ww unit 1
sub rosa (adj., n.)
happening or done in secret syn: confidential, private ant: open, public
surreptitious (adj.)
kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of syn: secret, sly ant: open, honest
volatile (adj.)
liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse syn: tense, uncomfortable, explosive ant: stable, calm
stentorian (adj.)
loud and powerful syn: booming, blaring ant: soft, quiet
trite (adj.)
overused and of little port syn: cliche, ordinary, routine ant: original, fresh, imaginative
taciturn (adj.)
reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little syn: untalkative, quiet ant: talkative, loquacious
somnolent (adj.)
sleepy; drowsy syn: tired, groggy ant: alert, awake
veracious (adj.)
speaking or representing the truth syn: true, honest, correct ant: untrue, dishonest, false
vitiate (v.)
spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of syn: destroy, corrupt, flaw ant: reconstruct, repair, mend
voluble (adj.)
talking fluently, readily, or incessantly syn: talkative, verbose, chatty ant: taciturn, uncommunicative, mute
succulent (adj.)
tender, juicy, and tasty syn: lush, fresh ant: dry, tasteless
tenacious (adj.)
to keep a firm hold on something syn: powerful, tight ant: loose, weak
tacit (adj.)
understood or implied without being stated syn: hinted, suggested, implicit ant: explicit, stated
vociferous (adj.)
vehement or clamorous syn: outspoken, vocal, frank ant: silent, quiet
tenuous (adj.)
very weak or slight syn: slight, fragile, insubstantial ant: convincing, strong, substantial
voracious (adj.)
wanting or devouring great quantities of food syn: avid, hungry, ravenous ant: satisfied, content, stuffed
ungainly (adj.)
awkward, clumsy syn: graceless, inelegant, gawky ant: elegant, neat, graceful
vituperative (adj.)
bitter and abusive syn: insolent, rude, slanderous ant: temperate, civil, polite
trepidation (n.)
a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen syn: worry, tension, dread ant: calm, composure
virulent (adj.)
a. extremely severe or harmful in its effects syn: toxic, deadly, lethal ant: harmless, safe, nontoxic b. bitterly hostile syn: malicious, evil, malevolent ant: benevolent, caring, thoughtful
sundry (adj., n.)
a. of various kinds; several syn: assorted, various ant: few, excess b. various items not important enough to be mentioned individually
tepid (adj.)
a. slightly warm; lukewarm syn: lukewarm, warmish, room temperature ant: hot, cold b. showing little excitement syn: unenthusiastic, halfhearted, uninterested ant: excited, enthusiastic, energetic
vestige (n.)
a. trace of something that is disappearing syn: remnant, relic, fragment ant: large amount, abundance b. the smallest amount syn: trace, scrap ant: multitude, much
supercilious (adj.)
behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others syn: arrogant, conceited ant: humble, modest
wanton (adj.)
deliberate or unprovoked syn: willful, malicious, spiteful ant: justifiable, chaste, moral
truculent (adj.)
eager or quick to fight syn: aggressive, pugnacious, hostile ant: calm, docile, friendly
superfluity (n.)
excessively large amount of something syn: excess, overabundance ant: lack, shortage
squalid (adj.)
extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect syn: filthy, grimy ant: clean, spotless
wary (adj.)
feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems syn: cautious, careful ant: inattentive, trustful
upbraid (v.)
find fault with someone syn: scold, reprimand, chastise ant: congratulate, uplift, welcome