-
Aggrandize
(e gran ' diz)
(v.)
to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater
- syn.: augment, amplify, enhance, exalt
- ant.: reduce, decrease, diminish
-
Affable
(af ' e bel)
(adj.)
courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to
- syn.: genial, amicable, agreeable, cordial
- ant.: surly, cantankerous, dour, inhospitable
-
Amorphous
(e mor ' fes)
(adj.)
shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity or cohesion
- syn.: formless, unstructured, nebulous, inchoate
- ant.: definite, well-defined, clear-cut
-
Aura
(or ' e)
(n.)
that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive or air or personal quality
syn.: ambience, atmosphere
-
Contraband
(kan ' tre band)
(n. / adj.)
- (n.) illegal traffic, smuggled goods;
- (adj.) illegal, prohibited
- syn.: (adj.) illicit, bootleg, unlawful
- ant.: (adj.) legal, lawful, licit
-
Erudite
(er ' yu dit)
(adj.)
scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic
- syn.: profoundly educated, well-read
- ant.: ignorant, uneducated, illiterate
-
Gossamer
(gas ' e mer)
(adj. / n.)
- (adj.) thin, light, delicate, insubstantial
- (n.) a very thin, light cloth
- syn.: (adj.) filmy, diaphanous, sheer, airy, feathery, gauzy
- ant.: (adj.) thick, dense, solid, massive
-
Infer
(in fer ')
(v.)
to find out by reasoning, to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of thought; to hint, suggest, imply
syn.: gather, deduce, presume, guess, speculate
-
Inscrutable
(in skru ' te bel)
(adj.)
incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically
- syn.: impenetrable, incomprehensible, enigmatic
- ant.: comprehensible, intelligible, penetrable
-
Insular
(in ' sye ler)
(adj.)
relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience
- syn.: narrow-minded, parochial, provincial
- ant.: catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal
-
Irrevocable
(i rev ' e ke bel)
(adj.)
incapable of being changed or called back
- syn.: irreversible, unrecallable, unalterable
- ant.: reversible, changeable
-
Propensity
(pre pen ' se te)
(n.)
a natural inclination or predilection toward
- syn.: natural bent, proclivity, penchant
- ant.: natural incapacity or inability
-
Querulous
(kwer ' e les)
(adj.)
peevish, complaining, fretful
- syn.: petulant, touchy, cranky, irritable
- ant.: uncomplaining, stoical, serene, placid
-
Remonstrate
(ri man ' strat)
(v.)
to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to
syn.: reason against, expostulate
-
Repudiate
(ri pyu ' de at)
(v.)
to disown, reject, or deny the validity of
- syn.: disavow, abjure, renounce
- ant.: avow, affirm, aver, avouch
-
Resilient
(ri zil ' yent)
(adj.)
able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly
- syn.: springy, elastic, buoyant, bouncy
- ant.: rigid, stiff, inflexible, unyielding
-
Reverberate
(ri ver ' be rat)
(v.)
to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly
syn.: rumble, thunder, boom, echo
-
Scurrilous
(sker ' e les)
(adj.)
coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed
- syn.: obscene, filthy, abusive, vituperative
- ant.: decorous, seemly, tasteful, dignified
-
Sedulous
(sej ' e les)
(adj.)
persistent, showing industry and determination
- syn.: assiduous, tireless, indefatigable
- ant.: lackadaisical, listless indolent, otiose
-
Sleazy
(sle ' ze)
(adj.)
thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable
- syn.: inferior, cheesy, tawdry, tatty
- ant.: superior, first-rate, quality, sturdy
-
Amnesty
(am ' ne ste)
(n.)
a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution
-
Autonomy
(o tan ' e me)
(n.)
self-government, political control
- syn.: home rule
- ant.: dependence, subjection, colonial status
-
Axiomatic
(ak se e mat ' ik)
(adj.)
self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle or rule
- syn.: taken for granted
- ant.: questionable, dubious, controversial
-
Blazon
(blaz ' en)
(v.)
to adorn or embellish; to display conspicuously; to publish or proclaim widely
- syn.: broadcast, trumpet
- ant.: hide, conceal, cover up, bury
-
Caveat
(kav ' e at)
(n.)
a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior
syn.: admonition, word to the wise
-
Equitable
(ek ' we te bel)
(adj.)
fair, just, embodying principles of justice
- syn.: right, reasonable, evenhanded
- ant.: unjust, unfair, one-sided, disproportionate
-
Extricate
(ek ' stre kat)
(v.)
to free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort
- syn.: disentangle, extract, disengage
- ant.: enmesh, entangle, involve
-
Filch
(filch)
(v.)
to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts
syn.: pilfer, purloin, swipe
-
Flout
(flaut)
(v.)
to mock, treat with contempt
- syn.: scoff at, sneer at, snicker at, scorn
- ant.: obey, honor, revere, uphold
-
Fractious
(frak ' shes)
(adj.)
tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable
- syn.: refractory, recalcitrant, peevish
- ant.: docile, tractable, cooperative
-
Precept
(pre ' sept)
(n.)
a rule of conduct or action
syn.: principle, maxim
-
Salutary
(sal ' ye ter e)
(adj.)
beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome
- syn.: salubrious, curative
- ant.: detrimental, deleterious, pernicious
-
Scathing
(ska ' thing)
(adj.)
bitterly severe, withering; causing great harm
- syn.: searing, harsh, ferocious, savage
- ant.: bland, mild
-
Scourge
(skerj)
(v. / n.)
