1. LUGUBRIOUS (ADJECTIVE): sad or mournful
Synonyms: gloomy, pensive Antonyms: cheerful, joyful
Example Sentence:
He’s been walking around with that lugubrious expression ever since his girlfriend left.
2. POLLYANNA (NOUN): optimist
Synonyms: positive thinker, idealist Antonyms: pessimist
Example Sentence:
She is too much of a Pollyanna to really help me find my way out of this mess.
3. GRIZZLE (VERB): make or become extremely pale
Synonyms: etiolate, bleach Antonyms: brighten, darken
Example Sentence:
Time grizzled his beard.
4. WHORL (NOUN): spiral
Synonyms: coil, curl Antonyms: straight
Example Sentence:
The leaves are borne in whorls, those of each whorl cohering, except at their extreme tips, to form a sheath.
5. ORIENT (VERB): familiarize
Synonyms: adapt, conform Antonyms: unfit, disorder
Example Sentence:
This program will orient the new students to college life.
6. PIECEMEAL (ADJECTIVE): bit by bit
Synonyms: gradual, at intervals Antonyms: complete, entire
Example Sentence:
The government promised reform but we have seen only piecemeal progress.
7. SHAKEDOWN (NOUN): extortion
Synonyms: blackmail, squeeze Antonyms: modest
Example Sentence:
Immigrants were subjected to harassment and shakedowns and restrictive new laws.
8. IRREPRESSIBLE (ADJECTIVE): effervescent, vivacious
Synonyms: ebullient, rebellious Antonyms: depressed, hopeless
Example Sentence:
She was a lively and irrepressible child.
9. RHAPSODY (NOUN): written or musical creation
Synonyms: drama, melody Antonyms: silence
Example Sentence:
Do we have to listen to another rhapsody of his on the subject of baseball?
10. CAUCUS (NOUN): group gathered to make decision
Synonyms: session, meeting
Example Sentence:
The candidate chosen at the caucus was the one that everyone expected.
