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Thank you Mrs. Kind!

• (adj.) unfavorable, negative; working against, hostile
• Synonyms: difficult, trying
Some people suffer an adverse reaction if they eat peanut butter or anything with peanuts.

• (adj.) extremely dry; uninteresting, dull
• Synonyms: waterless, parched, boring, unimaginative
Although California leads the nation in farming, crops won’t grow in its most arid regions.

• (n.) a person who attacks violently (with blows or words)
• Synonyms: assaulter, attacker, mugger
The jogger was injured by an unknown assailant who left him immobile on the side of the road.

• (n.) a large wave
• Synonym: breaker
• (v.) to rise or swell like a wave
• Synonym: surge, bulge, balloon
Fans cheered enthusiastically when they saw their team’s flags billow over the stadium.

• (v.) to meet face-to-face, especially as a challenge; comes to grips with
• Synonym: face, encounter
In court, defendants can confront their accusers in a controlled setting.

• (v.) to force, compel, to restrain, hold back
• Synonyms: pressure, restrict, confine, limit
You can’t constrain me against my will.

• (adj.) belonging to the same period of time as oneself
• Synonyms: present-day, modern, current
• (n.) a person of the same time
• Synonyms: peer
His novel used a contemporary style but had a historical setting.
Rather than ask parents for help, teens often turn to a contemporary for advice.

• (v.) to portray; to represent or show in a form of a picture
• Synonym: sketch, draw, picture, illustrate
The painter chose to depict a plain prairie landscape using bold colors and shadows.

• (adj.) fair-minded, free from selfish motives; indifferent
• Synonyms: neutral, impartial, unbiased, apathetic
A judge must remain disinterested in order to render an evenhanded and logical decision.

• (v.) to encircle, go or reach around; to enclose; to include with a certain group or class
• Synonyms: surround, envelop, comprise
Oceans encompass about three-fourths of the surface of our planet.

• (adj.) without any good reason or cause, unjustified
• Synonyms: baseless, unsupported
Joe’s groundless fear of hurting himself during exercise has left him weak and out of shape.

• (n.) a person who pretends to be what he or she is not or better than he or she really is; a two-faced person
• Synonyms: phony, charlatan, fraud
The speaker who said one thing but did something else entirely was regarded as a hypocrite.

• (adj.) impossible to understand
• Synonyms: baffling, confusing, bewildering
Our school’s intercom system is so old that this morning’s announcements were almost incomprehensible.

• (v.) to handle or use skillfully; to manage or control for personal gain or advantage
• Synonyms: work, maneuver, exploit, influence
• Scientist should not manipulate data.

• (n.) the greatest possible amount or degree
• (adj.) reaching the greatest possible amount or degree
• Synonyms: largest, highest, utmost
• The postage scale can weigh a maximum of only five pounds.

• (n.) a person who does imitations
• Synonym: copycat, impersonator
• (v.) to imitate; to make fun of
• Synonym: parrot, impersonate
• The comedy troupe has many talented members, but it still needs to hire a good mimic.

• (v.) to wrinkle, make uneven; to annoy, upset, to flip through
• (n.) a gathered strip of material used for trimming edges; a ripple; a low drumbeat
• Synonyms: (v.) disturb (n.) frill
• Try not to let wisecracks ruffle your feelings.
• My favorite pillow is soft and fluffy to the touch and has a velvet ruffle.

• (adj..) peaceful, calm; free of emotional upset; clear and free of storm; majestic, grand
• Synonyms: tranquil, composed, fair, august
How does she manage to stay so serene in the face of such chaos.

• (adj.) embarrassed; resembling a sheep in meekness, timid
• Synonyms: shamefaced, meek
• His sheepish grin made the crowds cheer all the more for his unlikely victory.

• (n.) the strength needed to keep going or overcome physical or mental strain; staying power
• Synonym: endurance
• Marathon runners need a great deal of stamina.