“A Streetcar Named Desire” Vocabulary English III L1

Neurasthenic (adj., n.)

Having nervous exhaustion or weakness. Original Sentence: Her neurasthenic mood made her seem constantly tired and anxious. Synonym: weary

Stolid (adj.)

Showing little emotion; calm and dependable. Original Sentence: He stayed stolid even after hearing the bad news. Antonym: emotional

Affectation (n.)

Fake behavior meant to impress others. Original Sentence: Her accent seemed like an affectation since she

’d only lived in London for a week. Synonym: pretense

Demureness (n.)

Shy or modest behavior. Original Sentence: Her demureness made her seem polite and proper around adults. Antonym: boldness

Reproving (adj., v.)

Showing disapproval or blame. Original Sentence: The teacher gave a reproving look when he caught them talking. Synonym: scolding

Deluded (adj., v.)

Believing something false or unrealistic. Original Sentence: He was deluded into thinking he could pass without studying. Synonym: misguided

Effeminate (adj., v.)

Having qualities often associated with women, in a man. Original Sentence: Some teased him for his effeminate style, but he didn

’t care. Antonym: masculine

Contrapuntally (adv.)

In contrast or opposition to something else. Original Sentence: The cheerful music played contrapuntally with the dark scene. Synonym: contrastingly

Blithely (adv.)

In a carefree or cheerful way. Original Sentence: She blithely skipped down the hall, unaware of the mess she

’d made. Antonym: seriously

Contemptible (adj.)

Deserving hate or disgust. Original Sentence: Lying to his friends was a contemptible thing to do. Synonym: despicable

Degenerate (n., adj., v.)

Immoral or corrupted; fallen from good morals. Original Sentence: The movie showed how greed can turn people into degenerate versions of themselves. Antonym: moral

Sullen (adj.)

Gloomy or silently angry. Original Sentence: He sat sullen in the corner after losing the argument. Synonym: moody

Repertoire (n.)

A collection of skills or pieces someone can perform. Original Sentence: The singer added a new song to her repertoire. Personal Clue: Like an artist

’s playlist.

Ineffectual (adj.)

Not producing the desired result; weak. Original Sentence: His ineffectual attempt to fix the car just made it worse. Antonym: effective

Uncouth (adj.)

Rude or lacking good manners. Original Sentence: His uncouth behavior embarrassed everyone at the table. Synonym: impolite

Contemptuously (adv.)

In a hateful or scornful way. Original Sentence: She rolled her eyes contemptuously at his bad excuse. Antonym: respectfully

Obscure (adj., v.)

Hard to understand or not clearly seen. Original Sentence: The meaning of the book was obscure to most readers. Synonym: unclear

Recriminations (n.)

Accusations made in return; blaming back and forth. Original Sentence: Their argument ended in a storm of recriminations. Synonym: counter-accusations

Spectral (adj.)

Ghostly or eerie. Original Sentence: A spectral figure appeared in the fog. Synonym: ghostlike

Cultivated (adj., v.)

Educated and refined. Original Sentence: She spoke in a cultivated tone that impressed everyone. Antonym: uncultured

Transitory (adj.)

Temporary or short-lived. Original Sentence: Their happiness was transitory, fading after the summer ended. Synonym: brief

Destitute (adj.)

Extremely poor; without basic needs. Original Sentence: The destitute man asked for spare change on the street. Antonym: wealthy

Lurid (adj.)

Shocking or vivid in a disturbing way. Original Sentence: The newspaper showed lurid pictures of the accident. Synonym: gruesome

Warily (adv.)

Cautiously or carefully. Original Sentence: She moved warily through the dark hallway. Antonym: carelessly

Inert (adj.)

Motionless or lacking energy. Original Sentence: The old dog lay inert on the porch, too tired to move. Synonym: still

Prodigiously (adv.)

Extremely or impressively great in size or degree. Original Sentence: The athlete was prodigiously strong for his age. Synonym: enormously

Elated (adj.)

Very happy or excited. Original Sentence: She was elated after hearing she got the part in the play. Antonym: depressed

Callous (adj., v.)

Showing no emotion or sympathy for others. Original Sentence: His callous attitude made it hard for people to trust him. Synonym: insensitive

Cynical (adj.)

