1. Lesson Five
Contents

2. rancor n. extreme hatred or ill will syn: animosity; enmity
ant: amity; sympathy
A meeting of calm, irascible opponents exploded into unproductive rancor. 1

3. adj. unrelenting; unavoidable syn: relentless; certain
inexorable
adj. unrelenting; unavoidable
syn: relentless; certain
ant: avoidable; preventable
The rebels captured after the unsuccessful coup faced inexorable penalties. 2

4. Inevitable; unavoidable
Vocabulary for CTW
Inexorable:
Inevitable; unavoidable

5. v. to praise highly syn: exalt; laud extol ant: chastise
The advertiser approached the celebrity, hoping she would extol the features and benefits of the product. 3

6. clement adj. merciful; lenient syn: forbearing; benign
ant: malevolent; harsh
The clement weather turned ugly with little warning, dropping hailstones as big as boulders. 4

7. cliché n. a worn-out idea or overused expression
syn: platitude; banality
One person’s cliché is another one’s fresh phrase. 5

8. adj. unyielding; firm in opinion syn: stubborn ant: amenable; flexible
adamant
adj. unyielding; firm in opinion
syn: stubborn
ant: amenable; flexible
Bodine remained adamant in his belief, even in the face of harsh criticism. 6

9. adj. lacking in self-confidence; shy
diffident
adj. lacking in self-confidence; shy
syn: timid
ant: outgoing
Those who are diffident would be wise to remember that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. 7

10. opus
n. a creative work, especially a numbered composition (“opus 3” would be a composer’s third composition; plural: opera)
Many regard Tolstoy’s War and Peace as his magnum opus, his great work. 8

11. adj. professed but not necessarily true
ostensible
adj. professed but not necessarily true
syn: supposed
ant: actual
The ostensible reason for Marie’s good will was charity, but she was really just seeking public approval. 9

12. n. inequality; difference
syn: gap
ant: similarity
disparity
The team’s loss showed the great disparity between sincere effort and successful results. 10