Wordlist - A6: Accost to Acrimony

51. ACCOST  [uh-kost] 
(v) To approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with a demand or request.

Synonyms:
entice, confront, welcome, entreat, consult, beseech.
Antonyms:

avoid, evade, ignore, shun, scorn.

Usage:
The reporters accosted the police chief to know about the scandal.

52. ACCOUTRE /əˈkutər/ Show Spelled[uh-koo-ter]
(v) to equip or outfit, esp. with military clothes, equipment, etc. also accouter (U.S)

Synonyms:
embellish, outfit, rig, equip.

Antonyms:

disrobe, unfurnish. 

Usage:

The army is accoutered with sophisticated weapons to fight against the hidden terrorists.  



53. ACCRUE [uh-kroo]
(v) to come to one as a gain, addition, or increment; To increase, accumulate, or come about as a result of growth;

Synonyms:
accumulate, amass, build up, aggregate, amalgamate.

Antonyms:

dissipate, dwindle, lessen, squander, waste.

Usage:
Interest is accruing in my savings account.

54. ACERBITY [uh-sur-bi-tee]
(n) sourness, with roughness or astringency of taste;
harshness or severity, as of temper or expression.


Synonyms:

acidity, asperity, astringency, mordancy, vitriolicism, acrimoniousness, causticity, ill temper, irritability.

Antonyms:
mellowness, sweetness, mildness, kindness, politeness.

Usage:
 The acerbity of lemon can be attributed to the presence of citric acid. 

55. ACME /ˈækmi/ Show Spelled[ak-mee]
(n) the highest point (of something);  the highest level or degree attainable.

Synonyms:

summit, zenith, pinnacle, culmination, crest, apogee, elevation, vertex.

Antonyms:
bottom, nadir, depth, minimum, zero, rock bottom.

Usage:

1. his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty.

2. The company profits are at their acme.

56. ACNE [ak-nee]
(n) an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands, characterized by comedones and pimples, esp. on the face, back, and chest.
Synonyms:

blemishes, pustules, blackheads, rosacea, skin inflammation, zits.

Usage: 
the most common form of acne usually affects people from puberty to young adulthood 

57. ACOUSTICS [uh-koo-stiks]
(n) the branch of physics that deals with sound and sound waves; the qualities or characteristics of a room, auditorium, stadium, etc., that determine the audibility or fidelity of sounds in it.

Synonyms: 
echo, sound quality, sound property. 

Usage:

The word acoustics comes from the Greek akoustikos (“to do with hearing”) and akouo (“to hear”)

58. ACQUIESCE /ˌækwiˈɛs/ Show Spelled[ak-wee-es]

(v) to consent or comply passively or without protest.

Synonyms:
assent, accede, submit, yield, bend, tolerate, comply,approve, conform, go along with.

Antonyms:
refuse, contest, protest, object, disagree, resist, fight.

Usage:

Mr. Jack acquiesced halfheartedly for the new business plan.

59. ACQUIT [uh-kwit]

(v) To free or clear from a charge or accusation; to release or discharge (a person) from an obligation.

Synonyms:
exculpate, exonerate, absolve, release, liberate, relieve, vindicate.

Antonyms:
convict, blame, condemn, censure, charge, sentence.

Usage:

The jury acquitted him, but the judge still think he's guilty. 

 60. ACRIMONY [ak-ruh-moh-nee]

 (n) bitterness or sharpness of manner, speech, temper, etc.

Synonyms:
acerbity, animosity, asperity, astringency, malice.  
Antonyms:
amity, diplomacy, kindness, courtesy, politeness.

Usage:
The acrimony in her voice when she asked for her diaper to be changed frightened her parents.