simplistic (adjective) Variants: simplistically (adverb) Definition: oversimplified; avoiding or ignoring complexities Synonym: unsophisticated, naive Antonym: sophisticated, complicated His simplistic plan for economic improvement failed to account for foreign investment and the GNP.

incredulous (adjective) Variants: incredulously (adverb); incredulousness (noun) Definition: unwilling or unable to believe; showing disbelief Synonym: skeptical Antonym: credulous, gullible The politician’s lavish promises provoked incredulous responses rather than the admiration he sought.

ascetic (adjective) Variants: ascetically (adverb) Definition: Reflecting self-denial (as in religious discipline); choosing minimal comforts Synonyms: austere, Spartan Antonym: self-indulgent, hedonistic Her modest room reflected the ascetic values she advocated.

vicarious (adjective) vicariously (adverb), vicariousness (noun) Definition: Experienced through someone else rather than first hand; endured as substitute for someone else; delegated synonym: second-hand [experience] antonym: actual [experience] Because she loved her son, she found vicarious pleasure in his tremendous successes.

allocation (noun) Variants: allocate (verb), allocatable (adjective); allocator (noun) Definition: the act of setting aside for a special purpose; designation Synonym: allotment, apportionment Antonym: abandonment Sentence: The mayor insisted the park district include an allocation of land in order to build a playground. The mayor insisted the parked district allocate land for a playground.

admonish (transitive verb) Variants: admonishment (noun) Definition: To caution, criticize, or counsel gently against Synonym: chastise, reproach, rebuke Antonym: approve, commend, praise The anti-tobacco lobbyist admonished the President for his inability to quit smoking.

presumptuous (adjective) presumptuously (adv.), presumptuousness (noun) overconfident, excessively forward, taking too much for granted Syn: arrogant Ant: humble, modest Darcy’s presumptuous manner understandably offends Elizabeth Bennet.

subversive (adjective,noun) variants: subvert (verb), subversively (adverb) Definition: tending or seeking to subvert, overthrow or destroy (an established government, institution, belief, etc) Synonym: rebellious, disloyal Antonym: loyal, faithful Sentence: The Canadian government—indeed, the majority of Canadian citizens—believed the Nisei to be subversive operatives.

vacuous (adjective) Variants: vacuously (adverb) Definition: without contents, empty Synonym: bare, blank, devoid Antonym: full, abundant Sentence: When the class looked at her with vacuous stares, the teacher knew the lesson had failed.

avocation (noun) Variants: avocational (adjective) Definition: something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, especially for pleasure Synonym: pastime, hobby Antonym: job, occupation Sentence: Oddly enough, the math teacher’s avocation was the study of Old Norse epics.

impetus (noun) Variants: Definition: a moving force; impulse, stimulus Synonym: encouragement, incentive, motivation Antonym: hindrance, block Sentence: Dr. Martin Luther King’s speeches were the impetus behind the civil rights movement.

reticent (adjective) Variants: reticently (adverb), reticence (noun) Definition: inclined to keep one’s thoughts and feelings to oneself, secretive, quiet Synonym: reluctant, restrained, reserved Antonym: communicative, forward, unrestrained Sentence: The reticent student hid in the back row, unwilling to participate in the class discussion.

physiognomy (noun) Variants: physiognomic (adj), physiognomically (adv) Definition: The features of somebody’s face especially used as indicators of character or temperament. Synonym: aspect, look, visage Antonym: none Sentence: In Great Expectations, Pip is frightened by the convict, for his physiognomy is menacing.

insipid (adjective) Variants: insipidness (noun), insipidly (adverb) Definition: without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities Synonym: bland, dull Antonym: exhilarating Sentence: Cauliflower’s insipid taste requires cheese or spices to make it palatable.

tedium (noun) Variants: tedious (adjective), tediously (adverb) Definition: quality or condition of being wearisome or boring Synonym: dullness, monotony Antonym: entertainment, excitement, diversion Sentence: In order to take the tedium out of exercise, aerobic instructors rely on loud, exciting music.

cajole (verb) Variants: cajolery(noun), cajolingly(adverb) Definition: to persuade by flattery or promises Synonym: wheedle, coax, flatter Antonym: bully, force, repel Sentence: The boy cajoled her into giving him some of her cookies.

