word

part of speech

definition

s

a

abnormal

adj.

not usual, not typical, strange

s: freakish, unnatural

a: normal, usual, regular, typical

capsize

v.

to turn bottom side up; upset

s: overturn, upend, tip over

a: remain upright

catastrophe

n.

a large scale disaster, misfortune or failure

s: calamity, tragedy, cataclysm

a: triumph, victory, success

decrease

v.

n.

v. to make or become less

n. a lessening

s: (v) lessen, reduce, dwindle, diminish

a: (v) increase, grow, develop, wax

disputations

adj.

inclined to argue or debate; provoking debate

s: argumentative, quarrelsome, contentious

a: nonargumentative, peaceable, pacific

eject

v.

to drive or throw out, evict

s: oust, expel, kick out

a: admit, let in, insert

flourish

v.

n.

v. to grow, thrive, be prosperous; to wave in the air

n. a dramatic gesture; a fanfare of horns

s: prosper, burgeon, increase

a: wither, die, fade, shrivel up

incentive

n.

a reason for doing something; something that stimulates action

s: stimulus, spur, motive, inducement

a: curb, check, restraint, hinderance

insubordinate

adj,

disobedient, rebellious

s: defiant, unruly, mutinous

a: obedient, submissive, docile, tractable

legible

adj.

easily read

s: readable, clear, decipherable

a: unreadable, indecipherable

nub

n.

the central point or heart of a matter; a knob

s: core, kernel. nucleus, crux

a: fringe, periphery, edge

onslaught

n.

a violent attack; a sudden rush of something

s: assault, charge, foray, onset

ordain

v.

to be established by law, to order or command; to appoint as a priest or minister; to destine

s: anoint, consecrate, enact, decree

a: forbid, veto, cancel

outstrip

v.

to get ahead of, do better than, exceed

s: outdo, outperform, outdistance, surpass

a: trail, lag behind

pervade

v.

to spread throughout

s: saturate, permeate, diffuse, imbue

prudent

adj.

cautious, careful, showing good sense

s: wary, sensible, judicious

a: foolish, unwise, rash, reckless

quench

v.

to put out, extinguish, end

s: douse, stifle, slake

a: ignite, kindle

remnant

n.

a small part remaining behind

s: remainder, residue, leftover, fragment

simultaneous

adj.

happening or existing at the same time

s: occuring at the same time, concurrent

a: occuring at different times

swerve

v.

n.

v. to turn aside sharply

n. a sharp or sudden turn

s: (v) veer, digress, sheer off