The 20 words

Question 1

decree

Answer 1

n. an official order that has the force of law
v. order something by decree
synonyms: order, command, dictate
antonyms: reject, spurn

Question 2

laggard

Answer 2

n. a person who makes slow progress and falls behind others
adj. slower than desired or expected
s. straggler, sluggish
a. speeder

Question 3

preclude

Answer 3

v. prevent from happening, impossible
s. prevent, make it impossible for
a. permit, motivate

Question 4

avowed

Answer 4

adj. that has been asserted, admitted, or stated publicly

Question 5

frugal

Answer 5

adj. sparing or economical as regards of money or food
s. thrifty, sparing, economical
a. extravagant, lavish

Question 6

incognito

Answer 6

adj. of a person, having one’s true identity concealed
adv. in a way that conceals one’s true identity
s. disguised, under an assumed name
a. public

Question 7

maim

Answer 7

v. wound or injure (a person or an animal) so that it becomes permanently damaged
s. injure, wound, hurt
a. heal, revive

Question 8

elite

Answer 8

n. a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society
s. best, superior
a. amateur, novice

Question 9

skittish

Answer 9

adj. easily nervous or excitable; easily scared
s. restive, nervous
a. calm, tranquil

Question 10

unison

Answer 10

n. simultaneous performance or utterance in action or speech
s. simultaneously

Question 11

blasé

Answer 11

adj. unimpressive with or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before
s. indifferent, unconcerned
a. excited

Question 12

frivolous

Answer 12

adj. not having any serious purpose or value
s. joking, facetious
a. serious, solemn

Question 13

qualm

Answer 13

n. an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear; a faint or sick feeling
s. doubt, second thought
a. confident

Question 14

ample

Answer 14

adj. enough, plentiful
s. bountiful, sufficient
a. meager, insufficient

Question 15

inaudible

Answer 15

adj. unable to be heard
s. quiet, muted, faint
a. audible, deafening

Question 16

proximity

Answer 16

n. nearness in space, time, or relationship
s. close, near
a. faraway, remoteness

Question 17

articulate

Answer 17

adj. the ability to speak fluently and clearly
v. pronounce clearly and eloquently
s. eloquent, enunciation,
a. unclear, inarticulate

Question 18

finesse

Answer 18

n. well-achieved in a skill
s. skill, talent, trick
a. clumsiness

Question 19

acme

Answer 19

n. the highest point of something
s. pinnacle, top, summit
a. nadir, bottom-point

Question 20

juncture

Answer 20

n. a joining point; a particular point in an event or time
s. intersection, weld
a. separate, apart