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abstract

(adjective, noun, verb)

DEFINITION

(adj.) 1. not specific or concrete; 2. based on general theory rather than something specific; 3. nonrepresentational (in art); (n.) a summary of a longer text, especially of an academic article; (v.) to develop or conceptualize a line of thought from a concrete reality to a general principle or an intellectual idea

SYNONYMS

(adj.) theoretical, notional, hypothetical, nonspecific, nonrepresentational, (n.) brief, summary, outline, essence, (v.) extract, isolate, separate

ANTONYMS

(adj.) concrete, factual, material

USAGE EXAMPLES

I don't like abstract painting because it doesn't look like anything I can recognize. (nonrepresentational)
The professor's argument was so abstract that no one in the room could understand it. (theoretical, not specific)

acute

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. very serious or severe; 2. highly perceptive, keen, and intelligent; 3. very powerful and sensitive (such as eyesight)

SYNONYMS

urgent, critical, dire, severe, keen, penetrating, perceptive, sensitive

ANTONYMS

obtuse, non-threatening, dull, blunt

USAGE EXAMPLES

John was taken to the hospital, where it was discovered that he was suffering from acute peritonitis. (severe)
Dogs have such an acute sense of hearing that they can sense their owner's approach long before the humans in the room notice any sound. (sensitive, perceptive)

advocate

(verb, noun)

DEFINITION

(v.) to support, plead for, or speak for someone or something; (n.) 1. someone who supports or speaks for a cause or idea; 2. a lawyer

SYNONYMS

(v.) champion, promote, support, endorse, (n.) proponent, supporter, champion, lawyer, defender, voice

ANTONYMS

(v.) oppose, (n.) opponent

USAGE EXAMPLES

The Senator was a tireless advocate of campaign finance reform. (supporter, champion)
The chairman's passionate advocacy allowed the project to be financed even after many rounds of budget cuts. (support, upholding [of the project])

aesthetic

(adjective, noun)

DEFINITION

(adj.) concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste; (n.) a theory as to what is beautiful

SYNONYMS

(adj.) tasteful, beautiful, pleasing, cultured, refined, artistic

ANTONYMS

(adj.) unaesthetic, ugly

USAGE EXAMPLES

It wasn't the prettiest web site, but its user-friendly interface made up for the lack of aesthetic images. (pleasing, refined)
Gourmet food should look aesthetic as well as taste wonderful. (beautiful, pleasing)

alleviate

(verb)

DEFINITION

1. to relieve or lessen; 2. to make easier

SYNONYMS

mitigate, assuage, allay, lessen, lighten, relieve, ease

ANTONYMS

aggravate, intensify, increase, augment

USAGE EXAMPLES

The medication instantly alleviated the patient's pain. (relieved, lightened)
Jon's weekly phone calls were able to alleviate some of his mother's worry while he was stationed overseas. (assuage, ease)

anarchy

(noun)

DEFINITION

a state of disorder and chaos, usually resulting from the absence of government or formal control

SYNONYMS

lawlessness, chaos, disorder, disarray, pandemonium, confusion

ANTONYMS

lawfulness, order

USAGE EXAMPLES

The lack of leadership caused a state of anarchy among the project team. (confusion, disorder, chaos)
Without any leadership, our company will slowly slide into a state of anarchy. (disarray, disorder)

apathy

(noun)

DEFINITION

1. the absence of emotion or enthusiasm; 2. inability to feel; 3. lack of interest

SYNONYMS

unconcern, indifference, stoicism, insensibility, passivism, listlessness

ANTONYMS

passion, enthusiasm, zeal, curiosity

USAGE EXAMPLES

His apathy toward his job eventually got him fired. (indifference, unconcern)
The politician was nervous because he was seeing signs of apathy from his loyal constituents. (passiveness, indifference)

ascetic

(noun, adjective)

DEFINITION

(n.) a person who practices self-denial; (adj.) practicing abstinence

SYNONYMS

(n.) abstainer, hermit, puritan, (adj.) abstinent, abstemious, austere, restrained, severe

ANTONYMS

(n.) hedonist, (adj.) self-indulgent, sensuous

USAGE EXAMPLES

Sarah is ascetic in her lifestyle; she doesn't allow herself any luxuries, and her home is very simple and plain. (austere, restrained)
Medieval ascetics believed that attachment to earthly possessions was sinful. (abstainers, monks)

astute

(adjective)

DEFINITION

able to be perceptive and to make intelligent decisions and judgments

SYNONYMS

perceptive, discerning, intelligent, clever, cunning, shrewd, crafty, wily, sly

ANTONYMS

imperceptive, ignorant, naive

USAGE EXAMPLES

Her astute cultural observations made her one of the most noted anthropologists of her time. (perceptive, discerning)
The astute investor made even more money in the stock market than in his business. (wily, shrewd)

augment

(verb)

DEFINITION

to increase or make greater by adding something

SYNONYMS

supplement, increase, expand, intensify, enlarge, enhance

ANTONYMS

attenuate, decrease, degrade, reduce

USAGE EXAMPLES

The senator's salary was augmented by funds obtained from illegal bribes. (supplemented, enhanced)
If you want to augment your investment portfolio, you'll have to take some calculated risks. (expand, enlarge)

austere

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. stern, strict, or harsh in manner; 2. bare or unadorned; 3. indicating self-denial or lack of comfort

SYNONYMS

severe, strict, stern, harsh, unadorned, plain, simple, forbidding, stringent, ascetic, solemn

ANTONYMS

luxurious, self-indulgent

USAGE EXAMPLES

With the war abroad, many families faced increased austerity in their home lives. (self-denial, simplicity)
The children were nervous in the presence of the austere and intimidating instructor. (stern, forbidding)

banal

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. boring and lacking in originality; 2. repeated too often and therefore overly familiar

