| Vocabulary Word |
Part of Speech |
Definition |
Synonym |
Antonym |
Sentence |
| Aloof |
adj |
not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant |
Unfriendly, indifferent, remote, distant |
Affectionate, sociable |
The professor was often aloof with people who asked silly questions. |
| Befall |
v |
to happen to someone especially as if by fate, often unpleasant or bad |
Transpire, occur, develop, happen to, come upon |
Stop, ebb, dematerialize |
It’s sad to think of the unhappy fate that befell him. |
| Condescending |
adj |
showing that you believe you are more intelligent or better than other people |
Arrogant, disdainful, patronizing |
Humble, modest, deferential |
His comments were offensive and condescending to us. |
| Corollary |
noun |
a direct or natural consequence or result |
Result, effect, consequence |
Beginning, cause, foundation |
One corollary of the rise of television was a massive makeover of radio’s programming. |
| Differentiate |
v |
1. recognize or ascertain what makes (someone or something) different* 2. identify differences between (two or more things or people) 3. make (someone or something) appear different or distinct 4. make or become different in the process of growth or development |
Distinguish, characterize, contrast |
Confuse, associate, connect, similar |
Can you differentiate between the different species of fish in the aquarium? |
| Exhibit |
Verb noun |
show an attribute, property, knowledge, or skill; to show, make visible or apparent |
Display, demonstrate, evince |
Hide, Conceal, belie, |
The dog exhibited no signs of aggression when the little boy pulled his tail. |
| Feign |
v |
pretend to be affected by a feeling, state, or injury, put on an appearance |
Fake, counterfeit, affect |
Honest, truthful, real |
The woman feigned a neck injury after her accident in order to get more insurance money. |
| Lethargic |
adj |
feeling a lack of energy or a lack of interest in doing things; |
Sleepy, listless, torpid |
Energetic, vivacious, animated |
A big meal always makes me feel lethargic and sleepy. |
| Paradox |
n |
an idea that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory |
Puzzle, enigma, ambiguity, contradiction |
Normality, solution, standard |
It is a paradox that computers need maintenance so often, since they are meant to save people time. |
| Proficient |
adj |
competent or skilled in doing or using something |
Accomplished, expert, adept |
Novice, inept, amatuer |
Anna is proficient in three languages because she speaks them all fluently |
| Pungent |
adj |
having a strong, sharp taste or smell, often painful |
Sharp, acrid, caustic |
Bland, tasteless, odorless |
The smell of cooking liver and onions is pungent. |
| Trivial |
adj |
of little value or importance |
Insignificant, paltry, inconsequential |
Vital, important, significant |
Compared to her problems, our problems seem trivial. |
