4 th quarter – 2014/2015

Definition
(adjective) causing fear, dread, or apprehension; having qualities that discourage approach or attack
Other Forms
1. formidable
Synonyms daunting imposing intimidating noun – formidability, formidableness adverb – formidably
Antonyms unthreatening friendly approachable

 Because of its size, its ability to blow fire, and its ability to fly, a dragon proves a formidable opponent.

Definition
(adjective) not easily understood; hard to fathom
2. inscrutable
Other Forms noun – inscrutability noun – inscrutableness adverb – inscrutably
Synonyms enigmatic impenetrable incomprehensible
Antonyms clear comprehensible obvious

 I tried to make some sense out of the strange orders he had given us, but his plan and purpose remained utterly inscrutable.

Definition
(adjective) exceptionally early in development; having mature qualities at an early age
Other Forms
3. precocious adverb – precociously noun – precociousness, precocity
Synonyms advanced mature developed
Antonyms behind unintelligent

 She was a precocious child who could read before she went to kindergarten.

Definition
(noun) tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; trembling or quivering movement
4. trepidation
Other Forms adjective – trepidatious
Synonyms alarm foreboding disquiet
Antonyms calm ease tranquility

 Shaking with trepidation, I stepped into the old, abandoned house.

Definition
(adjective) extremely poisonous; deadly; full of spiteful hatred
Other Forms
5. virulent adverb – virulently noun – virulence/virulency
Synonyms hateful toxic malignant
Antonyms harmless healthy nonpoisonous

 Hoping that the people would take precautions, health care workers warned the community about the virulent bacterium to prevent a pandemic.

Definition
(verb) to do a kindness or a favor to; to provide, supply or furnish with 6. accommodate
Other Forms accommodates, accommodated, accommodating adjective – accommodative noun – accommodator/accommodation
Synonyms board harbor shelter
Antonyms turn out turn away

 He would often change his schedule to
accommodate his clients.

Definition
(adjective) having the power of seeing objects or actions beyond the range of natural vision
Other Forms adverb – clairvoyantly noun – clairvoyance
7. clairvoyant
Synonyms extrasensory prophetic psychic
Antonyms
NA

 Although fortune tellers claim to be
clairvoyant, I believe most of them are just really good at reading people’s behaviors and facial expressions.

Definition
(adjective) touching; in close proximity without actually touching; near; adjacent in time
8. contiguous
Other Forms adverb – contiguously noun – contiguousness
Synonyms adjoining juxtaposed next to
Antonyms divided separated detached

 Pennsylvania and Maryland are contiguous states.

Definition
(verb) to make weak or feeble
9. debilitate
Other Forms debilitates, debilitated, debilitating noun – debilitation adjective – debilitative
Synonyms blunt disable cripple
Antonyms aid help strengthen

 AIDS debilitates the body’s immune system, making it impossible for the body to heal itself.

Definition
(verb) to remove or destroy all traces of; do away with; destroy completely
10. obliterate
Other Forms obliterates, obliterated, obliterating adjective – obliterative noun – obliteration/obliterator
Synonyms annihilate eliminate exterminate
Antonyms build construct create

 The weather forecast, calling for a snowstorm late in the month of March, obliterated our hopes for an early spring.

Definition
(adjective) objectionably aggressive in offering unwanted services, help, or advice
Other Forms adverb – officiously noun – officiousness
11. officious
Synonyms meddlesome interfering pushy
Antonyms unobtrusive unassertive

 Nobody wanted to be partnered with Jack, an
officious little man who was always telling everybody how to do their jobs.

Definition
(verb) to prevent the presence or occurrence of; make impossible; to exclude or debar from something 12. preclude
Other Forms precludes, precluded, precluding noun – preclusion adjective – preclusive adverb – preclusively
Synonyms deter discontinue hinder
Antonyms allow permit support

 Jerry was devastated when he suffered an injury that precluded an athletic career and dashed his dreams.

Definition
(verb) to reject; to treat with contempt; to kick or trample with the foot
Other Forms
13. spurn spurns, spurned, spurning noun – spurner
Synonyms despise disregard sneer
Antonyms attend embrace welcome

 Fiercely proud and independent, the elderly couple spurned all offers of financial help.

Definition
(adjective) done secretly; furtive
14. stealthy
Other Forms stealthier, stealthiest adverb – stealthily noun – stealth/stealthiness
Synonyms secret sneaky clandestine
Antonyms open public overt

 Cats, the stealthiest of stalkers, make excellent predators, as their prey rarely see them before they pounce.

Definition
(adjective) inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to koin in conversation
Other Forms adverb – taciturnly noun – taciturnity
15. taciturn
Synonyms reticent reserved quiet
Antonyms talkative garrulous loquacious

 The first time we heard the taciturn young man speak was at the end of the year when he was forced to present his project.

Definition
(adjective) courteous and gracious; friendly; warm; heartfelt
Other Forms
16. cordial adverb – cordially noun – cordiality/cordialness
Synonyms welcoming sincere affable
Antonyms inhospitable unfriendly disagreeable

 The host and hostess stood at the door and
cordially welcomed all of their guests.

Definition
(verb) to attack the good name or reputation of; to disgrace or bring dishonor upon 17. defame
Other Forms defames, defamed, defaming noun – defamer/defamation adjective – defamatory
Synonyms bad-mouth discredit disparage
Antonyms commend compliment praise

 He claims he was defamed by reports that falsely identified him as a former gangster.

Definition
(adjective) disagreeing; disagreeable to the ear; harsh
Other Forms adverb – discordantly noun – discordance
18. discordant
Synonyms conflicting unharmonious strident
Antonyms agreeable harmonious peaceful

 She has the difficult task of bringing together a number of discordant community groups.

Definition
(adjective) exhausting; very tiring; arduously severe
Other Forms adverb – gruelingly
19. grueling
Synonyms backbreaking brutal strenuous
Antonyms easy facile endurable

 In The Jungle, Upton Sinclair criticizes the dirty and grueling conditions of the meatpacking industry in Chicago.

Definition
(verb) to bring a formal accusation against; to charge with an offense or crime; to accuse of wrongdoing; to criticize
Other Forms
20. indict indicts, indicted, indicting noun – indictee/indicter
Synonyms arraign charge incriminate
Antonyms absolve acquit exonerate

 The grand jury could indict the mayor for fraud and embezzlement.

Definition
(verb) to instruct in a principle, ideology, etc., especially with a specific partisan or biased belief or point of view
21. indoctrinate
Other Forms indoctrinates, indoctrinated, indoctrinating noun – indoctrination/indoctrinator
Synonyms instill brainwash convert
Antonyms leave alone neglect ignore

 The goal of political science course should be to teach politics, not to indoctrinate students in a narrow set of political beliefs.

Definition
(adjective) inclined or ready to give in; unresistingly humble or obedient
Other Forms
22. submissive adverb – submissively noun – submissiveness/submission
Synonyms servile unresisting yielding
Antonyms resistant defiant disobedient

 Children should be submissive to their elders’ rules and expectations.

Definition
(adjective) showing irritation by a gloomy silence or reserve; persistently and silently illhumored; dismal; sluggish
Other Forms sullener, sullenest adverb – sullenly noun – sullenness
23. sullen
Synonyms bad-tempered churlish crabby
Antonyms bright cheerful happy

 Sullen and bored at his in-laws house, he could not wait for the holidays to end.

Definition
(verb) to oppose successfully; to prevent from accomplishing a purpose; to frustrate or baffle 24. thwart
Other Forms thwarts, thwarted, thwarting noun – thwarter adverb – thwartingly
Synonyms double-cross frustrate impede
Antonyms assist encourage help

 Because she was jealous that her brother was allowed to go on the trip while she was not,
Alex did everything in her power to thwart his plans.

Definition
(adjective) deliberate and without motive; uncalled-for; without regard for what is right, just, humane; careless
Other Forms adverb – wantonly noun – wantonness
25. wanton
Synonyms capricious heedless prodigal
Antonyms careful thoughtful prudent

 Vandals were guilty of the wanton destruction of school property.