4th quarter

1. feasible

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

possibledoableviable

unworkableimpracticalimpossible

(adjective)

reasonable; capable of

being carried out

noun – feasibility, feasiblenessadverb – feasibly

Though he is still young, Jeff has a feasible plan to participate in the Olympic games eventually.

2. fiasco

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

disasterdebacle

flop

successboon

miracle

(noun)

a complete, ridiculous

failure

NA

To stop a repeat of last year’s fiasco, no animals are permitted in site.

3. métier

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

fortestrengthcalling

weakness

(noun)

the work one is especially suited for;

one’s specialty

NA

Justin is a decent singer, but dancing is his real métier.

4. fluctuate

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

waverseesaw

rise and fall

stabilizepersist

stay

(verb)

to rise and fall; to vary

irregularly

adjective – fluctuantnoun – fluctuation

The stock market fluctuates so much that it seems silly to get upset when your stock goes down as it will probably go back up tomorrow.

5. harry

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

botherpesterbadger

sootheaid

support

(verb)

to annoy or harass

harries, harried, harrying

The baby’s constant crying began to harry the other passengers on the train.

6. incognito

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

anonymouscamouflage

dmasqueradi

ng

knownunhidden

overt

(adjective, adverb, noun)

disguised; pretending not to be oneself

Note: the word can be used as different parts of speech, but the form does not change!

To avoid clamoring fans, the actor donned a disguise and traveled incognito.

7. lethargy

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

torporlassitudeidleness

vigorvitality

liveliness

(noun)

lack of energy; sluggishness

adjective – lethargicadverb – lethargically

The heat and humidity made me sink into the couch, too overwhelmed with lethargy to move.

8. sycophant

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

brownnoser

flattererlackey

leadersupervisor

(adjective)

one who fawns on others in order to gain

favor

adjective – sycophanticadverb – sycophantically

The rich and famous often find sycophantic people at their side.

9. exhort

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

encourageentreatimplore

discourageadvise against

deprecate

(verb)

to urge on with stirring words

noun – exhorter, exhortationadjective – exhortativeadjective – exhortatory

During halftime, the coach exhorted the team to “win one for the Gipper”.

10. bawdy

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

risqué lewd

suggestive

innocentclean

chaste

(adjective)

indecent; humorously

obscene

bawdier, bawdiestadverb – bawdilynoun – bawdiness

The jokes in Elizabethan plays were often bawdy, and the audiences were rowdy!

11. parsimonious

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

cheappenny-

pinchingniggardly

extravagantgenerous

open-handed

(adjective)

excessively thrifty; stingy

adverb – parsimoniouslynoun – parsimoniousness

Struggling to overcome her parsimonious inclinations, she finally reached into her pocket – and gave me a dime!

12. chutzpah

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

brazennesseffrontery

gall

timidityhumilitymodesty

(noun)

nerve; audacity

NA

I cannot believe Michael had the chutzpah to claim that no one could sing that song as well as he could.

13. gambol

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

frolicskip

rollick

NA

(verb)

to dance and skip around

playfully

gambols, gamboled, gamboling

We watched the ponies gambol through the fields.

14. husband

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

saverestrain

put away

loselet gospend

(verb)

to manage economically;

to use sparingly

husbands, husbanded, husbanding noun – husbander

During these difficult economic times, people and business owners need to husband their money and resources.

15. affluence

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

wealthprosperityabundance

poordestitutedeficient

(noun)abundance of

money, property, and other material goods; riches

adjective – affluentadverb – affluently

Despite the recession, the affluence of this country is still obvious when compared to third-world countries.

16. lionize

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

adulateidolizeexalt

dishonordenounce

shame

(verb)

to treat as a celebrity

lionizes, lionized, lionizingnoun – lionizernoun - lionization

After winning the state competition, Stacey was lionized by her classmates.

17. innocuous

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

impotentunobjectiona

bleinsipid

harmfuldangerous

toxic

(adjective)

harmless

adverb – innocuouslynoun – innocuousness

The tough leadership we need in this new century will not come from uncertain and innocuous personalities.

18. laconic

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

concisecurt

succinct

long-windedverbosewordy

(adjective)

using few words

adverb – laconically

Because the paper was five pages too long, the teacher encouraged the student to edit passages, making them more laconic.

19. irascible

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

irritableill-

temperedtesty

easygoinggood-natured

pleasant

(adjective)

easily made angry

adverb – irasciblynoun – irascibility, irascibleness

We walk on eggshells around Samantha because she is so irascible.

20. corroborate

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

reaffirmsupport

substantiate

refutecontradictundermine

discredit

(verb)

to support with evidence

corroborates, corroborated, corroboratingnoun – corroborator, corroborationadjective – corroborative, corroboratoryadverb – corroboratively

All the available evidence corroborates my theory that the theft was planned by someone familiar with the layout of my house.

21. cosset

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

babycater tocoddle

ignoreforsake

renounce

(verb)

to pamper; to treat with great

care

cossets, cosseted, cosseting

Cosseting high school seniors does more harm than good, as they will be entering the competitive market in a few months.

22. raconteur

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

storytellerbard

minstrel

NA

(noun)

witty, skillful storyteller

NA

He is such a good raconteur that his two books are easy to read and enjoy.

23. curmudgeon

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

grouchgrump

bellyacher

friendly, positiveperson

(noun)

cranky person, usually old

adjective – curmudgeonlynoun – curmudgeonliness

The two curmudgeons in Grumpy Old Men are quite funny.

24. deleterious

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

detrimentaldestructivepernicious

helpfulharmless

innocuous

(adjective)

subtly or unexpectedly

harmful

adverb – deleteriouslynoun – deleteriousness

Wishing can give zest and purpose to anyone’s life, but wishful thinking can have deleterious effects.

25. pugilism

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

sparringprizefightin

gslugfest

NA

(noun)

boxing

noun – pugilistadjective – pugilisticadverb – pugilistically

Mohamed Ali was an excellent pugilist.

26. quixotic

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

impracticaldreamyutopian

realisticpracticalcredible

(adjective)

overly idealistic

noun – quixotismadverb – quixotically

Many readers are attracted to quixotic love stories, like Twilight, rather than realistic romances.

27. prodigal

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

wastrellibertine

spendthrift

prudentthrifty

economical

(adjective)

lavish, wasteful

noun – prodigalityadverb – prodigally

My prodigal mother is an incorrigible shopaholic!

28. umbrage

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

irritationpique

annoyance

pleasuredelight

satisfaction

(noun)

offense, resentment

NA

Who would have thought he would take umbrage at an e-mail from a friend who only meant to help?

29. meticulous

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

fastidiousthorough

painstaking

sloppycareless

undetailed

(adjective)extremely, sometimes excessively,

careful about small details;

precise

noun – meticulousness, meticulosityadverb – meticulously

I hate dusting because it is a meticulous chore, especially when someone has a plethora of knickknacks!

30. caustic

Synonyms

Antonyms

Definition

Other Forms

acidicharsh

abrasive

mildpleasantsoothing

(adjective)

biting; stingingly sharp

or sarcastic

adverb – causticallynoun – causticity

Because of his caustic comments, his wife finally left him.