blasé (adjective) Variants: none Definition: not impressed or worried by something, usually because of previous experience Synonym: unconcerned, nonchalant Antonym: uptight, worried Sentence: Paris Hilton’s blasé attitude towards spending money is typical of the very wealthy: they do not have to worry about paying bills.

indolent (adjective) Variants: indolence (n), indolently (adv) Definition: Lethargic and not showing any interest. Also describes a disease that is slow to develop and causes no pain. Synonym: sluggish, apathetic, lazy Antonym: industrious, productive Sentence: It is difficult to move from summer’s indolence to the necessary productivity of the school year.

choleric (adjective) Variants: choler (noun)*, cholerically (adverb) *NOT cholera—that’s a disease! Definition: showing or tending to show anger or irritation Synonym: bad-tempered, irascible Antonym: phlegmatic, impassive Sentence: Ivan Ilyich’s choleric manner intimidates his family.

phlegmatic (adjective) Variants: phlegmatically (adverb) Definition: unemotional, difficult to excite to action or display of emotion synonym: indifferent, undemonstrative antonym: energetic, lively Sentence: Obasan’s phlegmatic approach to life irritates the crusading Emily.

impasse (noun ) Variants: none Definition: predicament from which there is no escape; impassible road or way Synonym: stalemate, deadlock Antonym: progress Sentence: After days of deliberation, the jury reached an impasse, necessitating a new trial.

adulation (noun) Variants: adulate (verb) Definition: excessive flattery or adoration Synonym: obsequiousness, sycophancy Antonym: insult, offense Sentence: Robert Pattinson is the object of young girls’ adulation.

censure (noun, verb) Variants: censure (transitive verb) Definition: judgment involving condemnation Synonym: rebuke, reproach Antonym: honor, acclamation Sentence: Following the lawyer’s emotional outburst, the judge had no choice but to censure him.

dissimulation (noun) Variants: dissimulate (verb), dissimulative (adjective), dissimulator (noun) Definition: act of deceiving/concealing true feelings and intentions synonym: deception, deceit, disguise, dissembling antonym: frankness, honesty, truthfulness Sentence: As he becomes more desperately ill, Ivan Ilyich finds dissimulation more difficult, and his family is frightened by the anger he reveals.

droll (adjective) variants: droller, drollest (more adjectives), drolly (adverb) definition: humorous, amusing in an odd way synonym: amusing, clownish, comical antonym: serious sentence: The professor entertained the class with his droll impersonations of literary characters.

expectorate (verb) variants: expectoration (noun), expectorant (noun) definition: to expel matter, esp. phlegm synonym: flush out, eject antonym: inject, inhale, consume sentence: The doctor instructed the patient to expectorate regularly to speed healing.

surfeit (noun) variants: surfeiter (I have never seen this!) definition: too great an amount or supply; excess; overindulgence, esp. in food or drink synonym: satiate, excess, surplus antonym: deficit, insufficiency sentence: In the child’s opinion, his plate held a surfeit of vegetables.

corroborate (trans. verb) variants: corroboration, corroborative, corroborant definition: to make more certain the validity of, confirm, support synonym: confirm, support, substantiate antonym: contradict Sentence: To corroborate the rumor about Malfoy, the trio made a Polyjuice potion.

morose (adjective) variants: moroseness, morosely definition: ill-tempered, gloomy, sullen synonym: glum, gloomy, depressed antonym: happy, cheerful sentence: The students were morose when the teacher returned their tests.

auspicious (adjective) variants: auspiciously (adv), auspiciousness (n) definition: favored by fortune synonym: fortunate, prosperous antonym: ominous, unfortunate Sentence: The couple was married on 09/09/09, as they believed the date to be an auspicious one.

vigilance (noun) variants: vigilant (adjective) vigilantly (adverb) definition: keenly watchful to detect danger; wary synonym: observant, attentive antonym: negligent, careless Sentence: The watchmen needed to remain vigilant to protect their camp from any surprise attacks.

recourse (noun) variants: none definition: that which one turns to for help in desperation synonym: refuge, resort antonym: sentence: Is Sonia’s only recourse prostitution, and is Raskolnikov’s only recourse confession?

