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TOP 100 GMAT Vocabulary Words

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aberrant
(adjective)
DEFINITION

deviating from what is normal or desirable, not typical

SYNONYMS

abnormal, anomalous, unusual, atypical

ANTONYMS

normal, common, average

USAGE EXAMPLES

My dog's aberrant behavior led me to worry that he may have been poisoned. (abnormal,
atypical)
His aberrant comments made everyone wonder whether he was drunk. (abnormal,
unusual)

abeyance
(noun)
DEFINITION
a state of temporary suspension or inactivity

SYNONYMS

suspension, deferment, pause, quiescence, deferral, postponement, cessation

ANTONYMS

continuance

USAGE EXAMPLES

Since the gas leak in our office building, our work has been in temporary abeyance.
(suspension, pause)
That law has been in abeyance since 1900, but it is likely that it will eventually be
reinstated. (cessation, suspension)

abscond
(verb)
DEFINITION

to escape or run away in secret

SYNONYMS

flee, escape, elope

ANTONYMS

return, stay

USAGE EXAMPLES

Martin was thought to be trustworthy and everyone was shocked when he absconded with
all of the company's profits. (fled)
Jenny was so embarrassed by her blunder, she wished she could abscond from the room,
never to return. (escape, flee)

abysmal
(adjective)
DEFINITION

1. very deep or extreme; 2. terrible, appallingly bad, or extremely severe

SYNONYMS

immense, extreme, infinite, bottomless, profound, deep, terrible, horrible, dreadful

ANTONYMS

limited, shallow, wonderful

USAGE EXAMPLES

The children refused to swim in the abysmal waters of the lake. (deep, bottomless)
The student's abysmal ignorance of the topic astounded the professor. (profound, extreme)

amendment
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. a change or improvement in something; 2. the process of changing or improving


something

SYNONYMS

modification, emendation, revision, change, alteration, correction

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

An amendment to the Constitution requires a two-thirds vote by the Congress, as well as


ratification by the states. (modification, addition)
I have amended my notes to reflect current developments in the research of this topic.
(modified, added to)

amiss
(adverb, adjective)
DEFINITION

(adv.) done in an incorrect or inappropriate way; (adj.) incorrect or not as it should be

SYNONYMS

(adv.) incorrectly, wrongly, (adj.) erroneous, astray, askance, wrong, awry, improper

ANTONYMS

(adv.) accurately, properly, (adj.) correct, accurate

USAGE EXAMPLES

Linda knew something was amiss when she discovered a missing report. (wrong, awry)
Due to poor planning and inadequate organization, the project went amiss. (astray)

amortize
(verb)
DEFINITION

1. to pay off a debt with gradual installments; 2. to spread out the cost over several
payments or different applications

SYNONYMS

liquidate, pay, reimburse, repay, satisfy, settle

ANTONYMS

renege, breach

USAGE EXAMPLES

He will make additional payments every month in order to amortize the loan. (repay,
settle)
They figured it would take five years to amortize their debt. (pay off, repay, satisfy)

aseptic
(adjective)
DEFINITION

germ-free or designed to protect against infection and germs

SYNONYMS

sterile, sanitary, antiseptic

ANTONYMS

dirty, contagious

USAGE EXAMPLES

I know my dentist's tools are completely aseptic because after they are sterilized, they are
sealed in protective packaging until ready for use. (sterile, sanitary)
An aseptic environment will prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. (sanitary)

aspersion
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. a disparaging statement; 2. a slanderous remark and attack on one's character

SYNONYMS

slur, affront, invective, calumny, defamation, vilification, slander

ANTONYMS

praise, compliment

USAGE EXAMPLES

The newspaper was heavily fined for the printed aspersion of the candidate. (defamation,
slander)
Because the aspersions made against John damaged his credibility and his ability to get a
new job, he sued the organization. (defamatory remarks, slurs)

attenuate
(verb)
DEFINITION

1. to make thin in size or consistency; 2. to lessen or weaken, especially in strength or


worth

SYNONYMS

weaken, thin, narrow, rarefy, dilute, lessen, diminish

ANTONYMS

thicken, intensify

USAGE EXAMPLES

When chlorine is attenuated by other chemicals, it is not harmful to humans. (diluted)


Everyone hopes the crisis will attenuate over time. (lessen, diminish)

baroque
(adjective)
DEFINITION

1. extravagant, complex, flamboyant, and highly ornate; 2. characteristic of a 17th


century style of art, music, and architecture

SYNONYMS

flamboyant, ornate, embellished, florid, extravagant, rococo

ANTONYMS

plain, simple

USAGE EXAMPLES

The wealthy couple decorated their home very elaborately with ornamental rugs and
baroque artwork. (rococo, ornate)
The artist carved chairs ranging in design from simple and classic to complicated and
baroque. (extravagant, flamboyant, ornate)
behoove
(verb)
DEFINITION

to be necessary, advantageous, or appropriate

SYNONYMS

befit, profit, require, oblige, help, benefit

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

It would behoove you to tell me what's wrong, so I can help you sort out the problem.
(befit, help)
It behooves us to provide our employees with the best compensation plan possible.
(benefits, profits)

bungler
(noun)
DEFINITION

someone who makes errors because of incompetence, foolishness, clumsiness, or lack of


care

SYNONYMS

blunderer, fool, fumbler

ANTONYMS

expert

USAGE EXAMPLES

My new assistant has turned out to be a real bungler--he can't even make coffee without
burning it! (fool)
I turned out to be a real bungler as a waitress, dropping what seemed like a dozen plates a
week. (fool, blunderer)

burgeon
(verb)
DEFINITION

to grow and flourish

SYNONYMS

grow, thrive, rise, blossom, bloom, develop, flourish, sprout, proliferate, swell, increase

