by mutual consent.

Synonyms: annul, nullify, rescind, void.

ABSTEMIOUS: Moderate in the use of food or drink - abstemious in his habits.

Synonym: temperate

ACADEMIC: Pertaining to school; theoretical academic interests; an academic discussion, with

no practical implications. 

Synonym: scholastic

ACCEDE: To agree to - accede to a request.

Synonym: assent.

Antonym: demur

ACCELERATE: - To quicken, speed tip - took an accelerated course in order to graduate early.

Synonym: expedite (adj. expeditious). 

Antonym: retard.

ACCOLADE: An award or salute - a tremendous accolade for a returning hero. Synonyms:

tribute, ovation

ACCORD: Agreement or harmony - in full accord with his view. 

Synonyms: concord, concurrence. 

Antonyms: dissension, discord

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ACRIMONIOUS: Sharp or harsh in language or temper - stung by the acrimonious remark.

Synonyms: caustic, acerb, pungent, tart, mordant, acrid; (noun) asperity.

Antonyms: suave, affable,

ACUMEN: Keenness of mind or insight - showing exceptional business acumen.

Synonyms: perspicacity, discernment, perception. 

Antonym: obtuseness.

ADMONISH (noun: ADMONITION): To warn or find fault gently - admonishing the unruly

child. 

Synonyms: chide, caution, reprimand, reprehend, reproach.

ADVERSARY: (adj.: ADVERSE): An opponent - his adversary in a bitter debate.

Synonym: antagonist. 

Antonyms: cohort, confederate, ally, accomplice.

ADVERSITY: Misfortune - calm in the face of adversity. 

Synonyms: affliction, mischance, reverses.

AESTHETIC: Pertaining to the beautiful - interested in aesthetic values rather than in purely

practical affairs.

AFFABLE: Sociable, courteous, and agreeable in manner a much admired, affable gentleman.

Synonyms: civil, complaisant, benign, gracious, genial, urbane, cordial. 

Antonyms: curt, brusque, rude, boorish, surly.

AFFLUENT: Prosperous, flourishing; copious - a large bequest from an affluent grandfather.

Synonyms: opulent, profuse. 

Antonyms: destitute, impecunious.

AGGRESSIVE (noun: AGGRESSION. an unprovoked attack): self-assertive; attacking, offensive -

annoyed people by his aggressive attitude. 

Synonyms: bumptious, officious, obtrusive. 

Antonyms: meek, humble, retiring, diffident.

ALACRITY: Eagerness; cheerful promptness - responded to the flattering offer with alacrity.

Synonyms: celerity, briskness, energy, animation. 

Antonyms: apathy, nonchalance, sluggishness, lethargy, phlegmatism.

ALIENATE: To estrange - alterated by his gruff manner.

ALLAY: To calm; to lessen in severity - at ease now that his fears have been allayed.

Synonyms: appease, alleviate, pacify, assuage, abate, mitigate, propitiate, mollify, placate.

Antonyms: intensify, aggravate.

ALLUDE (noun: ALLUSION): To refer to indirectly - alluded quite subtly to his friend's

misfortune. 

Synonyms: insinuate, intimate, imply. 

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Antonyms: refer, cite.

ALLURE: To tempt by flattery or an attractive offer - allured by the prospect of a new job.

Synonyms: lure, decoy, inveigle, entice, seduce, wheedle, beguile, cajole. 

Antonym: repel.

AMBIGUOUS: Uncertain, vague, capable of being inter- in more than one way - puzzled by the

ambiguous statement. 

Synonyms: hazy, obscure, equivocal, dubious, nebulous.

Antonyms: explicit, unquestionable.

AMENABLE: Obedient; willing to submit - amenable to the suggestion. 

Synonyms: tractable, docile, responsive. 

Antonyms: intractable, refractory, recalcitrant.

AMIABLE: Good-natured; friendly - attracted friends by his amiable disposition. 

Synonym: complaisant.

ANACHRONISM: A thing placed or occurring out of its normal time - A machine gun at the

Battle of Yorktown would be an anachronism.

ANALOGY (adj.: ANALOGOUS): A relation between two things shown in the resemblance not

of the things themselves but of their characteristics - He indicated points of analogy between

the two situations. Synonyms:  correspondence, affinity. 

Antonym: anomaly (a deviation from the general rule).

ANARCHY: State of confusion or lawlessness - a country brought to utter anarchy by civil war.

Synonyms: chaos, pandemonium.

ANIMUS: A feeling of hatred-felt no animus, even against the enemy. 

Synonyms: enmity, rancor, malevolence, animosity. 

Antonym: amity.

ANNALS: Historical records - in the annals of literature.

ANONYMOUS: Of unknown authorship-an anonymous publication.

ANTHOLOGY: A collection of choice literary works – an anthology of modern poetry.

ANTITHESIS (adj.: ANTITHETICAL): Contrast; the direct opposite - His selfish attitude seemed

to me the antithesis o patriotism.

APATHY (adj.: APATHETIC): Lack of feeling, emotion, or interest - attributed his failure to

apathy, rather than lack of ability. Synonyms:  torpor, lethargy, sluggishness, listlessness,

languor, lassitude, dispassion; (verb) languish. Antonyms: zeal, animation.

APPREHENSIVE (verb: APPREHEND): Fearful - Being unprepared, John is apprehensive of the

examination.

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APPRISE: To inform –apprised his lieutenants of the new situation. 

APPROBATION: Approval; praise -a plan that met with hearty approbation. Synonyms:

sanction, commendation. Antonym: disapprobation.

APT (noun: APTITUDE, APTNESS): ((1) Likely; inclined or disposed - apt to succeed. Synonym:

prone. (2) Fit, suitable - an apt remark. Synonyms: appropriate, felicitous. (3) Skillful, expert -

apt at woodcarving. Synonyms: deft, dextrous, adept. Antonym: inept.

ARBITER: A person who has authority to decide matters in dispute - a fair decision rendered

by the arbiter. Synonyms: mediator, arbitrator

ARCHETYPE: An original pattern - copies reproduced from the archetype. Synonym:

prototype. Antonyms: Stereotype, facsimile, replica.

ARID: Dry; barren - the arid desert land. Synonyms: jejune, parched. Antonyms: arable, fertile.

ARISTOCRACY: Government by the best people; a privileged class -special privileges enjoyed

by the aristocracy. Synonym: oligarchy. Antonym: democracy.

ARMISTICE: A temporary suspension of hostilities. The armistice halted the war. Synonym:

truce

ARTFUL: Sly; crafty - attained his mean objective by artful measures. Synonyms: cunning,

wily, adroit, ingenious, guileful. Antonyms: guileless, ingenuous, artless. 

ARTICULATE (verb): To speak clearly or distinctly - articulated slowly so that he could not be

misunderstood. (adj.): Capable of speech; distinct, clear – an articulate man, always ready to

give his views.

ASCETIC: Rigorously self-denying - pursued the ascetic life of a monk. Synonyms: austere,

abstinent. Antonyms: wanton, self-indulgent.

ASKANCE: With distrust - looked askance at the forged signature.

ASSEVERATE: To declare positively; to confirm - asseverated his views with conviction.

Synonyms: assert, avouch, aver, avow, allege. Antonyms: gainsay, controvert, recant, rescind,

abjure, disavow.

ASSIDUOUS: Industrious - an assiduous worker, toiling long hours. Synonyms: sedulous,

attentive, diligent, indefatigable. Antonyms:  indolent, slothful.

ASYLUM: A place offering shelter and retreat - found asylum from persecution. Synonyms:

sanctuary, refuge.

ATHEIST: One who denies that God exists - The atheist declared, "There is no God." Synonyms:

infidel, agnostic, skeptic.

ATTRIBUTE (verb): Assign -attributed his success to bard work. Synonym: ascribe (noun): An

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inherent quality -Generosity was his outstanding attribute.

AUGMENT: To increase or enlarge - an army augmented by numerous enlistments. Synonyms:

enhance, amplify. Antonyms: abate, curtail.

AUSPICIOUS: Indicating a happy outcome - The prospect for this project appears auspicious.

Synonyms: propitious, fortunate. Antonyms: ominous, foreboding.

AUTHENTIC: Genuine -proved to be an authentic document. Synonyms: veritable, bona fide.

Antonyms: apocryphal, counterfeit, spurious, bogus.

AUTOCRATIC: Despotic - feared by the masses as an autocratic ruler. Synonym: tyrannical.

Antonym: benevolent.

AVARICE: Excessive greed - a fortune accumulated by avarice and miserliness. Synonyms:

covetousness, cupidity, avidity. Antonym: magnanimity.

AWRY: Unsymmetrical; not straight - the picture, hanging awry on the wall. Synonym: askew.

BANAL: Lacking in freshness, originality, or vigor-bored by his banal remarks. Synonyms:

commonplace, hackneyed, prosaic, trite, stereotyped, vapid. Antonyms: racy, original, vivid.

BANEFUL (noun: BANE: poison; source of harm): Destructive, poisonous - a baneful effect,

causing serious injury. Synonyms: deleterious, pernicious, virulent, noxious, toxic. Antonym:

beneficent.

BANTER: Good-natured teasing or ridicule-The two wits I exchanged banter, to the

amusement of the audience. Synonyms: raillery, chaff

BATON: A stick or staff - The conductor wielded his baton gracefully.

