ADAPT
Definition:
(verb) to adjust or change to suit conditions
Sample sentence:
As anyone who moves to a new home or starts a new job can tell you, it
takes time to adapt to new surroundings.
SYNONYMS:
regulate, alter, acclimate
ANTONYMS:
remain unchanged
ATTEST
Definition:
(v.) to bear witness, affirm to be true or genuine
Sample sentence:
I can attest to the truth of her story, because I, too, saw what
happened.
SYNONYMS: witness, verify, confirm, corroborate
ANTONYMS: deny, disprove, refute, rebut
DOVETAIL
Definition:
(v.) to fit together exactly; to connect so as to form a
whole
(n.) a carpentry figure resembling a dove’s tail
Sample sentences:
We may be able to dovetail activities with theirs, if we all plan ahead.
We examined the fine dovetails the carpenter used to make the cabinet.
SYNONYMS: mesh, jive, harmonize
ANTONYMS: clash, be at odds
ENORMITY
Definition:
(n.) the quality of exceeding all moral bounds; an
exceedingly evil act; huge size, immense
Sample sentence:
The enormity of the disaster shocked and saddened the nation.
SYNONYM: atrociousness, heinous,
vastness
ANTONYM: mildness, harmless,
innocuous
FALTER
Definition:
(v.) to hesitate, stumble, lose courage, to speak
hesitatingly; to lose drive, weaken, decline
Sample sentence:
The newscaster’s voice faltered as he announced to the nation that
the president was dead.
SYNONYMS: waver
ANTONYMS: persevere
FOREBODING
Definition:
(n.) a warning or feeling that something bad will
happen
(adj.) marked by fear, ominous
Sample sentence:
As the hurricane neared, residents of towns
along the coast were filled with foreboding.
SYNONYMS: misgiving, premonition
FORLORN
Definition:
(adj.) totally abandoned and helpless; sad and
lonely; wretched or pitiful; hopeless
Sample sentence:
When my best friend moved to another state
halfway across the country, I felt extremely forlorn.
SYNONYMS: woebegone, forsaken, bereft, pathetic
ANTONYMS: jaunty, buoyant, blithe, chipper
HAUGHTY
Definition:
(adj) chillingly proud and scornful
Sample sentence:
The haughty tone of your voice
when you refused my invitation
offended me deeply.
SYNONYMS: disdainful, supercilious
ANTONYMS: meek, humble, unassuming,
modest
IMPEDIMENT
Definition:
(n.) a physical defect; a hindrance, obstacle
Sample sentence:
You must not let impediments in your path keep
you from pursuing your dreams.
SYNONYMS: obstruction, stumbling block
ANTONYMS: help, advantage, asset, plus
IMPERATIVE
Definition:
(adj.) necessary, urgent
(n.) a form of verb expressing a command;
something that is required
Sample sentence:
If a tick bites you, it is imperative that you see a doctor.
Writing a thank-you note after receiving a gift
is a social imperative.
SYNONYMS: essential, indispensible, mandatory
ANTONYMS: nonessential, unnecessary
LOITER
Definition:
(v.) to linger in an aimless way, hang around,
dawdle, tarry
Sample sentence:
Some students always loiter in the
hallway, instead of getting to class
on time.
ANTONYM: hurry along
MALINGER
Definition:
(v.) to pretend illness to avoid duty or work
Sample sentence:
If you malinger too often, no one will believe you
when you really are sick.
SYNONYMS: goof off, shirk
PITHY
Definition:
(adj.) short but full of meaning and to the point
Sample sentence:
A good editorial should be pithy.
SYNONYMS: terse, short and sweet, meaty
ANTONYMS: wordy, verbose, foolish
PLUNDER
Definition:
(v.) to rob by force, especially during wartime; to
seize wrongfully;
(n.) property stolen by force
Sample sentences:
In the Old West, rustlers plundered ranches and farms
for cattle and horses.
Thieves often use a third party called a fence
to sell jewelry and other plunder.
SYNONYMS: pillage, loot, sack; (n.) spoils, pelf
SIMPER
Definition:
(v.) to smile or speak in a silly, forced/faked way;
(n.) a silly, fake smile
Sample sentences:
Strangers may find it easier to simper about trivial matters
than to have a serious conversation.
The camera caught me with a simper
on my face.
SYNONYMS: snicker, smirk
STEADFAST
Definition:
(adj.) firmly fixed; constant, not moving or
changing
Sample sentence:
I urge you to be steadfast in your efforts to achieve your goals in life.
SYNONYMS: loyal, faithful, unwavering
ANTONYMS: inconstant, fickle, unreliable,
vacillating
VAUNTED
Definition:
(adj.) much boasted about in a vain or
swaggering way
Sample sentence:
The rookie’s vaunted strength was no match
for the veteran’s skill and experience.
SYNONYMS: trumpeted, heralded
ANTONYMS: downplayed, soft-pedaled,
de-emphasized
VILIFY
Definition:
(v.) to abuse or belittle unjustly or maliciously
Sample sentence:
Voters have become thoroughly disgusted with
candidates who vilify their rival’s reputations.
SYNONYMS: malign, defame, denigrate, traduce
ANTONYMS: glorify, extol, lionize
WAIF
Definition:
(n.) a person (usually a child) without a home or
friend; a stray person or animal; something that
comes along by chance
Sample sentence:
The spunky waif who triumphs over many
hardships is a popular character in film
and fiction.
SYNONYMS: stray, ragamuffin, street urchin
WRY
Definition:
(adj.) twisted, turned to one side, cleverly and
often grimly humorous
Sample sentence:
Charles Addams was famous for wry
cartoons chronicling the adventures
of a ghoulish family.
SYNONYMS: dryly amusing, ironic,
ANTONYMS: humorless, solemn