ABSCOND #1. (V)
Context: The thief absconded into the
darkness on the stolen scooter.
Defined: to leave hurriedly & secretly to avoid
detection, to run away, bolt, escape, flee, make
a break for it, vamoose
2 Synonyms:
_A_ I S_
S_ E _ _ DD_E
Write a short paragraph (3-5 sent.) about
someone/something who/that absconded,
absconds, or is absconding.
USURP #2. (V.)
Context: Richard usurped the throne from
King
George.
Defined: seize, take over, take possession of,
take (a position of power or importance)
illegally or by force
2 Synonyms:
O__ S__
O__ER__ __ RO__
EPITOME #3. (N.)
Context: Cary Grant was the epitome of style,
charm, and wit as a leading man in movies.
Defined: a person or thing that is a perfect
example of a particular quality or type;
embodiment, paradigm, model, archetype
2 Synonyms:
ES__ __ N_E
E_ _ _P _ E
Write the epitome of something in your
notebook.
E.g. great ice cream Sebastian Joe’s Pavarotti
EUPHORIC #4. (ADJ.)
Context: The Olympians received a euphoric
welcome home.
Defined: feeling intense excitement or
happiness, elated, blissful, joyful, ecstatic, on
cloud nine, over the moon, on top of the world
Describe a time when you had a euphoric
feeling.
SCINTILLATING #5. (ADJ.)
Context: The ice skater’s scintillating
rhinestone costume nearly blinded the judges.
Defined: sparkling or shining brightly, glittering,
glistening; brilliantly and excitingly clever or
skillful (E.g. scintillating wit)
2 Antonyms:
__ __ L __
__O __ __ N __
WIZENED #6. (Adj.)
Context: Their wizened faces said much about
the hard lives they had endured.
Defined: shriveled or wrinkled with age, lined,
creased, withered, weather-beaten, shrunken,
gnarled, aged
List three nouns the adj. wizened could
describe.
ZEPHYR #7. (N.)
Context: A summer zephyr gently stirred her
hair as she walked through the meadow.
Defined: a soft, gentle breeze
Origin: Greek zephuros ‘god of the west wind’
NEBULOUS #8. (ADJ.)
Context: Presidential candidates need to be
specific and not just talk about nebulous ideas if
I’m going to vote for them.
Defined: vague, cloudy, hazy, unclear, fuzzy, illdefined, ambiguous
Origin: Latin nebula ‘mist’
SERENE #9. (ADJ.)
Context: Max stood in front of Mona Lisa,
puzzling over the famous woman’s serene smile.
Defined: 1-calm, untroubled, peaceful, tranquil,
at ease
Antonym: A _ _T__ __ED
2-serene valleys: peaceful, quiet, undisturbed,
still, placid
Antonym: T__R_ __L __ __ T
DERELICT #10. (ADJ.)
Context: Even though it was dangerous, the
children enjoyed going to the deserted lot and
playing in the derelict house.
Defined: abandoned, run-down, in a very poor
condition as a result of disuse or neglect,
rickety
2 Synonyms:
D__LA __ __D__ __ __D
R__ __S__ A__K__ __
EPHEMERAL #11. (ADJ.)
Context: Be careful with being too caught up in
wearing trendy clothes because fashions are
ephemeral.
Defined: lasting for a very short time, fleeting,
brief, temporary, short-lived
1 Antonym: P__ __ M__ __ E_T
1 Synonym: E__ __ NE__ __ __ __T
BEHEMOTH #12. (N.)
Context: The new aircraft carrier is among
several behemoths that the Navy has added to
its fleet.
Defined: 1-something of tremendous power &
size, enormous, esp. a big & powerful
organization
2-a huge or monstrous creature
Origin: Hebrew behemot means “beast”
List 2 companies who are behemoths.
ABATE #13. (V.)
Context: The rain poured down for a while,
then abated.
Defined: to reduce, lessen, subside, ebb,
diminish, wane, dwindle
1 Antonym: I_ _ E _ S _ F_
MALEVOLENT #14. (ADJ.)
Context: The malevolent old man sat in the
park all day, tripping unsuspecting passersby
with his cane.
Defined: wanting harm to befall others,
malicious, hostile, evil-minded, vindictive
1 Antonym: _ __N__V__ __ EN__
Origin: Latin malevolent ‘wishing evil’
VEX #15. (V.)
Context: My little brother vexes me by poking
me in the ribs on road trips.
Defined: to confuse or annoy, irritate or anger,
antagonize, irk, get on someone’s nerves, ruffle
someone’s feathers, rattle someone’s cage,
peeve or miff
LANGUID #16. (ADJ.)
Context: In the summer months, the great heat
makes people languid and lazy.
Defined: sluggish from fatigue or weakness,
relaxed, unhurried, lazy
2 Synonyms:
_ E _ _ AR _ _ C
S_ _ _
WILY #17. (ADJ.)
Context: Wile E. Coyote is probably one of
Warner Bros. most famous wily characters
because he is so sly and crafty.
Defined: shrewd, clever, sharp-witted, cunning,
scheming, tricky
1 Synonym :
_ E _ IO _ S
SCRUPULOUS #18. (ADJ.)
