1.
Adulterate (v) Def: to corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value; Use: Hospitals
take strict precautions to assure nothing ( adulterates ) the blood supply.; Syn:
contaminate, pollute, sully; Ant: purify, purge, expurgate
2. Ambidextrous (adj) Def: able to use both hands equally well, very skillful, deceitful, hypocritical; Use:
Occasionally a teacher will come across a child who displays ( ambidextrous ) abilities
when taught to write.; Syn: versatile, facile; Ant: clumsy, all thumbs, maladroit
3. Augment (v) Def: to make larger, increase; Use: Many couples have to ( augment ) their income in order
to pay the mortgage on a new home.; Syn: enlarge, supply, amplify; Ant: decease, diminish
4. Bereft (adj) Def: deprived of, made unhappy through a loss; Use: Individuals who live to be very old
may find themselves completely ( bereft ) of family and friends.; Syn: bereaved; Ant:
replete, well provided
5. Deploy (v) Def: to position or arrange, to utilize, to form up; Use: A bugle call is a signal used to (
deploy ) troops for inspection, parade, or battle.; Syn: station, organize; Ant: stay in place,
centralize
6. Dour (adj) Def: stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored; Use: Dickens’s Mr. Gradgrind in the novel Hard
Times is an example of a character with a ( dour ) and sullen disposition.; Syn: harsh,
bleak, forbidding, saturnine; Ant: cheery, inviting, genial
7. Fortitude (n) Def: courage in facing difficulties; Use: The residents of the Mississippi delta showed
remarkable ( fortritude ) during and after the flood that destroyed their homes and
businesses.; Syn: resolve, steadfastness, mettle; Ant: fearfulness, timidity,
faintheartedness
8. Gape (v) Def: to stare with open mouth, to open the mouth wide, to open wide; Use: First time
visitors to Niagara Falls can be expected to ( gape ) at the spectacular sights nature has
provided for them.; Syn: gawk, ogle; Ant: N/A
9. Gibe (v, n) Def: (v) to utter taunting words, (n) an expression of scorn; Use: (v) The recruits rushed into
battle so that no one could ( gibe ) at them for cowardice, (n) Voters may reject a candidate
who resorts to personal ( gibe ) instead of discussing the issues.; Syn: ridicule, mock,
deride, jeer; Ant: compliment, praise
10. Guise (n) Def: an external appearance, cover, mask; Use: The thieves gained entry into the home by
preserving themselves in the ( guise ) of police officers.; Syn: costume, semblance,
pretense; Ant: N/A
11. Insidious (adj) Def: intended to deceive or entrap, sly, treacherous; Use: The investigators uncovered an
( insidious ) scheme to rob people of their life savings.; Syn: cunning, underhanded,
perfidious; Ant: frank, ingenuous, above board
12. Intimation (n) Def: a hint, indirect suggestion; Use: They were too proud to give any ( imitation ) of their
financial difficulties.; Syn: clue, indication, inkling; Ant: N/A
13. Opulent (adj) Def: wealthy, luxurious, ample, grandiose; Use: The tour guide showed us the ( opulent )
living quarters of the royal family.; Syn: rich, lavish, plentiful, abundant; Ant:
poverty-stricken, wretched, destitute
14. Pliable (adj) Def: easily bent, flexible, easily influenced; Use: Spools of ( pliable ) copper wire are
standard equipment for many kinds of maintenance workers, including electricians.; Syn:
supple, adaptable, resilient; Ant: rigid, inflexible, recalcitrant
15. Reiterate (v) Def: to say again, repeat; Use: Effective speakers often ( reiterate ) an important statement
for emphasis.; Syn: restate, rehash, recapitulate; Ant: N/A
16. Stolid (adj) Def: not easily moved mentally or emotionally, dull, unresponsive; Use: ( stolid ) people
can generally be expected to take most things in stride.; Syn: impassive, phlegmatic; Ant:
emotional, over sensitive, high-strung
17. Tentative (adj) Def: experimental in nature, uncertain, hesitant; Use: Negotiators have come up with a (
tentative ) agreement that will keep both sides at the bargaining table past the strike
deadline.; Syn: provisional, inconclusive; Ant: definite, conclusive, confirmed
18. Unkempt (adj) Def: not combed, untidy, not properly maintained, rude; Use: According to my parents, the
latest fashions make me and my friends look ( unkempt ).; Syn: sloppy, disheveled,
disordered, rough; Ant: well-groomed, tidy, neat, natty
19. Verbatim (adj. adv) Def: word for word, exactly as written or spoken; Use: (adj) Newspapers often publish the (
) text of an important speech; (adv) At the swearing-in ceremony, the Chief Justice reads
each line of the Oath of Office, and the new Presidents repeats it ( verbatim ) Syn: exactly,
precisely; Ant: paraphrased
20. Warily (adv) Def: cautiously, with great care; Use: The hikers made their way ( warily ) up the steep and
rocky trail.; Syn: carefully, prudently, gingerly; Ant: recklessly, heedlessly, incautiously