ANTONYMS

diminish, decrease, shrink

USAGE EXAMPLES

The buds I planted last fall will burgeon into beautiful flowers come spring. (blossom,
sprout, grow)
The once burgeoning high-tech stocks have been flat for over six months. (flourishing,
rising)

burlesque
(verb, noun)
DEFINITION

(v.) to mock through caricature or grotesque or comical imitation, especially to make fun
of something serious; (n.) theatrical entertainment that is comical and often satirical in
nature

SYNONYMS

(v.) caricature, mock, ridicule, satirize, (n.) parody, spoof

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES
This author burlesques all sorts of surprising issues, from war to depression. (parodies,
satirizes, mocks)
The funniest skits on Saturday Night Live use burlesque to make fun of political figures
and celebrities. (parody, mockery)

carte blanche
(noun)
DEFINITION

free rein or complete decision-making control

SYNONYMS

authority, control, power, freedom, sanction

ANTONYMS

restriction

USAGE EXAMPLES

As a sign of his confidence in her, Melanie's boss gave her carte blanche to handle the
project however she saw fit. (freedom, authority)
The architects were thrilled to find out that they had been given carte blanche to design
the structure exactly as they wished. (authority, freedom)

charisma
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. magnetic personality and personal magic of leadership, which some possess naturally;
2. enthusiasm and interest in people

SYNONYMS

magnetism, charm, fascination, lure, appeal, presence

ANTONYMS
USAGE EXAMPLES

High-level politicians very often have great charisma. (magnetism, lure, charm)
The new CEO has such charisma that employee morale, and subsequently sales, have
significantly improved. (presence, magnetism)

chary
(adjective)
DEFINITION

1. characterized by cautious hesitance and vigilance; 2. afraid of risks and sparing in


action

SYNONYMS

constrained, cautious, hesitant, particular, guarded

ANTONYMS

careless, negligent, reckless, unconcerned, imprudent, cavalier

USAGE EXAMPLES

The chary investor spent much time deliberating over his stock purchases. (cautious,
particular)
The chary job hunter missed an excellent networking opportunity when she waited too
long to approach her target. (constrained, guarded)

chortle
(noun, verb)
DEFINITION

(n.) a quiet laugh or chuckle; (v.) to laugh quietly, often with restraint

SYNONYMS

cackle, chuckle, snicker, giggle, snort

ANTONYMS
USAGE EXAMPLES

He accidentally chortled a bit to himself during the board meeting, then feigned a cough.
(chuckle, snicker)
I let out a chortle when I was looking for my glasses and then found them on my head.
(chuckle, giggle)

churlishness
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. crude or rude behavior; 2. the state of being unfriendly and difficult to work with

SYNONYMS

acerbity, belligerence, irascibility, rancor, surliness, rudeness

ANTONYMS

civility, kindness, suavity, sweetness

USAGE EXAMPLES

John's churlishness and generally negative demeanor was related to his recent string of
bad luck. (acerbity, irascibility, bitterness)
The churlish teen used to be such a pleasure, but now she's always cranky. (surly, acerbic)

cloture
(noun)
DEFINITION

a method of quickly closing debate and calling for an immediate vote on the matter at
hand in U.S. parliamentary procedure

SYNONYMS

closure, gag law, gag rule

ANTONYMS
USAGE EXAMPLES

The cloture rule is the only conventional way to end an attempt to delay Senate action.
(closure, gag-rule)
The U.S. Senate has an official record of cloture motions on their web site. (closure, gag-
law)

coda
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. concluding section of a musical piece that has dramatic energy and is distinct from the
main structure; 2. extra text in a literary work or speech that gives additional information

SYNONYMS

finale, conclusion, postlude, summation

ANTONYMS

foreword, prelude, prologue, introduction

USAGE EXAMPLES

The musician was frustrated and unable to complete a coda for the end of his
composition. (finale, conclusion)
The autobiography contained a coda summarizing the state of the author when he wrote
the book. (postlude, conclusion)

codify
(verb)
DEFINITION

1. to organize and reduce a body of law, rules, or principles into a code or system; 2. to
arrange in a systematic collection

SYNONYMS

systematize, catalogue, categorize, classify


ANTONYMS

disorganize, declassify

USAGE EXAMPLES

An important aspect of Roman law was its system of codification. (classification,


cataloging)
Most modern civilizations codify their laws as they come into existence.(systematize,
categorize)

cogitate
(verb)
DEFINITION

to engage in deep thought, to ponder and reflect upon, or to turn over in one's mind

SYNONYMS

contemplate, reflect, meditate, ruminate, muse, brainstorm, mull

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

Some people find it helpful to write their thoughts on paper as they cogitate ideas.
(ruminate, brainstorm)
Julie never changed her mind once she spent time cogitating the pros and cons of a
decision. (contemplating, musing)

commiserate
(verb)
DEFINITION

to feel and show sympathy or share sadness

SYNONYMS

sympathize, pity
ANTONYMS

rejoice

USAGE EXAMPLES

Will you join me for a cup of coffee and commiserate with me over all the work we have
to do this week? (sympathize)
Our support group meets each month to commiserate over problems we have at work.
(share sadness, pity each other)

conglomeration
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. an odd accumulation or mass of varied things put together; 2. the act of mixing or
coming together

