Approba'tion

(n.)

The expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval.

SYNONYMS: Commendation, sanction

ANTONYMS: Disapproval, condemnation, censure

Assuage'

(v.)

To make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench.

SYNONYMS: Mitigate, alleviate, slake, allay

ANTONYMS: Intensify, aggravate, exacerbate

Coali'tion

(n.)

A combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose.

SYNONYMS: Alliance, league, federation, combine

ANTONYMS: Splinter group

De'cadence

(n.)

Decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence

SYNONYMS: Degeneration, corruption

ANTONYMS: Rise, growth, development, maturation

Elic'it

(v.)

To draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person).

SYNONYMS: Call forth, evoke, extract, educe

ANTONYMS: Repress, quash, squelch, stifle

Expos'tulate

(v.)

To attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning.

SYNONYMS: Protest, remonstrate, complain

Hack'neyed

(adj.)

Used so often as to lack freshness or originality.

SYNONYMS: Banal, trite, commonplace, corny

ANTONYMS: New, fresh, novel, original

Hia'tus

(n.)

A gap, opening, brake (in the sense of having an element missing).

SYNONYMS: Pause, lacuna

ANTONYMS:Continuity, continuation

Innuen'do

(n.)

A hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense).

SYNONYMS: Insinuation, intimation

ANTONYMS: Direct statement

Intercede'

(v.)

To plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement

SYNONYMS: Intervene, mediate

Ja'ded

(adj.)

Wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence).

SYNONYMS: Sated, surfeited, cloyed

ANTONYMS: Unspoiled, uncloyed

Lur'id

(adj.)

Causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint.

SYNONYMS: Gruesome, gory, grisly, baleful, ghastly

ANTONYMS: Pleasant, attractive, appealing, wholesome

Meritor'ious

(adj.)

Worthy, deserving recognition and praise

SYNONYMS: Praiseworthy, laudable, commendable

ANTONYMS: Blameworthy, reprehensible, discreditable

Pet'ulant

(adj.)

Peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset

SYNONYMS: Irritable, testy, waspish

ANTONYMS: Even-tempered, placid, serene, amiable

Prerog'ative

(n.)

A special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence.

SYNONYMS: Perquisite, perk

Provin'cial

(adj.,n.)

(adj)-Pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the country side; (n)- A person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outlying area; a soldier from a province or colony.

SYNONYMS: (adj.) Narrow-minded, parochial, insular, naive

ANTONYMS: (adj.) Cosmopolitan, catholic, broad-minded

Sim'ulate

(v.)

To make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of.

SYNONYMS: Feign, pretend, affect

Transcend'

(v.)

To rise above or beyond, exceed.

SYNONYMS: Surpass, outstrip

Um'brage

(n.)

Shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspicion.

SYNONYMS: Irritation, pique, annoyance

ANTONYMS: Pleasure, delight, satisfaction

Unc'tuous

(adj.)

Excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnest, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily; pliable

SYNONYMS: Mealymouthed, servile, fawning, greasy

ANTONYMS: Gruff, blunt