BELIE: To give a false idea of - His gracious manner belled his evil purpose. Synonym:

misrepresent

BELLICOSE; Inclined to quarrel; warlike - His bellicose attitude often got John into fights.

Synonyms: pugnacious, contentious, disputatious. Antonyms: pacific, conciliatory.

BELLIGERENT: Engaged in war - two belligerent nations warring fiercely.

BENEVOLENT: Kindly; charitable - like a benevolent monarch, bestowing many favors.

Synonyms: benign, benignant, gracious, magnanimous. Antonyms: malevolent, malignant.

BEREAVE: To deprive or leave desolate by loss - a widow just bereaved of her husband.

BESMIRCH: To soil or dirty - besmirched his opponent's good name with vile epithets.

Synonyms: stilly, defile, smirch, bespatter.

BIASED: Prejudiced - misled by a biased point of view. Synonyms: bigoted, arbitrary, partial,

partisan. Antonyms: disinterested, equitable.

BIBLIOPHILE: A lover of books - The bibliophile fingered the old book fondly. Antonym:

bibliophobe.

 

BIZARRE: Queer; unusual in appearance- bizarre clothes, outlandish in the extreme.

Synonyms: odd, fantastic, grotesque, eccentric.

 

BLAND: Gentle; polite; agreeable - a bland diet, without irritating foods. Synonyms: mild,

suave (affable or persuasive in manner), soothing, non-irritating. Antonyms: piquant, tart,

racy, caustic, acrid, pungent.

 

BLANDISHMENT: A flattering speech or act - attracted people by his blandishments.

BLEMISH (verb): To scar or spoil - Bad associates blemished his character; (noun): A

disfigurement, defect - a character without a blemish.

BLIGHT: To ruin or decay - the rotting wheat, blighted by incessant rain. Synonyms: wither,

blast

 

BLITHE: Gay and light-hearted in spirit or mood - spread cheer with her blithe spirit.

Synonyms: jocund, merry, joyous. Antonyms: dejected, forlorn, abject.

 

BOG: A swamp - sank into the spongy bog. Synonyms: morass, fen, quagmire, mire.

 

BOMBASTIC (noun: BOMBAST): High-sounding; pretentious in language - a bombastic speech,

inflated with meaningless high-flown words. Synonyms: ranting, pompous, fustian.

 

BOORISH: Unrefined in speech or manners - exhibited the boorish manners of a

backwoodsman. Synonyms: churlish, uncouth, uncultured, crass. Antonym: suave.

 

BUCOLIC: Pertaining to the country - a bucolic poem - the joys of the shepherd. Synonyms:

pastoral, rustic, rural.

BUFFOON: A clown - acting like a buffoon, full of ludicrous tricks. Synonym: harlequin.

 

BULWARK: (1) An embankment used as a fortification - a lofty bulwark for defense. Synonym:

rampart. 2) A person, idea, or object serving as a protection - acted as a bulwark in the fight

against crime. 

BUMPTIOUS: Obnoxiously conceited or self-assertive - a bumptious monitor, puffed up with

his own importance. Synonyms: aggressive, arrogant, contumelious, overbearing.

CABAL: A small group of persons engaged in plotting - a cabal of prominent persons united to

overthrow the government. Synonyms: junto, faction.

CACOPHONOUS: Unharmonious sounding - a cacophonous blare of trumpets, noisy and

discordant. Synonyms: dissonant, discordant, blatant, strident, raucous. Antonyms:

mellifluous, euphonious, dulcet.

CADAVEROUS: Corpselike; hence, haggard, pale -His face appeared cadaverous from long

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imprisonment. Synonyms: ghastly, gaunt, pallid (noun: pallor), wan, ashen. Antonyms:

rubicund, florid.

 

CALLOUS: Unfeeling or insensitive - made callous by long suffering. Synonyms: insensible,

obdurate.

 

CALUMNIATE: To accuse falsely or maliciously in order to injure another's reputation; slander

- calumniated his political opponent by spreading false rumors. Synonyms: asperse, vilify,

defame, scandalize.

CANDID (noun: CANDOR): Frank, outspoken; impartial a candid reply that could hardly be

more forthright. Synonyms: artless, ingenuous, unbiased. Antonyms: guileful, evasive.

 

CANTANKEROUS: Ill-natured; quarrelsome – showed a cantankerous and sullen disposition.

Synonyms: petulant, peevish, contentious, pugnacious, testy, choleric, fretful. Antonyms:

amiable, affable, equable.

 

CAPRICIOUS: Inclined, through some whim or fancy change the mind, purpose, or actions

suddenly - a capricious person, undependable in mood or temper. Synonyms: fickle, fitful,

changeable, erratic, inconstant, crotchety, whimsical, mercurial. Antonyms: steadfast,

constant, even-tempered.

 

CAPTIOUS: Quick to find fault about trifles- a captious critic pouncing on slight laws.

Synonyms: hypercritical, carping, carviling, censorious.

CARICATURE: A picture or other description of a person which exaggerates ludicrously one or

more of his distinctive features - not a realistic portrait but a malicious caricature.

CASTIGATE: To punish or criticize severely - castigated for using improper language.

Synonyms: reprove, upbraid, reprehend, censure, reprimand, chasten. Antonyms: commend,

eulogize, laud.

 

CELESTIAL: Pertaining to the sky; heavenly-a celestial pageant of bright stars. Synonyms:

ethereal; (noun) firmament.

 

CHAUVINIST. An extreme patriot-a chauvinist with most pride in his country. Synonym:

jingoist.

CHICANERY: Trickery, deception,- practised chicanery all his shady dealings. Synonyms:

duplicity, craft, stratagem, wile, subterfuge.

 

CHRONIC: Continuing a long time; habitual-a. chronic complaint, persisting for years.

Synonyms: persistent, unremitting, inveterate, incessant, constant. Antonyms: intermittent,

sporadic, infrequent.

 

CIRCUMSPECT: Cautious - looked about him circumspectly. Synonyms: prudent, vigilant,

discreet, wary. Antonyms: rash, indiscreet, reckless, precipitate, foothardy, temerarious,

headstrong.

 

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CIRCUMVENT: To gain an advantage by the use of trick to evade by the use of deception; to go

around - circumvented the law by evasive practices. Synonyms: thwart, balk, outwit, delude.

 

CIVIL: (1) Of or having to do with citizens or the state - civil duties as well as civil liberties. 2)

Polite, courteous - answered in a civil fashion. Synonyms: respectful, gracious.

 

CLAMOROUS: Loud and noisy - a clamorous outburst the crowd outside. Synonyms:

vociferous, obstreperous, blatant, raucous, strident. Antonyms: muted, quiet.

 

CLANDESTINE: Secret; stealthy - a clandestine meeting known only to a few. Synonyms:

furtive, covert, surreptitious. Antonyms: overt, manifest, above-board.

 

CLEMENT: Merciful; gentle - a clement judge who tempered justice with leniency. Synonyms:

compassionate, forbearing. Antonyms: relentless, ruthless.

COALITION (verb: COALESCE): Alliance; merging of various units into one unit - three parties

forming a coalition to rule the country. Synonyms: amalgamation, consolidation, fusion.

 

COERCION: Compelling a person by physical force or other means to do something against his

will - rendered his services without the slightest coercion. Synonyms: constraint, restraint,

impelling.

 

COGENT: Having the force to compel, usually by appealing to reason - persuaded by cogent

arguments. Synonym: persuasive.

 

COLLUSION: Working together secretly for an evil purpose - acted in collusion to overthrow

the government. Synonyms: collaboration, conspiracy, conniving, machination.

COMMODIOUS: Roomy - a commodious apartment. Synonyms: spacious, capacious, ample.

 

COMPATIBLE: Harmonious; able, to get along together parted company because they were not

compatible. Synonyms: congruous, consistent. Antonyms: incongruous, discordant,

incompatible.

 

COMPENDIUM (adj.: COMPENDIOUS): A brief summary of the main ideas of a larger work - a

compendium of chemistry in a slim volume. Synonyms: synopsis, digest, precis, abstract,

epitome.

 

COMPENSATION: Payment for services - just compensation for his labor. Synonyms: stipend,

remuneration, recompense, emolument.

 

COMPLACENT: Self-satisfied - looked on his own performance with a complacent smile.

Synonym: smug.

 

COMPUNCTION: Regret for wrongdoing - displayed slight compunction for his misdeed.

Synonyms: contrition, penitence, atonement, remorse, qualm.

 

CONCEDE: To yield; to admit as true; to grant - conceded victory to a superior force.

Synonyms: acquiesce, capitulate.

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CONDIGN: Well-deserved (applied chiefly to punishment) - received condign punishment for

his crime.

 

CONDOLE (noun: CONDOLENCE): To express sympathy with another in sorrow, pain, or

misfortune - condoled with each other in their grief. Synonyms: commiserate, show

compassion, solace.

 

CONDONE: To forgive or overlook (an offense) - condoned the deed, in view of the offender's

age. Synonyms: extenuate, palliate, mitigate, gloss.

CONFEDERATE (noun): A person allied with others for a special purpose (frequently a bad

one) - joined his confederate in secret enterprise. Synonyms: collaborator, accomplice. (adj.):

United or allied in a conspiracy - two confederate groups hurrying to their rendezvous.

