Irreverent: disrespectful
• Synonyms: profane,
impious, sacrilegious,
flippant
• Antonyms: awed,
respectful, devout,
pious, deferential
What type of irreverent
behaviors have you
regretted in the past
week?
“Mind your
manners.”
Laborious: not easy, requiring hard
work; hardworking
• Synonyms: arduous,
difficult, strenuous,
wearisome
• Antonyms: easy,
effortless, facile
Having a career is
laborious, but
rewarding as well.
Lithe: bending easily, limber
• Synonyms: supple,
flexible, pliant, lissome
• Antonyms: stiff, rigid,
inflexible, taut
Lithe…need I say
more?
Maltreat: to abuse, use roughly
or crudely
• Synonyms: misuse,
mistreat, harm,
aggrieve
• Antonyms: coddle,
pamper, indulge
Maltreating animals is a
criminal offense.
Ponder: to consider carefully,
reflect on
• Synonyms: think over,
ruminate, contemplate
It is important to
ponder all homework
assignments. Take
pride in your work.
Subversive: adj: intended to undermine or overthrow;
noun: one who advocates or attempts to
undermine a political system
• Synonyms: treasonous,
traitorous; a
revolutionary
• Antonyms: patriotic,
loyal, true-blue
It is considered to be
subversive to burn the
American flag.
Synthetic: adj: made or put together
by people; noun: something artificial
• Synonyms: artificial,
ersatz
• Antonyms: natural,
genuine
You can normally tell the
difference between
synthetic and genuine
flowers.
Temperate: mild, moderate
• Synonyms: mild,
moderate
• Antonyms: immoderate,
extreme, excessive,
harsh
Most people prefer
temperate weather
over storms and
freezing
temperatures.
Venomous: poisonous; spiteful, mean
• Synonyms:
nasty, malicious,
virulent, malevolent
• Antonyms:
harmless, innocuous,
benign
Can you recall a
short story that we
have read,
involving a
venomous snake?
Wily: sly, shrewd, cunning
• Synonyms: clever, tricky,
artful, foxy, cagey
• Antonyms: Dull-witted,
dense, artless,
straightforward
“That wily coyote
is at it again.”