Dead Words

a lot                      lots                    very                              really              got 

good                    bad                    nice                               cool                stuff

guy                       weird                 Well, (beginning of sentence)          So, (beginning of sentence)

anyways               nowadays         awesome (unless you are referencing something spiritual) 

I think, I believe, My opinion, To me (or any other derivative of these phrases)

 

You want to avoid words that are elementary, bland, overused, or slang terms, as well as phrases that weaken your claim and allow for counter arguments. 

 

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cliche': an overused expression

3 syn: saying, motto, proverb

ant: coinage

pos: noun

 

plethora: a lot of something

3 syn: plenty, abundance, myriad

ant: scarcity

pos: noun

 

gregarious: enjoys the company of others

3 syn: affable, sociable, outgoing

ant: unsociable

pos: adj

 

rebuke: to reprimand

3 syn: scold, lecture, berate

ant: praise

pos: verb 

 

integrity: lives by a moral code

3 syn: honesty, sincerity, trustworthiness

ant: dishonesty

pos: noun

 

apathetic: having a lack of interest in something

3 syn: indifferent, uncaring, emotionless

ant: zealous

pos: adj

 

epiphany: a sudden insight or understanding

3 syn: revelation, realization, knowledge

ant: ignorance

pos: noun

 

detrimental: causes damage

3 syn: harmful, hurtful, bad

ant: beneficial

pos: adj

 

loquacious: very talkative

3 syn: chatty, jabbering, long-winded

ant: pithy

pos: adj

 

pithy: a speech that is brief but full of meaning

3 syn: concise, succinct, blunt

ant: loquacious

pos: adj

 

zenith: the highest point

3 syn: apex, summit, peak

ant: nadir

pos: noun

 

pariah: a social outcast

3 syn: outsider, leper, untouchable

ant: member

pos: noun

 

benevolent: good-hearted toward others

3 syn: caring, kind, friendly

ant: malevolent

pos: adj

 

malevolent: having ill-will toward others

3 syn: hateful, evil, mean

ant: benevolent

pos: adj

 

macabre: having to do with death and decay

3 syn: ghostly, morbid, ghoulish

ant: healthy

pos: adj

 

odious: describes and awful smell

3 syn: repulsive, disgusting, vile

ant: pleasant

pos: adj

 

savory: a yummy taste or smell

3 syn: appetizing, delicious, scrumptious

ant: unappetizing

pos: adj