equivocal (adjective) variants: equivocalness (n), equivocally (adv), equivocation (n) definition: allowing the possibility of multiple meanings, susceptible to double interpretations synonym: ambiguous, dubious, questionable, suspicious antonym: unquestionable, definite, clear sentence: Svidrigailov’s conversation is equivocal; Raskolnikov cannot figure out his true intentions.

dubious (adjective) variants: dubiously (adverb), dubiousness (noun) definition: full of doubt or uncertainty synonym: doubtful, questionable, unsure antonym: certain, definite, sure, trustworthy sentence: He enjoyed the dubious distinction of having the lowest GPA of the graduating class.

corporeal (adjective) variants: corporeality (noun); corporeally (adverb) definition: the physical body; material or physical rather than spiritual synonym: bodily, physical antonym: mental, spiritual sentence: The doctor examined the corporeal remains for clues to its identity.

chasten (verb) variants: chastener (n) definition: to punish in order to correct or make better; chastise; subdue; refine as to make purer synonym: punish, discipline, correct antonym: commend, praise Sentence: The sadistic headmaster chastened errant students with a leather strap.

resolute (adjective) variants: resolutely (adverb), resoluteness (noun) definition: having or showing a fixed, firm purpose; determined; unwavering synonym: faithful, unyielding antonym: uncertain, unsure sentence: The Second Apparition advises Macbeth to be “bloody, bold and resolute” for only a man not of woman born can harm him.

languid (adjective) variants: languidness (n), languidly (adv) definition: without vigor or vitality; without spirit or interest synonym: weak; listless; indifferent; sluggish antonym: energetic, lively sentence: His languid movements annoyed the movie director, who envisioned a violent, wild scene.

dissolute (adjective) variants: dissolutely(adverb), dissoluteness (noun) definition: dissipated and immoral; debauched synonym: debauched, depraved, degenerate antonym: decent, upright, moral sentence: Svidrigailov’s reputation for dissolute behavior disgusts Dunya.

extol (verb) variants: extoller (n); extolment (n) definition: to praise highly; laud synonym: praise, laud, acclaim antonym: disparage, denigrate sentence: Many journalists extol the virtues of our President.

amorous (adjective) variants: amorousness (n), amorously (adv) definition: full of love, showing love or sexual desire synonym: passionate, ardent antonym: detached, unloving sentence: The amorous behavior displayed in high school hallways is often disturbing.

scrupulous (adjective) variants: [from scruple] scrupulously (adv), scrupulousness (n); definition: extremely careful to do the precisely right, proper or correct thing in every last detail; obsessively hesitant in deciding what is morally right synonym: careful, conscientious, meticulous antonym: careless, rash sentence: The scrupulous student double-checked all his essay’s quotations to avoid plagiarism.

ponderous (adjective) variants: ponderously (adverb), ponderousness (noun) definition: very heavy; unwieldy because of weight synonym: heavy, weighty, dull and labored antonym: light sentence: Marley’s Ghost tells Ebenezer Scrooge that the chain Scrooge bears is a ponderous one.

brevity (noun) related: brief (adjective), briefly (adverb) definition: the quality of being brief or concise synonym: conciseness, terseness antonym: length sentence: “Brevity is the soul of wit.”

deportment (noun) variants: deport (verb) definition: the manner of conducting or bearing oneself synonym: manner, bearing, posture, behavior antonym: none sentence: Because she was a mature 12 year old, the girl’s deportment did not accurately reflect her age.

prodigal (adjective) variants: prodigally (adverb), prodigality (noun) definition: exceedingly, recklessly wasteful synonym: wasteful, extravagant antonym: cautious, thrifty sentence: The prodigal shopper saved no money for the gas she desperately needed for her return home.

intercession (noun) related: intercede (verb), intercessional (adjective) definition: the act of interceding, pleading or prayer on behalf of another synonym: intervention, mediation antonym: none sentence: The marriage counselor’s intercession was necessary for the fighting couple.

solicitous (adjective) variants: solicitously (adverb), solicitude (noun) definition: showing care, attention or concern synonym: attentive, considerate antonym: uncaring, unconcerned sentence: Although it was second semester senior year, she maintained a solicitous attitude towards her grades.

primeval (adjective) variants: definition: of the earliest times or ages synonym: primordial, primal, primitive antonym: modern sentence: Sally walked in the primeval forest, where ancient groves awed her.

