by S L Ager
313 empower (v) give power to; energise, enliven, rouse, enable, charge, endow. (ant) disempower, inhibit.
314 enthral (v) capture or fascinate; rivet, captivate, engross, grip, transfix. (ant) bore.
315 immense (adj) large in scale or degree (huge); great, immeasurable, enormous, boundless. (ant) tiny.
316 extract (v) remove or take out, often with huge effort or force; obtain, mine, unearth. (ant) implant, bury.
317 craft (v) make an object with great skill and care, often by hand; fashion, create, shape. (ant) destroy.
318 extensive (adj) on a large scale, covering or affecting a large area; far-reaching, wide. (ant) narrow, limited.
319 apparent (adj) obvious, visible or understood; clear, evident, plain, discernible, perceptible. (ant) unclear.
320 initiate (v) cause an action or a process to begin; start, instigate, commence, instruct. (ant) stop.
321 significantly (adv) in a significant (important) way; crucially, notably, radically. (ant) insignificantly.
322 enable (v) allow or make possible to do something; empower, permit, facilitate. (ant) prevent.
323 manipulate (v) alter, control or influence; direct, affect, change, exploit, manoeuvre.
324 virtuous (adj) having high moral standards; honest, righteous, honourable, ethical. (ant) bad, dishonest.
325 deed (n) performance or action; feat, act, endeavour, accomplishment, achievement, effort.
326 courtier (n) a person who attends a royal court; aristocrat, noble, peer, attendant.
327 covet (v) long to have something (often when it belongs to another); yearn, envy, crave. (ant) reject, abjure.
328 avaricious (adj) greedy for wealth or material gain; rapacious, grasping, materialistic. (ant) generous.
329 plot (v) devise a harmful or secret plan (often as a group); conspire, connive, contrive, scheme.
330 profit (v) gain an advantage, benefit or money; prosper, thrive, exploit, strengthen, earn. (ant) loss.
331 decline (v) refuse politely; reject, abstain, desist, refrain, spurn, turn down, pass up. (ant) accept.
332 govern (v) rule with authority; oversee, head, reign, dominate, regulate, manage. (ant) mismanage.
333 harbour (v) give refuge to; accommodate, defend, hide, conceal, shelter, protect. (ant) hand over.
334 traitor (n) someone who betrays (double-crosser); conspirator, turncoat, collaborator, snitch. (ant) loyalist.
335 entrust (v) assigning (giving) responsibility and trust; charge, delegate, allocate, authorise. (ant) mistrust.
336 tend (v) look after, care for; watch over, attend to, keep, protect, cultivate, nurture. (ant) neglect, harm.
337 chamber (n) compartment or private room (especially a bedroom); cubicle, space, cell.
338 traumatise (v) subject to lasting shock from bad experience or injury; devastate, torment. (ant) soothe.
339 alas (int) used to express pity, regret, grief, disappointment or concern.
340 ensuing (adj) happening afterwards due to something else; resulting, consequent. (ant) preceding.
341 betrayal (n) the action of being gravely disloyal (untrue) to someone; duplicity, treachery. (ant) loyalty.
342 endure (v) suffer pain or difficulty with patience; bear, tolerate, undergo, withstand. (ant) succumb.
343 tether (v) tie something to restrict movement, fix securely; fasten, bind, truss, fetter. (ant) untie, release.
344 gruff (adj) rough and deep (voice), or abrupt in manner; brusque, curt, surly, stern, blunt. (ant) friendly.
345 wistfully (adv) done in a wistful (regretful, longing or yearning) manner; sadly, pensively. (ant) contentedly.
346 yonder (n) far distance; faraway place, distant land, yon, beyond. (ant) surroundings, vicinity.
347 intrude (v) disrupt without invitation; interrupt, interfere, encroach, infringe, disturb. (ant) withdraw, avoid.
348 rejoin (v) return to, come back; resume, regain, revert.
349 resume (v) continue or begin again (after pausing or an interruption); restart, recommence. (ant) stop.
