7th Grade Language Arts
• Definition: a joining together for some
common purpose
• Synonyms: pact, league, coalition
• Antonyms: rift, split
The two nations formed an alliance to
defend each other in case of attack.
• Definition: to puzzle completely,
confuse
• Synonyms: baffle, perplex
• Antonyms: set straight, enlighten
The captain continues to bewilder
his troops by giving them
contradictory orders.
• Definition: a clown; a coarse, stupid person
• Synonyms: jester, fool
Some students think that they need to play the buffoon in
order to entertain their classmates.
• Definition: arousing or inspiring
argument, dispute or
disagreement
• Synonyms: arguable, debatable
• Antonyms: innocuous, agreeable
The school board waited until all
members were present before
issuing the controversial proposal
to ban after-school programs.
• Definition: to discourage
• Synonyms: dismay, demoralize, dispirit
• Antonyms: encourage, hearten, inspire
Do not let your low score on the math test dishearten
you.
• Definition: not producing the desired results; unsuccessful
• Synonyms: useless, vain, unproductive, futile
• Antonyms: productive, effective, fruitful
When their efforts to fight the infection with penicillin
proved fruitless, the doctors tried a different antibiotic.
• Definition: unfriendly; unfavorable; warlike, aggressive
• Antonyms: friendly, cordial, peaceful
Relations between the two nations have been hostile for
decades.
• Definition: easily set on fire; easily angered or
agitated
• Synonyms: combustible, flammable, excitable
• Antonyms: fireproof, fire-resistant, calm
Always be cautious when using inflammable cleaning
solvents.
• Definition: to give or cause something unpleasant,
impose
• Synonyms: deal out, visit upon
• Antonyms: suffer, undergo, sustain
(Here, the vocabulary word means you giving pain, and the
antonyms are for you receiving pain.)
Despite all the jokes, doctors do not like to inflict pain on their
patients.
• Definition: deadly, extremely harmful, evil; spiteful,
malicious
• Synonyms: lethal, wicked, vicious
• Antonyms: wholesome, beneficial, benign
Much to the patient’s relief, the X-ray revealed no
malignant growth.
• Definition: to hurt someone’s feelings deeply; to cause
embarrassment or humiliation; to subdue or discipline
by self-denial or suffering
• Synonyms: humiliate, embarrass, abash
• Antonyms: mollify, make amends
The teacher was mortified by the students’ childish
behavior on the field trip.
• Definition: in agreement with established or generally
accepted beliefs or ways of doing things
• Synonyms: traditional, standard, customary
• Antonyms: unusual, unconventional, heretical
Our principal, who believes in proven teaching methods
takes an orthodox approach to education.
• Definition: to obtain through special effort; to bring
about
• Synonyms: gain, acquire, achieve
• Antonyms: lose, give away
The hospital held a raffle to procure the necessary funds
for the new children’s wing.
• Definition: to run quickly, hurry
• Synonyms: rush, dash, scramble,
scamper
• Antonyms: trudge, plod, creep, crawl
The reappearance of the teacher caused the students in
the class to scurry back to their seats.
• Definition: soaked with liquid or moisture;
expressionless, dull; spiritless, listless
• Synonyms: drenched, waterlogged, saturated
• Antonyms: parched, arid, barren
All at once, the flock of geese rose from the sodden
marshlands.
• Definition: full of life and vigor; courageous
• Synonyms: lively, animated, gallant
• Antonyms: lifeless, dull, lackluster
The royal soldiers put up a spirited defense against the
invading army.
• Definition: having a certain force/effect in reality but
not in title; so close as to be the same as the real thing
• Synonyms: functioning as; equivalent to
To those who worked in the office, the bossy new
manager was a virtual dictator.
• Definitions:
• (adjective): completely empty;
having no legal force or effect
• (noun): empty or unfilled space
• (verb): to cancel or nullify
• Synonyms: (adj.) invalid, vacant, bare
• Antonyms: (adj.) in effect, teeming with;
(v.) confirm
I thought that poem was completely void of
sense.
Grandma’s death left a void in my
grandpa’s life.
Do you know how to void a check?
• Definition: disobedient, willful; unpredictable, capricious
• Synonyms: perverse
• Antonyms: docile, well-behaved, predictable
Tracking the wayward path of a comet is no easy matter.
• Definition:
• (verb): to draw back suddenly, as
though in pain or fear
• (noun): the act of drawing back in this
way
• Synonyms: (v.) flinch, shudder, recoil
The dog’s bite made the child wince in
pain.
The patient’s wince told the doctor to
press more gently.