1st quarter – 2015/2016
thefreedictionary.com
merriam-webster.com
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Definition
(adjective)
working
diligently at a
task;
persevering;
constant;
unremitting
Other Forms
adverb – assiduously
noun – assiduousness
Synonyms
hardworking
diligent
zealous
1. assiduous
Antonyms
indifferent
negligent
lazy

After five years of failed hypotheses and
experiments, the assiduous researcher finally
made a breakthrough in her field.
Definition
(adjective)
able to burn or
destroy via
chemical
reaction; overly
harsh and
critical; incisively
sarcastic
Other Forms
adverb – caustically
noun – causticity
Synonyms
corrosive
biting
scathing
2. caustic
Antonyms
gentle
mild
bland

Devastated by the caustic remarks of his
cruel teacher, Timmy scrapped his project
idea and went to his room to sulk.
Definition
(verb)
to reprimand or
rebuke sharply;
to punish for
wrongdoing
Synonyms
berate
castigate
discipline
3. chastise
Other Forms
chastises/chastised/chastising
noun – chastiser
noun – chastisement
adjective – chastisable
Antonyms
compliment
laud
praise

I chastised my nephew when he super-glued
my rings to my fingers.
Definition
(verb)
to make
something clear,
by explaining or
clarifying
Synonyms
expound
clarify
illuminate
4. elucidate
Other Forms
elucidates/elucidated/elucidating
noun – elucidator/elucidation
adjective – elucidative
Antonyms
obscure
confuse
complicate

When creating a Power Point presentation, it
is a good idea to create charts and other
visual representations of the information to
elucidate the ideas that you are trying to
share.
Definition
(verb)
to raise in rank,
character, or
status; to
glorify, honor,
or praise
Synonyms
promote
extol
laud
5. exalt
Other Forms
exalts/exalted/exalting
noun – exalter/exaltation
Antonyms
condemn
degrade
shame

Christians exalt the power and glory of their
God during weekly services.
Definition
(adjective)
not true or
accurate;
tending to
mislead;
deceptive
Other Forms
adverb – fallaciously
noun – fallaciousness
Synonyms
erroneous
illogical
misleading
6. fallacious
Antonyms
logical
sound
valid

Many consumers harbor the fallacious belief
that credit-card debt will never catch up with
them; thus, they continue their wanton
spending.
Definition
(noun) the
behavior of people
who do things that
they tell others not
to do or that goes
against something
they feel or claim
to believe
Other Forms
noun – hypocrite
adjective – hypocritical
Synonyms
bigotry
deceit
Judas
7. hypocrisy
Antonyms
frankness
truthfulness
uprightness

When his private letters were made public,
they revealed his hypocrisy, and he lost the
election.
Definition
(noun/adjective)
a person who
fights against an
established
government or
authority
Other Forms
noun – insurgence
adverb – insurgently
Synonyms
rebel
revolutionist
mutineer
8. insurgent
~Antonyms
loyal
steadfast
obedient

The insurgents hoped to fracture the
backbone of the corrupt dictatorship.
Definition
(adjective)
not easily upset
or excited; not
moving much;
calm and steady
Synonyms
serene
tranquil
composed
9. placid
Other Forms
adverb – placidly
noun – placidity/placidness
Antonyms
agitated
clamorous
turbulent

The placid surface of the lake was disturbed
when the boys threw rocks into it.
Definition
(adjective)
not interesting
or effective
because of
overuse; not
fresh or original
Other Forms
triter/tritest
adverb – tritely
noun – triteness
Synonyms
banal
dull
hackneyed
10. trite
Antonyms
fresh
new
original

When selecting a topic for a position paper,
one should avoid trite arguments.
Definition
(adjective)
used when
people are
speaking in an
informal style
Synonyms
conversational
dialectical
vernacular
11. colloquial
Other Forms
adverb – colloquially
noun – colloquialism/colloquialness
Antonyms
standard
correct
formal

When delivering a formal speech, one should
avoid colloquial expressions.
Definition
(adjective)
having or showing
no understanding
of what is
appropriate or
acceptable; rude
and insensitive
Synonyms
boorish
churlish
vulgar
12. crass
Other Forms
crasser/crassest
adverb – crassly
noun – crassitude/crassness
Antonyms
refined
sophisticated
polite

