Group 12

acrimonious

adjective:

• bitter and sharp in language or tone

Their divorce was acrimonious, with both parties hurling insults.

Synonyms:

• caustic

• scathing

• astringent

belligerent

adjective:

• argumentative, threatening, or aggressive

His belligerent attitude made it hard to have a calm conversation.

Synonyms:

• pugnacious

• bellicose

• truculent

beneficent

adjective:

• kind and charitable, producing good results or benefits

The beneficent organization provided meals to the homeless.

Synonyms:

• altruistic

• humanitarian

• benevolent

canny

adjective:

• shrewd and cautious

Her canny investments made her a millionaire.

Synonyms:

• astute

• discerning

• acute

cavalier

adjective:

• exhibiting an overly casual attitude; unconcerned

His cavalier dismissal of the issue upset many.

Synonyms:

• offhand

• insouciant

• dismissive

distressed

adjective:

• experiencing nervousness, irritation, or sadness

The distressed child sought comfort from his mother.

Synonyms:

• tormented

• perturbed

• afflicted

dwindling

adjective:

• decreasing steadily in size or quantity

The dwindling supplies made survival even more challenging.

Synonyms:

• diminishing

• shrinking

• contracting

eclipse

verb:

• overshadow or surpass

The success of her latest book eclipsed all her previous works.

Synonyms:

• outshine

• outstrip

• upstage

encyclopedic

adjective:

• thorough; comprehensive in scope

His encyclopedic knowledge of history impressed everyone.

Synonyms:

• exhaustive

• wide-ranging

• all-inclusive

exacerbate

verb:

• make a situation or condition worse

His shouting only served to exacerbate the argument.

Synonyms:

• inflame

• compound

• aggravate

exasperated

adjective:

• severely irritated or angry

She was exasperated by the constant interruptions.

Synonyms:

• infuriated

• enraged

• vexed

fungible

adjective:

• interchangeable for another item of a similar type

Oil and cash are considered fungible commodities.

Synonyms:

• exchangeable

• equivalent

• indistinguishable

hackneyed

adjective:

• lacking creativity; derivative and overused

"Love at first sight" is a hackneyed plot in romance novels.

Synonyms:

• trite

• banal

• pedestrian

incongruous

adjective:

• out of place; lacking harmony

The modern building looked incongruous in the historic district.

Synonyms:

• clashing

• jarring

• discordant

interchangeable

adjective:

• capable of being used in place of each other

The parts are interchangeable between the different models.

Synonyms:

• fungible

• uniform

• homogeneous

laconic

adjective:

• economical with words; quiet and reserved

His laconic reply was simply, "No."

Synonyms:

• terse

• pithy

• taciturn

lucrative

adjective:

• producing a significant amount of money

Selling rare antiques can be a lucrative business.

Synonyms:

• gainful

• remunerative

• fruitful

magisterial

adjective:

• possessing great authority

The judge spoke in a magisterial tone.

Synonyms:

• masterful

• authoritative

• lordly

---

adjective:

• exercising authority in an excessive manner

His magisterial tone left no room for debate.

Synonyms:

• domineering

• dictatorial

• overbearing

onerous

adjective:

• involving a heavy burden; challenging or difficult

The onerous task of cleaning the entire house was left to her.

Synonyms:

• formidable

• taxing

• Herculean

opprobrium

noun:

• severe criticism or public shame

He faced opprobrium for his unethical actions.

Synonyms:

• vilification

• vituperation

• obloquy

parsimonious

adjective:

• extremely frugal or stingy

His parsimonious habits meant he rarely treated others.

Synonyms:

• miserly

• stinting

• penurious

peripheral

adjective:

• of marginal importance; minor

The issue was only of peripheral importance to the main discussion.

Synonyms:

• subsidiary

• tangential

• trivial

provocative

adjective:

• causing outrage or irritation, often intentionally

His provocative statements stirred up controversy.

Synonyms:

• goading

• affronting

• galling

renounce

verb:

• reject or give up

She decided to renounce her citizenship.

Synonyms:

• forswear

• abjure

• disavow

tempestuous

adjective:

• (of emotions or actions) unrestrained and turbulent

Their relationship was tempestuous, with frequent arguments.

Synonyms:

• heated

• hysterical

• feverish

---

adjective:

• (of weather) extremely stormy

Only one boat captain was crazy enough to enter the tempestuous waters.

Synonyms:

• blustery

• gusty

• squally

tenable

adjective:

• (of an idea or method) justifiable and rational

His argument was hardly tenable in the face of clear evidence.

Synonyms:

• sound

• plausible

• sustainable

transgression

noun:

• a violation of a law, rule, or social norm

For his transgressions, he was sentenced to community service.

Synonyms:

• peccadillo

• misdemeanor

• indiscretion

urbane

adjective:

• refined, sophisticated, and courteous

He was urbane in manner, making everyone feel comfortable.

Synonyms:

• suave

• debonair

• cultivated

verisimilitude

noun:

• appearance or semblance of truth or reality; believability.

The film had an impressive verisimilitude due to its attention to detail.

Synonyms:

• authenticity

• credibility

• lifelikeness

vitiate

verb:

• impair or corrupt the quality of something

Excessive use of clichés will vitiate the effectiveness of a speech.

Synonyms:

• taint

• contaminate

• sully