All terms in this list:
progenitor: a person or thing that first indicates a direction, originates something, or serves as a model; predecessor; precursor
literati: (plural) well-educated, literary people; intellectuals who are interested in literature
moniker: A personal name or nickname.
federated: united, as a federation, under a central governing structure; allied; joined in a league
bork: to break or damage; to misconfigure, especially a computer or other complex device
liaison: communication between two parties or groups; one who acts as an agent between parties; intermediary; a secretive or adulterous sexual relationship
colligate: to formally link or connect together logically; to link facts together by a general description or by a hypothesis that applies to them all
retainer: This agreement is a work for hire contract. The employer pays in advance for work to be specified later. It is generally refundable if the work is not performed. (also) A servant or attendant who has served a family for many years.
coquettish: (of a woman) characteristically flirtatious, especially in a teasing, lighthearted manner
steward: a person who manages the property or affairs for another entity; caretaker
consortium: An association or combination of businesses, financial institutions, or investors, for the purpose of engaging in a joint venture.
omnibus: An anthology of previously released material linked together by theme or author, especially in book form.
ensorcell: to bewitch or enchant someone
impropriety: The condition of being improper.
lithesome: bending readily; pliant; limber; supple; flexible
byword: a word or phrase associated with some person or thing; a characteristic expression, typical greeting, or the like; a word or phrase used proverbially; common saying; proverb; an epithet, often of scorn
curate: to take charge of (a museum) or organize (an art exhibit); to pull together, sift through, and select for presentation, as music or website content
curator: the administrative head of a museum, art gallery, or similar institution; a manager; superintendent
stewardship: the position and duties of a person who acts as the surrogate of another or others, especially by managing property, financial affairs, an estate, etc.; the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth preserving
devolve: to transfer (a duty, responsibility, etc.) to or upon another; pass on; to delegate something to someone else; to be inherited by someone
decor: scenic decoration; scenery; style or mode of embellishment, as of a room, building, or the like
dramaturgy: The art of dramatic composition for the stage.
bellwether: a leader who assumes the forefront of a profession or industry; the leading sheep of a flock, having a bell hung round its neck; anything that indicates future trends; pacesetter; frontrunner; trailblazer
directive: An instruction or guideline that indicates how to perform an action or reach a goal.
marshal: to arrange facts etc. in some methodical order
anarchic: Chaotic, without law or order.
officiate: to perform, carry out, or fulfill (an official duty or function); to perform the duties or function of some office or position
unexceptionable: beyond reproach; beyond criticism; unimpeachable
apropos: (as adj) Of an appropriate or pertinent nature. (as preposition) Regarding or concerning.
attrition: a gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through retirement, resignation, or death; wearing or grinding down by friction
impinge: To interfere with; to encroach (on, upon).
wont: (as noun) one’s habitual way of doing things; as in: "It was his [noun] to rise at dawn." ... (as adj) accustomed or apt to doing something; as in: "He was [adj] to rise at dawn." "Folly is [adj] to have more followers and comrades than discretion."
afeared: A regional variation of afraid (British and Southern U.S.).
disport: to amuse oneself divertingly or playfully; to cavort or gambol; to display ostentatiously
predicate: to announce or assert publicly; to proclaim; declare; affirm
predicated: to have found or derived (a statement, action, etc.); based; as in: "He [verb]ed his behavior on his faith in humanity."
formative: pertaining to the formation and subsequent growth of something
conciliate: make calm and content; placate; mediate in a dispute
prefigure: to show or suggest ahead of time; to represent beforehand; to predict or foresee; to picture or represent to oneself beforehand; imagine
delict: a civil wrong redressable by compensation or punitive damages; tort; a wrongful act for which the person injured has the right to a civil remedy
flagrant: obvious and offensive, blatant, scandalous; on fire, flaming
downscale: pertaining to something downmarket, of a lower quality
oubliette: Dungeon only accessible by a trapdoor at the top.
nom de plume: a pen name or pseudonym
nom de guerre: an assumed name; a pseudonym
plinth: a flat base on which a structure or piece of equipment is placed
temperate: not excessive; moderate in the indulgence of the natural appetites or passions
temporize: To deliberately act evasively or prolong a discussion in order to gain time or postpone a decision, sometimes in order to reach a compromise or simply to make a conversation more temperate.
gala: a showy and festive celebration; pomp; a festive occasion; special entertainment
tannoy: a public address system; loudspeaker
polymorphous: Having, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles; as in: "a [adj] author."
ecclesiastic: Of or pertaining to the church; ecclesiastical.
economy: effective management of the resources of a community or system; as in: "One little girl managed, with felicitous [noun], to get to a happy ending in just nine paragraphs."
waffle: to speak or write equivocally about; as in: "to [verb] on a campaign promise"
whiffle: to waffle, talk aimlessly; to shift about; vacillate; be fickle; to blow a short gust
aberration: the act of departing from the right, normal, or usual course; wandering; deviation, especially from truth or moral rectitude, from the natural state, or from a type
defer: to delay or postpone
gratuity: something given without claim or demand; a gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or bellhop; tip
timidity: the quality of being without self-assurance, courage, or bravery; a state of being easily alarmed or upset; shyness
tenor: the course of thought or meaning that runs through something written or spoken; purport; drift; sense; import; substance; gist
wan: pale, sickly-looking; dim, faint
vituperation: Criticism or invective which is sustained and considered to be overly harsh; abuse; severe censure; blame
vertiginous: having an aspect of great depth, drawing the eye to look downwards; inducing a feeling of giddiness, vertigo, dizziness or of whirling
vacillation: unsteady movement; fluctuation; indecision in speech or action; irresolution
tumid: swollen, enlarged, bulging; distended; tediously pompous; bombastic; high-flown; inflated; overblown; turgid
tendentious: having a tendency; written or spoken with a partisan, biased or prejudiced purpose; implicitly or explicitly slanted
sycophancy: the fawning behavior of a lackey; servile flattery
succulence: abundant in juices; juicy; rich in desirable qualities; affording mental nourishment
strident: loud; shrill, piercing, high-pitched; rough-sounding; grating or obnoxious
solvent: Able to pay all debts as they become due, and having no more liabilities than assets.
sententious: full of meaning; using as few words as possible; pithy and concise
scion: a descendant, especially a first-generation descendant; a detached shoot or twig containing buds from a woody plant, used in grafting
misfeasance: wrongful exercise of lawful authority; the improper performance of an act that is lawful in itself; relating to the wrongful use of legal authority
nonfeasance: the omission of some act that ought to have been performed; the intentional failure to perform an official duty or legal requirement
malfeasance: the performance by a public official of an act that is legally unjustified, harmful, or contrary to law; wrongdoing (used especially of an act in violation of a public trust); misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public official that causes damage
maleficence: harmfulness or mischief
maleficent: Harmful or evil in intent or effect.
bourgeois: of or related to the middle class, especially its attitudes and conventions; dominated or characterized by materialistic pursuits or concerns
remonstrate: To formally protest, object to, or rebel against.
rueful: Causing, feeling, or expressing regret or sorrow.
repine: to regret; to complain; to be low spirited or fretful
redact: to put into suitable literary form; revise; edit
redaction: Edited or censored version of a document.
razzmatazz: noisy or showy fuss and activity; ambiguous or meaningless language
razzle-dazzle: Glitz, glamor/glamour, showiness, or pizazz; schmaltz.
province: a department or branch of learning or activity; as in: "the [noun] of mathematics"
porcine: of, or pertaining to, the pig; overweight to the extent of resembling a pig
perfidiousness: the quality of being deliberately unfaithful; treacherous; deceitful; as in: "a lover with an infamous [noun]ness"
perdition: eternal damnation
ossified: Inflexible or old-fashioned ideas and attitudes.
