Pronunciation: [av-er-is]
Definition(s): insatiable greed for riches; inordinate, miserly desire to gain and hoard wealth.
Part of Speech: noun
Sentence: Many of today’s top companies promote theories of avarice; they maximize profit trends while lowering their worker’s compensation.
Synonyms: frugality, stinginess, thrift, penny-pinching, selfishness
Antonyms: benevolence, charity, philanthropy, largesse
Pronunciation: [EN-er-veyt]
Definition(s): to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken.
Part of Speech: verb
Sentence: He argued that devoting scarce public money to the charter school alternative will further enervate our public schools, which are already seriously underfunded.
Synonyms: debilitate, disable, exhaust, incapacitate,
Antonyms: aid, assist, energize, refresh, invigorate, strengthen, activate, empower
Pronunciation: [SWIM-ing-lee]
Definition(s): without difficulty; with great success; effortlessly
Part of Speech: adverb
Sentence: Janet studied for three hours the night before the test, and as a result she aced it and passed swimmingly.
Synonyms: smoothly, effortlessly
Antonyms: —
Pronunciation: [MOL-uh-fahy]
Definition(s): to soften in feeling or temper, as a person; pacify; appease
2. to mitigate or reduce; soften:
Part of Speech: verb
Sentence: After losing the championship game, David’s mother offered a hug to mollify his frustration and disappointment.
Synonyms: alleviate, lull, diminish, tranquilize,
Antonyms: aggravate, frustrate, incite, provoke, extend
Pronunciation: [VAL -er]
Definition(s): boldness or determination in facing great danger, especially in battle;heroic courage; bravery:
Part of Speech: noun,
Sentence: It took great valor for David to take on Goliath with a slingshot as his only weapon.
Synonyms: boldness, fearlessness, fortitude
Antonyms: cowardice, fear, timidity, meekness
Pronunciation: [PAR-uh-gon]
Definition(s): a model or pattern of excellence or of a particular excellence:
2. someone of exceptional merit:
3. an unusually large, round pearl.
Part of Speech: noun
Sentence: Many men want a girlfriend that is a paragon of beauty.
Synonyms: model, archetype, gem, jewel, prototype, standard
Antonyms: flaw, imperfection, worst
Pronunciation: [klan-DES-tin]
Definition(s): characterized by, done in, or executed with secrecy or concealment,especially for purposes of subversion or deception; private or surreptitious:
Part of Speech: adjective
Sentence: Brittany told her husband she was going on a business trip for the weekend, but instead planned a clandestine retreat to a hotel with her new man.
Synonyms: covert, hidden, concealed
Antonyms: honest, known, public
Pronunciation: [KIL-ee-ad]
Definition(s): a group of 1000.
2. a period of 1000 years.
Part of Speech: noun
Sentence: After one man was added to 999 men, the newly formed chiliad began to march down the street in formation.
Synonyms: millennium
Antonyms: –
Pronunciation: [a-truh–BIL -yuh s]
Definition(s): gloomy; morose; melancholy; morbid.
2. irritable; bad-tempered; splenetic.
Part of Speech: adjective
Sentence: Funerals have an atrabilious feel due to the sadness of losing a loved one.
Synonyms: crestfallen, despondent, spiritless, mopis, cheerless
Antonyms: cheerful, elated, heartened, joyous, spirited
Pronunciation: [muh–LIF-loo-uh s]
Definition(s): sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding:
Part of Speech: adjective
Sentence: Harpist’s mellifluous string plucks generate music often heard at formal dinners.
Synonyms: fluid, pleasing, soothing, harmonious,
Antonyms: disagreeable, cacophonous, discordant, dissonant, harsh