SYNONYMS

trite, insipid, common, hackneyed, unoriginal, dull, obvious

ANTONYMS

original, fresh, new, uncommon

USAGE EXAMPLES

We need to come up with some better concepts for next week's presentation; everything we've thought of so far is totally banal. (trite, unoriginal)
He thinks his ideas are creative and original, but I find them to be rather banal. (common, hackneyed, obvious)

belligerent

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. hostile, and ready to fight or go to war; 2. taking part or engaged in warfare; 3. characteristic of hostility or readiness to fight

SYNONYMS

combative, hostile, bellicose, contentious, warlike, aggressive, antagonistic, pugnacious, quarrelsome

ANTONYMS

friendly, peaceful, neutral, conciliatory

USAGE EXAMPLES

It was impossible to explain myself when he was so belligerent with anger. (combative, aggressive, bellicose)
The woman was shocked and embarrassed when her husband became belligerent with her in public. (combative, pugnacious, aggressive)

benevolent

(adjective)

DEFINITION

a tendency to do good or generous things

SYNONYMS

good, kind, generous, altruistic, charitable, compassionate

ANTONYMS

malevolent, evil, selfish, insensitive, unfeeling, unkind

USAGE EXAMPLES

He was a benevolent man, determined to do what he could to make life easier and happier for others. (kind, compassionate)
John didn't have a selfish bone in his body, and his benevolence won him many friends and admirers. (kindness, generosity)

candid

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. honest, straightforward, and sincere, without reserve; 2. informal and natural

SYNONYMS

forthright, frank, guileless, sincere, unbiased, straightforward, earnest, informal, improvised, spontaneous, fair

ANTONYMS

deceitful, devious, indirect, insincere

USAGE EXAMPLES

We need to have a candid conversation about the state of our company and discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly. (frank, sincere)
She was very candid with the journalist during the interview and revealed many personal details of her life. (forthright, earnest)

censure

(noun, verb)

DEFINITION

(n.) harsh criticism or condemnation; (v.) to criticize severely or to condemn

SYNONYMS

(n.) rebuke, disapproval, criticism, condemnation, reproval, (v.) condemn, criticize, castigate, reprove, denounce

ANTONYMS

praise

USAGE EXAMPLES

The committee issued a censure of the legislature's questionable activities. (criticism, reproval)
Those who refused to strike were censured by the union. (criticized, castigated)

complacent

(adjective)

DEFINITION

overly self-satisfied due to a high opinion of oneself, and therefore, too content

SYNONYMS

smug, self-satisfied, self-pleased, at ease, indifferent, apathetic, impervious

ANTONYMS

humble, diffident, on guard

USAGE EXAMPLES

American auto makers became too complacent in the 1970's, allowing Japanese manufacturers to increase auto sales in the US. (at ease, smug)
Strong competition keeps companies from becoming too complacent. (comfortable, impervious)

compliance

(noun)

DEFINITION

1. the act of obedience to order or law; 2. the act of surrendering power to another

SYNONYMS

deference, acquiescence, conformity, yielding, adherence

ANTONYMS

noncompliance, disobedience, nonconformity

USAGE EXAMPLES

The released offender's compliance with her parole officer was to her benefit. (conformity, deference)
The rebellious new driver felt that compliance with traffic laws was optional, until he started getting traffic tickets. (acquiescence, assent)

conciliatory

(adjective)

DEFINITION

acting in a placating manner to bring about agreement, restore trust and goodwill, or settle someone's anger

SYNONYMS

accommodating, obliging, appeasing, assuaging, mollifying, placating

ANTONYMS

antagonistic, belligerent, stubborn

USAGE EXAMPLES

The conciliatory tone of his voice showed that he was ready to end our disagreement. (placating, assuaging)
If it's any conciliation, I didn't have any fun at the party without you. (appeasement)

condone

(verb)

DEFINITION

to overlook and accept as harmless, behavior which is considered immoral or wrong--to make allowances for bad behavior, without criticism

SYNONYMS

overlook, pardon, disregard, tolerate, sanction

ANTONYMS

censure, condemn, denounce, forbid

USAGE EXAMPLES

To initially condone bad behavior may give truth to the phrase, "give them an inch, and they'll take a mile." (overlook, tolerate)
If you condone dishonesty in the company you keep, what's to stop you from becoming untruthful yourself? (disregard, pardon)

conspicuous

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. easily seen--noticeable; 2. trying to attract attention through being unusual or remarkable

SYNONYMS

obvious, noticeable, blatant, evident, apparent, obtrusive, overt

ANTONYMS

inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unseen, hidden

USAGE EXAMPLES

The tourist's bright backpack was quite conspicuous and immediately marked her as a foreigner. (obvious, noticeable)
If you continue your conspicuous and odd behavior, she will know you are planning a surprise party for her. (obvious, overt)

contempt

(noun)

DEFINITION

willful and open disrespect

SYNONYMS

disdain, dislike, disrespect, hatred, disgust, disregard, scorn, loathing, shame, dishonor, arrogance, defiance

ANTONYMS

regard, reverence, respect, honor, affection

USAGE EXAMPLES

I have nothing but contempt for people who lie, cheat, and steal. (disgust, loathing)
He is very contemptuous of people who don't work hard and complain about everything in life. (expressing disgust)

deference

(noun)

DEFINITION

1. polite respect, especially putting another person's interests first; 2. a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others

SYNONYMS

homage, obeisance, reverence, submission, respect, consideration

ANTONYMS

insolence, irreverence disesteem, disfavor discourtesy, incivility, rudeness

USAGE EXAMPLES

Out of deference to our guests, we always ask them what they want for dinner. (respect, consideration)
He will defer to his lawyers about whether or not to take the stand during the trial. (yield, concede, submit)

depraved

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. showing great moral corruption or wickedness; 2. deviating from what is right, proper, or good

SYNONYMS

corrupt, degenerate, mean, debased, immoral, wicked

ANTONYMS

scrupulous, upstanding

USAGE EXAMPLES

He has been a ruthless and mean business man throughout his whole career; I don't think he can change his depraved ways. (corrupt)
The depraved club treasurer ran off to Hawaii and spent all the members' dues. (corrupt, immoral)

deride

(verb)

