allay
(v.) to calm or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve
SYN: reduce, alleviate, moderate
ANT: aggravate, exacerbate, intensify
bestial
(adj.) beastlike; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility
SYN: animalistic, loathsome
ANT: human, clement, virtuous, upright
convivial
(adj.) festive, sociable, having fun together, genial
SYN: fun-loving, jovial, merry
ANT: dour, sullen, unsociable
coterie
(n.) a circle of acquaintances; a close-knit, often exclusive, group of people with a common interest
SYN: clique, set
counterpart
(n.) a person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another; a complement
SYN: match
demur
(v.) to object or take exception to; (n.) an objection
SYN: (v.) protest, object to
ANT: (v.) assent to, consent to, accept, agree to
effrontery
(n.) shameless boldness, impudence
SYN: chutzpah, nerve, impertinence, cheek
ANT: shyness, diffidence, timidity
embellish
(v.) to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details
SYN: garnish
ANT: strip, mar, disfigure
ephemeral
(adj.) lasting only a short time, short-lived
SYN: transient, evanescent, transitory
ANT: durable, long-lasting, permanent, perpetual
felicitous
(adj.) appropriate, apt, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy
SYN: fortunate, well-put
ANT: inappropriate, inept, graceless, unhappy
furtive
(adj.) done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen
SYN: covert, surreptitious
ANT: aboveboard, open
garish
(adj.) glaring; tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way
SYN: gaudy, flashy, tawdry
ANT: subdued, muted, understated, quiet
illusory
(adj.) misleading, deceptive; lacking in or not based on reality
SYN: specious, spurious, imaginary
ANT: actual, real, factual, objective
indigent
(adj.) needy, impoverished
SYN: penniless, poverty-stricken, destitute
ANT: affluent, prosperous
inordinate
(adj.) far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive
SYN: exorbitant, extravagant
ANT: reasonable, equitable
jettison
(v.) to cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome
SYN: cast off, discard, dump, junk
ANT: conserve, retain, hold on to, keep
misanthrope
(n.) a person who hates or despises people
SYN: people-hater
pertinacious
(adj.) very persistent; holding firmly to a course of action or a set of beliefs; hard to get rid of, refusing to be put off or denied
SYN: stubborn, determined
picayune
(adj.) of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded
SYN: piddling, trifling
ANT: important, significant, huge, gigantic
raiment
(n.) clothing, garments
SYN: apparel, attire