opprobrious: conveying or expressing shameful conduct; outrageously disgraceful; as in: "[adj] invectives"
aphorism: An original laconic phrase conveying some principle or concept of thought.
edict: a proclamation of law or other authoritative command
fiat: an arbitrary decree or pronouncement, especially by a person or group of persons having absolute authority to enforce it; directive; as in: "The king ruled by [noun]"
mandate: (as noun) an authoritative order or command; edict; dictum; fiat ... (as verb) to authorize or decree, as by the enactment of law; order; require
nugatory: of no real value; trivial, trifling; of little importance; ineffective, invalid or futile
niggling: petty; trivial; inconsequential; as in: "to quibble about a [adj] difference in terminology"
misbegotten: badly conceived, made, or carried out: as in: "his [adj] plan"; born out of wedlock; illegitimate; ill-conceived
maladroit: tactless and insensitive in behavior or speech; not dexterous; clumsy; inept; awkward
lectern: a stand with a slanted top used to support a lecturer's notes
kerfuffle: A disorderly outburst, disturbance, commotion or tumult.
inveigh: to protest strongly or attack vehemently with words; rail
insolvent: Owing more than one has in assets.
inscrutable: difficult or impossible to comprehend, fathom or interpret
grimly: Grim-looking, grim-natured.
fulsome: encompassing all aspects; comprehensive; abundant; copious; fully developed; mature; offensive to good taste, especially as being excessive; overdone or gross
excoriate: To strongly denounce or censure.
equivocation: The use of expressions susceptible to a double signification, possibly with an aim to mislead.
ennoble: To bestow with honor or grace.
emetic: causing nausea and vomiting
effulgence: A state of being bright and radiant, splendor, brilliance.
apprised: notified, or made aware; informed
subsidize: To assist someone or something by granting financial support.
gravitas: substance, weight; seriousness in bearing or manner; dignity
dulcet: Sweet, especially when describing voice or tones; melodious.
disconsolate: cheerless, dreary
deftly: in a nimble and skillful manner, i.e. quickly and neatly in action
contrariety: opposition between one thing and another; disagreement; cross-purposes, marked contrast
concentric: having a common center
columbarium: a sepulchral vault or other structure with recesses in the walls to receive the ashes of the dead
cohort: a group of people supporting the same thing or person; an accomplice; an associate in crime
benighted: plunged into darkness
automaticity: The ability to do things without occupying the mind with the low level details required.
tout: to publicly praise or promote
unfeigned: genuine; not false or hypocritical
refulgent: radiant; shiny; brilliant
spendthrift: one who spends money wastefully
contiguous: sharing a border; touching; adjacent
preen: to dress up; to primp; to groom oneself with elaborate care
prodigious: abundant in size, force, or extent; extraordinary
sanction: authoritative permission or approval; a penalty intended to enforce compliance
urbane: sophisticated; refined; elegant
heretical: violating accepted dogma or convention
inveigle: to obtain by deception or flattery; as in: "to [verb] a person into playing bridge"
chary: wary; cautious; sparing; as in: "[adj] of his praise"
complaisance: the willingness to comply with the wishes of others
didactic: intended to teach or instruct
ebullience: the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings
emollient: soothing, esp. to the skin; making less harsh
smarmy: Falsely earnest, smug, or ingratiating.
defenestrate: To eject or throw (someone or something) from a window.
gorgonzola: A blue-veined Italian cheese, made from cow's milk.
coprolite: fossilized dung
constabulary: Characteristic to police; police-like (as opposed to military)
colloquy: A formal conversation.
poltroon: An ignoble or total coward; a dastard; a mean-spirited wretch.
oracular: Prophetic, foretelling the future.
mastication: The process of chewing.
vomitorium: A passage located behind a tier of seats in an amphitheatre used as an exit for the crowds
propitiation: placation, atonement, expiation.
festoon: An ornament such as a garland or chain which hangs loosely from two tacked spots.
obsolescent: In the process of becoming obsolete, but not obsolete yet.
bilateral: having two sides
schmaltz: exaggerated sentimentalism, as in music or soap operas; liquid chickenfat
vociferous: Making or characterized by a noisy outcry; clamorous.
contingent: (noun) An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen, undetermined, or dependent on something future; a contingency. (adj) Dependent on something that is undetermined or unknown; as in: "[adj] upon successful project completion."
rancorous: characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment
sedulous: persistently or carefully maintained; hard-working; diligent in application or attention; persevering; assiduous; as in: "[adj] flattery"
minutia: A minor detail, often of negligible importance.
pervade: to permeate throughout
polemical: controversial; argumentative
idolatrous: given to intense or excessive devotion to something
impetuous: hastily or rashly energetic; impulsive and vehement
mendacity: the condition of being untruthful; dishonesty
acerbic: having a sour or bitter taste or character
amenable: agreeable; responsive to suggestion
bombast: self-important or pompous writing or speech
reverent: marked by, feeling, or expressing a feeling of profound awe and respect
superfluous: exceeding what is sufficient or necessary
pedagogy: the art or profession of training, teaching, or instructing
pith: the essential or central part
profuse: given or coming forth abundantly; extravagant
infelicitous: unfortunate; inappropriate
hackneyed: rendered trite or commonplace by frequent usage
imbroglio: A complicated situation; an entanglement; an intricate and perplexing state of affairs. This term is sometimes applied to music in which parts play against each other resulting in a sound that embodies an orderly chaos.
quandary: A dilemma, a difficult decision or choice.
embroil: To draw into a situation; to cause to be involved.
extricate: To free, disengage, loosen, or untangle.
extrication: the act or process disentangling; a freeing from perplexities; disentanglement
prescriptive: giving directions or injunctions, especially actions or behaviors based on norms and standards.
enjoin: To lay upon, as an order or command; to give an injunction to; to direct with authority; to order; to charge
injunction: the act of enjoining; the act of directing, commanding, or prohibiting; an order; a mandate; a decree; a command; a precept; a direction
prerogative: An official or hereditary right or privilege.
untenable: Not able to be held, as of an opinion or position; unholdable, indefensible.
transmigrate: to pass into another body after death; to migrate to another country
middling: of intermediate or average size, position or quality; mediocre
syzygy: any two related things, either alike or opposite; a kind of unity, namely an alignment of three celestial bodies (for example, the Sun, Earth, and Moon) wherein one body is directly between the other two, such as occurs at an eclipse
titillate: To stimulate or excite pleasantly
transmogrify: To completely alter the form of.
avuncular: In the manner of an uncle, pertaining to an uncle.
undulant: Having the characteristics of a wave; wavelike
brouhaha: A stir; a fuss or uproar.
oeuvre: A work of art.
synecdoche: A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special; as in "ten sail" for "ten ships" ... or "a Croesus" for "a rich man."
cojones: testicles
troglodyte: A member of a supposed prehistoric race that lived in caves or holes, a caveman.
idiosyncratic: Peculiar to a specific individual; eccentric.
hidebound: Having the skin adhering so closely to the ribs and back as not to be easily loosened or raised.
osculate: To kiss someone or something.
oxymoron: A figure of speech in which two words with opposing meanings are used together intentionally for effect.
