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Ms. Richmond
English 221
Short Stories Vocabulary
Name ____________________________________________
Date ___________________
Directions: Using a credible dictionary, look up each word’s part of speech and definition. Write
these on the appropriate blanks. Next, list the word’s synonyms and antonyms. Then read the
example sentence(s) that use(s) each word correctly. Finally, create your own sentence for the
word. Make sure that your sentence is original and meaningful. Do not use the Internet for this.
Come up with your own sentence from your own brain. You may use a variation of the word or
the exact word. Plagiarism will result in a zero and further repercussions.
“Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket” by Jack Finney
1. convoluted (________): ___________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: The plot line of that story was so convoluted that I couldn’t
understand it at all!
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. grimace (________): ______________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: Ben grimaced when he tasted the expired milk.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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3. deftness (________): ______________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: Frank caught that ball with such deftness; you can tell he’s been
practicing.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. imperceptibly (________): _________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: The noise was so imperceptible that it didn’t wake me up.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5. reveling (________): ______________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: Giovanni was reveling in his A, happy that he’d studied and took
good notes.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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6. interminable (________): __________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: The movie was interminable; I fell asleep after three hours and it was
still playing.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
“The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs
7. doughty (________): ______________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: My brother, who is fighting in Afghanistan, is doughty.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
8. talisman (________): _____________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: Some people carry a rabbit’s foot as a talisman for luck, but I think
that’s just superstition.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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9. credulity (________): _____________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: My sister is so credulous; she believed me when I told her the tooth
fairy has real wings.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
10. prosaic (________): ______________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: Wearing jeans and a t-shirt is so prosaic. Why don’t you choose
something trendy?
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
11. avaricious (________): ____________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: Chris is so avaricious that she doesn’t care if she hurts anyone on her
way to the top of the financial world.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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12. fusillade (________): _____________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: As the gunner took aim, his opponents first heard the fusillade of
gunfire, and then felt the sting of the bullets.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
“Leiningen Versus the Ants” by Carl Stephenson
13. pampas (________): ______________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: Tyler hosted a trip to the pampas of Argentina in order to see all the
exotic animals.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
14. peon (________): ________________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: Ryan’s boss treats his employees like peons, not even allowing them
bathroom breaks.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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15. provender (________): ____________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: Before the camping trip, Alex knew that he would need to buy plenty
of provender for his six friends.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
16. fomentations (________): __________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: When Sean was hurt during the intense fighting, his comrade applies
fomentations to Sean’s wounds.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
“Hearts and Hands” by O. Henry
17. influx (________): ________________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: There was an influx of people into the stadium just before the first
pitch.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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18. forestalled (________): ____________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: Anthony forestalled burglars from breaking into his house by
installing a security alarm and training guard dogs.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
19. counterfeiting (noun and verb): _____________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: Robert was arrested for counterfeiting after police found a high-tech
printing system filled with $100 bills in his basement.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
20. sidle (________): _________________________________________________________
Synonyms (3 or more): ____________________________________________________
Antonyms (1 or more): _____________________________________________________
Example sentence: There were so many students in the hall during class change that Jeff
had to sidle between them.
Your sentence:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________