Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop Level A Unit 1-15

inhabitant

(n.) one living permanently in a given place Although she enjoys traveling to exotic places, she's a lifelong ______________ of this small town. SYNONYMS: resident, native, tenant ANTONYMS: stranger, outsider, visitor

optimist

(n.) one who expects things to turn out for the best; someone who looks on the bright side of things An _______________ may cause ill will between friends. SYNONYM: misconception

data

(pl. n.) information; facts, figures, statistics For math class, we collected ___________ on the Internet sites students visited during the past week.

prevaricate

(v.) to lie, tell an untruth; to mislead on purpose His reputation has suffered because of his unfortunate tendency to _______________. SYNONYMS: stretch the truth, equivocate ANTONYM: tell the truth

bungle

(v.) to act or work clumsily and awkwardly; to ruin something through clumsiness If we __________ this project, we may never get another chance to prove ourselves as a worthy team. SYNONYMS: blunder, mess up

authorise

(v.) to approve or permit; to give power or authority to I wonder if Congress will someday _______________ U.S> citizens to cast official votes over the Internet. SYNONYMS: order, entitle, empower ANTONYMS: forbid, ban, prohibit

append

(v.) to attach, add or tack on as a supplement or extra item We were dismayed when our teacher decided to _____________ an additional assignment to our already huge load of homework. ANTONYMS: detach from, disconnect

refurbish

(v.) to brighten, freshen, or polish; to restore or improve Every five years, the hotel _____________ the décor of its elegant lobby. SYNONYMS: remodel, renew ANTONYMS: dilapidate, run down

generate

(v.) to bring into existence; to be the cause of Solar power uses the energy of the sun to _____________ electricity.

induce

(v.) to cause, bring about; to persuade Can drinking warm milk ___________ sleep? SYNONYMS: prevail upon, influence ANTONYMS: prevent, deter, hinder

transform

(v.) to change completely in appearance or form; to make into something else A heavy rain could ________________ the parched yellow fields into a lush green landscape again. SYNONYMS: alter, convert ANTONYMS: maintain, preserve

misrepresent

(v.) to give a false or untrue idea If witnesses __________________ the facts, the attorney has to support our story. SYNONYMS: falsify, twist, exaggerate

dole

(v.) to give out in small amounts; (n.) money, food, or other necessities given as charity; a small portion Let's ________ out scraps of food to the hungry dogs. The people at the homeless shelter lined up to receive their weekly ________. SYNONYMS: (v.) ration, allot, distribute; (n.) handout

empower

(v.) to give power or authority to; to enable; to permit Signing this legal paper _____________ me to set up my own bank account. SYNONYMS: authorised, license ANTONYMS: forbid, prohibit, ban, disqualify

cede

(v.) to give up, surrender; to hand over to another Spain ________ territory to France. SYNONYMS: deliver up, transfer

vacate

(v.) to go away from; leave empty; to make empty; to void, annul We have a lot of cleaning up to do before we ____________ the apartment for good. SYNONYMS: depart, abandon; ANTONYMS: occupy, keep, hikd

thrive

(v.) to grow vigorously; to grow in wealth and possessions Angie hopes that her business will ___________ in today's Internet culture. SYNONYMS: flourish, blossom, prosper; ANTONYMS: wither, fail

surge

(v.) to have a heavy, violent, swelling motion (like waves); (n.) a powerful forward rush Runners who train hard and who have good stamina often _________ ahead of the pack. A sudden ________ of electrical current could make a computer crash. SYNONYMS: (v.) flood, rush, burst, gush; (n.) wave ANTONYMS: (v.) recede, ebb; (n.) recession, slowdown

mangle

(v.) to injure very seriously by cutting, tearing, crushing, etc.; to bring to ruin Workers could ___________ their hands in this equipment if they don't pay attention to what they're doing. SYNONYMS: mutilate, butcher, disfigure, rend

persevere

(v.) to keep going something in spite of difficulties; to refuse to quit even when the going is tough The patient needs to _____________ with the painful exercises in order to be able to walk normally again. SYNONYMS: plug away, pursue, stick to it ANTONYMS: give up, despair, throw in the towel, quit

restrict

(v.) to keep within set limits; to confine Doctors often advise patients to _____________ their intake of fatty or salty foods. SYNONYMS: hold back, limit; ANTONYMS: open up, enlarged expand

abduct

(v.) to kidnap, carry off by force Some people with vivid imaginations fear that hostile aliens will come to Earth to ___________. SYNONYMS: seize, snatch

waylay

(v.) to lie in wait for and attack, ambush Thugs will often choose to ____________ weary travellers as they make their way home. SYNONYMS: entrap, ensnare

ruffle

Try not to let wisecracks ruffle your feelings. My favorite pillow is soft and fluffy to the touch and has a velvet ruffle.

libel

The young celebrity accused her unauthorized biographer of libel. It is a crime to libel others, no matter how you feel about them.

impassable

(adj.) blocked so that nothing can go through Fallen trees formed an _______________ barrier across the highway after the storm. SYNONYMS: closed, impenetrable; ANTONYMS: unblocked, clear

rigorous

(adj.) severe, harsh, strict; thoroughly logical "Boot camp" is the nickname for the place where new soldiers receive ______________ basic training. SYNONYMS: tough, lax, indulgent, tiresome

dumbfounded

(adj.) so amazed that one is unable to speak, bewildered When the s hocking news finally reached us, we were completely __________________. SYNONYMS: speechless, stunned, flabbergasted ANTONYMS: unsurprised, expectant

fluent

(adj.) speaking or writing easily and smoothly, flowing gracefully Susannah can speak __________ Japanese, French, and Russian. SYNONYMS: eloquent, articulate, glib ANTONYMS: tongue-tied, choppy

facet

(n.) one aspect or side of a subject or problem, one of the cut surfaces of a gem One important ________ of problem solving is to recognise when a solution makes no sense. SYNONYMS: angle, characteristic, factor,element

indisputable

(adj.) beyond question or argument, definitely true With such __________________ evidence, Judge Lee must rule to drop all charges against my client. SYNONYMS: irrefutable, undeniable, incontestable ANTONYMS: questionable, debatable, arguable

burly

(adj.) big and strong; muscular That guy is as __________ as a lumberjack, so he would be the perfect one to help move my furniture. SYNONYMS: strapping, hefty, beefy ANTONYMS: weak, puny, delicate, frail

rummage

(V.) to search through, investigate the contents of; (n.) an active search; a collection of odd items It can be an adventure to ______________ around our garage for remnants of our childhood. She found an old saddle in the _______________. SYNONYMS: (v.) delve into, sift through, poke around

resourceful

(adj.) able to deal promptly and effectively with all sorts of problems; clever in finding ways and means of getting along A __________________ guide will know how to handle any questions or surprises that come up on the tour. SYNONYMS: inventive, ingenious, skillful ANTONYMS: uninventive, incompetent, dull-witted

responsive

(adj.) answering or replying; reacting readily to requests, suggestions, etc.; showing interest and understanding The host of the charming inn was _________________ to our every wish. SYNONYMS: sympathetic, open, receptive ANTONYMS: insensitive, unsympathetic

sinister

(adj.) appearing evil or dangerous; threatening evil or harm A ______________ message left on our voicemail made us suspect the caller had the wrong number. SYNONYMS: frightening, ominous ANTONYMS: cheering, encouraging, reassuring, benign

abominable

(adj.) arousing hatred; disgusting, detestable Unfortunately, there are many _________________ ideas circulating on the Internet. SYNONYMS: hateful, despicable, loathsome ANTONYMS: praiseworthy, delightful, charming

bumbling

(adj.) blundering and awkward; (n.) clumsiness The _______________ burglars were so inept that they actually left some of their own money at the home they were planning to rob! The old cartoon character Mr. Magoo was well known for his _____________. SYNONYMS: (adj.) clumsy, stumbling ANTONYMS: (adj.) forceful, effective, skillful, adroit

inflammatory

(adj.) causing excitement or anger; leading to unrest, violence, or disorder The candidate made an _________________ speech that incensed all those who heard it. SYNONYMS: provoking, incendiary, provocative ANTONYMS: soothing, lulling, quieting

eerie

(adj.) causing fear because of strangeness; weird, mysterious It is a lot of fun to tell _______ ghost stories around a campfire. SYNONYMS: frightening, spooky, creepy

disquieting

(adj.) causing uneasiness or worry A _________________ incident at school put all the teachers and students on edge. SYNONYMS: disturbing, alarming ANTONYMS: calming, reassuring, soothing, comforting

compact

(adj.) closely and firmly packed together; small; (v.) to squeeze together; (n.) an agreement between parties; a small case containing a mirror and face powder; a small car Computers are much more ____________ now than they were a generation ago. Workers at the town dump were asked to ______________ the trash to save space. SYNONYMS: (adj.) dense; (v.) compress ANTONYMS: (adj.) enormous, humongous, bulky

gross

(adj.) coarse, vulgar; very noticeable; total; overweight; (n.) an overall total (without deductions); twelve dozen; (v.) to earn They responded to the _________ injustice in an satisfactory manner. A ________ of pencils lasts all year. She expects to ________ $3,000 in tips. SYNONYMS: (adj.) sheer, utter, flagrant, fat ANTONYMS: (adj.) delicate, fine, partial, slender, thin; (n., v.) net

subsequent

(adj.) coming after; following in time, place, or order The country enjoyed peace and prosperity in the years __________________ to the war. SYNONYMS: later, following, ensuing ANTONYMS: previous, prior, preceding

outright

(adj.) complete; instantaneous; without reservation, thoroughgoing; (adv.) completely, instantaneously When the teacher asked her why she didn't do her homework, she told an ____________ lie. Even the teacher asked her why she didn't do her homework, she told an ____________ lie. Even though they already heard it several times, the hilarious joke made them laugh ____________. SYNONYMS: (adj.) total, out-and-out; (adv.) utterly, instantly ANTONYMS: (adj.) partial, incomplete; (adv.) by degrees

crotchety

(adj.) cranky, ill-tempered; full of odd whims It is unfortunate that the teacher asked me to work with the most _______________ partner in the class. SYNONYMS: grumpy, grouchy, disagreeable ANTONYMS: sociable, friendly, agreeable, amiable

glum

(adj.) depressed, gloomy The losing team wore _________ expressions on their as the final buzzer sounded. SYNONYMS: dejected, morose, melancholy ANTONYMS: cheerful, merry, rosy, sunny

elusive

(adj.) difficult to catch or to hold; hard to explain or understand According to legend, Zorro, the heroic Mexican character, was too __________ for local police to capture. SYNONYMS: slippery, wily, fleeting, puzzling, baffling

unscrupulous

(adj.) dishonest; not guided or controlled by moral principles Avoid dealing with ___________________ merchants whenever possible. SYNONYMS: crooked, corrupt, shady ANTONYMS: fair, honest, trustworthy, aboveboard

giddy

(adj.) dizzy; light-headed; lacking seriousness After the long and gruelling race, the marathoner felt __________ and exhausted. SYNONYMS: faint, frivolous, flighty ANTONYMS: levelheaded, serious, earnest, sober

stealthy

(adj.) done in a way so as not to be seen or observed; sneaky, underhanded The nervous robber took ______________ glances at the cash register. SYNONYMS: sly, furtive; ANTONYMS: open, direct, aboveboard

gullible

(adj.) easily fooled, tricked, or cheated Are you ___________ enough to believe everything you hear on the radio? SYNONYMS: trusting, naïve, credulous ANTONYMS: suspicious, skeptical

frigid

(adj.) extremely cold; lacking in warmth or feeling Antartica has a very ___________ climate. SYNONYMS: greasing, unresponsive ANTONYMS: hot, balmy, torrid, warm, friendly

ingrained

(adj.) fixed deeply and firmly; working into the grain or fiber; forming a part of the inmost being Being my lower lip is an _____________ habit. SYNONYMS: deep-seated, entrenched, indelible ANTONYMS: superficial, shallow, skin-deep

limber

(adj.) flexible; (v.) to cause to become flexible Serious dancers develop __________ bodies. Runners __________ up before a race. SYNONYMS: (adj.) supple, pliable; (v.) stretch ANTONYMS: (adj.) stiff, wooden; (v.) stiffen

amiable

(adj.) friendly, good-natured Marty, whose sense of humour and good spirits never fail, is an ___________ companion. SYNONYMS: pleasant, agreeable ANTONYMS: unfriendly, ill-humoured, hostile

jovial

(adj.) good-humoured, in high spirits; merry My _________ friend is very entertained and is the life of the party. SYNONYMS: jolly, cheerful, festive ANTONYMS: gloomy, morose, melancholy, cheerless

ravenous

(adj.) greedy; very hungry; eager for satisfaction Exercising vigorously for several hours gives me a _____________ appetite. SYNONYMS: starved, voracious, wolfish ANTONYMS: not hungry, well-fed, satisfied

strident

(adj.) harsh, shrill; unpleasant sounding Her ______________ laughter showed harsh ridicule. SYNONYMS: piercing, grating ANTONYMS: mellow, soothing, musical, honeyed

numb

(adj.) having lost the power of feeling or movement; (v.) to dull the feelings of; to cause to lose feeling Bitter cold may leave your toes ________. This injection will _______ the area so that the doctor can stitch the cut painlessly.

celestial

(adj.) having to do with the sky or heavens; heavenly; yielding great bliss or happiness The sun is the brightest ________________ body in our solar system. SYNONYMS: ethereal, stellar, blissful ANTONYMS: earthly, terrestrial, infernal

submissive

(adj.) humbly obedient; tending to give in to authority, obeying without protest In some cultures, boys and men still expect girls and women to behave in a totally ________________ manner. SYNONYMS: meek, compliant, servile, subservient ANTONYMS: rebellious, defiant, insubordinate

sulky

(adj.) in a bad or nasty mood, resentful; gloomy A __________ child does not make a very good playmate. SYNONYMS: sullen, petulant; ANTONYMS: cheerful, amiable

sluggish

(adj.) lazy; slow-moving; not active, dull After a big lunch, I feel ____________. SYNONYMS: unhurried, lethargic; ANTONYMS: energetic, brisk

optional

(adj.) left to one's own choice; not required The hotel will charge us for breakfast and dinner, but lunch is ____________. SYNONYMS: left to one's own choice; not required The hotel will charge us for breakfast and dinner, but lunch is ___________. SYNONYMS: voluntary, discretionary ANTONYMS: required, mandatory, compulsory

perishable

(adj.) likely to spoil or decay You must keep _______________ foods chilled, or they will spoil. SYNONYMS: short-lived, fleeting ANTONYMS: long-lasting, undying, permanent

variable

(adj.) likely to undergo change; changeable; (n.) a value or quantity that varies; symbol for such Spring weather can be extremely ____________. In math, the letter x can stand for a ____________. SYNONYMS: (adj.) fluctuating, shifting, inconstant ANTONYMS: (adj.)constant, unchanging, steady

