anathema

n. a ban or curse; the person or thing cursed; any object of intense dislike

The anathemas of his cohorts, who considered him a traitor, still rang in his ears.

synonyms: malediction, denunciation, execration; abomination

antonyms: benediction, eulogy, blessing

      apathy

n. lack of feeling, emotion, or interest

Avoiding all extra-curricular activities, Joe displayed apathy toward everything except video games.

synonyms: lethargy, unconcern, indifference

antonyms: enthusiasm, interest, concern, zeal, eagerness, fervor

apostate

n. one who deserts his party, faith, or principles

The writer was roundly condemned for being an apostate, for he had registered as a Democrat, but had supported the Republicans during the campaign.

synonyms: renegade, convert, deserter, turncoat

antonyms: follower, adherent, disciple

      apt

 adj. likely, inclined, disposed

My little brother is apt to follow me around.

adj.fit, suitable

The speaker answered the question with a few brief but apt remarks.

adj. skillful, expert, quick to understand

He is a good athlete, an apt student, and a talented musician.

synonyms: liable, prone, subject; suited, fitting, pertinent, proper

antonyms: inept, unlikely; unfit, unsuitable, clumsy

     arbitrary

adj. arrived at by the exercise of the will of an individual; not necessarily based on reason or justice

The judge was accused of being arbitrary in meting out punishment, for he often gave out different sentences to two people guilty of similar crimes.

synonyms: autocratic, absolute, dictatorial, despotic, over-bearing, imperious, unjust, unfair, illogical

antonyms: just, fair, equitable, reasonable, concilliatory

     ascetic

n. one who devotes himself to a solitary, rigorously disciplined life, especially for religious reasons, also one who practices extreme self-denial

An ascetic believes that the only way to attain salvation is to renounce worldly things and mortify the flesh.

adj. rigidly self-denying, especially for religious or philosophical reasons

Withdrawing from the world, the priest became ascetic in his daily habits.

synonyms: recluse, hermit; austere, rigid, severe, abstemious, unworldly, reclusive

antonyms: epicurean, hedonist; self-indulgent, sensual, gluttonous, unrestrained

  askance

adv. sideways; from the corner of the eye, hence with distrust or scorn, as in “looking askance”

As the suspect walked into the courtroom, the villagers outside looked askance at him.

synonyms: obliquely, disdainfully, scornfully, distrustfully

antonyms: directly, confidently, trustingly

    askew

adj. out of position, turned to one side

The drawers had been pulled out of the bureaus; the lamps were knocked over, and every picture on the wall was askew.

synonyms: slant, unsymmetrical, awry, distorted, crooked

antonyms: straight, symmetrical

    asperity

n. roughness of sound or surface; severity of manner, temper, or language

The senator apologized for the asperity of his speech in the morning, attributing it to a severe headache.

synonyms: harshness, acerbity, acrimony, tartness, astringency, crabbiness, irritability

antonyms: smoothness, mildness, gentleness, affability, cheerfulness

      assuage

v. to relieve or lessen, as grief or pain; to pacify or calm, as passion; to put an end to by satisfying, as hunger or thirst

The minister did his best to assuage the grief of the parents whose children had been killed in the wreck.

synonyms: alleviate, mitigate, allay, palliate, appease, abate

antonyms: aggravate, increase, magnify, augment, heighten

      assiduous

adj. constant in application or attention

By assiduous study and toil, the immigrant children excelled in their new home.

synonyms: diligent, persevering, attentive, persistent, unremitting, sedulous, industrious, unflagging, hardworking, indefatigable

antonyms: indolent, flagging, languid, slothful, torpid, inactive, inert, idle

    atavism

n. reappearance of a primitive instinct, a remote family trait, or a disease that had remained latent for one or more generations

The article maintained that fox hunting is an example of an atavism made respectable only by the social status of the people who engage in it.

adjective form: atavistic

      augment

v. (trans. to increase in amount or intensity; to enlarge

After the terrorist attack, enlistments made by the thousands augmented the number of men and serving in the armed forces.

synonyms: expand, swell, extend, enhance

antonyms: decrease, lessen, abate

auspicious

adj. of favorable omen or prospect; indicative of future success

The sunny weather seemed an auspicious beginning for our picnic.

synonyms: propitious, promising

antonyms: ominous, inauspicious, unfavorable, unpromising, ill-omened, unlucky, threatening

  austere

adj. rigidly severe in character or judgment

Huck didn’t appreciate how austere Miss Watson was about matters of proper dress or the usage of forks and knifes.

adj. severely simple; often said about fashion or literary style
The Puritans were austere in dress, so they were doubly shocked by Hester’s scarlet A embroidered with gold.

synonyms: stern, strict, rigid, rigorous, harsh, inflexible

antonyms: gentle, mild, affable, tolerant, indulgent

avarice

n. excessive desire for wealth; greed

Avarice led the merchant to devote every waking moment to his business.

synonyms: cupidity, greed, covetousness, parsimony, miserliness, niggardliness

antonyms: generosity, liberality, open-handedness, prodigality, magnanimity 

     averse

adj. unwilling, disinclined

The average schoolboy is as averse to learning as a kitten is to taking a bath.

synonyms: reluctant, loath, indisposed

antonyms: apt, willing, inclined, disposed