DEFINITION

to ridicule or show contempt for someone or something

SYNONYMS

gibe, jeer, mock, disparage, ridicule, scoff, scorn

ANTONYMS

praise, respect, encourage

USAGE EXAMPLES

Bill's friends derided him for his obvious fright during the scary movie. (mocked, ridiculed)
"What a ridiculous outfit," Sue said with derision, "don't you know you shouldn't wear white shoes with black socks?" (scorn)

deter

(verb)

DEFINITION

to discourage or prevent from taking action, especially by frightening people or making them nervous about the consequences

SYNONYMS

dissuade, inhibit, prevent, preclude, damp, daunt, discourage, hinder, intimidate, restrain

ANTONYMS

encourage, incite, urge

USAGE EXAMPLES

Knowing that Becky had been punished for eating cookies between meals did not deter Tommy from sneaking a cookie when their mother wasn't looking. (daunt, prevent)
Criminologists disagree about whether longer jail sentences are really a deterrent against crime. (prevention, hindrance)

didactic

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. tending to give instruction or advice, even when it is neither welcome or necessary; 2. containing a political or moral message

SYNONYMS

dogmatic, preachy, edifying, instructive, donnish, homiletic, moralizing, sermonic pedagogic, pedantic, perceptive

ANTONYMS

entertaining

USAGE EXAMPLES

The movie was somewhat entertaining, but it was more didactic, with an underlying message that much can be learned from history. (edifying, preachy)
Ron's didactic explanations irritated his coworkers, who simply wanted to be told how the software worked, without long digressions on the theory behind it. (pedantic, sermonic)

diligence

(noun)

DEFINITION

1. conscientiousness in paying proper attention to a task and being very thorough; 2. hard and persistent effort when doing a task

SYNONYMS

industriousness, thoroughness, conscientiousness, application

ANTONYMS

carelessness, neglect

USAGE EXAMPLES

Larry's care and diligence won him many promotions and the respect of his boss. (industriousness, thoroughness)
It is important for us to do our due-diligence on this project; we can't overlook anything or make any mistakes. (thorough research, application)

discerning

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. possessing good judgment; 2. distinguishing in subtlety and good taste

SYNONYMS

discriminating, perceptive, judicious, sensitive, shrewd, astute

ANTONYMS

undiscerning, obtuse

USAGE EXAMPLES

The restaurant reviewer was famous for his discerning taste and fair depictions of local haunts. (sensitive, discriminating)
The teacher surveyed her students' work with a discerning eye, distinguishing between that which was done well and that which needed improvement. (perceptive, astute)

discord

(noun)

DEFINITION

disagreement or strife between people, things, or situations

SYNONYMS

disharmony, tension, friction, clashing, conflict, contention, disagreement, dispute, dissension, disunity, strife, wrangling, antagonism

ANTONYMS

agreement, harmony, unity

USAGE EXAMPLES

There was discord between the two countries for seven generations, until the people finally decided they had had enough of war. (strife, conflict)
The discordant sounds of the children's first instrumental concert grated on the ears of all but the most doting parents. (clashing, disharmonious)

discriminate

(verb, adjective)

DEFINITION

(v.) 1. to recognize or identify a difference between things; 2. to treat members of a group unfairly because of prejudice; (adj.) characterized by the ability to see or make distinctions between things

SYNONYMS

(v.) discern, distinguish, differentiate, judge, favor, bias, (adj.) discriminating, discerning, perceptive, choosy

ANTONYMS

(adj.) indiscriminate

USAGE EXAMPLES

If you are color-blind, you will not be able to discriminate between red and blue on a color chart. (distinguish)
Any kind of discrimination based on race, gender, or age is illegal in most places of work. (prejudicial distinction, bias, favor)

disdain

(noun, verb)

DEFINITION

(n.) strong contempt or feeling of scorn; (v.) to view with contempt and a feeling of superiority

SYNONYMS

(n.) contempt, ridicule, arrogance, (v.) disregard, reject, scorn, snub, despise

ANTONYMS

(n./v.) admire/admiration, respect, esteem

USAGE EXAMPLES

The man regarded the noisy, nosey children in his neighborhood with disdain. (contempt, scorn)
The woman disdained to join those who were playing the game, feeling far too mature for such nonsense. (rejected, snubbed)

disparage

(verb)

DEFINITION

1. to speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; 2. to undervalue; 3. to discredit

SYNONYMS

belittle, denigrate, degrade, demoralize, deride, deprecate, defame, undervalue, discredit

ANTONYMS

approve, commend, compliment, laud

USAGE EXAMPLES

A good manager would never disparage an employee in front of others. (belittle, demoralize)
Marine drill sergeants are known for their use of disparaging methods for recruits in boot camp. (denigrating, demoralizing)

disparate

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. including dissimilar elements; 2. fundamentally different so as to be beyond comparison

SYNONYMS

different, miscellaneous, sundry, diversified, distinct, separate

ANTONYMS

comparable, similar, analogous

USAGE EXAMPLES

The project team's disparate opinions made for a frustrating and inconclusive meeting. (different, distinct)
Leslie enjoys such disparate hobbies as bowling and painting. (diversified, miscellaneous)

dispassionate

(adjective)

DEFINITION

unemotional and therefore unbiased

SYNONYMS

objective, impartial, fair, detached, disinterested, cool, unbiased

ANTONYMS

passionate, emotional, biased

USAGE EXAMPLES

The police were able to catch the criminal with the help of a dispassionate observer who simply told officers what she had seen when they interviewed her. (unemotional, impartial)
With the mounting tension between the two groups, a dispassionate mediator is needed to facilitate further discussions. (fair, calm, unbiased)

dissent

(verb, noun)

DEFINITION

(v.) to disagree or to refrain from giving approval; (n.) disagreement or nonconformity

SYNONYMS

(v.) object, disagree, differ, (n.) objection, disagreement, nonconformity, discord

ANTONYMS

(v.) agree, consent, (n.) accord, harmony

USAGE EXAMPLES

Most of those present at the town council meeting agreed with the new policy, but there were a few who expressed dissent. (disagreement)
The young man opted for a secular career rather than one in the ministry, because he dissented with the idea that priests should not marry. (disagreed, objected to)

diverse

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. comprised of varied elements or components; 2. different or distinct