350 scent (n) distinctive smell (often a pleasant one); trace, whiff, aroma, perfume. (ant) stench, stink.
351 lure (v) tempt to do something, often by offering a reward; entice, ensnare, trap, persuade. (ant) dissuade.
352 well (v) rise to the surface and sometimes spill out or over; brim, overflow, gush, flood, surge. (ant) subside.
353 utmost (n) the most extreme extent or amount; greatest, best, supreme, maximum, uttermost. (ant) least.
354 blub (v) cry uncontrollably and noisily; sob, weep, blubber, bawl, howl, yowl. (ant) smile, laugh.
355 heroic (adj) having brave and courageous characteristics; gallant, valiant, epic, intrepid. (ant) craven.
356 harsh (adj) unpleasant, cruel, grim and unpalatable; severe, callous, ruthless, unkind. (ant) gentle, kind.
357 unintended (adj) not planned or meant to happen; unintentional, accidental, chance. (ant) intentional.
358 impulsive (adj) done without thinking about beforehand; rash, spontaneous, reckless, hasty. (ant) cautious.
359 volatile (adj) displaying random and quick changes of emotion; explosive, impulsive. (ant) placid, stable.
360 lash out (v) hit out quickly and violently; strike, blow, attack, slam, knock, impact, pound, thrash.
361 undetermined (adj) not known; unknown, undiscovered, unspecified, uncertain. (ant) known, definite.
362 wholly (adv) in a way that is whole; completely, entirely, absolutely, totally, fully, altogether. (ant) partially.
363 factual (adj) concerned with what is true; accurate, genuine, authentic, truthful, real. (ant) fictional, untrue.
364 selfish (adj) lacking consideration for others; egotistical, greedy, venal. (ant) selfless, altruistic.
365 pledge (v) promise solemnly to do something; swear, vow, guarantee, assure.
366 rightful (adj) having a deserved or legitimate right to something; correct, true, apt, lawful. (ant) wrongful.
367 avow (v) confess or assert openly; declare, profess, state, affirm, maintain, insist, confirm. (ant) deny.
368 untrustworthy (adj) not to be trusted; dishonest, unreliable, deceitful, disloyal. (ant) dependable, honest.
369 sequester (v) keep apart or hide away from; isolate, seclude, cloister, segregate. (ant) reveal, integrate.
370 isolate (v) set apart from; separate, confine, sequester, detach, insulate, seclude. (ant) integrate.
371 temptation (n) a thing that tempts or attracts someone; lure, enticement, attraction, bait. (ant) aversion.
372 segregate (v) set apart from the rest; disconnect, divide, isolate, separate, dissociate. (ant) integrate.
373 unscrupulous (adj) not fair or honest, having poor morals; dishonest, corrupt, immoral. (ant) honest.
374 gist (n) the general meaning of speech or text; essence, idea, point, upshot, nub, basis.
375 lag (v) fall behind, not keep up with; trail, dally, straggle, crawl, slow, wane, dawdle. (ant) lead, keep up.
4. Hidden in Plain Sight
1 raucous (adj) making a harsh, loud grating noise; wild, boisterous, unruly, disorderly. (ant) orderly, placid.
2 boisterous (adj) noisy and energetic (usually cheerfully); lively, animated, rowdy, unruly. (ant) placid, quiet.
3 disobey (v) fail to obey (not do as one is asked); defy, flout, violate, challenge, contravene. (ant) obey.
4 numerous (adj) many; frequent, plentiful, abundant, various, copious, several, diverse. (ant) few, one.
5 caution (n) a warning; ultimatum, reprimand, rebuke, telling-off, advice, reproof.
6 prohibited (adj) not permitted; banned, forbidden, barred, vetoed, disallowed, outlawed. (ant) permitted.
7 doting (adj) showing excessive (too much) fondness; adoring, idolising, besotted, indulgent. (ant) stony.
8 criticise (v) indicate faults in a disapproving way; censure, condemn, malign, denounce. (ant) praise.
