Pernicious
Definition: having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
Synonyms: harmful, destructive, damaging
Antonyms: beneficial, favorable, benign
Part of Speech: adjective
Connotation: Negative
Sentence: The pernicious weed has spread all through the flower bed
Example: cigarette
Castigate
Definition: to criticize or rebuke severely, usually with the intention of correcting wrongdoing
Synonyms: reprimand, rebuke, punish
Antonyms: praise, compensate, laud
Part of Speech: verb
Connotation: negative
Sentence: the teacher did not hesitate to castigate the student for his disruptive behavior in class
Example: Judge
Winsome
Definition: generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence
Synonyms: pleasant, charming, engaging
Antonyms: sullen, gloomy, morose
Part of Speech: adjective
Connotation: positive
Sentence: He had a winsome, boyish smile.
Example: a Disney movie
Interlope
Definition: become involved in a place or situation where one is not wanted or is considered not to belong
Synonyms: meddle, intrude, interfere
Antonyms: avoid, disregard, ignore
Part of Speech: verb
Connotation: negative
Sentence: The interloper was not welcomed by the other guests at the party
Example: to suddenly interrupt a conversation you were not a part of
Luminary (2)
Definition: a person widely renowned and respected in his or her area of expertise
Synonyms: inspiration, expert, leader
Antonyms: pleb, nobody, ordinary
Part of Speech: noun
Connotation: positive
Sentence: He is a luminary in the field of neuroscience
Example: Drake in the field of music
Terse
Definition: Using few words when expressing something
Synonyms: pithy, brief, concise
Antonyms: verbose, wordy, prolix
Part of Speech: adjective
Connotation: negative
Sentence: his exchanges with Rob are terse to the point of being hostile
Example: A saying
Frowzy
Definition: scruffy and neglected in appearance
Synonyms: sloppy, unkept, stale
Antonyms: tidy, neat, organized
Part of Speech: adjective
Connotation: negative
Sentence: She woke up with frowzy hair after sleeping on the couch all night
Example: messy room
Lithe
Definition: characterized by easy flexibility and grace
Synonyms: supple, pliable, agile
Antonyms: stiff, rigid, clumsy
Part of Speech: adjective
Connotation: positive
Sentence: The ballerina moved across the stage with a lithe and graceful elegance
Example: athletes, ballerinas
Luminary (1)
Definition: something that emits light
Synonyms: illuminator, light, source of light
Antonyms: dark, shade
Part of Speech: noun
Connotation: positive
Sentence: The great start was a luminary that made the night look beautiful
Example: star, light house
Expunge
Definition: to obliterate, remove, or mark for deletion
Synonyms: erase, eliminate, destroy
Antonyms: preserve, save, create
Part of Speech: verb
Connotation: negative
Sentence: She felt the need to expunge her negative thoughts and focus on positivity
Example: rip out a page from a notebook
Panacea
Definition: a cure-all; something with the ability to cure any illness or remedy any disorder
Synonyms: remedy, cure, nostrum
Antonyms: problem, harm, damage
Part of Speech: noun
Connotation: positive
Sentence: The new drug was touted as a panacea for cancer
Example: medicine, food, music
Moniker
Definition: a name
Synonyms: nickname, epithet, alias
Antonyms: unknown, anonymous, no-identity
Part of Speech: noun
Connotation: positive
Sentence: After having her around for a while, the group of friends gave the new girl a moniker
Example: Lady Gaga's real name is "Stephani"
Corrigendum
Definition: an error to be corrected in a manuscript
Synonyms: error, fallacy, flaw
Antonyms: correction, perfection, emendation
Part of Speech: noun
Connotation: negative
Sentence: Please take note of the corrigendum issued regarding the spelling error
Example: an edited article due to previous mistakes
Torpid
Definition: mentally or physically inactive
Synonyms: sluggish, inactive, lethargic
Antonyms: active, energetic, lively
Part of Speech: adjective
Connotation: negative
Sentence: During the colder months bears remain in a torpid state
Example: hibernation
Phlegmatic
Definition: having a calm, unexcitable temperament
Synonyms: stoic, unemotional, neutral
Antonyms: excitable, passionate, demonstrative
Part of Speech: adjective
Connotation: neutral
Sentence: He remained phlegmatic even in the face of adversity
Example: not getting angry or excited when getting news
Vermilion
Definition: a brilliant red pigment
Synonyms: scarlet, ruby, crimson
Antonyms: pale, not red, pallid
Part of Speech: noun (can be used as an adjective as well)
Connotation: neutral
Sentence: Cardinals are a brilliant shade of vermilion
Example: a bright red rose
Cull
Definition: to assemble or collect bit by bit
Synonyms: choose, pick, select
Antonyms: refuse, reject, dismiss
Part of Speech: verb
Connotation: positive
Sentence: Decide which you like best, and cull the rest
Example: collect seashells from the beach
Inveigle
Definition: to tempt or persuade by using deception, artful talk, or flattery
Synonyms: flatter, coax, blandish
Antonyms: discourage, dissuade, repulse
Part of Speech: verb
Connotation: negative
Sentence: The salesman tried to inveigle me into buying a new car
Example: advertisements trying to persuade people to buy/do something
Impecunious
Definition: lacking in money; having little or nothing in the way of funds
Synonyms: penniless, poor, broke
Antonyms: wealthy, rich, prosperous
Part of Speech: adjective
Connotation: negative
Sentence: The impecunious young man had to beg for money to buy food
Example: having no money to by necessities like food
Denigrate
Definition: to defame or speak ill of; literally, to blacken (a reputation, for instance)
Synonyms: disparage, belittle, diminish
Antonyms: compliment, praise, glaze
Part of Speech: verb
Connotation: negative
Sentence: We should not denigrate someone for their mistakes
Example: talking bad about a friend behind their back because of a mistake they did