Vocab 2-13-2026

accelerate

To speed up; cause to move faster; bring about more quickly. Synonyms: step up, quicken, hasten Antonyms: slow down, decelerate

bystander

One who looks on or observes; a person present but not taking part. Synonyms: observer, onlooker Antonyms: active participant

canvas

To go through an area to gather votes, sales, or opinions; to examine or discuss in detail. Synonyms: survey, solicit

casual

Happening by chance or irregularly; showing little concern; informal. Synonyms: haphazard, offhand Antonyms: formal, serious, premeditated

downtrodden

Treated unfairly or cruelly; oppressed. Synonyms: mistreated, ground underfoot Antonyms: uplifted, liberated

entice

To attract; tempt. Synonyms: lure, lead on Antonyms: nauseate, sicken, revolt, repel

erode

To wear away gradually; eat away. Synonyms: corrode, abrade Antonyms: nurture, promote, encourage

flounder

To struggle or thrash about clumsily or ineffectively. Synonyms: wallow, struggle

graphic

Lifelike; vivid; relating to the pictorial arts. Synonyms: colorful, descriptive Antonyms: dull, boring, unrealistic, colorless

gruesome

Horrible; revolting; ghastly. Synonyms: gory, hideous Antonyms: pleasant, delightful, appealing

melancholy

(adj.) Sad; gloomy; unhappy. (n.) Sadness; gloominess. Synonyms: (adj.) depressed, dejected; (n.) dejection, depression Antonyms: (adj.) merry, happy, cheerful; (n.) joy, elation

ordeal

A difficult or painful experience; a trial. Synonyms: hardship, trauma Antonyms: pleasure, cinch

parch

To make dry and thirsty; shrivel with heat. Synonyms: dry up, dehydrate Antonyms: soak, drench, saturate

persist

To continue steadily; refuse to stop or change; remain. Synonyms: persevere, keep at it, endure Antonyms: give up, discontinue

puny

Of less than normal strength or size; of little importance. Synonyms: undersized, pint-size, small, weak Antonyms: robust, brawny, mammoth, gigantic

quibble

(v.) To evade or belittle by twisting words; raise minor objections. (n.) A petty objection. Synonyms: (v.) split hairs, cavil; (n.) squabble

ratify

To approve formally; confirm; give official approval. Synonyms: endorse, sanction Antonyms: cancel, annul, veto

regal

Royal; kinglike; fit for a king. Synonyms: majestic, stately, princely, august Antonyms: lowly, humble, abject, servile

stifle

To smother; prevent from breathing; hold back or suppress. Synonyms: strangle, suppress, snuff Antonyms: nurture, promote, encourage

vital

Having life; essential; necessary; crucial. Synonyms: indispensable, fundamental Antonyms: nonessential, unnecessary