Context: With scrupulous care, Sam cut a
snowflake out of white paper.
Defined: 1-painstaking, careful, diligent,
thorough, extremely attentive to details
2-very concerned to avoid doing wrong, honest
1 Antonym:
C __ R __ __ __ S __
1 Synonym:
M_T __ __ U __ __ US
IRIDESCENT #19. (ADJ.)
Context: The crystal hanging in the window
was iridescent in the afternoon sun.
Defined: showing luminous, rainbow colors
that seem to change from different angles,
shimmering, sparkling, scintillating
Draw ROY G. BIV
Origin: Latin ‘iris’ or ‘irid’ = rainbow
INSOLENT #20. (ADJ.)
Context: That celebrity is so insolent, making
fun of his fans right to their faces.
Defined: rude, arrogant, overbearing,
disrespectful, impertinent, fresh, lippy, pert,
saucy, sassy, smart-alecky
1 Antonym: P__L__ __ E
ATROPHY #21. (V.)
Context: If muscles do not have enough blood,
they will soon atrophy and die.
Defined: to writhe away, to decay, to waste
away, to wither, to deteriorate
2 Antyonms:
ST__ __N__TH__ __
F__ __ UR__SH
INNOCUOUS #22. (ADJ)
Context: Don’s illness seemed innocuous at
first, but it steadily became worse until his life
was in danger.
Defined: 1-not harmful, safe, non-toxic,
innocent, edible 2-harmless, mild, anodyne
Origin: Latin
‘in’ –not
‘nocuus’ –injurious
NEFARIOUS #23. (ADJ.)
Context: Count Olaf is a nefarious character in
Lemony Snicket’s books.
Defined: very wicked, villainous, evil, vile,
despicable, criminal, monstrous, malevolent
2 Syns:
DI__ __OL__CA__
H__ I__OU__
RAZE #24. (V.)
Context: Much of San Francisco was razed in
the fire of 1906.
Defined: destroy completely (building, town,
site), efface, tear down, demolish, bull doze
Write 2 of your own synonyms for raze.
1—
2—
CRYPTIC #25. (ADJ.)
Context: The historian believed he had found a
cryptic message buried in the old text.
Defined: mysterious, enigmatic, hidden, secret,
clandestine
1 Antonym: C__EA__
What are some things that can be cryptic?
AMOK #26. (ADV.)
Context: The goblins ran amok and tried to
terrify all the children.
Defined: behave wildly, disregard rules and
instructions, mad with desire to attack, go
berserk
ANTECEDENT #27. (N.)
Context: Some antecedents to the African
novel might exist in Africa’s oral tradition.
Defined: Something that came before
--ancestors
--preceding in time or order
--in math: first term in a ratio
E.g. Find the antecedent to the pronoun “his”
in the sentence. Jason ate his waffles.
Latin & Old French: ante ‘before’ + cedere ‘go’
DUBIOUS #28. (ADJ.)
Context: Dubious lending practices have led to
our current economic crisis.
Defined: suspicious, questionable, uncertain,
doubtful, unreliable, iffy
2 Syns:
SH__ __ Y
F__S__Y
AUSTERE #29. (ADJ.)
Context: I enjoy the austere beauty of the
Arizona desert.
Defined: stern, severely simple, unornamented,
unforgiving, aloof, stark
2 Syns:
U_ _ U _SY
SO__ __ MN
VIRTUOSO #30. (N.)
Context: Jimi Hendrix was a guitar virtuoso
who developed a new style of playing that still
influences musicians today.
Defined: highly skilled artist or musician,
expert, master, accomplished, adept, prodigy
1 Antonym:
B_ _ I _ N _ _
SERPENTINE #31. (ADJ.)
Context: The serpentine path wound down the
rocky mountainside toward the beach.
Defined: 1—serpentlike or snakelike; 2—
winding, twisty, zigzag, meandering; 3—
complicated, confusing, baffling
1 Antonym: S__R__ __G__ __
Draw a serpentine path.
SKIRMISH #32. (N.)
Context: There was a skirmish over the
budget.
Defined: argument, quarrel, fight, clash, conflict,
dispute
2 Synonyms:
SP__ __
T__F__
JUXTAPOSE #33. (V.)
Context: Eve Merriam’s “Willow and Ginkgo”
poem juxtaposes willow trees and ginkgo trees.
Defined: place side by side, compare, contrast,
place close together for contrasting effect
Origin: Latin ‘juxta’ next + French ‘poser’ to
place
CACOPHONY #34. (N.)
Context: Despite the cacophony of three
deafening alarm clocks, Max slept on.
Defined: harsh, displeasing noises, racket,
dissonance, uproar
2 Syns:
C__AM__ __
DIS__ __ __ __
Origin: Greek kakos ‘bad’ + phone ‘sound’
MISNOMER #35. (N.)
Context: Scientists say “killer whale” is a
misnomer for what is one of the gentlest
marine creatures known to humans.
Defined: wrong or inaccurate name/label;
wrong use of a name, MISNAME
UMBRAGE #36. (N.)