subordinate

(adj.) lower in rank or position, secondary; (n.) one who is in a lower position or under the orders of someone else; (v.) to put in a lower or secondary position A corporal is __________________ to a sergeant. Let's ask a ___________________ to help us file. Parents often ___________________ their own wishes for the sake of their children's needs. SYNONYMS: (n.) assistant, helper ANTONYMS: (adj.) superior, higher; (n.) chief, supervisor

unerring

(adj.) making no mistakes, faultless, completely accurate Even a pilot with ___________ judgment can be surprised by sudden changes in the weather. SYNONYMS: sure, certain, unfailing ANTONYMS: faulty, fallible, unreliable

gory

(adj.) marked by bloodshed, slaughter, or violence The Civil War battle of Antietam is; to this day, the most in our history. SYNONYMS: bloody, gruesome; ANTONYM: bloodless

pathetic

(adj.) marked by strong emotion, especially pity and sorrow; able to move people emotionally; worthy of pity; woefully inadequate or lacking It was a _____________ sight to see so many starving people desperately begging for food. SYNONYMS: moving, distressing, pitiable, heartrending ANTONYMS: funny, hilarious, frightening

extinct

(adj.) no longer in existence; no longer active; gone out of use The _______________ volcano is no longer a threat. SYNONYMS: died out, vanished ANTONYMS: still alive, surviving, extant

ambiguous

(adj.) not clear; having two or more possible meanings The purpose of a test is not to confuse students with ________________ questions, but to determine whether they have learned the material. SYNONYMS: uncertain, unclear, equivocal ANTONYMS: obvious, plain, clear, unequivocal

scant

(adj.) not enough; barely enough; marked by a small or insufficient amount Somehow, we made the _________ supply of food stretch for nearly a week. SYNONYMS: inadequate, merger, skimpy, bare ANTONYMS: abundant, plentiful, profuse, excessive

immobile

(adj.) not movable; not moving Models must remain _____________ for a long time in order for an artist to draw or paint them accurately. SYNONYMS: fixed, unmoving; ANTONYMS: movable, nimble, agile

illicit

(adj.) not permitted, unlawful, improper Students will be suspended for one week if they bring any ________ materials to school. SYNONYMS: illegal, unauthorised, forbidden ANTONYMS: lawful, permissible, aboveboard

titanic

(adj.) of enormous sizes, strength, power, or scope The movie plot explores the _____________ struggle between the forces of good and evil. SYNONYMS: gigantic, huge; ANTONYMS: tiny, miniature, diminutive

smug

(adj.) overly self-satisfied, self-righteous Just because he got the lead in the school play doesn't justify his air of _______ superiority. SYNONYMS: conceited, complacent ANTONYMS: discontented, disgruntled

dogged

(adj.) persistent, stubbornly determined, refusing to give up The troops fought with __________ determination and courage. SYNONYM: untiring ANTONYMS: wishy-washy, faltering, irresolute

valiant

(adj.) possessing or acting with bravery or boldness Sir Galahad was a ____________ knight of King Arthur Round Table. SYNONYMS: brave, bold, gallant, heroic ANTONYMS: timid, cowardly, fainthearted, "chicken"

nimble

(adj.) quick skillful in movement, agile; clever As the ___________ climber scaled Mount Everest, it looked as if she was barely exerting any energy at all. SYNONYMS: lively, keen, flexible ANTONYMS: awkward, clumsy, stiff, inflexible

logical

(adj.) reasonable; making use of reason and good sense Our parents are constantly encouraging us to look for ___________ solutions to our problems. SYNONYMS: rational, sensible ANTONYMS: absurd, ridiculous, unsound, preposterous

meteoric

(adj.) resembling a meteor in speed; having sudden and temporary brilliance similar to a meteor's The young actor's ________________ rise to fame became legendary. SYNONYMS: brilliant, blazing; ANTONYMS: slow, sluggish, gradual

boisterous

(adj.) rough and noisy in a cheerful way; high-spirited The _________________ schoolchildren made it clear to their teacher how much they enjoyed the class trip. SYNONYMS: loud, unruly, disorder ANTONYMS: quiet, calm, peaceful, well-behaved

rotund

(adj.) rounded and plump; full or rich in sound My friends like to display the largest and most ___________ pumpkin outside their front door. SYNONYMS: portly, sonorous; ANTONYMS: angular, lanky, gaunt

self-seeking

(adj.) selfishly ambitious That __________________ politician will promise just about anything to win a few more votes. SYNONYMS: selfish, opportunistic, gold-digging ANTONYMS: unselfish, selfless, altruistic

far-fetched

(adj.) strained or improbable (in the sense of not being logical or believable). going far afield from a topic No one will believe the ________________ excuse you just gave! SYNONYMS: unlikely, hard to swallow ANTONYMS: likely, probable, plausible, credible

inevitable

(adj.) sure to happen, unavoidable Is it _______________ that all comedies have happy endings? SYNONYMS: inescapable, fated ANTONYMS: avoidable, escapable, preventable

strapping

(adj.) tall, strong, and healthy That ______________ young man is a good wrestler. SYNONYMS: sturdy, husky, brawny, athletic, hefty ANTONYMS: weak, frail, fragile, puny

intensive

(adj.) thorough, deep; showing great effort; concentrated It took ________________ evidence, Judge Lee must rule to drop all charges against my client. SYNONYMS: irrefutable, undeniable, incontestable ANTONYMS: thoroughgoing, heightened, exhaustive ANTONYMS: relaxed, easygoing, laid-back

taut

(adj.) tightly drawn, tense; neat, in good order A _______ chain kept the curious dog away from the swimming pool. SYNONYMS: tight, strained, orderly, shipshape ANTONYMS: loose, slack, drooping, messy, sloppy

incalculable

(adj.) too great to be counted; unpredictable, uncertain Concerned scientists worry that global warming may cause __________________ damage to our environment. SYNONYMS: countless, measureless ANTONYMS: measurable, countable, predictable

petty

(adj.) unimportant, trivial; narrow-minded; secondary in rank, minor You say my complaint is ________, but to me it is an issue of great importance. SYNONYMS: insignificant, piddling ANTONYMS: important, major, significant, weighty

martial

(adj.) warlike, fond of fighting; relating to war, the army, or military life Thee army band plays _________ music as the troop formally march the visiting general. SYNONYMS: hostile, bellicose ANTONYMS: peace-loving, pacific, unwarlike

headstrong

(adj.) willful, stubborn Even the most patient caregiver may feel challenged when faced with a ______________ child. SYNONYMS: obstinate, mulish, unruly ANTONYMS: obedient, docile, submissive

compliant

(adj.) willing to do what someone else wants; obedient A ______________ child is easy to discipline, even when in an unfamiliar environment. SYNONYMS: meek, docile, submissive ANTONYMS: disobedient, obstinate, rebellious, perverse

sage

(adj.) wise; (n.) a very wise person My aunt always gives me _________ advice. Let's ask the ________ for guidance. SYNONYMS: (adj.) sagacious; (n.) philosopher, Solomon ANTONYMS: (adj.) foolish, unwise; (n.) fool, dunce

acute

(adj.) with a sharp point; keen and alert; sharp and severe, rising quickly to a high point and lasting for a short time One who is an _________ observer of human nature may notice subtle changes in people's behaviour. SYNONYMS: clever, penetrating ANTONYMS: blunted, mild, stupid, obtuse

groundless

(adj.) without any good reason or cause, unjustified Kate's groundless fear of hurting herself during exercise has left her weak and out of shape. syn: baseless, unsupported ant: well-founded, reasonable, justified

