A Words
If it reeks of humiliation or looks like the lowest of lows, then you can safely describe it as what?
Abject
To ..... means to give in to something. If your parents refuse to raise your allowance, you might try to argue until they ......
Capitulate
When you ..... something you show it to be false. Many magicians, including Houdini and Penn and Teller, have worked to ..... the idea that magic is anything other than a very clever illusion.
Debunk
A ..... person can’t be moved to smile or show much sign of life, in much the same way as something solid, like a giant boulder, is immovable. Both are expressionless.
Stolid
A ..... is a trace or reminder of something that has disappeared or is disappearing. A lump of snow with a carrot in it might be the ..... of a snowman.
Vestige
An ..... is an extension of or an addition to a building. A small room off of a main room is an ..... and attics are another type of ......
Annex
The noun ..... is a closed meeting of members from the same political party. The Iowa ..... get a lot of attention during the presidential primary season.
Caucus
..... describes something sullen, gloomy, or persistent. You might look ..... on your way to picking up your last check from the job you just got fired from, and people should get out of your way.
Dour
Something false or inauthentic is ..... Don't trust ..... ideas and stories. ..... statements often are lies, just as a ..... coin is a counterfeit coin — a fake.
Spurious
To ..... someone is to spread nasty stories about them, whether true or not.
Vilify
You know you're driving through an ..... neighborhood when you see large houses, perfect landscaping, and expensive cars. Use ..... to describe wealthy people or areas.
Affluent
A ..... is a type of fish found in fresh water. To carp is to complain and gripe repeatedly, especially about little things. Don’t ..... about the rain if you live in the rain forest.
Carp
A ..... is a song of mourning, performed as a memorial to someone who’s died. As you might imagine, a ..... is usually quite sad. Another word with a similar meaning that you might know is “requiem.”
Dirge
..... is the state of being sober, which can mean either not intoxicated or being solemn. If he takes a drink, an alcoholic ends a stretch of ..... You might note ..... in the stands when your team is losing.
Sobriety
..... sounds like some kind of disease you don't want to catch, but in fact, it means truthfulness. If you question the ..... of a statement or story, you wonder whether it is truthful or accurate.
Veracity
Wearing a cast on a broken leg can cause ..... or withering, in the leg, because it is immobilized and gets no exercise.
Atrophy
How to ..... in one easy step: dance around all crazy, jumping on and over anything nearby like you just ate a lot of sugar. Give it a try!
Cavort
A ..... is a cruel, all-controlling ruler. For example, a ..... does not allow people to speak out against the leadership, nor really want them to have much freedom at all.
Despot
Something that is ..... is dignified, respectable — possibly even boring, like a ..... dinner party that is heavy on the important guests but light on the laughs.
Staid
A ..... is an incredibly talented musician. You can also be a ..... in non-musical fields.
Virtuoso
An ..... is the complete opposite of something. Though the counterculture was strong in America in 1968, voters elected Richard Nixon, the antithesis of a hippie.
Antithesis
Instead of complaining about your chores, be grateful for the ..... or pipe, that brings water to your home. Thanks to it, you don't have to go fetch water from the well whenever your mom wants a cup of coffee.
Let’s hope you’re never denied food and sleep and forced to sign a confession, but if you are, that's called being under ..... Threats and harsh treatment meant to make you do something you don’t want to do is .....
Duress
Steve baked a ..... of jam tarts. Steve ate a ..... of jam tarts. Steve ..... himself on jam tarts. Whether ..... is a noun or a verb (as in "overabundance" or "gorge"), Steve is likely to end up with a bellyache.
Surfeit
Mean, nasty, and caustic as the worst acid, ..... words can hurt feelings, break hearts, and even lead to violence.
Vitriolic