SYNONYMS

accumulation, aggregate, hodgepodge, medley, composite, corporation

ANTONYMS

separation

USAGE EXAMPLES

Some radio stations boast their independence from media conglomerates. (corporations)
The San Diego Comic Convention features a conglomeration of artistry, toys, and works
of fiction. (medley, hodgepodge)

consummation
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. the act of bringing something to completion; 2. completing a marriage in the legal


sense, through sexual intercourse
SYNONYMS

fulfillment, completion, conclusion, actualization, culmination, realization, attainment,


fruition

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

The consummation of a lifetime of his charitable contributions was a library built in his
honor. (fulfillment, culmination)
The tireless scientist felt that a cure for cancer would be the consummation of a lifetime
of research. (fruition, fulfillment)

coy
(adjective)
DEFINITION

1. pretending to be reserved or modest, usually in a teasing manner; 2. reluctant to make a


definite commitment; 3. shy or reserved

SYNONYMS

coquettish, arch, evasive, shy, skittish, timid, bashful

ANTONYMS

bold, brazen, shameless, pushy

USAGE EXAMPLES

Julie really wants to date Don; she is just being coy in not saying yes immediately.
(coquettish)
We can't get the client to commit to the contract; they think they will gain an advantage
by being coy. (evasive)

curmudgeon
(noun)
DEFINITION
a bad-tempered, disagreeable, or stubborn person

SYNONYMS

grouch, grump, crackpot, boor, jerk

ANTONYMS

sweetheart

USAGE EXAMPLES

Professor Jones's assertion that words like "email" are incorrect English and should be
eliminated from the language earned him a reputation as a curmudgeon. (grouch,
crackpot)
John is a bit of a curmudgeon; he doesn't like to try new things, and when forced to, he
complains. (grump)

derogatory
(adjective)
DEFINITION

expressing a low opinion or negative criticism of something

SYNONYMS

disparaging, belittling, damaging, defamatory, depreciative, unfavorable, injurious,


uncomplimentary

ANTONYMS

complimentary, flattering, appreciative

USAGE EXAMPLES

The atmosphere around the office grew chilly after Edward heard his coworkers making
derogatory remarks about his hairstyle. (uncomplimentary, belittling)
The critic's derogatory review made it clear that she had enjoyed almost nothing about the
play. (unfavorable, disparaging)

dichotomy
(noun)
DEFINITION

a separation of different or contradictory things

SYNONYMS

contradiction, bifurcation, division

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

The company's financial statements presented a unique dichotomy; the company had an
increase in income, but a decrease in revenue. (contradiction)
There was both an increase in unemployment and an increase in consumer confidence,
creating an interesting economic dichotomy. (contradiction)

dint
(noun)
DEFINITION

a force or power

SYNONYMS

force, power, effort

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

By dint of hard work and constant studying, James passed his college entrance exams
with flying colors. (power, effort)
She got what she wanted by dint of pleading and threatening. (way, force, means)

disarray
(noun)
DEFINITION

a state of disorganization, untidiness, or confusion

SYNONYMS

disorder, chaos, turmoil, clutter, confusion, discomposure, disharmony, unruliness,


indiscipline

ANTONYMS

tidiness, order

USAGE EXAMPLES

The manager left suddenly for a new job, leaving her various projects in disarray.
(confusion, chaos)
Jimmy's room is in a constant state of disarray, although his mom makes him clean it
every week. (messiness, disorder)

disentangle
(verb)
DEFINITION

to untangle, free, or clarify by separating

SYNONYMS

extricate, untangle, free, separate, simplify, clarify

ANTONYMS

tangle, entangle, confuse, complicate, join

USAGE EXAMPLES

Since she had been pacing while on the phone, she had to spend several minutes
disentangling the cord from her table and chairs. (untangling, extricating)
You have had so many problems with her lately, I think it is time for you to disentangle
yourself from that relationship. (free, remove)

economical
(adjective)
DEFINITION

1. frugal or thrifty; 2. working efficiently, without waste, or with a surplus

SYNONYMS

frugal, thrifty, provident, sparing, efficient, inexpensive, reasonable

ANTONYMS

wasteful, generous

USAGE EXAMPLES

The spending committee recommended the less elaborate plan because it was more
economical. (efficient, reasonable)
By making more economical decisions, you should be able to save more money. (frugal,
thrifty)

ellipsis
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. the leaving out of words in a sentence, especially when their presence or meaning is
easily implied; 2. marks, usually three dots (.) that indicate the intentional omission of
words from a sentence or text

SYNONYMS

omission

ANTONYMS

addition

USAGE EXAMPLES

My professor warned us against using too many ellipses in our papers because it might
seem like we were manipulating our sources rather than using them correctly. ( ... ,
omissions)
There is an ellipsis in the sentence "I have four cats and my best friends has two,"
because "cats" is left off after the word "two." (omission)

embarkation
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. beginning of something new; 2. boarding onto an aircraft or ship

SYNONYMS

beginning, boarding, entry

ANTONYMS

exit, end

USAGE EXAMPLES

Let us begin the embarkation of our journey with a prayer. (beginning, departure)
Kirstin decided, after years of working in sales, that she was ready to embark on a new
career as a massage therapist. (begin, start)

eon
(noun)
DEFINITION

an immeasurable unit of time

SYNONYMS

age, era

ANTONYMS

interval

USAGE EXAMPLES
The event that formed this canyon must have happened eons ago. (ages)
No one can imagine what life might be like on earth--if earth still exists--eons from now.
(ages)

ferment
(verb, noun)
DEFINITION

(v.) 1. to stir up, disrupt, or agitate; 2. to evolve or change; (n.) 1. the process of
fermentation or change; 2. a state of change or confusion brought about by change

