All terms in this list:
abjure: Solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim)
abrogate: Repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement)
acerbic: Sour or bitter.
acrimony: sharp and bitter hatred
acumen: quickness of perception or discernment; penetration of mind; the faculty of nice discrimination
adumbrate: To foreshadow vaguely.
alacrity: Brisk and cheerful readiness
anathema: Something or someone that one vehemently dislikes
antipathy: Contrariety or opposition in feeling; settled aversion or dislike; repugnance; distaste.
approbation: Approval or praise
arrogate: Take or claim (something) for oneself without justification
ascetic: One who is devoted to the practice of self-denial, either through seclusion or stringent abstinence.
aspersion: An attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something
assiduous: Hard-working, diligent or regular (in attendance or work); industrious.
blandish: to persuade someone by using flattery; to cajole
boon: A blessing or benefit.
brusque: Rudely abrupt, unfriendly.
buffet: strike against forcefully;
burnish: To make smooth or shiny by rubbing; to polish; to shine.
buttress: A source of defense or support
cacophony: A mix of discordant sounds; dissonance.
cajole: To encourage or persuade by effort; to coax.
calumny: a falsification or misrepresentation intended to disparage or discredit another.
capricious: Impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim
clemency: Mercy; lenience
cogent: Reasonable and convincing; based on evidence.
concomitant: Naturally accompanying or associated
conflagration: A large fire extending to many objects, or over a large space; a general burning.
contrite: Feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt
conundrum: A difficult question or riddle, especially one using a play on words in the answer.
credulity: A willingness to believe in someone or something in the absence of reasonable proof.
cupidity: Extreme greed, especially for wealth.
cursory: Brief or broad; not close, cautious, nor detailed.
decry: To denounce as harmful.
defile: to make impure; to make dirty. Less strong than to pollute
deleterious: harmful or hurtful, to physical, mental or moral health.
demure: Quiet, modest, reserved, or serious.
deprecate: to express disapproval of
deride: To harshly mock; ridicule.
desecrate: Treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect; violate
desiccated: Lacking interest, passion, or energy
diaphanous: Transparent; allowing light to pass through; capable of being seen through.
diffident: Modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence
discursive: Tending to digress from the main point; rambling.
dissemble: Conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs
dither: To be uncertain or unable to make a decision about doing something.
ebullient: Cheerful and full of energy
effrontery: insolent and shameless audacity
effulgent: shining, resplendent, with radiant splendor
egregious: Exceptional, conspicuous, outstanding, most usually in a negative fashion.
enervate: Lacking in energy or vitality
ephemeral: Lasting for a short period of time.
eschew: To avoid; to shun.
evanescent: vanishing, disappearing, fleeting
evince: Reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling)
exculpate: To clear of or free from guilt; exonerate.
execrable: of the poorest quality
exigent: Urgent; needing immediate action.
expiate: To atone or make reparation for.
expunge: To erase or strike out.
extant: Still in existence.
extol: Praise enthusiastically
fallacious: Deceptive or misleading.
fastidious: Excessively particular, demanding, or fussy about details.
fatuous: Obnoxiously stupid, vacantly silly, content in one's foolishness.
fecund: Highly fertile; able to produce offspring.
feral: wild, untamed, especially of domesticated animals having returned to the wild
fetid: Foul-smelling.
florid: having a rosy or pale red colour; ruddy
fractious: Easily irritated; bad-tempered
garrulous: Excessively or tiresomely talkative.
grandiloquence: lofty, pompous or bombastic speech or writing
gregarious: Describing one who enjoys being in crowds and socializing.
hackneyed: Repeated too often.
hapless: Very unlucky; ill-fated.
harangue: Lecture (someone) at length in an aggressive and critical manner
hegemony: Domination, influence, or authority over another, especially by one political group over a society or by one nation over others
iconoclast: A destroyer of images used in religious worship, in particular
ignominious: Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame
impassive: Having, or revealing, no emotion.