fictive: fictional, fanciful or invented
fandango: A form of flamenco music and dance
torque: a force that causes rotation
quiescence: stillness; motionlessness; quality of being at rest
virulent: extremely harmful or poisonous; bitterly hostile or antagonistic
qualms: misgivings; reservations; causes for hesitancy
redoubtable: awe-inspiring; worthy of honor; commanding or evoking respect, reverence, or the like; to be feared; formidable
sordid: characterized by filth, grime, or squalor; foul
squalid: sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect
oscillation: the act or state of swinging back and forth with a steady, uninterrupted rhythm
allegory: a symbolical narrative; a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another
affable: Receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner; friendly, courteous, sociable.
verisimilitude: a statement which merely appears to be true; the property of seeming true, of resembling reality; resemblance to reality, realism
calumniate: to make false and malicious statements about; slander
bromide: a platitude or trite saying; a person who is platitudinous and boring
paean: a song or hymn of praise and thanksgiving; a hymn of invocation or thanksgiving to Apollo or some other ancient Greek deity
blinkered: Having tunnel vision; unable to see what is happening around one.
adroit: dexterous, deft or skillful
axiomatic: taken as a given; possessing self-evident truth
canonical: following or in agreement with accepted, traditional standards
bucolic: rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their inhabitants
culpable: deserving blame
contemporaneous: Existing or created in the same period of time.
extemporaneous: improvised; done without preparation
fulminate: to loudly attack or denounce
tortuous: full of twists, turns, or bends; crooked; excessively complicated; deceitfully indirect or morally crooked, as proceedings, methods, or policy; devious
prescience: foreknowledge of events; knowing of events prior to their occurring
ennui: dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from boredom or apathy
inured: accustomed to accepting something undesirable
confer: grant or bestow (a title, degree, benefit, or right); have discussions; exchange opinions; deliberate
priggish: Self-righteously moralistic and superior.
preempt: to appropriate something (before someone else does)
predilection: Condition of favoring or liking; tendency towards; proclivity;
pique: A feeling of hurt, vexation, or resentment, awakened by a social slight or injury. As in: "a fit of [noun]"
piquant: Engaging; charming.
homage: A demonstration of respect, such as towards an individual after their retirement or death.
perquisite: any monetary or other incidental benefit beyond salary; a gratuity or tip
perfidy: act of violating faith or allegiance; deliberate breach of trust; faithlessness; treachery
palliative: Minimising the progression of a disease and relieving undesirable symptoms for as long as possible, rather than attempting to cure the (usually incurable) disease.
ornate: flashy, flowery or showy
obeisance: Taking a bow, to show an obedient attitude.
narcissism: Love of oneself.
moribund: Approaching death; about to die; expiring
meritorious: deserving of merit or commendation; deserving reward
mellifluous: sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding.
luminary: One that is an inspiration to others; one who has achieved success in his chosen field; a leading light.
liquidate: To settle a debt by paying the outstanding amount.
liniment: A topical medical preparation intended to be rubbed into the skin with friction, such as to relieve symptoms of arthritis.
laudable: praiseworthy; commendable
lambaste: To scold, reprimand or criticize harshly.
jingoist: One who advocates an aggressive nationalism; one who vociferously supports a nation's military aims.
jaunt: A wearisome journey.
insouciant: carefree; nonchalant; indifferent; casually unconcerned.
obloquy: disgrace suffered from abusive language; discredit, disgrace, or bad repute resulting from public blame, abuse, or denunciation
ignominy: great dishonor, shame, or humiliation; disrepute; obloquy
homily: a sermon, especially concerning a practical matter; an inspirational saying or cliche
goldbrick: (slang) A shirker or malingerer
germane: Related to the topic being discussed or considered.
galvanize: to startle into sudden activity; stimulate.
gaffe: A foolish error, especially one made in public.
furrow: A trench cut in the soil, as when plowed in order to plant a crop.
fracas: A noisy disorderly quarrel, fight, brawl, disturbance or scrap.
flout: To express contempt for the rules by word or action.
expeditious: Fast, prompt, speedy.
exhume: To dig out of the ground; to take out of a place of burial; to disinter.
execrate: To feel loathing for; abhor.
ethereal: Pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere; celestial; otherworldly;
divisive: Having a quality that divides or separates
discomfit: To defeat completely; to rout.
desalinate: To remove the salt from something, especially from seawater for use in a domestic water supply
corroborate: To confirm, strengthen or support something with additional evidence; to attest or vouch.
conscript: One who is compulsorily enrolled, often into a military service; a draftee.
cogitate: To meditate, to ponder, to think deeply.
closefisted: Unwilling to spend money; stingy
bilious: extremely unpleasant or distasteful; peevish; irritable; cranky; pertaining to something that includes bile
choleric: Easily becoming angry.
chimerical: Being a figment of the imagination.
chagrin: Distress of mind caused by a failure of aims or plans, want of appreciation, mistakes etc; vexation or mortification.
cavil: To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.
catharsis: A release of emotional tension after an overwhelming vicarious experience.
calipers: A device used to measure thickness between two surfaces, especially for small or precise measurements.
carp: To complain about a fault; to harp on.
captious: Having a disposition to find fault unreasonably or to raise petty objections.
capitulate: To end all resistance; to give up; to go along with or comply;
canvass: a solicitation of voters or opinions
canon: A generally accepted principle.
diminution: A lessening, decrease or reduction.
unilateral: done by one side only
turbid: Cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter.
threadbare: shabby, frayed and worn to an extent that warp threads show
tenable: capable of being maintained or justified; well-founded
subterfuge: Deceit used in order to achieve one's goal.
subsidy: financial support or assistance, such as a grant.
skinflint: one who is excessively stingy or cautious with money; a tightwad; a miser
sagacity: The quality of being wise or able to make good decisions.
semaphore: Any visual signaling system with flags, lights, or mechanically moving arms.
semantic: Reflecting intended structure and meaning.
scrupulous: Exactly and carefully conducted.
retrenchment: A defensive entrenchment consisting of a trench and parapet
renege: To break a promise or commitment; to go back on one's word.
redolent: fragrant or aromatic; having a sweet scent
warranty: A written guarantee given to the purchaser by the manufacturer or dealer, usually specifying that the manufacturer will make any repairs or replace defective parts free of charge for a stated period of time. Security; Guarantee; Assurance; Authorization
subversive: in opposition to a civil authority or government; intended to [verb] an established system or institution; disruptive, troublemaking, inflammatory, insurrectionary
hobnob: to associate with in a friendly manner; chatting with people of a higher class or status
debonair: (of a man) confident, stylish, and charming; suave, urbane and sophisticated
ostensibly: seemingly, apparently, on the surface
detritus: Organic waste material from decomposing dead plants or animals.
beholden: Obligated to provide, display, or do something for another; bound by moral obligation; indebted; obliged.
drubbed: (past tense) forcefully taught something; beaten with a stick
hedge: A non-committal or intentionally ambiguous statement.
vet: to thoroughly check or investigate particularly with regard to providing formal approval
purview: the scope of the influence or concerns of something
fusty: moldy or musty
fabulator: One who writes, studies or recites fables frequently; often professionally
lambent: Brushing or flickering gently over a surface.
floccinaucinihilipilification: The act or habit of describing or regarding something as worthless. From 1741 in Britain, it is a combination of four Latin words all signifying "at a small price" or "for nothing," which were listed together in a rule of the well-known Eton Latin Grammar
uxorious: Overly devoted or submissive to one's wife.
isochronous: happening at regular intervals
callipygian: Having beautifully shaped buttocks.
variegated: very colorful.
undulate: To cause to move in a wavelike motion.
turpitude: Inherent baseness or depravity; corruptness and evilness.
truculent: Eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant
incisive: quick and direct; intelligently analytical and concise
transmute: Change in form, nature, or substance
torpid: Mentally or physically inactive; lethargic
timorous: fearful, afraid, timid
temerity: Reckless boldness; foolish bravery.
