Alliance
Noun
a joining together for some common purpose
Synonym: pact, league, coalition
Antonyms: rift, split
Two nations formed an ________ to defend each other in case of attack.
Bewilder
Verb
to puzzle completely, confuse
Synonyms: perplex, confound
Antonyms: set straight, enlighten
The captain continues to ________ his troops by giving contradictory orders.
Buffoon
Noun
a clown; a coarse, stupid person
Synonyms: jester, dunce
Antonyms:
Some students think that they need to play the _______ in order to entertain their classmates and charm their teachers.
Controversial
Adjective
arousing argument, dispute or disagreement
Synonyms: arguable, at issue
Antonyms:
The school board waited until all members were present before issuing the _____________ proposal to ban after-school programs.
Dishearten
Verb
to discourage
Synonyms: demoralize, dispirit
Antonyms: encourage, hearten
Do not let your low score on the math test __________ you.
Fruitless
Adjective
not producing the desired results, unsuccessful
Synonyms: useless, vain, unproductive
Antonyms: productive, effective
When their efforts to fight the infection with penicillian proved _________, the doctors tried a new antibiotic.
Hostile
Adjective
unfriendly; unfavorable; warlike, aggressive
Synonyms:
Antonyms: friendly, cordial
Relations between the two nations have been _______ for decades.
Inflammable
Adjective
easily set on fire; easily angered or aroused
Synonyms: flammable, excitable
Antonyms: fire-resistant, calm
Always be cautious when using ___________ cleaning solvents.
Inflict
Verb
to give or cause something unpleasant, impose
Synonyms: deal out, visit upon
Antonyms: suffer, undergo, sustain
Despite all the jokes, doctors do not like to _______ pain on their patients.
Malignant
Adjective
deadly, extremely harmful, evil; spiteful, malicious
Synonyms: wicked, malevolent
Antonyms: wholesome, beneficial
Much to the patient's relief, the X-ray revealed no _________ growth.
Mortify
Verb
to hurt someone's feelings deeply; to cause embarrassment or humiliation; to subdue or discipline by self-denial or suffering
Synonyms: embarrass, abash
Antonyms:
The teacher was _______ by the students' childish behavior on the field trip.
Orthodox
Adjective
in agreement with established or generally accepted beliefs or ways of doing things
Synonyms:traditional, standard, customary
Antonyms: unusual, unconventional, heretical
Our principal, who believes in proven teaching methods, takes an ________
Procure
Verb
to obtain through special effort; to bring about
Synonyms: gain, achieve
Antonyms:
The hospital held a raffle to _______ the necessary funds for the new children's wing
Scurry
Verb
to run quickly, scamper, hurry
Synonyms: rush, dash, scramble
Antonyms: trudge, plod, creep, crawl
The reappearance of the teacher caused the students in the class to ______ back to their seats.
Sodden
Adjective
soaked with liquid or moisture; expressionless, dull; spiritless, listless
Synonyms: waterlogged, saturated
Antonyms: parched, arid
All at once, and with much loud honking, the flock of geese rose from the ______ marshlands.
Spirited
Adjective
full of life and vigor; courageous
Synonyms: lively, animated, gallant
Antonyms: lifeless, dull
The royal soldiers put up a ________ defense against the invading army.
Virtual
Adjective
having a certain force or effect in a fact but not in name; so close as to be equivalent to the real thing.
Synonym: functioning as
Antonyms:
To those who worked in the office, the bossy new manager was a _______ dictator.
Void
Adjective
completely empty; having no legal force or effect
Synonyms:invalid, vacant, bare
Antonyms: in effect, teeming with
I thought that poem was completely ____ of sense.
Void
Noun
empty or unfilled space
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Grandmother's death left a great ____ in my grandfather's life.
Void
Verb
to cancel or nullify
Synonyms:
Antonyms: confirm
Do you know how to ____ a check.
Wayward
Adjective
disobedient, willful; unpredictable, capricious
Synonyms: insubordinate; rebellious; perverse
Antonyms: docile, well-behaved, predictable
Tracking the _______ path of a comet is no easy matter.
Wince
Verb
to draw back suddenly, as though in pain or fear
Synonyms: flinch, shudder
Antonyms:
The animal's bite made the child _____ in pain.
Wince
Noun
the act of drawing back in this way
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
The patient's _____ told the doctor to press more gently.