1. 1. antithesis:
a direct opposite, a contrast
Synonym: different
Sentence: Lord Voldemort is the antithesis of Harry Potter.

2. 2. ascend (uh SEND): to move upward, to rise from a lower station
Synonym: climb, rise
Sentence: After hours of studying, the student ascended to the top 10% of the sophomore class.

3. 3. austere (aw STEER): strict, stern; unadorned, ascetic
Synonym: severe
Sentence: Ms. Brauneis’ austere expectations
helped her students prepare for their junior year.

4. 4. autonomous (aw TON uh muhs): independent, self-contained
Synonym: independent
Sentence: The autonomous college student paid for his books for class through hard work instead of with money from his parents.

5. 5. Banal (BANE ul,) : common, ordinary, lacking freshness, hackneyed
Synonyms: inane, insipid, jejune, vapid
Sentence: The banal house was given last place in the neighborhood’s Halloween
decorating contest.

6. 6. benign (buh NINE): not causing harm, of gentle disposition, beneficial
Synonym: innocent; safe
Sentence: The minister was loved because of his benign attitude toward all types of people.

7. 7. capricious (kuh PRISH us): changing suddenly, fickle
Synonyms: inconstant,
mercurial, unstable
Sentence: Her capricious moods
are difficult to anticipate.

8. 8. dawdle (DOD ul): to waste time, to spend time idly, to move in a lackadaisical manner
Sentence: Since we have a deadline,
do not dawdle over your work.
Synonyms:
linger
dillydally

9. 9. defamation (def uh MAY shun): act of harming or ruining another's reputation
Sentence: The defamation of another's
character is a horrible thing.
Synonyms:
insult
slur
smear

10. 10. esoteric (es uh TER ik): understood only by a small group or a select few
Synonym: obscure, mysterious
Sentence: The English teachers were
having an esoteric discussion about the
correct usage of Oxford commas.

11. 11. exacerbate (ig ZAS ur bate): to aggravate, to irritate, to vex
Synonym: bitter
Sentence:
The teacher was exacerbated by the student’s lack of effort in their work.

12. 12. extol (ik STOLE): to praise, to glorify
Sentence: The teacher would
always extol the students who did
their best.
Synonym: Praise, exalt, commend

13. 13. fastidious (fa STID ee us): reflecting a meticulous or demanding attitude, critical to an extreme
Synonym: finicky
Sentence: He considered her fastidious
because she was offended by
insignificant mistakes or errors.
New Cat Food!

14. 14. furtive (FUR tiv): secret in an underhanded way, stealthy
Synonym: covert, stealthy, underhanded
Sentence: Gru plans to steal the moon in a furtive manner.

15. 15. gregarious (greh GAR ee us): sociable and outgoing
Synonym: extroverted
Sentence: He became much more
gregarious after he developed an
interest in football.

16. 16. hypocrite (HIP uh krit): one who is insincere or deceitful
Sentence: Saying one thing
and then doing the other is the
mark of a hypocrite.
Synonym: fraud, phony

17. 17. innate (eh NATE): existing from birth, inborn
Synonym: natural, built-in
Sentence: Wolverine’s
inability to die is an innate quality that he holds.

18. 18. lethargic (luh THAR jik): sluggish, languid
Synonym: lackluster, torpid
Sentence: Malfoy was lethargic
after too many glasses of pumpkin
juice.

19. 19. melancholy (MEL un kol ee): depression of spirits
Synonym: sadness
Sentence: Harry Potter fell into a state of melancholy after Cedric Diggory died.

20. 20. opaque (oh PAKE): not allowing the passage of light, not transparent; hard to understand
Synonyms: cloudy, muddy
Sentence: The opaque tights
hid the girl’s scars.

21. 21. Prolific (pro LIF ik): abundantly fruitful,
marked by great productivity
Synonym: fertile
Sentence: His prolific career
resulted in an abundant supply
of money.

22. 22. Reprove (reh PROOV): to scold or to rebuke for a misdeed usually with kindly intent
Synonym: admonish, rebuke, reproach
Sentence: The Doctor reproved the patient for not taking better care of himself.

23. 23. Symmetry: balanced proportions
Synonym: eveness,
proportion
Sentence: The symmetry of the gardens of Versailles creates a beautiful and balanced atmosphere.

24. Synonym: placid, serene
24. Tranquil (trang kwul): peaceful, calm
Synonym: placid, serene
Sentence: I noticed the lake was very tranquil as I watched the sunrise.

25. 25. Venerate (VEN uh rate): to honor, to revere
Synonym: adore, worship
Sentence: The King was venerated by his subjects, as they always bowed in praise of him.