LIST OF SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS English (Precis & Composition) ABANDON: To give up completely - abandoned the sinking ship. ...
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.
13
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
14
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.
15
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.
16
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
17
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.
18
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
19
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
20
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.
21
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.
22
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
23
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
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