Context: She was insolent, and he took
umbrage at her remarks.
Defined: take offense, be annoyed, be insulted,
be angry
Origin: Latin ‘umbra’ shadow
E.g. Dolores Umbridge is the epitome of a
shadowy and annoying character in Harry
Potter’s The Order of the Phoenix.
OBLITERATE #37. (V)
Context: The meteor was obliterated when it
collided with the moon.
Defined: destroy completely, wipe out or
erase, eliminate, eradicate
2 Syns:
__ __ __ E
E__ __ AC__
ROBUST #38. (ADJ)
Context: A heavy weight boxer must be robust
enough to withstand the extremely hard
punches of his opponents.
Defined: strong and healthy, vigorous, sturdy,
tough, solid
Origin: Latin ‘robur’ = oak, strength
DESTITUTE #39. (ADJ.)
Context: The hurricane destroyed many homes
and left many families destitute.
Defined: impoverished, utterly lacking,
penniless, poor, without the basic necessities of
life
1 Antonym: R __ __ __
ONEROUS #40. (ADJ.)
Context: My parents lamented that the
pleasures of living in a beautiful estate no longer
outweighed the onerous payments.
Defined: burdensome, arduous, strenuous,
oppressive, hard, severe
2 Syns:
EX__ __ __ __ TING
FO__ __ ID__ BLE
INCORRIGIBLE #41. (ADJ)
Context: The nicotine gum didn’t work. After
sixty-five years of smoking, Grandma was
incorrigible.
Defined: incapable of correction, delinquent,
incurable, hopeless, chronic, habitual
1 Antonym: RE__ __ N __ ANT
ENNUI #42. (N)
Context: I feel such ennui that I don’t look
forward to anything, not even my birthday
party.
Defined: a feeling of dissatisfaction arising from
a lack of occupation or excitement; boredom,
weariness, depression
2 Syns:
LE__ __ A__ __ Y
ME__ __ __CH__ __ Y
DEPLORE #43. (V)
Context: Many people deplore the showing of
extreme violence on television.
Defined: feel or express strong disapproval of
something; abhor, detest, frown on, find
unacceptable, condemn
2 Antonyms:
AP__ __ __U__
AD__ __R__
ASSUAGE #44. (V)
Context: The dying soldier’s pain was assuaged
by the medicine the nurse gave him.
Defined: ease, lessen, relieve, soothe, diminish,
subdue
2 Synonyms:
A__A__E
QU__ __CH
LITHE #45. (ADJ)
Context: The dancers were outstanding, but
Jae Sun’s control of her lithe body was the most
impressive.
Defined: agile, graceful, limber, nimble, deft,
flexible, willowy
1 Antonym:
C__U__S__
SUBTERFUGE #46. (N)
Context: The Japanese’s subterfuge during
World War II caused the Americans to lose the
battle.
Defined: a statement or action used in order to
deceive; trickery, deceit, deception, fraud,
smokescreen
PENULTIMATE #47. (ADJ.)
Context: The penultimate chapter of the book
was thrilling, and I couldn’t wait to finish it!
Defined: next to last, second to last
Origin: Latin
paenultimus ‘almost’ + ‘last’
E.g. Lemony Snicket’s Penultimate Peril
VANGUARD #48. (N)
Context: They were destined to become the
vanguard of space exploration.
Defined: group of people leading the way in new
developments or ideas, forefront, lead, cutting
edge, avant-garde, founders, pioneers,
trailblazers, trendsetters
2 Antonyms:
R__ __ R
F__L__ __ __ER_
FETTER #49. (V)
Context: The dog was fettered to the parking
meter.
Defined: to chain, restrain, shackle, restrict,
limit, obstruct, inhibit
2 Synonyms:
H__ __DER
HA__ __ER
DEBACLE #50! (N.)
Context: The wedding was a debacle! The band
fell into the cake and the bride’s dress caught
on fire.
Defined: a sudden and disgraceful failure, a
fiasco, catastrophe, disaster, mess, downfall,
collapse
2 Synonyms:
R_ _ _
C_L__I_Y
CORROSIVE #51. (ADJ)
Context: The chemical is highly corrosive.
Defined: having the tendency to erode or eat
away, erosive, abrasive, damaging, harmful,
harsh
Origin: Latin corrosivus “gnawed through”
ESPOUSE #52. (V.)
Context: Do you espouse the political beliefs
of your parents?
Defined: to take up as a cause, adopt, embrace,
accept, support, champion, favor, encourage,
promote, endorse, advocate.
1 Antonym: R_ _ E _ _
BILK #53. (V.)
Context: The lawyer discovered that his firm
had bilked several clients out of thousands of
dollars.
Defined: cheat, defraud; obtain or withhold
money by deceit or without justification
1 Synonym: S_ _ N _ _ E
VIGILANT #54. (ADJ.)
Context: The guards remained vigilant
throughout the night, but the enemy never
launched the expected attack.
Defined: watchful, alert; keeping careful watch
for possible danger or difficulties
Origin: Latin ‘vigilantia’ “keeping awake”
“watchfulness”
DEARTH #55. (N)
Context: The dearth of food in the
Netherlands during WWII caused many of the
residents to nearly starve to death.
