1. SPUTTER (VERB): falter
Synonyms: stammer, stumble
Antonyms: persist, enunciate
Example Sentence:
And racial divisions may become worse if the economy continues to sputter.
2. EXEC (NOUN): executive
Synonyms: administrator, leader Antonyms: employee, worker
Example Sentence:
“We know that he came here with the intent of finding an exec,” Jordan said in the press conference.
3. PROMULGATE (VERB): make known
Synonyms: declare, notify Antonyms: conceal, repress
Example Sentence:
The federal and state governments, at their core, establish laws and promulgate rules.
4. REEDY (ADJECTIVE): long and lean
Synonyms: leggy, skinny Antonyms: chubby, fat
Example Sentence:
Now in the heat of summer well within its reedy banks, but often spreading itself in flood-time far and wide.
5. BLARNEY (NOUN): flattery
Synonyms: cajolery, overpraise Antonyms: criticize, condemn
Example Sentence:
It took all my Irish blarney to keep us out of court.
6. LIBEL (NOUN): purposeful lie about someone, often malicious
Synonyms: defamation, calumny Antonyms: compliment, praise
Example Sentence:
In several cases, he has been sued for libel by those he has accused of misdeeds.
7. SMIRK (NOUN): sly smile
Synonyms: grin, sneer Antonyms: grimace
Example Sentence:
We beam when we're cheerful, grin sheepishly when we're guilty, smirk when we're proud.
8. SLACK (ADJECTIVE): loose, baggy; inactive
Synonyms: feeble, sluggish Antonyms: lively, active
Example Sentence:
These pants are a little loose, however there is a handy drawstring to take up the slack.
9. RENEGADE (NOUN): rebellious
Synonyms: reactionary, radical Antonyms: passive, submissive
Example Sentence:
The Russian president mocked American and European claims that he was conducting some sort of renegade power play in Crimea.
10. DISAVOWAL (NOUN): dismissal, refusal of belief in
Synonyms: declination, disapproval Antonyms: allowance, approval
Example Sentence:
It could be having to foot his own legal costs—or the sting of a disavowal that dates back to high school.