null and void

(adj.) without legal force or effect; no longer binding This contract becomes ___________________ at noon. SYNONYMS: canceled, repealed, abolished ANTONYMS: in effect, binding

berserk

(adj., adv.) violently and destructively enraged A ______________ man terrified the crowd of subway riders. The wounded lion went ______________ in his cage. SYNONYMS: (adj.) mad, deranged ANTONYMS: (adj.) sane, rational

vandalism

(b.) deliberate and pointless destruction of public or private property The city realises that it needs to create though laws to discourage _______________. SYNONYM: wilful destruction

strand

(n.) a beach or shore; a string of wire, hair, etc.; (v.) to drive or run aground; to leave in a hopeless position We asked the waiter to take back the soup when we discovered a __________ of hair in it. I don't want to be the third out in the inning and ___________ the two base runners. SYNONYMS: (n.) fiber, thread; (v.) abandon, maroon ANTONYMS: (v.) rescue, save

mortal

(n.) a being that must eventually die; (adj.) of or relating to such a being; causing death, fatal; possible, conceivable In the mythology of many cultures, a heavenly god can come down to Earth and act as a __________. The soldier was the only one in her battalion to suffer a _________ injury. SYNONYMS: (n.) human; (adj.) fleeting, extreme ANTONYMS: (n.) a god; (adj.) undying, everlasting, eternal, divine

fray

(n.) a brawl, a noisy quarrel; (v.) to wear away by rubbing; make ragged or worn; to strain, irritate After the two loudest students began arguing, the whole class jumped into the _____. A faucet that drips continuously can ______ anyone's nerves. SYNONYMS: (n.) scuffle; (v.) unravel

synopsis

(n.) a brief statement giving a general view of some subject, book, etc.; a summary The teacher's guide gives a ______________ of the plot of each story in the collection. SYNONYMS: outline, digest, abstract

replica

(n.) a copy, close reproduction We visited a life-size _____________ of the Mayflower, the Pilgrim ship docked near Plymouth, Massachusetts. SYNONYMS: duplicate, imitation ANTONYMS: original, prototype

reverie

(n.) a daydream; the condition of being lost in thought My boss interrupted my pleasant ____________ by reminding me about our deadline. SYNONYMS: fantasy, mediatation

tint

(n.) a delicate colour or hue; a slight trace of something; (v.) to give colour to something; to dye He's painting his room a _______ of blue. I want ________ my sunglass lenses pink. SYNONYMS: (n.) tone; (v.) colour, stain; ANTONYM: (v.) bleach

sleuth

(n.) a detective A skilled ___________ can find hidden clues in unusual places. SYNONYMS: investigator, gumshoe

blight

(n.) a disease that causes plants to wither and die; a condition of disease or ruin Dutch elm disease was a __________ that forever changed the look of my neighbourhood. Though she received several letters of rejection, she determined not to let them __________ her hopes of going to college. SYNONYMS: (n.) eyesore; (v.) spoil, nip ANTONYMS: (v.) foster, promote, nourish, encourage

debut

(n.) a first public appearance; a formal entrance into society; (v.) to make a first appearance The talented flute player in the marching band finally made her _________ as a soloist today. Many theatres will ________ the film tonight. SYNONYMS: (n.) coming-out; ANTONYMS: (n.) retirement, departure

deluge

(n.) a great flood; a heavy fall of rain; anything that comes in a vast quantity (like a flood); (v.) to flood Owners are hoping this summer will bring a ____________ of visitors to their new theme park in Minneapolis. A torrential downpour ___________ the entire town. SYNONYMS: (v.) swamp, inundate ANTONYMS: (n.) trickle, dribble

parody

(n.) a humorous or ridiculous imitation; (v.) to make fun of something by imitating it The audience roared with laughter at the comedy troupe's hilarious _______________. The new film successfully ____________ political life in England. SYNONYMS: (n.) satire, travesty; (v.) lampoon, burlesque

ingratitude

(n.) a lack of thankfulness Hosts who make every effort to please their guests are apt to be hurt by ________________. SYNONYMS: thanklessness, ungratefulness ANTONYMS: thankfulness, gratefulness, recognition

beacon

(n.) a light or other signal that warns and guides; a lighthouse; anything that guides or inspires Sailors returning to port on a dark night search for the glow of a familiar _____________. SYNONYMS: beam, flare

queue

(n.) a line of people waiting for something (such as a bus); (v.) to form such a line A long ___________ formed at the bus stop. Eager fans __________ up for the best seats. SYNONYMS: (n.) column, file, row, line ANTONYM: (n.) disorganised crowd

epic

(n.) a long narrative poem ( or other literary composition) about the deeds of heroes; an event or movement of great sweep; (adj.) on a grand scale, vast, titanic Beowulf, the English _________ was written around the year 700. It describes _________ struggles between the forces of good and evil. SYNONYMS: saga, chronicle

encounter

(n.) a meeting (especially one that is unplanned); a meeting of enemies, battle; (v.) to meet or come upon Remember our ________________ with that skunk? We might ________________ other curious animals. SYNONYMS: (n.) confrontation; (v.) happen upon ANTONYMS: (v) avoid, sidestep

maze

(n.) a network of paths which it is hard to find oe's way; something very mixed-up and confusing Ancient Rome was a ________ of narrow streets and winding alleys. SYNONYMS: labyrinth, puzzle, tangle

memorandum

(n.) a note to aid one's memory; an informal note or report (pl., memorandums or memoranda) The principal weekly __________________ reminds teachers of programs, deadlines, and special events. SYNONYM: reminder

template

(n.) a pattern, typically in the form of metal, wood or plastic; something that is used as a model to imitate The carpenter created a wooden ____________ for a stair step so that he could easily construct the staircase. SYNONYMS: mock-up, stencil, guide, shape, mold

culprit

(n.) a person who has committed a crime or is guilty of some misconduct; an offender Thanks to their efficient tracking methods, the police were able to catch the __________ red-handed. SYNONYMS: lawbreaker, wrongdoer

nonconformist

(n.) a person who refuses to follow established ideas or ways of doing things; (adj.) of or relating to the unconventional Jake, ____________________ is not swayed by opinion. Her ____________________ poetry appears in several; small literary magazines. SYNONYMS: (n.) maverick, individualist, bohemian ANTONYMS: (n., adj.) traditions, conventionalists; (adj.) traditional, conventional, conservative

maneuver

(n.) a planned movement; a skilled plan; a scheme; (v.) to perform or carry out such planned movement The troops carried out a night ____________ as part of the training mission. It takes a steady hand to _____________ the high-speed power drill. SYNONYMS:(n.) move, tactic; (v.) guide, manipulate

pantomime

(n.) a play or story performed without words by actors using only gestures, (v.) to express in this way The performer included a short _________________. We ___________________ when we're unable to speak. SYNONYMS: (n.) mime show, dumb show

trait

(n.) a quality or characteristic ( especially of personality); a distinguishing feature Your most appealing __________ is your unfailing sense of humour.