CONGENIAL: ((1) Possessing similar interests and tastes; able to get on well with others -

congenial people with similar backgrounds. Synonym: compatible. (2) Agreeable - congenial

to his taste.

CONJECTURE: To guess - Without facts, we can only conjecture about his guilt. Synonyms:

surmise, presume.

CONSECRATE: ((1) To set apart as sacred - consecrate the battlefield with a monument to the

dead heroes. Synonyms: hallow, sanctify. Antonym: desecrate. (2) To devote or dedicate to

some aim - consecrated his life to teaching.

CONSENSUS. General agreement - The consensus of the committee was that no action should

be taken. Synonym: accord.

CONSTERNATION: Amazement; lack of courage caused by fearful prospect - The threat struck

deep consternation into John. Synonyms: dismay, bewilderment.

CONSTRUE (noun: CONSTRUCTION): To interpret, explain the sense of, or analyze - construed

the statement to his own advantage.

CONSUMMATE (adj.): Perfect or highly accomplished - achieved with consummate skill.

Antonyms: botched. bungled, inept (verb): To complete, bring to perfection - consummated

the deal without delay.

CONTEMPTUOUS: Expressive of contempt (an emotion involving anger and disgust) - cast a

contemptuous look at his subordinate. Synonyms: supercilious, scornful, disdainful,

contumelious.

CONVIVIAL: Festive; gay - a convivial party. Synonyms: jovial, jocund, mirthful. Antonyms:

lugubrious, dolorous, mirthless.

COPIOUS: Plentiful - shed copious tears at the bad news. Synonyms: profuse, bountiful,

abundant. Antonyms: meager, scant.

CORPULENT: Fat - corpulent due to excessive eating. Synonyms: obese, portly. Antonyms:

11gaunt, lank, emaciated, peaked.

COSMOPOLITAN (noun): One who is at home in all countries - A cosmopolitan can feel at ease

anywhere in the world. (adj.): Free from local prejudices - a world-wide traveler,

cosmopolitan in tastes and attitudes. Synonyms: Catholic. Antonyms: parochial, provincial.

COTERIE: A group of people joined by common interests a coterie of select friend. Synonym:

clique.

COUNTENANCE (noun): A face - His countenance expressed his complete disgust. Synonym:

visage. (verb): To approve - refused to countenance disrespectful conduct. Synonym: sanction.

CRASS: Coarse and stupid - displayed crass ignorance. Synonym: gross.

CRAVEN (noun): Coward - the deed of a craven, motivated by fear. Synonym. Poltroon. (adj.):

Cowardly - a craven act which shocked the world. Synonyms: pusillanimous, dastardly.

Antonyms: stalwart, intrepid, valiant, stout-hearted.

CREDENCE: Trust or belief - gave little credence to the rumor. Synonym: conviction. Antonym:

skepticism.

CREDIBLE: Worthy of belief - a credible story, true to life. Antonym: incredible.

CREDITABLE: Deserving or reflecting Credit or honor - applauded for his creditable

performance. Synonyms: praiseworthy, meritorious, commendable. Antonyms: discreditable,

infamous, opprobrious, ignominious.

CREDULOUS: Inclined to believe anything; easily imposed upon - a credulous fool whom

anyone can dupe. Synonym: gullible. Antonyms:  incredulous, skeptical.

CRINGE: To shrink in fear - cringing before superior force. Synonyms: cower, flinch, fawn,

truckle, wince.

CRUCIAL: Decisive or critical; difficult - the crucial event that decided the outcome. CRYPTIC:

Containing hidden meaning - a cryptic message, difficult to decipher. Synonyms:  occult,

enigmatic. Antonyms:  palpable, manifest. 

CULPABLE: Deserving blame or censure - removed from office for culpable negligence.

Synonyms:  censurable, reprehensible.

CUMBROUS: Burdensome and clumsy - a cumbrous knapsack, impeding his march. Synonyms: 

cumbersome, unwieldy, bulk. CURB: To control, check, or restrain - forcibly curbed the

people's protest. Synonyms:  repress, subdue.

CURSORY: Hurried; hence, superficial - Time permitted only a cursory examination.

Antonyms:  painstaking, meticulous. CURT: Rudely abrupt -offended by the curt response.

Synonyms:  blunt, brusque, bluff. Antonyms:  affable, civil.

CYNICAL: Sneeringly distrustful of the good motives or conduct of others - belittled the hero

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with a cynical remark. Synonyms:  sarcastic, surly.

DEARTH: Scarcity - a dearth of news, brought about by censorship. Antonyms:  plethora,

abundance.

DEFERENCE: Submitting to the wishes or judgment of another - yielded out of deference to

the old man. Synonyms:  respect, complaisance, veneration. Antonym  recalcitrance.

DEITY: A god -The sun was a deity to ancient peoples. Synonym: divinity.

DELECTABLE: Very pleasing - a delectable meal, tastefully prepared. DELETE: To erase or

cancel, take out or remove - deletedan offensive phrase. Synonyms:  expunge, censor, efface,

eradicate.

DELINEATE: To sketch or portray - striking features, delineated by a master artist. 

DELINQUENT (noun): An offender - found to be a delinquent by the court. (adj.): Failing to

fulfill an obligation - too many people who are delinquent in meeting their civic duties.

Synonym: derelict.

DELUGE: A great flood; downpour - a spring deluge which caused the river to overflow.

DEMAGOGUE: A leader who tries to stir the passions of people for his own purposes - the mob

roused by an unprincipled demagogue. 

DEMEANOR: Behavior; bearing - carrying himself with a proud demeanor. Synonyms: 

deportment, mien.

DEMURE: Affectedly or falsely modest or prim; serious demure as a Victorian maiden.

Synonyms:  sedate, staid, decorous, prudish, coy. Antonyms:  immodest, frivolous.

DENOUNCE (noun: DENUNCIATION): To speak against - denounced by the press as a traitor.

Synonyms:  stigmatize, censure, reprehend, castigate- Antonyms:  laud, eulogize.

DEPLETE: To empty or to use up - depleted the public treasury by vast building programs.

Synonyms:  exhaust, drain. Antonyms:  replenish; (adj.) replete.

DEPLORE: To express sorrow or grief over - a lamentable situation deplored by all parties.

Synonyms:  lament, decry, grieve.

DEPRAVED: Of low morals; corrupt - a depraved mind, devising evil. Synonyms:  debased,

wicked, vicious, perverted.

DEPRECATE: To plead or argue against a certain course of action - deprecated the proposal

severely. Synonyms:  remonstrate, protest, decry, expostulate. Antonym:  sanction.

DEPRECIATE: To belittle or speak slightingly of - depreciated John's acting ability. Synonyms: 

disparage, derogate (adj. derogatory). Antonyms:  enhance, magnify, extol, laud, eulogize.

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DEVASTATION: Widespread ruin - the city left in utter devastation by war. Synonyms: 

destruction, desolation.

DEVIOUS: ((1) Winding; indirect - took a devious, rather than the direct way home. Synonym:

circuitous. (2) Straying from the right course - used devious means to attain his wicked ends.

Synonyms:  crooked, erring.

DEVOID: Lacking in; not possessing - a speech devoid of even a trace of ill-will. Synonym:

destitute. Antonyms:  abounding, prevalent.

DEVOUT: Devoted to religious observances - devout in his regularity of attendance at worship.

Synonyms:  pious, religious. Antonym  impious.

DICTUM: Art authoritative statement; a saying-an imperial dictum demanding instant

compliance.

DIDACTIC: Designed to teach, imparting a lesson - a poem with a didactic purpose. Synonym:

pedagogical.

DIFFIDENT: Lacking in self-confidence- too diffident to lead a group. Synonyms:  shy, timid,

reserved, reticent, retiring. Antonyms:  forward, aggressive.

DILEMMA: A situation calling for a choice between two equally difficult alternatives; hence, a

difficult or perplexing situation - faced with a dilemma defying solution. Synonyms:

predicament, quandary, plight.

DILETTANTE: One who dabbles in the fine arts for amusement only and without concentrated

study - a doctor by profession, a dilettante in art. Synonyms:  amateur, connoisseur.

DISCONCERT: To confuse; to embarrass - disconcerted by his suspicious stare. Synonyms: 

perturb, discomfit, discompose, abash, disquiet, fluster.

DISCONSOLATE: Depressed; without hope or possibility of consolation - made disconsolate by

abject poverty. Synonyms: inconsolable, dejected. Antonyms:  blithesome, carefree.

DISCOURSE: To converse or talk; to discuss - discoursed at length on the rise of political

parties. DISCRETE: Separate - two discrete issues, totally unrelated. 

DISCURSIVE: Rambling from one subject to another - a discursive letter, covering many topics.

Synonyms:  desultory, digressive.

DISPARITY (adj.: DISPARATE): Inequality; difference in image, quantity, character, or rank -

great disparity between promise and performance.

DISPASSIONATE: Free from feeling or partiality - coldly dispassionate as the chairman of the

meeting. Synonyms:  palm, impartial. Antonym  partial.

DISPATCH (verb): To do speedily; to send off - dispatched with remarkable promptness.

