| Term | Definition |
| pessimistic (adj.) | Having or showing a lack of hope for the future; expecting bad things to happen.
Synonym: gloomy.
Most doctors were pessimistic that a cure could be found. |
| dormant (adj.) | Not doing anything at this time; not active but with the ability to become active.
Synonyms: asleep, inactive.
The seeds will remain dormant until the spring.
Her emotions have lain dormant for years. |
| sallow (adj.) | Slightly yellow in a way that appears unhealthy.
After a week spent in bed with the flu, he was still rather sallow. |
| ruddy (adj.) | Having a healthy reddish color.
Synonym: reddish.
The girl has a ruddy face. |
| sinister (adj.) | Having an evil appearance; looking likely to cause something bad, harmful, or dangerous to happen.
The movie relies too much on sinister background music to create the suspense. |
| menacing (adj.) | To threaten harm to (someone or something).
Synonym: endanger.
She menaced the dogs by leaving them in the car unattended. |
| sadistic (adj.) | Gets joy from being violent or cruel or from causing pain; Finds delight in cruelty.
He was a troubled youth with a streak of sadism in him. |
| deceitful (adj.) | Not honest; making or trying to make someone believe something untrue.
Synonyms: deceptive, dishonest, fraudulent
The deceitful salesman neglected to mention some important information about the car. |
| reformatory (n.) | A penal institution to which especially young or first offenders are committed for training and reformation (improving themselves by correcting faults and problems). |
| domicile (n.) | A dwelling place; a place of residence.
Synonym: residence.
Students must establish a domicile in the state to be eligible for reduced college tuition. |
| query (n.) | A question or a request for information about something.
Synonyms: question, inquiry.
I have a query about my other. |
| sensible (adj.) | Having or showing good sense or judgment; designed to be comfortable, useful, etc., rather than stylish.
Synonyms: rational, reasonable.
My teacher gave me some sensible advice.
She wore a sensible coat. |
| impassive (adj.) | Not showing emotion.
Synonyms: stoic, apathetic.
Her face remained impassive throughout the trial. |
| abundant (adj.) | Existing or occurring in large amounts.
Synonym: plentiful.
Rainfall is more abundant in late spring.
It is the most abundant bird in the forest. |
| cryptic (adj.) | Difficult to understand; having or seeming to have a hidden meaning.
Synonyms: mysterious, enigmatic.
Unfortunately, his instructions were cryptic. |
| dejected (adj.) | Sad because of loss, failure, etc.
Synonyms: disheartened, depressed.
The dejected players left the field. |
| benevolent (adj.) | Kind and generous; organized to do good things for other people. |
| punctual (adj.) | Arriving or doing something at the expected or planned time.
Synonyms: prompt, timely.
She appreciated the punctual delivery of the daily mail. |
| condemn (v.) | To say in a strong & definite way that someone/something is bad or wrong; to give (someone) a usually severe punishment; to cause someone to suffer or live in difficult or unpleasant conditions.
We strongly condemn this attack.
Schools condemn cheating. |
| sage (adj.) | Very wise; wise through reflection and experience.
Her mother made a sage suggestion that she think long and hard before deciding to marry at such a young age. |
| blatant (adj.) | Very obvious and offensive.
Synonyms: clamorous, obtrusive, obvious.
He showed a blatant disregard for the safety of other drivers. |
| plush (adj.) | A thick, soft fabric; very fancy and usually expensive.
The hotel accommodations were plush. |
| crater (n.) | A large, round hole in the ground made by the explosion of a bomb or something falling from the sky.
Scientists believe the enormous crater was created by the impact of a meteorite thousands of years ago. |
