(verb.) to speed up, cause to move faster; to bring about more quickly

synonyms: step down, quicken, hasten

antonyms: slow down, retard, decelerate

The hikers need to accelerate their pace once it became clear that it would soon rain.

(noun) one who looks on or observes, a person present but not taking part.

synonyms: observer, spectator, onlooker

antonyms: active participant

The bystander who had witnessed hte collision have his statement to the police.

(verb) to go through an area in order to procure votes, sales, or opinions; to go over in detail; to discuss

synonyms: poll, survey, solicit

The students volunteered to canvass the neighborhook for our candidate.

(adj) happening by chance or on an irregular basis; showing little concern; informal

synonyms: accidental, haphazard, offhand

antonyms: formal, serious, premeditated, intentional

A casual remark made by the mayor was taken out of context and used against him by the press.

(adj) treated unfairly and cruelly, oppressed

synonyms: mistreated, ground underfoot

antonyms: uplifted, liberated

Most of the immigrants at Ellis Island represented the downtrodden masses yearning to be free.

(verb) to attract, tempt

synonyms: lure, beguile

antonyms: nauseate, sicken, revolt, repel

To entice shoppers into the store, salespersons were giving away coupons for free gifts.

(verb) to wear away gradually, eat away

synonyms: corrode, abrade

antonyms: nurture, promote, encourage

Storms and mud slides edrode the road so that eventually it became impassible

(verb) to thrash about in a clumsy or ineffective way

synomyns: wallow, struggle

After suffering much damage in the storm, the small craft was left to flounder about helplessly.

(adj) lifelike, vivid; relating to the pictorial arts

synonyms: lively, colorful, descriptive

antonyms: dullo, boring, unrealistic, colorless

A witness gave the reporter a graphic account of the destruction caused by the tornado.

(adj) horrible, revolting, ghastly

synonyms: gory , hideous, grisly

antonyms: pleasent, delightful, appealing

The gruesome crime rocked the ordinarily quiet neighborhood.

(adj) sad, gloomy, unhappy; (noun) sadness, gloominess

synonyms: (adj) depressed, dejected; (noun) dejection, depression

antonyms: (adj) merry, happy, cheerful; (noun) joy, elation

It must have been the gloom of the house and the steady rain that made me feel so melancholy

The tune and the lyrics of the song were filled with melancholy

(noun) a difficult or painful experience, a trial

synonyms: test, hardship

antonyms: pleasure, cinch

The climbers were exhausted by the ordeal.

(verb) to make dry and thirsty; to shrivel with heat

synonyms: dry up, dehydrate, desiccate

antonyms: soak, drench, saturate, waterlog

The fields of Oklahoma were parched by drought in the 1930's.

(verb) to continue steadily in a course of action, refuse to stop or be changed; to last remain

synonyms: persevere, keep at it, endure

antonyms: give up, discontinue

Despite stern warnings from their doctor, the brothers persisted in their bad habits.

(adj) of less than normal strength  or size; of no importance

synonyms: undersized, pint-sized, small, weak

antonyms: robust, brawny, mammoth, gigantic

Teh wrestler let out a coarse burst of laughter when his puny opponent entered the ring.

(verb) to evade or belittle a point by twisting words or raising minor objections; (noun) a petty objection

synonyms: (verb) nitpick, split hairs, cavil (noun) squabble

Let's not quibble over details.

The buyer's quibble  notwithstanding

(verb) to approve, give formal approvcal to, confirm

synonyms: endorse, sanction, uphold

antonyms: cancel, repeal, annul, veto

The legislatures of three fourths of the states must ratify an amendment to the U.S. Consititution.

(adj) royal, kinglikel fit for a king

synonyms: majestic, statly, princely, august

antonyms: lowly, humble, abject, serville

Two families pooled their resources to five the bride and groom a truly regal wedding.

(verb) to mother, prevent from breathing; to hold back or choke off

synonyms: stangle, suppress, snuff

antonyms: nurture, promote, encourage

Unable to stifle her anger, the sculptor lashed out at her harshest critic. 

(adj) having life, living; necessary to life, essential; key, crucial

synonyms: indispensable, fundemental

antonyms: nonessential, unnecessary

The treat is of vital importance to the sercurity of our nation.