SYNONYMS

varied, different, distinct, unlike, dissimilar, heterogeneous

ANTONYMS

similar, uniform

USAGE EXAMPLES

She has many diverse interests, including coin collecting, soccer, and oil painting. (varied, different)
The college is working to create a more diverse student body. (varied, heterogeneous)

dogma

(noun)

DEFINITION

1. a religious doctrine; 2. a code of beliefs

SYNONYMS

doctrine, belief, tenet, conviction, creed, credo, ideology, code, system

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

His political dogma paralleled that of the republican party. (ideology, belief system)
This company has always operated under the dogma that employees must be respected and compensated fairly. (belief, tenet, conviction)

eccentric

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. unconventional or unusual; 2. not having a common center

SYNONYMS

odd, outlandish, whimsical, off-center, unusual, peculiar, quirky

ANTONYMS

concentric, conventional, ordinary, normal

USAGE EXAMPLES

His quirky and eccentric manner never failed to make people laugh. (unusual)
Her eccentric and funky fashion designs appeal to young people. (whimsical, quirky)

endorse

(verb)

DEFINITION

1. to promote; 2. to approve or support; 3. to sign officially (as a check or receipt)

SYNONYMS

approve, support, promote, sanction, sign, underwrite

ANTONYMS

denounce

USAGE EXAMPLES

If you want this check cashed, you will need to endorse it with your signature. (sign, authorize)
Michael Phelps endorses a number of swimming products. (supports, promotes)

engender

(verb)

DEFINITION

1. to create or give rise to; 2. to make children

SYNONYMS

generate, create, incite, produce, beget, cause, procreate, breed

ANTONYMS

destroy

USAGE EXAMPLES

The activists hope to engender change. (cause, bring about, generate)
Technology has engendered fear among some and delight among others. (caused, bred, created)

enigma

(noun)

DEFINITION

something that defies explanation

SYNONYMS

mystery, secret, puzzle, paradox, perplexity

ANTONYMS

answer, truth, clarity

USAGE EXAMPLES

Her enigmatic smile made me wonder what was on her mind. (mysterious)
How such an inept person became CEO for a major corporation, is truly an enigma. (mystery, perplexity)

ephemeral

(adjective)

DEFINITION

lasting for only a little while

SYNONYMS

short-lived, temporary, momentary, transient, fleeting

ANTONYMS

long-lived, long-lasting

USAGE EXAMPLES

He tried to catch an ephemeral snowflake on his tongue, to no avail. (fleeting, temporary)
Few things in this life are as ephemeral as fame. (fleeting, transient)

euphony

(noun)

DEFINITION

a pleasant, harmonious quality of sound formed when words are combined to create smooth enunciation of letters and syllables

SYNONYMS

harmoniousness, melodiousness, musicality, consonance

ANTONYMS

cacophony

USAGE EXAMPLES

To some people, opera is a euphony; to others rap provides that kind of harmony. (harmoniousness, consonance)
Walt Whitman is a famous, early American poet whose picturesque euphony of poetry paints a memorable picture of nature and history. (melodiousness, musicality)

exemplary

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. worthy of imitation; 2. serving as a perfect model or example; 3. designed to be severe and serve as a warning to others (as in a punishment)

SYNONYMS

laudable, praiseworthy, quintessential, worthy, emblematic, typical, illustrative, representative, cautionary, dissuasive, monitory

ANTONYMS

reprehensible, substandard, awful, atypical, anomalous

USAGE EXAMPLES

Through exemplary conduct and fierce determination, he climbed his way to the top ranks of the military. (laudable, praiseworthy)
Through the exemplary jail sentence for the 15 year old, the judge hoped to curb violent behavior amongst other young gang members. (cautionary, dissuasive)

expedient

(adjective, noun)

DEFINITION

(adj.) 1. convenient as a means to an end, sometimes not morally acceptable; 2. governed by self-interest; (n.) a means to an end, often not principled or ethical

SYNONYMS

(adj.) convenient, practical, advantageous, efficient, opportunistic, timesaving, profitable, (n.) expediency, means, device

ANTONYMS

inexpedient

USAGE EXAMPLES

Forcing employees to work overtime without overtime pay is an expedient solution to our cash-flow problem, but in the long-run, it may affect company morale. (advantageous, opportunistic, practical)
When working with contractors, it is expedient not to pay them until the job is completed to your satisfaction. (advantageous, practical)

expedite

(verb)

DEFINITION

1. to hasten the action or speed up the progress of something; 2. to deal with something quickly and efficiently

SYNONYMS

hasten, accelerate, assist, facilitate, advance

ANTONYMS

slow, stifle

USAGE EXAMPLES

Is there any way that we can expedite this process so we can meet our deadline? (accelerate, hasten)
I'm going to expedite this paperwork in order to move things along more quickly. (accelerate, advance)

extol

(verb)

DEFINITION

to praise highly and lift someone or something up with great admiration

SYNONYMS

glorify, hail, exalt, acclaim, magnify, commend, praise

ANTONYMS

condemn, criticize, decry, disparage

USAGE EXAMPLES

The golfers extolled the benefits of membership at their country club. (acclaimed, commended)
When her professor extolled her scientific prowess, Julie became convinced of her destiny with greatness. (glorified, hailed)

fastidious

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. possessing or displaying meticulous attention to detail, needing everything to be correct and perfect; 2. extremely sensitive or delicate in matters of food, manners, dress, or personal hygiene, and easily disgusted by lack on cleanliness

SYNONYMS

particular, meticulous, persnickety, dainty, finicky, exacting, squeamish, precious, fussy

ANTONYMS

indifferent, uncouth, uncritical, undemanding, accepting, laid back

USAGE EXAMPLES

The man's fastidious attention to detail and focus made him an excellent technical writer. (exacting, meticulous)
I didn't realize he was so fastidious until we went out to dinner and he sent his meal back three times. (particular, demanding)

fervor

(noun)

