ameliorate
(v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming
ameliorate
SYN
amend, better
ameliorate
ANT
worsen, aggravate, exacerbate
aplomb
(n.) poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity
aplomb
SYN
composure, self-possession, levelheadedness
aplomb
ANT
confusion, embarrassment, abashment
bombastic
(adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas
bombastic
SYN
inflated, highfalutin, pretentious
bombastic
ANT
unadorned, simple, plain, austere
callow
(adj.) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers
callow
SYN
green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced
callow
ANT
mature, grown-up, polished, sophisticated
drivel
(n.) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or noise; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense;
drivel
(v.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly
drivel
SYN
(n.) balderdash, tommyrot
drivel
ANT
(v.) slaver
epitome
(n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality
epitome
SYN
abstract, digest, archetype
exhort
(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly
exhort
SYN
entreat, implore, adjure
exhort
ANT
discourage, advise against, deprecate
ex officio
(adj., adv.) by virtue of holding a certain office
infringe
(v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds
infringe
SYN
encroach, impinge, intrude
infringe
ANT
stay in bounds, comply
ingratiate
(v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense)
ingratiate
SYN
cozy up to, curry favor with
ingratiate
ANT
humiliate oneself
interloper
(n.) one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder
interloper
SYN
trespasser, meddler, buttinsky
intrinsic
(adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part
intrinsic
SYN
immanent, organic
intrinsic
ANT
extrinsic, external, outward
inveigh
(v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval
inveigh
SYN
harangue, remonstrate
inveigh
ANT
acclaim, glorify, extol
lassitude
(n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy
lassitude
SYN
fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor
lassitude
ANT
energy, vitality, animation, liveliness
millennium (pl, millennia)
(n.) a period of one-thousand years; a period of great joy
millennium (pl, millennia)
SYN
chiliad, golden age
millennium (pl, millennia)
ANT
doomsday
occult
(adj.) secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; mysterious, magical, uncanny;
occult
(v.) to hide, cover up; eclipse
occult
(n.) matters involving the supernatural
occult
SYN
(adj.) esoteric, abstruse, arcane
occult
ANT
(adj.) mundane, common, public, exoteric
permeate
(v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak through
precipitate
(v.) to fall as moisture; to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to;
precipitate
(adj.) characterized by excessive haste;
precipitate
(n.) moisture; the product of an action or process
precipitate
SYN
(v.) provoke, produce;
precipitate
SYN
(adj.) reckless, impetuous
precipitate
ANT
(adj.) wary, circumspect
stringent
(adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste
stringent
SYN
stern, rigorous, tough, urgent
stringent
ANT
lenient, mild, lax, permissive
surmise
(v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess;
surmise
(n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof
surmise
SYN
(v.) infer, gather;
surmise
SYN
(n.) inference, presumption