SYNONYMS

(v.) agitate, disrupt, fluster, alarm, upset, disquiet, inflame, develop, change; (n.) change,
development, confusion

ANTONYMS

(v.) pacify, placate, sooth

USAGE EXAMPLES

The downtown area has seen a great creative ferment recently, with the opening of
several new galleries. (change, development)
The resignation of our Mayor has left the city in a state of political ferment. (confusion)

figment
(noun)
DEFINITION

a purely imaginary thing, existing as a flight of imagination or fabrication

SYNONYMS

chimera, creation, fabrication, illusion, fancy

ANTONYMS

reality
USAGE EXAMPLES

The traveler rubbed his eyes, unsure if the distant campfire was merely a figment of his
imagination. (fabrication, illusion)
Some movies temporarily portray figments of character's imaginations as reality. (fancy,
creation)

fret
(verb)
DEFINITION

to be anxious or disturbed about something--to worry

SYNONYMS

agonize, worry, chafe, stew, mope, brood

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

Don't fret because worrying won't help anything. (worry, stew)


Guitar players generally get calluses on their fingers from moving their fingers up and
down the frets of the fingerboard. (raised bars for finger placement)

froward
(adjective)
DEFINITION

stubbornly and habitually contrary and disobedient

SYNONYMS

stubborn, antagonistic, disobedient, obstinate, pigheaded, balky, clashing, discordant

ANTONYMS

accommodating, complaisant, concordant

USAGE EXAMPLES
Having been spoiled by his wealthy parents his entire life, he was the most froward child
imaginable. (disobedient, obstinate)
The prisoner's appeals were denied due to his froward attitude. (antagonistic, pigheaded)

gaffe
(noun)
DEFINITION

a social mistake or tactless act

SYNONYMS

blunder, slip, faux pas

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

His silly remark was just a gaffe, not intended to hurt anyone's feelings. (faux pas,
blunder)
Miss Manners attempts to help people avoid social gaffes. (slips, tactless acts)

garbled
(adjective)
DEFINITION

unclear, confusing, or misleading

SYNONYMS

confusing, misleading, unclear, disconnected, illogical, incoherent, muddled, scrambled,


mangled

ANTONYMS

clear, understandable, comprehensible, coherent

USAGE EXAMPLES
The email message he left me was so garbled that I couldn't understand what he wanted
me to do. (confusing, muddled)
My professor said that my paper had no clear point, and if there was one, it was too
garbled to understand. (disconnected, muddled, incoherent)

gauche
(adjective)
DEFINITION

lacking manners and proper social behavior

SYNONYMS

unsophisticated, uncouth, tactless, awkward, graceless, ill-mannered, uncultured, boorish

ANTONYMS

sophisticated, polite, cultured, civilized

USAGE EXAMPLES

His gauche manners at the party can be explained by the fact that he had several cocktails
before he arrived. (uncouth, ill-mannered)
Rules of etiquette are important at that country club, and gauche behavior is not tolerated.
(unsophisticated, uncultured, boorish)

gauntlet
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. a challenge issued; 2. a long glove that extends up the forearm; 3. a form of


punishment; 4. any trial, difficulty, or obstacle

SYNONYMS

challenge, glove, obstacle, trial, tribulation, criticism

ANTONYMS
USAGE EXAMPLES

The manager told his employees that their competitor had thrown down the gauntlet with
its latest product release and his team must rise to the occasion. (challenge)
He knew that in order to be elected he would have to run the gauntlet of his opponents'
criticism. (obstacle, trial)

gerrymander
(verb, noun)
DEFINITION

(v.) to manipulate the division of an electoral district in order to give a certain party or
candidate an advantage; (n.) the manipulation of political districts

SYNONYMS

(v.) manipulate, divide, (n.) manipulation, division

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

If we gerrymander the districts in this state, we may win the election but we will lose our
integrity; therefore, I am against the idea. (manipulate)
The interest group pressured the politician into gerrymandering the voting districts.
(dividing, manipulating)

gloat
(verb)
DEFINITION

to be smug or self-satisfied or to gain satisfaction from success, good fortune, or the


failings of others

SYNONYMS

boast, brag, crow, revel, vaunt

ANTONYMS
downplay

USAGE EXAMPLES

The division champions gloated over their victory so much that all of the other teams
resented them for years to come. (boasted, reveled)
The rivals were known to gloat over one another's misfortunes. (revel, vaunt)

homeostasis
(noun)
DEFINITION

a state of equilibrium reached and maintained by a metabolic process in the body or by an


individual or social group

SYNONYMS

equilibrium, balance, stability

ANTONYMS

imbalance, instability

USAGE EXAMPLES

Even when exposed to heat or cold, mammals are able to maintain a relatively stable
body temperature through homeostasis. (equilibrium)
The bodies of reptiles are not naturally able to retain temperature homeostasis, which is
why one often sees lizards lounging in the sun to get warm. (balance, stability)

hone
(verb)
DEFINITION

1. to refine, intensify, or improve something over time; 2. to use a whetstone to sharpen a


knife or blade

SYNONYMS
sharpen, refine, perfect, whet

ANTONYMS

dull

USAGE EXAMPLES

Olympic swimmers spend hours working to hone their technique to perfection. (refine)
The metal worker spends time honing steel into sharp blades suitable for fine quality
knives. (sharpening, whetting)

hubris
(noun)
DEFINITION

excessive arrogance, over-confidence, and pride

SYNONYMS

pride, arrogance, self-confidence, over-confidence, ambition

ANTONYMS

humility

USAGE EXAMPLES

It was the young CEO's hubris which led to the eventual rebellion of his workers and
failure of his company. (pride, over-confidence, ambition)
The hubris he demostrates is totally unwarranted because he's not nearly as intelligent or
important as he seems to believe. (arrogance, excessive pride)

idyll
(noun)
DEFINITION
1. a period of happiness, tranquility, and romance; 2. a rural or pastoral scene of
peacefulness and charm; 3. a piece of art, music, or prose depicting such a pastoral or
rural scene

