Definition
"A device for publicly punishing offenders; a means for exposing one to public contempt or ridicule; to expose to public contempt or ridicule"
Pillory
"An _________ hurricane forced the islanders back to the mainland."
Imminent
Def: "about to happen, threatening"
Synonyms: Drench, flood, imbue
Saturate
"The interrogator used _________ methods to try to get the suspect to incriminate himself."
Peremptory, Devious, Incumbent, Sylvan
Devious
Sequester
"The man agreed to sequester his aggressive dog."
Verb
Def: "To set apart, separate for a special purpose; to take possession of and hold in custody"
"Light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly (rather than earthbound)"
Ethereal
"Many would consider the Wizard of Oz, or the man behind the curtain, to be a __________."
Charlatan
Def: "one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack"
Synonyms: Irritable, peevish, waspish, petulant
Testy
"After the two ships collided, the survivors clung to various pieces of ________ and prayed for rescue."
Flotsam, Detritus, Ignominy, Propriety
Flotsam
Sophistry
"The young couple was duped into buying a more expensive home by the clever sophistry of the real estate agent."
Noun
Def: "Reasoning that seems plausible but is actually unsound; a fallacy"
"Open to discussion and debate, unresolved; to bring up for discussion; a hypothetical law argued by students"
Moot
"The rabbit's foot, once a popular ________, seems to have lost its hold on the public imagination."
Bonus: Name BOTH words that would work!
Fetish- Def: "an object believed to have magical powers; an object of unreasoning devotion or reverence"
Talisman- Def: "an object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet"
Antonyms: Heavenly, spiritual, transcendental
Mundane
"The lawyers couldn't __________ the settlement until the two parties met face to face."
Portend, Enervate, Delineate, Consummate
Consummate
Misanthrope
"The millionaire misanthrope left all of her money to charity and not a penny to her family."
Noun
Def: "A person who hates or despises people"
"A word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truism"
Shibboleth
"Many would consider the short story "A Rose for Emily" quite ________."
Macabre
Def: "grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject"
Synonyms: kvetch, bellyache
Grouse
"The fraternity developed a set of _________ rites that new members had to complete."
Tenable, Esoteric, Pecuniary, Verdant
Esoteric
Exigency
"He emphasized the exigency of the situation by requesting the immediate dispatch of rescue teams."
Noun, often plural
Def: "Urgency, pressure; urgent demand, pressing need; an emergency
"Nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment"
Myopic
"Little will get accomplished if the legislators of both parties maintain their _________ attitudes."
Intransigent
Def: "Refusing to compromise, irreconcilable"
Antonyms: Philippic, invective
Eulogy
"Jane Austen ridiculed characters who were __________ to the aristocracy but condescending to their social inferiors."
Cognizant, Epicurean, Obsequious, Askance
Obsequious
Summarily
"As soon as there was evidence, the official was summarily ousted form his post."
Adverb
Def: "Without delay or formality; briefly, concisely"