admonish

part of speech: verb

3 syllables

Example:

The librarian had to admonish the noisy students several times before they settled down.

(v.) to caution or advise against something; to scold mildly; to remind of a duty

Synonyms: warn, call on the carpet

Antonyms: praise, pat on the back

breach

part of speech: noun & verb

1 syllable

Example:

Because of a serious breach of the rules, two players were ejected from the game.

Our troops were unable to breach the enemy's lines during the battle. 

(n.) an opening gap, rupture, rift; a violation or infraction; (v.) to create an opening, break through

Synonyms: (none)

Antonyms: (v.) close, seal

brigand

part of speech: noun

2 syllables

Example:

Ancient caravans passing through desolate areas were sometimes attacked by brigand.

(n.) a bandit, robber, outlaw, highwayman

Synonyms: (none)

Antonyms: (none)

circumspect

part of speech: adjective

3 syllables

Example:

It is important for a diplomat to behave in a manner that is both discreet and circumspect.

(adj.) careful, cautious

Synonyms: wary, prudent, guarded

Antonyms: incautious, rash, reckless, heedless

commandeer

part of speech: verb

3 syllables

Example: 

Under certain circumstances the U.S. government has the right to commandeer private property. 

(v.) to seize for military or official use

Synonyms: take over, requisition, expropriate

Antonyms: (none)

cumbersome

part of speech: adjective

3 syllables

Example:

The bus was filled to capacity with holiday shoppers carrying large and cumbersome packages.

(adj.) clumsy, hard to handle; slow-moving

Synonyms: unwieldy, pnderous

Antonyms: manageable, easy to handle

deadlock

part of speech: noun & verb

2 syllables

Example:

After fifteen innings, the score remained a frustrating 3-to-3 deadlock.

The refusal of labor and management to modify their demands deadlocked the contract negotiations.

(n.) a standstill resulting from the opposition of two equal forces or factions; (v.) to bring to sucha standstill

Synonyms:  (n.) standoff, stalemate, impasse

Antonyms: (n.) agreement, accord, breakthrough

debris

part of speech: noun

2 syllables

Example:

After the storm, the beach was littered with driftwood and other debris.

(n.) scattered fragments, wreckage

Synonyms: rubble, detritus, flotsam and jetsam

Antonyms: (none)

diffuse

part of speech: verb & adjective

2 syllables

Example:

The scent of lilacs slowly diffused through the open window.

The speech was so long and diffuse most members of the audience were thoroughly confused by it.

(v.) to spread or scatter freely or widely; (adj.) wordy, long-winded, or unfocused; scattered or widely spread

Synonyms: (v.) disperse; (adj.) rambling, verbose, prolix

Antonyms: (v.) concentrate; (adj.) brief, concise, succinct

dilemma

part of speech: noun

3 syllables

Example:

During the crisis the President found himself caught in a painful dilemma.

(n.) a difficult or preplexing situation or problem

Synonyms: predicament, quandary, pickle, bind

Antonyms: cinch

efface

part of speech: verb

2 syllables

Example:

Time had effaced almost all signs of the struggle that took place on that famous battlefield.

(v.) to wipe out; to keep oneself from being noticed

Synonyms: blot out, erase, obliterate, expunge

Antonyms: (none)

muddle

part of speech: verb & noun

2 syllables

Example:

Too much stress and too little sleep will almost certainly muddle a person's ability to concnetrate.

The muddle was principally caused by their failure to carry out the general's orders.

(v.) to make a mess of; muddle through; to get by; (n.) a hopeless mess

Synonyms: (v.) jumble, mess up; (n.) confusion, disorder

Antonyms: (n.) orderliness, tidiness, neatness

opinionated

part of speech: adjective

5 syllables

Example:

My boss is not too opinionated to listen to a reasonable proposal.

(adj.) stubborn and often unreasonable in holding to one's own ideas, having a closed mind

Synonyms: obstinate, pigheaded, inflexible

Antonyms: open-minded, reasonable

perennial

part of speech: adjective & noun

4 syllables

Example:

Pizza is a perennial favorite of young and old alike in the United States.

A garden of perennial is relatively easy to maintain.

(adj.) lasting for a long time, persistent; (n.) a plant that lives for many years

Synonyms: (adj.) enduring, recurring

Antonyms: (adj.) brief, short-lived, fleeting, ephemeral

predispose

part of speech: verb

3 syllables

Example:

My genetic makeup seems to predispose me to colds and sore throats.

(v.) to incline to beforehand

Synonyms: make suspectible to

Antonyms: immunize against, shield from

relinquish

part of speech: verb

3 syllables

Example:

Severe illnesss forced me to relinquish my role in the school play.

(v.) to let go, give up

Synonyms: surrender, abandon

Antonyms: hold on to, keep, retain, cling to

salvage

part of speech: verb & noun

2 syllables

Example:

Fortunately, we were able to salvage a few thing from the fire.

Salvage from sunken ships can be of great value to archaelogists and historians.

(v.) to save from fire or shipwreck; (n.) property thus saved

Synonyms: (v.) rescue, recover, retrieve, reclaim

Antonyms: (v.) abandon, scrap, junk

spasmodic

part of speech: adjective

3 syllables

Example:

Spasmodic flashes of lightning and booming thunderclaps were accompanied by torrential rain.

(adj.) sudden and violent but brief; fitful; intermittent

Synonyms: irregular, occasional

Antonyms: steady, continuous, chronic

spurious

part of speech: adjective

3 syllables

Example:

Manufacturers who make spurious claims for their products may face fines or lawsuits.

(adj.) not genuine, not true, not valid

Synonyms: false, counterfeit, fraudulent, bogus

Antonyms: genuine, authentic, bona fide, valid

unbridled

part of speech: adjective

3 syllables

Example:

Sometimes the unbridled enthusiasm of sports fans can get a little out of hand.

(adj.) uncontrolled, lacking in restraint

Synonyms: unrestrained, unchecked

Antonyms: restrained, held in check, muted