recitation

(n.) a reading in public of something that is memorised; a memorised poem or piece of prose that is read aloud Kent was not nervous at all when he gave his Walt Whitman _______________ at the school assembly. SYNONYMS: (n.) recital, performance, presentation

consequence

(n.) a result, effect; importance Does he truly comprehend the _____________________ of his actions? SYNONYMS: outcome, significance ANTONYMS: cause, source

sanctuary

(n.) a sacred or holy place; refuge or protection from punishment; a place of refuge or protection The exhausted refugees found _________________ in a local church. SYNONYMS: shrine, haven

commentary

(n.) a series of notes clarifying or explaining something; an expression of opinion Our spiritual leader gave us a ____________________ the true meaning of charity. SYNONYMS: explanation, narration, description, account, review, analysis

vow

(n.) a solemn or sacred promise or pledge; (v.) to declare or promise in a solemn way Prince Hamlet made a solemn _____ to avenge his father's murder. A bride and groom _____ to love each other throughout their marriage. SYNONYMS: (n.) word of honour; (v.) pledge

plight

(n.) a sorry condition or state; (v.) to pledge, promise solemnly The __________ of the homeless upsets many concerned citizens. Wedding guests watched the bride and groom __________ their undying love. SYNONYMS: predicament, quandary

testimonial

(n.) a statement that speaks to a person's character or to the benefits of a product; expressing the value and worth of someone or something The famous athlete's _____________ about the thirst-quenching drink made impression on TV viewers. SYNONYMS: memorial, tribute, evidence, statement

cascade

(n.) a steep, narrow waterfall; something falling or rushing forth in quantity; (v.) to flow downward ( like a waterfall) We were thrilled when we hit the jackpot, which produced a ______________ of loudly jangling coins. I watched the clear, sparkling water _____________ down the mountainside. SYNONYMS: (v.) plunge, rush, tumble ANTONYMS: (n.) dribble, drop; (v.) trickle, ooze

partisan

(n.) a strong supporter of a person, party, or cause; one whose support is unreasoning; a resistance fighter, guerrilla; (adj.) strongly supporting one side only That candidate is ____________ of term limits. ________________ hometown fans ca be hostile to those from out of town. SYNONYMS: (n.) fan, booster; (adj.) partial, biased ANTONYMS: (n.) critic, foe; (adj.) impartial, neutral

upheaval

(n.) a sudden, violent upward movement; great disorder or radical change The sudden change in leadership caused dramatic social and economic _______________. SYNONYMS: confusion, disruption, chaos ANTONYMS: tranquility, peace and quiet

panorama

(n.) a wide, unobstructed view of area; a complete survey or a subject; a continuously passing or changing scene; range or spectrum Displays of old picture postcards present an entertaining _______________ of twentieth-century life. SYNONYM: overview

misapprehension

(n.) a wrong idea, misunderstanding A lingering ________________________ their hands in this equipment if they don't pay attention to what they're doing. SYNONYMS: mutilate, butcher, disfigure, rend

posterity

(n.) all of a person's offspring, descendants; all future generations Let's keep the photo album for ________________ ANTONYMS: ancestry, ancestors, forebears, the past

revocation

(n.) an act or instance of calling back, an annulment, cancellation His failure to complete the job according to schedule led to a ______________ of his contract. SYNONYMS: repeal, withdrawal ANTONYMS: ratification, confirmation

sabotage

(n.) an action taken to destroy something or to prevent it from working properly; (v.) to take such destructive action Foreign embassies worry about _______________. Protesters decided to ________________ the destroy

alias

(n.) an assuming name, especially as used to hide one's identity; (adv.) otherwise called " Mr. Plante" was just one ________ used by the elusive spy. Superman, _______ Clark Kent, began as a comic book character created in 1938. SYNONYM: (n.) pseudonym ANTONYMS: (n.) real name, given name, legal name

ovation

(n.) an enthusiastic public welcome, an outburst of applause The audience gave the dancer a standing ___________ after his impressive performance. SYNONYMS: bravos, hurrahs; ANTONYMS: boos, jeers

fatality

(n.) an event resulting in death; an accidental death The driver slammed on the brakes, but it was too late to prevent the traffic _____________. SYNONYMS: causality, mortality ANTONYM: injury

atrocity

(n.) an extremely wicked, brutal, or cruel act; something very bad or unpleasant The Nazis took great pains to keep detailed records of each kind of ___________ they committed. SYNONYMS: enormity, monstrosity ANTONYMS: good deed, kindness

vagabond

(n.) an idle wanderer; a tramp; (adj.) wandering; irresponsible The _______________ carried his few belongings in a shabby cardboard suitcase. The ______________ life interests some people, but it doesn't't appeal me. SYNONYMS: (n.) vagrant; (adj.) unsettled, footloose ANTONYMS: (n.) homebody, resident; (adj.) settled

implement

(n.) an instrument, tool; (v.) to put into effect The harrow is a farm ________________ that is used to pulverise and smooth soil. The highway patrol will __________________ the new speed limit as of July of this year. SYNONYMS: (n.) device, utensil; (V.) fulfill, accomplish, achieve, apply, carry out

relic

(n.) an object from the past with historical value or interest; a trace of an outdated custom; remaining fragments, ruins The old Model T in my grandfather's barn is a _________ of the first American touring cars. SYNONYMS: (n.) artefact, historical object

vocation

(n.) any trade, profession, or occupation; a sense of fitness or special calling for one's work After many years of searching, she found her true _______________ as a horse trainer. SYNONYMS: career, pursuit ANTONYMS: hobby, pastime, avocation

strife

(n.) bitter disagreement; fighting, struggle The experienced senator from South Carolina was a veteran of political ________. SYNONYMS: conflict, discord, turmoil ANTONYMS: peace, calm, agreement

clarity

(n.) clearness, accuracy The vet explained with great __________ how best to housebreak our new puppy. SYNONYMS: lucidity, precision ANTONYMS: confusion, murkiness, ambiguity

remorse

(n.) deep and painful regret for one's past misdeeds; pang of conscience When the driver realised what a terrible accident he had caused, he was overcome with ____________. SYNONYM: guilt ANTONYMS: clear conscience, guiltlessness

relish

(n.) enjoyment or satisfaction; something that adds a pleasing flavour; (v.) to enjoy greatly She opened the tiny box with ________, knowing that it contained a piece of jewellery. Now that I've learned about Japan in class, I _________ the chance to travel there. SYNONYMS: (n.) pleasure, gusto; (v.) take delight in ANTONYMS: loathe, hate, despise

leeway

(n.) extra space for moving along a certain route; allowance for mistakes or inaccuracies; margin of error Experienced planners allow _________ of a week or so in case a project runs into snags or delays. SYNONYMS: latitude, elbow room

discretion

(n.) good judgement; care in speech and action; freedom to judge or choose My teacher suggested I use ______________ in dealing with my difficult classmate. SYNONYMS: prudence, tact, discrimination

pacifist

(n.) one who is against war or the use of violence; (adj.) opposing war or violence Martin Luther King, Jr, was a _____________ who influenced the civil rights movement. ______________ students protested the war. SYNONYMS: (n.) peacemaker, dove; ANTONYM: (n.) warmonger

taskmaster

(n.) one whose job it is to assign work to others; one who uses his or her power to make people work very hard The crusty old boss was a harsh _________________ but also an efficient manager. SYNONYMS: supervisor, slave driver

oracle

(n.) someone or something that can predict the future; someone who gives astute answers or advice that seems authoritative According to Greek legend, people sought prophecy at the great _________ at Delphi. SYNONYMS: prophet, seer, sibyl

supplement

(n.) something added complete a thing or make up for a lack; a section added to a book or document; (v.) to provide such an addition or completion The sports _______________ is my favourite part of this magazine. Many people __________________ their regular diet by taking daily vitamins. SYNONYMS: (n.) addition, extension; (v.) add to

keepsake

(n.) something kept in memory of the giver; a souvenir Before my grandmother died, she made me a special quilt as a ____________ of her love. SYNONYMS: reminder, memento

innovation

(n.) something new, a change; the act of introducing a new method, idea, device, etc. Our furnace has an energy-saving _______________ that turns the heat on and off at certain intervals. SYNONYMS: novelty, modernisation, new wrinkle