Distrustful or believing people only act for selfish reasons. Original Sentence: She had a cynical view of politicians after watching the news. Antonym: trusting

Colloquy (n.)

A serious or formal conversation. Original Sentence: The teachers held a colloquy about new classroom rules. Synonym: discussion

Reverberated (v.)

Echoed or repeated as a sound. Original Sentence: Her laughter reverberated through the empty hallway.

Reproving (adj., v.)

Showing disapproval or blame. Original Sentence: The teacher gave a reproving look when he caught them talking. Synonym: scolding

Deluded (adj., v.)

Believing something false or unrealistic. Original Sentence: He was deluded into thinking he could pass without studying. Synonym: misguided

Effeminate (adj., v.)

Having qualities often associated with women, in a man. Original Sentence: Some teased him for his effeminate style, but he didn

’t care. Antonym: masculine

Contrapuntally (adv.)

In contrast or opposition to something else. Original Sentence: The cheerful music played contrapuntally with the dark scene. Synonym: contrastingly

Blithely (adv.)

In a carefree or cheerful way. Original Sentence: She blithely skipped down the hall, unaware of the mess she

’d made. Antonym: seriously

Contemptible (adj.)

Deserving hate or disgust. Original Sentence: Lying to his friends was a contemptible thing to do. Synonym: despicable

Degenerate (n., adj., v.)

Immoral or corrupted; fallen from good morals. Original Sentence: The movie showed how greed can turn people into degenerate versions of themselves. Antonym: moral

Sullen (adj.)

Gloomy or silently angry. Original Sentence: He sat sullen in the corner after losing the argument. Synonym: moody

Repertoire (n.)

A collection of skills or pieces someone can perform. Original Sentence: The singer added a new song to her repertoire. Personal Clue: Like an artist

’s playlist.

Ineffectual (adj.)

Not producing the desired result; weak. Original Sentence: His ineffectual attempt to fix the car just made it worse. Antonym: effective

Uncouth (adj.)

Rude or lacking good manners. Original Sentence: His uncouth behavior embarrassed everyone at the table. Synonym: impolite

Contemptuously (adv.)

In a hateful or scornful way. Original Sentence: She rolled her eyes contemptuously at his bad excuse. Antonym: respectfully

Obscure (adj., v.)

Hard to understand or not clearly seen. Original Sentence: The meaning of the book was obscure to most readers. Synonym: unclear

Recriminations (n.)

Accusations made in return; blaming back and forth. Original Sentence: Their argument ended in a storm of recriminations. Synonym: counter-accusations

Spectral (adj.)

Ghostly or eerie. Original Sentence: A spectral figure appeared in the fog. Synonym: ghostlike

Cultivated (adj., v.)

Educated and refined. Original Sentence: She spoke in a cultivated tone that impressed everyone. Antonym: uncultured

Transitory (adj.)

Temporary or short-lived. Original Sentence: Their happiness was transitory, fading after the summer ended. Synonym: brief

Destitute (adj.)

Extremely poor; without basic needs. Original Sentence: The destitute man asked for spare change on the street. Antonym: wealthy

Lurid (adj.)

Shocking or vivid in a disturbing way. Original Sentence: The newspaper showed lurid pictures of the accident. Synonym: gruesome

Warily (adv.)

Cautiously or carefully. Original Sentence: She moved warily through the dark hallway. Antonym: carelessly

Inert (adj.)

Motionless or lacking energy. Original Sentence: The old dog lay inert on the porch, too tired to move. Synonym: still

Prodigiously (adv.)

Extremely or impressively great in size or degree. Original Sentence: The athlete was prodigiously strong for his age. Synonym: enormously

Elated (adj.)

Very happy or excited. Original Sentence: She was elated after hearing she got the part in the play. Antonym: depressed

Callous (adj., v.)

Showing no emotion or sympathy for others. Original Sentence: His callous attitude made it hard for people to trust him. Synonym: insensitive

Cynical (adj.)

Distrustful or believing people only act for selfish reasons. Original Sentence: She had a cynical view of politicians after watching the news. Antonym: trusting

Colloquy (n.)

A serious or formal conversation. Original Sentence: The teachers held a colloquy about new classroom rules. Synonym: discussion

Reverberated (v.)

Echoed or repeated as a sound. Original Sentence: Her laughter reverberated through the empty hallway.