Word of the Day Groups 9-12: BIG WOD UNIT #3
GROUP 9:
ZEALOT (NOUN) = ONE WHO IS PASSIONATELY DEVOTED TO A CAUSE.
SYNONYMS = EXTREMIST; FANATIC; ENTHUSIAST
ANTONYMS = MODERATE; CALM
QUIXOTIC (ADJECTIVE) = IMPRACTICALLY IDEALISTIC
(“quicks-o-tic”)
SYNONYMS = IDEALISTIC; IMPRACTICAL; ROMANTIC
ANTONYMS = REALISTIC; PRACTICAL; PRAGMATIC
SUPERCILIOUS (ADJECTIVE) = DISPLAYING ARROGANT SUPERIORITY
(super-silly-ous)
SYNONYMS = ARROGANT; HAUGHTY; PROUD; CONTEMPTUOUS
ANTONYMS = HUMBLE; MODEST
GRATUITOUS (ADJECTIVE) = DONE WITHOUT CAUSE
SYNONYMS = UNWARRANTED; UNJUSTIFIED; UNNECESSARY
ANTONYMS = JUSTIFIED; NECESSARY; WARRANTED
HALCYON = VERY CALM AND PEACEFUL
SYNONYMS = TRANQUIL; PLACID
ANTONYMS = TROUBLED; DISTURBED; UPSET
PROVERB OF THE WEEK: “The lowest ebb is at the turn of the tide.” (H. W. Longfellow)
REPUGNANT (ADJECTIVE) = AROUSING DISGUST OR AVERSION
SYNONYMS = OFFENSIVE; REPULSIVE; DISGUSTING
ANTONYMS = PLEASANT; PLEASING
IMPUNITY (NOUN) = FREEDOM FROM PUNISHMENT
SYNONYMS = IMMUNITY; EXEMPTION; LICENSE
ANTONYMS = RESPONSIBILITY; LIABILITY; BLAME
FASTIDIOUS (ADJECTIVE) = DIFFICULT TO PLEASE
SYNONYMS = EXACTING; CAREFUL; PARTICULAR
ANTONYMS = CARELESS; SLOPPY; INDIFFRENT
MERETRICIOUS (ADJECTIVE) = ALLURING OR ATTRACTIVE BY A FLASHY DISPLAY
SYNONYMS = CHEAP; TAWDRY; TRASHY; FALSE
ANTONYMS = GENUINE; SINCERE; PLAIN
REITERATE (VERB) = TO SAY AGAIN or DO OVER
SYNONYMS = REPEAT; RESTATE; RETELL
ANTONYMS = SAY ONCE
PROVERB OF THE WEEK: “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.”
GROUP 10:
VICARIOUS (ADJECTIVE) = ACTING AS A SUBSTITE; NOT EXPERIENCED DIRECTLY
SYNONYMS = SUBSTITUTED; SURROGATE; INDIRECT; SECONDARY
ANTONYMS = DIRECT; ACTUAL; PRIMARY
STIGMATIZE (VERB) = TO BRAND, LABEL, OR MARK AS UNWORTHY OR AS DISGRACEFUL
SYNONYMS = DENOUNCE; DISGRACE; DEFAME
ANTONYMS = PRAISE; HONOR
THRALL (NOUN) = SLAVERY--(CAN ALSO MEAN A SLAVE)
SYNONYMS = BONDAGE; SERVITUDE; SUBJUGATION; ENSLAVEMENT
ANTONYMS = FREEDOM; LIBERTY; INDEPENDENCE; EMANCIPATION
WHEEDLE (VERB) = TO INFLUENCE BY FLATTERY OR GENTLE WORDS
SYNONYMS = FLATTER; COAX; SEDUCE; CHARM
ANTONYMS = FORCE; BULLY; PRESSURE
MOLLIFY (VERB) = TO MAKE SOFTER
SYNONYMS = SOOTHE; CALM; PLACATE; PACIFY
ANTONYMS = AGGRAVATE; ANGER; IRRITATE
PROVERB OF THE WEEK: “Trees often transplanted seldom prosper.” (Old Dutch Proverb)
MISCREANT (NOUN) = A CORRUPT OR EVIL PERSON
SYNONYMS = VILLIAN; REPROBATE; DELINQUENT
ANTONYMS = A GOOD PERSON;
COLLOQ. = “A TROUBLE MAKER”
OBFUSCATE (VERB) = TO MAKE LESS CLEAR
SYNONYMS = TO CONFUSE; TO MUDDLE; TO OBSCURE…to make cloudy
ANTONYMS = TO UNCOVER; TO REVEAL; TO CLARIFY…to make clear
HIRSUTE (ADJECTIVE) = COVERED WITH HAIR (ESPECIALLY THICK, COURSE HAIR)
SYNONYMS = HAIRY; FUZZY; BRISTLY
ANTONYMS = HAIRLESS; SMOOTH
IGNOMINIOUS (ADJECTIVE) = CAPABLE OF BRINGING SHAME OR DISHONOR
SYNONYMS = DISGRACEFUL; SHAMEFUL; DISHONORABLE
ANTONYMS = ADMIRABLE; HONORABLE; RESPECTABLE
AMELIORATE (VERB) = TO MAKE BETTER
SYNONYMS = IMPROVE; ENHANCE; ALLEVIATE
ANTONYMS = TO WORSEN; DETERIORATE
PROVERB OF THE WEEK: “Knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful”
GROUP 11:
TRAVESTY = ACTION AIMED AT MAKING SOMETHING APPEAR RIDICULOUS
SYNONYMS = PARODY; SPOOF; MOCKERY
ANTONYMS = SERIOUSNESS; SOLEMNITY
OBSEQUIOUS = EXCESSIVELY EAGER TO SERVE, OBEY OR PLEASE
SYNONYMS = SUBSERVIENT; SLAVISH; SUBMISSIVE; COMPLIANT; FAWNING; OBEDIENT
ANTONYMS = NONCOMPLIANT; DOMINEERING; DISOBEDIENT
FERVOR = A GREAT INTENSITY OF EMOTION
SYNONYMS = PASSION; ARDOR; ENTHUSIASM
ANTONYMS = INDIFFERENCE; APATHY
ONEROUS = SOMETHING THAT IS A BURDEN, IS VERY DIFFICULT, OR WEARS YOU DOWN
SYNONYMS = BURDENSOME; OPPRESIVE; TROUBLESOME
ANTONYMS = EASY; EFFORTLESS; PAINLESS
REGIMEN = A SYSTEMMATIC PLAN OR ROUTINE FOR ONE’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
SYNONYMS = A PLAN; A PROGRAM; COURSE OF ACTION; DIET; ROUTINE
ANTONYMS =
PROVERB OF THE WEEK: “Don’t be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against, not with, the wind.”
