by S L Ager
219 elated (adj) incredibly happy; exhilarated, thrilled, excited, exultant. (ant) depressed, disheartened.
220 ducting (n) a system of tubing or piping forming ducts (pipes); pipework, conduit, channels.
221 demise (n) downfall or death; ruin, end, failure, collapse, expiry, departure. (ant) ascent, birth.
222 resplendently (adv) in a resplendent (brilliant) manner; splendidly, magnificently. (ant) unimpressively.
223 monolith (n) a large and characterless thing or building; megalith, block, monument.
224 fortified (adj) strengthened against attack; reinforced, braced, toughened, hardened. (ant) weakened.
225 titanium (n) metal element used to make corrosion-resistant alloy (mixture).
226 alloy (n) combination of two or more metallic elements; mixture, compound.
227 perpetually (adv) in a perpetual (unending) manner; endlessly, continuously, continually. (ant) intermittently.
228 scope (n) extent (size) or range (scale) of something; area, field, capacity, reach, bounds.
229 edifice (n) a big, imposing building; structure, construction, creation, erection, monument.
230 self-pitying (adj) feeling sorry for oneself; miserable, defeatist, depressed, self-indulgent. (ant) cheerful.
231 trace (v) take a specific path or route; depict, mark, show, draw, outline, sketch.
232 reminisce (v) think about enjoyable events from the past; recall, remember, recollect, evoke. (ant) forget.
233 laud (v) praise highly; extol, applaud, acclaim, glorify, commend. (ant) criticise, abhor.
234 dedication (n) commitment to a task or purpose; devotion, allegiance, loyalty. (ant) apathy.
235 shaft (n) a long, narrow hole that gives access to a mine; bore, borehole, mineshaft, tunnel, passage.
236 ruinously (adv) in a ruinous (disastrous) way; damagingly, destructively, catastrophically. (ant) favourably.
237 excavate (v) make a channel or hole by digging; gouge, mine, quarry, exhume, shovel, scoop. (ant) fill, bury.
238 ingenuity (n) the quality of being creative and clever; inventiveness, resourcefulness. (ant) ignorance.
239 expertise (n) expert knowledge or skill; ability, prowess, capability, proficiency. (ant) inability.
240 tentacle (n) long, thin part of an animal for grasping and feeling; appendage, feeler, finger.
241 major (adj) significant or important; main, big, chief, foremost, dominant, leading, sizeable. (ant) minor.
242 escapology (n) the art of escape.
243 rigorously (adv) in a rigorous (careful) way; thoroughly, meticulously, scrupulously. (ant) carelessly.
244 select (adj) the best of or most suitable; superior, preferred, handpicked, first-rate, excellent. (ant) inferior.
245 aeon (n) an indefinite and long time; age, yonks, eternity, forever. (ant) moment, jiffy, flash.
246 appoint (v) assign (give) a role, position or job; employ as, nominate, engage as. (ant) reject, dismiss.
247 chief (adj) having the highest rank; principal, main, leading, primary, highest. (ant) minor, subordinate.
248 counsel (n) legal advisor; lawyer, advocate, guide, barrister, consultant, counsellor.
249 advocate (n) public supporter or lawyer; backer, champion, defender, promotor, sponsor. (ant) opponent.
250 architectural (adj) relating to the design and construct of buildings; structural.
251 advisor (n) someone who gives advice in a specific field; guru, consultant, mentor, guide.
252 realm (n) area of responsibility or rule; kingdom, domain, monarchy, empire, dominion, jurisdiction.
253 negotiate (v) attempt to reach agreement by discussion; talk, confer, bargain, cooperate. (ant) disagree.
254 treaty (n) a formal agreement; settlement, deal, accord, truce, pact, contract. (ant) disagreement.
255 legal (adj) relating to the law; constitutional, judicial, statutory, contractual, lawful. (ant) illegal, unlawful.
256 esteem (n) admiration and respect; acclaim, popularity, reverence, admiration, regard. (ant) contempt.
257 servant (n) a person who performs duties for others; attendant, assistant, retainer. (ant) master.
