bilk

to cheat or swindle; to thwart

The lanscapers tried to bilk the homeowner out of money by charging for work that was never authorized.

syn: defraud; con

homily (n)

a sermon

"Sir," I said, "If I may interupt you, I need food and clothing for these people, not a homily on patience."

syn: lecture; speech

demise (n)

death; aceasing to exist

Mary will inherit the estate upon the demise of Uncle Irving.

 syn:  termination; conclusion

emit (v)

to send out; to give forth, as in sound or light

The lamp did not emit enough light for reading.

syn: produce; discharge; release

decadence (n)

moral deterioration

It is often suggested that Rome fell as a result of its own decadence.

syn:  decay; corruption; debauchery

ant:  decency

aghast (adj.)

feeling great dismay or horror

We were aghast when we saw the disrespectful manner in which the teenager treated her parents.

syn:  terrified; horrified; shocked

granary (n)

a storehouse for grain

We lost a year's supply of corn when the granary burned down.

choleric (adj)

 easily angered

He was a choleric man, whose temper often got him into trouble.

syn:  cantankerous

ant:  apathetic; impassive

impede (v)

to hinder, obstruct

The reckless fan's running through the outfield impeded the playoff game.

syn:  delay; retard

ant:  aid; encourage

qualm (n)

a feeling of uneasiness

The boy had no qualms about cheating on the test.

syn:  misgiving

ant:  ease

lampoon (n)

a written satire used to ridicule or attack someone

The lampoon of the athletic program in the school newspaper angered the players and the coach.

syn:  parody; caricature

narcissistic (adj)

conceited; having excessive, self-love or admiration

The narcissistic criminal cared only about his own fate.

syn:  vain; egotistic

ant:  humble; modest

eradicate (v)

to wipe out; to destroy

The pest control specialist eradicated the termites in our house.

syn:  eliminate

ant: add; create

fabricate (v)

to concoct; to make up a story in order to deceive

The scientist's career ended when someone discovered that he had fabricated his experiments.

syn:  forge; fake

ghastly (adj)

horrible; frightful

The ghastly smile on the dead man at the end of the movie showed that he had enjoyed the last laugh.

syn:  dreadful; hideous

ant:  lovely; attractive