Word Map Index

Literary Words:

AmorphousSereneProdigiousSublimeClamorCondescendProfoundManifestCoerceDearthLanguor

Academic Word List:

ProcessAnalysisIronicGenerate

Analysis:a= not

asexualasymmetrical

morph= formendomorphectomorphmesomorphmorphologyto morph intoMighty Morphin Power Rangers

amorphous

Synonyms ornear-synonymsshapelessformlesshalf-formedblob-likeundefinednebulousvagueunstructured

Example: Non-example: Use: The ice cream, half melted,formed an amorphous heap onthe floor. (adjective)

Unrelated sound-alike: amor (love)

Forms: amorphously (adverb)

History (Etymology): from the Greek xeros: dry

serene

Synonyms ornear-synonymsCalmTranquilUnruffledMildMellowPeaceful

Use: The nurse’s serene eyes and gentle manner created a surprisingly soothing atmosphere in the emergency room.

Forms: serenity (Noun) serenely (Adverb)

Antonyms or near-antonymsStormyTumultuousViolentOut-of-control

“My serenity is rippled but not ruffled.”“serene and celestial atmosphere”“vision of serenity and purity”“His roof is the overhanging sky which reflects his serenity.”

From Walden by Henry David Thoreau:

Example: Non-example:

Close Relatives:Prodigy: an exceptionally talented or brilliant childProduce, productive

prodigious

Synonyms ornear-synonymsAbundantBountifulOverflowingExtravagantLavishProductiveDazzling Use: We celebrate

Thanksgiving to give thanks for the prodigious harvest of our homeland.

Forms: prodigiousness Antonyms or near-antonymsMeagerPaltryInsufficientUnimpressive

Example: Non-example:

“…prodigious speed”“…prodigious strength”

From Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift:

From Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: “I like then prodigiously.”

Unrelated sound-alike:prodigal (extravagant)

sublime

Synonyms ornear-synonymsHeavenlyTranscendentMajestic SuperbRemarkableAwesomeAwe-inspiringDivineExaltedGrand

Use: When I entered theSistine Chapel, I was awed its sublime beauty.

Antonyms or near-antonymsMundaneOrdinaryUnremarkableUninspiringRidiculous

“…the sublime shape of the mountains”“…the transcendent vision of sublime beauty”

From Frankenstein by Mary Wollenscraft Shelley:

Example: Non-example:

clamor

Synonyms ornear-synonyms NoiseRacketHubbub OutcryFuss

Use: On Black Friday, crowds line up hours before the mall opens, clamoring for bargains.

Antonyms or near-antonyms

QuietSerenityTranquility

“ From the first, I was clamorous to learn.”

From Macbeth by William Shakespeare:“We shall make our griefs and clamors roar upon his death.”

From One Writer’s Beginnings by Eudora Welty:

Collocation: When used as a verb: clamor for

Forms: clamored, clamoring; clamorous

Example: Non-example:

acute

Synonyms ornear-synonyms SharpIntensePiercing

Use:Acute pain in a tooth may mean that you need a root canal treatment.

Antonyms or near-antonyms

MildBlunt Subtle

“ Her head ached acutely.”

From Animal Farm by George Orwell “Every mouthful of food was an acute pleasure.”

From Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen:

Math connection: acute angle (less than 90 degrees)

Forms: acuteness, acuity; acutely;

Example: Non-example:

condescend

Synonyms ornear-synonyms

Talk “down” toDeignScornSnubDisrespectPatronize “have an attitude”

Use: I resented the teacher because whenever I asked a question, rolled her eyes and answered in a condescending way thathumiliated me.

Antonyms or near-antonyms

RespectDefer toLevel with

“ She was forced to condescend to our company.”

From To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee “Jem condescended to take me to school on the first day.”

From Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte:

Forms: condescension; condescended, condescending

Example: Non-example:

Analysis:Pro = forward (procedure, protect, produce)

Fundus: bottom (fundamental)

profound

Synonyms ornear-synonymsDeepBottomlessMeaningfulUnfathomable

Use: Although the movie was funny, it expressed profound ideas about the meaningless of war.

