4th quarter – 2014/2015

1. formidable

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

dauntingimposing

intimidating

unthreateningfriendly

approachable

(adjective)causing fear,

dread, or apprehension;

having qualities that discourage

approach or attack

noun – formidability, formidablenessadverb – formidably

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

2. inscrutable

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

enigmaticimpenetrable

incomprehensible

clearcomprehensible

obvious

(adjective)

not easily understood;

hard to fathom

noun – inscrutabilitynoun – inscrutablenessadverb – inscrutably

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

3. precocious

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

advancedmature

developed

behindunintelligent

(adjective)

exceptionally early in development; having mature qualities at an

early age

adverb – precociouslynoun – precociousness, precocity

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

4. trepidation

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

alarmforeboding

disquiet

calmease

tranquility

(noun)tremulous fear,

alarm, or agitation; trembling or

quivering movement

adjective – trepidatious

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

5. virulent

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

hatefultoxic

malignant

harmlesshealthy

nonpoisonous

(adjective)

extremely poisonous;

deadly; full of spiteful hatred

adverb – virulentlynoun – virulence/virulency

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

6. accommodate

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

boardharborshelter

turn outturn away

(verb)

to do a kindness or a favor to; to provide, supply or furnish with

accommodates, accommodated, accommodatingadjective – accommodativenoun – accommodator/accommodation

He would often change his schedule to accommodate his clients.

7. clairvoyant

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

extrasensorypropheticpsychic

NA

(adjective)having the power of seeing objects or actions beyond

the range of natural vision

adverb – clairvoyantlynoun – clairvoyance

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

8. contiguous

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

adjoiningjuxtaposed

next to

dividedseparateddetached

(adjective)touching; in close proximity without actually touching; near; adjacent in

time

adverb – contiguouslynoun – contiguousness

Pennsylvania and Maryland are contiguous states.

9. debilitate

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

bluntdisablecripple

aidhelp

strengthen

(verb)

to make weak or feeble

debilitates, debilitated, debilitatingnoun – debilitationadjective – debilitative

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

10. obliterate

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

annihilateeliminate

exterminate

buildconstruct

create

(verb)to remove or

destroy all traces of; do away with;

destroy completely

obliterates, obliterated, obliteratingadjective – obliterativenoun – obliteration/obliterator

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

11. officious

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

meddlesome

interferingpushy

unobtrusiveunassertive

(adjective)objectionably aggressive in

offering unwanted services, help, or

advice

adverb – officiouslynoun – officiousness

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

12. preclude

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

deterdiscontinue

hinder

allowpermitsupport

(verb)to prevent the

presence or occurrence of;

make impossible; to exclude or debar from something

precludes, precluded, precludingnoun – preclusionadjective – preclusiveadverb – preclusively

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

13. spurn

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

despisedisregard

sneer

attendembracewelcome

(verb)to reject; to treat with

contempt; to kick or trample with the foot

spurns, spurned, spurningnoun – spurner

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

14. stealthy

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

secretsneaky

clandestine

openpublicovert

(adjective)

done secretly; furtive

stealthier, stealthiestadverb – stealthilynoun – stealth/stealthiness

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

15. taciturn

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

reticentreserved

quiet

talkativegarrulous

loquacious

(adjective)inclined to

silence; reserved in speech;

reluctant to koin in conversation

adverb – taciturnlynoun – taciturnity

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.

16. cordial

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

welcomingsincereaffable

inhospitableunfriendly

disagreeable

(adjective)

courteous and gracious;

friendly; warm; heartfelt

adverb – cordiallynoun – cordiality/cordialness

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

17. defame

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

bad-mouthdiscredit

disparage

commendcompliment

praise

(verb)to attack the

good name or reputation of; to disgrace or bring dishonor upon

defames, defamed, defamingnoun – defamer/defamationadjective – defamatory

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

18. discordant

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

conflictingunharmonio

usstrident

agreeableharmonious

peaceful

(adjective)

disagreeing; disagreeable to the ear; harsh

adverb – discordantlynoun – discordance

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

19. grueling

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

backbreaking

brutalstrenuous

easyfacile

endurable

(adjective)

exhausting; very tiring; arduously

severe

adverb – gruelingly

In The Jungle, Upton Sinclair criticizes the dirty and grueling conditions of the meat-packing industry in Chicago.

20. indict

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

arraigncharge

incriminate

absolveacquit

exonerate

(verb)to bring a formal

accusation against; to charge with an

offense or crime; to accuse of

wrongdoing; to criticize

indicts, indicted, indictingnoun – indictee/indicter

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

21. indoctrinate

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

instillbrainwash

convert

leave aloneneglectignore

(verb)to instruct in a

principle, ideology, etc., especially with a

specific partisan or biased belief or point

of view

indoctrinates, indoctrinated, indoctrinatingnoun – indoctrination/indoctrinator

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

22. submissive

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

servileunresisting

yielding

resistantdefiant

disobedient

(adjective)

inclined or ready to give in;

unresistingly humble or obedient

adverb – submissivelynoun – submissiveness/submission

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

23. sullen

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

bad-temperedchurlishcrabby

brightcheerfulhappy

(adjective)showing irritation by a gloomy silence or

reserve; persistently and silently ill-

humored; dismal; sluggish

sullener, sullenestadverb – sullenlynoun – sullenness

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

24. thwart

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

double-crossfrustrateimpede

assistencourage

help

(verb)to oppose

successfully; to prevent from

accomplishing a purpose; to

frustrate or baffle

thwarts, thwarted, thwartingnoun – thwarteradverb – thwartingly

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.

25. wanton

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

capriciousheedlessprodigal

carefulthoughtful

prudent

(adjective)deliberate and

without motive; uncalled-for;

without regard for what is right, just, humane; careless

adverb – wantonlynoun – wantonness

Vandals were guilty of the wanton destruction of school property.