DEFINITION

1. extreme intensity of emotion or belief; 2. intense heat

SYNONYMS

seriousness, passion, ardency, earnestness, animation, vehemence, intensity

ANTONYMS

apathy, impassiveness, indifference

USAGE EXAMPLES

The country was full of patriotic fervor during the war. (zeal, passion)
Rioters reached quite a fervor after embarking upon a hunger strike. (earnestness, vehemence)

futile

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. unlikely to produce a useful or desired result--useless or ineffective; 2. lacking substance or value

SYNONYMS

pointless, hopeless, useless, ineffective, ineffectual, unproductive, worthless, profitless, fruitless, trivial, negligible

ANTONYMS

useful, significant

USAGE EXAMPLES

Due to bad weather, the team's attempt to climb Mt. Everest proved futile once again. (fruitless, ineffectual)
My attempt to get ahead on the project seemed futile, as each week, my responsibilities kept piling up. (hopeless, useless)

gravity

(noun)

DEFINITION

1. the seriousness or significance of something; 2. a manner that is serious and solemn; 3. the quality of being heavy; 4. the gravitational force of Earth

SYNONYMS

importance, significance, seriousness, magnitude, weight

ANTONYMS

lightness, levity, insignificance

USAGE EXAMPLES

I hope you understand the gravity of this situation and will do everything in your power to solve the matter. (significance, magnitude)
The grave manner in which she looked at me told me this was no time for jokes. (serious)

guile

(noun)

DEFINITION

trickery, duplicity, or deceptive cunning

SYNONYMS

duplicity, cunning, craftiness, deceitfulness, trickery

ANTONYMS

innocence, candor, honesty

USAGE EXAMPLES

He is an honest man, without guile. (deceitfulness, cunning)
She is a guileless young girl who will believe most anything she is told. (innocent, naive)

heresy

(noun)

DEFINITION

a belief that counters accepted religious doctrine or the holding of such a belief

SYNONYMS

dissent, iconoclasm, dissidence, nonconformity, revisionism, sacrilege

ANTONYMS

orthodoxy

USAGE EXAMPLES

Some famous thinkers such as Martin Luther and Galileo were accused of heresy in their own times because their new ideas contradicted the church. (dissent, dissidence)
You may think I am a heretic, but I am not entirely convinced that Western medicine has all the answers. (dissenter)

impartial

(adjective)

DEFINITION

unbiased, not partial, and showing equal treatment

SYNONYMS

unbiased, fair, neutral, objective, just

ANTONYMS

partial, biased, unfair

USAGE EXAMPLES

If there is a dispute over the contract, we will take our case before an impartial authority. (unbiased, neutral)
She was a fair and impartial grader, which made her a good teacher. (fair, unbiased, just)

incessant

(adjective)

DEFINITION

uninterrupted and continuous

SYNONYMS

constant, unending, ceaseless, continuous, uninterrupted, perpetual

ANTONYMS

temporary, periodic

USAGE EXAMPLES

Her incessant questions were cute at first, but soon became very annoying. (constant)
My boss' incessant demands are putting so much pressure on me that I'm beginning to see physical signs of the strain. (ceaseless, constant)

indifferent

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. having little or no interest; 2. neither good nor bad; 3. not mattering one way or another; 3. showing little care or concern

SYNONYMS

disinterested, detached, aloof, apathetic, unconcerned, unmoved, uninvolved, unremarkable, ordinary, undistinguished

ANTONYMS

interested, attached, concerned, involved, outstanding

USAGE EXAMPLES

Reactions to the movie ranged from good to indifferent. (unremarkable, apathetic)
He loved going to the company picnic every year, but his wife was indifferent about it. (detached, disinterested)

inevitable

(adjective)

DEFINITION

certain to happen

SYNONYMS

destined, certain, inescapable, imminent, unavoidable, impending, ineluctable, necessary

ANTONYMS

doubtful, unlikely, avoidable, escapable

USAGE EXAMPLES

Whether we like it or not, the government inevitably takes its share of our paychecks. (unavoidably)
The team's loss was inevitable; half the players were out sick. (destined, certain)

infamous

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. having an extremely bad reputation; 2. famous for something bad

SYNONYMS

notorious, disreputable, scandalous, abominable, evil, dishonorable, shameful

ANTONYMS

honorable, praiseworthy, noble, exalted

USAGE EXAMPLES

The infamous virus has claimed many lives this winter season. (notorious)
The corporation's infamous bad business practices left many people worried about the future of the company stock. (scandalous, shameful)

innovative

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. taking a new and original approach; 2. ahead of the times

SYNONYMS

creative, original, inventive, resourceful, ingenious, new

ANTONYMS

unoriginal, hackneyed

USAGE EXAMPLES

He is an innovative artist who tries to use new and interesting materials to create his works. (creative, inventive)
This is the first true innovation our industry has seen in years. (new idea)

insipid

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. having no interest, significance, or impact; 2. without taste of flavor

SYNONYMS

uninteresting, unimaginative, banal, insignificant, empty, flat, lackluster, jejune, dull, stale, boring, lifeless, bland, vapid, tasteless, flavorless

ANTONYMS

interesting, significant, imaginative, savory, flavorful

USAGE EXAMPLES

Her insipid sales presentation had no impact on the client and certainly didn't raise our bottom line. (lackluster, insignificant)
Even the famous actor couldn't help the ratings of the insipid TV show. (boring, lifeless, banal)

ironic

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. different than what was anticipated; 2. humorously sarcastic

SYNONYMS

inconsistent, contrary, contradictory, absurd, twisted, unexpected, paradoxical, sarcastic, farcical, sardonic

ANTONYMS

anticipated, expected, consistent, serious

USAGE EXAMPLES

In an ironic twist, the best team was defeated by the worst one. (unexpected)
It is a sad irony that Van Gough's success did not come until after his death. (twist, farce, absurdity, incongruity)

languid

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. lacking energy and spirit; 2. slow moving

SYNONYMS

sluggish, listless, lethargic, lazy, lackadaisical, inactive, unhurried, leisurely, indifferent

