1. Heckle – To question harshly. Synonyms:  Harass, bother, torment, annoy Antonyms: Support, encourage, promote, applaud Usage: She was forced to leave the village after being heckled by some locals.   2. Disdain – A feeling of contempt or scorn. Synonyms: Despise, sneer, neglect, disparage Antonyms: Respect, sympathy, esteem, regard Usage: The scheme’s worst flaw is it’s disdain for hungry children.  

1. Staid – Serious, organized and professional. Synonyms: sedate, composed, solemn, steady, calm Antonyms: frivolous, funny, capricious, foolish Usage: For usually staid Japan, the last few weeks have been politically rambunctious. been   2. Rambunctious – Energetic, noisy, boisterous and difficult to control. Synonyms: unruly, wild, rough Antonyms: calm, introverted, shy, orderly, quiet Usage: For usually staid Japan, the last few weeks have

1. Audacious – Showing willingness to take bold risks. Synonyms: bold, daring, temeritous, temerarious Antonyms: shy, cautious, prudent Usage: The murders were barbaric, audacious and riveting.   2. Riveting – Commanding the attention of spectators. Synonyms: fascinating, interesting, captivating, enthralling, intriguing Antonyms: boring, tedious, annoying, deadening, irksome, arid, dull Usage: The murders were barbaric, audacious and riveting.   3. Cassandra – A person who

1. Modicum – limited quantity Synonyms:  iota, particle, speck, fragment, scrap, crumb, grain Antonyms: abundance, surplus, barrel, multitude, cascade Usage: Post 2014, the BJP Gujarat state unit regained a modicum of autonomy.   2. Interminable – Existing or occurring without interruption or end. Synonyms: endless, never-ending, unending, everlasting, ceaseless, unceasing, incessant, constant Antonyms: finite, brief, short, concise, bounded, intermittent, circumscribe Usage: This case absorbed

1. Alchemy – a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination. Synonyms: magic, sympathy, attraction, rapport Antonyms: animosity, antipathy, disaffection, antagonism Usage: Finding the person who’s right for you requires a very subtle alchemy.   2. Embody – to stand as a symbol for something Synonyms: incorporate, personify, embrace, integrate, exemplify, manifest Antonyms: exclude, scatter, afford, alienate, misunderstand Usage: The national flag is supposed

1. Languish – lose or lack vitality; grow weak. Synonyms: weaken, deteriorate, decline, wither, droop, flag, wilt, fade Antonyms: thrive, flourish Usage: When the judge sentences the murderer, I hope he gives him a lifetime to languish in prison.   2. Qualm – an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one’s own conduct; a misgiving. Synonyms: disinclination, apprehension, trepidation, disquiet,

1. Egress – an outlet or exit Synonyms: emergence, withdrawal, emerge, departure, egression, exodus Antonyms: entrance, immersion, acceptance, penetration, introduction. Usage: Because of her claustrophobia she cannot be in any space where she does not have a ready egress.   2. Emacity – the compulsive love for and desire to obtain, purchase, or spend money on items Synonyms:  perseverance, doggedness, fortitude, obstinacy, firmness, resolve

1. Repugnant – extremely distasteful; unacceptable. Synonyms: abhorrent, revolting, repulsive, repellent, disgusting, offensive, objectionable Antonyms: attractive, agreeable, pleasant Usage: Because of your repugnant behavior, I no longer want to be friends with you.   2. Rapture – a feeling of intense pleasure or joy. Synonyms:  ecstasy, bliss, euphoria, elation, exaltation, joy, enchantment, delight, exhilaration Antonyms: boredom, indifference, agonize Usage: Her eyes were filled with rapture

1. Invincible – not possible to be defeated or harmed Synonyms: unconquerable, impregnable, unsubdued, unbeatable Antonyms: effeminate, lanquid, crippled, fragile Usage: The horrific nightmare filled the woman with consternation.   2. Infringe – to trespass upon something Synonyms:  violate, encroach, transgress, trespass Antonyms: comply, concur, confirm, observe Usage: Having that much work to do at home will only infringe upon my time with my family.

1. Consternation – a feeling of worry, shock, or fear – often happens when something unexpected happens Synonyms: dismay, perturbation, anxiety, disquiet, discomposure, trepidation Antonyms: satisfaction Usage: The horrific nightmare filled the woman with consternation.   2. Scathing – extremely severe or harsh Synonyms: devastating, withering, blistering, searing, scorching, fierce Antonyms: mild, gentle, complimentary Usage: The scathing criticism did not inspire the student to improve his

1. Conundrum – a confusing and difficult problem or question. Synonyms: enigma, mystery, problem, stumper, cruncher Antonyms: solution, clarification , explanation Usage: Trying to solve this conundrum is really making my head hurt.   2. Provocative – tending to provoke or stimulate Synonyms: annoying, irritating, exasperating, infuriating, maddening Antonyms: soothing, calming Usage: The purpose of the con artist’s provocative speech is to inspire us to give him our

1. Lugubrious – looking or sounding sad and gloomy Synonyms: mournful, doleful, Eeyorish, melancholy, sorrowful, morose Antonyms: cheerful, joyful Usage: In his first novel, the mysterious postman is the perfect example of a lugubrious character.   2. Vagrant – an individual who lacks regular work and moves around frequently Synonyms: transient, roving, floating, unsettled, footloose, itinerant Usage: The vagrant does not appear to work and

1. Straddle – to be on both sides of something; to sit or stand with one leg on each side Synonyms: bestride, mount, span, range, stride, ramble, sprawl Antonyms: side, aspect, incline, brink Usage: In order to climb the fence, she needed to carefully straddle the structure.   2. Peevish – Easily irritated, testy or annoyed Synonyms: Cranky, fractious, grumpy, snappy, waspish