Acclamation (n)A shout of welcome; and overwhelming verbal vote of approvalSyn: ovation, cheering, plauditsAnt: booing, hissing, jeers, catcalls** a claim of greatness

Bucolic (adj)Characteristic of the countryside, rural; relating to shepherds and cowherds, pastoralSyn: rusticAnt: urban, metropolitan**where you see BUlls and COLlies

Calumniate (v)To slander; to accuse falsely and maliciouslySyn: defame, libelAnt: flatter, whitewash, praise**a tabloid column about someone

Chary (adj) Extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow (to); reserved, diffidentSyn: wary, skittishAnt: heedless, reckless, incautious

Collusion (n)Secret agreement or cooperationSyn: conspiracy, plot, connivance, cahoots**people in collusion try to create an illusion that all is well

Dilettante (n) (adj)A dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way; (adj) superficialSyn: amateurAnt: professional

Imperturbable (adj)

Not easily excited; emotionally steadySyn: unflappable, unexcitable, serene, unruffledAnt: excitable**can’t be perturbed or disturbed

Increment (n)

An enlargement, increase, additionSyn: accretion, gainAnt: loss, reduction, decrease**increase

Mandate (n) (v)An authoritative command, formal order, authorization; (v) to issue such an orderSyn: (n) directiveAnt: (v) forbid, ban, outlaw**order that is mandatory – must be followed

Paltry (adj)Trifling, insignificant; mean, despicable; inferiorSyn: measly, meager, piddling, trivialAnt: gigantic, immense, colossal**the paltry piece of poultry didn’t fill me up

Paroxysm (n)

A sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsionSyn: fit, seizure

Pedantry (n)A pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and detailsSyn: nit-picking, hairsplitting

Peregrination (n)The act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign countrySyn: journey, wandering, odyssey**migration to a destination

Redolent (adj)Fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an auraSyn: evocative, reminiscent, aromaticAnt: unevocative, odorless**red(odor)lent

Refulgent (adj)Shining, radiant, resplendentSyn: luminous, splendidAnt: dim, dark, dingy, dull, murky**detergent makes things shine!

Shibboleth (n)A word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truismSyn: catchphrase, password, slogan

Tyro (n)A beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skillSyn: neophyteAnt: veteran, past master, expert** a tyro tries something new

Unremitting (adj)Not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentlessSyn: constant, incessant, unrelentingAnt: desultory, intermittent**uninterrupted, unending

Vacillate (v)

To swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or willSyn: seesaw, fluctuate, oscillateAnt: persevere**oscillating fan changes direction

Vituperative (adj)

Harshly abusive, severely scoldingSyn: abusive, scurrilous, insultingAnt: complimentary, laudatory, flattering**like a viper – poisonous