Term
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Definition
n. wasting away.
Polio victims need physiotherapy to prevent the atrophy of affected limbs.
Synonyms: decadence, declension, declination, degeneration
Antonym: none |
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Term
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Definition
v. increase.
How can we hope to augment our forces when our allies are deserting us?
Synonyms: build, compound, enlarge, expand, extend, heighten, multiply
Antonyms: none |
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Term
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Definition
n. sternness; severity; lack of luxuries.
The austerity and dignity of the court were maintained by the new justices, who were a strict and solemn group.
Synonyms: ascetic, astringent, mortified, sternness
Antonyms: none |
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Term
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Definition
adj. hackneyed; commonplace; trite.
His frequent use of clichés made his essay seem banal.
Synonyms: bland, flat, milk-and-water, namby-pamby, sapless, vapid, waterish, watery, wishy-washy
Antonyms: original |
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Term
benevolent
(bee-NEHV-oh-lent) |
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Definition
adj. generous; charitable.
His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him.
Synonyms: big, chivalrous, considerate, greathearted, lofty, magnanimous, altruistic, good, humane
Antonyms: malevolent |
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Term
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Definition
adj. kindly; favorable; not malignant.
The old man was well liked because of his benign attitude toward friend and stranger alike.
Synonyms: benignant, good-hearted, kindly, auspicious, bright, dexter, fortunate, white, propitious
Antonyms: malign |
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Term
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Definition
v. leave to someone by a will; hand down.
Though Maud had intended to bequeath the family home to her nephew, she died before changing her will.
Synonyms: leave, devise, legate, hand on, pass (on), transmit
Antonyms: none |
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Term
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Definition
n. cursing, irreverence; sacrilege.
Because they had thought she was a devout believer, they were shocked to hear her utter words of blasphemy.
Synonyms: cursing, cussing, execration, imprecation, profanity, swearing, desecration, sacrilege, violation
Antonym: adoration |
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Term
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Definition
n. conciseness.
Brevity is essential when you send a telegram or cablegram; you are charged for every word.
Synonyms: briefness, shortness, compendious, curt, laconic, summary, succinct, terse
Antonyms: none |
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Term
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Definition
v. coax; wheedle.
I will not be cajoled into granting you your wish.
Synonyms: banter, blandish, blarney, con, sweet-talk, wheedle
Antonyms: none |
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Term
capricious
(kuh-PREESH-US) |
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Definition
adj. fickle, incalculable.
The storm was capricious and changed course constantly.
Synonyms: changeable, fickle, lubricious, mercurial, temperamental, ticklish, unstable, variable, volatile
Antonyms: steadfast |
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Term
censorious
(sehn-SOHR-ee-us) |
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Definition
adj. critical.
Censorious people delight in casting blame.
Synonyms: captious, carping, caviling, cavillous, critic, faultfinding, hypercritical, overcritical
Antonyms: eulogistic |
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Term
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Definition
v. blame; criticize.
He was censured for his inappropriate behavior.
Synonyms: blame, condemn, denounce, denunciate, knock, rap, reprehend, reprobate, skin
Antonym: commend |
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Term
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Definition
n. disposition to be lenient; mildness, as of the weather.
The lawyer was pleased when the case was sent to Judge Smith's chambers because Smith was noted for her clemency toward first offenders
Synonyms: caritas, charity, grace, lenity, indulgence, lenience, leniency, mercifulness, tolerance, toleration
Antonym: harshness |
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Term
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Definition
n. use of force to get someone's compliance.
They forced him to obey, but only by using great coercion.
Synonyms: compulsion, constraint, duress, violence
Antonym: none |
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Term
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Definition
n. conformity in fulfilling requirements; readiness to yield.
The design for the new school had to be in compliance with the local building code.
Synonyms: conformity, resignation,
Antonym: frowardness |
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Term
conciliatory
(kon-SIL-ee-ah-toh-ree) |
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Definition
adj. reconciling; soothing.
She was still angry despite his conciliatory words.
Synonyms: appeasing, assuage, mollify, placate, propitiate, sweeten
Antonym: antagonizing |
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Term
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Definition
adj. brief and compact.
When you define a new word, be concise; the shorter the definition, the easier it is to remember.
Synonyms: breviloquent, brief, compendiary, compendious, curt, laconic, short, short and sweet, succinct, summary, terse
Antonyms: redundant, verbose |
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