2.  (v.) to have an intense dislike or hatred for  Synonyms: loathe, abhor, despise, detest  Antonyms: relish, savor, cherish, esteem  Most students abominate doing homework every day.

3.  (n.) the modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures of one group or society by contact to those of another; the resultant blend  Synonyms: adaptation  The puritans had to go through an acculturation process before they were fully settled in and used to the new world.

4.  (adj.) resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired, not congenital  Synonyms: extrinsic, incidental, fortuitous  Antonyms: essential, intrinsic, inherent, congenital  The early start to the school year was not adventitious.

5.  (v.) to assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute  Synonyms: impute, credit, attribute  You may ascribe that this work is yours but I believe you copied off of your neighbor.

6.  (adj.) roundabout, not direct  Synonyms: indirect, meandering, winding  Antonyms: straight, direct, as the crow flies  My father took a circuitous path to find our beach house, we later found out he was lost and took a wrong turn.

7.  (v.) to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress  Synonyms: feel sorry for, empathize  Antonym: feel no sympathy for  The teachers always commiserate when my brother tells them a made up story for why he doesn’t have his homework done.

8. (v.) to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit Syn: bid, charge, command, adjure Ant: allow, permit A bossy person likes to enjoin people to do things they don’t want to do.

9. (v.) to make easy; cause to progress faster Syn: accelerate, facilitate, speed up Ant: hinder, hamper, impede, obstruct Many stores try to expedite shopping for their customers with low prices and sales.

10. (v.) to make amends, make up for; to avert Syn: redeem, make amends for, atone, make reparation He would say anything to expiate what he had done to her.

11. (n.) a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence (v.) to be in or work into such a state; to produce alcohol by chemical action Syn: commotion, turmoil, unrest Ant: peace and quiet, tranquility, placidity In the midst of the ferment, I could hardly hear what anyone was saying.

12. (adj.) resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental Syn: accidental, unconsidered Ant: deliberate, intentional, premeditated I know it was inadvertent, but I still can’t believe you broke my vase.

13. (adj.) existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously Syn: titular, token, trifling, inconsequential Ant: real, actual, exorbitant, excessive Because of the math test yesterday, many people were out with nominal sicknesses.

14. (adj.) not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no Syn: cagey, uninformative, playing it safe, playing it close to the vest Ant: positive, definite, committed Standing at the alter, suddenly the groom became noncommittal and could not seem to say “I do.”

15.  (v.) to steal something that has been given into one’s trust; to take improperly for one’s own use  Synonyms: embezzle, defraud, misappropriate  A stereotype of a politician is one who corrupts and embezzles government money for their own private use.

16.  (n.) a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior)  Synonyms: natural bent, penchant, propensity  Antonyms: inability or incapacity  The proclivity of many people is to bite their nails when they are nervous.

17.  (n.) composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances  Synonyms: poise, self- assurance, equanimity  Antonyms: excitability, hysteria, flappability  In order to succeed, poker players are required to have a lot of sangfroid in order to fool their opponents.

18.  (adj.) resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government  Synonyms: mutinous, rebellious, subversive  Antonyms: supportive, loyal, faithful, allegiant  Mr. Robinson’s penetrating glare quells any of his children’s seditious acts. (LIES)

19.  (adj.) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported  Synonyms: flimsy, insubstantial, vague, hazy  Antonyms: strong, solid, substantial, valid  A spider’s thread can be really tenuous, however, it is still able to support the spider as it ascend up its string.

20.  (adj.) bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid)  Synonyms: withering, acerbic, mordant  Antonyms: bland, saccharine, honeyed, sugary  In the show House, Dr. House acts very vitriolic when speaking to his patients, and to his co- employees as well.

21.  (v.) to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end  Synonyms: cajole, inveigle, soft-soap, sweet-talk  Antonyms: coerce, browbeat, intimidate, strong-arm  In the game Pokémon, Pokémon Weedle is so weak and unwanted that one would have to wheedle others to take it in exchange for a better Pokémon.