deprecate (transitive verb) related: deprecatingly (adverb), deprecation (noun) definition: to feel and express disapproval of synonym: denounce, denigrate antonym: approve, praise sentence: The staunch Republican deprecated the policies of the Democratic Congress.

capitulate (verb) variants: capitulation (noun) definition: to surrender, especially on conditions agreed upon synonym: acquiesce, submit, yield antonym: stand firm, remain resolute sentence: The class proposed watching a movie, and the exhausted teacher willingly capitulated.

sardonic (adjective) variants: sardonically (adverb) definition: bitterly ironic, derisively mocking synonym: scornful, satirical, caustic antonym: respectful sentence: Despite his thirst for knowledge, the tough teenager maintained a sardonic attitude towards school when he was with his friends.

furtive (adjective) related: furtively (adverb), furtiveness (noun) definition: done by stealth synonym: secretive, sly, surreptitious antonym: open, direct sentence: Modestly lowering her eyes, the girl continued to shoot furtive glances towards the handsome new student.

ethereal (adjective) variants: ethereally (adverb); etherealize (verb) definition: light, delicate; heavenly synonym: unearthly, airy antonym: earthly, substantial sentence: The singer’s ethereal voice made me think of heaven.

confound (verb) variants: confounded (adjective) definition: to mix up or lump together indiscriminately; to make feel confused; to damn: used as a mild oath synonym: puzzle, confuse antonym: clarify sentence: The rapid-fire delivery of the lecture confounded all the students.

wry (adjective) related: wryly (adverb), wryness (noun) definition: made by twisting or distorting the features (a wry face); dry, ironic (as in humor) synonym: ironic, cynical antonym: straight-forward sentence: Her wry expression signaled her amusement with the awkward situation. sentence: Taking his words at face value, the audience misunderstood his wry remarks.

veracity (noun) variants: veraciously (adverb); veracious (adjective) definition: habitual truthfulness; honesty synonym: truth antonym: dishonesty, false sentence: The man’s known veracity made him a reliable witness.

magnanimous (adjective) variants: magnanimously (adverb), magnanimity (noun) definition: noble in mind, generous in overlooking injury or insult synonym: generous, high-minded antonym: petty, small-minded sentence: Sonya’s magnanimous behavior endears her to all who know her.

felicity (noun) related: felicitous (adjective), felicitously (adverb) definition: happiness, bliss; quality or knack of appropriate, pleasing expression in writing, speaking, painting, etc. synonym: joy; aptness antonym: sorrow; inappropriateness sentence: Her felicitous responses to the interviewers secured the job for her.

nuance (noun) variants: nuanced (adjective) definition: a slight or delicate variation in tone, color, meaning synonym: shade of difference, hint antonym: one-dimensional sentence: The nuances of literature are often only appreciated by those who read widely.

malady (noun) variants: definition: disease, illness (often used figuratively) synonym: sickness, problem antonym: health sentence: Ivan Ilyich’s malady is his unhealthy obsession with social standing.

corpulent (adjective) related: corpulence (noun), corpulently (adverb) definition: fat and fleshy synonym: obese antonym: slim sentence: Mitch urged his corpulent teacher to be a contestant on The Biggest Loser.

brazen (adjective) variants: brazenly (adverb); brazenness (noun) definition: showing no shame; like brass in color or other qualities synonym: impudent, shameless antonym: timid, diffident sentence: “She made brazen overtures to a man who hadn’t a friend in this town, until she came here!”

exonerate (verb) variants: exoneration (noun); exonerative (adjective) definition: to relieve of (a duty, an obligation); to free from a charge or the imputation of guilt synonym: absolve, vindicate antonym: condemn, blame sentence: Having seen no persuasive evidence, the jury exonerated the suspect.

inscrutable (adjective) related: inscrutability (noun), inscrutably (adverb) definition: not easily understood; unfathomable synonym: mysterious, enigmatic antonym: easily understood, transparent sentence: Her inscrutable expression baffled her husband, who could not figure out the appropriate response.

inundate (verb) variants: inundation (noun) definition: to flood; to overwhelm someone with a huge quantity of duties, chores, responsibilities, etc. synonym: flood, deluge, overwhelm antonym: sentence: Following his election, Obama’s campaign headquarters was inundated with job applications.