Name _______________________
Language Arts
Date ______________
Period _____________
VOCABULARY WORDS
Week 20: Mole Hills or Mountains?--Part I
1. apprehensive (adjective)
(apprehension) (noun)
Definition – uneasy or fearful about something that might happen
Synonyms – nervous, uneasy, worried, anxious
Antonyms – calm, unafraid
Comparison context clue sentence – The apprehensive girl was afraid to go on the rollercoaster
just like the man who was afraid that something bad would happen if he went hang gliding.
Sample Context Clue Sentence:
2. predicament – (noun)
Definition –an unpleasantly difficult, perplexing, or dangerous situation; quandary, dilemma, tight
spot or mess
Synonyms– quandary, dilemma
Antonyms – solution
Comparison context clue sentence – It was a predicament when I had to choose to do tap or
ballet for the year; similarly it was a dilemma when I had to choose between the CDMS coffee house
and my last soccer game.
Sample Context Clue Sentence:
3. ordeal – (noun)
Definition – any extremely severe or trying experience; nightmare of a problem, problem that
causes suffering, pain, or torment (mentally, physically, or spiritually)
Synonyms – trouble, suffering
Antonyms - pleasure
Comparison context clue sentence – After my two best friends had a fight with me it turned into
a big ordeal when they then bullied me and gossiped about me; similarly it was a nightmare of a
problem when my neighbor’s house burned down and they lost all of their belongings and were
homeless for several months.
Sample Context Clue Sentence:
4. dilemma – (noun)
Definition – any difficult or perplexing situation or problem
Synonyms – crisis, problem
Antonyms – solution, miracle
Comparison Sample sentence – When my mom said I could only have one friend sleep over on
Friday night, I was in a dilemma about choosing a friend; similarly, when my nana’s surprise party
and my best friend’s surprise party were on the same night, I was in the same predicament.
Sample Context Clue Sentence:
5. trivial (adjective)
Definition – of very little importance or value
Synonyms – petty, unimportant, minor
Antonyms – important, worthwhile, major
Contrast Context Clue Sentence – Amy and I got into a fight for such a trivial reason unlike the
time we were in a major fight because I spilled a secret.
Sample Context Clue Sentence:
6. imposition (noun)
GREEK & LATIN ROOT: POS= TO PUT, PLACE
Definition: something that is a burden to someone else; to put your needs above someone else’s to
the point that it’s a burden for others.
Synonyms: burden, hassle, annoyance
Antonyms: relief, benefit, ease
Compare Context Clue Sentence: It was an imposition when my aunt stayed at my house for
three months, and I had to give up my bedroom and had sleep on a cot in my sister’s room; similarly
it was an big hassle when my dad broke his leg and my mom had to drive him to work in New York
City every day for three months.
Sample Context Clue Sentence: