simplistic (adjective)
 Variants: simplistically (adverb)
 Definition: oversimplified; avoiding or ignoring
complexities
 Synonym: unsophisticated, naive
 Antonym: sophisticated, complicated
 His simplistic plan for economic improvement failed
to account for foreign investment and the GNP.
incredulous (adjective)
 Variants: incredulously (adverb); incredulousness
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(noun)
Definition: unwilling or unable to believe; showing
disbelief
Synonym: skeptical
Antonym: credulous, gullible
The politician’s lavish promises provoked incredulous
responses rather than the admiration he sought.
ascetic (adjective)
 Variants: ascetically (adverb)
 Definition: Reflecting self-denial (as in religious
discipline); choosing minimal comforts
 Synonyms: austere, Spartan
 Antonym: self-indulgent, hedonistic
 Her modest room reflected the ascetic values she
advocated.
vicarious (adjective)
 vicariously (adverb), vicariousness (noun)
 Definition: Experienced through someone else rather
than first hand; endured as substitute for someone
else; delegated
 synonym: second-hand [experience]
 antonym: actual [experience]
 Because she loved her son, she found vicarious
pleasure in his tremendous successes.
allocation (noun)
 Variants: allocate (verb), allocatable (adjective);
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allocator (noun)
Definition: the act of setting aside for a special
purpose; designation
Synonym: allotment, apportionment
Antonym: abandonment
Sentence: The mayor insisted the park district include
an allocation of land in order to build a playground.
The mayor insisted the parked district allocate land for
a playground.
admonish (transitive verb)
 Variants: admonishment (noun)
 Definition: To caution, criticize, or counsel gently
against
 Synonym: chastise, reproach, rebuke
 Antonym: approve, commend, praise
 The anti-tobacco lobbyist admonished the President
for his inability to quit smoking.
presumptuous (adjective)
 presumptuously (adv.), presumptuousness (noun)
 overconfident, excessively forward, taking too much
for granted
 Syn: arrogant
 Ant: humble, modest
 Darcy’s presumptuous manner understandably offends
Elizabeth Bennet.
subversive (adjective,noun)
 variants: subvert (verb), subversively (adverb)
 Definition: tending or seeking to subvert, overthrow or
destroy (an established government, institution,
belief, etc)
 Synonym: rebellious, disloyal
 Antonym: loyal, faithful
 Sentence: The Canadian government—indeed, the
majority of Canadian citizens—believed the Nisei to
be subversive operatives.
vacuous (adjective)
 Variants: vacuously (adverb)
 Definition: without contents, empty
 Synonym: bare, blank, devoid
 Antonym: full, abundant
 Sentence: When the class looked at her with vacuous
stares, the teacher knew the lesson had failed.
avocation (noun)
 Variants: avocational (adjective)
 Definition: something a person does in addition to a
principal occupation, especially for pleasure
 Synonym: pastime, hobby
 Antonym: job, occupation
 Sentence: Oddly enough, the math teacher’s avocation
was the study of Old Norse epics.
impetus (noun)
 Variants:
 Definition: a moving force; impulse, stimulus
 Synonym: encouragement, incentive, motivation
 Antonym: hindrance, block
 Sentence: Dr. Martin Luther King’s speeches were the
impetus behind the civil rights movement.
reticent (adjective)
 Variants: reticently (adverb), reticence (noun)
 Definition: inclined to keep one’s thoughts and
feelings to oneself, secretive, quiet
 Synonym: reluctant, restrained, reserved
 Antonym: communicative, forward, unrestrained
 Sentence: The reticent student hid in the back row,
unwilling to participate in the class discussion.
physiognomy (noun)
 Variants: physiognomic (adj), physiognomically (adv)
 Definition: The features of somebody’s face especially
used as indicators of character or temperament.
 Synonym: aspect, look, visage
 Antonym: none
 Sentence: In Great Expectations, Pip is frightened by
the convict, for his physiognomy is menacing.
insipid (adjective)
 Variants: insipidness (noun), insipidly (adverb)
 Definition: without distinctive, interesting, or
stimulating qualities
 Synonym: bland, dull
 Antonym: exhilarating
 Sentence: Cauliflower’s insipid taste requires cheese or
spices to make it palatable.
tedium (noun)
 Variants: tedious (adjective), tediously (adverb)
 Definition: quality or condition of being wearisome or
boring
 Synonym: dullness, monotony
 Antonym: entertainment, excitement, diversion
 Sentence: In order to take the tedium out of exercise,
aerobic instructors rely on loud, exciting music.
cajole (verb)
 Variants: cajolery(noun), cajolingly(adverb)
 Definition: to persuade by flattery or promises
 Synonym: wheedle, coax, flatter
 Antonym: bully, force, repel
 Sentence: The boy cajoled her into giving him some of
her cookies.
blasé (adjective)
 Variants: none
 Definition: not impressed or worried by something,
usually because of previous experience
 Synonym: unconcerned, nonchalant
 Antonym: uptight, worried
 Sentence: Paris Hilton’s blasé attitude towards
spending money is typical of the very wealthy: they do
not have to worry about paying bills.
indolent (adjective)
 Variants: indolence (n), indolently (adv)
 Definition: Lethargic and not showing any interest.
Also describes a disease that is slow to develop and
causes no pain.
 Synonym: sluggish, apathetic, lazy
 Antonym: industrious, productive
 Sentence: It is difficult to move from summer’s
indolence to the necessary productivity of the school
year.
choleric (adjective)
 Variants: choler (noun)*, cholerically (adverb)
 *NOT cholera—that’s a disease!
 Definition: showing or tending to show anger or
irritation
 Synonym: bad-tempered, irascible
 Antonym: phlegmatic, impassive
 Sentence: Ivan Ilyich’s choleric manner intimidates
his family.
phlegmatic (adjective)
 Variants: phlegmatically (adverb)
 Definition: unemotional, difficult to excite to action
or display of emotion
 synonym: indifferent, undemonstrative
 antonym: energetic, lively
 Sentence: Obasan’s phlegmatic approach to life
irritates the crusading Emily.
impasse (noun )
 Variants: none
 Definition: predicament from which there is no
escape; impassible road or way
 Synonym: stalemate, deadlock
 Antonym: progress
 Sentence: After days of deliberation, the jury reached
an impasse, necessitating a new trial.