SYNONYMS

romantic interlude, pastoral scene, tranquility, peace

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

Plato's Phaedrus is a conversation that takes place in an idyllic scene where the
participants are free to lay back or walk barefoot. (rural, peaceful, happy, rustic)
The poem is an idyll about the simple joys of life in rural France. (pastoral poem)

inculcate
(verb)
DEFINITION

to teach or fix something in someone's mind through forceful repetition

SYNONYMS

drill, instill, impart, impress, imbue, condition, brainwash, indoctrinate, ingrain, influence

ANTONYMS

confuse

USAGE EXAMPLES

I inculcated obedience into my dog through consistent, positive reinforcement. (instilled,


ingrained)
The country tried to inculcate a sense of patriotism in its citizens by having them recite
pledges and display flags. (indoctrinate, impart)

incursion
(noun)
DEFINITION

hostile invasion of a territory

SYNONYMS

invasion, intrusion, attack, raid, infiltration, violation, encroachment

ANTONYMS

protection, defense, exit

USAGE EXAMPLES

The military's plan called for a quick and unexpected incursion into the neighboring
country. (attack, invasion)
I didn't appreciate the incursion of my neighbor's wet and muddy dog into my family
room. (encroachment, invasion)

indecipherable
(adjective)
DEFINITION

impossible to understand, read, or decipher

SYNONYMS

unclear, illegible, unreadable, puzzling, baffling, unintelligible, incomprehensible

ANTONYMS

legible, clear, known, obvious, coherent

USAGE EXAMPLES

The doctor's terrible hand writing made his perscriptions almost indecipherable. (illegible,
unreadable)
Her handwriting is usually so bad it's indecipherable. (illegible, unreadable)

indubitably
(adverb)
DEFINITION

characterized by being so apparent it cannot be doubted

SYNONYMS

unquestionably, positively, definitely, clearly, unequivocally, unmistakably, surely

ANTONYMS

doubtfully, questionably, vaguely

USAGE EXAMPLES

As her legs began to itch, it became indubitably apparent that she had stumbled into a
patch of poison ivy. (clearly)
He noticed the difference right away; his friend had indubitably lost about 100 pounds.
(unmistakably)

insubordinate
(noun, adjective)
DEFINITION

(n.) a person who does not submit to authority or follow orders; (adj.) not submitting to
authority

SYNONYMS

(adj.) defiant, disobedient, disorderly, rebellious, antagonistic, insurgent

ANTONYMS

(adj.) subordinate, complaisant, harmonious, agreeable

USAGE EXAMPLES

Because she never followed her captain's orders, she was considered an insubordinate.
(insurgent)
When his boss told him to file the report, the man decided to be insubordinate and not
follow the order. (defiant, disobedient)
irreproachable
(adjective)
DEFINITION

without fault and not subject to blame

SYNONYMS

faultless, exemplary, impeccable, blameless, innocent

ANTONYMS

flawed, imperfect, blamed

USAGE EXAMPLES

The boy's behavior was irreproachable throughout dinner, so he was allowed to stay up
past his bed time. (impeccable, examplary)
He was given an award for his irreproachable sense of honor and duty. (exemplary)

kinship
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. relationship among people through blood, adoption, or marriage; 2. relationship


through similarity

SYNONYMS

relationship, affiliation, connection, bond, ancestry, fellowship

ANTONYMS

distance (relational)

USAGE EXAMPLES
The men's kinship in their business has caused them to become friends outside of work.
(relationship, affiliation)
Children seem to have a natural kinship with animals. (connection)

loiter
(verb )
DEFINITION

1. to stand around or hang out in an area, without a reason for being there; 2. to move
unnecessarily slowly

SYNONYMS

dawdle, loaf, idle, lurk, dally, linger

ANTONYMS

hurry, rush

USAGE EXAMPLES

The police officer asked the teenagers not to loiter outside the grocery store. (linger, hang
out)
We spent most of the summer loitering about, not doing much. (dawdling, idling)

malinger
(verb)
DEFINITION

to feign illness in order to avoid obligations, especially work

SYNONYMS

duck, dodge, loaf, slack, act, pretend

ANTONYMS

oblige
USAGE EXAMPLES

I was just malingering when I called in sick; really, I was at the beach. (slacking, faking
illness)
Senior ditch day is a tradition at many high schools, during which time graduating
students opt to malinger rather than attend class, all on the same day. (loaf, dodge, feign
illness)

mimicry
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. imitation of others; 2. the imitation by a living thing of something else, usually as a


form of protection

SYNONYMS

imitation, resemblance, impersonation, mockery, caricature, parody

ANTONYMS

differentiation

USAGE EXAMPLES

The late night talk show host is known for his impressive mimicry of famous people.
(imitation, parody)
Children love to annoy one another with mimicry. (imitation)

minatory
(adjective)
DEFINITION

posing a threat or menace

SYNONYMS

threatening, menacing, foreboding, ominous, perilous

ANTONYMS
benign, auspicious

USAGE EXAMPLES

The travelers considered the gathering clouds to be a minatory sign. (threatening,


ominous)
He made a minatory suggestion that someone might get hurt if they didn't cooperate in
the scheme. (menacing, threatening)

molten
(adjective)
DEFINITION

1. melted or turned from solid to liquid form by heat; 2. glowing from intense heat; 3.
formed and shaped with heat