258 dependence (n) the state of relying upon someone or something; reliance. (ant) independence.
259 indispensable (adj) completely necessary; crucial, essential, vital, requisite. (ant) dispensable.
260 virulent (adj) easily spread and vicious; malignant, contagious, destructive, pernicious. (ant) harmless.
261 savagely (adv) in a savage (fierce and uncontrolled) way; brutally, callously, ruthlessly. (ant) mildly.
262 detrimental (adj) causing harm; damaging, injurious, unfavourable, negative, adverse. (ant) beneficial.
263 cloud (v) make uncertain or unclear; impair, veil, distort, blur, confuse, obscure. (ant) clarify, enlighten.
264 scholarly (adj) relating to scholars (well-educated people); erudite, intellectual. (ant) uneducated.
265 undercover (adj) involving espionage (spying) or secret work; disguised, covert, clandestine. (ant) open.
266 informant (n) someone who gives information to another; spy, informer, grass, sneak, snitch.
267 agent (n) a person who acts on behalf (for) of another; go-between, negotiator, proxy, envoy, trustee.
268 unfailingly (adv) in an unfailing (reliable) way; dependably, steadily, consistently, abidingly. (ant) erratically.
269 sleuth (v) track, search or investigate in secret; detect, expose, spy, snoop, stalk. (ant) overlook.
270 mole (n) someone who spies and betrays information; informer, spy, sleuth, infiltrator, plant.
271 relay (v) receive and pass on messages or information; deliver, communicate, convey. (ant) withhold.
272 treason (n) action of betraying one’s country, a person or something; treachery, disloyalty. (ant) allegiance.
273 bestow (v) offer or give an honour, gift or right; confer, bequeath, grant, donate, present. (ant) withdraw.
274 longevity (n) long life; permanence, durability, endurance, lastingness. (ant) impermanence, death.
275 outstanding (adj) exceptionally good; eminent, distinguished, superlative, stupendous. (ant) abysmal, dire.
276 prestige (n) admiration and respect for quality or achievement; status, reputation, esteem. (ant) notoriety.
277 glory (n) high honour won by noteworthy achievements; admiration, credit, prestige, kudos. (ant) shame.
278 ardent (adj) passionate or enthusiastic; avid, fervent, fierce, intense, keen. (ant) dispassionate.
279 compulsion (n) a strong or irresistible urge to do something; need, impulse, craving. (ant) choice.
280 implicit (adj) without question; absolute, unreserved, total, unconditional, complete, utter. (ant) limited.
281 conspire (v) make secret plans jointly to do harm; plot, scheme, collude, connive, consort.
282 conspirator (n) someone who conspires and assists in a conspiracy; collaborator, accomplice.
283 innermost (adj) closest to the centre; central, interior, internal, furthest in. (ant) outermost, external.
284 slay (v) kill in a violent and brutal way; murder, butcher, slaughter, assassinate, exterminate.
285 dutiful (adj) tending to fulfil one’s duty; obedient, attentive, faithful, loyal, devoted. (ant) irresponsible.
286 detective (n) someone employed (assigned) to investigate and solve crimes; investigator.
287 informant (n) a person who informs another, often about secrets; informer, spy, mole, grass, snitch.
288 chaperone (v) accompany (go with), look after or supervise (direct); escort, monitor. (ant) abandon.
289 favour (n) the liking, approval or support of someone; esteem, partiality, preference. (ant) disfavour.
290 remorse (n) guilt or regret; shame, repentance, sorrow, compunction, ruefulness. (ant) remorselessness.
291 strategically (adv) in any way relating to strategy (skill or long-term plan); tactically. (ant) randomly.
292 sketch (v) roughly draw or outline; depict, portray, represent, pencil, draft, blueprint, design.
293 refine (v) make minor (small) changes to improve or clarify; perfect, revise, edit, enhance. (ant) coarsen.
294 diligently (adv) in a diligent (hard-working) way; conscientiously, meticulously, attentively. (ant) carelessly.