Synonym: expedite. (noun): A speedy performance; the sending off of something - done with

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all possible dispatch. Synonyms:  celerity, alacrity.

DISPEL: To drive away; to scatter - dispelled a doubt that had lingered. Synonyms: dissipate,

disperse, diffuse.

DISSENT (noun: DISSENSION): To disagree; to differ in opinion - He dissented violently,

rejecting compromise.

DISSOLUTE: Living loosely; unrestrained in conduct or morals - his life wasted by dissolute

conduct. Synonyms:  debauched, dissipated, profligate.

DISTRAUGHT: Mentally distressed; distracted - distraught by trials and tribulations. Synonym:

harassed.

DIVERSE: (verb: DIVERSIFY; noun: DIVISIBILITY): Varied; different - two diverse characters;

one candid, the other insincere. Synonym: multifarious.

DIVERTING: Entertaining - a diverting one of the most amusing I've ever seen.

DIVULGE: To make public or reveal - refused to divulge his source of information. Synonyms: 

disclose, impart.

DOGMATIC: Positive in expressing an opinion; asserting an opinion as though it were an

undisputed fact - spoken dogmatically, as if the speaker considered himself infallible.

Synonyms:  overbearing, opinionated, peremptory, dictatorial.

DOLOROUS: Sorrowful; mournful - a dolorous song full of sorrow for past joys. Synonyms: 

doleful, lugubrious, grievous. Antonyms:  jocund, blithe, mirthful.

DYNAMIC: Forceful - possessed dynamic energy, tireless and powerful. Synonym: energetic.

Antonyms:  static, inert, dormant, torpid, sluggish, quiescent.

ECCLESIASTIC (adj.): Pertaining to the clergy or the church - recognized as an authority in

ecclesiastic matters. Antonyms:  secular, lay. (noun): A clergyman - an ecclesiastic of liberal

views.

EDICT: A public command or proclamation issued by an authority - proclaimed by royal edict.

Synonym: decree.

EDIFY: To instruct or uplift, particularly in morals or religion - a story that edifies the reader,

as well as entertains him.

EFFETE: No longer productive; hence, lacking in or, worn out - powerful in ancient days, now

an effete civilization.

EGOTISTIC: Conceited - an egotistic person, flourishing on praise. Synonyms:  egocentric, vain.

Antonym: altruistic.

EGREGIOUS: Outstandingly bad an egregious mistake with serious implications.

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EJACULATE: To exclaim or utter suddenly – ejaculated a cry of horror.

ELICIT: To draw out – elicited no response from the audience. Synonyms:  evoke, extract,

extort.

ELUCIDATE: To make clear; to explain – elucidated his theory so that even a schoolboy could

understand it. Synonym: clarify.

EMISSARY: A person sent on an errand or mission - delegated his emissary to conclude a pact.

ENGENDER: To cause, produce, or stir up-an act that engendered good will.

ENNUI: Boredom; weariness of mind-fell asleep at the meeting from sheer ennui.

ENSUE: To follow or result-Silence ensued when the leader arose to speak.

ENTREAT: To beg earnestly – entreated the judge to show mercy. Synonyms:  solicit,

supplicate, beseech, implore, importune; (adj.) importunate, mendicant, suppliant

EPHEMERAL: Very short-lived - an ephemeral joy, lasting but a day. Synonyms:  fleeting,

transitory, transient, evanescent. Antonym: eternal

EPICUREAN (noun): A person devoted to luxurious living and pleasure - an epicurean, seeking

to enjoy every meal. (adj.): Pleasure-loving - His entire existence demonstrated his epicurean

tastes.

EPIGRAM: A brief pointed saying - a speech full of original epigrams. Synonyms:  maxim

proverb, adage.

EPITAPH: A tombstone inscription - an epitaph engraved on marble.

EPITHET: A phrase that describes a quality (good or bad) in a person or thing - "Glaring" error

is a commonly used epithet. Synonyms:  characterization , appellation

EQUANIMITY (adj.: EQUABLE): Evenness of temper or mind - suffered his cruel fate with

equanimity. Synonyms:  serenity, composure, imperturbability, aplomb.

ERR (noun: ERRATUM): To be mistaken or go astray - To err is human, to forgive divine.

Synonyms:  stray, blunder.

ERRATIC: Irresponsible, eccentric; lacking a fixed purpose erratic behavior, reflecting his

queer ideas.

ERUDITE: Learned - an erudite person, an editor of many books. Synonyms:  scholarly,

knowing.

ESOTERIC: Understood by only a select few - an esoteric subject, discussed only by scholars.

Synonyms:  abstruse, recondite.

EXCEPTIONABLE: Objectionable - exceptionable behavior, universally criticized. Synonyms: 

questionable, reprehensible, censurable. Antonym: laudable.

EXCULPATE: To free from blame - exculpated by a jury. Synonyms:  vindicate, exonerate,

absolve, acquit. Antonyms:  arraign, indict, inculpate.

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EXEMPLARY (noun: EXEMPLAR): Serving as a model; commendable - exemplary conduct

approved by all. Synonyms:  illustrative, typical; praiseworthy, laudable.

EXODUS: Departure, emigration - the pathetic exodus of refugees from their homeland.

EXOTIC: Strange and foreign - an exotic costume imported from Asia.

EXPATIATE: To speak or write at great length - He expatiated on the subject for two hours.

Synonym: dilate.

EXPATRIATE (verb): To banish or exile; to withdraw from one's country - expatriated for

treachery to his country. (noun): An expatriated person - expatriates who left the United

States to live in Paris.

EXPEDIENT (adj.): Convenient in helping to attain some purpose - found it expedient to

maintain silence at that moment. Synonyms:  opportune, seasonable. (noun): A means to

accomplish something - tried all expedients to achieve a quick result.

EXPLOIT (verb): To use for one's selfish purpose – refugees exploited by unscrupulous

employers. (noun): A brilliant deed - lauded for his exploits in science. Synonym: feat.

EXPOUND (noun: EXPOSITION): To set forth in detail; to explain - expounded his theory in a

learned article.

EXPURGATE: To purify (usually a piece of writing) of offensive material - expurgate all

obscenities before the book could be sold. Synonyms:  purge, delete.

EXTEMPORANEOUS: Done or spoken on the spur of the moment or without preparation - an

extemporaneous speech. Synonyms:  impromptu, offhand.

EXTINCT: No longer existing or active - the extinct dinosaur, alive only in history. Synonym:

defunct. Antonym: extant.

EXTIRPATE: To root out, destroy totally - extirpated the cause of trouble. Synonyms: 

eradicate, exterminate, efface, obliterate.

EXTRANEOUS. Not essential; foreign; irrelevant - excluded material extraneous to the subject.

Synonyms:  extrinsic, adventitious. Antonyms:  germane, intrinsic, inherent, relevant,

pertinent.

EXULTATION: Great rejoicing - received the good news with exultation. Synonym: jubilation.

FACADE: Front or face, especially of a building - a facade of marble.

FACETIOUS: Given to joking or inappropriate gaiety; said in fun - brightened the evening with

his facetious remarks. Synonyms:  jocose, droll, flippant, frivolous. Antonyms:  solemn, grave,

saturnine.

FALLACIOUS (noun: FALLACY): Unsound; misleading; deceptive - led astray by fallacious

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reasoning and plans.

FALLIBLE: Liable to make mistakes or be deceived - Being human, Tom was naturally fallible.

Antonyms:  infallible, unerring.

FATHOM: To penetrate and understand - difficult to fathom his mysterious actions.

FATUOUS: Foolish; silly - a fatuous suggestion that struck us as stupid. Synonyms:  inane,

vacuous, puerile. Antonyms:  judicious, sagacious, sage.

FEALTY: Faithfulness - The soldiers were pledged to fealty to their ruler. Synonyms: 

allegiance, constancy, fidelity. Antonyms:  disloyalty, infidelity, treachery.

FEASIBLE: Workable - a feasible plan, proved practical by - previous experience. Antonym:

impracticable.

FEIGN (noun: FEINT): To pretend - He feigned to be angry, but we saw through his pretense.

Synonyms:  dissemble, sham, dissimulate, affect.

FELICITY (adj.: FELICITOUS): (1) A state of happiness - promoted felicity in the nation.

Synonym: bliss. (2) A high ability - lie has a felicity of language, mastery of the well-chosen

phrase.

FERVID: Spirited; ardent - a fervid debater, full of emotion. Synonyms:  perfervid,

impassioned, zealous, fervent, vehement.

FESTOON (noun): A garland of flowers, leaves, etc. hung between two points - the room bright

with festoons of Thanksgiving decorations. (verb): To hang with festoons - a room festooned

with spring flowers.

FETISH: (1) Something that is believed to have magical powers - savages worshipping the

fetish in a ceremonial dance. Synonym: charm, talisman, amulet. (2) An object of unreasoning

devotion and worship – Photography, begun as a hobby, became a fetish.

FIASCO: A ludicrous and complete failure - all his glorious plans ending in a fiasco. Synonym:

debacle.

FICTITIOUS: Unreal; made-up - used a fictitious name to avoid being recognized. Synonym:

fabricated. 

FLACCID: Lacking firmness - muscles grown flaccid after the illness. Synonyms: flabby, limp.