He is a loudmouthed jerk given to rude jokes
and crass comments.
Definition
(adjective)
able to see and
understand
people, things,
and situations
clearly and
intelligently
Other Forms
adverb – discerningly
Synonyms
perceptive
astute
insightful
13. discerning
Antonyms
ignorant
unaware
overlooking

A discerning critic of modern art, Professor
Mallot is always invited to premier
exhibitions, and the novice artists hope for a
favorable review.
Definition
Synonyms
overstatement
exaggeration
embellishment
(noun)
an extravagant
exaggeration
14. hyperbole
Other Forms
adjective – hyperbolic
Antonyms
understatement

“Enough food to feed a whole army” is a
common example of a hyperbole.
Definition
(adjective)
penetrating,
clear, and sharp;
biting or
sarcastic
Other Forms
adverb – incisively
noun – incisiveness
Synonyms
astute
sharp
cutting
15. incisive
~Antonyms
dull
unintelligent
gentle

Known for her incisive mind and quick wit,
Ellen Degeneres is frequently chosen as a
host for awards shows.
Definition
(adjective)
having or
showing sound
judgement
Other Forms
adverb – judiciously
noun – judiciousness
Synonyms
prudent
sensible
shrewd
16. judicious
Antonyms
careless
rash
unsound

Judicious planning now can prevent
problems later.
Definition
(noun)
a right or
privilege, esp. a
hereditary or
official right
Synonyms
birthright
choice
due
17. prerogative
Other Forms
~Antonyms
adjective – prerogatived
duty
obligation

If you’d rather sell the tickets than use them,
that’s your prerogative.
Definition
(adjective)
expressed or
understood
without being
directly stated
Synonyms
implicit
unspoken
assumed
18. tacit
Other Forms
Antonyms
adverb – tacitly
noun – tacitness
stated
explicit
direct

With nothing more than a tacit agreement to
respect one another’s space and privacy, the
two roommates lived harmoniously.
Definition
(adjective)
tending to upset
or offend people;
bluntly
inconsiderate or
indiscreet
Synonyms
blundering
gauche
unpolished
19. tactless
Other Forms
adverb – tactlessly
noun – tact/tactlessness
Antonyms
careful
discreet
tactful

Martha shunned Kevin after his tactless
remark about her second-hand clothing.
Definition
(verb)
to sharpen; to
make keen or
more acute
Synonyms
sharpen
kindle
stimulate
20. whet
Other Forms
whets/whetted/whetting
noun – whetter
Antonyms
blunt
dampen
dull

The ads, sales, and book-signings are all
strategies used to whet the consumers’
interest.
Definition
Synonyms
alleviate
lighten
relieve
(verb)
to make better or
more tolerable
21. ameliorate
Other Forms
ameliorates/ameliorated/ameliorating
noun – ameliorator
adjective – ameliorative/ameliorable
Antonyms
aggravate
intensify
worsen

The medicine should help ameliorate the
pain.
Definition
(verb)
to agree to
something, esp.
after careful
consideration
Synonyms
acquiescence
concurrence
consent
22. assent
Other Forms
assents/assented/assenting
noun – assenter
adverb – assentingly
adjective – assentive
Antonyms
disagreement
disapproval
refusal

The general proposed a detail plan, and the
President assented and signed the
proposition.
Definition
(adjective/adverb)
having no plan,
order, or direction;
chance
Synonyms
random
erratic
fluke
23. haphazard
Other Forms
adverb – haphazardly
noun – haphazardness
Antonyms
deliberate
planned
systematic

Considering the haphazard way you
measured the ingredients, it’s lucky the
cookies came out as well as they did!
Definition
(adjective)
impossible to
dispute;
unquestionable
Synonyms
indisputable
irrefutable
uncontestable
24. incontrovertible
Other Forms
adverb – incontrovertibly
noun – incontrovertibility
noun – incontrovertibileness
Antonyms
questionable
uncertain
dubious

The prosecution introduced a number of
incontrovertible facts that left the jury with
no choice but to convict.
Definition
(adjective)
incapable of
being perceived
by the senses,
touched,
realized, or
defined
Synonyms
ethereal
impalpable
untouchable
25. intangible
Other Forms
adverb – intangibly
noun – intangibleness/intangibility
Antonyms
definite
palpable
touchable

Many students fail to realize education’s
intangible benefits until it is too late.