295 luxurious (adj) extremely elegant and often expensive; opulent, sumptuous, extravagant. (ant) meagre.
296 parchment (n) prepared animal skin with a papery appearance used in ancient writing; vellum, scroll.
297 tortuously (adv) in a tortuous (complicated) way; complexly, intricately, painfully. (ant) straightforwardly.
298 mastermind (v) plan and direct a complex scheme; conceive, devise, conduct, organise. (ant) bungle.
299 oversee (v) supervise work, often in an official manner; manage, direct, inspect, administer. (ant) neglect.
300 warren (n) tunnels or burrows like interconnecting rabbit holes (warren); labyrinth, maze, lair, den.
301 underpass (n) an underground passageway; subway, corridor, tunnel. (ant) flyover.
302 maestro (n) a distinguished (respected and well-known) figure; master, prodigy, genius. (ant) amateur.
303 mourn (v) feel sadness or regret for; grieve, miss, pine, bemoan, lament, rue, agonise. (ant) rejoice.
304 celebrated (adj) praised or honoured publicly; extolled, glorified, acclaimed, applauded. (ant) criticised.
305 prominence (n) the state of being important, noticeable or famous; eminence, distinction. (ant) obscurity.
306 gravitas (n) seriousness and dignity; gravity, solemnity, grandeur, sobriety. (ant) frivolity.
307 pantomime (n) an absurd situation; show, sham, farce, charade, mockery. (ant) reality.
308 facade (n) a deceptive (false) outward appearance; pretence, veneer, mask, front, charade. (ant) candour.
309 comprise (v) be made up or consist of; include, contain, involve, compose, encompass. (ant) exclude.
310 pretence (n) a false display; charade, sham, make-believe, act, deception, simulation. (ant) realism.
311 fiction (n) something untrue or invented; falsehood, fabrication, lie, deceit, illusion. (ant) fact, truth.
312 sham (n) a thing that is not what it purports (claims) to be; pretence, act, facade, charade. (ant) reality.
313 abysmal (adj) extremely bad; appalling, woeful, atrocious, shameful, deplorable, lamentable. (ant) superb.
314 stately (adj) indicating high rank (position); grand, courtly, imperial, majestic, pompous. (ant) modest.
315 sentiment (n) opinion or view held or given by another; feeling, response, reaction, attitude. (ant) apathy.
316 complicit (adj) involved in something viewed as wrong; conspiratorial, guilty, collaborative. (ant) innocent.
317 sanction (v) approve or permit; allow, authorise, endorse, empower, consent. (ant) veto, disapprove.
318 pursuit (n) action of pursuing (search, chase, follow); quest, hunt, detection, pursual, stalking. (ant) retreat.
319 reverence (n) deep respect; worship, admiration, awe, veneration, devotion, esteem. (ant) contempt.
320 compulsive (adj) acting because of an irresistible urge; obsessive, fanatical, irrational. (ant) controllable.
321 narcissistic (adj) excessively (extremely) interested in oneself; vain, self-absorbed, egotistical. (ant) selfless.
322 drive (n) an innate (inborn) determination to attain (achieve); ambition, motivation, zeal. (ant) inertia.
323 self-centred (adj) overly interested in oneself; selfish, egotistical, egocentric, narcissistic. (ant) altruistic.
324 applause (n) praise expressed by clapping; acclaim, admiration, approval, ovation, accolade. (ant) criticism.
325 indisputably (adv) in a way that cannot be disputed (challenged); undoubtedly. (ant) questionably.
326 tear (v) pull apart; rip, split, slash, shred, destroy, divide, sever, separate, rive, wrest, sunder. (ant) join.
327 asunder (adv) apart from others; in two, up, into pieces, to bits, to shreds. (ant) together.
328 grieve (v) feel intense sorrow; mourn, lament, regret, ache, miss, rue, suffer, wail. (ant) rejoice, delight.
329 repeal (v) recall or withdraw; cancel, reverse, revoke, rescind, abolish, annul, nullify. (ant) allow, keep.
330 relegation (n) the act of moving to an inferior position or rank; demotion, downgrading. (ant) promotion.