tantamount: To amount to as much; to be equivalent.
surreptitious: stealthy, furtive, well hidden, covert (especially movements)
staid: Serious, organized, and professional; sober
somnolent: Drowsy or sleepy.
serendipity: The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way
scurrilous: Making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation
sanctimonious: Making a show of being morally better than others, especially hypocritically pious.
censure: (as verb) to formally rebuke; (as noun) an official reprimand
reprove: to criticize or correct, especially gently; to reprimand or censure
rectitude: Morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness
rancor: Bitterness or resentfulness, esp. when long-standing
punctilious: Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior
prosaic: Straightforward; matter-of-fact; lacking the feeling or elegance of poetry.
propitious: Giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable
promulgate: To make known or public.
primeval: Belonging to the first ages.
pertinacious: Holding tenaciously to an opinion or purpose.
perspicacity: The quality of having a ready insight into things; shrewdness
pernicious: Having a harmful effect, esp. in a gradual or subtle way
penurious: Extremely poor; poverty-stricken
pellucid: Lucid in style or meaning; easily understood
pathos: A quality that evokes pity or sadness
odious: Extremely unpleasant; repulsive
obstreperous: Noisy and difficult to control
multifarious: Many and of various types
munificence: The quality or action of being lavishly generous; great generosity
morass: A complicated or confused situation
modicum: A small, modest or trifling amount.
mawkish: Sentimental in a feeble or sickly way
manifold: Something with many different parts or forms, in particular
inveterate: Having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change
insidious: Producing serious harm in a stealthy, often gradual, manner.
ineffable: Beyond expression in words; unspeakable.
incontrovertible: Not capable of being denied, challenged, or disputed; closed to questioning.
indefatigable: Extremely persistent and untiring.
impertinent: Not showing proper respect; rude
imperious: Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering
impassive: Having, or revealing, no emotion.
ignominious: Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame
harangue: Lecture (someone) at length in an aggressive and critical manner
grandiloquence: lofty, pompous or bombastic speech or writing
fastidious: Excessively particular, demanding, or fussy about details.
extol: Praise enthusiastically
expunge: To erase or strike out.
execrable: of the poorest quality
evince: Reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling)
egregious: Exceptional, conspicuous, outstanding, most usually in a negative fashion.
effulgent: shining, resplendent, with radiant splendor
discursive: Tending to digress from the main point; rambling.
desiccated: Lacking interest, passion, or energy
demure: Quiet, modest, reserved, or serious.
credulity: A willingness to believe in someone or something in the absence of reasonable proof.
conflagration: A large fire extending to many objects, or over a large space; a general burning.
concomitant: Naturally accompanying or associated
clemency: Mercy; lenience
brusque: Rudely abrupt, unfriendly.
aspersion: An attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something
anathema: something or someone that one vehemently dislikes; a curse; execration; any imprecation of divine punishment; via Church Latin from Greek: something accursed, dedicated (to evil)
adumbrate: To foreshadow vaguely.
acrimony: sharp and bitter hatred
zenith: The time at which something is most powerful or successful
vilify: To say defamatory things about someone or something.
egalitarian: Characterized by social equality and equal rights for all people.
despotism: government by a singular authority, either a single person or tight-knit group, which rules with absolute power
despot: A ruler with absolute power; a tyrant.
ardor: great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion
winsome: charming; happily engaging
yoke: (as verb) to join together, couple, link, or unite; (as noun) a device for joining together a pair of draft animals, especially oxen; harness; an agency of oppression, subjection, servitude, etc.
vituperate: to abuse verbally; berate
voluble: talkative; speaking easily; glib
venerable: respected because of age
vernal: related to spring; fresh
transitory: temporary; lasting a brief time
trenchant: acute, sharp, or incisive; forceful; effective
turgid: swollen as from a fluid; bloated
umbrage: offense; resentment
upbraid: to scold sharply
usury: the practice of lending money at exorbitant rates
sycophant: a self-serving flatterer; yes-man
syncopation: temporary irregularity in musical rhythm
taciturn: silent; not talkative
tawdry: gaudy, cheap,or showy
terrestrial: earthly; down to earth; commonplace
stratagem: trick designed to deceive an enemy
supplant: to replace (another) by force; to take the place of
surfeit: excessive amount
surly: rude and bad-tempered
sedition: any action, especially in speech or writing, that incites civil disorder, discontent, or rebellion against a government
seraphic: angelic; sweet
sinecure: a well-paying job or office that requires little or no work
slake: to calm down or moderate
sobriquet: a humorous epithet, assumed name, or nickname
solecism: gtrammatical mistake; blunder in speech
spartan: highly self-disciplined; frugal; austere
sportive: frolicsome; playful
rococo: very highly ornamented; relating to an 18th century artistic style of elaborate ornamentation
sacrosanct: extremely sacred; beyond criticism
scintilla: trace amount
rarefy: to make thinner or sparser
redress: relief from wrong or injury
repast: meal or mealtime
requite: to make repayment or return for (service, benefits, etc.)
restive: impatient; uneasy; restless; nervous; unquiet; recalcitrant; disobedient; obstinate; refusing to go forward; balky: "a (word) horse"
ribald: humorous in a vulgar way
condescension: behavior that is patronizing; voluntary descent from one's rank or dignity in intercourse with an inferior
raconteur: witty, skillful storyteller
pugilism: boxing
reconnoiter: To perform a reconnaissance (of an area; an enemy position); to scout with the aim of gaining information.
querulous: inclined to complain; irritable; peevish
precis: a short summary of the facts; the essentials of a text; abstract
prescient: having foresight
proclivity: a natural inclination or predisposition
dissolute: recklessly abandoned to sensual pleasures; indifferent to moral restraints; given to immoral or improper conduct; licentious; dissipated; corrupt; debauched; wanton
dissipated: indulging in or characterized by excessive devotion to pleasure; intemperate; dissolute; wasteful of health or possessions in the pursuit of gratification
profligate: utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute; recklessly prodigal or extravagant; corrupt; degenerate
plebeian: crude or coarse; characteristic of commoners; (in ancient Rome) pertaining to the common people, as contrasted with the patricians and later with the senatorial nobility or the equestrian order.
plucky: courageous; spunky
politic: shrewd and practical in managing or dealing with things; diplomatic
polemic: a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc.; a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist
polyglot: a speaker of many languages
potentate: a monarch or ruler with great power
whereof: Of what; of which; of whom.
perspicacious: shrewd, astute, or keen-witted
phalanx: a compact or close-knit body of people, animals, or things; a number of people united for a common purpose; (in ancient Greece) a group of heavily armed infantry formed in ranks and files close and deep, with shields joined and long spears overlapping.
philistine: a person who is guided by materialism and is disdainful of intellectual or artistic values
pithy: profound or substantial, yet concise, succinct and to the point
pathology: Any deviation from a healthy or normal condition; abnormality.
parley: discussion, usually between enemies
parry: to ward off or deflect, especially by a quickwitted answer
pastiche: piece of literature or music imitating other works
pathogenic: causing disease
peccadillo: a very minor or slight sin or offense; a trifling fault
pedant: someone who shows off learning; a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense; a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details
peregrinate: traverse; travel; journey; voyage; to wander about from place to place, especially to walk on foot
palatial: relating to a palace; magnificent
palliate: to make less serious; ease
panoply: a complete or magnificent array; the entire equipment of a warrior
paradox: a contradiction or dilemma
pariah: an outcast; any person or animal that is generally despised or avoided; a member of a low caste in southern India and Burma
opine: to express an opinion
orotund: pompous; bombastic; speech characterized by strength, fullness, richness, and clearness.