Defined: lack, scarcity, shortage, deficiency,
insufficiency, rareness
1 Syn: SP__R__ __NE__ __
EKE #56. (V.)
Context: Mr. Compton eked out a living as a
farmer even though the economic times were
tough.
Defined: survive, scrape by, make ends meet,
be thrifty, use sparingly
1 Ant: S__U__ __DER
IRASCIBLE #57. (ADJ.)
Context: At the smallest provocation, my
irascible cat will begin scratching and clawing.
Defined: easily angered, irritable, hot-tempered,
testy, edgy, petulant, crabby, surly, grouchy,
grumpy, cranky, curmudgeonly
2 Syns: CAN__ __ __K__ ROU__
CR__ __T__
WISTFUL #58. (ADJ.)
Context: Since her pet rabbit died, Edda missed
it terribly and sat around wistful all day long.
Defined: full of yearning, nostalgic, longing;
regretful, melancholy, mournful; reflective,
contemplative
DEBUNK #59. (V.)
Context: Even the most successful hoax will
eventually be debunked.
Defined: expose the falseness of a myth, idea,
or belief; discredit, invalidate, negate, call into
question
1 Antonym:
C__N__ __R__
ABET #60. (V.)
Context: The spy succeeded only because he
had a friend on the inside to abet him.
Defined: 1—to aid, help, encourage,
collaborate, cooperate 2—to assist (someone)
to do something wrong, in particular, to commit
a crime
AUSPICIOUS #61. (ADJ.)
Context: The bride’s father thanked the guests
for joining his family on the auspicious occasion
of his daughter’s wedding.
Defined: favorable, promising, rosy, good,
encouraging; opportune, timely, fortunate
IOTA #62. (N.)
Context: Nothing she said made an iota of
difference.
Defined: bit, speck, mite, scrap, shred, ounce,
jot, smidge
Origin: Greek; it’s the 9th & smallest letter of
the Greek alphabet
BENIGN #63. (ADJ.)
Context: 1—Her face was calm and benign.
2—The tumor was benign and not cancerous.
Defined: 1—good-natured, friendly,
affectionate, tenderhearted, gentle,
compassionate, caring, benevolent; 2—harmless,
nonmalignant
2 Synonyms:
I _ _ _ _ UO _ _
K__D
EFFERVESCENT #64. (ADJ.)
Context: Audrey is so effervescent that she
makes everyone smile.
Defined: 1—bubbly, fizzy, sparkling, carbonated
Antonym: F__A__
Defined: 2—vivacious, lively, animated,
ebullient, scintillating, jolly, cheery, perky
Antonym: D__P__ __ S__ __ __
NOCTURNAL #65. (ADJ.)
Context: Jackie was a nocturnal person; she
would study until dawn and sleep during the
day.
Defined: relating to or occurring during the
night
What are some nocturnal animals?
ESCHEW #66. (V.)
Context: George hates the color green so
much that he eschews all green food.
Defined: to shun, to avoid, to reject, to
abandon
2 Syns: DIS__ __ __W
SP__ __ N
ARDOR #67. (N.)
Context: Max approached his science project
on how people get bruises with ardor.
Defined: passion, fervor, zeal, intensity, fire;
enthusiasm, eagerness, gusto
Origin: Latin ardere ‘to burn’
TERSE #68. (ADJ.)
Context: This verse
Is terse.
Defined: brief, to the point, concise, pithy,
succinct, short and sweet
1 antonym: L__ __ __-W__ __DED
JUGGERNAUT #69. (N.)
Context: The 16-0 New England Patriots were
considered to be a juggernaut in the NFL until
they were defeated by the New York Giants in
the Super Bowl.
Defined: a massive inexorable (unstoppable)
force, campaign, movement, or object that
crushes whatever is in its path
Origin: Hindi “lord of the world”
KERFUFFLE #70. (N.)
Context: There was a kerfuffle over the
Minnesota senate race between Norm Coleman
and Al Franken.
Defined: a commotion or fuss, esp. one caused
by conflicting views, a disorderly outburst or
tumult, hurly burly, hoo-hah
DESPOT #71. (N.)
Context: Adolf Hitler was a despot who ruled
in Germany from 1933 to 1945.
Defined: a ruler who holds absolute power—
typically in a cruel or oppressive way; tyrant,
dictator, oppressor
1 Synonym:
T__ __A__I__AR__A__
AFFLUENT #72. (ADJ.)
Context: The United States is one of the most
affluent countries in the world.
Defined: having a great deal of money, wealthy,
rich, prosperous
2 Antonyms:
P__ __ R
IM__ __VER__ __ __ED
RAUCOUS #73. (ADJ.)
Context: The raucous youths were stirring up
quite a commotion outside the concert.
Defined: making a disturbing harsh and loud
noise, screeching, cacophonous, rowdy, wild
2 Antonyms:
D__L__ __ T
S__F__
SMARMY #74. (ADJ.)
Context: The musical My Fair Lady describes a
character this way: “oozing charm from every
pore, he oiled his way across the floor”—it
doesn’t get any smarmier than that!
