1.

synopsis

A synopsis is a powerful counterargument.

A synopsis is a paraphrase—there's no need to read the work being synopsized.

A synopsis summarizes a more lengthy work, be it a written text or a movie.

2.

abstract

Abstract is a synonym for "complicated."

If it's abstract, it cannot be valid.

World is a concept that is more abstract than "earth."

3.

concrete

If your statement seems too abstract,* use concrete examples to illustrate what you mean.

Everything she said was too concrete for me—I couldn't picture anything.

Concrete is a synonym for simple.

4.

glib

When reporters asked tough questions, the answers were much too glib for my taste.

A glib response is a swift response.

In a very glib response, the attorneys went through the accusations point by point and countered them with a wealth of data.

5.

succinct

Succinct is a synonym for glib.

The reviewer managed to summarize the author's lengthy argument in a succinct synopsis.*

The witness was useless because her answers were too succinct.

6.

colloquial

Some instructors think that papers written for school should never include any colloquial language.

The brothers who own the company used to fight all of the time, but they have become very colloquial.

Having grown up in a small town, her view of the world was very colloquial.

7.

verbatim

The student's plagiarism was so obvious because she had included verbatim passages in her paper without proper reference.

Verbatim records typically leave out unimportant details.

When asked about his whereabouts at the time of the accident, the witness gave a verbatim answer.

8.

syntax

The syntax of every sentence was hard to untangle, making the entire paper difficult to read.

The speaker tried to syntax the three different points of view, but she did it so poorly that no one understood her point.

Whatever he said had an underlying syntax that was mean-spirted and self-serving.

9.

metaphor

A metaphor is an overused expression.

"It's as American as apple pie" is a metaphor.

"She is right now the brightest star on Broadway" is a metaphor.

10.

cliché

The Gettysburg Address starts with the famous cliché "Four score and seven years ago..."

A cliché is always a compliment in disguise.

Clichéd expression are the hallmark of writers who lack imagination.