(adj.) severe or stern

syn. forbidding, rigorous, puritanical, ascetic, unadorned, subdued

ant. mild, indulgent, luxurious, flamboyant

I found that beneath his rather austere manner and appearance there was a warm, sympathetic person.

(adj.) performing acts of kindness or charity

syn. humanitarian, magnanimous, charitable

ant. selfish, cruel, harmful, deleterious

His work on behalf of the homeless was merely the latest in a long line of beneficent undertakings.

(adj.) pale, gaunt, resembling corpse

syn. corpselike, wasted, haggard, emaciated, ghastly

ant. robust, portly, rosy, picture of health

Who could ever forget those pictures showing the cadaverous faces of the people who had been in concentration camps!

(v.) to prepare by combining ingredients, make up (as a dish)

syn. create, fashion, rustle up

Before they arrived home from the party, they concocted an elaborate story that they hoped would excuse their being two hours late.

(adj.) coarse, unfeeling, stupid

syn. cruse, vulgar, tasteless, oafish, obtuse

ant. refined, elegant, tasteful, polished, brilliant

It is hard to forgive the crass selfishness with which they took most of the food supplies for their own use.

(v.) to lower in character, quality, value, to degrade

syn. cheapen, corrupt, demean, depreciate

ant. elevate, uplift, improve, enhance

She has debased her considerable talents by writing books that are designed to appeal to the lowest tastes.

(v.) to commit sacrilege upon, treat irreverently, to contaminate, to pollute

syn: profane, defile, violate

ant. revere, honor, venerate, consecrate

They desecrated the funeral service by talking loudly during the ceremonies, laughing, and showing little respect.

(v.) to confuse; to disturb the composure of

syn. upset, rattle, ruffle, faze, pertub

ant. relax, calm, put at ease

He went right on with his speech, refusing to be disconcerted by the heckling of a few loudmouths.

(adj.) grand in an impressive or stately way, absurdly exaggerated

syn. majeestic, bombastic, highfalutin

ant. simple, modest, unaffected, humble

At a time when we need a modest, low cost housing program, how can we be expected to accept such a grandiose scheme?

(adj.) trifling, unimportant

syn. trivial, negligible, petty, paltry

ant. important, essential, crucial, vital

An official who is responsible for shaping vital national policies should not waste time for such inconsequential matters. 

(n.) a breaking of a law or obligation

syn. violation, transgression, breach, offense

Even a so called minor infraction of the traffic laws may lead to a serious accident.

(v.) to make milder or soften

syn. lessen, relieve, alleviate, diminish

ant. aggravate, intensify, irritate, exacerbate

Fond remembrances of happy days of family life intensified rather than mitigated her grief.

(v.) to rob of goods by open force; (n.) the act of robbing, booty

syn: (v.) ravage, sack, look; (n.) booty

We are long past the time when it was considered natural for newly elected officials to pillage city treasure.

(v.) to talk a great deal in a foolish or aimless fashion

syn. chatter, prattle, blab, palaver

ant. come to the point, not waste words

I became desperately tired of listening to him prate about how important he was, how much money he made, etc.

(adj.) very careful and exact, attentive to fine points

syn. precise, scrupulous, fussy, finicky

ant. careless, negligent, lax, perfunctory

Whenever she serves as a chairperson, she is so punctilious that she insists on observing every fine point of parliamentary procedure

(adj.) inspiring fear or awe, illustrious, eminent

syn. formidable, fearsome, awesome, august

ant. laughable, risible, contemptible

Though most of our players were the equals of theirs, the awesome size of their redoubtable center filled us with apprehension. 

(v.) to find fault with, scold, rebuke

syn. chide, chastise, upbraid, reproach

ant. praise, commend, laud

I'm telling you this not to reprove you for having made the mistake, but to prevent the mistake from being repeated.

(n.) the act of restoring something to its rightful owner

syn. compensation, reimbursement, redress, restoration

Is there any way that we can make restitution for the terrible wrong we have done them?

(adj.) strong and strudy, brade (n.) a brave, strong person

syn. (adj) study, stout, intrepid; (n.) mainstay

ant. (adj) weak, infirm, irresolute

Though she looked rather frail, her stalwart spirit made her a tireless crusader for women's rights.

(adj.) open to attack, capable of being wounded

syn. defenseless, exposed, ungarded

ant. invincible, protected, safe, secure

Our democracy is more vulnerable to decay from within than it is to attack from outside.