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
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
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, ill-defined,
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 that 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:
1 Synonym:
C __ R __ __ __ S __
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 Antonyms:
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 Synonyms:
DI__ __OL__CA__
H__ I__OU__
Pair/Share: Who is one of your favorite nefarious
characters?
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__
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_ _ DO _ _ ED
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” 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 Synonyms:
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
Origin: Old French verb mesnommer, from mes- ‘wrongly’
+ nommer ‘to name’ (Latin nomen ‘name’)
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 Synonyms:
__ __ __ 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
1 Synonym: 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 Synonyms:
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, avantgarde, 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 Antonym: 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; timewasting, 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; 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_ _
HIERARCHY #113. (N.)
Context: In Maycomb a rigid hierarchy of social classes
exists.
Defined: a system or organization in which people or
groups are ranked one above the other according to
status or authority; pecking order, chain of command,
ladder, range
Origin: 1343 Latin hierarchia ‘system of orders of angels and
heavenly beings’
Draw a pyramid to visualize hierarchy.
FOREBODING #114. (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 #115. (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 #116. (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:
P__R__AD__
F__ __ L
TORPID #117. (ADJ.)
Context: The torpid whale floated, wallowing in the
water for hours.
Defined: lethargic, dormant, lacking motion
2 Synonyms:
D_ _ L
S_ _ G_ISH
Draw a torpid whale wallowing in water.
AVARICE #118. (N.)
Context: The banker’s avarice led him to amass a
tremendous fortune.
Defined: excessive greed, covetousness, money-grubbing,
materialism
1 Antonym: G _ _ E _ O _ _ T _
DEFUNCT #119. (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 #120. (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 #121. (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 #122. (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 #123. (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 #124. (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 #125. (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 #126. (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:
S_ _ T_R_UG_
1 Antonym:
H_ _ E_T_
FERVOR #127. (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 #128. (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 #129. (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 #130. (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 #131. (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 #132. (N.)
Context: A person in whose soul perfidy lurks cannot be
at peace.
Defined: treachery, betrayal of trust, deceit, deceitfulness,
disloyalty, unfaithfulness, double-dealing,
untrustworthiness
2 Synonyms:
D__P__I__IT_
TR__A__ __ N
MAR #133. (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 #134. (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 #135. (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 #136. (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 #137. (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 #138. (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) #139. (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 #140 (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’
the mind”
“to chew over in
SCINTILLA #141. (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 #142. (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 #143. (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 #144. (ADJ.) [sal-OO-bree-us]
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 #145. (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_
LACKLUSTER #146. (ADJ.)
Context: No excuses were made for the team's lackluster
performance. They simply didn’t play their best.
Defined: unimaginative, dull, humdrum, colorless, bland,
insipid, vapid, flat, boring, monotonous, dreary
1 Antonym: IN_ _IR _ D
LISTLESS #147. (ADJ.)
Context: The counselor attributed Penny’s listless and
lackluster performance in school to the illness of her
mother.
Defined: indifferent; marked by a lack of energy or
enthusiasm, spiritless, lifeless, inactive, inert, sluggish,
lethargic
2 Synonyms:
1 Antonym:
T_ R _ I _
LA_ _ U _ _
E_ _ _ GE _I _
AESTHETIC #148. (ADJ.)
Context: Minneapolis Peace Garden is an aesthetic
masterpiece blending nature and peace sculptures
together.
Defined: showing an appreciation of beauty in nature or
art; artistic, tasteful, graceful, elegant, exquisite, beautiful,
attractive, pleasing, lovely
CERULEAN #149. (ADJ.) [sir ROO lee an]
Context: Cerulean waters and golden sands surround
Oahu.
Defined: deep blue in color like a clear sky
SURMISE #150. (V.)
Context: I can only surmise that they're plotting against
me.
Defined: guess, suspect, conclude, assume, presume,
suppose, gather, feel, imagine, reckon
2 Synonyms:
I_F_ _
DE_U _ E
EXPUNGE #151. (V.)
Context: The jurors were directed to expunge the
derogatory remarks from their memory.
Defined: to erase, to remove completely, delete, wipe
out, blot out, destroy, scratch, eradicate, eliminate, deepsix
2 Synonyms:
E_ _ A_ E
O_ L_ _ E_ AT_
PONDEROUS #152. (ADJ.)
Context: The Knight’s ponderous suit of armor restricted
his movement.
Defined: heavy, bulky; labored and dull or tiresome;
clumsy, awkward, lumbering, slow, cumbersome,
uncoordinated, clodhopping
2 Antonyms:
GR_ _ E_U_
L_ _EL_
PITTANCE #153. (N.) [PIT unce]
Context: The musician was insulted because she was
offered so little money, a mere pittance, for a two hour
concert.
Defined: a very small or inadequate amount of money
paid to someone as an allowance or wage; a tiny amount,
next to nothing, very little, (informal) peanuts, chicken feed,
chump change
PENUMBRA #154. (N.)
Context: Anxious to avoid the summer heat but wanting
to tan herself, Danielle sat down in the penumbra under a
leafy tree.
Defined: any area of partial shade; the shadow cast by the
earth or moon over an area experiencing a partial eclipse
Origin: Latin paean ‘almost’ + umbra ‘shade’
ANECDOTE #155. (N.)
Context: After dinner, Marlon told an anecdote about the
time he got his nose stuck in a toaster.
Defined: a short, humorous story about a real person or
incident, narrative, tale
CADENCE #156. (N.)
Context: The pianist used the foot pedal to emphasize the
cadence of the sonata.
Defined: a rhythm, progression of sound, beat, tempo
ANGUISH #157. (N.)
Context: Angelos suffered terrible anguish when he
learned that Buffy had died while combating a strange
mystical force of evil.
Defined: extreme sadness, torment, agony, suffering,
distress, angst, sorrow, grief, desolation
2 Synonyms:
M__E_Y
H_ A _ TA _ _ E
CIRCUITOUS #158. (ADJ.)
Context: The bus’s circuitous route took us through
numerous outlying suburbs.
Defined: roundabout, indirect, winding, meandering
1 Synonym: S_ _ P _ N _ _ _ E
1 Antonym: S_ R _ I _ H _
FLABBERGASTED #159. (ADJ.)
Context: Whenever I read an Agatha Christie mystery
novel, I am always flabbergasted when I learn the identity
of the murderer.
Defined: astounded, surprised, astonished
COAGULATE #160. (V.)
Context: The top layer of the pudding had coagulated into
a thick skin.
Defined: to thicken, clot, jell, solidify, congeal
Origin: Latin coagulat- ‘curdled’
KNELL #161. (N.)
Context: Echoing throughout our village, the funeral knell
made the stormy day even more grim.
Defined: the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a
death, toll, beginning of the end
INDEFATIGABLE #162. (ADJ.)
Context: Even after traveling 62 miles, the indefatigable
runner kept on moving.
Defined: incapable of defeat, failure, or decay; tireless,
determined, hard-working, persistent, relentless
2 Synonyms:
T_ N _ C_ _ _ S
D_ _ _ED
MUNIFICENCE #163. (N.)
Context: The royal family’s munificence made everyone
else in their country rich.
Defined: generosity in giving
TRANQUIL #164. (ADJ.)
Context: There is a time of night when nothing moves and
everything is tranquil.
Defined: calm, still, placid, restful, quiet, relaxing
1 Synonym:
1 Antonym:
S_ _ E_ E
DI_ _ UR_ _ D