Forms: profoundly (adverb)Antonyms or near-antonymsShallowSuperficialFrivolous

Noun Associations: : abyss chasm Adjective Associations: philosophical reflective intense awe-inspiring

Example: Non-example:

profound stillness profound darkness profound thinker profound void profound anguish profound glance profound anguish

From Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Analysis:Mani: hand (manufacture, manual

manifest

Synonyms ornear-synonymsObviousApparentOvertEvidentVisiblePerceptible

Use: The signs of her illness manifested as fatigue, paleness, and unexplainable weight loss.

Slang: up front; out thereSlang opposite: on the down-low

Antonyms or near-antonymsCovertOccultDiscreteClandestineImperceptible subtle

Alternate use: Manifest (noun): a list of items being transported on a truck; a passenger list on an airplane

Historical associations:

Manifest Destiny

Forms: manifestation (noun)manifesting, manifested (verbs)

Degrees:encourage, request, invite…persuade…urge…bully… demand… mandate…coerce

Synonyms ornear-synonymsforcecompel

Use: John Proctor would not be coerced intosigning his name to a false confession that hehad practiced witchcraft. (verb)

Analysis:co= witherc/erg= work (ergonomic)

Forms: coersion (noun); coersive (adjective)

coerce

Slang:strong-armmusclearm-twist

Situations: torture, rape, arrest, blackmail, extortion

Example: Non-example:

Movie quote: “In the end,he made him an offer hecouldn’t refuse: Either Johnny’ssignature or his brains wouldbe on the contract.” Godfather I

Common association: coerce aConfession out of a suspect

Antonyms:plethoraglutbumper cropfloodoverflowexcess

Synonyms ornear-synonymsscarcitypaucitylackinsufficiencysparsenessshortfall

Use: Because of a dearth of jobs,many Americans are unemployedin 2010.

dearth

Situations: famine, poverty, emptiness, drought

Collocation: dearth of

related adjectives:sparse, meager, paltry

Example: Non-example:

languor

Synonyms ornear-synonymslazinesslassitudelethargystillnessindolencetorporweariness

Forms: languid, languorousAntonyms or near-antonymsvigorenergyget-up-and-gozip

Associations: : an afternoon nap sleeping till noon slowness

:

Use: from Uncle Tom’s Cabinby Harriet Beecher Stowe

She opened her eyes in a state of dreamy, delicious languor.

Example: Non-example

irony

Synonyms ornear-synonyms

SatireParadoxIncongruityCoincidence

Example:

A fireman’s house burns downYou say: “I never get sick,” and then you get sick

You are happy. Then, you winthe lottery. Because of yourwinnings, you are unhappy.

You unwittingly marry a relative(separated at birth)

What you think is the worst dayof your life, turns out to be the best

Breaking up on Valentine’s Day

Forms:IronyIronicironicalIronically

Antonyms:Expected outcomeNormalcyOrdinariness

Kinds of:Dramatic ironySituational ironyVerbal irony

Song:Alannis Morissette“Isn’t it Ironic?”

Example Non-example

Use: How ironic that the day she expected to get engaged was the day that her boyfriend broke up with her!

process

Synonyms ornear-synonymsmethodstepscourse of actiondevelopmentmanner means

Forms: processes, processed, processing procedure, proceed, procedural procession, processional

Antonyms or near-antonymschaosrandomness

Associations: : how a bill becomes a law digestion building something

Collocation: in the process of steps in the process

Use: It may take up to two weeks to process your application because we use a careful, detailed process of screening.

Example: Non-example:

Analysis: (Greek)ana= up, against, back

lys= loosen

analysis

Synonyms ornear-synonyms

breakdowninvestigationexamination

Use: An analysis of the datareveals that although severalkey economic indicators showoverall improvement, unemploymentremains high, especially in states thatrely on manufacturing.

Forms: analyze; analytical; analytically pl.: analyses

Similar words:catalyst: agent of changesynthesis: a new combination

Antonyms or near-antonyms:summaryoverviewopinion

Example: Non-Example:

Etymology: (LatinGen: beginning; origin

generate

Synonyms ornear-synonymscreatebeginformformulateproducepropagateprocreatereproduceevolveoriginateengenderpromote

Use: The first stage of the writing process is brainstorming, in which generate as many ideas as possible.

Forms: generation; generated; generating; generational; generative

Relatives:genesisgeneralgeneratorgenocidegene; geneticgenregenuinegenius

Antonyms or near-antonyms:die degenerateextinguishfade

Example Non-Example: