1. SKULLDUGGERY (NOUN): tricky behavior
Synonyms: chicanery, crafty Antonyms: probity, modest
Example Sentence:
There was a whiff of skullduggery surrounding the real-estate deal, since the building managed to pass inspection even though everyone knew it wasn't up to code.
2. TEMERITY (NOUN): nerve, audacity
Synonyms: assurance, boldness Antonyms: politeness, caution
Example Sentence:
The line between boldness and temerity is sometimes only evident after the consequences have become clear.
3. RAMBUNCTIOUS (ADJECTIVE): loud, energetic
Synonyms: boisterous, noisy Antonyms: calm, quiet
Example Sentence:
When Kelly gets a bit too rambunctious, her parents sit her down for a time-out.
4. PARSE (VERB): break down to components
Synonyms: determine, resolve Antonyms: waver, combine
Example Sentence:
The lawyer meticulously parsed the wording of the final contract to be sure that her client would get all that he was asking for.
5. INGENUOUS (ADJECTIVE): honest, trustful
Synonyms: candid, frank Antonyms: deceitful, sly
Example Sentence:
The salesman had perfected the art of winning over potential buyers by playing the part of a folksy, ingenuous bumpkin who is just looking out for his customers.
6. WAD (NOUN): ball of something
Synonyms: bundle, chunk Antonyms: opening, poverty
Example Sentence:
By the time the first stimulus package has spent its wad, we can hope the economy will be on the uptick.
7. COZEN (VERB): deceive
Synonyms: beguile, cheat Antonyms: be honest, give
Example Sentence:
The young man used his charm to cozen elderly victims into pouring their savings into his investment scheme.
8. LOCH (NOUN): shoreline indentation
Synonyms: basin, estuary
Example Sentence:
Before he started singing, he was the guitarist for the band loch Ness.
9. VIRTUOSO (NOUN): person who is an expert
Synonyms: prodigy, adept Antonyms: amateur, ignoramus
Example Sentence:
Peggy, a virtuoso on the piano, performed her first recital when she was only six years old.
10. EPIGRAM (NOUN): witticism
Synonyms: joke, quirk Antonyms: seriousness
Example Sentence:
On the wall of his studio, Jonathan kept a framed print of his favorite epigram from Benjamin Franklin: "Little strokes fell great oaks.
