verb
to make (something difficult or distasteful) appear more pleasant or acceptable

Synonyms: pacify, soothe

Antonyms:agitate, incite, upset

There was no way to sugarcoat the bad news.

Noun /ˈhɔːlmɑːk/
a mark stamped on articles of gold, silver, or platinum by the British assay offices, certifying their standard of purity.

Synonyms: assay mark, official mark, authentication mark, stamp of authenticity, stamp of authentication, distinctive feature

Noun /ˈtəʊk(ə)n/
a thing serving as a visible or tangible representation of a fact, quality, feeling, etc.

Synonyms: symbol, sign, emblem, badge, representation, indication

I wanted to offer you a small token of my appreciation

Noun /ɪnˈsɪɡnɪə/
a distinguishing badge or emblem of military rank, office, or membership of an organization

Synonyms: badge, crest, emblem, symbol, sign, device

a khaki uniform with colonel's insignia on the collar

Noun /plɔɪ/
a cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage

Synonyms: ruse, tactic, move, device, stratagem, scheme

the president has dismissed the referendum as a ploy to buy time

Adjective /ˈrɛzəluːt/
admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering

Synonyms: determined, purposeful, purposive, resolved, decided, adamant

Antonyms: irresolute, half-hearted

he was resolute in his fight to uphold liberal values

Adjective /dɪˈtəːmɪnd/
having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it

Synonyms: intent on, bent on, set on, dead set on, insistent on, fixed on

Antonyms: irresolute, weak-willed, pusillanimous

Alina was determined to be heard

Adjective /ɛlɪˈmɛnt(ə)ri/
relating to the basic elements of a subject

Synonyms: basic, rudimentary, fundamental, basal, easy, simple

Antonyms: advanced, difficult, complicated

an elementary astronomy course

Adjective /pə(ʊ)ˈtɛnʃ(ə)l/
having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future

Synonyms: possible, likely, prospective, future, probable, budding

a campaign to woo potential customers

Noun /keɪpəˈbɪlɪti/
the power or ability to do something

Synonyms: ability, capacity, power, potential, potentiality

Antonyms: inability, incompetence

he had an intuitive capability of bringing the best out in people

Adjective /ˈprɒbəb(ə)l/
likely to happen or be the case

Synonyms: likely, most likely, odds-on, expected, to be expected, anticipated

Antonyms: improbable, unlikely

it is probable that the economic situation will deteriorate further

Verb /rɪˈfreɪn/
stop oneself from doing something

Synonyms: abstain, desist, hold back, stop oneself, withhold

she refrained from comment

Noun /vəːs/
writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme

Synonyms: poetry, versification, metrical composition, rhythmical composition, rhyme, rhyming

Antonyms: prose

a lament in verse

Verb /rɪˈteɪn/
continue to have (something); keep possession of

Synonyms: keep, keep possession of, keep hold of, hold on to, hold fast to, keep back

Antonyms: give up, lose, abolish, discontinue, alter, forget

built in 1830, the house retains many of its original features

Noun /ˈmɪrɪəd/
a countless or extremely great number of people or things

Synonyms: multitude, a great number, a great quantity, a large number, a large quantity, a lot

myriads of insects danced around the light above my head

Adjective /səkˈsiːdɪŋ/
coming after something in time; subsequent

Synonyms: subsequent, successive, following, ensuing, later, future

Antonyms: preceding, previous

over the succeeding decades, recording equipment got cheaper

Adjective /arəˈmatɪk/
having a pleasant and distinctive smell

Synonyms: fragrant, scented, sweet-scented, sweet-smelling, perfumed, fragranced

Antonyms: foul-smelling

a massage with aromatic oils

Verb /vɛks/
make (someone) feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried, especially with trivial matters

Synonyms: annoy, irritate, infuriate, anger, incense, inflame

Antonyms: mollify, appease

the memory of the conversation still vexed him

Adjective /stɑːk/
severe or bare in appearance or outline

Synonyms: sharply delineated, sharp, sharply defined, well focused, crisp, distinct

Antonyms: fuzzy, indistinct, pleasant, comfortable, ornate, disguised

the ridge formed a stark silhouette against the sky

Adjective /prɪˈsiːdɪŋ/
coming before something in order, position, or time

Synonyms: foregoing, previous, prior, former, precursory, earlier

the preceding pages