- (v.) to whip, punish severely
- (n.) a cause of affliction or suffering; a source of severe punishment or criticism
- syn.: (v.) flog, beat; (n.) bane, plague, pestilence
- ant.: (n.) godsend, boon, blessing
-
Soporific
(sap e rif ' ik)
(adj. / n.)
- (adj.) tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy
- (n.) something that induces sleep
- syn.: (n.) narcotic, anesthetic
- ant.: (adj.) stimulating; (n.) stimulant, stimulus
-
Straitlaced
(strat ' last)
(adj.)
extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; prudish, puritanical
- syn.: highly conventional, overly strict, stuffy
- ant.: lax, loose, indulgent, permissive, dissolute
-
Transient
(tran ' shent)
(adj. / n.)
- (adj.) lasting only a short time, fleeting
- (n.) one who stays only a short time
- syn.: (adj.) impermanent, ephemeral, evanescent
- ant.: (adj.) permanent, imperishable, immortal
-
Unwieldy
(en wel ' de)
(adj.)
not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity
- syn.: cumbersome, bulky, clumsy, impractical
- ant.: manageable, easy to handle
-
Vapid
(vap ' id)
(adj.)
dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force
- syn.: insipid, lifeless, colorless
- ant.: zesty, spicy, savory, colorful, lively
-
Anomalous
(e nam ' e les)
(adj.)
abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual
- syn.: exceptional, atypical, unusual, aberrant
- ant.: normal, regular, customary, typical, ordinary
-
Aspersion
(e sper ' zhen)
(n.)
a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming
- syn.: innuendo, calumny, denigration
- ant.: normal, typical, ordinary, expected
-
Bizarre
(bi zar ')
(adj.)
extremely strange, unusual, atypical
- syn.: grotesque, fantastic, outlandish
- ant.: normal, typical, ordinary, expected
-
Brusque
(bresk)
(adj.)
abrupt, blunt, with no formalities
- syn.: curt, tactless, ungracious, gruff, rough
- ant.: gracious, tactful, courteous, diplomatic
-
Cajole
(ke jol ')
(v.)
to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises
- syn.: wheedle, inveigle, soft-soap, sweet-talk
- ant.: coerce, force, strong-arm
-
Castigate
(kas ' te gat)
(v.)
to punish severely; to criticize severely
- syn.: chastise, rebuke, censure, upbraid
- ant.: reward, honor, praise, laud
-
Contrive
(ken triv ')
(v.)
to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan
syn.: think up, devise, concoct, fabricate
-
Demagogue
(dem ' e gag)
(n.)
a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
syn.: rabble-rouser, firebrand
-
Disabuse
(dis e byuz ')
(v.)
to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking
- syn.: undeceive, enlighten, set straight
- ant.: deceive, delude, pull wool over one's eyes
-
Ennui
(an we ')
(n.)
weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom
- syn.: languor, world-weariness, listlessness
- ant.: enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity
-
Fetter
(fet ' er)
(n. / v.)
- (n.) a chain or shackle placed on the feet (often used in plural); anything that confines or restrains
- (v.) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent
- syn.: (n.) bond, restraint; (v.) bind, hamper
- ant.: (v.) free, liberate, emancipate
-
Heinous
(ha ' nes)
(adj.)
very wicked, offensive, hateful
- syn.: evil, odious, abominable, outrageous
- ant.: excellent, wonderful, splendid
-
Immutable
(i myu ' te bel)
(adj.)
not subject to change, constant
- syn.: unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable
- ant.: changeable, inconstant, variable, fickle
-
Insurgent
(in ser ' jent)
(n. / adj.)
- (n.) one who rebels or rises against authority
- (adj.) rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on
- syn.: (adj.) revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous
- ant.: (adj.) loyalist, loyal, faithful
-
Megalomania
(meg e lo ma ' ne e)
(n.)
a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality
- syn.: delusions of grandeur
- ant.: humility, modesty, self-abasement
-
Sinecure
(si ' ne kyur)
(n.)
a position requiring little or no work; an easy job
syn.: "no-show" job, cushy job, "plum"
-
Surreptitious
(ser ep tish ' es)
(adj.)
stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud
- syn.: furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed
- ant.: open, frank, aboveboard, overt
-
Transgress
(tranz gres ')
(v.)
to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law
- syn.: overstep, exceed, trespass, err
- ant.: obey, toe the line
-
Transmute
(tranz myut ')
(v.)
to change from one nature, substance, or form to another
- syn.: transform, convert, translate, metamorphose
- ant.: maintain unchanged, preserve
-
Vicarious
(vi kar ' e es)
(adj.)
performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another
- syn.: surrogate, substitute, imagined, secondhand
- ant.: real, actual, firsthand
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