SYNONYMS

melted, liquefied, molded, forged, glowing, radiant, heated

ANTONYMS

frozen

USAGE EXAMPLES

This mountain was once an active volcano that spewed molten lava every few years, but
it is now dormant. (glowing, melted)
The specialty shop shapes molten silver into shapes of flowers and animals. (molded,
forged)

motility
(noun)
DEFINITION

ability to move independently

SYNONYMS
mobility, movement, motion, progress

ANTONYMS

immobility, stillness

USAGE EXAMPLES

Infertility can occur if a male's sperm have low motility. (mobility)


The amazing thing about vines is that they have motility. (mobility, independent movement)

nascent
(adjective)
DEFINITION

1. newly coming into existence; 2. beginning to develop

SYNONYMS

new, primary, initial, developing, evolving, growing, budding, incipient

ANTONYMS

old, dying

USAGE EXAMPLES

The nascent community outreach program was already beginning to garner results. (new,
developing)
The nascent industry is sure to boom, so I would buy in now. (budding, new)

neologism
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. a recently invented word; 2. the practice of coming up with or coining new words

SYNONYMS
new word, coined word

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

The teacher circled the word "horrification" on the student's paper and wrote
"neologism?" with a question mark. (coined word)
Merriam Webster's website suggested "chillaxin" as a possible neologism combining the
words "chilling" and "relaxing." (new word)

opprobrious
(adjective)
DEFINITION

1. expressing harsh criticism or scorn; 2. shameful and worthy of contempt

SYNONYMS

critical, scornful, derogatory, abusive, insulting, contemptible, offensive, scurrilous,


infamous, disgraceful, shameful

ANTONYMS

appreciative, complimentary, proud, worthy, reputable, honorable

USAGE EXAMPLES

The CEO had opprobrious words for his sales department after another weak month.
(harsh, critical, derogatory)
It was an opprobrious title to be named "Worst Player" on the team. (shameful)

palindrome
(noun)
DEFINITION

a word, phrase, or number that reads the same, whether read forwards or backwards

SYNONYMS
ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

She amused herself by thinking up palindromes like "dump mud" and "straw warts."
(phrases that are the same read backward as forward)
Her telephone number, 123-4321, was easy to remember because it formed a palindrome.
(number that's the same backward as forward)

perdition
(noun)
DEFINITION

in many religions, the state of everlasting suffering or punishment--hell or damnation

SYNONYMS

hell, damnation, abyss, agony, anguish, punishment, suffering, torment

ANTONYMS

heaven, utopia, bliss

USAGE EXAMPLES

The priest believed the man's drinking habits were sending him on the road to perdition.
(suffering, damnation)
The pastor preached about eternal life and the flames of perdition. (hell)

petty
(adjective)
DEFINITION

1. small in significance, consequence, importance, or amount; 2. narrow in outlook--


childish

SYNONYMS

small, inconsequent, trivial, frivolous, negligible, measly, minor, immature, childish


ANTONYMS

significant, meaningful, sufficient, mature

USAGE EXAMPLES

The company has petty cash on hand for smaller purchases like lunch and other
incidentals. (small, insignificant)
His petty comment about the ugliness of my dress actually hurt my feelings. (trivial,
immature)

plaintive
(adjective)
DEFINITION

showing or expressing sadness--sorrowful

SYNONYMS

melancholy, sorrowful, woeful, pitiful, pathetic, mournful

ANTONYMS

cheerful, glad, happy

USAGE EXAMPLES

The plaintive plaintiff cried throughout the trial. (mournful, woeful)


The plaintive song put everyone in a somber mood. (melancholy)

platonic
(adjective)
DEFINITION

1. free from physical desire (as in love); 2. referring to Plato and his philosophies

SYNONYMS

non-physical, intellectual, spiritual, wholesome, pure, non-lustful


ANTONYMS

amorous, sensual

USAGE EXAMPLES

Although Mark and Susie spent a lot of time together, their relationship was strictly
platonic. (wholesome, nonphysical)
The philosophy professor liked to teach Platonic principles to her students. (of Plato)

propinquity
(noun)
DEFINITION

closeness in proximity, nature, relationship, time or place

SYNONYMS

closeness, nearness, connection, proximity, vicinity, neighborhood, kinship, similarity

ANTONYMS

distance, uniqueness

USAGE EXAMPLES

The geographical propinquity of the two countries made trade between them natural.
(proximity, closeness)
The couple broke up because of a lack of propinquity. (connection, emotional closeness)

proselytize
(verb)
DEFINITION

to convert or try to convert someone to a different religion

SYNONYMS

convert, convince, indoctrinate, influence, persuade, change, proselyte


ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

The missionary tried to proselytize people to her religion. (convert)


The cult members tried to proselytize the young, college student. (influence, convince)

proverbial
(adjective)
DEFINITION

1. relating to or used in a proverb; 2. widely known and spoken of

SYNONYMS

spoken of, widely known, familiar

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

The proverbial key to success in the service industry is to remember that time is money.
(widely known, commonly referred to)
His proverbial bad temper is feared by his family. (widely known, familiar)

quaff
(verb, noun)
DEFINITION

(v.) to gulp down a drink in a hearty, spirited manner; (n.) a hearty draft or drink

