Vocabulary List 3 – Positive Words 1. affluent – adjective Definition: Having an abundance of wealth, property, or other material goods. Synonyms: rich, loaded, wealthy Example Sentence: 1. The tax cuts are skewed heavily toward the affluent. 2. If one looks only at test scores, students in affluent neighborhoods get higher ones. 2. amiable – adjective Definition: 1. Having or showing pleasant, good-natured personal qualities. 2. Agreeable; willing to accept the wishes, decisions, or suggestions of another. Synonyms: affable, friendly, sociable, gracious, amicable Antonyms: rude, unfriendly, hostile Example Sentence: The governor’s kind, amiable personality is still conveyed, even if you don’t agree with his politics. 3. benevolent – adjective Definition: 1. Characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings. 2. Desiring to help others. 3. Intended for benefits rather than profit. Synonyms: good, kind, humane, generous, liberal, benign, philanthropic, altruistic Antonyms: cruel Example Sentence: The benevolent act of a young doctor saved the lives of millions. 4. copious – adjective Definition: 1. Large in quantity or number. 2. Having or yielding an abundant supply. 3. Exhibiting abundance or fullness, as of thoughts or words. Synonyms: bountiful, ample Antonyms: scanty, scare, meager Example Sentence: 1. The same varieties of the cabbage do not yield abundant and nutritious foliage and a copious supply of oil-bearing seeds. 2. The volcano itself is throwing incandescent bombs near the vent along with producing copious amounts of ash. 5. exceptional – adjective Definition: 1. Forming an exception or rare instance. 2. Having much more than average intelligence, ability, or skill. Synonyms: exceeding, prodigious, surpassing, especial, olympian, uncommon, singular, strange, unnatural, aberrant, anomalous Antonyms: average Example Sentence: 1. This ancient jewelry is of exceptional charm and sophistication. 2. The student’s exceptional math skills surpass those of his teacher. 6. foster – verb Definition: 1. To promote the growth or development of. 2. To bring up, raise, or rear, as a foster child. 3. To care for or cherish. Synonyms: favor, forward, advance, foment, instigate, nurse, nourish, sustain, support, maintain Antonyms: discourage Example Sentence: Parents’ role is to foster their children, ensuring safety, permanency, and wellbeing for their little bundle of joy. 7. gregarious – adjective Definition: Fond of the company of others. Synonyms: social, genial, outgoing, convivial, companionable, friendly, extroverted Antonyms: introverted Example Sentence: She is both candid and private, gregarious and solitary, self-doubting and daring. 8. immune – adjective Definition: 1. Protected from a disease or the like, as by inoculation. 2. Exempt or protected. Synonyms: resistant Example Sentence: 1. Insurance companies are certainly not immune to economic slowdown. 2. He was put into a medically induced coma so that his immune system could rebound. 9. passion – noun Definition: 1. Any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as lover or hate. 2. Strong amorous feeling or desire. 3. Strong sexual desire. Synonyms: fervor, zeal, ardor Antonyms: apathy Example Sentence: 1. Her passion for reading kept her up every night with a book in her hand. 2. In a hot moment of passion, she tore off his shirt and started kissing his chest and massaging his abs. 10. prestige – noun Definition: Reputation or influence arising from success, achievement, rank, or other favorable attributes. Synonyms: weight, importance Antonyms: disrepute Example Sentence: The wine company has earned prestige by crafting the finest wine in the world. 11. proficient – adjective Definition: Well-advanced or competent in any art, science, or subject. Synonyms: adept, competent, experienced, accomplished, able Antonyms: unskilled, inept Example Sentence: The more the monks fought, the more proficient they became as fighters, and the more their fame grew. 12. prosper – verb Definition: to be successful or fortunate, especially in financial respects; thrive Synonyms: succeed Antonyms: fail Example Sentence: She survived enormous turmoil with indomitable spirit and lived to see her family grow and prosper in a new land. 13. prudent – adjective Definition: 1. wise or judicious in practical affairs; sagacious; discreet or circumspect; sober. 2. Careful in providing for the future. Synonyms: sensible, economical, thrifty, frugal Example Sentence: Moderate rationing might be a prudent way to control costs. 14. resilient – adjective Definition: 1. Springing back, rebounding. 2. Returning to the original form or position after being bent, compressed, or stretched. 3. Recovering readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like. Synonyms: elastic, flexible, springy, buoyant, rebounding, irrepressible Example Sentence: 1. The aliens were incredibly tough, resilient, and flexible in different environments. 2. The resilient woman finished her research paper for school, even after her mother died, she crashed her car, and her boyfriend left her for her best friend. 15. venerable – adjective Definition: Commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of reverence because of high office or noble character. Synonyms: august, revered Example Sentence: The venerable author spoke about his modest beginnings as a copying machine salesman.