11+ vocabulary list 4: Stretch words
58 words at stretch words level, each with a child-friendly meaning, a synonym and an antonym.
| Word | Meaning | Same as | Opposite |
|---|---|---|---|
| benevolent | kind and wanting to help others | kind | cruel |
| abundant | present in very large amounts | plentiful | scarce |
| reluctant | not wanting to do something | unwilling | eager |
| feeble | lacking strength or power | weak | strong |
| candid | saying exactly what you think | honest | deceitful |
| ailing | unwell or in poor health | sickly | healthy |
| aloof | distant and not wanting to mix with others | distant | friendly |
| arduous | very hard and tiring to do | strenuous | effortless |
| arrogant | thinking you are better than everyone else | haughty | modest |
| ascend | move upward | climb | descend |
| audacious | bold and willing to take big risks | daring | cautious |
| belated | happening later than expected | overdue | timely |
| clamorous | full of loud shouting or noise | rowdy | peaceful |
| contiguous | touching or joined along an edge | adjoining | separate |
| diligent | working hard and carefully at tasks | hardworking | idle |
| discern | to notice or understand something clearly | perceive | overlook |
| discordant | sounds that clash and do not fit together | jarring | melodic |
| drab | Dull, with no bright colours | dreary | vibrant |
| dynamic | full of energy and new ideas | spirited | inert |
| elementary | very basic and easy | rudimentary | advanced |
| elongated | stretched out to be longer than usual | lengthened | shortened |
| eloquent | speaking in a clear and persuasive way | articulate | inarticulate |
| erudite | having deep knowledge from lots of study | scholarly | uneducated |
| gregarious | enjoying being with lots of people | sociable | reserved |
| hushed | so faint you can hardly hear it | muted | boisterous |
| hypocritical | saying one thing but doing another | insincere | authentic |
| inaudible | impossible to hear at all | soundless | audible |
| indolent | not wanting to work; very lazy | slothful | industrious |
| laborious | needing a lot of hard work | taxing | simple |
| laconic | expressing much in very few words | terse | rambling |
| lucid | clear and easy to understand | clear | confusing |
| magnanimous | generous and forgiving towards others | generous | selfish |
| melancholy | feeling sadly thoughtful, without much cheer | mournful | joyful |
| mumble | to speak quietly and unclearly | mutter | enunciate |
| navigate | find your way while travelling | steer | wander |
| novice | a person who is new to learning something | beginner | expert |
| plummet | fall very quickly downward | plunge | soar |
| ponder | to think carefully about something | contemplate | ignore |
| propel | push something forward with force | drive | impede |
| saunter | walk in a slow relaxed way | stroll | sprint |
| sceptical | doubting that something is true | doubtful | credulous |
| sincere | truthful and meaning what you say | heartfelt | deceptive |
| straightforward | easy to understand or do | uncomplicated | complex |
| temperate | climate that is mild, neither too hot nor cold | moderate | extreme |
| timid | easily frightened and not brave | shy | bold |
| veer | turn suddenly away from a straight path | swerve | continue |
| vindictive | wanting to harm someone who upset you | spiteful | forgiving |
| vitality | the energy and strength needed to stay active | vigour | lethargy |
| amplify | to make a sound stronger or louder | boost | mute |
| apprehensive | worried about something that might happen | nervous | assured |
| cacophony | a harsh mixture of loud, jarring sounds | dissonance | harmony |
| contrite | feeling truly sorry for doing wrong | remorseful | unrepentant |
| despondent | feeling very unhappy and without hope | hopeless | buoyant |
| euphoric | extremely happy and full of joy | ecstatic | downcast |
| irritable | easily annoyed or angered | tetchy | amiable |
| petulant | childishly grumpy or sulky | peevish | agreeable |
| placid | calm and not easily upset | tranquil | volatile |
| tremulous | shaking slightly from fear or excitement | quivering | steady |