Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
Vocabulary
Chapters 1-3
obstinate
Definition- Determined to have one’s own way.
Synonyms- stubborn
inflexible
immovable
willful
Antonym- flexible
Sentence- The little boy was behaving in an
obstinate way by screaming when he could not
have pizza for dinner.
haughtily
Definition- Showing great pride in oneself and
contempt for others.
Synonyms- proudly
arrogantly
snootily
conceitedly
Antonym- modestly
Sentence- Mary was behaving haughtily when she
told the poor girl that her family didn’t matter.
rationed
Definition- A fixed portion; a daily allowance
Synonyms- portioned
allotment
allocation
quota
Antonym- abundance
Sentence- The food was rationed so it would last
for the entire trip.
occupation
Definition- Taking possession of; to hold
Synonyms- seizure
abduction
capture
Antonym- return
Sentence- During Germany’s occupation of
France many Frenchman were held
prisoner until the end of the war.
fiancé
Definition- The man to whom a woman is
engaged to be married.
Sentence- My fiancé is the person I want to
spend the rest of my life with.
trousseau
Definition- A bride’s outfit of clothes, linens,
etc. that she has collected during her
engagement.
Sentence- The bride has a well-stocked
trousseau that contains beautiful clothes,
fine linens, and warm blankets.
sabotage
Definition- Damage done by enemies.
Synonyms- damage
disrupt
impair
incapacitate
Antonym- repair, restore
Sentence- The troop’s orders are to sabotage the
enemies defenses.
impassive
Definition- Not feeling or showing emotion.
Synonyms- unemotional
expressionless
pokerfaced
aloof
Antonym- expressive
Sentence- There was an impassive look on the
boy’s face as his toys were taken away from
him.
Vocabulary
Chapters 4-6
tension
Definition- The process of stretching; strain or
stress.
Synonyms- nervousness
anxiety
apprehension
Antonym- relief
Sentence- There was a lot of tension in the room
when the soldiers knocked at the door.
submerged
Definition- To place or go under as if under
water or another liquid.
Synonyms- immersed
engulfed
Antonym- afloat
Sentence- As the rock sunk lower it became
completely submerged in the murky water.
imprinted
Definition- A mark or pattern made by
something pressed on a surface.
Synonyms- stamped
embossed
Antonym- blank
Sentence- The pattern of the stamp was
imprinted on the white paper in black ink.
synagogue
Definition- A place of meeting for Jewish
worship.
Sentence- Our family goes to synagogue
every Friday night to worship and
celebrate the Jewish faith.
imperious
Definition- Behaving like someone who is a
supreme ruler.
Synonyms- arrogant
overbearing
domineering
Antonym- subservient
Sentence- The imperious king demanded that his
servants follow his orders as stated.
Vocabulary
Chapters 7-9
deftly
Definition- In a quick, skillful manner.
Synonyms- skillfully
cleverly
smartly
Antonym- clumsily
Sentence- The artist deftly painted the
portrait and was done in no time.
gnarled
Definition- An object that had a knotted or
deformed appearance.
Synonyms- knotted
deformed
knobby
Antonym- straight
Sentence- The old woman’s hands were
ugly and gnarled in appearance.
hearse
Definition- A vehicle for carrying a coffin.
Sentence- The black hearse carried the
coffin from the funeral service to the
cemetery.
relocate
Definition- To put in a new place.
Synonyms- move
transfer
displace
Antonym- remain, stay
Sentence- The family had to relocate when
the husband got a new job in a different
city.
reluctantly
Definition- Showing doubt or unwillingness.
Synonym- unwillingly
unenthusiastically
grudgingly
Antonym- willingly
Sentence- The child reluctantly followed the
teacher into the classroom on his first day
of school.
specter
Definition- Something that bothers the
mind; threatening or haunting.
Synonyms- apparition
presence
spirit
Sentence- The haunting specter made the
people feel extremely nervous.
splintery
Definition- Full of sharp, slender pieces.
Synonym- fragmented
Antonym- entire, whole
Sentence- The piece of wood felt splintery
and sharp as I held it in my hand.
sulking
Definition- a mood or display of resentment.
Synonyms- brooding
moping
Antonym- delighting
Sentence- The boy was sulking because he
didn’t get his way.
urgency
Definition- Calling for immediate action or
attention.
