1. Scamper – to move quickly with light steps
Synonyms: scoot, skip, sprint, hasten, scurry
Antonyms: dawdle, stroll
Usage: After eating his lunch, the boy couldn’t wait to scamper outside to play.
2. Improvise – create and perform spontaneously or without preparation.
Synonyms: brainstorm, contrive, devise, invent, extemporize
Antonyms: design, devise, plan
Usage: Since I forgot my lines, I tried to improvise the role during the audition.
3. Purport – appear to be or do something
Synonyms: impersonate, pretend, claim, appear
Antonyms: conceal, exterior
Usage: She is not the person she purports to be
4. Mangle – destroy or severely damage by tearing or crushing
Synonyms: mutilate, maim, disfigure, damage, injure, crush, crumple
Antonyms: repair, combine, construct
Usage: His hand was caught in the machine accidently and was totally mangled.
5. Ransack – go through (a place) stealing things and causing damage.
Synonyms: plunder, pillage, sack, strip, denude; ravage, maraud, devastate
Antonyms: clean, raiment
Usage: The thieves continued to ransack the house until they came across the shoebox stuffed with money.
6. Overture – an introduction to something more substantial.
Synonyms: preliminary, prelude, introduction, precursor, forerunner
Antonyms: conclusion, epilogue, withdrawal
Usage: The talks were no more than an overture to a long debate.
7. Concoct – create or devise
Synonyms: fabricate, invent, contrive, manufacture, trump up; devise
Antonyms: demolish, disorganize
Usage: Using only his cellphone, the talented filmmaker was able to concoct a wonderful film that won several awards.
8. Plunder – to take forcefully usually during a time of disorder
Synonyms: quarry, rapine, pillage, trapping
Antonyms: gift
Usage: The thieves were arrested as they attempted to plunder the diamond necklace from the security guard.
9. Abetment – to encourage, support, or countenance by aid or approval, usually in wrongdoing
Synonyms: assistance, encouragement, endorsement, relief, succor
Antonyms: disapproval, discouragement, hindrance
Usage: The accused face charges such as bribery, forgery, criminal breach of trust and abetment to crime.
10. Retract – to take back
Synonyms: disavow, recant, renounce, renege, sheathe
Antonyms: approve, enforce
Usage: She retracted her hand as if she’d been burnt