ossify: to change into bone; to become inflexible; hardened or set in a rigidly conventional pattern
ostentation: excessive showiness; pretentious or conspicuous show, as of wealth or importance; display intended to impress others
nettle: to irritate
noisome: stinking; putrid
nominal: existing in name only; negligble
numismatics: coin collecting
oblique: indirect or evasive; misleading or devious
nadir: lowest point
neologism: A new word, meaning, usage, or phrase; In Psychiatry: a new word, often consisting of a combination of other words, that is understood only by the speaker: occurring most often in the speech of schizophrenics.
militate: to operate against; work against
missive: a written note or letter
monastic: extremly plain or secluded, as in a monastery
mannered: artifical or stilted in character
martinet: strict discipliarian; one who rigidly follows rules
maudlin: overly sentimental
mendicant: a beggar; (also used as an adjective: pertaining to or characteristic of a beggar; living on alms)
mercurial: quick, shrewd, and unpredictable
meretricious: gaudy; falsely attractive
lumber: to move slowly and awkwardly
machination: plot or scheme
magnate: powerful or influential person
malinger: to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill; to feign indisposition, especially in order to shirk one's duty, avoid work, etc.
vouchsafe: To condescendingly grant a right, benefit, outcome, etc.; to deign to acknowledge.
demiurge: Something (as an institution, idea, or individual) conceived as an autonomous creative force or decisive power.
lachrymose: given to shedding tears readily; tearful; mournful
licentious: immoral; unrestrained by society; lawless; lascivious; libertine; lewd
limpid: clear; transparent
lionize: to treat as a celebrity
lissome: easily flexed; limber; agile
juncture: point of time, especially where two things are joined
jingoism: belligerent support of one's country
knell: sound of a funeral bell; omen of death or failure
plaintive: Sorrowful, mournful or melancholic.
conspicuous: Obvious or easy to notice.
ostensible: outwardly appearing as such; professed; apparent, evident, or conspicuous; alleged, having an intention that is possibly but not obviously true
largess: generous giving (as of money) to others who may seem inferior
latitudinous: having latitude, scope, range, breadth, etc., especially of ideas, interests, interpretations, or the like: e.g., "...a Renaissance man of (word) outlook."
legerdemain: any artful trick; sleight of hand
libertine: a free thinker, usually used disparagingly; one without moral restraint
intrepid: fearless; resolutely courageous
inure: to harden; accustom; become used to
investiture: ceremony conferring authority
invidious: envious, obnoxious, or offensive, likely to promote ill-will
itinerant: wandering from place to place; unsettled
inter: to bury
interregnum: period between reigns; any interval of freedom from the usual authority; any pause or interruption in continuity
intransigent: uncompromising; refusing to be reconciled
latent: potential that is not readily apparent
languid: lacking energy; indifferent
lapidary: relating to precious stones or the art of cutting them
inexorable: inflexible; unyielding
ingrate: ungrateful person
ingratiate: to gain favor with another by deliberate effort; to seek to please somebody so as to gain an advantage
inimical: hostile; unfriendly
iniquity: sin; evil act
inquest: an investigation; an inquiry
ignoble: having low moral standards; not noble in character; mean
imbue: to infuse, dye, wet, or moisten
impasse: blocked path; dilemma with no solution
impecunious: poor; having no money
malediction: a wish of evil upon another; the utterance of a curse against someone or something; slanderous accusation or comment
execration: An act or instance of cursing; a curse dictated by violent feelings of hatred; an imprecation; an expression of utter detestation.
imprecation: a curse; the act of cursing; malediction; execration.
cowed: Intimidated. Frightened into submission. (primarily in the passive voice)
incarnadine: blood-red in color
hermetic: tightly sealed
redacted: to put into suitable literary form; edited or censored.
hoary: very old; whitish or gray from age
husband: to manage economically; to use sparingly
iconoclast: one who opposes established beliefs, customs, and institutions
idiosyncrasy: peculiarity of temperament; eccentricity
forestall: to prevent or delay; anticipate
fractious: unruly; rebellious
furtive: secret; stealthy
gambol: to dance or skip around playfully
gestation: growth process from conception to birth
glib: fluent in an insincere manner; offhand; casual
glower: to glare or stare angrily and intensely
gradation: process occurring by regular degrees or stages; variation in color
fallow: dormant; unused
blandish: to praise someone dishonestly; to flatter or butter up; grovel; fawn; coax
fecund: fertile; fruitful; productive
fervid: intensely emotional; feverish
florid: excessively decorated or embellished
practicable: Serving a useful function; workable, achievable, attainable, functional or handy. Capable of being accomplished; feasible.
impracticable: impossible or difficult in practice
quixotic: Possessing the desire to do noble and romantic deeds, without thought of realism and practicality; impulsive; rashly unpredictable; visionary, impractical, or impracticable.
estimable: admirable
euphonious: Pleasant-sounding; agreeable to the ear; harmonious; euphonic
euphony: pleasant, harmonious sound
exculpate: to clear from blame; prove innocent
exigent: urgent; requiring immediate action
exonerate: to clear of blame
exponent: one who champions or advocates
enumerate: to count, list, or itemize
epicure: person with refined taste in food and wine
sepulchral: hollow and deep; suggestive of a grave
pulchritude: Physical beauty.
pulchritudinous: Having physical beauty.
enfeeble: To make weak; deprive of strength; enervate; debilitate.
disutility: uselessness, a lack of utility
continence: Moderation or self-restraint, especially in sexual activity; abstinence; temperance; moderation.
vicissitude: interchange or alternation, as of states or things; successive, alternating, or changing phases or conditions, as of life or fortune; ups and downs; change; mutation; mutability. (often pluralized)
esoteric: known or understood only by a few
dyspeptic: suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable
edify: to instruct or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; uplift
effigy: stuffed doll; likeness of a person
panegyric: A lofty oration, writing, or opus in praise of a person or thing; eulogy.
exhortation: a speech or written passage intended to persuade, inspire, or encourage
encomium: a formal expression of high praise; eulogy; panegyric
distaff: the female branch of a family; noting, pertaining to, characteristic of, or suitable for a female. (Sometimes Offensive)
dither: to act confusedly or without clear purpose
diurnal: existing during the day
divine: to foretell or know by inspiration
doctrinaire: rigidly devoted to theories without regard for practicality; dogmatic
droll: amusing in a wry, subtle way
dilate: to make larger; expand
dilatory: intended to delay
interpose: To insert something (or oneself) between other things; cause to intervene; mediate; put in (a remark, question, etc.) in the midst of a conversation, discourse, or the like.
demagogue: a leader or rabble-rouser, usually appealing to emotion or prejudice
demur: To express doubts or objections, especially on the grounds of scruples; take exception.
diaphanous: allowing light to show through; delicate
dictum: An authoritative statement; maxim.
cosset: To treat with great care; treat as a pet; pamper; coddle.
coterie: An intimate group of persons with a similar purpose; an exclusive group; clique.
credulous: too trusting; gullible
cupidity: greed; strong desire
curmudgeon: cranky person, usually old
dilettante: An amateur, someone who dabbles in a field out of casual/superficial interest rather than as a profession or serious interest.
debutante: young woman making debut in high society
acclivity: A slope or inclination of the earth, as the side of a hill, considered as ascending, in opposition to declivity, or descending; an upward slope; ascent.
declivity: downward slope
decorous: proper; tasteful; socially correct
chauvinist: Someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs.
