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Acrid |
Sharp; pungent (used of smells and taste)
Synonym: burning,
Antonym: sweet
The acrid smoke burned the camper's eyes.
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Boorish |
Ill-mannered
Synonym: loud, rude
Antonym: polite, charming
Each year teacher's see more and more boorish student behavior.
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Cynical |
Believing that people act only out of selfish motives
Synonym: suspicious, unbelieving
Antonym: believing, trusting
Tom is so cynical he believes there are no honest people in the world.
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Epistle |
A letter (form of communication)
Synonym: message, communication
The pope's latest epistle asked perishioners to pray for world peace.
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Heresy |
Against orthodox (traditional) opinion (especially in religious matters)
Synonym: sin, disbelief
Antonym: orthodoxy
In the seventeenth century, it was considered heresy to question a minister.
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Lance |
Spear, spike; javelin
Synonym: sword, blade, dagger
The knight depended on his lance to defeat the enemy.
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Obscure |
Hard to understand; partially hidden
Synonym: unclear; hazy
Antonym: clear; understood
The priest referred to an obscure Latin text as his evidence.
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Poignant |
Deeply moving; strongly affecting the emotions
Synonym: touching; upsetting
Antonym: numb; calm; unaffected
Moviegoers are moved by the poignant scene when Bambi's mother is shot.
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Respite |
A break; intermission
Synonym: rest; time out
Antonym: continuing or continuation
Students look at summer as a respite from the school year.
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Terse |
Concise; to the point
Synonym: short and sweet; brief
Antonym: lengthy; wordy
Mrs. Brown had a terse comeback when students questioned her assignment.
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