PEDANTIC = SHOWING OFF ONE’S KNOWLEDGE OR LEARNING…ALWAYS TRYING TO TEACH
SYNONYMS = BOOKISH; ACADEMIC; DIDACTIC
ANTONYMS = UNEDUCATED; UNSCHOOLED
REMUNERATE = TO MAKE A PAYMENT (OR A REPAYMENT)
SYNONYMS = COMPENSATE; REIMBURSE; REPAY; REQUITE; SATISFY
ANTONYMS = OWE; BORROW
ACQUIESCE = TO COMPLY WITHOUT A PROTEST
SYNONYMS = CONSENT; ASSENT; COMPLY; AGREE
ANTONYMS = PROTEST; DISSENT; DISAGREE
“GIVE IN”
BERATE = TO SCOLD ANGRILY AND EXCESSIVELY
SYNONYMS = SCOLD; CRITICIZE; REBUKE; BELITTLE
ANTONYMS = PRAISE; HONOR; LAUD
EDIFY = TO IMPROVE ONE’S KNOWLEDGE
SYNONYMS = INSTRUCT; ENLIGHTEN; TEACH; EDUCATE; INFORM; IMPROVE
ANTONYMS = CONFUSE; OBFUSCATE; MAKE WORSE
PROVERB OF THE WEEK: “The stitch be lost unless the thread be knotted.”
GROUP 12:
CHURLISH = ACTING IN A RUDE OR UNSOPHISTICATED MANNER
SYNONYMS = BOORISH; RUDE; UNCIVILIZED; VULGAR
ANTONYMS = POLISHED; SOPHISTICATED; POLITE; CIVIL; REFINED
EMANATE = TO COME FROM, OR SPRING FORTH FROM, A SOURCE
SYNONYMS = EMERGE; ORIGINATE; RADIATE
ANTONYMS = REGRESS; REVERTY; RETURN
TRAVAIL = A PAINFUL OR DIFFICULT TASK OR DUTY
SYNONYMS = A LABOR; ORDEAL; CONFUSION; TURMOIL; TOIL
ANTONYMS = SIMPLE TASK; CALM
PERFUNCTORY = NOT COMPLETE OR THOROUGH
SYNONYMS = SUPERFICIAL; INCOMPLETE; CURSORY; BASIC
ANTONYMS = COMPLETE; THOROUGH
UNMITIGATED = NOT LESSENED OR REDUCED IN INTENSITY (AT FULL STRENGTH)
SYNONYMS = UNRELIEVED; UNDIMINISHED; HARSH; SEVERE
ANTONYMS = RELIEVED; DIMINISHED; LESSENED; REDUCED; **MOLLIFIED**
Proverb of the Week: “Everyone is a moon and he has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.” (Mark Twain)
VENERATE (VERB) = TO REGARD WITH GREAT RESPECT; TO BESTOW HONOR
SYNONYMS = REVERE; RESPECT; WORSHIP; HONOR
ANTONYMS = DISRESPECT; DENOUNCE; DESPISE; INSULT; MOCK
PENCHANT (NOUN) = A STRONG ATTRACTION OR A STRONG LIKING
SYNONYMS = FONDNESS; AFFECTION; AFFINITY; LIKING; INCLINATION; TENDANCY
ANTONYMS = DISTASTE; REVULSION; DISLIKE
LURID = CAUSING SHOCK OR HORROR; EXTREMELY GRAPHIC
SYNONYMS = SHOCKING; HIDEOUS; HORRID; EXTREME; GRUESOME; GORY
ANTONYMS = MILD; PLEASANT
WANE (VERB) = TO DECREASE IN SIZE, AMOUNT, ETC.
SYNONYMS = DECREASE; DIMINISH; LESSEN; ABATE
ANTONYMS = INCREASE; INTENSIFY; EXPAND; GROW
LIBIDINOUS (ADJECTIVE) = LUSTFUL BEHAVIOR ASSOCIATED WITH SEXUAL DRIVE OR INSTINCTS
SYNONYMS = LUSTFUL; IMPURE; LECHEROUS; LASCIVIOUS; OBSCENE
ANTONYMS = CHASTE; PURE; DECENT; RESPECTABLE
PROVERB OF THE WEEK: “THE USED KEY IS ALWAYS BRIGHT.” (Ben Franklin)