Word List 9

•  Abridge ( a·bridge ) verb; to condense or shorten.

The audio book was available in a full-length version on 12 cassette tapes or an abridged version on six.

Most dictionaries are abridged ; they don't contain all the words, just the ones most commonly used.

Synonyms: condense, shorten, abbreviate, reduce

Antonyms: unabridged, lengthen, prolong

•  Admonish ( ad·mon·ish ) verb; to warn or scold.

We were admonished for watching too much television and told to go play outside instead.

The minister gave an admonition (noun) to his parishioners to change their sinful ways.

Synonyms: warn, discourage, caution, caution, reprove

Antonyms: encourage, promote

•  Bedlam (bed·lam) noun; a place having much noise, confusion, and chaos – insane asylum

The childcare center had accepted too many applicants and hadn't filled enough supervising positions; hence it was bedlam —children running everywhere unattended.

Bedlam is an old-fashioned term for an insane asylum or sanatorium.

Synonyms: chaos, pandemonium, sanatorium

Antonyms : order

•  Bombastic (bom·bastic) adjective; arrogant or pompous speech or writing

The journalists bombastic article made his opinion clear and suggested that few were as qualified as he to comment.

The television journalist was considered a bombast (noun); he ranted and harangued on political issues as if his opinion was the only one that mattered.

Synonyms: fustian, ranting, pompous, pretentious, declamatory, orotund, tumid, turgid

Antonyms : humble, humility

•  Caustic (caus·tic) adjective; capable of burning, corroding, dissolving, or eating away

Steve's caustic comments were hurtful and surprising; I had no idea he felt so much anger towards me.

The caustic chemicals in the chemistry lab had warnings to use properly.

Antonyms : pleasant, constructive

•  Convoluted (con·vo·lut·ed) adjective; having many overlapping or intertwined parts, complex

Many people find roadmaps convoluted and difficult to read.

The plot of the mystery was so convoluted , it was a challenge to make sense of what was going on.

Antonyms : straight, simple

7) Diffident (dif·fi·dent) adjective; lacking or marked by a lack of self-confidence; shy and timid.

Superman's alias, Clark Kent , was known for his diffidence (noun).

Mark tried to get over his diffident nature through a public speaking class.

Synonyms: shy, timid, reserved, bashful, timorous, cautious

Antonyms : outgoing, garrulous, talkative, confident

•  Disparate (dis·pa·rate) adjective; containing or composed of dissimilar or opposing elements

The singer's CD received mixed reviews; it contained such disparate kinds of songs: jazz, folk, pop, punk, that listeners didn't know what to make of it.

The trans-Atlantic flight was composed of many disparate cultures and ethnicities.

Synonyms: different, heterogeneous

Antonyms : same, homogeneous

9) Emulate (em·u·late) verb; to strive to equal or excel, especially through imitation

Jess strove to emulate his mentor and boss, who not only taught him his job but also emphasized good relationships with customers.

It is said that emulation (noun) is the highest form of flattery.

Synonyms: imitate, copy, simulate

10) Febrile (feb·rile) adjective; characterized by a fever

The patient's febrile reaction was caused by an allergy to medicine.

Synonyms: fever, febricity, pyrexia, feverishness

11) Glower (glow·er) verb; to look or stare angrily or sullenly

The first week of introducing a new kitten to the other cats in our house was a challenge; although there was no fighting, they sat at opposite ends of the room and glowered at each other.

Synonyms: glare, glower

12) Hubris (hu·bris) noun; overbearing pride, presumption or arrogance

Many classics of western literature involve a hero whose hubris destroys his life.

Galen's hubris was legendary; he clearly thought very highly of his talents and often boasted that he could do anything.

Synonyms: pride, arrogance

Antonyms : humbleness, humility

13) Impetuous (im·pet·u·ous) adjective; a sudden and forceful energy or emotion; impulsive and passionate

“Oh you impetuous man!” the heroine exclaimed as the hero drew her close for an impulsive kiss.

Carrie's impetuous nature sometimes got her into trouble as she went with her whims without thinking of possible consequences.

The impetuous waves crashed forcefully into the New England shoreline.

Synonyms : impulsive, capricious

Antonym : planned

14) Inundate (in·un·date) verb; to cover with water; to overwhelm as if with a flood

After the hard rains, the plains were inundated with flood waters.