cloying: sickly sweet; excessive
coalesce: to grow together to form a single whole
collusion: collaboration; complicity; conspiracy
coffer: strongbox; large chest for money
condone: to overlook, pardon, or disregard
supplicate: To humble oneself before another in making a request; to beg.
contumacious: Stubbornly perverse or rebellious; willfully and obstinately disobedient.
castigate: to punish or criticize harshly
cabal: a secret group seeking to overturn something
calumny: a false and malicious accusation; misrepresentation
canard: a lie
august: dignified; grandiose
belfry: bell tower; room in which a bell in hung
bifurcate: to divide into two parts
bilk: to cheat; defraud
bonhomie: good-natured geniality; atmosphere of good cheer
apocryphal: of questionable authority or authenticity
apostate: one who renounces a religious faith
metier: a field of work; forte; occupation, trade, or profession.
attenuate: to reduce in force or degree; weaken
augury: prophecy; prediction of events
amortize: to diminish by installment payments
analgesia: a lessening of pain without loss of consciousness
anodyne: something that calms or soothes pain
anomaly: deviation from what is normal
accretion: a growth in size; increase in amount
acidulous: sour in taste or manner
acme: highest point; summit; the highest level or degree attainable
affected: phony; artificial; "affected sophistication; an affected British accent."
aggrandize: to increase in power, influence, and reputation
abase: to humble; disgrace
abdicate: to give up a position, right, or power
firmament: The vault of the heavens; the sky.
heterodoxy: Dissenting opinion, heresy, nonconforming opinion
protean: Exceedingly variable; readily assuming different shapes or forms.
parsimony: Extreme or excessive economy or frugality; stinginess; niggardliness.
Occam’s razor: This principle states that one should not make more assumptions than the minimum needed. Of two competing theories, the simpler explanation of an entity is to be preferred. Also called the law of economy or law of parsimony. “Entities are not to be mult
ferment: A state of agitation or of turbulent change.
Pantheism: Any religious belief or philosophical doctrine that identifies God with the universe.
modus ponens: A valid form of argument in which the antecedent of a conditional proposition is affirmed, thereby entailing the affirmation of the consequent.Ex: (1) If A, then B (2) A (3) Thus, B
modus tollens: A valid form of argument in which the consequent of a conditional proposition is denied, thus implying the denial of the antecedent. Ex: (1) If A, then B (2) not B (3) Thus, not A
syllogism: A formal argument in logic that is formed by two statements and a conclusion which must be true if the two statements are true.
xenophobia: An exaggerated or abnormal fear of strangers, foreigners, or their politics and culture.
dearth: A scarcity or lack of something
harbinger: A person or thing that foreshadows or foretells the coming of someone or something.
zeitgeist: The spirit of the age; the taste, outlook, and spirit characteristic of a period.
whinge: Complain persistently and in a peevish or irritating way
tyro: a learner or beginner
tacit: Understood or implied without being stated
sybarite: A person who is self-indulgent in their fondness for sensuous luxury
sepsis: The presence in tissues of harmful bacteria and their toxins, typically through infection of a wound
puerile: Childishly silly and trivial
obfuscate: Render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible
maven: A self-styled expert in a given field.
Sartrean: Of or pertaining to this French writer and existentialist philosopher (1905-1980).
Luddite: A person opposed to increased industrialization or new technology; A member of any of various bands of workers in England (1811–16) organized to destroy manufacturing machinery, under the belief that its use diminished employment.
lascivious: Feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire
expiate: To atone or make reparation for.
cornucopia: A goat's horn endlessly overflowing with fruit, flowers and grain; or full of whatever its owner wanted.
Circean: Pleasing but dangerous; derived from an enchantress who detained Odysseus on her island and turned his men into swine.
ziggurat: A temple tower of the ancient Mesopotamian valley, having the form of a terraced pyramid of successively receding stories.
yeoman: An official providing honorable service in a royal or high noble household, ranking between a squire and a page.
winnow: Reduce the number in a set of (people or things) gradually until only the best ones are left
vehement: Showing strong feelings; passionate; forceful or intense.
unctuous: Oily or greasy.
tautology: The saying of the same thing twice in different words, generally considered to be a fault of style (e.g., they arrived one after the other in succession)
supercilious: showing contemptuous indifference; haughty.
subjugate: To forcibly impose obedience or servitude.
reparation: A payment of time, effort or money to undo past transgression(s).
reciprocal: Of an action, feeling, etc, done, felt, etc, by each of two people to, on or towards the other.
recapitulate: to summarize or repeat in concise form
quotidian: daily; occurring or recurring every day.
precipitous: Impassably steep, like a bluff or crag.
paradigm: A framework containing the basic assumptions, ways of thinking, and methodology that are shared by members of any discipline or group.
oligarchy: A government run by only a few, often the wealthy.
nonsectarian: Not involving or relating to a specific religious sect or political group
nomenclature: The names or terms comprising a set or system.
lugubrious: gloomy, mournful or dismal, especially to an exaggerated degree.
lexicon: The vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge
kowtow: To kneel and bow low enough to touch one’s forehead to the ground.
kinetic: Of or relating to motion
jejune: Lacking matter; empty; devoid of substance.
interpolate: To estimate the value of a function between two points between which it is tabulated.
inculcate: To teach by repeated instruction.
hubris: Excessive pride, presumption or arrogance (originally toward the gods).
homogeneous: similar, or the same as something else
hegemony: Domination, influence, or authority over another, especially by one political group over a society or by one nation over others
gerrymander: To divide a geographic area into voting districts in such a way as to give an unfair advantage to one party in an election.
gauche: Awkward or lacking in social graces; bumbling.
filibuster: Act in an obstructive manner in a legislature, esp. by speaking at inordinate length
fiduciary: One who holds a thing in trust for another; a trustee.
expurgate: Remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable from (a book or account)
evanescent: vanishing, disappearing, fleeting
enfranchise: Give the right to vote to
diffident: Modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence
deciduous: Describing a part that falls of, or is shed, at a particular time or stage of development.
circumnavigate: To travel completely around somewhere or something, especially by sail.
circumlocution: A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea.
churlish: Of or pertaining to a serf, peasant, or rustic.
bowdlerize: To remove those parts of a text considered offensive, vulgar, or otherwise unseemly.
bellicose: Warlike in nature; aggressive; hostile.
auspicious: Of good omen; indicating future success.
latitude: freedom from narrow restrictions; freedom of action, opinion, etc.
acumen: quickness of perception or discernment; penetration of mind; the faculty of nice discrimination
abrogate: Repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement)
Antecedent: Any thing that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing.
consequent: Following as a result, inference, or natural effect.
principle: A fundamental assumption.
pundit: A scholar, teacher, master of an art, or learned person.
jurisprudence: The philosophy, science and study of law and decisions based on the interpretation thereof
extant: Still in existence.
presuppose: To assume some truth without proof, usually for the purpose of reaching a conclusion based on that truth.
Acrimony: sharp and bitter hatred
Affable: Mild; benign.
Amenable: Willing to comply with; agreeable.
blithe: Indifferent, careless, showing a lack of concern.
Commendation: The act of commending; praise; favorable representation in words; recommendation.