Defined: slick, oily, greasy, obsequious,
sycophantic, fawning
DETRIMENTAL #75. (ADJ.)
Context: The surgeon general says that
smoking may be detrimental to one’s health
because it can lead to lung cancer.
Defined: harmful, damaging, injurious,
destructive, ruinous, disastrous, bad, adverse,
unhealthy
1 Antonym: B__N__G__
CONSCIENCE #76. (N.)
Context: Atticus’ conscience moved him to
defend Tom Robinson because he believed it
was the moral thing to do.
Defined: sense of right and wrong, moral sense,
inner voice; morals, standards, principles, ethics
2 Syns:
B__LI__ __ __
SCR__ __ L__ __
AWRY #77. (ADJ. & ADV.)
ADJ. Context: Caitlin’s plans went awry.
Defined: amiss, wrong, away from a
planned or expected course
ADV.
Context: His wig looked awry.
Defined: askew, crooked, lopsided,
uneven, wonky
DEFENESTRATE #78. (V.)
Context: Al defenestrated his old TV out his
upstairs’ window, and it landed on his
neighbor’s trampoline.
Defined: to throw someone or something out
a window
Origin: Latin de- ‘down from’ + fenestra
‘window’
RAMPANT #79. (ADJ.)
Context: The mayor promised to put a stop to
the rampant crime that plagued the city.
Defined: uncontrolled, unchecked, unbridled,
widespread, out of control, out of hand
2 Antonyms:
R_ S _ _ A _ _ ED
H_ _ DE_ED
FRIVOLOUS #80. (ADJ.)
Context: His frivolous conduct nearly got him
fired.
Defined: not having a serious purpose or value;
time-wasting, pointless; skittish, superficial,
irresponsible
1 Antonym: S__ __ IO__ __
BESMIRCH #81. (V.)
Context: After he was caught cheating at
poker, Arnold’s reputation was besmirched;
nobody wanted to play with him anymore.
Defined: damage the reputation of (someone
or something) in the opinion of others; sully,
tarnish, stain, taint, disgrace, dishonor, slander
2 Antonyms:
H__N__R
EN__A__ __ E
BEDRAGGLED #82. (ADJ.)
Context: Our puppy Lucy looked so
bedraggled after she was caught in a rainstorm
out in the woods; her coat was covered in mud
and leaves.
Defined: disheveled, disordered, untidy,
unkempt, tousled, in a mess, mussed
2 Antonyms:
N__A__
C__E__ __
AGHAST #83. (ADJ.)
Context: The eyewitnesses to
the explosion were aghast.
Defined: filled with horror and shock; horrified,
appalled, dismayed, thunderstruck, stunned
1 Synonym: FL__ __ __ ERG__S__ED
CAMARADERIE #84. (N.)
Context: There was a genuine camaraderie on
the hockey team.
Defined: mutual trust and friendship among
people who spend a lot of time together,
friendship, companionship, team spirit
Origin: French camarade, comrad
RANCOR #85. (N.)
Context: A forgiving heart will save you from
the corrosive effects of rancor.
Defined: deep spite or malice; strong hate or
bitter feeling, ill will, malevolence, animosity,
hostility, venom
THWART #86. (V.)
Context: The tight defense was able to thwart a
touchdown in the last thirty seconds of play.
Defined: to oppose directly; to baffle, to block,
frustrate, foil, impede, obstruct, put the kibosh
on
2 Synonyms:
H__N__E__
S__ __M__E
DECORUM #87. (N.)
Context: Aunt Alexandra came to stay in
Maycomb to ensure Scout and Jem were reared
with decorum.
Defined: behavior in keeping with good taste,
decency, correctness, dignity, good manners,
etiquette
What are some examples of proper etiquette?
ABIDING #88. (ADJ.)
Context: Stephanie has an abiding love for
board games: as a child she played Candyland
for hours.
Defined: enduring, lifelong, everlasting,
perpetual, eternal, constant, permanent,
unchanging, steadfast
1 Antonym: E__H__ __ __ R __ __
E.G. abiding friendship, abiding joy, abiding
respect
AMALGAM #89. (N.)
Context: Meera’s life is an amalgam of strength,
reputation, and commitment to ethical
principles.
Defined: a mixture or a blend; an alloy mixture
of silver and mercury a dentist uses for fillings
SOLIDARITY #90. (N.)
Context: Factory workers voiced solidarity
with the striking students.
Defined: unity or agreement of feeling or action,
esp. among individuals with a common interest;
mutual support within a group
2 Synonyms:
H__R__O__ __
C__NS__N__ __S
STALWART #91. (ADJ.)
Context: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a
stalwart civil rights activist who fought for
equality even after his life was threatened.
Defined: loyal, reliable, hardworking, staunch,
steadfast, unwavering, solid
1 Antonym: __NF__ __T__F__L
TUSSLE #92. (N. or V.)
Context: His glasses were smashed in the
tussle.
Defined: scuffle, fight, skirmish, scrum, melee
Context: Demonstrators tussled with police.
