Abject

• adjective• Wretched, miserable; degrading, humiliating• Mean-spirited• Synonyms: disheartening, debasing, hopeless,

helpless; vile, shameless, ignoble, craven; utter, sheer, downright,

• Only an abject coward would stand idly by as a defenseless person was mugged.

Aesthetic

• Adj.• Pertaining to a sense of beauty• Synonyms: artistic, creative, gorgeous, inventive • Example: Though the picture did not have much

aesthetic appeal, it had considerable commercial value.

Ambience

• Noun• The surrounding or pervading atmosphere;

the tone and spirit of an environment• Synonyms: surroundings, milieu, setting• Example: The ambience of the restaurant was

very romantic.

Apprehend

• Verb• To arrest of take into custody.• Synonyms: seize, capture, nab• Example: I was relieved when the burglar who

robbed our home was apprehended.

Atrocity

• Noun• A savagely cruel, brutal, or inhuman deed; a

monstrosity.• Synonyms: enormity, outrage• Example: The crimes committed against

prisoners of war are an atrocity.

Baffle

• Verb– To puzzle completely.– To prevent from achieving a goal

• Synonyms: perplex, mystify, bewilder, confound

• Example: Despite some small clues, the police were baffled in their attempt to solve the murder.

Boisterous.

• Adjective• Noisy & Rowdy.• Synonyms: loud, vociferous, clamorous• Example: It is only natural to expect small

children to be a bit boisterous

Cajole

• Verb• To persuade or obtain by flattery or deceit• Synonyms: wheedle, coax, beguile, induce• Example: Like most people, I enjoy flattery,

but I can’t be cajoled into doing something that I know in my heart is foolish.

Chagrin• Noun and verb– N. Irritation, embarrassment, or humiliation caused by

disappointment or frustration– V. To cause such a feeling

• Synonyms: vexation, annoyance, mortification• Example: (n) I didn’t want to go to the party, but I

felt a sense of chagrin when I realized that I wouldn’t be invited.

• (v) Since Marsha prides herself on her skill as a politician, her failure to win election to the student council chagrined her deeply

Collaborate

• Verb• To work together on some kind of joint

project.• Synonyms: cooperate, team up, join forces• Example: To select a new superintendent,

school officials will collaborate with community members, faculty, and students to determine the needs of the school.

Aloof

• Adverb• At a distance, especially in feeling or interest;

apart • Synonyms: detached, distant• Example: The new student stood aloof from

his classmates since he didn’t really know anyone.

Avert

• Verb• To turn away or aside; to ward off or prevent. • Synonyms: avoid, turn away• Example: The guilty child averted his eyes as

his mother questioned him about the broken plate.

Writhe

• Verb• To twist or bend out of shape or position; to

twist about as in pain • Synonyms: thrash, wriggle• Example: The soccer player writhed in pain

after breaking his ankle during the game.

Belligerent

• Adjective• Warlike; given to waging war. • Synonym: argumentative• Example: The student’s belligerent attitude

often landed him in the discipline office.

Monotonous

• Adjective• Lacking in variety; having very little inflection;

limited to a narrow pitch range. • Synonyms: boring, dull• Example: The students fell asleep as the

teacher’s monotonous voice filled the classroom.

Discontent

• Noun• A restless desire or craving for something one

does not have; dissatisfaction. • Synonyms: displeasure, uneasiness• Example: The child’s discontent over his

birthday gift became evident when he started to cry.

Haunches

• Noun• The hip; a hind quarter of an animal • Example: The rabbit in the field sat back on his

haunches as he nibbled the blade of grass.

Solemn

• Adjective• Grave, sober, or serious, in the face, speech,

tone, or mood • Synonyms: serious, unsmiling• Example: The solemn relatives were crying

over the grave during the funeral.