1. Debunk – expose the falseness or hollowness of (an idea or belief).
Synonyms: demystify, disparage, mock, puncture, deflate, uncloak
Antonyms: flatter, praise, prove, uphold
Usage: The scientist hoped to debunk the genetic theory by completing his own research.
2. Fret – be constantly or visibly anxious.
Synonyms: agonize, bother, brood, chafe, torment, grieve, affront, anguish
Antonyms: appease, placate, ignore, delight
Usage: After she lost the part in the school play, she would sit and fret about her situation.
3. Bewilder – to confuse or puzzle completely; perplex
Synonyms: baffle, befuddle, bemuse, confound, disconcert, distract, fluster
Antonyms: calm, clarify, comfort, enlighten, explicate
Usage: She was bewildered by his sudden change of mood.
4. Succinct – (especially of something written or spoken) briefly and clearly expressed.
Synonyms: pithy, breviloquent, brusque, compact, compendiary
Antonyms: lengthy, long-winded, polite, wordly
Usage: Everyone was happy when the politician made a succinct speech that did not take all evening.
5. Rampage – move through a place in a violent and uncontrollable manner.
Synonyms: binge, destruction, disturbance, frenzy, orgy, spree, turmoil
Antonyms: calm, order, peace, happiness
Usage: Several thousand demonstrators rampaged through the city.
6. Cripple – cause (someone) to become unable to walk or move properly.
Synonyms: debilitate, hamstring, immobilize, incapacitate, injure, paralyze
Antonyms: mend, mobilize, capacitate
Usage: A young student was crippled for life.
7. Cobble – to put together roughly or clumsily.
Synonyms: assemble, complete, construct, fabricate, synthesize
Antonyms: break,,demolish, destroy, separate
Usage: In the end, I did my best to cobble together.
8. Complacent – showing uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements.
Synonyms: confident, satisfied, smug, conceited, egotistic, gratified
Antonyms: unhappy, unsure, concerned, discontent
Usage: Political parties become complacent when they face no opposition.
9. Ominous – giving the worrying impression that something bad is going to happen
Synonyms: menacing, baleful, forbidding, doomy, unpropitious, portentous
Antonyms: promising, auspicious, propitious
Usage: Her ominous tone did not register with him.
10. Faux – made in imitation; artificial.
Synonyms: ersatz, unreal, counterfeit, fabricated, factitious
Antonyms: authentic, genuine, natural
Usage: Their faux concern for the well-being of the voters didn’t fool many.