Stephens Wednesday Words

Sycophant (n)

Someone who uses flattery to try to get what he/she wants from an authority figure
Syn: flatterer
Ant: rebel

Pernicious (adj)

Intending to cause harm
Syn: harmful
Ant: kind

Ubiquitous (adj)

Appearing everywhere
Syn: omnipresent
Ant: scarce

Non-Sequitur (n)

A statement that is not logically follow a conversations flow
Syn: interruption
Ant: support

Diatribe (n)

A forceful and bitter verbal attack
Syn: rant
Ant: conversation

Slipshod (adj)

Showing a lack of care or thought
Syn: botched
Ant: exact

Nefarious (adj)

Wicked or criminal
Syn: evil
Ant: angelic

Precursor (n)

Person or thing that comes before another of a similar kind
Syn: four runner
Ant: result

Impregnable (adj)

Unable to be captured or broken into
Syn: secure
Ant: vulnerable

Demure (adj)

Shy or modest
Syn: reserved
Ant: obnoxious

Jingoistic (adj)

Overly patriotic
Syn: nationalistic
Ant: unbiased

Implacable (adj)

Unable to be soothed
Syn: relentless
Ant: merciful

Affinity (n)

A natural skill
Syn: talent
Ant: weakness

Coquette (n)

A woman who flirts to get what she wants
Syn: tease
Ant: prude

Harangue (v)

Lecture at length in an aggressive way
Syn: accost
Ant: discuss

Bemoan (v)

Express discontent or sorrow over
Syn: lament
Ant: celebrate

Misogynist (n)

Someone who hates women
Syn: chauvinist
Ant: feminist

Abhor (v)

Hate
Syn: loathe
Ant: love

Talisman (n)

An object with magical powers to bring good luck
Syn: charm
Ant: jinx

Placid (adj)

Not easily upset or excited
Syn: calm
Ant: agitated

Bovine (adj)

In the manner of a cow
Syn: slow
Ant: quick

Facetious (adj)

Treating serious issues with inappropriate humor
Syn: flippant
Ant: respectful

Contrite (adj)

Deeply remorseful for a bad action
Syn: apologetic
Ant: unrepentant

Erudite (adj)

Showing great knowledge or learning
Syn: intelligent
Ant: dumb

Anomaly (n)

Something that deviates from what is expected or normal
Syn: exception
Ant: norm

Noxious (adj)

Very harmful
Syn: poisonous
Ant: healthful

Bilk (v)

Did you cheat someone out of money
Syn: scam
Ant: earn

Replete (adj)

Well-supplied with something
Syn: full
Ant: empty

Blasphemy (n)

Profane talk about holy or sacred things
Syn: heresy
Ant: piety

Absolution (n)

Formal release from guilt or punishment
Syn: forgiveness
Ant: condemnation

Cantankerous (adj)

Argumentative and uncooperative
Syn: Bad-tempered
Ant: kind

Deride (v)

To verbally rip apart
Syn: mock
Ant: compliment

Debacle (n)

A disaster
Syn: failure
Ant: success

Temerity (n)

Excessive or foolish
Syn: nerve
Ant: caution

Ennui (n)

Dissatisfaction or exhaustion caused by boredom
Syn: fatigue
Ant: enthusiasm

Abstain (v)

Restring oneself from doing or enjoying something
Syn: refrain
Ant: indulge

Haughty (adj)

Arrogantly superior
Syn: snobbish
Ant: accepting

Tenacious (adj)

Not letting go of or giving up on something one holds dear
Syn: relentless
Ant: weak

Acquiesce (v)

To accept something reluctantly, but without protest
Syn: agree
Ant: disagree

Lampoon (v)

Publicly ridicule
Syn: mock
Ant: revere

Curmudgeon (n)

A bad-tempered person
Syn: crab
Ant: angel

Sojourn (n)

A temporary stay
Syn: journey
Ant: relocation

Gregarious (adj)

Fond of company
Syn: outgoing
Ant: shy

Augment (v)

To increase
Syn: add
Ant: reduce

Insidious (adj)

Advancing in a gradual way to cause harm
Syn: treacherous
Ant: benign