1.  authorize

verb

to approve or permit; to give power or authority to 

 I wonder if congress will someday authorize U.S. citizens to cast official votes over the internet.

syn: order, entitle, empower

ant: forbid, ban, prohibit

2. culprit

noun

a person who has committed a crime or is guilty of some misconduct; an offender

 Thanks to their efficient tracking methods, the police were able to catch the culprit red-handed.

syn: lawbreaker, wrongdoer

3. dawdle

verb

to waste time; to be idle; to spend more time in doing something than is necessary

It's relaxing to dawdle in the shower, but it wastes water.

syn: delay, loiter, dillydally

ant: hurry, hasten, speed up bustle

4. dissect

verb

to cut apart in preparation for scientific study; to analyze with great cure

 I can't wait to dissect a frog in biology class next week. 

syn: examine

ant: sew together, fuse, weld

5. expend

verb

to pay out, spend; to use up

The most experienced long-distance runners learn not to expend their energy too soon.

syn: utilize, consume, disburse

ant: save, hoard

6. fatality

noun

an even resulting in death; an accidental death

The driver slammed on the brakes, but it was too late to prevent the traffic fatality.

syn; casualty, mortality

ant: injury

7. gullible

adjective

easily fooled, tricked, or cheated

Are you gullible enough to believe everything you hear on the radio?

syn: trusting, innocent, naive, credulous

ant: suspicious, skeptical

8. illicit

adjective

not permitted, unlawful, improper

 Students will be suspended for one week if they bring any illicit materials to school. 

syn: illegal, unauthorized, forbidden

ant: legal, lawful, permissible, aboveboard

9. Immerse

verb

to plunge or dip into a fluid; to involve deeply

 I find it's easier to immerse my entire body in a swimming pool than try to get used to the water slowly. 

syn: dunk, engross

ant: dredge up, pull out

10. inflammatory

adjective

causing excitement or anger; leading to violence or disorder

The candidate made an inflammatory speech that incensed all those who heard it.

syn: provoking, incendiary, provocative

ant: calming, soothing, lulling,  quieting

11. memorandum

noun

a note to aid one's memory; an informal note or report

The principal posts a weekly memorandum to remind teachers of programs, deadlines, and special events.

syn: reminder

12. pathetic

adjective

marked by strong emotion, especially pity and sorrow; able to move people emotionally; worthy of pity; woefully inadequate

 It was a pathetic sight to see so many starving people desperately begging for food.

syn: moving, distressing, pitiable, heartrending

ant: funny, hillarious, frightening

13. persevere

verb

to keep doing something in spite of difficulties; to refuse to quit even wehn teh going is tough

The patient needs to persevere with the painful exercises in order to be able to walk normally again.

sent: plug away, pursue, stick to it

ant: give up, despair, throw in the towel, quit

14. prevaricate

verb

to lie, tell an untruth; to mislead on purpose

His reputation has suffered because of his unfortunate tendency to prevaricate.

syn: fib, stretch the truth, equivocate

ant: tell the truth

15. quash

verb

to crush, put down completely

Swift military action was required to quash the revolt before anyone was injured.

syn: suppress

ant: start, kindle, ignite, encourage

16. Relish

noun, verb

enjoyment or satisfaction; something that adds a pleasing flabor. to enjoy greatly

 She opened the tiny box with relish knowing that it contained a piece of jewelry.

Now that I've learned about Japan in class, I relish the chance to travel there.

syn: pleasure, gusto, take delight in

ant: dislike, loathe, hate, despise

17. reminisce

verb

to recall one's past thought, feelings, or experiences

At the family reunion, we got to hear 94-year-old Tia Luzia reminisce about life in old Havana.

syn: remember, recollect

18.scour

verb

to clean or polish by hard rubbing; to examine with great care; to move about quickly in search of

 The pot roast was delicious, but it won't be any fun to scour the burned roasting pan.

syn: scrub, search, comb

ant: dirty, soil

19. tribute

noun

something done or given to show thanks or respect; a payment

 The best-selling author offered tribute too the teacer who inspired her.

syn: praise, honor, hornage, recognition, commendation, glorification, money, tax, levy

ant: blame, criticism, reproach

20. writhe

verb

to make twisting or turning movements in a way that suggests pain or struggle

It's so sad to see an injured bird writhe in pain. 

syn: twish, squirm, thrash