(adj.) causing irritation, harsh; grinding or wearing down;

(n.) a substance used to smooth or polish

Within every family there are some relationships that tend to be ____________.

Pumice, a natural ____________, is a highly porous type of glass that is produced by volcanic eruptions.

Synonyms: (adj.) chafing, grating, rasping, erosive

Antonyms: (adj.) smooth, polished, satiny, oily, unctuous

(v.) to adapt to a new climate, environment, or situation

You may find it difficult to ___________ to a new school if you arrive in the middle of the school year.

Synonyms: accustom, learn the ropes

(n.) irritation or humiliation caused by disappointment or frustration; (v.) to cause such a feeling

Much to my _________, I placed a mere fourth in the 100-meter freestyle.

The lukewarm reception accorded his first and only opera, Fidelio, deeply chagrin the composer Ludwig Van Beethoven.

Synonyms: (n.) vexation, mortification; (v.) abash, mortify

Antonyms: (n.) jubilation, exultation, triumph; (v.) exult, delight

(adj.) self-satisfied; overly content

_____________ individuals are, by definition, overly pleased with their lot in life.

Synonyms: smug, pleased with oneself

Antonyms: discontented, chagrined

(v.) to express agreement, approve

It is indeed rare for eyewitness accounts of an accident to ______ in every detail.

Synonyms: agree, assent, ratify, sanction

Antonyms: disagree, differ, part company

(n.) slander or libel

Celebrities sometimes find that they have no choice but to sue tabloids for __________.

Synonyms: vilification, calumny, mudslinging

Antonyms: salute, tribute, testimonial, praise

(v.) to make plain or clear, explain; to interpret

The students listened attentively as the math teacher _________ the geometry theorem.

Synonyms: clarify, elucidate, untangle, spell out

Antonyms: confuse, bewilder, obscure, obfuscate

(n.) a noisy quarrel or brawl

Do you think that the ______ on some talk shows are spontaneous or staged?

Synonyms: row, altercation, rhubarb, brouhaha

Antonyms: agreement, accord, unanimity, harmony

(adj.) unnatural, distorted; bizarre

Gargoyles, the _________ beasts carved on many Gothic churches, are actually drainage spouts.

Synonyms: fantastic, outlandish, ugly, deformed

Antonyms: appealing, attractive, comely

(n.) a wild uproar, din, or commotion

The whirl of activity on the floor of a stock exchange often looks and sounds like utter ___________.

Synonyms: chaos, tumult, bedlam, three-ring circus

Antonyms: order, calm, tranquility, peace, repose

(adj.) disagreeably harsh-sounding; disorderly

A _______ voice can be a liability for someone wishing to pursue a career in television journalism.

Synonyms: boisterous, clamorous, strident

Antonyms: placid, tranquil, peaceful, serene pastoral

(adj.) open and responsive to ideas or suggestions

People will generally be _________ to criticism of their work if it given in a constructive manner.

Synonyms: open-minded, tolerant, amenable

Antonyms: narrow-minded, intolerant, hidebound

(v.) to give up or resign something

Throughout history, martyrs have willingly given up their lives rather than ________ their faith.

Synonyms: repudiate, disown, abdicate, abjure

Antonyms: retain, secure, affirm, assent, aver

(v.) to hold back; to put down or check by force

As history has repeatedly proved, even the most brutal tyrants cannot forever _______ the human desire for freedom.

Synonyms: subdue, curb, stifle, constrain, bottle up

Antonyms: liberate, set loose, provoke, excite

(adj.) not inclined to speak; reserved; reluctant

She is understandably ________ about discussing her most deeply held beliefs with a group of total strangers.

Synonyms: taciturn, closemouthed, tight-lipped

Antonyms:talkative, garrulous, voluble, long-winded

(adj.) tasty, appetizing; pungent or salty, not sweet; inoffensive, respectable

Some of the characters a reader meets in a detective story are none too ______.

Synonyms: delectable, flavorful, aromatic, piquant

Antonyms: distasteful, unpalatable, malodorous, bland

(adj.) sleepy, drowsy; inducing sleep

By the end of an enormous Thanksgiving feast, most diners usually feel quite _________.

Synonyms: groggy, sopoific

Antonyms: alert, lively, wide-awake, stimulating

(adj.) intense, forceful, powerful

The defendant's ________ protestations of innocence failed to convince the jurors.

Synonyms: emphatic, fierce, vigorous, impassioned

Antonyms: apathetic, lukewarm, subdued, muted

(adj.) characterized by a ready flow of words; glib, fluent

Reporters never give much credence to tips that they receive from _______ but unreliable informants, however persistent.

Synonyms: loquacious, garrulous, long-winded, prolix

Antonyms: uncommunicative, reticent, taciturn, terse

(adj.) eager, earnest, devoted

Most members of my family are _______ supporters of our local high school's basketball, baseball, and football teams.

Synonyms: ardent, fervent, devout, dogged, gung ho

Antonyms: reluctant, unwilling, averse, tepid