SYNONYMS

(v.) drink, gulp, guzzle, swig, swallow, (n.) ale, beverage, draft

ANTONYMS

(v.) sip
USAGE EXAMPLES

I was so thirsty when I got back from my jog that I quaffed a whole pitcher of iced tea.
(guzzled)
The wine may have been cheap, but it was also a flavorful quaff. (beverage)

quirk
(noun)
DEFINITION

1. an odd habit or mannerism; 2. an unsuspected twist in an event

SYNONYMS

oddity, habit, mannerism, idiosyncrasy, irregularity, peculiarity, twist, whim

ANTONYMS

regularity, sameness

USAGE EXAMPLES

Her car had a quirk; in order to hear the radio, the headlights had to be off. (oddity)
She hated her boyfriend's quirk of wearing socks with sandals. (habit)

rant
(verb, noun)
DEFINITION

(v.) to speak in a loud, uncontrolled, and angry way; (n.) a speech that is long, angry, and
often confusing

SYNONYMS

(v.) rage, harangue, declaim, yell, roar, rail, rave, (n.) tirade, attack, lecture

ANTONYMS

(v.) whisper, placate


USAGE EXAMPLES

The angry protesters continued to rant about their issue. (yell, rage, roar)
No one listened to the teacher's rant about the importance of paying attention. (lecture,
tirade)

rationalize
(verb)
DEFINITION

1. to defend or make excuses for something; 2. apply reason or logic to something

SYNONYMS

justify, excuse, reason, think, clarify, explain, intellectualize

ANTONYMS

complicate, puzzle, confuse

USAGE EXAMPLES

She didn't understand how anyone could rationalize such an extravagant purchase.
(justify)
She tried to get her children to use logical problem solving when rationalizing answers to
math questions. (reasoning, thinking through)

recondite
(adjective)
DEFINITION

very difficult, and generally only understood by experts

SYNONYMS

academic, difficult, involved, profound, abstruse, cryptic, obscure, esoteric, mystical,


secret

ANTONYMS
simple, easy, clear, open

USAGE EXAMPLES

The students struggled through the recondite material. (difficult, abstruse)


Quantum mechanic theory is a recondite subject for the average person. (abstruse, cryptic)

recusant
(noun, adjective)
DEFINITION

(n.) a person who refuses to accept or conform to established authority or standards of


conduct; (adj.) refusing to obey authority

SYNONYMS

(n.) non-conformist, insurgent, rebel, (adj.) insurgent, rebellious, lawless, defiant,


dissentient, disobedient

ANTONYMS

law-abiding

USAGE EXAMPLES

The recusant student refused to take finals along with the rest of the students. (defiant)
The recusant priest established a new wing of the church, based on his and his followers'
unwillingness to accept certain time-honored policies. (dissentient, disobedient)

riveting
(adjective)
DEFINITION

arousing and holding the attention of

SYNONYMS

fascinating, enthralling, spellbinding, captivating


ANTONYMS

boring, dull, uninteresting, common

USAGE EXAMPLES

I found the movie riveting and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. (enthralling,
captivating)
I was riveted to the television as news of the events unfolded. (held, fixed)

saturnine
(adjective)
DEFINITION

gloomy, bitter, and overly serious

SYNONYMS

irritable, crabby, surly, sullen, grouchy, harsh, gruff

ANTONYMS

happy, pleasant, sweet

USAGE EXAMPLES

The high school students were in a saturnine mood after they got caught skipping class.
(surly, sullen)
We knew he was in a seriously bad mood by his saturnine behavior. (irritable, gruff)

savant
(noun)
DEFINITION

a smart or scholarly person

SYNONYMS

authority, expert, specialist, genius, professor, scholar, educator, whiz


ANTONYMS

dummy

USAGE EXAMPLES

My tutor was a math savant who could solve all of my calculus problems. (expert,
specialist)
The child had learning disabilities in school but was a savant when it came to music.
(genius, whiz)

shoddy
(adjective)
DEFINITION

1. poorly constructed; 2. showing little consideration or integrity

SYNONYMS

cheap, inferior, junky, shabby, trashy, unrespectable, sleazy

ANTONYMS

well-made, expensive

USAGE EXAMPLES

The new roof leaked because it was poorly constructed from shoddy materials. (cheap,
junky)
It was a pretty shoddily written novel; it seemed to be thrown together very quickly and
without much editing. (poorly, shabbily)

sodden
(adjective)
DEFINITION

thoroughly and completely wet

SYNONYMS
wet, drenched, soaked, saturated, doused, sopped, steeped

ANTONYMS

dry, parched, arid

USAGE EXAMPLES

The baseball game was cancelled because of the rain; the field was simply too sodden for
play. (drenched)
After the flood, residents had to clean up their sodden homes and belongings. (soaked,
drenched)

spendthrift
(noun, adjective)
DEFINITION

1. someone who is wasteful with money; 2. wasteful in spending

SYNONYMS

(n.) spender, high-roller, squanderer, waster, (adj.) wasteful, careless, prodigal, profligate,
improvident

ANTONYMS

restrained, moderate, prudent, frugal

USAGE EXAMPLES

She was a spendthrift who went shopping everyday and always bought expensive,
designer clothes. (spender, waster, squanderer)
The spendthrift politician spent his entire campaign budget long before the election.
(wasteful, careless)

subsume
(verb)
DEFINITION
to incorporate something into a larger group

SYNONYMS

include, incorporate, embody, involve, enclose, contain, consume, combine

ANTONYMS

exclude, bar, close out

USAGE EXAMPLES

Smaller companies are frequently subsumed into large conglomerates. (combined,


incorporated)
The new computer program is likely to subsume its predecessor. (contain, include,
incorporate)

swathe
(verb, noun)
DEFINITION

(v.) 1. to wrap or bandage something; 2. to constrict something; (n.) a bandage or binding