ANTONYMS

active, spirited, energetic, lively

USAGE EXAMPLES

During the hot and languid summer, the kids slept in and spent numerous hours sitting leisurely by the pool. (lazy, unhurried, leisurely)
It was clear by his languid demeanor that he was no longer interested in his work. (indifferent, lackadaisical, listless)

laud

(verb)

DEFINITION

to praise highly--glorify

SYNONYMS

acclaim, celebrate, compliment, praise, glorify, honor, extol

ANTONYMS

criticize, censure, boo

USAGE EXAMPLES

The great concert pianist was lauded for his talent. (acclaimed, extolled)
The policy was lauded for helping to reduce homelessness. (complimented, praised)

lucid

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. clear and easily understood; 2. rational and mentally clear; 3. shining or emitting light

SYNONYMS

clear, evident, obvious, unmistakable, sane, rational, intelligent, bright, radiant, brilliant

ANTONYMS

unclear, gloomy, murky

USAGE EXAMPLES

You can tell the vacation did him well; his thoughts, ideas, and reports were more lucid when he returned. (clear, rational)
All of his ideas were clear and easy to follow; he impressed everyone with his lucid speaking ability. (brilliant)

mitigate

(verb)

DEFINITION

1. to make something less harsh, severe, or violent; 2. to make an offense or crime less serious or more excusable

SYNONYMS

relieve, lessen, assuage, ease, excuse, soften, extenuate

ANTONYMS

intensify, aggravate, augment

USAGE EXAMPLES

The physician group paid more for insurance to mitigate their malpractice liability. (lessen, ease)
The company required all employees to sign a policy form on sexual harassment in order to mitigate its liability in future harassment cases. (assuage, lessen)

negligent

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. failing to do something required or expected; 2. characterized by carelessness or lack of concern

SYNONYMS

careless, heedless, neglectful, lax

ANTONYMS

careful, mindful, concerned

USAGE EXAMPLES

Their baby was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and they are now suing the doctor for negligence during the delivery. (inattentiveness, carelessness)
Amy is often negligent of her responsibilities and other people have to pick up the slack for her. (neglectful)

novelty

(noun)

DEFINITION

1. a new and surprising originality; 2. the quality of being new and different; 2. a small, inexpensive toy or trinket

SYNONYMS

originality, newness, innovation, freshness, fad, gimmick, curio

ANTONYMS

sameness, banality, familiarity, staleness

USAGE EXAMPLES

The novelty of a trend usually wears off quickly, and the trend setters go on to the next new thing. (newness)
Our store sells mainly novelty items that appeal to tourists and young people. (curio, gimmicky)

objective

(adjective, noun)

DEFINITION

(adj.) 1. without bias or personal opinion; 2. based on facts, not emotions; 3. able to be perceived or observed; (n.) an intended and attainable goal

SYNONYMS

(adj.) fair, unbiased, unprejudiced, impartial, disinterested, equitable, measurable, actual, observable, material, (n.) goal, purpose, object, aim, target

ANTONYMS

subjective, biased, emotional, partial, introspective

USAGE EXAMPLES

The manager tried to take an objective stance when listening to his quarreling employees. (fair, impartial)
Our objective is to teach students to write more effectively. (goal, aim)

obscure

(adjective, verb)

DEFINITION

(adj.) 1. unclear, unknown, or difficult to distinguish; 2. dark or hidden; (v.) to make less visible or unclear

SYNONYMS

(adj.) unclear, ambiguous, unknown, cloudy, hazy, dark, dim, hidden, vague, indistinct, obfuscated, (v.) hide, conceal, dim, darken, screen

ANTONYMS

(adj.) clear, distinct, (v.) clarify, elucidate

USAGE EXAMPLES

This beautiful sculpture was created by an obscure artist from a small town, but I'm sure he'll be famous some day. (unknown)
Lawyers are expected to interpret obscure sections of legal code. (unclear)

philanthropist

(noun)

DEFINITION

someone who gives charitable contributions in order to help humankind

SYNONYMS

donor, contributor, backer, supporter, altruist, patron, humanitarian

ANTONYMS

misanthrope, miser

USAGE EXAMPLES

The philanthropist gave millions for the community center to be built. (donor, contributor)
If it weren't for her generosity and philanthropy, the art exhibit would not have opened. (charity, support, patronage)

pious

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. showing religious reverence; 2. religious

SYNONYMS

religious, reverent, spiritual, devout, devoted, righteous, faithful, sanctimonious

ANTONYMS

agnostic, unholy, irreverent

USAGE EXAMPLES

He was a pious man who went to church every Sunday. (devout, spiritual)
He had a pious attitude toward the teachings of his religion and lived his life by them. (sanctimonious, devoted)

pragmatic

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory or ideology; 2. relating to matters of fact and practicality

SYNONYMS

realistic, down-to-earth, practical, sensible, matter-of-fact, logical

ANTONYMS

ideological, unrealistic

USAGE EXAMPLES

He tends to have a more pragmatic approach to solving problems, versus others in the company, who tend to be overly idealistic. (logical, practical)
He didn't feel that ideology had a place in politics and preferred to take a pragmatic approach to the issues. (realistic, down-to-earth, logical)

prodigal

(adjective, noun)

DEFINITION

(adj.) 1. wasteful, especially with money; 2. lavish and excessive; 3. being generous and giving abundantly; (n.) a person who is wasteful with money, especially that of their parents

SYNONYMS

(adj.) wasteful, extravagant, lavish, reckless, enormous, exaggerated, excessive, (n.) spender

ANTONYMS

(adj.) meager, moderate, frugal

USAGE EXAMPLES

The prodigal returned home; he was penniless and sorry for his wasteful spending. (spender)
Many people in our society live a prodigal life, throwing things out and buying new things at an alarming rate. (wasteful, lavish)

profound

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. deep in intellect or insight; 2. intense; 3. from or extending to a depth; 4. complete or pervasive