imperious: Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering
impertinent: Not showing proper respect; rude
impervious: unaffected or unable to be affected by
impetuous: Making arbitrary decisions, esp. in an impulsive and forceful manner.
impinge: Have an effect or impact, esp. a negative one
implacable: Relentless; unstoppable
impudent: Not showing due respect; impertinent; bold-faced
inchoate: Recently started but not fully formed yet; just begun; only elementary or immature.
incontrovertible: Not capable of being denied, challenged, or disputed; closed to questioning.
indefatigable: Extremely persistent and untiring.
ineffable: Beyond expression in words; unspeakable.
inexorable: Unable to be persuaded; relentless; unrelenting
ingenuous: naïve and trusting
inimical: Tending to obstruct or harm
iniquity: Immoral or grossly unfair behavior
insidious: Producing serious harm in a stealthy, often gradual, manner.
intransigent: Unwilling to compromise or moderate a position; unreasonable; irreconcilable; stubborn.
inure: To cause to become accustomed to something unpleasant by prolonged exposure.
invective: Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language
inveterate: Having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change
jubilant: In a state of elation.
juxtaposition: The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect
laconic: Using as few words as possible; pithy and concise.
languid: Heavy; dull; dragging; wanting spirit or animation; listless; apathetic.
largess: Generosity in the giving of gifts or money.
latent: Existing or present but concealed or inactive.
legerdemain: Sleight of hand; "magic" trickery
licentious: Disregarding accepted rules or conventions, esp. in grammar or literary style
limpid: Clear, transparent or bright.
maelstrom: A large and violent whirlpool.
magnanimous: Noble and generous in spirit.
malediction: A curse
malevolent: having or displaying ill will; wishing harm on others
manifold: Something with many different parts or forms, in particular
maudlin: Self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness
mawkish: Sentimental in a feeble or sickly way
mendacious: lying, untruthful or dishonest
mercurial: Subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind
modicum: A small, modest or trifling amount.
morass: A complicated or confused situation
multifarious: Many and of various types
munificence: The quality or action of being lavishly generous; great generosity
myriad: Countless or extremely great in number
nadir: The lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization
nascent: Emerging; just coming into existence.
nefarious: infamous for being wicked
neophyte: A beginner.
obdurate: Stubbornly persistent, generally in wrongdoing; refusing to reform or repent.
obfuscate: Render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible
oblique: Not erect or perpendicular; neither parallel to, nor at right angles from, the base; slanting; inclined.
obsequious: Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
obstreperous: Noisy and difficult to control
obtuse: Blunt; not sharp.
odious: Extremely unpleasant; repulsive
officious: Assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way, esp. with regard to petty or trivial matters
opulent: luxuriant, and ostentatiously magnificent
ostensible: Stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so
palliate: To lessen the severity of; to extenuate.
pallid: appearing weak, pale, or wan
panacea: A remedy believed to cure all disease and prolong life that was originally sought by alchemists; a cure-all.
paragon: A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality
pariah: An outcast
parsimony: Great reluctance to spend money unnecessarily.
pathos: A quality that evokes pity or sadness
paucity: Fewness in number; a small number.
pejorative: Expressing contempt or disapproval
pellucid: Lucid in style or meaning; easily understood
penurious: Extremely poor; poverty-stricken
perfidious: disloyal to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance.
perfunctory: Carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection
pernicious: Having a harmful effect, esp. in a gradual or subtle way
perspicacity: The quality of having a ready insight into things; shrewdness
pertinacious: Holding tenaciously to an opinion or purpose.
petulance: The quality of being childishly sulky or bad-tempered
pithy: Precisely meaningful; forceful and brief.
platitude: An often-quoted saying that is supposed to be meaningful but has become unoriginal or hackneyed through overuse; a cliché.
plethora: An excessive amount or number; an abundance.
polemic: A strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
portent: A sign or warning that something, esp. something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen
precocious: Characterized by exceptionally early development or maturity.
prescient: Having knowledge of events before they take place;
primeval: Belonging to the first ages.