Commensurate: proportionate; of a similar measurable standard
Consternation: Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates for reflection; terror, combined with amazement; dismay.
countervail: To counteract, counterbalance or neutralize.
culpability: The degree of one's blameworthiness in the commission of a crime or offence.
equivocal: A word or expression capable of different meanings; an ambiguous term; an equivoque.
counterexample: An exception to a proposed general rule; a specific instance of the falsity of a universally quantified statement.
overwrought: in a state of excessive nervousness, excitement, or anger; Extremely tense, anxious, or upset; filled with emotion, emotional; uneasy
draconian: Very severe, oppressive or strict.
forbearing: Characterized by patience and indulgence; long-sufferingas, a forbearing temper.
faction: Strife; discord.
efface: To cause to disappear as if by rubbing out or striking out.
deleterious: harmful or hurtful, to physical, mental or moral health.
adulation: Flattery; fulsome praise.
spurious: false, not authentic, not genuine
incipient: beginning, starting, coming into existence.
parity: Equality; comparability of strength or intensity.
rejoinder: A quick response that involves disagreement or is witty; especially an answer to a reply.
spate: A sudden rush or increase.
impunity: Exemption from punishment.
adjudicate: To settle a legal case or other dispute.
circumspect: Carefully aware of all circumstances; considerate of all that is pertinent.
impugn: To verbally assault, especially to argue against an opinion, motive, or action; to question the truth or validity of.
exhort: To urge; to advise earnestly.
bandied: exchanged
upshot: a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
whence: From where; from which place or source.
wherefore: why; for what reason, because of what; therefore; for which reason, because of which
arrogate: To appropriate or lay claim to something for oneself without right.
assoil: To absolve, acquit; to release from blame or sin.
stultify: To prove to be of unsound mind or demonstrate someone's incompetence.
parochial: Characterized by an unsophisticated focus on local concerns to the exclusion of wider contexts; elementary in scope or outlook.
preternatural: Having an existence outside of the natural world. In this sense, everything supernatural is also preternatural.
stentorian: (of a voice) loud, powerful, booming, suitable for giving speeches to large crowds
sojourner: a person who resides temporarily in a place
welter: general confusion; disorderly mixture; aimless effort; as, a welter of papers and magazines
vitiate: to spoil, make faulty; to reduce the value, quality, or effectiveness of something
venal: capable of being corrupted
vaunt: To speak boastfully.
tutelary: Having guardianship or protection of
travail: arduous or painful labor
supplicant: begging, pleading, supplicating
subsume: To consider an occurrence as part of a principle or rule; to colligate
succor: Aid, assistance or relief given to one in distress; ministration.
appurtenances: equipment used for a specific task or purpose; gear
contretemps: An unforeseen, inopportune, or embarrassing event; a hitch
fungible: Able to be substituted for something of equal value.
apoplectic: Marked by extreme anger or fury.
Sisyphean: Incessant or incessantly recurring, but futile.
profligacy: careless wastefulness
comity: Courtesy and considerate behavior toward others
apotheosis: The fact or action of becoming a god; deification.
interlocutor: A person who takes part in dialogue or conversation.
risible: Of or pertaining to laughter.
paroxysm: A random or sudden outburst (of activity).
antebellum: Of the time period prior to a war.
pandemic: Widespread; general.
sanguine: Having the color of blood; red; cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident in disposition, expectations, etc.
sartorial: Of or relating to the tailoring of clothing.
fealty: Fidelity to one's lord; the feudal obligation by which the tenant or vassal was bound to be faithful to his lord; fidelity; allegiance; faithfulness.
ersatz: Made in imitation; artificial, especially of an inferior quality.
solipsism: The theory that the self is the only thing that can be known and verified.
feckless: Lacking purpose.
adenoidal: sounding as if the nose were pinched; "a whining nasal voice"
parlous: Attended with peril; dangerous; risky.
abstruse: concealed or hidden out of the way.
peripatetic: Walking about; itinerant; nomadic.
schadenfreude: Malicious enjoyment derived from observing someone else's misfortune.
sumptuary: Relating to expense; regulating expense or expenditure.
epistemological: Of or pertaining to epistemology or theory of knowledge, as a field of study
antediluvian: ancient or antiquated; old; prehistoric.
saturnine: (of a person or their manner) Slow and gloomy
louche: of questionable taste or morality; decadent
solipsistic: the philosophical theory that the self is all that you know to exist
sui generis: In a class of its own; one of a kind.
abjure: To renounce upon oath; to forswear; to disavow; repudiate.
disjointed: Not connected, coherent, or continuous.
disingenuous: Not noble; unbecoming true honor or dignity; mean; unworthy; fake or deceptive.
discrepancy: An inconsistency between facts or sentiments.
discredit: To harm the good reputation of a person; to cause an idea or piece of evidence to seem false or unreliable.
discerning: Having or showing good judgment
disabuse: Persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken
diffidence: Modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence
diatribe: A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something
desultory: Lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm
desiccate: Lacking interest, passion, or energy
derivative: Imitative of the work of someone else.
deride: To harshly mock; ridicule.
denigrate: Criticize unfairly; disparage
deference: Humble submission and respect
vituperative: Bitter and abusive
decorum: Appropriate social behavior; propriety
daunt: To discourage, intimidate.
craven: Unwilling to fight; lacking even the rudiments of courage; extremely cowardly.
veracious: truthful
venerate: To treat with great respect and deference.
vacillate: Alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive
contrite: Sincerely penitent or feeling regret or sorrow, especially for one’s own actions; apologetic.
contentious: Causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial
truculence: defiantly aggressive;
contention: An assertion, esp. one maintained in argument
tractable: Easy to deal with (of a situation or problem)
connoisseur: A specialist of a given field whose opinion is valued; especially in one of the fine arts, or in a matter of taste
tenuous: Thin in substance or consistency.
complaisant: Willing to do what pleases others.
compendium: A collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject, esp. in a book or other publication
commensurate: proportionate; of a similar measurable standard
supersede: Take the place of (a person or thing previously in authority or use); supplant
cogent: Clear, logical, and convincing (of an argument or case)
substantiate: to verify something by supplying evidence; to corroborate or authenticate
coda: The concluding passage of a piece or movement, typically forming an addition to the basic structure
coagulate: Change to a solid or semisolid state (of a fluid, esp. blood)
chicanery: Deception by use of trickery, quibbling, or subterfuge.
caustic: Sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way
strut: A stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait
catalyst: A substance which increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
striated: Having parallel lines or grooves on the surface.
castigation: Corrective punishment; chastisement; reproof; pungent criticism.
stolid: Having or revealing little emotion or sensibility.
capricious: Impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim
stipulate: To require (something) as a condition of a contract or agreement.
buttress: A brick or stone structure built against another structure to support it.
burnish: To make smooth or shiny by rubbing; to polish; to shine.
burgeon: Begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish
boorish: rough in manners; rude; uncultured.
bombastic: Pompous or overly wordy.
specious: Superficially plausible, but actually wrong
soporific: Something inducing sleep, especially a drug
beneficent: Given to acts that are kind, charitable, philanthropic or beneficial.
solicitous: Characterized by or showing interest or concern
belie: To give a false representation of something.
banal: Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.
aver: State or assert to be the case
austere: Grim or severe in manner or appearance
assuage: To lessen the intensity of, to mitigate or relieve (hunger, emotion, pain etc.).
salubrious: Promoting health or well-being; wholesome. Especially related to air.
assiduous: Hard-working, diligent or regular (in attendance or work); industrious.
ascetic: One who is devoted to the practice of self-denial, either through seclusion or stringent abstinence.
artless: Having or displaying no guile, cunning, or deceit.
approbation: Approval or praise
rescind: To repeal, annul, or declare void.
apprise: To notify, or to make aware; to inform.
repudiate: To reject the truth or validity of something; to deny.
reprobate: Rejected; cast off as worthless.
reproach: A mild rebuke, or an implied criticism.
