1. Ameliorate
Meaning: make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.
Synonym: improve, amend
Antonym: injure, spoil, tarnish, vitiate
Example Sentence: the reform did much to ameliorate living standards
2. Kingpin
Meaning: a person or thing that is essential to the success of an organization or operation.
Synonym: bigwig
Antonym: inferior, subordinate
Example Sentence: the kingpins of the television industry
3. Laconic
Meaning: using very few words.
Synonym: brief, concise, terse, succinct, short, economical,
Antonym: verbose, long-winded, loquacious
Example Sentence: his laconic reply suggested a lack of interest in the topic
4. Punitive
Meaning: inflicting or intended as punishment.
Synonym: penal, disciplinary, corrective,
Antonym: exonerating, condoning, pardoning
Example Sentence: he called for punitive measures against the Eastern bloc
5. Vanquish
Meaning: defeat thoroughly.
Synonym: conquer, defeat
Antonym: surrender
Example Sentence: He successfully vanquished his rival