Slimeantics #2

RAINBOW

Close, for fewer points: SPECTRUM, PRISM

In a sentence:

• After the storm ended, a bright rainbow stretched across the sky in many colors.
• The children pointed at the rainbow and joked about finding a pot of gold.

ORCHARD

Close, for fewer points: PLANTATION, VINEYARD, GARDEN, FARM

• GROVE: A grove need not contain fruit trees.

In a sentence:

• We picked red apples in the orchard where rows of trees stretched to the barn.
• In spring, the orchard is covered with pink and white blossoms.

DWINDLE

Also accepted: SHRINK, DECREASE, DIMINISH, WANE, DECLINE, LESSEN, EBB, FADE, TAPER, SUBSIDE, FALL

Close, for fewer points: DROP, SHRIVEL, PETER, ERODE

In a sentence:

• As the winter went on, our supply of firewood began to dwindle.
• The crowd at the fair will dwindle once the sun goes down.

PLACID

Also accepted: CALM, PEACEFUL, SERENE, COMPOSED, EQUABLE, UNRUFFLED, UNFLAPPABLE, EVEN

Close, for fewer points: GENTLE, DOCILE, EASYGOING, RELAXED, COOL, TRANQUIL

• MILD: Mild means not intense; it need not imply being untroubled or hard to upset.

In a sentence:

• The placid lake lay still and quiet without a ripple.
• Our placid horse never gets spooked, even by loud noises.

NEBULOUS

Also accepted: VAGUE, HAZY, UNCLEAR, FUZZY, CLOUDY, FORMLESS, SHAPELESS, AMORPHOUS, INDISTINCT, INDEFINITE, MURKY, WOOLLY, BLURRY, OBSCURE, AMBIGUOUS, IMPRECISE, UNFORMED, MISTY

Close, for fewer points: UNCERTAIN, CONFUSED, MUDDLED, DIM, FOGGY, LOOSE

In a sentence:

• The idea in her head was still nebulous, with no clear shape or details yet.
• A nebulous cloud of mist hung over the field and made it hard to see anything distinct.

CALLOW

Also accepted: GREEN, YOUTHFUL, JUVENILE, UNSOPHISTICATED, UNWORLDLY, INNOCENT, UNTRIED, UNTESTED, UNSEASONED, JEJUNE

Close, for fewer points: CHILDISH, ADOLESCENT, GAUCHE, SIMPLE, UNSKILLED, IGNORANT, FLEDGLING

• NAIVE: These do not require the youth specified in this clue.
• INEXPERIENCED: These do not require the youth specified in this clue.
• RAW: These do not require the youth specified in this clue.
• IMMATURE: Immaturity need not mean a lack of experience.

In a sentence:

• The callow recruit had never left home and knew nothing about the world.
• He was a callow youth, young and inexperienced, who believed every tall tale.

SESQUIPEDALIAN

Also accepted: GRANDILOQUENT, BOMBASTIC, PRETENTIOUS, HIGHFALUTIN

Close, for fewer points: LENGTHY, ORNATE, FLOWERY, PEDANTIC, FLORID, CONVOLUTED

• VERBOSE: These do not necessarily involve using unusually long words.
• WORDY: These do not necessarily involve using unusually long words.
• LONGWINDED: These do not necessarily involve using unusually long words.
• POMPOUS: These do not necessarily involve using unusually long words.
• POLYSYLLABIC: Polysyllabic means having several syllables, not a tendency to use unusually long words.

In a sentence:

• The sesquipedalian professor loved long words and never used a short one when a long one would do.
• Her sesquipedalian speech, packed with giant words, left the audience dizzy.