partition

(n.) something that divides (such as a wall); the act of dividing something into parts or sections; (v.) to divide or subdivide into parts or shares A cloth ______________ in the study gave each of us some privacy. If you like, we can easily ____________ the backyard into four separate play areas. SYNONYMS: (n.) divider, separation ANTONYMS: (v.) join, combine, consolidate, merge

setback

(n.) something that interferes with progress, a disappointment, unexpected loss or defeat, a step-like recession in a wall A broken toe can be a major __________ for a skater who hopes to qualify for the Olympics. SYNONYMS: failure, reversal ANTONYMS: advance, gain, progress, triumph

memento

(n.) something that serves as a reminder This cap is a ______________ of our recent trip. SYNONYMS: remembrance, souvenir, token

onset

(n.) the beginning, start (especially of something violent and destructive); an attack, assault At the _________ of the heavy storm, frightened people ran to find shelter. SYNONYMS: onset, commencement ANTONYMS: conclusion, close, end

terrain

(n.) the landscape, especially its physical features or fitness for some use; a field of knowledge Mountain bikes are designed to withstand even the most rugged ____________. SYNONYMS: ground, topography, territory

duration

(n.) the length of time that something continues or lasts Even though the story was hard to follow, my friends decided to stay for the ____________ of the opera.

allegiance

(n.) the loyalty or obligation owed to a government, nation, or cause At a a festive yet solemn ceremony, fifty new citizens swore _________________ to their adopted nation. SYNONYMS: obedience, fidelity

verge

(n.) the point which something begins or happens; a border; (v.) to incline, tend toward, approach; to be in the process of becoming something else I was on the _________ of tears today. That chatter _________ on baby talk. SYNONYMS: (n.) threshold, edge

agenda

(n.) the program for a meeting; a list, outline, or plan of things to be considered or done The ___________ for today's assembly includes a plan for recycling in the classroom. SYNONYMS: schedule, docket

minimum

(n.) the smallest possible amount; (adj.) the lowest permissible or possible I need to sleep a ____________ of seven hours every night. The ______________ age to get a driver's license in this state is sixteen. SYNONYM: (adj.) least ANTONYMS: (n.) maximum; (adj.) highest, most

fidelity

(n.) the state of being faithful; accuracy in details, exactness The ____________ of scratchy old records can't match the clarity of CDs. SYNONYMS: loyalty, faithfulness; ANTONYMS: disloyalty, treachery

impact

(n.) the striking of one object against another; the shock caused by a collision; (v.) to affect, especially forcefully The ___________ of the car crash destroyed both vehicles, but miraculously no one was hurt. Budget cuts will ____________ the number of hours the public library can stay open. SYNONYMS: (n.) collision, blow, effect

initiative

(n.) the taking of the first step or move; the ability to act without being directed or urged from the outside Dad is proud of my _____________ with chores. SYNONYMS: leadership, enterprise ANTONYMS: laziness, sloth, shiftlessness

grit

(n.) very fine sand or gravel; courage in the face of hardship for danger; (v.) to grind; to make a grating sound Cars stall if ______ clogs a fuel line. It upsets me to see Dad get angry and _______ his teeth. SYNONYMS: (n.) dirt, mettle ANTONYMS: (n.) timidity, cowardice, faintheartedness

affluence

(n.) wealth, riches, property; great abundance, plenty Education, hard work, and a very strong desire to succeed can raise a person from poverty to _______________. SYNONYM: opulence; ANTONYMS: poverty, want, destitution, scarcity

arrears

(n., pl.) unpaid or overdue debts; an unfinished duty Bad spending habits and unexpected expenses left my aunt in __________. SYNONYMS: in default, in the red, late, overdue

manacle

(n., usually pl.) a handcuff, anything that chains or confines; (v.) to chain or restrain (as with handcuffs) The kidnappers clamped ____________ on their frightened hostages. The guards ____________ the uncooperative prisoner to the chair. SYNONYMS: (v.) put in chains, fetter ANTONYMS: (v.) unchain, set free, emancipate, release

scour

(v.) to clean or polish by hard rubbing; to examine with great care; to move about quickly in search of The pot roast was delicious, but won't be any fun to ________ the burned roasting pan. SYNONYMS: scrub, search, comb ANTONYMS: dirty, soil

befuddle

(v.) to confuse, make stupid A difficult scientific experiment with many steps is likely to _____________ most beginners. SYNONYMS: bewilder, boggle, stupefy ANTONYMS: enlighten, set straight

confer

(v.) to consult, talk over, exchange opinions; to present as a gift, favour, or honour The committee will ___________ before taking any action on the proposed new contract. SYNONYMS: deliberate, award, bestow ANTONYMS: withdraw, take away, withhold, deny

tally

(v.) to count up; to keep score; to make entries for reckoning; to correspond or agree; (n.) a total or score They will __________ the votes after 9:00 P.M. Our teacher keeps an accurate __________ of all of our absences. SYNONYMS: (v., n.) total, record

enumerate

(v.) to count; to name one by one, list These booklets _________________ and compare all the high-tech features that new televisions can offer. SYNONYMS: check off, spell out, specify

quash

(v.) to crush, put down completely Swift military action was required to _________ the revolt before anyone was injured. SYNONYM: suppress ANTONYMS: start, kindle, ignite, encourage

dissect

(v.) to cut apart in preparation for scientific study; to analyse with great care I can't wait to ___________ a frog in biology class next week. SYNONYM: examine ANTONYMS: sew together, fuse, weld

acquit

(v.) to declare not guilty, free from blame, discharge completely; to conduct or behave oneself Now that we have proof of their innocence, we can __________ them of all charges. SYNONYMS: exonerate, dismiss ANTONYMS: convict, declare guilty

affirm

(v.) to declare to be true, state positively; to confirm Unexpected kindness from a stranger during a time of need can ___________ one's faith in human nature. SYNONYMS: assert, ratify ANTONYMS: deny, disavow, veto, disallow

foil

(v.) to defeat; to keep from gaining some end; (n.) a thin sheet of metal; a light fencing sword; a person or thing serving as a constrast to another The police will ________ the criminals' plot. Glum characters make a good ________ for the upbeat star of that new comedy. SYNONYMS: (v.) frustate, thwart, counter; (n.) rapier ANTONYMS: (v.) aid, abet, assist, advance, promote

tarry

(v.) to delay leaving; to linger, wait; to remain or stay for a while He will be tempted to _______ longer if he thinks that this might be they last visit together. SYNONYMS: dawdle, dally ANTONYMS: rush, hasten, leave, depart

devastate

(v.) to destroy, lay waste, leave in ruins Failure or harsh criticism can ________________ a person who has shaky self-esteem. SYNONYMS: wreck, desolate ANTONYMS: develop, improve

deter

(v.) to discourage, scare off, or prevent through fear or doubt Traffic jams won't __________ us from coming to your birthday party. ANTONYMS: encourage, urge on

accommodate

(v.) to do a favour or service for, help out; to provide for, supply with; to have space for; too make fit or suitable That van is the ideal vehicle for carpooling because it can ______________________ nine passengers. SYNONYMS: oblige, lodge, adapt ANTONYMS: disoblige, inconvenience, trouble

wither

(v.) to dry up, wilt, sag; to cause someone to feel ashamed, humiliated, or very small Despite people's best efforts to remain young looking, skin will eventually __________ with age. SYNONYMS: shrivel, droop, shame, abash ANTONYMS: bloom, flower, flourish, burgeon

scan

(v.) to examine closely; to look over quickly but thoroughly; to analyze the rhythm of a poem; (n.) an examination Let's _______ the to see the finishing times of each marathon runner. The doctor did a bone _______ to discover the location of each fracture. SYNONYMS: (v.) study, glance at, skim; (v., n.) survey