SYNONYMS

deep, intense, penetrating, poignant, thorough, complete, pervasive, insightful

ANTONYMS

superficial

USAGE EXAMPLES

Einstein is known for his profound understanding of the complexities of relativity. (insightful, deep)
The tragic accident caused profound sadness throughout the community. (deep, intense)

profusion

(noun)

DEFINITION

1. a lavish or extravagant amount; 2. large quantity of something

SYNONYMS

abundance, extravagance, lavishness, excess, bounty, plenty, wealth

ANTONYMS

sparseness, lack, shortage

USAGE EXAMPLES

This spring the flowers bloomed in greater profusion than in past years. (abundance)
Relieved and happy, she offered profuse thanks to the man who saved her life. (lavish, overflowing, excessive, effusive)

prosaic

(adjective)

DEFINITION

without interest, variety, or imagination--dull

SYNONYMS

boring, commonplace, ordinary, monotonous, insipid, mundane, simple, dull, vapid, banal

ANTONYMS

exciting, fascinating, interesting, stimulating

USAGE EXAMPLES

Data entry is a prosaic chore. (mundane, dull)
I'm surprised you enjoyed that book so much; I found it to be prosaic and unimaginative. (boring, banal, vapid)

provincial

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. of or from a province; 2. being narrow-minded or unsophisticated

SYNONYMS

regional, rural, homespun, limited, rustic, unsophisticated, narrow-minded, unpolished

ANTONYMS

urban, polished, sophisticated, open-minded

USAGE EXAMPLES

He was a narrow-minded, provincial man who did not really want to hear my opinion. (unsophisticated)
His provincial way of thinking led him to believe that school was only necessary until the eighth grade. (homespun, limited)

provocative

(adjective)

DEFINITION

intending to stimulate or excite

SYNONYMS

inflammatory, aggravating, arousing, challenging, disturbing, exciting, stimulating, inspirational

ANTONYMS

common, dull, un-inspirational

USAGE EXAMPLES

She gave him a provocative smile as she slowly and deliberately crossed her legs. (sexually exciting, arousing)
The movie was very provocative; everyone left the theater emotional. (disturbing, challenging, stimulating)

redundant

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. characterized by unnecessary repetition, especially of a word or phrase, such as two synonyms used in conjunction; 2. cluttered with more than is needed

SYNONYMS

repetitious, repetitive, superfluous, excessive, verbose, unnecessary, prolix, loquacious

ANTONYMS

non-repetitive, deficient, insufficient, meager, moderate, abridged

USAGE EXAMPLES

It seemed redundant to keep her schedule in both her day planner and her palm pilot. (unnecessary, excessive)
Please don't call and e-mail me regarding the same thing; it's so redundant. (repetitive, unnecessary)

relevant

(adjective)

DEFINITION

having a bearing on, or pertinent with, the present subject

SYNONYMS

germane, pertinent, material, applicable, significant, apposite

ANTONYMS

irrelevant, unsuitable, unrelated, immaterial

USAGE EXAMPLES

Her comments during the meeting were relevant and well received. (germane, pertinent)
Your thoughts on this issue are irrelevant, so you might as well save your breath because we're proceeding as planned. (immaterial, insignificant)

reprehensible

(adjective)

DEFINITION

describes deplorable, highly unacceptable action, deserving severe rebuke

SYNONYMS

condemnable, shameful, blameworthy, unjustifiable, vile, heinous, reproachable, culpable, errant

ANTONYMS

praiseworthy, laudable

USAGE EXAMPLES

Your actions in this matter are reprehensible, and you will be held accountable for them. (deplorable, condemnable)
The former president's reprehensible behavior was seemingly forgotten in later years, when throngs of people came out to hear him speak. (errant, shameful)

repudiate

(verb)

DEFINITION

1. to refuse to recognize the truth or validity of something; 2. to reject something as untrue or unjust; 3. to formally disapprove of something; 4. to formally separate yourself from something or someone; 5. to refuse to pay a debt

SYNONYMS

reject, abjure, deny, renounce, abandon, disavow, divorce, forsake, negate, disclaim, disdain, abdicate, disregard

ANTONYMS

recognize, acknowledge, adopt, own, embrace, accept

USAGE EXAMPLES

The newspaper refused to repudiate the remarks of one of its editorial writers, despite public outcry. (reject, disavow, disclaim)
I repudiated my former opinion when I realized I was misled. (rejected, abandoned)

resignation

(noun)

DEFINITION

1. the relinquishment of a job or position, or a formal statement of intent to do so; 2. an unresisting acceptance of a change or fate you don't necessarily like

SYNONYMS

notice, withdrawal, termination, surrender, acceptance, compliance, deference, docility, passivity, submission

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

My resignation will be on your desk in the morning. (notice [of quitting])
Joanna continued to work on the tedious project with resignation, because she knew that there was no one to do it for her. (acceptance, deference, compliance)

resolute

(adjective)

DEFINITION

firm in belief or purpose, and characterized by determination

SYNONYMS

determined, purposeful, immutable, unhesitating, unshakeable, firm, unwavering, intent, decisive

ANTONYMS

infirm, flexible, lenient

USAGE EXAMPLES

Many people felt the President failed to lead with conviction and was not resolute in making decisions. (purposeful, firm)
Make no mistake about it, our new CEO is resolute in his determination to turn this company around. (determined, unwavering)

reticent

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. unwilling or disinclined to talk; 2. reluctant to draw attention to oneself; 3. cool and formal in manner--reserved

SYNONYMS

silent, hesitant, shy, reserved, restrained, taciturn, reluctant

ANTONYMS

frank, unreserved

USAGE EXAMPLES

I thought he was unusually reticent when we were discussing the missing office supplies. (silent, reserved)
Most people are reticent about opening up to a new boss. (shy, hesitant)

revere

(verb)

DEFINITION

to treat or regard somebody with admiration and deep respect

SYNONYMS

admire, esteem, regard, respect, venerate

ANTONYMS

disrespect, disdain, contemn

USAGE EXAMPLES

I revere doctors who donate their time and resources to help those who cannot afford medical care. (admire, respect)
The once-revered CEO lost the respect of his employees when he admitted to embezzling funds for his own profit. (admired, respected)

rigorous

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. demanding strict attention to rules; 2. strictly accurate; 3. harsh, strict, or difficult in nature

