- SCRUNCH (Verb)
Meaning: to make something or yourself smaller to fit into a small space
Synonyms: compress, crunch
Antonyms: expand, uncompressed
Example: Amelia tried not to scrunch her clothes into her suitcase since squeezing them tightly would cause them to wrinkle. - FABLED (Adjective)
Meaning: mythical; imaginary.
Synonyms: fictitious, hypothetical, allegorical.
Antonyms: authentic, existent, factual, confirmed.
Example: The bird of Paradise is fabled to have no feet. - FESTER (Verb)
Meaning: Become septic or become rotten and offensive to the senses.
Synonyms: Rot, Decay, Degrade, Disintegrate.
Antonym: Build, Grow, Please, Improve, Flourish.
Sentence: I know my anger will fester if I don’t tell my husband how I really feel. - SCALDING (Adjective)
Meaning: If a liquid is scalding, it is extremely hot.
Synonyms: blazing, blistering
Antonyms: cold, cool
Sentence: Even the smallest splash of hot oil on my skin would scald it causing severe burns. - BELITTLE (Verb)
Meaning: dismiss (someone or something) as unimportant.
Synonyms: disparage, deprecate, downgrade
Antonyms: praise, magnify
Sentence: Mrs. Smith complained to the principal when her son’s teacher chose to belittle him in front of the entire class. - DERISIVE (Adjective)
Meaning: mocking and ridiculing.
Synonyms: cheeky, scornful
Antonyms: polite, respectful
Example: Her derisive attitude will not be tolerated long here. - GUSSY (Verb)
Meaning: to make someone or something look more attractive or impressive
Synonyms: adorn, beautify
Antonyms: deface, spoil
Example: The shopkeeper used a mannequin and some fancy clothes to gussy up the otherwise plain windows. - FORECLOSE (Verb)
Meaning: Rule out or prevent (a course of action).
Synonyms: preclude, prevent, remove, avert.
Antonyms: unbound, permit, allot, co-operate.
Example: If the homeowner cannot meet the loan payments, the lender can foreclose and resell the house to recoup the loss. - ABIDING (Adjective)
Meaning: (of a feeling or memory) lasting a long time; enduring.
Synonyms: Persisting, Everlasting, Perpetual.
Antonyms: Short-lived, Ephemeral, Transient.
Usage: He is an artist with an abiding concern for humanity. - AGHAST (Adjective)
Meaning: Suddenly filled with strong feelings of shock and worry.
Synonyms: Anxious, Dismayed
Antonyms: Unsurprised, Calm
Usage: The teacher was aghast at the large number of students who failed the easy test. - IDIOMS
trouble shared is trouble halved
Meaning: a trouble shared is a trouble halved
Example: Don’t hesitate to share your problems with me. After all, a problem shared is a problem halved.aftermath
Meaning: the effects of something traumatic
Example: A lot of countries sent help in the aftermath of the earthquake.a fish out of water
Meaning: being uncomfortable and restless
Example: Our new teacher looked like a fish out of the water, nobody was aware of the issue.
