What’s the password? O If you want to leave the room, in addition to having your planner, you must do one of the following: O Say the word and definition O Say the synonym(s)/ antonym(s) O Use the password correctly in a sentence O Feel free to include these words in writing assignments and class discussions.

lexicon (n) a dictionary; a specialized vocabulary used in a particular field or place. synonyms: jargon; argot example sentence: Having grown up in the inner city, Shawn was familiar with the lexicon of the streets. Password 9/6-9/9

sanction (n) permission; support example sentence: The teacher gave sanction to the student’s odd but harmless habit of doing his homework in crayon. Password 9/12-9/19

ambivalent (adj) having opposing attitudes or feelings toward a person, thing, or idea; unable to decide. synonyms: uncertain; wavering antonyms: certain; resolute example sentence: Doug felt ambivalent about his job; although he hated the pressure, he loved the challenge. Password 9/20-9/23

quixotic (adj) very idealistic; impractical; caught up in romantic notions. antonyms: realistic; practical example sentence: As a young man, he had the quixotic notion that he could single-handedly end poverty in the country. Password 9/26-10/3

cliché (n) a worn-out idea or overused expression. synonyms: platitude; banality example sentence: The candidate promised new ideas, but spouted the same old clichés after her election. Password 10/4-10/7

droll (adj) amusing in an odd or whimsical way. synonyms: quaint example sentence: Xander had a droll manner of telling stories that kept everyone entertained. Password 10/10-10/17

deprecate (v) to express strong disapproval of synonyms: deplore antonyms: approve; praise example sentence: Tim stopped offering new ideas after the other workers deprecated his first suggestion. Password 10/18-10/21

ominous (adj) threatening; foreboding evil synonyms: sinister antonyms: comforting example sentence: We went on our picnic despite the ominous rainclouds. Password 10/24-10/31

ostracize (v) to banish; to shut out from a group or society by common consent synonyms: exile antonyms: accept example sentence: The strict religious community ostracized Eli when he married a woman of another faith. Password 11/1-11/4

obstreperous (adj) aggressively boisterous; stubborn and defiant antonyms: meek; tractable example sentence: The obstreperous mob of looters was finally subdued by an icy blast from the fire hose. Password 11/7-11/14

novice (n) a beginner; one who is inexperienced synonyms: apprentice; tyro antonyms: master example sentence: The older lawyer took the novice under her wing and showed him the ropes. Password 11/15- 11/18

grandiloquent (adj) pompous or high-flown in speech synonyms: pretentious antonyms: plain-spoken example sentence: Marcus gets grandiloquent when speaking of the theatre, assuming no one knows as much or has as refined a taste as he. Password 11/29-12/2

dilettante (n) One who merely dabbles in an art or science synonyms: amateur; trifler antonyms: expert; professional example sentence: The dilettante felt that his superficial knowledge of art qualified him to judge the artist’s work. Password 12/5-12/12

pertinent (adj) having to do with the subject at hand; relevant antonyms: unrelated; extraneous example sentence: The lecturer took questions as long as they were pertinent and enriched the discussion. Password 12/13-12/16

exhort (v) to urge on with stirring words synonyms: encourage example sentence: During halftime, the coach exhorted his team to “win one for the Gipper.” Password 12/19-12/22

liege (n) A lord, master, or sovereign synonym: king antonyms: commoner, servant example sentence: While the servants pledged their loyalty to the liege, they did not always like or respect him. Password 1/3-1/6

fallacy (n) A mistaken notion; a misconception antonym: truth example sentence: My grandmother still clings to the fallacy that the world is flat. Password 1/9-1/18

parsimonious (adj) excessively thrifty; stingy synonyms: cheap; frugal antonyms: extravagant example sentence: Ebenezer Scrooge was a parsimonious old man. Password 1/19-1/30

inherent (adj) essential synonym: intrinsic antonyms: extrinsic; extraneous example sentence: Exhaust and air-pollution are inherent features and drawbacks of the automobile. Password 1/31-2/3

impregnable (adj) not able to be conquered synonym: unbeatable antonym: vulnerable example sentence: The Greek warriors were unable to conquer the impregnable Trojan fortress. Password 2/14-2/17

befuddle (v) to confuse; to perplex synonyms: bewilder, fluster antonyms: clarify, elucidate example sentence: Street maps always befuddle me, so my friend navigates when we take road trips. Password 2/21-2/24

indiscreet (adj) not wise or judicious; imprudent, as in speech or action synonym: flagrant antonym: prudent example sentence: Ron was fired shortly after his indiscreet actions at the office party. Password 2/27-3/5

heinous (adj) hatefully or shockingly evil synonyms: abhorrent; horrid example sentence: The jury was shocked by the young woman’s heinous crimes. Password 3/6-3/9

magnanimous (adj) noble; generous in forgiving; free from petty feelings or acts synonym: generous antonyms: petty; mean example sentence: Allowing the man who had insulted him to stay for dinner was a magnanimous gesture on Robert’s part. Password 3/12-3/19

epistle (n) A letter or literary composition in letter form example sentence: Brian spent years writing lengthy, unsent epistles to his former girlfriend. Password 3/20-3/23

formidable (adj) arousing fear or awe synonym: intimidating example sentence: When the hulking, 250-lb man stepped into the ring, George knew that he had to face a formidable opponent. Password 3/26-4/2

gargantuan (adj) of huge or extraordinary size and power synonyms: gigantic; huge antonym: tiny example sentence: Milltown’s players were gargantuan compared with the small guys on our team. Password 4/17-4/20

sycophant (n) A flatterer; one who fawns on others in order to gain favor synonym: toady antonym: contrarian example sentence: Teri was such a sycophant that she laughed loudly at her supervisor's awful jokes. Password 4/23-4/30

bawdy (adj) indecent; humorously obscene synonyms: risqué; lewd antonyms: innocent; clean example sentence: When some called the new sitcom bawdy, the toy company quickly withdrew its sponsorship. Password 5/1-5/4

myriad (n) A very large number (adj) too numerous to be counted synonyms: (n) host; multitude synonyms: (adj) countless; innumerable example sentence: (n) After my break-up, my mom fed me the old line about there being a myriad of fish in the sea. example sentence: (adj) The biologist spent her entire career categorizing the myriad plant species of the rain forest. Password 5/7-5/14

prodigal (adj) reckless, wasteful, and extravagant synonyms: wastrel; libertine antonym: prudent example sentence: The prodigal actor was notorious for his lavish, excessive, and unruly lifestyle. Password 5/15-5/18

tenuous (adj) not dense or thick; having little substance synonyms: unconvincing; fragile antonyms: strong; cogent example sentence: Even though it was published, the dissertation put forth a very tenuous theory on intelligence. Password 5/21-5/29

subjugate (v) to dominate, conquer, or bring under control antonym: free example sentence: Plantation owners subjugated their slaves and forced them to do manual labor. Password 5/30-6/4

pithy (adj) full of meaning; concise synonym: succinct antonym: verbose example sentence: The pithy statements in greeting cards are often short and sweet. Password 6/5-6/8