During tax season, accountants face an inundation of tax returns.

Synonyms: overflow, deluge, flood, overwhelm, submerge,

15) Malodorous (mal·o·dor·ous) adjective; unpleasant smelling; foul.

The malodorous smell of the abandoned house was overwhelming; the police had to cover their noses as they entered.

Rotten eggs have a malodorous smell that is not quickly forgotten.

Synonyms: fetid, foul, noisome, putrid, stinking, odoriferous, rancid, sour, alliaceous

Antonyms : fragrant, perfumed, scented, aromatic, redolent

16) Obdurate ( ob·du·rate) adjective; stubbornly inflexible, hardened against feeling

The boss was known for his obdurate nature; he would not accept work absences under any circumstances—including when an employee's child was sick or if s/he had a death in the family. Ebeneezer Scrooge is a classic example of obduration (noun).

Synonyms: stubborn, obstinate, inflexible, unbending, unyielding, impenitent, callous, unfeeling, intractable

Antonyms : flexible, easy-going, compassionate

17) Quandary ( quan·da·ry) noun; A state of uncertainty or perplexity

There is great complexity and perplexity in negotiating relationships with hostile dictators; many world leaders are frustrated by this quandary .

Galen was faced with a quandary : should he have peanut butter or turkey sub for lunch.

Synonyms: predicament, plight, dilemma

18) Pervasive (per·va·sive) adjective; having the quality or tendency to pervade or permeate

A pervading theory among scientists is that live follows and evolutionary course.

The somber attitude was pervasive at the funeral.

The smell of her perfume wafted through the room permeating (verb)all space.

Synonyms: permeate, permeating, permeative

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19) Poignant (poign·ant) adjective; keenly distressing to the mind or feelings; Profoundly moving; touching; piercing, incisive.

The poignant ending of the sad movie brought tears to the eyes of viewers.

Andrea was greatly disturbed by the poignancy that her parents were getting divorced.

Synonyms: affecting, painful, touching, distressing

Antonyms : unmoving, painless

20) Repugnant (re·pug·nant) adjective; arousing disgust or aversion; offensive or repulsive: morally repugnant behavior

Although Vince was a jock and popular, Betty found his behavior on their date repugnant ; he had no manners, made crude jokes, and was a general jerk.

Synonyms: abhorrent, detestable, obscene, offensive, repulsive

Antonym : inoffensive

21) Sedentary (sed·en·tar·y) adjective; Characterized by much sitting or little exercise; staying in one place

Obesity is becoming a major national health problem because many Americans lead sedentary lives and consume too much fattening food.

The mother worried that her son was becoming too sedentary over the summer; she tried to think of ways to get him involved in activities and off the couch.

Synonyms: inactive

Antonyms : active, migratory

22) Staid (staid)  adjective; characterized by sedate dignity and often a strait-laced sense of propriety; sober. Fixed; permanent

We expect our presidents to exhibit a staid quality within their personalities and leadership.

Few things are staid or fixed in life; most can or will be changed.

Synonyms: sober, fixed, permanent

Antonyms : mutable, changeable

23) Tawdry (taw·dry) adjective; Gaudy and cheap in nature or appearance Shameful or indecent

The young woman's tawdry clothing and behavior were shameful and embarrassing to her parents.

Synonyms: brassy, cheap, flashy, garish, gaudy, meretricious, tacky, trashy

Antonyms : refined, sophisticated, tasteful

24) Temperate (tem·per·ate) adjective; free from extremes, exercising moderation and self-restraint:

Coastal areas are known for their temperate climates; it never gets too hot or too cold.

Carol's temperateness allowed her to work with even the most difficult people; she never let their obdurate natures upset her.

Antonyms : hot-tempered, irascible, obdurate, choleric

25) Wily (wi·ly)    adj. wi·li·er, wi·li·est wil i·ly adv. wil i·ness n Full of wiles; cunning.

Although Wily E. Coyote is known for his crafty tricks against Road Runner, despite his cunning name, Road Runner usually wins their feud.

Synonyms: crafty, cunning, dodgy, foxy, guileful, knavish, slick, sly, tricky,

Antonyms : artless, gullible, innocent, naive