Synonym- importance
hurry
rush
Antonym- unimportance
Sentence- There was a sense of urgency in her
voice when she called 911 and reported the
theft.
Vocabulary
Chapters 10-12
commotion
Definition- violent motion; agitation; many events
occurring simultaneously.
Synonyms- uproar
turmoil
disorder
upheaval
Antonym- peace
Sentence- There was much commotion at the
fairgrounds when the accident occurred.
condescending
Definition- Showing that one considers oneself to
be superior to others.
Synonym- haughty
pompous
arrogant
snobbish
Antonym- deferential, respectful
Sentence- The king was very condescending when
he looked down upon the crowd of commoners.
distribute
Definition- To divide and give out in
portions.
Synonym- allocate
dispense
allot
Antonym- withhold
Sentence- The social worker will distribute
the portions of food to the homeless
people.
extinguished
Definition- To put an end to; put out
Synonym- quenched
doused
smothered
Antonym- turn on
Sentence- The fireman extinguished the fire
before the building was ruined.
linger
Definition- To remain in a place longer than
usual, as if reluctant to leave.
Synonym- remain
loiter
Antonym- leave
Sentence- The girl was trying to linger
around her parents to see if she could find
out about the surprise.
protruding
Definition- Sticking out from a surface.
Synonym- jutting
projecting
overhanging
Antonym- flush
Sentence- The rock was protruding from the
surface of the cliff so you could not climb
higher.
recurring
Definition- To happen, come up, or show up
again.
Synonym- repeatedly
returning
persistent
Antonym- fleeting, intermittent
Sentence- I have had the same recurring
dream for the last three nights.
staccato
Definition- short and detached sounds.
Synonym- disjointed
disconnected
Antonym- continuous
attached
Sentence- The rapid gunfire made a
staccato sound as it hit the side of the
building.
typhus
Definition- An infectious disease with
sustained high fever, depression, delirium,
and red rashes.
Sentence- Typhus spread rapidly through
the village, as young and old alike
developed high fevers and rashes.
Vocabulary
Chapters 13-15
stricken
Definition- Afflicted with a serious disease or
overwhelming emotion.
Synonym- suffering
incapacitated
Antonym- healthy
Sentence- The little baby was stricken with
measles because his health was so poor.
latticed
Definition- An open framework made of
interwoven strips crossing at regular
intervals.
Sentence- The bottom of the front porch
was latticed and reminded me of a fishing
net.
tantalize
Definition- To tease or torment by or as if by
allowing to see but keeping out of reach
something desired.
Synonym- tease
torment
tempt
Antonym- comfort
Sentence- The smell of the freshly baked
cookies was tantalizing, and I couldn’t
wait to eat them.
contempt
Definition- A feeling that someone or
something is inferior or undesirable.
Synonym- disdain
scorn
disrespect
Antonym- admiration
Sentence- Jews were held in contempt by
the Nazis and were seen as an inferior
race.
sprawling
Definition- To spread out in a straggling or
disordered fashion.
Synonym- extensive
rambling
Antonym- narrow
Sentence- The tree’s roots were sprawling in
all directions.
donned
Definition- put on, dressed in.
Synonym- dressed
Antonym- undressed
Sentence- The small girl donned her coat
and hat to go outside.
Vocabulary
Chapters 16-afterword
warily
Definition- Being on one's guard against
danger.
Synonym- cautiously
suspiciously
Antonym- thoughtlessly
Sentence- The policeman moved warily as
he apprehended the criminal.
ignore
Definition- To refrain from noticing or
recognizing.
Synonym- disregard
overlook
Antonym- notice
Sentence- I chose to ignore the irritating
person kicking at my seat.
conceal
Definition- To cover or keep from sight.
Synonym- hide
obscure
Antonym- reveal
expose
Sentence- He concealed the weapon under
his coat.
avoid
Definition- To keep away from; keep clear
of.
Synonym- shun
reject
Antonym- court, invite
Sentence- He tried to avoid the urge to
overeat and left the table.
temporary
Definition- Lasting, existing, serving, or
effective for a time only; not permanent.
Synonym- momentary
fleeting
transient
Antonym- permanent
Sentence- The job was only temporary,
lasting for two months.