Adroit
(adj) skillful, expert in the use of the hands or mind
Many rodeo performers are adroit at twirling a rope while on horse back.
syn: clever, deft, dexterous, slick
ant: clumsy, inept, all thumbs
Amicable
(adj) peaceable, friendly
Sometimes mediation by a neutral individual can lead to an amicable settlement of a dispute.
syn: congenial, neighborly, cordial
ant: favorably disposed, eager, keen
Averse
(adj) having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling
You are not likely to become a marathon runner if you are averse to strenuous exercise.
syn: disinclined, loath
ant: favorably disposed, eager, keen
Belligerent
(adj) given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive; (n) one at war, one engaged in war
I did not expect such a belligerent answer to my request for directions
syn: (adj) assertive, truculent, pugnacious
ant: (adj) peaceful, conciliatory, placid
Benevolent
(adj) kindly, charitable
The newcomers had nothing, but benevolent feelings toward all their neighbors.
syn: benign, well-meaning
ant: malicious, spiteful, malevolent
Cursory
(adj) hasty, not thorough
The mayor gave a final cursory glance at the text of her speech before mounting the podium
syn: quick, superficial, perfunctory
ant: thorough, painstaking, careful
Duplicity
(n) treachery, deceitfulness
We found it difficult to believe that our good friend could be capable of such duplicity.
syn: fraud, double-dealing, chicanery
Extol
(v) to praise extravagantly
Many inspiring stories and plays have been written that extol the heroic deeds of Joan of Arc.
syn: glorify, applaud, acclaim, hail
ant: criticize, belittle, disparage
Feasible
(adj) possible, able to be done
Our city needs to develop a feasible plan of action for dealing with storms and other emergencies.
syn: workable, practicable, viable
ant: unworkable, unpractical
Grimace
(n) a wry face, facial distortion; (v) to make a wry face
Most people grimace at the mere sound of the dentist's drill.
syn: (n) pained expression, facial contortion
ant: (n) smile, grin; (v) beam
Holocaust
(n) a large-scale destruction, especially by fire; a vast slaughter; a burnt offering
Journalists at the time were eager to interview survivors of the Chicago holocaust.
syn: conflagration, devastation, annihilation
ant: deluge, inundation
Impervious
(adj) not affected or hurt by; admitting of no passage or entrance
It is best to store flour in a container with a plastic cover that is impervious to moisture.
syn: impenetrable, resistant, proof against
ant: porous, permeable, vulnerable
Impetus
(n) a moving force, impulse, stimulus
The coming of winter gave a new impetus to the appeals for food and clothing for needy families.
syn: impulse, incentive, spur
ant: curb, hindrance, impediment, constraint
Jeopardy
(n) danger
Experienced mountaineers know that a single mistake can put an entire expedition in serious jeopardy.
syn: risk, hazard, peril
ant: safety, security
Meticulous
(adj) extremely careful; particular about details
If you have a full-time job outside the home, you may find it exceedingly difficult to be a meticulous housekeeper.
syn: fastidious, painstaking, fussy
ant: careless, negligent, sloppy
Nostalgia
(n) a longing for something past; homesickness
Looking at old scrapbooks and reading old letters can bring on a vague sense of nostalgia for days gone by and friends no longer near.
Quintessence
(n) the purest essence or form of something; the most typical example
Risking one's life to save the lives of others is considered the quintessence of selfless valor.
syn: paragon, exemplar
Retrogress
(v) to move backward; to return to an earlier condition
In the novel, the survivors of a nuclear explosion retrogress into a state of barbarism and anarchy.
syn: revert, degenerate, decline
ant: advance, evolve, progress
Scrutinize
(v) to examine closely
Lawyers are paid to scrutinize legal papers and explain the fine print to their clients.
syn: inspect, pore over
ant: skim, scan, glance at
Tepid
(adj) lukewarm; unenthusiastic, marked by an absence of interest
A cup of tepid tea will not warm you up on a chilly morning.
syn: insipid, halfhearted, wishy-washy
ant: heated, excited, enthusiastic