Affable

1. Affable adj. courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to Synonyms: genial, amicable, agreeable, cordial Antonyms: surly, cantankerous, dour, inhospitable I was relieved to find that my new roommate was quite affable.

2. Amorphous adj. shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization • Everyone can remember watching the amorphous body of the amoeba under the microscope. Synonyms: formless, unstructured, nebulous, inchoate Antonyms: definite, well-defined, clear-cut In science class, I made an amorphous glob of liquid that would turn into a solid if you applied pressure.

3. archetype • (n) an original model on which something was patterned or replicated; the ideal example • Synonyms: model, prototype, epitome To many people, James Dean was the archetype for the “bad boy” we see in movies. Achilles is the archetype of the epic hero.

4. Contraband n. illegal traffic, smuggled goods; adj. illegal, prohibited Synonyms: illicit, bootleg, unlawful Antonyms: legal, lawful, licit Tom Buchanan accused Jay Gatsby of selling contraband through a chain of drug stores

5. Gossamer adj. thin, light, delicate, insubstantial n. A very thin, light cloth Synonyms: filmy, diaphanous, sheer, airy, feathery, gauzy Antonyms: thick, dense, solid, massive Flowers and lace tend to be extremely gossamer.

6. Irrevocable (adj.) incapable of being changed or called back Synonyms: irreversible, unrecallable, unalterable Antonyms: reversible, changeable In most cases, getting a tattoo is irrevocable, so be sure to think it through before getting one. The official’s call was irrevocable.

7. Propensity (n.) a natural inclination or predilection toward Synonyms: natural bent, proclivity, penchant Antonyms: natural incapacity or inability My brother, who has a propensityfor aimlessly driving around, refused to stop and ask for directions.

8. Resilient Synonyms: springy, elastic, buoyant, bouncy Antonyms: rigid, stiff, inflexible, unyielding. (Adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly After the biking accident, resilientEmily was able to compete in the race after just two weeks of recovery.

9. Reverberate (V.) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly The choirs’ singing reverberated off of the walls of the enormous church. Synonyms: rumble, thunder, boom, echo

10. Sleazy (Adj.) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable. Synonyms: inferior, cheesy, tawdry, tatty Antonyms: superior, first-rate, quality, sturdy Thesleazynews reporter was so desperate that he took a random picture and started making up a story without the facts.

11. amnesty • (n.) a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution. The mission of Amnesty International is to prevent abuses of human rights. A judge can give a criminal amnesty if he feels he deserves it.

12. autonomy • (n.) self-government, political control • Synonyms: home rule • Antonyms: dependence, subjection, colonial status • Even after the thirteen colonies gained autonomy from England, many Americans clung to English traditions.

13. caveat • (n.) a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior • Synonyms: admonition, word to the wise A caveat to reading only Sparknotes, is you may not know all the answers on the test. Many advertisements for new drugs end with numerous caveats at the end.

14. equitable • (adj.) fair, just, embodying principles of justice • Synonyms: right, reasonable, evenhanded • Antonyms: unjust, unfair, one-sided, disproportionate • A judge is expected to pronounce equitable solutions for all.

15. extricate • (v.) to free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort • Synonyms: disentangle, extract, disengage • Antonyms: enmesh, entangle, involve • Houdini was known for his ability to extricate himself from all kinds of entanglements.

16. flout • (v.) to mock, treat with contempt • Synonyms: scoff at, sneer at, snicker at, scorn • Antonyms: obey, honor, revere, uphold • A player who flouts his opponent will end up with a penalty.

17. scathing • (adj.) bitterly severe, withering; causing great harm • Synonyms: searing, harsh, ferocious, savage • Antonyms: bland, mild • Actors must learn to live with sometimes scathing reviews.

18. transient • (adj.) lasting only a short time, fleeting; (n.) one who stays only a short time • Synonyms: (adj.) impermanent, ephemeral, evanescent • Antonyms: (adj.) permanent, imperishable, immortal Because athletic prowess is transient, the coach always stresses the importance of a college degree. Our vacation at the beach felt transient; I tried to savor every moment.

19. unwieldy • (adj.) not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity • Synonyms: cumbersome, bulky, clumsy, impractical • Antonyms: manageable, easy to handle • We were amazed that she was able to maneuver the unwieldy backpack.

20. vapid • (adj.) dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force • Synonyms: insipid, lifeless, colorless • Antonyms: zesty, spicy, savory, colorful, lively The vapid look on the face of the students told us that they were in need of a break.