antipathy: A deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion
relegate: To send into exile; banish.
anomalous: deviating from the normal; aberrant or abnormal
recondite: Hidden from the mental or intellectual view; secret; abstruse.
refractory: Obstinate and unruly; strongly opposed to something.
anachronism: A thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, esp. a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned
ameliorate: To make better, to improve; to heal; to solve a problem.
recant: To withdraw or repudiate (statement or opinion formerly expressed), especially formally and publicly.
ambivalence: The coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings (such as love and hate) towards a person, object or idea.
recalcitrant: marked by a stubborn unwillingness to obey figures of authority
rarefied: Esoterically distant from the lives and concerns of ordinary people
amalgamate: To merge, to combine, to blend, to join.
quiescent: Inactive, at rest, quiet.
quibble: A trivial or minor complaint, objection or argument.
alacrity: eagerness; liveliness; enthusiasm
proscribe: To forbid or prohibit.
propriety: The state or quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals
admonish: Warn or reprimand someone firmly
propitiate: Win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them
abscond: Leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection of or arrest for an unlawful action such as theft
abeyance: A state of temporary disuse or suspension
aberrant: Differing from the norm, from the expected type; abnormal, anomalous.
prodigal: wastefully extravagant.
probity: The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency
prevaricate: Speak or act in an evasive way
precipitate: To make something happen suddenly and quickly; hasten.
preamble: A short preliminary statement or remark, especially an explanatory introduction to a formal document or statute.
porous: Full of tiny pores that allow fluids or gasses to pass through.
platitude: An often-quoted saying that is supposed to be meaningful but has become unoriginal or hackneyed through overuse; a cliché.
plasticity: The quality of being easily shaped or molded
phlegmatic: Having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition (of a person)
pervasive: Manifested throughout;
permeable: A substance, substrate, membrane or material that absorbs or allows the passage of water.
perfunctory: Performed out of routine and with little care.
perfidious: Deceitful and untrustworthy
perennial: Lasting or remaining active throughout the year, or all the time.
penury: extreme want; poverty; destitution.
pedantic: marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
paucity: The presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts; scarcity
pathological: Compulsive; obsessive
partisan: An adherent to a party or faction.
paragon: A person of preeminent qualities, who acts as a pattern or model of some given (especially positive) quality. [from 16th c.]
ostentatious: Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice
oscillate: To swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.
opprobrium: Harsh criticism or censure
onerous: burdensome; difficult; wearing; tiring
officious: Assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way, esp. with regard to petty or trivial matters
occlude: To obstruct, cover, or otherwise block an opening.
obviate: Remove (a need or difficulty)
obsequious: Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
obdurate: Stubbornly persistent, generally in wrongdoing; refusing to reform or repent.
neophyte: A beginner.
mollify: To ease a burden; make less painful; to comfort
misanthrope: A person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society
mendacious: lying, untruthful or dishonest
maverick: Showing independence in thoughts or actions.
magnanimity: Showing generosity
malleable: (literally) able to be hammered into thin sheets; easily influenced
malingerer: someone shirking their duty by feigning illness or incapacity
levee: The steep bank of a river, or border of an irrigated field.
laud: Praise or glorification.
lassitude: Lethargy or lack of energy; fatigue.
laconic: Using as few words as possible; pithy and concise.
invective: Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language
inundate: To cover with large amounts of water; to flood.
intransigence: Unwillingness to change one's views or to agree.
insipid: Lacking vigor or interest
intractable: Hard to control or deal with
insularity: Ignorance of or lack of interest in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's own experience
inherent: A natural part or consequence of something.
innocuous: Not harmful or offensive
ingenuous: naïve and trusting
indigence: extreme poverty or destitution
inchoate: Recently started but not fully formed yet; just begun; only elementary or immature.
implacable: Relentless; unstoppable
imperturbable: Unable to be upset or excited; calm
impermeable: Not liable to be affected by pain or distress; insusceptible or imperturbable
immutable: Unable to be changed without exception
iconoclastic: characterized by attack on established beliefs or institutions
guileless: honest but naïve.
grandiloquent: Pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner, esp. in a way that is intended to impress
goad: A thing that stimulates someone into action
garrulous: Excessively talkative, esp. on trivial matters
gainsay: Deny or contradict (a fact or statement)
foment: Instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action)
felicitous: Well chosen or suited to the circumstances
fatuous: Obnoxiously stupid, vacantly silly, content in one's foolishness.
extrapolation: A calculation of an estimate of the value of some function outside the range of known values.
exigency: An urgent need or demand
ephemeral: Lasting for a short period of time.
erudite: Having or showing great knowledge or learning
equivocate: Use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself
equanimity: Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, esp. in a difficult situation
engender: Cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition)
enervate: Cause (someone) to feel drained of energy or vitality; weaken
endemic: Native to a particular area or culture; originating where it occurs.
embellish: To make more beautiful and attractive; to decorate.
elegy: A mournful or plaintive poem; a funeral song; a poem of lamentation.
effrontery: Insolent or impertinent behavior
efficacy: Ability to produce a desired amount of a desired effect.
eclectic: Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources
ebullient: boiling, agitated, enthusiastic
dogmatic: Stubbornly adhering to insufficiently proven beliefs; inflexible, rigid.
distend: To extend or expand, as from internal pressure; to swell
dissemble: Conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs
disparate: Things so unlike that there is no basis for comparison
dissolution: The termination of an organized body or legislative assembly, especially a formal dismissal.
autonomous: independent
tariff: a tax on goods coming into a country or going out of a country
interim: temporary. Eg: These are the interim measures to deal with emergency. This is an [word] report, we still have to make a fair one.
tizzy: A state of nervous excitement or confusion; a dither; distressed, upset. Eg: Dev anand's death left his fans in the state of [word].
visage: Countenance; appearance; one's face.
personality cult: an image earned generally by dictators thru good work and without flattery. Eg: Barack Obama established a subtle cult of personality displaying his face in red and blue with the word "Hope" typed below his portrait.
veracity: Truthfulness. Eg: shocked to hear that his [word] is being questioned.
antithetical: Opposite to each other. Eg: two [word] theories.
tumult: With great noise or confusion. Synonyms: hubbub,clamor,noise.
camaraderie: close friendship in a group of friends or teammates; as in: "I missed the [noun] of my hostel life."
nascent: Emerging; just coming into existence.
eschew: To avoid; to shun.
blandishment: Flattering speech or actions designed to persuade or influence.
kismet: Fate; a predetermined or unavoidable destiny.
pugnacious: Naturally aggressive or hostile; combative; belligerent.
cynic: A person whose outlook is scornfully negative.
puckish: mischievous; excessively playful
panache: Flamboyant, energetic style or action; dash; verve; as in: "The model must have [noun] to sustain in the modelling industry."
abstemious: Sparing in diet; refraining from a free use of food and strong drinks; temperate; abstinent; sparing in the indulgence of the appetite or passions.
canorous: melodious,resonant
irascible: short-tempered.
halcyon: calm, undisturbed, peaceful, serene, tranquil. Usage : The next day dawned sunny with a [word] blue sky.
rubicund: Possessing a red complexion. Ruddy.
pusillanimous: Showing ignoble cowardice, or contemptible timidity
penance: A voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing. It may be intended to serve as reparation for the act.
indolent: Habitually lazy, procrastinating, or resistant to physical labor/labour.
disenfranchise: to deprive someone of a franchise, generally their right to vote
pejorative: A disparaging, belittling, or derogatory word or expression. Eg: I never expected [word] remarks for my performance in the play.
callow: Bald.
Friends with BookmarkOS