formulate

(v.) to express definitely or systematically; to devise, invent; to state as a formula The town board will _________________ a tax policy. SYNONYMS: define, articulate, frame, specify

topple

(v.) to fall forward; to overturn, bring about the downfall of The trains that rumble past our apartment often cause books to __________ from the shelves. SYNONYMS: unseat, upset, tumble ANTONYMS: remain upright, establish, set up

repent

(v.) to feel sorry for what one has done or has failed to do As people grow older and gain more maturity, some of them come to __________ their youthful mistakes. SYNONYM: regret; ANTONYM: rejoice over

replenish

(v.) to fill again, make good, replace Airport crews work quickly to ________________ a plane's supply of food, water, and safety supplies. SYNONYMS: restock, refresh, restore ANTONYMS: empty, drain, sap

retrieve

(v.) to find and bring back, get back; to put right, make good I don't relish having to ____________ the tennis balls every time you hit them over the fence! SYNONYMS: regain, fetch, remedy, rectify

delude

(v.) to fool, deceive; to mislead utterly Don't ___________ yourself into thinking that you will become a famous concert pianist just because you played one song at school's talent show. SYNONYMS: trick, hoodwick

liberate

(v.) to free from bondage or domination; to release The police _____________ the anxious hostages after sixteen hours of confinement. SYNONYMS: untie, unshackle ANTONYMS: imprison, fetter, shackle, bind

avenge

(v.) to get revenge for. get even for, settle a score; to punish someone or get satisfaction for a wrong or injury In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the title character vows to __________ his father's death. SYNONYM: retaliate

distort

(v.) to give a false or misleading account of; to twist out of shape A magazine known to ___________ the facts would be an unreliable source of information. SYNONYMSL disfigure, misshape, falsify

exalt

(v.) to make high in rank, power, character, or quality; to fill with pride, joy, or noble feeling; to praise, honour Let us now __________ the heroes for their courage and character in the face of all this adversity. SYNONYMS: elevate, raise, uplift ANTONYMS: lower, cast down, humble, degrade, demote, depose

pacify

(v.) to make peaceful or calm; to soothe The factory owners hope to __________ the angry protesters with promises of higher wages. SYNONYMS: mollify, placate ANTONYMS: anger, arouse, stir up, torment, ignite

stupefy

(v.) to make stupid, dull, or groggy; to surprise or astonish The vet used a powerful tranquilliser to ____________ the animal. SYNONYMS: stun, daze, shock, amaze, astound ANTONYMS: awaken, arouse, stimulate, enliven

intimidate

(v.) to make timid or frighten by threats; to use fear to get someone to do (or no to do) something Bullies may try to _______________ us, but if we act brave an tall, we can diminish their threats. SYNONYMS: browbeat, hector

writhe

(v.) to make twisting or turning movements in a way that suggests pain or struggle It's so sad to see an injured bird _________ in pain. SYNONYMS: twist, squirm, thrash

rendezvous

(v.) to meet in accordance with a plan; (n.) a meeting by agreement; a meeting place Let's all agree to _________________ by the fountain on Saturday afternoon. They kept their __________________ a secret. SYNONYMS: (n.) date, assignation

lag

(v.) to move slowly or fall behind; to bring up the rear; (n.) a falling behind; the amount by which someone or something is behind; an interval Please try not to _______ behind the others. There is a three-hour _______ from the time I send you an e-mail until you receive it. SYNONYMS: (v.) trail, straggle; (v., n.) delay ANTONYMS: (v.) keep up, outstrip, outdo

extort

(v.) to obtain by violence, misuse of authority, or threats The kidnappers tried to ___________ a huge sum of money in return for releasing their prisoners unharmed. SYNONYMS: blackmail, coerce, bilk, " shake down"

reimburse

(v.) to pay back; to give payment for When you go on business trips, the company will ________________ all your traveling expenses, SYNONYMS: repay, refund, compensate

expend

(v.) to pay out, depend; to use up The most experienced long-distance runners learn not to __________ their energy too soon. SYNONYMS: utilize, consume, disburse ANTONYMS: save, hoard

immerse

(v.) to plunge or dip into a fluid; to involve deeply I find it's easier to ____________ my entire body in a swimming pool than try to get used to the water slowly. SYNONYMS: dunk, engross ANTONYMS: dredge up, pull out

commemorate

(v.) to preserve, honour, or celebrate the memory of Each May we _____________________ Grandpa's life by lighting a special candle for him that burns for 24 hours. SYNONYM: memorialise ANTONYMS: dishonour, forget, overlook

converse

(v.) to preserve; to keep from being damaged, lost, or wasted; to save Responsible citizens try to _____________ our precious natural resources. SYNONYMS: guard, care for; ANTONYMS: waste, squander, dissipate

refute

(v.) to prove incorrect After analysing the situation, I now know a foolproof way to __________ the original claim. SYNONYMS: disprove, rebut ANTONYMS: prove, confirm, corroborate

pry

(v.) to pull loose by force; to look at closely or inquisitively; to be nosy about something We can use this tool to _______ the lid off a can of paint. SYNONYMS: snoop, meddle

chasten

(v.) to punish (in order to bring about improvement in behaviour, attitude, etc.); to restrain, moderate Dad knows how to ______________ the stubborn child with a firm but soothing voice. SYNONYMS: discipline, temper ANTONYMS: praise, commend, reward

reminisce

(v.) to recall one's past thoughts, feelings, or experiences At the family reunion, we got to hear 94-year-old Tía Luzia _______________ about life in old Havana. SYNONYMS: remember, recollect

prowl

(v.) to roam about stealthily in search of something A panther can __________ freely at night because its dark fur prevents it from being seen. SYNONYMS: rove, sulk, slink, lurk

slake

(v.) to satisfy, relieve, or bring to an end Nothing can __________ thirst better than water. SYNONYMS: gratify, sate, ease, assuage ANTONYMS: increase, intensify, aggravate

skimp

(v.) to save, be thrifty; to be extreme sparing with; to give little attention or effort to If you ___________ on regular meals, you may be tempted to snack on too much junk food. SYNONYMS: be stingy, scrimp, cut corners ANTONYMS: be extravagant, splurge, lavish

confiscate

(v.) to seize by authority; to take and keep The police will _________________ that car. SYNONYMS: commandeer, expropriate ANTONYMS: return, reinstate

earmark

(v.) to set aside for a special purpose; to mark an animal's ear for identification; (n.) an identifying mark or feature let's ______________ the money we received for the new building fund. SYNONYMS: (v.) reserve; (n.) trait, attribute

cringe

(v.) to shrink back or hide in fear or submissiveness My father told me to be brave and not to ___________ when the doctor vaccinated me. SYNONYMS: flinch, duck, fawn; ANTONYMS: strut, swagger

abstain

(v.) to stay away from doing something by one's own choice I find it hard to _____________ from these tempting and delicious desserts. SYNONYMS: avoid, decline, resist ANTONYMS: yield to, give in to, indulge in

adhere

(v.) to stick to, remain attached; to be devoted or loyal as a follower or supporter Things will work out better if we ____________ to our original plan. SYNONYMS: cling, hold fast ANTONYMS: unfasten, unglue, abandon, betray

balk

(v.) to stop short and refuse to go on; to refuse abruptly; to prevent from happening; (n.) (in baseball) an illegal motion made by a pitcher My horse ________ when I urged it to go up the steep mountain slope. The opposing team scored an additional run because of the pitcher's ________. SYNONYMS: (v.) hesitate, block