FLAGRANT: Outstandingly bad - condemned for his flagrant abuse of power. Synonyms: 

glaring, scandalous, notorious, conspicuous, gross.

FLAMBOYANT: Elaborately showy - written in a flamboyant, style, full of highly decorative

imagery. Synonyms:  florid, ornate, resplendent, embellished, garish, gaudy, gorgeous, rococo.

Antonym: somber.

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FLAUNT: Display or wave boastfully - flaunted the excellent report before his delighted

parents.

FLEETING: Passing swiftly -the fleeting hours of happiness. Synonyms:  transitory, fugitive.

FLUCTUATE: To waver from one course to another; to vary irregularly - his mood fluctuating

with every hour. Synonyms:  oscillate, vacillate, undulate, sway.

FORBEAR (noun: FORBEARANCE): To exercise self control; to keep from - forbearing to shoot

the animal despite temptation. Synonyms:  restrain, abstain.

FORENSIC: Pertaining to public discussion or law courts - a lawyer gifted in forensic debate.

Synonyms:  rhetorical, oratorical.

FORTUITOUS: Accidental - a fortuitous meeting with a friend in need. Synonyms:  casual,

incidental, adventitious, random.

FRACAS: A disorderly quarrel - A fracas broke up the meeting. Synonyms:  brawl, altercation,

fray, wrangle, imbroglio.

FRUSTRATE: To prevent (the attainment of an object); to defeat or render ineffectual - His

scholastic progress was frustrated by a serious illness. Synonyms:  balk, thwart, foil, baffle,

obstruct, discomfit. Antonym: abet.

FULSOME: Disgustingly excessive - nauseated by fulsome praise.

GARNISH: To trim or decorate - dishes garnished attractively with greens. Synonyms:  adorn,

deck.

GENEALOGY: A record of a person's or a family's ancestors or relatives - an interesting

genealogy, including saints and sinners. Synonym: lineage.

GENESIS: Origin - chemistry, which had its genesis in alchemy. Synonym: inception.

GESTICULATE: To make gestures, or indicate feelings by. motions - gesticulated wildly to

show his distress.

GHASTLY: Horrible, deathlike - a ghastly disaster which shocked the world. Synonyms: 

gruesome, grisly, pallid, macabre, grim, lurid.

GIBE (variant spelling: JIBE): To laugh at; to utter with scorn - gibed at his enemy mercilessly.

Synonyms:  mock, sneer, jeer, scoff, flout, deride (adj.: derisive), rail, taunt.

GLIB: Smooth-spoken, fluent - a glib liar, distorting the truth effortlessly.

GLUTTONOUS (noun. GLUTTON; verb: GLUT): Inclined to cat to excess - gulped down his food

in gluttonous fashion. Synonyms: voracious, intemperate.

GOSSAMER (noun): A very thin gauzelike fabric or structure - a poem so delicate that it

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seemed an unreal gossamer. (adj.): Thin and light - the gossamer wings of a dragon fly.

Synonyms:  diaphanous, flimsy, gauzelike Antonyms:  substantial, ponderous.

GREGARIOUS: Habitually fond of associating in a company or herd - gregarious sheep; that

gregarious animal, man. Antonyms: lone, aloof.

GRIMACE: A distortion of the face to express an attitude or feeling - a grimace that was more

expressive than words.

HAIL: To greet - The crowd hailed the returning hero. Synonyms:  accost, salute.

HARANGUE (verb): To deliver a long. noisy speech- harangued the multitude. Synonyms: rant,

declaim. (noun): A loud, tiresome speech - an empty harangue which bored his audience.

Synonym: tirade.

HARBINGER, A forerunner; ail announcer - the robin, harbinger of spring. Synonyms:

precursor, herald.

HAUGHTY: Proud; looking down with contempt on others - dismissed the messenger in a

haughty manner.

HEEDLESS: Thoughtless; taking little care - rushed into battle, heedless of the danger.

Synonyms: inadvertent, rash, incautious. Antonyms: prudent, circumspect, mindful, wary.

HEINOUS: Wicked; hateful - committed a heinous crime. Synonyms:  atrocious, outrageous,

monstrous, odious, nefarious, abominable.

HERESY: An opinion held in opposition to the traditional view - a view condemned as heresy.

Synonym: heterodoxy. Antonym: orthodoxy.

HIATUS: A gap or vacancy; break -left a hiatus on the page where he erased a sentence.

Synonym: breach.

HISTRIONIC: Pertaining to the theater; designed for show - broke into histrionic laughter,

hollow and insincere. Synonyms:  dramatic, theatrical.

HOAX (noun): A trick or deception; a practical joke - played a hoax upon the credulous public.

Synonym: canard. (verb): To play a trick on; to deceive - He hoaxed the crowd completely with

his disguise.

HOMONYM: Two words having the same sound but different meanings - confusing such

homonyms as mail add male.

HOVEL: A dirty or wretched dwelling - born in a hovel, died in a mansion.

HYPERBOLE: Extravagant exaggeration for effect - An example of hyperbole: "There are a

million objections to the project." Synonym: overstatement. Antonym: understatement.

HYPOTHESIS: An assumption made for the sake of argument - worked from a fantastic

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hypothesis. Synonym: supposition.

IDIOSYNCRASY: A. personal peculiarity - Wearing white was one of Whistler's idiosyncrasies.

Synonyms:  eccentricity, foible, mannerism, crotchet, aberration, quirk, singularity.

IGNOMINIOUS (noun: IGNOMINY): Incurring public disgrace - suffered an ignominious

descent from political power. Synonyms:  infamous, degrading, opprobrious, odious.

Antonyms: illustrious, renowned, preeminent.

IMMACULATE: Spotless; pure - an immaculate reputation. Synonyms:  undefiled, unsullied,

unblemished, untarnished. Antonyms: defiled, sullied, blemished.

IMMINENT: Likely to occur soon - stood in imminent peril. Synonym: impending. 

IMMUNE (verb: IMMUNIZE): Exempt from; protected from - immune from taxation. Synonym:

unsusceptible.

IMPALE: To pierce through with a pointed instrument - impaled a spider to the wall.

IMPEACH: (1) To accuse (a public official) of wrongdoing - impeached the judge for accepting

a bribe. Synonym: arraign. (2) To cast discredit upon - impeached his motives. Synonyms: call

in question, discredit.

IMPECCABLE: Faultless - performed with impeccable skill. Synonyms:  consummate,

irreproachable, unerring, infallible. Antonyms:  culpable, fallible.

IMPERVIOUS: Incapable of being penetrated - a mind impervious to new ideas. Synonyms:

impermeable, impenetrable. Antonyms: permeable, pervasive.

IMPLACABLE: Incapable of being soothed, made peaceful, or forgiving - implacable

resentment. Synonyms: unrelenting, inexorable, unappeasable. Antonyms: placable,

forbearing.

IMPLICIT: (1) Implied but not clearly expressed - an implicit agreement. (2) Unquestioning -

implicit confidence. Synonyms: tacit, implied. Antonym: explicit.

IMPORT (noun): Meaning; significance or importance - a matter of great import. Synonyms:

purport, moment, consequence.

IMPOSTOR (noun: IMPOSTURE): One who pretends to be what he is not unmasked as an

impostor. Synonyms:  quack, mountebank, charlatan, bogus, fraud.

IMPRECATION: A curse - hurled imprecations at those who would not listen to him.

Synonyms:  execration, malediction, anathema. Antonyms:  benediction, benison.

IMPREGNABLE: Unconquerable - an impregnable fortress. Synonym: invincible. Antonym:

vulnerable.

IMPROPRIETY: Improper act, manners, or expression - guilty of impropriety in public office.

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Synonyms:  indecency, indecorum. Antonym: amenity.

IMPROVIDENT: Lacking in thrift; not providing for future needs - an improvident spender.

Synonyms:  prodigal, shiftless. 

IMPUGN: To attack or criticize as false; to call in question - impugned his honesty.

INCARCERATE: To imprison - crushed his opponents by incarcerating them. Synonyms:

intern, immure. Antonyms: emancipate, enfranchise.

INCISIVE: Cutting, penetrating - incisive criticism. Synonyms:  sarcastic, mordant, trenchant,

acute.

INCOGNITO. With one's identity concealed - traveled incognito.

INCONTROVERTIBLE: Indisputable - incontrovertible evidence. Synonyms:  irrefutable,

indubitable.

INCREMENT: An increase - a salary increment. Synonym: accrual.

INCUMBENT (noun): An officeholder - the incumbent in an election. (adj.): Obligatory - felt it

incumbent to reply. Synonyms: mandatory, imperative.

INDEFATIGABLE: Untiring - an indefatigable worker. Synonyms: unflagging, unremitting,

persevering. 

INDIGENOUS: Native - Rice is indigenous to China. Synonyms: innate, inborn.

INDOOMITABLE: Stubborn in determination not to be subdued - indomitable courage.

Synonyms: insuperable, irrepressible, invincible, unyielding. Antonyms: tractable, amenable,

docile, submissive.

INFERENCE: A conclusion reached by reasoning from data or premises - an inference drawn

from his remarks. Synonyms: deduction, implication.

INGENIOUS: Demonstrating originality, skill, or resourcefulness - an ingenious device.

