1. 3 rd quarter – 2014/2015

2. 1. buoyant Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms afloat lightehearted lively heavy weighted gloomy (adjective) able to float; happy and confident noun – buoyancy adverb – buoyantly

3.  Certain that they would impress the audience and critics alike, the actors were buoyant as they prepared for the evening’s performance.

4. 2. enervate Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms debilitate exhaust fatigue energize invigorate strengthen (verb) to make (someone or something) very weak or tired enervates, enervated, enervating noun – enervation, enervator adverb – enervatingly adjective – enervative

5.  A lifetime of working dreary minimum-wage jobs had enervated Paul’s spirit.

6. 3. incorrigible Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms defiant ungovernable unruly redeemable compliant manageable (adjective) not able to be corrected to changed; not manageable adverb – incorrigibly noun – incorrigibility, incorrigibleness

7.  Many prisoners seem incorrigible: as soon as they are released from prison, they commit another crime that lands them in prison again.

8. 4. inexorable Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms relentless certain unbending flexible avoidable preventable (adjective) not able to be persuaded, moved, stopped, or changed adverb – inexorably noun – inexorableness, inexorability

9.  The place I remembered from my childhood was not the same; it was not exempt from the changes caused by erosion and climate. inexorable

10. 5. irrefutable Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms indisputable evident incontestable doubtful refutable questionable (adjective) not able to be proved wrong noun – irrefutability adverb – irrefutably

11.  Because the prosecutor provided irrefutable evidence that the defendant committed the crimes, the jury quickly returned with a “guilty” verdict.

12. 6. marred Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms scar taint tarnish beautify mend repair (verb) to ruin the beauty or perfection of; to hurt or damage the good condition of mar, mars, marring

13.  When my nephew was two years old, a friend’s dog bit his face; consequently, a long, thick scar mars his face.

14. 7. parochial Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms limited narrow provincial broad broad-minded unrestricted (adjective) of or relating to a church parish and its surrounding area; limited to things that affect a local area adverb – parochially noun – parochialism

15.  Voters, worried about their parochial concern, chose to do what was best for them and their community rather than what would have been best for the world at large.

16. 8. partisan Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms biased one-sided sectarian fair unbiased (noun) a firm adherent to a party, cause, etc., esp. one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance adjective – partisan adverb – partisanly noun – partisanship

17.  The partisan members of the cult never questioned their leader’s motives.

18. 9. pique Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms annoy galvanize stimulate bore lull soothe (noun) a sudden feeling of anger or resentment when someone has offended you (verb) to arouse interest piqued, piquing

19.  When Tommy’s parents refused to revoke his punishment, he ran to his room and slammed the door in a fit of pique.  If any of these topics pique your interest, jot them down so you can examine their potential later.

20. 10. satirical Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms mocking incisive sarcastic genuine (noun) characterized by the use of irony, ridicule, or sarcasm in exposing and denouncing vice, folly, etc. adjective – satiric noun – satire adverb – satiracally

21.  In his A Modest Proposal, Jonathan Swift satirically suggests that the Irish solve the problem of lack of food by eating their children.

22. 11. cajole Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms coax entice seduce disenchant bully force (verb) to persuade someone to do something or give you something by saying nice things cajoles, cajoled, cajoling noun – cajoler, cajolement

23.  He complimented the teacher in hopes of cajoling her into postponing the due date of the project.

24. 12. capitulate Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms concede relent surrender conquer defend fight (verb) to stop fighting an enemy; to stop trying to resist something capitulates, capitulated, capitulating

25.  The country still refuses to capitulate despite its weakening army and dwindling resources.

26. 13. egregious Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms flagrant glaring nefarious concealed hidden mild (adjective) very bad and easily noticed adverb – egregiously noun – egregiousness

27.  The student’s paper was marred by a number of egregious errors in spelling.

28. 14. premonition Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms foreboding hunch omen NA (noun) a feeling or belief that something is going to happen when there is no definite reason to believe it will NA

29.  My dreams can often be interpreted as premonitions; I wake up with a gut feeling that something or good or bad is going to happen that day.

30. 15. prestigious Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms distinguished esteemed renowned common insignificant unimportant (adjective) inspiring respect and admiration; having a high status adverb – prestigiously noun – prestige, prestigiousness

31.  Once I received an invitation to the most prestigious social club in town, I knew I had won the community’s approval.

32. 16. reverent Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms respectful deferential worshipful impolite rude disrespectful (adjective) showing a lot of respect noun – reverence adverb – reverently

33.  The class spoke to the Holocaust survivor with a reverent tone of voice.

34. 17. stupor Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms swoon slumber trance consciousness wakefulness (noun) a condition in which someone is not able to think normally because of being drunk, drugged, tired, etc. NA

35.  In a drunken stupor, the old man stumbled across the room and fell into a chair.

36. 18. sycophant Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms groupie lackey flatterer NA (noun) a person who praises powerful people in order to get their approval adjective – sycophantic adverb – sycophantically

37.  At the peak of her career, the self-deluded actress often mistook sycophants as true friends.

38. 19. urbane Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms cosmopolitan sophisticated cultured uncultured unsophisticated unrefined (adjective) polite and polished in manner; fashionable and somewhat formal adverb – urbanely

39.  The members of the New York aristocracy prided themselves in being elegant and urbane hosts of dinner parties.

40. 20. zany Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms eccentric goofy wacky serious (adjective) very strange and silly zanier, zaniest

41.  The three friends seriously considered Paul’s zany plan to drive cross-country on a motorized scooter.

42. 21. aberration Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms oddity peculiarity quirk normality usualness regularity (noun) something (such as a problem or type of behavior) that is unexpected or unusual adjective – aberrational

43.  For Jenna, the valedictorian of our class, such a low grade on an exam was an aberration.

44. 22. composure Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms aplomb dignity poise agitation discomposure perturbedness (adjective) calmness of mind, manner, or appearance verb – compose

45.  Unable to maintain her composure when her attacker entered the room, Jasmine gasped and covered her face.

46. 23. congenital Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms inherent inherited innate contracted acquired (adjective) existing since birth; naturally having a specified characeristic adverb – congenitally

47.  Researchers today are conducting experiments in hopes of reducing the number of congenital disorders, such as Down Syndrome and Spina bifida.

48. 24. elusive Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms evasive mysterious illusory definite stable understandable (adjective) hard to find or capture; hard to remember, understand, or define adverb – elusively noun – elusiveness

49.  In Dan Brown’s Inferno, Sienna Brooks proves to be an elusive accomplice; she helps Robert Langdon to avoid capture on multiple occasions.

50. 25. extol Synonyms Antonyms Definition Other Forms acclaim commend praise blame censure criticize (verb) to praise (someone or something) highly extols, extolled, extolling noun – extoller, extollment

51.  The health benefits of good nutrition and exercise are widely extolled.