9 slouch (v) move,
sit or stand in a drooping or lazy manner; slump, stoop, hunch, sprawl. (ant) straighten.
10 arrogance (n) an exaggerated sense of one’s importance; big-headedness, conceit, pride. (ant) humility.
11 youth (n) young person; teenager, adolescent, junior, youngster, juvenile. (ant) adult, old person.
12 suspend (v) temporarily prevent or exclude from (school or job); remove, reject, evict. (ant) include.
13 revel (v) gain pleasure from; delight, bask, luxuriate, wallow, glory, enjoy, savour, relish. (ant) dislike, hate.
14 instil (v) establish and fix an attitude in someone’s mind; implant, impress, introduce, induce. (ant) remove.
15 contemporary (n) a person around the same age as another; peer, fellow, associate.
16 skulk (v) move furtively and stealthily, not wanting to be seen; lurk, prowl, loiter (ant) appear, materialise.
17 shroud (v) envelop or cover to prevent from being seen; conceal, mask, hide, veil, swathe. (ant) reveal.
18 designer (adj) designed by a famous fashion designer; trendy, fashionable, branded. (ant) unbranded.
19 entice (v) tempt or attract; lure, cajole, invite, persuade, seduce, inveigle. (ant) dissuade, deter.
20 rumour (n) a circulating story of little or doubtful truth; gossip, tale, anecdote, tittle-tattle. (ant) fact.
21 unchecked (adj) not restrained or controlled; free, unimpeded, unhindered, unrestricted. (ant) checked.
22 radiate (v) emanate (give off) a feeling or quality; transmit, exude, emit, circulate, shine. (ant) absorb.
23 attraction (n) a feature or quality that attracts interest or liking; magnetism, appeal. (ant) repulsion.
24 inexplicably (adv) in an unexplainable way; mysteriously, unaccountably, puzzlingly. (ant) explicably.
25 dodderer (n) a person who moves slowly or totters, typically because of old age; codger. (ant) youngster.
26 pinch (v) take without permission; steal, thieve, nab, nick, pilfer, swipe, snatch. (ant) purchase, buy, give.
27 repulse (v) cause to feel intense distaste, displeasure or disgust; repel, sicken, revolt. (ant) attract.
28 gnaw (v) chew persistently; bite, nibble, champ, chomp, masticate, munch, crunch.
29 pathetic (adj) arousing pity, inadequate; pitiful, useless, laughable, weak. (ant) admirable, respectable.
30 bovine (adj) relating to (like) a cow or cattle, or being stupid; dim-witted, dim, dense, dull. (ant) intelligent.
31 cud (n) partly digested food from the stomach of a ruminant (animal that chews); chewed food.
32 smugly (adv) in a smug (self-satisfied) way; arrogantly, conceitedly, haughtily, snootily. (ant) humbly.
33 contempt (n) the feeling that someone or something is worthless; disdain, dislike, scorn. (ant) admiration.
34 bidding (n) the asking or ordering of someone to do something; request, command, behest.
35 titter (v) short giggle or laugh; snigger, snicker, chortle, cackle, chuckle, guffaw. (ant) cry, sob, weep.
36 bat (v) (of eyelashes) open and close in fluttering movements; flicker, blink, flap, wink.
37 oblivious (adj) unaware or unconcerned about what is happening; ignorant, unconscious. (ant) conscious.
38 border (v) come close to or be developing into; verge, approach, near, resemble, encroach. (ant) differ.
39 vacuous (adj) having or showing lack of intelligence or thought; empty, dim, inane, vacant. (ant) intelligent.
40 mock (v) tease or make fun of; ridicule, deride, scorn, insult, taunt. (ant) praise, compliment, flatter.
41 banal (adj) boring or obvious from lack of originality; trite, predictable, unimaginative. (ant) original.
42 tedious (adj) tiresome or monotonous; long, slow, dull, boring, dreary, uninteresting. (ant) interesting.
43 compassion (n) sympathy and concern for the sufferings of another; care, empathy. (ant) indifference.