331 inability (n) the state of being unable to do something; incompetence, incapacity, incapability. (ant) ability.
332 exoneration (n) the act of officially freeing someone of blame; pardon, acquittal. (ant) conviction.
333 legacy (n) a lasting effect of an event or process; heritage, outcome, bequest, provision.
334 spurn (v) reject with disdain (scorn); snub, rebuff, despise, refuse, repudiate, disapprove. (ant) accept.
335 heavenly (adj) of heaven; divine, supernatural, holy, spiritual, saintly, blessed. (ant) hellish, unbearable.
336 unsullied (adj) not spoiled or made impure; untainted, perfect, pure, clean, untarnished. (ant) tarnished.
337 utopia (n) imagined place where all is perfect; ideal, heaven, paradise, nirvana, dreamland. (ant) hell.
338 ethereal (adj) spiritual or heavenly; celestial, airy, ghostly, wraithlike, eerie, unearthly. (ant) earthly.
339 clemency (n) mercy; forgiveness, pity, leniency, pardon, compassion, moderation. (ant) heartlessness.
340 endow (v) provide with; give, award, enable, empower, donate, grant, furnish, bestow. (ant) take.
341 harmony (n) a feeling of agreement or peaceableness (peace); accord, togetherness, amity. (ant) discord.
342 escalate (v) increase quickly; intensify, heighten, spiral, accelerate, soar, rocket, surge. (ant) dropping.
343 falter (v) lose momentum or strength; hesitate, waver, vacillate, pause, flounder. (ant) continue, rally.
344 indulgence (n) the act of indulging (satisfying); comfort, pleasure, spoiling, excess. (ant) moderation.
345 ghostly (adj) like a ghost in appearance; spooky, ethereal, spectral, eerie, wraithlike. (ant) normal.
346 materialise (v) appear; emerge, arrive, arise, occur, manifest, develop, evolve. (ant) disappear, evaporate.
347 vapour (n) a misty substance suspended (floating) in the air; haze, fog, cloud, suspension, miasma.
348 spellbind (v) hold the attention of as if by magic; beguile, mesmerise, compel, engross, rivet. (ant) bore.
349 apparition (n) a ghost or ghostlike image; manifestation, appearance, phantasm, spectre, ghoul.
350 agitation (n) anxiety or nervous excitement; perturbation, disquiet, tension, irritation. (ant) calm.
351 intonation (n) the rise and fall of a voice in speech; pitch, inflection, tone, timbre, cadence.
352 awestruck (adj) filled with or revealing awe; astonished, staggered, rapt, overwhelmed. (ant) unimpressed.
353 contour (n) an outline representing a shape; form, silhouette, delineation, line, profile, figuration, curve.
354 demonic (adj) like a demon (devil); crazed, wicked, fiendish, devilish, infernal, manic. (ant) sane, angelic.
355 interrogate (v) ask questions aggressively or formally; examine, cross-examine, quiz, grill. (ant) answer.
356 piteous (adj) arousing or deserving pity; pathetic, miserable, pitiable, wretched. (ant) enviable.
357 vomit (v) be sick; regurgitate, disgorge, retch, gag, heave, spew, puke, barf. (ant) swallow.
358 quaver (v) shake or tremble; quiver, warble, tremor, flinch, flutter. (ant) steady.
359 irate (adj) feeling great anger; furious, incensed, mad, enraged, fuming, infuriated, livid. (ant) calm.
360 lofty (adj) haughty and aloof or an imposing height; tall, disdainful, superior, arrogant. (ant) humble, short.
361 quail (v) show or feel fear; quake, quaver, blench, cower, cringe, flinch, recoil, wince. (ant) confront.
362 timorous (adj) nervous or lacking confidence; faint-hearted, weak-knee
d, timid, cowardly. (ant) brave.
363 domineering (adj) fond of controlling others; bullying, oppressive, dictatorial. (ant) submissive.
364 vigorously (adv) with vigour (energy); energetically, forcefully, strongly, boldly. (ant) sluggishly, feebly.