Defined: scuffle, fight, brawl, grapple, wrestle
TEMERITY #93. (N.)
Context: It took a lot of temerity for the
soldier to cross into enemy territory in the
midst of the skirmish.
Defined: excessive confidence or boldness;
audacity, nerve, impertinence, gall, daring;
chutzpah
AMNESTY #94. (N.)
Context: The governor has granted amnesty to
seven of the prisoners.
Defined: an official pardon for people who have
been convicted of political offenses; pardon,
reprieve, grace, release
E.g. Amnesty International
MAGNANIMOUS 95.# (ADJ.)
Context: Atticus Finch is one of literature’s
most magnanimous characters as he epitomizes
unselfishness and altruism.
Defined: very generous or forgiving, esp.
toward a rival or someone less powerful than
oneself, benevolent, altruistic, philanthropic,
courageous and giving, chivalrous, noble;
merciful
Origin: Latin magnus ‘great’ + animus ‘soul’
GERMANE #96. (ADJ.)
Context: Your question is not germane to the
topic at hand.
Defined: relevant to a subject under
consideration, pertinent, material; apropos, apt,
fitting, related
1 Antonym:
1 Synonym:
I_R_ _ _ _ EN_
A_I_
CAVORT #97. (V.)
Context: Spider monkeys leap and cavort in the
trees.
Defined: jump or dance around excitedly; skip,
jig, play/horse around, prance, bounce, leap,
roughhouse
2 Synonyms:
R_M_
F_O_I_
BOMBASTIC #98. (ADJ.)
Context: The singer’s bombastic performance
disgusted the crowd.
Defined: pompous, excessively confident,
verbose, pretentious, puffed up
2 Synonyms:
O_T_ _ TA_IO_ _
HIGH_A_UT_ _
FURTIVE #99. (ADJ.)
Context: With a furtive glance over his
shoulder, Bob Ewell walked away from the
Robinson house.
Defined: done quickly and with stealth to avoid
being noticed; secretive, clandestine, hidden,
conspiratorial, sly, sneaky
1 Synonym:
1 Antonym:
C__ __ ER__
O__E__ __
PUGNACIOUS #100! (ADJ.)
Context: Scout’s pugnacious nature made it
arduous for her to resist skirmishes with folks
like Francis, Cecil Jacobs, and Walter
Cunningham.
Defined: eager or quick to fight, quarrel, or
argue; combative, quarrelsome, bellicose,
argumentative, antagonistic
2 Synonyms:
1 Antonym:
F_ _ R_ & H_ _-T_M_ _RED
P_ _C_AB_E
WALLOW #101. (V.)
Context: After her breakup, my roommate
wallowed in self-pity.
Defined: to roll around in; take satisfaction,
indulge (oneself), delight, revel, relish
E.g. pigs wallow in mud or a ship wallows in
stormy seas
BOON #102. (N.)
Context: The good weather has been a boon
for many businesses located near the beach.
Defined: a thing that is helpful or beneficial; gift,
blessing, godsend, bonus, plus, benefit
1 Antonym: C_ _ S _
Origin: Latin bonus “good”
SANGUINE #103. (ADJ.)
Context: Polly reacted to any bad news with a
sanguine smile and the chirpy cry, “When life
hands you lemons, make lemonade!”
Defined: optimistic, cheery, hopeful, buoyant,
positive, confident
1 Antonym: G_ _ O_Y
REGURGITATE #104. (V.)
Context: Chuck regurgitated his dinner.
Defined: vomit, disgorge, bring up
Context: Margaret rushed through the test,
regurgitating all the facts she’d memorized an
hour earlier.
Defined: repeat without analyzing or
comprehending; recite, parrot, reiterate, say
again
Origin: Latin re “again, back” + gurgit
“whirlpool”
SERENDIPITY #105. (N.)
Context: In an amazing bit of serendipity,
penniless Paula found a $20 bill in the subway
station.
Defined: the occurrence and development of
events by chance in a happy or beneficial way;
good luck, good fortune, providence
2 Synonyms:
L_ _ K
FO_ _UI_Y
CURT #106. (ADJ.)
Context: Her curt reply to my question made
me realize that she was upset at me.
Defined: rudely brief; abrupt, blunt, clipped,
snappy
1 Syn: T_R_ _
OBFUSCATE #107. (V.)
Context: The detective obfuscated the truth
when talking to the newspaper reporter as the
criminal investigation was still in progress.
Defined: bewilder; render unclear, obscure, or
unintelligible; blur, muddle, befog, confuse
1 Antonym:
1 Synonym:
C_A_I_Y
B_F_D_L_
AGOG #108. (ADJ.)
Context: The magician had the audience agog
with wonder as he swallowed the flaming
sword.
Defined: very eager or curious to hear or see
something; excited
LACERATION #109. (N.)
Context: Because he fell off his bike and into a
deep pit full of metal spikes, the paperboy had
lacerations all over his body.
Defined: tear, cut, gash, wound, slash, abrasion,
injury
Origin: Latin lacer
Verb: Lacerate
“mangled, torn”
CATALYZE #110. (V.)