saunter

(v.) to stroll; walk in an easy, leisurely way; (n.) a stroll The star ____________ past his adoring fans. It's such a beautiful day to take a ____________. SYNONYMS: ramble, amble; (n.) promenade ANTONYMS: speed, race, hurry, dash, scurry, rush

cope

(v.) to struggle successfully against; to prove to be a match for, deal with satisfactorily; (n.) a long religious cloak; a canopy Education and experience provide us with the skills we need to ________ with difficult situations. We exchanged wedding vows under a blue _______. SYNONYMS: (v.) make do, get along, handle

engulf

(v.) to swallow up, overwhelm, consume The truck was ____________ in flames after its fuel tank exploded. SYNONYMS: encompass, immerse

detract

(v.) to take away from; reduce in value or reputation Nothing can _____________ from your beauty! SYNONYMS: subtract from, lower ANTONYMS: increase, heighten, enhance

bluster

(v.) to talk or act in a noisy and threatening way; to blow in stormy gusts, to speech that is loud and threatening When we saw harsh winds ___________ around our tent, we decided to change our plans for the weekend. Dad's manner is all __________ but beneath it all, he's really a kind-hearted man. SYNONYMS: (v.) spout, rant, brag, swagger; (n.) bravado

rend

(v.) to tear to pieces; split violently apart ( past tense, rent) The abominable tactics of this trial could ________ public confidence in the legal system. SYNONYMS: cleave, splinter, tear asunder

deem

(v.) to think, believe; to consider, have an opinion Most people _________ it a wise plan to set aside savings for the future. SYNONYMS: judge, regard

discredit

(v.) to throw doubt upon, cause to be distrusted; to damage in reputation; (n.) a loss or lack of belief, confidence, or reputation We have gathered a considerable amount of evidence to ___________ her story. Both parents and students

prevail

(v.) to triumph over; to succeed; to exist widely, be in general use; to get someone to do something by urging We hope to ____________ over all obstacles we may encounter on this project. SYNONYMS: win, rule, overcome, conquer ANTONYMS: be defeated, go under, succumb

amalgamate

(v.) to unite; to combine elements into a unified whole Two small companies will ___________________ into one large corporation on June 1. SYNONYMS: merge, consolidate ANTONYMS: divide, seperate, carve up, break up

amble

(v.) to walk slowly, stroll; (n.) an easy pace; a leisurely walk It's a lovely day to __________ to work and enjoy the many sights and sounds along the way. When we woke to see the sun shine, we planned a long __________ in the park. SYNONYMS: (v.) saunter; (n.) ramble ANTONYMS: (v., n.) gallop, dash, sprint, run, race, rush

dawdle

(v.) to waste time; to be idle; to spend more time in doing something than is necessary It's relaxing to ___________ in the shower, but it wastes water. SYNONYMS: delay, loiter, dillydally ANTONYMS: hurry, hasten, speed up, bustle

idolize

(v.) to workship as an idol, make an idol of; love very much Teens who ___________ a movie star may repeatedly see the same movie featuring that actor or actress. SYNONYMS: adore, revere ANTONYMS: despise, scorn, disdain, detest

disinterested

A judge must remain disinterested in order to render an evenhanded and logical decision.

pessimist

A pessimist sees a glass as half empty.

irk

A question that shows a student's lack of attention irks the teacher.

immense

Alaska enjoys immense natural resources but its severe climate makes those resources difficult to use.

arid

Although California leads the nation in farming, crops won't grow in its most arid regions.

uncouth

Although the quality of his work was good, his uncouth attitude cost him the job.

illusion

Artist M. C. Escher often used optical illusion.

expressly

At the meeting, parents expressly stated their approval of students wearing school uniforms.

enigma

Critics complained that the plot twists in the new mystery movie make it an enigma.

global

E-mail and the Internet have linked the entire world into a global village.

wholesome

He always eats wholesome foods.

oaf

He generally moved like an oaf, so I was surprised to see how graceful he was on the dance floor.

wistful

Her wistful look made me sad.

puncture

He used a needle to make a small puncture in the balloon. I tried not to wince as the hypodermic needle punctured my skin.

contemporary

His novel used a contemporary style but had a historical setting. Rather than ask parents for help, teens often turn to a contemporary for advice.

sheepish

His sheepish grin made the crowds cheer all the more for his unlikely victory.

motivate

How can we motivate the students to undertake more challenging work?

serene

How does she manage to stay so serene in the face of such chaos?

precaution

I advise you to take every precaution necessary to prevent a household fire.

gainful

I hope to find gainful employment that is pleasing to me.

forsake

I will never forsake my children, no matter what they do or say.

gloat

I will not gloat about winning a scholarship to music camp.

retaliate

I would retaliate for that cheap insult, but I fear it may only make matters worse.

douse

I'll douse the flames with the hose.

besiege

If troops besiege their stronghold, the rebel forces may be forced to surrender.

confront

In court, defendants can confront their accusers in a controlled setting.

infuriate

It infuriates most parents when their children refuse to listen to them and treat them with disrespect.

repast

Let's get together after the at Callie's Café got a late-night repast.

stamina

Marathon runners need a great deal of stamina.

instantaneous

Most computer software is designed so that users can obtain nearly instantaneous responses.

encompass

Oceans encompass about three-fourths of the surface of our planet.

incomprehensible

Our school's intercom system is so old that this morning's announcements were almost incomprehensible.

diversity

Our science teacher has a diversity of interests, including an appreciation of Russian literature.

manipulate

Scientists should not manipulate data.

prosecute

She was told she would not be prosecuted if she restored the money.

adverse

Some people suffer an adverse reaction if they eat peanut butter or anything with peanuts.

denounce

The United Nations decided to publicly denounce the tyrant's crimes.

famished

The Vietnamese immigrants, new to a strange American city, were famished for news of home.

mimic

The conmedy troupe has many talented members, but it still needs to hire a good mimic. Troy continually entertains his friends because he can mimic any accent he hears.

underscore

The dire situation in the hospital's emergency room underscores the importance of having enough doctors and nurses available. The word with an underscore is in Spanish

compress

The editor helped compress my rambling 25-page mystery into an 8-page thriller. A cold compress may soothe headache pain.

dispatch

We'll dispatch a repair crew right away. He approved the request with dispatch.

barrage

The governor faced a barrage of questions about possible budget cuts.

assailant

The jogger was injured by an unknown assailant who left him immobile at the side of the road.

billow

The ocean billow rose and fell attracting the most daring surfers. Fans cheered enthusiastically when they saw their teams flags billow over the stadium.

depict

The painter chose to depict a plain parairie landscape using bold colors and shadows.

sham

The play includes a sham fight scene. Her claim that she's a princess is a sham. Don't sham an illness in order to miss a day of school.

inept

The scientist is brilliant in the research laboratory but is inept at dealing with people.

hypocrite

The speaker who said one thing but did something else entirely was regarded as a hypocrite.

ingenious

The students found an ingenious solution to the math problem.

recede

The town residents must wait for the flood waters to recede before they can deal with the terrible mess left behind.

misgiving

They had misgiving about joining the chorus because of its demanding schedule.

maximum

This postage scale can weigh a maximum of only five pounds. To ease the patient's suffering, the doctor prescribed the maximum dosage of painkillers.

bigot

When you speak in that narrow-minded way, you sound like a bigot.

designate

Will you please tell me when the coach will designate a team leader? The new student council designate is looking forward to making many changes to the student government.

apparel

Winter apparel should be warm and cozy. Let's apparel our cats for the party.

constrain

You can't constrain me against my will.