SYNONYMS

(v.) bandage, bind, cover, dress, wrap, envelop, constrict, swaddle

ANTONYMS

(v.) unwrap, uncover, bare

USAGE EXAMPLES

The new mother had to learn how to dress, burp, diaper, and swathe her baby. (wrap,
swaddle)
The colorful wraps that swathed the models at the fashion show would probably look
ridiculous anywhere but on the runway. (dressed, covered, enveloped)

syllogism
(noun)
DEFINITION

a form of logic where a conclusion is drawn from two premises

SYNONYMS

logic, reasoning, connection, deduction, inference, rationale, good sense

ANTONYMS

random guess

USAGE EXAMPLES

Mike took the administrative job based on a simple syllogism -- he needed insurance; the
administrative job offered him insurance, so he took it. (logic, reasoning)
On sunny days, Mary rides her bike to work. Today, it is sunny. Based on this syllogism,
we know that Mary rode her bike to work today. (deduction, connection)

synthetic
(adjective)
DEFINITION

made from artificial substances, not naturally made

SYNONYMS

artificial, man-made, fabricated, manufactured, unnatural, mock

ANTONYMS

natural, organic, real

USAGE EXAMPLES

I thought the sweater was made of wool, but it was actually made from synthetic fibers.
(artificial, man-made, unnatural)
Jane will not use synthetic sweeteners because she does not believe they are safe.
(artificial, unnatural, manufactured)

tarry
(verb, adjective)
DEFINITION

(v.) 1. to stay someplace longer than necessary; 2. to wait or hesitate; (adj.) like tar

SYNONYMS

(v.) delay, hang around, linger, loiter, procrastinate, stall, wait, (adj.) tar-like

ANTONYMS

(v.) hurry, rush

USAGE EXAMPLES

We can't tarry around campus all day; we need to go home and get started on the project.
(loiter, hang around, wait)
Don't tarry too long, or you'll miss the bus. (delay, wait)

temperament
(noun)
DEFINITION

a person's usual mood or disposition

SYNONYMS

disposition, attitude, character, mood, outlook, personality, temper

ANTONYMS

USAGE EXAMPLES

I am looking for a dog that likes children and has a sweet temperament. (personality,
disposition, character)
My usually patient temperament was put to the test when I was stuck in an elevator for
hours. (attitude, disposition)

turbid
(adjective)
DEFINITION

1. clouded because of sediment, especially said of water; 2. confused

SYNONYMS

muddy, blurred, hazy, mucky, unclear, swampy, muddled, confused

ANTONYMS

clear, clean, transparent, translucent

USAGE EXAMPLES

I still enjoyed the snorkeling trip, even though the water was too turbid to see many fish.
(muddy, blurred, mucky)
Many turbid thoughts raced through his head, keeping him awake most of the night.
(muddled, confused)

unequivocal
(adjective)
DEFINITION

clear and definite, allowing no doubt or confusion

SYNONYMS

definite, absolute, positive, certain, clear, indisputable, unambiguous, unquestionable,


categorical

ANTONYMS

ambiguous, questionable, uncertain

USAGE EXAMPLES

My mother's message was clear and unequivocal; my sister and I were to stop fighting
immediately. (unquestionable, definite, unambiguous)
When delegating tasks and giving out orders, it is important to use unequivocal terms so
that no one is confused. (unquestionable, unambiguous)
unfeigned
(adjective)
DEFINITION

genuine and sincere, not pretended

SYNONYMS

genuine, sincere, heartfelt, true, real, trustworthy, earnest

ANTONYMS

pretended, artificial, fake, feigned

USAGE EXAMPLES

When Bob proposed to Jane, her unfeigned surprise was priceless. (genuine, sincere, real)
His apology seemed unfeigned and sincere.(heartfelt, real)

unwonted
(adjective)
DEFINITION

rare and unusual

SYNONYMS

unusual, weird, incredible, odd, uncommon, unique, rare

ANTONYMS

common, ordinary, usual

USAGE EXAMPLES

The bright fuchsia pants were an unwonted and unwanted gift from my grandmother.
(unusual, weird, odd)
The man's politeness in giving up his bus seat to a stranger seemed unwonted in today's
society. (rare, uncommon, unusual)
upshot
(noun)
DEFINITION

the final result of something

SYNONYMS

result, consequence, conclusion, completion, ending, finish, outcome, effect

ANTONYMS

beginning

USAGE EXAMPLES

A new study states that the city does not have an adequate number of hospitals to
accommodate its residents. The upshot of the study is that the city needs two additional
hospitals. (result, conclusion, outcome)
The upshot of the report is that the company will have to let 500 employees go in order to
maintain a profit. (outcome, conclusion, result)

welter
(noun, verb)
DEFINITION

(n.) a large, confused, or disorderly group of things; (v.) 1. to roll about--wallow; 2. to be


immersed in something, like a liquid

SYNONYMS

(n.) commotion, confusion, turmoil, jumble, excitement, fuss, (v.) roll, wallow, soak,
bask

ANTONYMS

(n.) calm, order

USAGE EXAMPLES
My paper somehow got lost in the welter of stuff on my desk. (confusion, jumble)
I did not want Josh to welter in sorrow over his unemployment, so I took him out to
dinner. (roll, wallow, soak)

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