44 sympathy (n) feelings of sorrow and pity for the misfortunes of another; empathy. (ant) callousness.
45 calculated (adj) done with full awareness of the consequences; deliberate, planned. (ant) spontaneous.
46 meticulous (adj) showing great attention to detail; careful, precise, exact, scrupulous. (ant) careless, sloppy.
47 interfere (v) prevent from being carried out or continuing; hamper, hinder, restrict, impede. (ant) assist.
48 preparation (n) something done to get ready for an event or undertaking; planning. (ant) unreadiness.
49 insurance (n) protection against a possible outcome; assurance, cover. (ant) endangerment, vulnerability.
50 policy (n) a contract of insurance between individuals or groups; scheme, plan.
51 hostage (n) someone unwillingly held to be exchanged for something else; captive, detainee. (ant) captor.
52 sentimental (adj) having nostalgic or sugary feelings; soppy, mawkish, romantic. (ant) cynical, unemotional.
53 parochial (adj) with limited or narrow outlook or scope (small-town-like); provincial, insular. (ant) broad.
54 atmosphere (n) the tone, mood or ambience; impression, feeling, air, character.
55 house (v) provide space for or accommodate (keep in a certain place); store, hold, retain. (ant) expose.
56 unrivalled (adj) better than everything or everyone else; unequalled, unique, matchless. (ant) inferior, poor.
57 antiquity (n) something from the ancient past; relic, artefact, antique. (ant) novelty, modernity.
58 veneer (n) the outside layer or appearance of something; cladding, covering, coating, front.
59 investment (n) time or money spent to gain or improve a result; finance, expenditure. (ant) withdrawal.
60 refurbishment (n) improvement to make good again; redecoration, renovation, restoration, repair, refit.
61 dazzling (adj) amazing or overwhelming due to an impressive quality; stunning, overpowering. (ant) boring.
62 supremacy (n) the state of being supreme (superior) to all others; dominance, superiority. (ant) inferiority.
63 spectator (n) someone who watches an event, game, show or thing; onlooker, viewer. (ant) participant.
64 priceless (adj) so precious that a value cannot be put on it; invaluable, rare, high-priced. (ant) worthless.
65 deliberately (adv) done in a deliberate (on purpose) way; intentionally, knowingly. (ant) accidentally.
66 minimal (adj) of the smallest degree, quantity or amount; least, slightest. (ant) maximum, most.
67 shun (v) ignore, avoid or reject with persistence; evade, eschew, reject, spurn. (ant) seek, accept, welcome.
68 stow (v) store, pack or keep neatly in a specific place; stash, secrete, tuck, deposit. (ant) unload, remove.
69 pensioner (n) a person who receives a pension (money invested or saved); retiree.
70 installation (n) an art exhibition in a gallery or museum; display, presentation, placing.
71 the masses (n) ordinary people; the populace, the multitude, the public. (ant) elite.
72 meagre (adj) inadequate or scant amount; small, measly, derisory, paltry, insufficient. (ant) plentiful.
73 horde (n) a large group of people; crowd, throng, mass, gathering, mob, host, multitude. (ant) few, one.
74 inconspicuous (adj) not clearly visible or attracting attention; ordinary, quiet. (ant) conspicuous.
75 refrain (v) stop oneself from doing something; desist, abstain, cease, resist, halt. (ant) persist, continue.
76 faze (v) disconcert or disturb someone; bother, deter, daunt, intimidate, discourage. (ant) encourage.
77 hence (adv) for this reason or because of; therefore, consequently, thus, so.
78 consent (v) grant permission or agreement to; comply, permit, allow, sanction. (ant) dissent, forbid.
79 assure (v) tell someone something to dispel doubt; promise, reassure, convince, persuade. (ant) worry.
80 gesture (n) an action to convey a feeling or intention of something; act, indication, sign.
81 independence (n) freedom from the control of othe
rs; self-rule, liberty, autonomy. (ant) dependence.
82 attitude (n) a way of thinking, feeling or acting; approach, outlook, manner, mindset, opinion.
