Wednesday Words #3

Curmudgeon definition

(n.) a bad-tempered person

Curmudgeon synonym

crab/grouch

Curmudgeon antonym

angel

Curmudgeon sentence

The complaining man who works in the next cubicle is nothing but a tired curmudgeon.

Sojourn definition

(n.) a temporary stay

Sojourn synonym

journey

Sojourn antonym

relocation

Sojourn sentence

A visit to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre made my sojourn to England complete.

Gregarious definition

(adj.) fond of company

Gregarious synonym

outgoing/social

Gregarious antonym

shy/antisocial

Gregarious sentence

My gregarious neighbours are the most popular couple on the block.

Augment definition

(v.) to increase

Augment synonym

add/enlarge

Augment antonym

reduce/mitigate

Augment sentence

The professor augments his salary by moonlighting as a book editor.

Insidious definition

(adj.) advancing in a gradual way to cause harm

Insidious synonym

treacherous/crafty

Insidious antonym

benign/harmless

Insidious sentence

Bed bugs are insidious little creatures; you don't know they're there until it's too late.

Engender definition

(v.) to cause or give rise to

Engender synonym

create/produce

Engender antonym

destroy/ruin

Engender sentence

Hoping to engender confidence in the economy, the Senate approved the tax cut.

Covert definition

(adj.) not openly displayed

Covert synonym

secret/hidden

Covert antonym

overt/open

Covert sentence

The FBI agent was sent on a covert operation.

Renown definition

(n.) the state of being known and celebrated by many

Renown synonym

honour/glory

Renown antonym

disgrace/ridicule

Renown sentence

Many writers in great renown fill the shelves of the school's library

Tangent definition

(n.) a completely different line of thought

Tangent synonym

non-sequiter/digression

Tangent antonym

point

Tangent sentence

My French teacher is well-known for going off on tangents during class.

Solace definition

(n.) comfort in a time of stress or sadness

Solace synonym

succour/aid

Solace antonym

agitation/stressor

Solace sentence

When times are tough, many people seek solace in the company of others.

Kismet definition

(n.) destiny

Kismet synonym

fate/serendipity

Kismet antonym

coincidence

Kismet sentence

When the pretty girl he'd noticed on the bus sat next to him in economics class, the smitten boy knew it was kismet.

Exonerate definition

(v.) to remove blame or guilt for a wrongdoing

Exonerate synonym

clear/erase

Exonerate antonym

condemn/convict

Exonerate sentence -After DNA evidence was used to show that the suspect was never at the crime scene, he was exonerated and released from prison.

Altruism definition

(n.) a selfless act

Altruism synonym

philanthropy

Altruism antonym

greed

Altruism sentence

In an act of pure altruism, an anonymous donor paid the college expenses of the entire senior class.

Galvanize definition

(v.) shock or excite, typically into taking action

Galvanize synonym

jolt/inspire

Galvanize antonym

depress/deter

Galvanize sentence

The candidate's speech galvanized the young voters to work to change the unjust law

Futile definition

(adj.) incapable of producing any result

Futile synonym

useless

Futile antonym

effective/useful

Futile sentence -With a 17% in the class, any efforts to pass the final exam would be futile.

Zenith definition

(n.) the top of a trajectory, the highest point

Zenith synonym

peak/apex

Zenith antonym

bottom/low

Zenith sentence

The missile reached its zenith and then fell on its target

Visceral definition

(adj.) from the gut

Visceral synonym

animalistic/emotional

Visceral antonym

logical

Visceral sentence -The voters' visceral fear of change led to the election of the status quo candidate.

Incendiary definition

(adj.) designed to start fires or conflict

Incendiary synonym

inflammatory

Incendiary antonym

calming

Incendiary sentence

The girl's incendiary lies required a response.

Impetuous definition

(adj.) acting quickly without thought

Impetuous synonym

impulsive

Impetuous antonym

cautious/rational

Impetuous sentence

The impetuous teen had a long history of shoplifting arrests and traffic violations.

Fetid definition

(adj.) smelling very unpleasant

Fetid synonym

rancid/putrid

Fetid antonym

aromatic/perfumed

Fetid sentence

The smell of Tom's fetid P.E. uniform, which hadn't been washed in a month, was overwhelming.