- USURIOUS (Adjective)
Meaning: charging illegal or exorbitant rates of interest for the use of money.
Synonyms: avaricious, acquisitive, rapacious.
Antonyms: affordable, moderate, generous.
Usage: Many states have put laws in place to stop lending companies from charging usurious interest rates that are way above an acceptable standard. - PROTAGONIST (Noun)
Meaning: the leading character or one of the major characters in a play, film, novel, etc.
Synonym: supporter, upholder
Antonym: opponent
Example: In the screenplay, the protagonist must rob a bank in order to save his daughter’s life. - BRUTAL (Adjective)
Meaning: savagely violent, violently cruel and inhumane.
Synonym: savage, cruel
Antonym: gentle, humane
Example: A brutal tornado ravaged the city, ruthlessly destroying everything in its path. - VALIANT (Adjective)
Meaning: possessing or showing courage or determination.
Synonyms: brave, fearless, courageous, valorous
Antonyms: cowardly, irresolute
Example: When the spotlight comes on, the valiant performer will jump off the tall building without a parachute. - CONCEDE (Verb)
Meaning: admit or agree that something is true after first denying or resisting it.
Synonyms: accept, admit, allow, capitulate
Antonyms: defend, deny, disallow
Usage: After John beat me at chess five times, I had to concede he was the better player. - CUTTING EDGE (Adjective)
Meaning: highly advanced; innovative or pioneering.
Synonyms: a progressive, revolutionary, trailblazing.
Antonyms: conventional, customary, traditional.
Usage: The best militaries in the world have to be cutting edge and always purchase the latest technology. - SHREWD (Adjective)
Meaning: having or showing sharp powers of judgment.
Synonyms: sharp-witted, sharp, acute, intelligent
Antonyms: stupid, unwise, ingenuous
Usage: His shrewd coaching brought the team to the state championship four years in a row. - INVIGORATE (Verb)
Meaning: to give life, vigor, or spirit to.
Synonym: amp (up), animate, brace, energize, enliven,
Antonym: damp, dampen, deaden, dull, kill
Usage: Hopefully the energy drink will invigorate me so I can work all night on my paper. - EPHEMERAL (Adjective)
Meaning: lasting for short time.
Synonyms: temporary, short-lived, transient.
Antonyms: long-lived, everlasting, eternal, perpetual.
Example: The thunderstorm was ephemeral, starting suddenly and gone within seconds. - MEED (Noun)
Meaning: a much deserved reward or honour.
Synonyms: atonement, compensation.
Antonyms: disregard, penalty.
Example: Even though she had six children, the loving mother was able to give each a meed of her time and attention. - IDIOMS
“Feel a bit under the weather”
Meaning: Feeling sick or unhealthy.
Example: I’m not coming to office today, I’m feeling a bit under the weather.“Give the benefit of doubt”
Meaning: Believe someone’s statement without proof.
Example: I knew him since the past 5 years, so I gave him the benefit of doubt.“Hear through the grapevine”
Meaning: To hear news from someone who heard that news from someone else
Example: I heard through the grapevine that she’s pregnant.
