| A | B |
|---|
| adversary | noun: One who offers opposition; an enemy or foe Sent: Too many unfortunate events occur at work to be considered coincidental; Greta must have an unknown _adversary_ in the organization |
| ameliorate | verb: To make or become better; to improve Sent: Many people ingest extract of Echinacea to _ameliorate_ the severity of colds and respiratory infections. |
| bane | noun: Ruin; a deadly poison; something or someone that causes death, destruction, or ruin Sent: Merlin told King Arthur, "It is the _bane_ of man that he forgets." |
| catastrophic | adj: Extremely harmful; bringing substantial ruin Sent: Hurricane Katrina had a _catastrophic_ effect on the city of New Orleans and its people. |
| demise | noun: The ending of existence or activity; death; cessation; downfall Sent: Han's will stipulated that, upon his _demise_, his estate should be sold and the proceeds donated to medical research. |
| dire | adj: Causing fear, suffering, dread; warning of trouble; urgent Sent: Ayoko felt that electing the wrong candidate could have _dire_ consequences given the troubles her country faced. |
| exacerbate | verb: To make more severe or violent; to aggravate or exasperate Sent: When Pandora and Elwood were called to the principal's office, Pandora thought they should run away which Elwood knew would just _exacerbate_ the situation. |
| facile | adj: Done with ease; done without due care or effort; superficial Sent: With twenty-five years of experience, Elbridge was a _facile_ crane operator. |
| forbidding | adj: Threatening; frightening; hostile Sent: The rowdy group of kids quickly became quiet when they saw the _forbidding_ expression on Mr. Weber's face. |
| futile | adj: Useless; unproductive; having no result; frivolous Sent: Valeria tried to talk her parents into letting her attend a co-ed sleepover, but her efforts were _futile_. |
| haven | noun: A place of shelter, safety, or sanctuary; a harbor or port Sent: Rural people often imagine a big city as a _haven_ for crime. |
| interloper | noun: One who intrudes on the privacy, place, or activity of another without permission; a meddler Sent: As soon as the museum guards detected the thief, they moved to catch the _interloper_. |
| jeopardize | verb: To expose to risk; imperil; to put in jeopardy Sent: Failure to use virus protection could _jeopardize_ important information on your computer. |
| onerous | adj: Difficult to bear; oppressive; burdensome Sent: Exporting goods from the Pacific Rim is easy, but _onerous_ trade regulations make it more difficult to import to that market. |
| opportunist | noun: A person who takes advantage of an opportunity without regard for principles or consequences, usually for personal benefit. Sent: A hacker is an _opportunist_ who takes advantage of computer security flaws. |
| perilous | adj: Hazardous; dangerous; full of peril Sent: Seat belts and air bag technology have made driving a car less _perilous_. |
| plight | noun: A situation, usually one that is unfortunate, unpleasant, or trying Sent: Mother Teresa worked tirelessly to improve the _plight_ of the sick and hungry. |
| propitious | adj: Presenting advantageous circumstances; indicative of success. Sent: The beneficial alignment of the planets reveals that today is a _propitious_ time to launch the satellite. |
| proponent | noun: An advocate; a person who supports a cause Sent: Ralph Nader has long been a _proponent_ of consumer rights. |
| tribulation | noun: Great affliction, trial, or suffering Sent: The collapse of the housing market has caused great _tribulation_ among real estate agents. |
