1. 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.

2. incredulous (adjective)
Variants: incredulously (adverb); incredulousness (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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. allocation (noun)
Variants: allocate (verb), allocatable (adjective); 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.