SYNONYMS

demanding, exacting, strict, stern, meticulous, severe, difficult, precise, rough, tough, inclement

ANTONYMS

flexible, lenient, painless, easy

USAGE EXAMPLES

It was a rigorous assignment, but he somehow finished it. (difficult, demanding)
The athlete had to endure eight years of rigorous training before he was ready for the Olympics. (strict, difficult, tough)

scrutinize

(verb)

DEFINITION

to examine something carefully

SYNONYMS

analyze, examine, inspect, investigate, study, scan, survey, probe

ANTONYMS

overlook

USAGE EXAMPLES

She will have to scrutinize the painting to see if it is an original or a copy. (inspect)
During the election recount, officials scrutinized every ballot. (examined)

servile

(adjective)

DEFINITION

submissive and obedient, like a servant

SYNONYMS

groveling, submissive, slavish, obsequious, passive, fawning

ANTONYMS

honorable, dignified

USAGE EXAMPLES

The servile assistant obeyed every request from her demanding boss. (obsequious, slavish)
Perhaps if he'd have been a little more servile and did as his boss asked, he never would have lost his job. (submissive)

solemn

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. marked by gravity, dignity, and earnest sincerity; 2. characterized by ceremony or formality; 3. inspiring awe or reverence

SYNONYMS

heavy, intense, earnest, serious, grave, sober, somber, awe-inspiring, imposing, venerable, dignified, ceremonial, sedate, staid, sacred

ANTONYMS

relaxed, bright, cheerful, informal, frivolous, rejoicing

USAGE EXAMPLES

The fallen soldiers were honored in a solemn ceremony. (serious, heavy, somber)
After he lost a significant amount of money in Las Vegas, Bob made a solemn promise to his wife never to gamble again. (serious, earnest)

squander

(verb)

DEFINITION

1. to spend in an extravagant and wasteful way; 2. to waste an opportunity, usually by spending

SYNONYMS

waste, misuse, consume, spend, waste, blow, misspend

ANTONYMS

retain, save

USAGE EXAMPLES

I hope he doesn't squander away his new-found wealth on gambling and drinking. (spend, blow, waste)
She hoped the new mayor wouldn't squander public funds the way the last one did. (misuse, waste, misspend)

stagnation

(noun)

DEFINITION

a state of inactivity

SYNONYMS

inactivity, motionlessness

ANTONYMS

activity, growth

USAGE EXAMPLES

Our industry has experienced many years of growth, but now seems to have fallen into a period of stagnation. (inactivity, lack of growth)
The executives are hopeful that the new marketing campaign will alleviate the sales stagnation of the past couple months. (inactivity, motionlessness)

superficial

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. shallow, not deep; 2. small or insignificant; 3. relating to or affecting only the surface of something

SYNONYMS

shallow, outward, empty, outward, surface, trivial, insignificant, cosmetic, cursory

ANTONYMS

significant, deep, profound

USAGE EXAMPLES

Thank goodness the cut was only superficial, or you would have bled much more. (shallow)
She is only concerned about superficial attributes like looks and wealth. (outward, surface, shallow)

temperate

(adjective)

DEFINITION

moderate or mild, not extreme, especially said of climate and behavior

SYNONYMS

calm, agreeable, constant, mild, moderate, even-tempered, reasonable, steady, stable, dispassionate

ANTONYMS

extreme, immoderate, severe, unrestrained, excessive

USAGE EXAMPLES

She moved to Southern California because of its temperate climate. (mild, stable)
Mary describes herself as having a temperate personality, but most of her friends think she is a little moody. (agreeable, calm, stable)

tentative

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. unsure, hesitant, or showing a lack of confidence; 2. not finalized, not fully worked out

SYNONYMS

doubtful, uncertain, hesitant, provisional, conditional, probationary, indefinite

ANTONYMS

definite, final, permanent

USAGE EXAMPLES

The two companies signed a tentative agreement until further details of the arrangement could be worked out. (provisional, conditional)
She was tentative about accepting the job offer, since it meant having to move to a different city. (uncertain, hesitant)

vacillate

(verb)

DEFINITION

1. to be indecisive or irresolute; 2. to sway from side to side

SYNONYMS

waver, hesitate, fluctuate, sway

ANTONYMS

decide, resolve, settle

USAGE EXAMPLES

I know he vacillates between staying in the US and working oversees. (wavers)
Compounding the problem, government officials vacillated on different ways they could provide disaster relief to the tornado victims. (wavered)

virulent

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. extremely poisonous or infectious; 2. extremely hateful and antagonistic

SYNONYMS

poisonous, deadly, venomous, malignant, infective, corrosive, hostile, hateful, malicious, antagonistic, acrimonious, vicious, bitter

ANTONYMS

innocuous, friendly

USAGE EXAMPLES

Doctors were successful in creating a vaccine for the highly virulent strain of influenza. (deadly, infective, hostile)
I don't understand his virulent critique of my work, when it's clear I did the best job possible. (hostile, hateful, mean)

volition

(noun)

DEFINITION

the power to make conscious choices

SYNONYMS

preference, choice, discretion, election, option, selection, will

ANTONYMS

indetermination, force, duress, constraint

USAGE EXAMPLES

According to the company, the executive resigned on his own volition, but some investors suspect he was forced into early retirement. (free will, choice)
The strikers returned to work because of a presidential order, not out of their own volition. (choice, selection)

voluntary

(adjective)

DEFINITION

1. done of free will rather than forced; 2. intentional and deliberate, especially in law

SYNONYMS

willing, elective, unforced, noncompulsory, intentional, deliberate, premeditated

ANTONYMS

compulsory, forced, accidental

USAGE EXAMPLES

I do voluntary work at the Children's Hospital a few times a week. (elective, unforced)
The group's voluntary efforts helped feed hundreds of homeless people last year. (willing, elective)

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