Context: The president’s speech catalyzed the
nation and resuscitated the economy.
Defined: to inspire, to charge, to cause or
accelerate by acting as a catalyst (stimulus,
spark)
JUBILANT #111. (ADJ.)
Context: The crowd was jubilant when the
firefighter carried the woman from the burning
building.
Defined: feeling or expressing great happiness
& triumph; elated, exuberant, gleeful, walking on
air
1 Synonym:
1 Antonym:
E_ _ H_ _I _
DE_ P_ _DE_T
IMPUDENCE #112. (N.)
Context: Mr. Gilmer said he couldn’t believe
Tom’s impudence; how could Tom have the
temerity to say he felt sorry for a white
woman?
Defined: impertinence, effrontery, audacity,
cockiness, brazenness, boldness; disrespect,
rudeness, nerve, sauce, sass
2 Synonyms:
I _ _O _ _ NC_
C_ _T_ P_ _
FOREBODING #113. (N.)
Context: With a sense of foreboding, Helen
walked to work past the Ewell residence.
Defined: fearful apprehension; a feeling that
something bad will happen, trepidation,
uneasiness, suspicion, worry, fearfulness, dread,
the willies, the jitters, the creeps
1 Antonym: C_ _ M
ACCOST #114. (V.)
Context: Bob Ewell threatened and accosted
Helen so Link Deas told Bob to “stay away” or
he’d have Bob “up for assault.”
Defined: aggressively or boldly approach
someone with harmful or hostile intent;
confront, call to, shout to
PERMEATE #115. (V.)
Context: Mrs. Huxtable was vexed that the
wet dog’s odor had permeated the furniture’s
upholstery.
Defined: to spread throughout, saturate; soak
through, penetrate, seep through
2 Synonyms:
PERVADE
FILL
TORPID #116. (ADJ.)
Context: The torpid whale floated, wallowing
in the water for hours.
Defined: lethargic, dormant, lacking motion
2 Synonyms:
D_ _ L
S_ _ G_ISH
AVARICE #117. (N.)
Context: The banker’s avarice led him to amass
a tremendous fortune.
Defined: excessive greed, covetousness,
money-grubbing, materialism
1 Ant: G _ _ E _ O _ _ T _
DEFUNCT #118. (ADJ.)
Context: They planned to turn the defunct gas
station on Lyndale Avenue into a coffee shop.
Defined: no longer existing or functioning,
unused, obsolete, extinct, inoperative
1 Antonym: W _ _ K _ N _
Origin: Latin defunctus ‘dead’
ADAMANT #119. (ADJ.)
Context: He begged his mother to let him try
out for the football team, but she was adamant.
Defined: refusing to be persuaded or to change
one's mind; unshakable, immovable, inflexible,
unwavering, uncompromising, resolute,
determined, stubborn, unrelenting, diehard
2 Synonyms:
R_G_D
ST _ A _ _ AS _
TANTAMOUNT #120. (ADJ.)
Context: The threat the government made to
the leaders of the neighboring country is
tantamount to a declaration of war.
Defined: equivalent in value, equal to, as good
as, much the same
VIE #121. (V.)
Context: The brothers had always vied for
favoritism from their parents.
Defined: compete, contend, contest, struggle,
fight, battle, cross swords, jockey
1 Synonym: FE _ _
ESPRIT #122. (N.)
Context: Professor Stein’s esprit so charmed
her students that they managed to be
passionate about all aspects of chemistry, even
the densely written lab reports.
Defined: the quality of being lively, vivacious, or
witty; sprightliness or liveliness of spirit
HARBINGER #123. (N.) (HAR bin jer)
Context: I long to see the robins, crocuses, and
other harbingers of spring.
Defined: herald, sign, omen, forerunner,
messenger, precursor
What are some other harbingers of spring?
FOIL #124. (V.)
Context: Inspector Wilkins foiled the thieves
by locking them in the bank along with their
stolen money.
Defined: to frustrate, defeat, balk, impede,
obstruct, hamper, hinder, snooker, block
1 Synonym: T_ _ A _ T
1 Antonym: AS_ I_ _
DUPLICITY #125. (N.)
Context: When cheating a cheater, Troy
doesn’t hesitate to use his own duplicity.
Defined: deceit, deception, double-dealing,
underhandedness, fraud, trickery, skullduggery
I Synonym:
1 Antonym:
S_ _ T_R_UG_
H_ _ E_T_
FERVOR #126. (N.)
Context: The fervor of our Olympic relay team
was etched onto every runner’s face.
Defined: passion, ardor, intensity, zeal,
eagerness, enthusiasm, excitement, vigor,
energy, fire, spirit
1 Antonym: AP_ T_ Y
Origin: Latin fervere ‘to boil’
NEMESIS #127. (N.)
Context: In The Dark Knight, Batman was
plagued by his arch nemesis, the Joker.
Defined: an opponent that cannot be beaten or
overcome; a source of harm or ruin; archrival,
adversary, foe, opponent, arch enemy
Greek Mythology: the goddess of vengeance &
retribution is “Nemesis”
APE #128. (V.)
Context: Find your own style of playing tennis;
don’t try to ape Venus or Serena.
