abiding
/əˈbaɪdɪŋ/The opposite of ephemeral — a feeling or interest that lasts for years, not just a moment.
Example: She has an abiding love of classical music.
C222 words · Proficient
Feelings & Attitudes vocabulary — C2
Feelings and attitudes vocabulary for nuanced emotional states — euphoric, wistful, contemptuous and magnanimous — separating a benevolent mood from a malevolent one, and quiet melancholy from open rancour.
22 questions
Words in this set
22euphoric
/juˈfɔrɪk/Another word for elated — an overwhelming rush of joy, more intense than ordinary happiness.
Example:
The fans were euphoric after their team's last-minute win.
malevolent
/məˈlɛvələnt/Another word for spiteful — wanting to cause someone real harm, not just annoyance.
Example:
The villain's malevolent grin made the children shiver.
listless
/ˈlɪstləs/The opposite of enthusiastic — too drained or uninterested to make any effort.
Example:
By the third meeting of the day, everyone looked listless.
wistful
/ˈwɪstfəl/Another word for sad — a gentle, nostalgic sadness when thinking about the past.
Example:
He gave a wistful smile, remembering his childhood home.
contemptuous
/kənˈtɛmptʃuəs/The opposite of respectful — openly showing you think someone deserves none.
Example:
He gave a contemptuous shrug when asked for his opinion.
benevolent
/bəˈnɛvələnt/The opposite of malevolent — kind and wanting good things for other people.
Example:
She was known as a benevolent employer who cared for her staff.
lethargic
/ləˈθɑrdʒɪk/Another word for listless — lacking the energy to do anything, even simple tasks.
Example:
The heat made everyone feel lethargic.
disdainful
/dɪsˈdeɪnfəl/Another word for contemptuous — a look or tone that shows you think someone is beneath you.
Example:
She gave a disdainful glance at the messy desk.
nostalgic
/nɔˈstældʒɪk/Another word for wistful — a gentle sadness for happy times in the past.
Example:
The old photos made her feel nostalgic.
splenetic
Another word for furious — bad-tempered in a bitter, sustained way.
Example:
The final chapter is splenetic rather than argued.
querulous
/ˈkwɛrələs/Another word for complaining — in a whining, irritating manner.
Example:
His letters grew querulous in the last years.
saturnine
Another word for gloomy — unfriendly in appearance as well as in mood.
Example:
A saturnine figure at the end of the bar said nothing all night.
effusive
/ˈɛfjusɪv/Another word for gushing — showing feeling without any restraint at all.
Example:
The reviews were effusive to the point of embarrassment.
irate
/aɪˈreɪt/Another word for angry — extremely so, and openly about it.
Example:
An irate customer had been waiting at the counter for an hour.
supercilious
/ˌsupərˈsɪliəs/Another word for arrogant — behaving as if others are beneath you.
Example:
She gave a supercilious little laugh and turned away.
magnanimous
/mæɡˈnænəməs/Another word for generous — especially towards someone you have beaten.
Example:
He was magnanimous in defeat and everyone noticed.
rancorous
/ˈræŋkərəs/Another word for bitter — full of resentment that has lasted for years.
Example:
The dispute turned rancorous within a fortnight.
insouciant
/ˌɪnˈsusjənt/Another word for carefree — unconcerned when you ought to be worried.
Example:
His insouciant shrug did not help the negotiation.
mawkish
/ˈmɔkɪʃ/Another word for sentimental — to an embarrassing degree.
Example:
The final scene is mawkish where it should be restrained.
dolorous
Another word for mournful — expressing very great sorrow.
Example:
A dolorous organ played the whole congregation out.
choleric
/ˈkɑlərɪk/Another word for irritable — made angry by almost nothing at all.
Example:
A choleric old man ran the boatyard for forty years.
