- SPLURGE (Verb)
Meaning: to spend extravagantly or ostentatiously.
Synonyms: squander, fling, dissipate, disburse.
Antonyms: accumulate, hoard, conserve, preserve.
Usage: Bill is saving his money so he can splurge on his vacation. - DETENTE (Noun)
Meaning: the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries.
Synonyms: agreement, peace, amity, concord.
Antonyms: disruptive, antagonism, antipathy, hostility.
Usage: The prolonged detente between the warring neighbors allowed us to cross the border without fear of being arrested. - CONTENTIOUS (Adjective)
Meaning: causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
Synonyms: disputable, debatable, moot, vexed.
Antonyms: agreeable, nonbelligerent, pacific, peaceful.
Usage: The author wrote a contentious novel which caused a great deal of unrest. - EXONERATE (Verb)
Meaning: to prove that someone is not guilty of a crime or responsible for a problem, bad situation, etc.
Synonyms: absolve, clear, acquit,
Antonyms: charge, convict
Usage: Unfortunately, the video footage does not exonerate Hank of the robbery charges. - PERNICIOUS (Adjective)
Meaning: having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.
Synonyms: harmful, damaging, destructive, injurious
Antonyms: beneficial, benign, favourable
Usage: If you are going to behave in such a pernicious manner, I would prefer to not be around you. - GRAFT (Noun)
Meaning: bribery and other corrupt practices used to secure illicit advantages in politics or business.
Synonyms: corruption, dishonesty, fraudulence, Antonyms: incorruptibility, honesty, sterility, probity.
Example: Though he denied the graft allegations, a judge ruled that the politician was indeed guilty of corrupt business practices fueled by his position of power. - MAINSTAY (Noun)
Meaning: a person or thing on which something else is based or depends.
Synonyms: cornerstone, bulwark, buttress, bastion.
Antonyms: antagonist, opponent, enemy.
Example: Coupons are a mainstay for the couple since they depend on them to reduce their grocery bill every week. - MISGIVING (Noun)
Meaning: a feeling of doubt or apprehension about the outcome or consequences of something.
Synonyms: qualm, doubt, reservation, scruple.
Antonyms: assurance, certainty, certitude, conviction.
Example: Despite the actor’s misgiving about the film, he accepted the role and won an Academy Award for his efforts. - STUPEFY (Verb)
Meaning: to astonish to the point that a person’s thinking ability is decreased.
Synonyms: astound, benumb
Antonyms: enliven, calm
Example: The price of the designer shoes appeared to stupefy my tightfisted husband. - CONSTERNATION (Noun)
Meaning: a feeling of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected.
Synonyms: perturbation, anxiety, distress, disquiet,
Antonyms: satisfaction Example: All it took was one pit bull attack for the girl to have a permanent consternation for dogs. - IDIOMS :
“Read the Tea Leaves”
FOOD IDIOM
Meaning: Predict the future from small signs
Example: Everyone says things are going great for our company, but if you read the tea leaves you’ll see trouble ahead.
Note: This comes from the practice of fortune-telling by examining the patterns of tea leaves in the bottom of a cup.“Red Meat”
FOOD IDIOM
Meaning: Political appeals designed to excite one’s core supporters;
Example: The candidate threw red meat to the base, blaming immigrants for the country’s problems“Rotten to the Core”
FOOD IDIOM
Meaning: Entirely evil
Example:
Sam is rotten to the core. He steals, he lies, he’s violent. I’m glad he’s in prison.
