Vocab L. 19 Strength and Defense

Sitatham P. (Thailand)
10 words 1 learner

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  1. buttress
    a support usually of stone or brick
    The bad quality of air buttressed the argument for stronger environmental controls. The old castle wall had stone buttresses on each side.
    Synonyms: abutment, column, mainstay, pier, prop, reinforcement, shore, stanchion, stay, strut, underpinning
  2. defensible
    capable of being justified or protected
    The fort was built so that it would be defensible against all attackers. During battle, hilltops are more defensible than plains.
    Synonyms: excusable, fit, logical, pardonable, permissible, plausible, proper, tenable, valid
    Antonyms: indefensible, invalid, unjustifiable, unvindicable
  3. durable
    existing for a long time
    Sometimes it is better to buy durable clothes which last a long time rather than buying the latest fashion. Maria told the girls to buy durable boots for the hiking trip.
    Synonyms: abiding, constant, dependable, diuturnal, enduring, fast, firm, fixed, impervious, lasting, long-continued, perdurable, perduring, permanent, persistent, reliable, resistant, sound, stable, stout, strong, substantial, tenacious, tough
    Antonyms: fragile, impermanent, poorly made, temporary, undependable, unsturdy, weak
  4. fortify
    make strong or stronger
    Taking vitamins is one way to fortify the body against health problem. Bulletproof windows fortified the president.
    Synonyms: brace, build up, bulwark, buttress, charge up, consolidate, embattle, entrench, garrison, gird, prepare, prop, protect, punch up, ready, reinforce, secure, shore up, soup up, steel*, step up, strengthen, support
    Antonyms: decrease, hurt, injure, weaken
  5. invigorate
    give life or energy to
    I feel invigorated after I go for a swim. A cold glass of lemonade invigorated me after my long run.
    Synonyms: activate, animate, brace, buck up, energize, enliven, excite, exhilarate, fortify, freshen, galvanize, harden, inspirit, liven up, nerve, pep up, perk up, pick up, quicken, rally, refresh, reinforce, rejuvenate, renew, restore, revitalize, rouse, snap up, stir, strengthen, trigger, turn on, vitalize, vivify, zap
    Antonyms: bore, depress, dishearten, dull, enervate
  6. potent
    having or wielding force or authority
    The medicine was extremely potent and the patient began to recover quickly. Penicillin can be a potent drug in the fight against infections.
    Synonyms: almighty, authoritative, ball of fire, cogent, commanding, compelling, convincing, dominant, dynamic, efficacious, forcible, full-bodied, go-getter, great, gutsy, impressive, influential, lusty, mighty, persuasive, powerhouse, puissant, punchy, robust, spanking, stiff, strong, sturdy, telling, trenchant, useful, vigorous
    Antonyms: disabled, fragile, helpless, impotent, incapable, ineffective, weak
  7. quell
    suppress or crush completely
    The raucous football fans were quelled by the police. Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.
    Synonyms: annihilate, conquer, crush, extinguish, hush up, kill, overcome, overpower, put down, put the lid on, queer, quench, shut down, silence, sit on, stamp out, stifle, stop, subdue, subjugate, vanquish
    Antonyms: succeed, win
  8. recalcitrant
    stubbornly resistant to authority or control
    Some people are recalcitrant whenever they are asked to do something. When his mom told him it was time to leave for school, the recalcitrant 5 year old dropped to the floor and refused to go.
    Synonyms: contrary, contumacious, defiant, fractious, indomitable, insubmissive, insubordinate, intractable, obstinate, opposing, radical, rebellious, refractory, resistant, resisting, stubborn, undisciplinable, undisciplined, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly, untoward, unwilling, wayward, wild, willful, withstanding
    Antonyms: amenable, obedient, passive
  9. resistant
    disposed to or engaged in defiance of established authority
    The blanket was made to be resistant to fire. This firefighter's glove was made to be resistant to fire.
    Synonyms: contrary, defiant, disobedient, opposing, rebellious, unyielding
    Antonyms: receptive, susceptible
  10. valor
    courage when facing danger
    The nurse showed great valor when treating the war casualties. The soldier proved his valor in battle.
    Synonyms: backbone*, boldness, courage, dash*, defiance, derring-do, determination, fearlessness, fight, firmness, fortitude, gallantry, grit, guts*, hardihood, heart, heroism, indomitableness, intestinal fortitude, intrepidity, invincibility, mettle, moxie*, nerve, pluck, prowess, resolution, sand*, spirit, spunk, starch, stomach*, tenacity, valiance, valiancy
    Antonyms: cowardice
Created on Thu Feb 28 09:14:14 EST 2013 (updated Thu Feb 28 09:26:55 EST 2013)

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