Synonyms: dextrous, inventive, adroit. Antonyms: maladroit, gauche.

INGENUOUS: Simple and straightforward; concealing nothing - an ingenuous plan that anyone

could see through. Synonyms:  unsophisticated, naive, candid. Antonym: sophisticated.

INGRATIATE: To win another's favor or good opinion tried to ingratiate himself with the

politician.

INHIBIT: To check or hinder - inhibited his friend from a foolhardy course. Synonyms:

restrain, curb. Antonym: promote.

INNOCUOUS: Harmless; inoffensive - an innocuous remark, but it enraged him.

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INNUENDO: An indirect reference or suggestion (frequently derogatory) - conveyed his idea

by innuendo. Synonyms:  (verb) intimate, insinuate.

INORDINATE: Excessive - spoiled by inordinate praise. Synonyms:  immoderate, intemperate,

extravagant.

INSATIABLE: Unable to be satisfied - insatiable greed. Synonyms. unappeasable,

unquenchable, insatiate. 

INSCRUTABLE: Incapable of interpretation or understanding - the inscrutable smile of the

Mona Lisa. Synonyms:  unfathomable, cryptic, enigmatic.

INSIDIOUS: Working secretly or slyly - that insidious disease, cancer. Synonyms:  wily, crafty,

furtive, treacherous, artful, guileful perfidious.

INSTIGATE: To stir tip - instigated discontent among the soldiers. Synonyms:  foment, incite.

INTEGRITY: Honesty, moral soundness - a man of proved integrity. Synonyms:  probity,

uprightness, incorruptibility.

INVEIGH (noun-. INVECTIVE): To speak angrily or bitterly-inveighed against economic

discrimination. Synonyms:  rail, denounce, fulminate, vituperate.

IRASCIBLE: Easily angered - Even petty things made Peter irascible. Synonyms: choleric,

petulant, testy, peevish, splenetic, touchy. Antonyms: placid, equable.

IRE: Anger -aroused his ire. Synonyms:  resentment; (adj.) irate, incensed.

IRKSOME: Tedious, monotonous - an irksome chore that no one liked.

ITINERANT: Traveling about; wandering - an itinerant salesman. Synonym: nomadic.

JARGON: Confused, unintelligible, meaningless talk; special vocabulary used only by members

of a group or trade - Variety, a newspaper written in theatrical jargon. Synonyms:  gibberish,

argot, cant.

JAUNTY: Having an air of easy carelessness or liveliness - walked with a jaunty step.

Synonyms: sprightly, airy, gay, nonchalant, debonair. Antonyms: somber, staid.

JEOPARDY: Danger - His life was in jeopardy. Synonyms: hazard, peril.

JETTISON: To throw overboard (as cargo); to throw off (as a burden or something in the way

)- jettisoned their old candidate as a political liability.

JUDICIOUS: Wise; using or exhibiting good judgment - a well-chosen plan, termed judicious by

all. Synonyms: discreet, politic, discerning.

KALEIDOSCOPIC: Constantly changing or varying in pattern or scenes - kaleidoscopic views of

New York.

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KEN: Range of sight or understanding - something beyond our ken. Synonym: insight.

LABYRINTH (adj.: LABYRINTHINE): A structure or intricate passage out of which it is difficult

to find one's way (also applied to spiritual and intellectual complexities) - confused by a

labyrinth of intellectual discussions. Synonym: maze.

LACHRYMOSE: Causing or given to shedding tears - a lachrymose tragedy.

LACONIC: Saying much in few words - a laconic reply that spoke volumes. Synonyms: concise,

pithy, terse, succinct, taciturn, reticent. Antonyms: verbose, prolix, redundant, diffuse,

tautological, turgid, garrulous, voluble.

LARCENY: Theft - indicted for grand larceny.

LATENT: Hidden; present but not fully developed - latent talent that time will reveal.

Synonyms: dormant, quiescent, covert, potential. Antonyms: apparent, patent.

LAVISH: (1) Profuse or generous - lavish in praise. Synonyms:  ample, superabundant. (2)

Given to extravagance - a lavish spender. Synonyms: prodigal, munificent, magnanimous.

Antonyms: parsimonious, niggardly, frugal, penurious.

LETHAL: Deadly - a lethal weapon. Synonyms:  mortal, fatal.

LONGEVITY: Prolonged duration of life - a country remarkable for the longevity of its

inhabitants.

LOW: To bellow softly like cattle - the lowing herd in the meadow. Synonym: moo.

LUCID: Clear; transparent; easily understood - a lucid explanation of a difficult text.

Synonyms:  pellucid, perspicuous, intelligible, limpid, luminous, translucent. Antonyms: 

abstruse, obscure.

LUDICROUS: Ridiculous; producing laughter - a ludicrous remark that set them all to roaring.

Synonyms:  mirthful, droll, comical, absurd. Antonyms:  doleful, lugubrious, dismal.

LUMINARY: An eminent person; a celestial body - the platform graced by a number of

luminaries.

MACHIAVELLIAN: Sacrificing moral principles in order to attain power; politically cunning;

crafty - a machiavellian design, wickedly contrived. Synonym: unscrupulous.

MALICIOUS (noun: MALICE): Bearing, or acting with, deliberate ill-will or spite - hurting with

malicious intent. Synonyms: rancorous, malignant, malevolent, virulent, vindictive. Antonym:

benign.

MASQUERADE (verb): To assume a deceptive appearance or character - a thief masquerading

as an honest man. Synonyms:  dissemble, feign. (noun): A disguise; a group of people in

disguise or fancy costumes - a masquerade so perfect no one could guess his identity.

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MAUDLIN: Sentimental to the point of tears - turned maudlin at the mention of his lost dog.

Synonym: mawkish, lachrymose.

MEANDER: To walk about (or talk) aimlessly; to wind about (as a stream) - meandered

through the town, looking into shop windows. Synonym: ramble.

MEDIOCRE: Average in quality - a mediocre performance, unworthy of his talents.

MERCENARY: Acting solely from a consideration of reward or profit - actuated by a

mercenary motive. Synonym: venal.

MERETRICIOUS: Attracting in a false, cheap, or showy manner- a meretricious beauty that is

too flashy to be real. Synonyms: tawdry, specious.

METICULOUS: Fussy about minute details - took meticulous pains with his composition.

Synonyms: fastidious, punctilious, overscrupulous, finical, methodical. Antonyms: desultory,

perfunctory, slovenly.

METTLE (adj.: METTLESOME: high-spirited ): Disposition; spirit; courage - His mettle was

tried in battle. Idiom: to be on one's mettle (meaning, “ready to do one's best”). Synonyms:

temperament, ardor.

MICROCOSM: A little world, or a universe in miniature this village, a microcosm of the great

outside world. Antonym macrocosm (world on a large scale).

MIMIC: To make fun of or copy by imitating - mimicked the comedian's gestures.

MISANTHROPIC (noun: MISANTHROPE): Hating or distrusting mankind - condemned for his

misanthropic views. Antonyms:  philanthropic, altruistic.

MISNOMER: A name or term that describes wrongly - To call him a brave man is really a

misnomer.

MONOLOGUE: A speech by one person - The actor gave his views in a dramatic monologue.

Synonym: soliloquy. Antonyms: colloquy (adj. colloquial): conversation between two or more

persons; dialogue: conversation between two persons.

MOROSE: Gloomy; ill-humored - shunned because of his morose temper. Synonyms:  sulky,

crabbed, sullen, splenetic, saturnine. Antonyms:  blithe, genial.

MOTLEY: Of various colors; of mixed ingredients - a motley costume; a motley crowd.

Synonyms:  checkered (referring to a varied career), piebald, variegated, diverse,

heterogeneous. Antonym: homogeneous.

MOTTLED: Spotted or streaked with varied colors - a mottled pony. Synonyms: blotched,

dappled.

MUNDANE: Of, or pertaining to, the world, as contrasted with the spirit - mundane affairs.

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Synonyms: earthly, terrestrial, secular, temporal.

MURKY: Dark; cloudy - a murky cavern. Synonyms: dismal, tenebrous, fuliginous. Antonyms:

resplendent, glowing, lustrous, luminous, fulgent, coruscating.

MUTABLE: Given to frequent change in nature, mood, or form - mutable in mood as a spring

wind. Synonyms: vacillating, fickle, inconstant, fitful, mercurial, wavering, capricious.

Antonyms: constant, steady.

MYRIAD: Innumerable - the myriad stars in the heavens.

NAUTICAL: Pertaining to ships or navigation - a nautical career. Synonyms: marine, naval,

maritime.

NETTLE: To irritate or provoke - nettled by his critics. Synonyms: vex, pique, goad.

NOCTURNAL: Pertaining to, or occurring in, the night - awakened by the sounds of a nocturnal

prowler. Antonym: diurnal.

NOISOME: Foul-smelling; harmful-the swamp gave off a noisome odor. Synonyms:

malodorous, fetid, disgusting; noxious, deleterious. Antonym: salubrious.

NONCHALANT: Unmoved or indifferent; casual - reacted to the news in a nonchalant manner.

Synonym: apathetic. Antonyms:  enthusiastic, zealous.

NOSTALGIA: Homesickness - felt nostalgia for the old homestead.

NOTORIOUS: Widely known (in a bad sense) - a notorious gambler.

NOVICE: A beginner - conducted himself in politics like a novice. Synonyms: tyro, neophyte.

Antonym: virtuoso.

OBDURATE: Hard-hearted; stubborn - an obdurate, unrepentant criminal. Synonyms:

adamant, unyielding, inflexible. Antonyms: submissive, docile, compliant.

OBLIVIOUS (noun: OBLIVION): Forgetful; absent-minded - walking oblivious of his

surroundings. Synonyms: unmindful, heedless, abstracted. 

OBSESSION: A persistent feeling, idea, activity, etc., which dominates a person; the state of

being exclusively preoccupied by a fixed idea - Now that he has learned bowling, it has

become his obsession. Synonyms: mania, infatuation (a foolish passion), monomania.

OBSOLETE: No longer in use - an obsolete word, not even included by most dictionaries.

Synonyms: archaic, antiquated.

OBTRUSIVE (verb: OBTRUDE): Thrusting oneself or itself into undue prominence - made

himself obnoxiously obtrusive. Synonyms: intrusive, aggressive.

OBVIATE: To prevent, dispose of, or make unnecessary by appropriate actions - an act which

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obviated all objections. Synonyms: preclude, forestall.

OMNIPOTENT: All-powerful - an omnipotent despot.

ONUS: Burden; duty; obligation - bore the onus of his difficult office creditably.

OSTENSIBLE: Apparent; pretended - his ostensible, though not actual, purpose. Synonyms:

professed, plausible (that is, appearing true, reasonable, or fair), specious.

OSTRACIZE: To banish; to exclude from public favor or privileges - a former premier

ostracized by popular vote. Synonym: outlaw.

PANACEA: A remedy for all ills - seeking a panacea to cure our social troubles. Synonym:

nostrum.

PANEGYRIC: A speech or writing of extravagant praise - delivered a panegyric at his friend's

testimonial dinner. Synonyms: eulogy, adulation, tribute, laudation (adj. laudatory),

encomium. Antonyms: censure, disparagement, derogation, castigation, depreciation.

PARADOX: A self -contradictory statement; something 'that appears to be absurd and yet may

be true -"Life is too important a matter to he taken seriously." - a paradox by Oscar Wilde.

Synonym: anomaly.

PARAPHRASE: To restate the meaning of a passage in other words - paraphrased the poem in

a few lines of prose. 

PARODY (noun): A humorous imitation of an author's style and mannerisms - wrote a parody

on Kipling's "Gunga Din."  Synonym: burlesque. (verb): To write a parody - parodied the

popular authors of the (lay to his audience's amusement. Synonym: Mimic.

PECCADILLO: A petty fault-possesses one peccadillo among his many virtues. Synonyms:

frailty, foible, flaw, blemish.

PECUNIARY: Pertaining to money - involved in pecuniary difficulties. Synonyms; financial,

fiscal, monetary.

PEDANT (adj.: PEDANTIC): One who proudly shows off his learning or who overrates his

knowledge - like a pedant glorying in his scholarly trifles.

PENSIVE: Sadly thoughtful - softly sang his pensive song. Synonyms:  reflective, meditative,

contemplative, musing.

PEREMPTORY: Positive in expressing an opinion - gave a peremptory judgment. Synonyms:

decisive, resolute, imperious, positive, dogmatic. Antonyms: indecisive, tentative.

PERTINACIOUS: Clinging doggedly to an opinion or purpose - pertinacious in his efforts.

Synonyms: obdurate, tenacious, persistent, persevering, intractable, inflexible.

PERUSE: To read carefully - perused the important letter.

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PERVERSE: Willfully bent on doing the wrong thing - a perverse lad, always disobeying his

parents. Synonyms: headstrong, froward, refractory, wayward, fractious.

PETRIFY: To paralyze with horror, fear, or surprise - petrified by the enemy bombardment.

Synonyms: stupefy, stun, bewilder, amaze.

PLAGIARISM. Adopting and reproducing, without acknowledgment, the writings or ideas of

another and passing them off as one's own - denied the charge of deliberate plagiarism.

PLATITUDE: A dull and commonplace remark - bored people by his pompous phrases and

platitudes. Synonyms: bromide, truism, axiom.

PLEBEIAN: Pertaining to the common people; hence, common or vulgar - plebeian in his tastes

and outlook. Antonyms: patrician, aristocratic.

PLEBISCITE. A direct vote by the people - The decision to confederate was ratified by

plebiscite.

POIGNANT: (1) Gripping and moving the feelings powerfully - a poignant grief. (2) Piercing,

biting, pointed - a poignant cry; poignant wit.

PONDEROUS: Very heavy; clumsy; dull - a ponderous speech, extremely boring.

PRECARIOUS: Uncertain or risky - earning a precarious livelihood, providing no luxuries.

PRECIPITOUS: (1) Very steep - a precipitous cliff. (2) Descending rapidly - a precipitous

decline in popularity.

PRELUDE: An introduction, forerunner, or preliminary step - a short prelude to the play.

Synonyms: preface, prologue, preamble. Antonym: epilogue.

PREROGATIVE: A privilege or power attaching to a position - It is a woman's prerogative to

refuse to tell her age. Synonym: license.

PRESTIGE: Esteem or influence accorded for recognized achievements or reputation - As

Senator he enjoyed great prestige. Synonym: distinction.

PRESUMPTION: (1) Something taken for granted - acted on a reasonable presumption. (2)

Going beyond proper bounds; impudent boldness - His question was downright presumption.

Synonyms:  effrontery, forwardness, arrogance.

PREVARICATE: To disguise or conceal the truth to lie - prevaricated in order to avoid

detection. Synonyms:  quibble, equivocate; (adj.) mendacious. Antonyms:  (noun) veracity,

verity; (adj.) forthright.

PROCRASTINATE: To postpone or put off to another time - missed his opportunity by

procrastinating too long. Synonyms: defer, delay.

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PROGNOSTICATE (noun: PROGNOSIS): To forecast - The Weather Bureau prognosticates

daily. Synonyms: presage, portend, augur, forebode.

PROLETARIAT: The wage-earning class - a truckman, humble member of the proletariat.

PROMONTORY: A cliff - an imposing promontory along the coast. Synonyms: headland,

precipice.

PROMULGATE: To publish or proclaim; to spread abroad The President promulgated a decree.

Synonym: disseminate.

PROTUBERANT: Bulging or swelling out - a protuberant jaw. Antonyms: receding, recessive.

PROVISIONAL: Temporary; for the time being - a provisional plan until a permanent decision

is reached. Synonym: tentative.

PROXIMITY: Nearness-worked in close proximity to his home. Synonyms: propinquity,

vicinity. Antonym remoteness.

PSEUDONYM: A false name assumed by a writer - concealed his identity by a pseudonym.Synonyms: alias, pen name, nom de plume.

PUNITIVE: Inflicting, or concerned with, punishment - took punitive measures against

deserters.

QUASH: To crush; to render void - quashed a rebellion; quashed an indictment. Synonyms:

suppress, extinguish, quell; annul.

QUERULOUS: Given to fault-finding and complaining - Her querulous nature estranged many

people. Synonyms: fretful, whining, captious, carping, peevish, petulant. Antonym: affable.

QUIXOTIC: Extravagantly romantic or idealistic; highly impractical - a quixotic scheme that

can never materialize. Synonyms: utopian, visionary, fantastic.

RACONTEUR: A skilled storyteller - held spellbound by a superb raconteur.

RADICAL (noun): One who advocates extreme basic changes - The reform movement was led

by a radical. (adj.): Thorough, extreme - radical measures adopted to meet the emergency.

Antonym (noun and adj.): conservative.

RAMIFICATION: A branching; sub-division - studied the subject in all its ramifications.

RAZE: To tear down completely- razed the old building. Synonyms: level. Antonym: rear.

RECAPITULATE: To restate in a brief, concise form; to sum up - recapitulated the main ideas.

RECIPROCAL: Mutual; done in return for something received - held each other in reciprocal

esteem.

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RECUMBENT: Lying down; leaning back or down - resting in a recumbent position.

REDOLENT: (1) Fragrant - a room redolent of roses. Synonym: aromatic. (2) Reminiscent of -

redolent of olden times.

REDOUBTABLE: Commanding fear or respect - cringing before a redoubtable enemy.

Synonym: formidable.

REFUTE: To prove incorrect or false-refuted his opponent's argument. Synonyms: rebut,

confute. Antonyms: substantiate, confirm, corroborate.

REITERATE: Repeat (several times) - reiterated his story once more.

REMUNERATIVE: Profitable - a remunerative job. Synonyms: lucrative, gainful.

RENEGADE: One who forsakes political or party principles or his religious faith - a renegade

from his former allegiance. Synonyms: turncoat, apostate, recreant, traitor.

REPRISAL: Injury inflicted in turn for one received - took action in reprisal against his

neighbor. Synonym: retaliation.

RESENTMENT: Feeling of displeasure or indignation resulting from mistreatment or abuse -

showed resentment at what he considered an unwarranted insult. Synonyms: umbrage,

dudgeon, animosity.

RESILIENT: Elastic; light-hearted; possessing power of recovery - a resilient Spirit, refusing to

admit defeat. Synonyms: flexible, pliable, supple, limber.

RESPITE: (1) Temporary deferment or cessation of work or pain - a brief respite from labor.

Synonym: surcease. (2) A temporary delay in the execution of -a sentence - granted the doom

man a temporary respite. Synonym: reprieve.

RETRIBUTION: The reward or punishment exacted for an injury, wickedness, or other action -

suffered just retribution for his folly. Synonyms: requital, nemesis.

RETRIEVE: (1) To make good -retrieved a mistake. (2) To recover -retrieved the suitcase left

at the station. (3) To restore - retrieved his lost fortunes.

REVERBERATE: To echo - a shot reverberating through the valley. Synonym: resound.

RUDIMENTARY: In an early stage of development - possessing only a rudimentary, knowledge

of physics. Synonym: incipient.

RUE (adj.: RUEFUL): To be sorry for-He will rue the day he left home. Synonyms: regret,

repent.

SACROSANCT: Very holy - a shrine. regarded as sacrosanct. Synonyms:  consecrated,

inviolable, hallowed.

SAGACIOUS (noun: SAGACITY): Wise; shrewd - proved to be sagacious in his judgment.

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Synonyms: perspicacious, astute, sapient, discerning, sage.

SALLOW: Sick - a sallow complexion. Synonym: pallid. Antonyms: rubicund, ruddy, florid.

SALLY: (verb): To rush forth suddenly - sallied out to meet the enemy. (noun): A Witty remark

- amused the audience with his sallies against his opponent. Synonyms:  quip, banter.

SANCTIMONIOUS: Pretending to be religious - showed his hypocrisy in a sanctimonious

display of piety.

SANGUINARY: Bloody - a sanguinary battle. Synonym: gory.

SANGUINE: Of a hopeful disposition; blood-red in color - a perennial optimist, sanguine in

temperament. Synonyms: buoyant, ardent.

SARTORIAL: Pertaining to a tailor or clothes - a picture of sartorial perfection.

SATELLITE: (1) An attentive or flattering follower - a prince surrounded by many satellites.

Synonyms:  lackey, toady, disciple, adherent; adj., fawning, obsequious, partisan. (2) A country

influenced or controlled by another - Freedom is conspicuously absent ,in the Soviet satellites.

(3) A body (natural or artificial) which revolves around a larger body, generally a planet - The

moon is the only natural satellite of the earth, but in recent years it has been joined by many

artificial satellites.

SCINTILLA: A trace; a particle - not a scintilla of convincing evidence. Synonyms: iota; vestige.

SCOURGE (verb): To punish severely; to afflict; to whip - a disease that scourged the country.

Synonyms: excoriate, flay. (noun). A whip or other means of punishment; a cause of affliction -

The Black Plague was a dreadful scourge of the Middle Ages. Synonym: tribulation.

SCRUTINIZE: To examine carefully -scrutinized the contents of the letter.

SHIBBOLETH: A party slogan - a shibboleth designed to attract votes.

SIMPER (verb): To smile in a silly or affected way simpered as he greeted each guest. (noun):

An affected or silly smile - stood nervously, a simper on his face. Synonym: (verb and noun)

smirk.

SINECURE: Employment entailing little or no responsibility or labor - His job was a sinecure.

SINISTER: Threatening or showing evil; dishonest - the sinister look of a gangster.

SLEAZY: Flimsy and cheap - sleazy cloth which is used only in cheap garments. Synonym:

unsubstantial.

SLOVENLY: Untidy-severely criticized the student's slovenly appearance. Synonyms: slipshod,

slatternly, frowzy.

SOPORIFIC: Tending to induce sleep - a poorly written novel, soporific in effect.

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SORDID: Mean and base; filthy - Sordid motives breed selfish actions. Synonyms: degraded,

vile, ignoble.

SOVEREIGN: Supreme m power and authority; independent of the control of any other

government - possessing sovereign powers; a sovereign state. Synonyms: autonomous,

imperial, majestic, paramount.

SPORADIC: Occurring singly, at irregular intervals; scattered - sporadic cases of illness.

SPURN: To refuse or reject with contempt - an offer that was spurned instantly. Synonyms:

repel, snub.

STOIC: Indifferent, calm in bearing pain or pleasure; practising remarkable self-control over

emotions - maintained a stoic attitude despite all his trials. Synonyms: stolid, impassive.

STRINGENT: Strict; compelling, constraining stringent regulations; stringent requirements.

Synonyms: exacting, rigid. Antonym: lax.

STUPENDOUS: Amazing by, virtue of its immense size, force, or any quality in exceptional

degree - The circus is a stupendous spectacle. Synonyms:  astounding, prodigious, monstrous,

marvelous, colossal, awful.

SUCCULENT: juicy - a succulent steak. Antonyms: desiccated, vapid.

SULTRY: Close, hot, and moist - sultry tropical weather.

SUPINE: (1) Lying flat on the back - resting in a supine position. Antonym: erect. (2) Inert,

inactive, averse to taking action - a supine, ineffective administrator. Synonyms: listless,

torpid.

TANGIBLE: Real; actual - tangible gains which may be seen, and counted. Synonyms: material,

veritable, perceptible, substantial.

TANTAMOUNT: Equivalent - an act that is tantamount to treason.

TAUNT (verb). To reproach with contempt - taunted him with the charge of failure to act

promptly. Synonyms: mock, twit, gibe, sneer, deride. (noun): An insulting, jeering, or bitter

remark - hurled taunts at his foes.

TEEMING: In abundance, fertile, highly productive - the teeming tropics, rank with vegetation.

Synonyms: swarming, fruitful, fecund, abounding.

TEMERITY: Unwise or reckless boldness - leaped into battle with thoughtless temerity.

Synonyms: audacity, presumptuousness, effrontery, rashness; (adj.) temerarious, foolhardy,

venturesome. Antonyms: prudence, circumspection, wariness.

TEMPORAL: Worldly, as opposed to spiritual; existing for a time only - a man preoccupied

with temporal matters. Synonyms: mundane, secular, civil.

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TEMPORIZE: To delay or refuse to commit oneself in order to gain time - temporized while his

friends hurried to his aid. Synonym: equivocate.

TENET: A principle of belief held as true - a tenet of religion which be maintained loyally.

Synonyms: creed, doctrine, dogma.

TENUOUS: Slender; not substantial; of slight importance - clung desperately to his tenuous

hope.

TRANQUIL: Calm; peaceful - a tranquil summer night. Synonyms: placid, serene. Antonyms:

perturbed, ruffled, turbulent.

TRANSGRESS: To break a law or command; to violate a moral principle; to overstep a moral

bound or limit - transgressed the bounds of decency; transgressed the law.

TREMULOUS: Trembling - tremulous with fright. Synonym: quivering.

TRIVIAL: Of little - importance - a trivial offense. Synonym: paltry. Antonyms: gross,

momentous.

TRUCULENT (noun: TRUCULENCE): Cruel, fierce; harsh; threatening or intimidating savagely

- a dispute marked by a truculent attitude on both sides.

TURGID: (1) Swollen, inflated - turgid rivers overflowing their banks. Synonyms: bloated,

distended. (2) Using big or high-sounding words - a turgid prose style. Synonyms: pompous,

bombastic, prolix.

UBIQUITOUS: Existing everywhere - The common cold is a ubiquitous complaint. Synonyms:

omnipresent, universal.

UNTENABLE: Incapable of being defended or held - withdrew the argument as untenable.

UTILITARIAN (adj.): Materially or practically useful - beautiful, but not utilitarian.

VANQUISH: To subdue or conquer -an army vanquished with heavy losses. 

VAUNT: To boast - proudly vaunted his strength. Synonyms: brag (noun: braggadocio,

braggart), proclaim.

VENEER: A superficial appearance or show designed to impress one with superiority - pierced

beneath his thin veneer of elegance. Synonym: gloss.

VENERABLE: Deserving respect or reverence because of age - a venerable leader.

VERNAL: Pertaining to spring-an array of vernal flowers. Antonym: hibernal (wintry).

VERSATILE: Able to do many things skillfully - versatile in all the arts.

VICARIOUS: Taking the place of another; felt, received, or done in place of another - took

vicarious pleasure in his brother's victory.

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VICISSITUDE: A change from one condition to another, often unexpected - suffered many

vicissitudes of fortune.

VIRAGO: A scolding or ill-tempered woman - My neighbor's wife is a virago. Synonyms: shrew,

termagant, vixen.

VITUPERATE (noun: VITUPERATION; adj.: VITUPERATIVE): To scold or blame loudly, find

fault with in abusive language - an angry man, vituperating the world. Synonyms: berate,

revile.

WAIVE: To give up (privileges, etc.); to do without - waived his rights to the property.

Synonyms: relinquish, forgo, forsake.

WHIM (adj.: WHIMSICAL): A sudden notion or passing fancy -frequently acted on the whim of

the moment. Synonyms: caprice, vagary, crotchet.

WRITHE: To twist about (usually with pain) - writhed in agony on the floor. Synonyms:

contort, squirm.

ZEALOUS (noun: ZEALOT: fanatic): Full of enthusiasm or eagerness -a zealous student, first in

his class. Antonym: perfunctory.

ZENITH: The highest point - the zenith of his career. Synonyms: acme, apex, culmination,

summit. A