probity: The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency
proclivity: A tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing
promulgate: To make known or public.
propensity: An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way
propitious: Giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable
prosaic: Straightforward; matter-of-fact; lacking the feeling or elegance of poetry.
proscribe: To forbid or prohibit.
protean: Tending or able to change frequently or easily
prurient: Having or encouraging an excessive interest in sexual matters
puerile: Childishly silly and trivial
pugnacious: Naturally aggressive or hostile; combative; belligerent.
pulchritude: Physical beauty.
punctilious: Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior
quagmire: An awkward, complex, or hazardous situation
querulous: Often complaining; suggesting a complaint in expression; fretful, whining.
quixotic: Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
rancor: Bitterness or resentfulness, esp. when long-standing
rebuke: A harsh criticism.
recalcitrant: marked by a stubborn unwillingness to obey figures of authority
rectitude: Morally correct behavior or thinking; righteousness
replete: Filled or well-supplied with something
reprobate: Express or feel disapproval of
reprove: Reprimand or censure (someone)
repudiate: To reject the truth or validity of something; to deny.
rescind: To repeal, annul, or declare void.
restive: Impatient under delay, duress, or control.
ribald: Coarsely, vulgarly or lewdly humorous.
rife: Widespread, common (especially of unpleasant or harmful things).
ruse: a trick
sacrosanct: beyond alteration, criticism, or interference, especially due to religious sanction; inviolable.
sagacity: The quality of being sage, wise, or able to make good decisions.
salient: prominent, worthy of note; pertinent or relevant
sanctimonious: Making a show of being morally better than others, especially hypocritically pious.
sanguine: Having the colour of blood; red.
scurrilous: Making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation
serendipity: The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way
servile: of or pertaining to a slave
solicitous: Characterized by or showing interest or concern
solipsistic: With consideration only for one's own interest
somnolent: Drowsy or sleepy.
spurious: false, not authentic, not genuine
staid: Serious, organized, and professional; sober
stolid: Having or revealing little emotion or sensibility.
stupefy: Make (someone) unable to think or feel properly
surfeit: An excessive amount of something.
surmise: A supposition that something may be true, even though there is no evidence to confirm it
surreptitious: stealthy, furtive, well hidden, covert (especially movements)
sycophant: One who uses compliments to gain self-serving favor or advantage from another.
tacit: Understood or implied without being stated
taciturn: Silent; temperamentally untalkative; disinclined to speak.
tantamount: To amount to as much; to be equivalent.
temerity: Reckless boldness; foolish bravery.
tenuous: Thin in substance or consistency.
timorous: fearful, afraid, timid
torpid: Mentally or physically inactive; lethargic
tractable: Easy to control or influence
transient: Remaining for only a brief time.
transmute: Change in form, nature, or substance
trenchant: Vigorous or incisive in expression or style
truculent: Eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant
turgid: Tediously pompous or bombastic (of language or style)
turpitude: Inherent baseness or depravity; corruptness and evilness.
ubiquitous: Being everywhere at once: omnipresent.
umbrage: Feeling of anger or annoyance caused by something offensive.
unctuous: Oily or greasy.
undulate: To cause to move in a wavelike motion.
upbraid: Find fault with (someone); scold
usurp: To seize power from another, usually by illegitimate means.
vacillate: To sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate.
vacuous: Showing a lack of thought or intelligence; vacant
vapid: lifeless, dull or banal
variegated: very colorful.
venerate: To treat with great respect and deference.
veracity: Truthfulness
verdant: Green in colour.
vex: To annoy.
vicarious: Experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person
vicissitude: A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
vilify: To say defamatory things about someone or something.
viscous: Having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid
vitriolic: Filled with bitter criticism or malice
vituperate: Blame or insult (someone) in strong or violent language
wanton: Undisciplined, unruly; not able to be controlled.
winsome: Charming; inspiring trust and approval; especially if in an innocent manner.
wistful: full of yearning or longing
wizened: withered; lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
zenith: The time at which something is most powerful or successful
zephyr: a light wind from the west
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