Defined: imitate the behavior or manner of
(someone or something), esp. in an absurd or
unthinking way; mimic, copy, parrot, do an
impression of, mock
BOLSTER #129. (V.)
Context: Britain and its allies were bolstered
by the entry of the United States into World
War II in 1941.
Defined: support, reinforce, strengthen, boost,
fortify, renew; support, sustain, aid, help;
augment, increase
1 Antonym: U _ DE_ _ IN _
CURMUDGEON #130. (N.)
Context: Before his conversion to
benevolence, Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge was
the epitome of a curmudgeon—and stingy, to
boot.
Defined: a bad tempered or surly person, a
grouch, a grump, someone in a constant bad
mood
PERFIDY #131. (N.)
Context: A person in whose soul perfidy lurks
cannot be at peace.
Defined: treachery, betrayal of trust, deceit,
deceitfulness, disloyalty, unfaithfulness, doubledealing, untrustworthiness
2 Synonyms:
D__P__I__IT_
TR__A__ __ N
MAR #132. (V.)
Context: The peaceful protests were marred by
violence.
Defined: injure, spoil, damage, disfigure, impair,
blemish, scar, mutilate, deface, deform, taint
1 Antonym:
EN_A_ _ E
GAMUT #133. (N.)
Context: Her face expressed a gamut of
emotions, from rage to peaceful contentment.
Defined: 1—the complete range or scope of
something;
2—a complete scale of musical notes; the
compass or range of a voice or instrument
CANNY #134. (ADJ.)
Context: The canny runner hung out at the
back of the pack through much of the race to
watch the other runners, and then sprinted past
them at the end.
Defined: shrewd, careful, astute, smart, sharp,
perceptive, wise, wily, as sharp as a tack, savvy
1 Antonym: F__ __L__S__
SLOVENLY #135. (ADJ.)
Context: Rachel’s boss fired her for doing such
a slovenly job. Her desk was a disaster piled
high with food wrappers and disorganized files.
Defined: 1—slovenly appearance: scruffy,
untidy, messy, unkempt, disheveled, bedraggled,
rumpled 2—work is slovenly: careless,
slipshod, haphazard, negligent
ENMITY #136. (N.)
Context: Dr. King dreamed of a world free
from enmity between nations and races.
Defined: ill will, hatred, hostility, animosity,
antagonism, friction, antipathy, acrimony,
bitterness
2 Synonyms:
R_N_ _ R
M_L_ _ _ LENC_
1 Antonym:
F_ _EN_ S_I_
LAMBENT #137. (ADJ.)
Context: The lambent light from a distant
campfire caught my attention on the beach.
Defined: glowing or gleaming with a soft
radiance; flickering, fluttering, incandescent,
twinkling, dancing, radiant, brilliant
What are some things that might be lambent?
IMBROGLIO (im BROL lee yo) #138. (N.)
Context: The Watergate imbroglio ended
President Richard Nixon’s career.
Defined: an extremely confused, complicated,
or embarrassing situation; problem,
predicament, trouble, quandary, entanglement,
muddle, mess, pickle
2 Synonyms:
Q_ _ G_I_E
M_R_S_
RUMINATE #139. (V.)
Context: “You look like Rodin’s Thinker,”
Juliet said as she watched her father ruminate
about events in the Middle East.
Defined: to think deeply about something, to
meditate on, contemplate, muse on, mull over,
ponder on/over
Origin: Latin ruminat-‘chewed over’
chew over in the mind”
“to
SCINTILLA #140. (N.)
Context: “There isn’t a scintilla of kindness in
my boss,“ whined Godfrey. He won’t let me
take the day off to go fishing.
Defined: a tiny trace or spark of a specified
quality or feeling; speck, bit, trace, ounce, shred,
crumb, grain, drop
2 Synonyms:
I_ _ A
S_ _ DGE_ _
ACME #141. (N.)
Context: The hikers climbed steadily for hours,
reaching the acme of the mountain at sunset.
Defined: peak, pinnacle, zenith, high point,
crest, summit, apex, climax, culmination
Antonym: NA_ _ R
CIRCUMVENT #142. (V.)
Context: In order to circumvent the rush hour
traffic, the experienced taxi driver took a series
of less traveled roads to the airport.
Defined: find a way around (an obstacle); avoid,
get past, evade, bypass, sidestep, dodge
Origin: Latin circumvenire from circum ‘around’ +
venire ‘come’
SALUBRIOUS #143. (ADJ.) [sal-OO-breeus]
Context: Fresh air and exercise are always
salubrious.
Defined: healthy, beneficial, wholesome,
medicinal; pleasant, agreeable, nice, delightful
2 Antonyms:
U_P_ _ A_AN_
NO_ _ _ US
List some salubrious activities or foods:
UBIQUITOUS #144. (ADJ.)
Context: McDonalds can be referred to as the
“ubiquitous golden arches of burgerdom.” It
seems one can get a Big Mac anywhere.
Defined: present, appearing, or found
everywhere; omnipresent, ever-present,
pervasive, universal, worldwide, global
1 Antonym: R_R_