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All terms in this list:

RETICENT: Keeping one's thoughts and opinions to oneself; reserved or restrained.

SCURRILOUS: given to vulgar verbal abuse; foul-mouthed

PARTISAN: An adherent to a party or faction.

preternatural: Having an existence outside of the natural world. In this sense, everything supernatural is also preternatural.

dilettante: An amateur, someone who dabbles in a field out of casual interest rather than as a profession or serious interest.

misogyny: hatred or contempt for women

libel: A written (notably as handbill) or pictorial statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.

belabor: . Argue or elaborate (a subject) in excessive detail: "they belabored the obvious". 2. Attack or assault (someone) physically or verbally

heuristic: Relating to general strategies or methods for solving problems.

smite: To strike down or kill with godly force.

probity: integrity

indict: To accuse of wrongdoing; charge.

wimp: someone who lacks confidence, is irresolute and wishy-washy

fractious: irritable; argumentative; quarrelsome

belligerent: Eager to go to war, warlike.

Levant: The countries bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea variously:

feckless: Without skill, ineffective, incompetent.

penchant: taste, liking, or inclination (for)

salve: Any thing or action that soothes or heals.

incivility: Any act of rudeness or ill breeding.

rebuke: To criticise harshly; to reprove.

chide: to loudly admonish in blame; to angrily reproach

rhetoric: The art of using language, especially public speaking, as a means to persuade.

purloin: To commit theft; to thieve.

succor: Aid, assistance or relief given to one in distress; ministration.

reprehensible: Blameworthy, censurable, guilty.

profligate: Inclined to waste resources or behave extravagantly.

civitas: A body of people constituting an organized community; city-state

nihilist: An absolute skeptic; a person who believes in the truth of nothing.

pillory: A framework on a post, with holes for the hands and head, used as a means of punishment and humiliation.

verbiage: Overabundance of words

roil: To render turbid by stirring up the dregs or sediment of; as, to roil wine, cider, etc, in casks or bottles; to roil a spring.

spiel: A fast excuse or sales pitch.

cachet: A special characteristic or quality. a seal

nuance: Subtlety or fine detail.

banal: Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.

precarious: dangerously insecure or unstable; perilous

baritone: The male voice between tenor and bass

tenor: musical range or section higher than bass and lower than alto. Also a person, instrument, or group that performs in that range.

alto: musical part or section higher than tenor and lower than soprano. Originally called contratenor altus, high countertenor, the part that performed a countermelody above the tenor or main melody.

soprano: Musical part or section higher in pitch than alto and other sections.

raison d'etre: Anglicized spelling of raison d'être; a reason for living.

caucus: A meeting, especially a preliminary meeting, of persons belonging to a party, to nominate candidates for public office, or to select delegates to a nominating convention, or to confer regarding measures of party policy; a political primary meeting.

sicc: to incite or urge to an attack, pursuit, or harassment : set

clobber: To hit or bash severely.

bootstrap: To help (oneself) without the aid of others.

debutante: a young woman who makes her first formal appearance in society

verite: the art or technique of filming (as a motion picture) so as to convey candid realism

hustle: A rush or hurry.

gawked: to gape or stare stupidly

cliché: Something, most often a phrase or expression, that is overused or used outside its original context, so that its original impact and meaning are lost. A trite saying; a platitude.

reprise: A recurrence or resumption of an action.

jurisdiction: the power, right, or authority to interpret and apply the law

emancipation: The act of setting free from the power of another, from slavery, subjection, dependence, or controlling influence

impunity: Being outside of the rule of law, without risk of retribution.

status quo: The state of things; the way things are, as opposed to the way they could be; the existing state of affairs.

ante: To make an investment in money, effort, or time before knowing one's chances.

implausible: Not plausible; unlikely; dubious.

repugnant: offensive or repulsive; arousing disgust or aversion

ingratiating: Which ingratiates; which attempts to bring oneself into the favour of another. The implication is often of flattery or insincerity.

quaint: Strange or odd in an interesting, pleasing, or amusing way.

stodgy: dull old fashioned

apophthegm: A short, witty, instructive saying; an aphorism or maxim.

acrimonious: Of words, arguments, quarrels: bitter; mean-spirited; sharp in language or tone.

rendition: The surrender or handing-over of a person or thing, especially from one jurisdiction to another.

subpoena: A writ requiring someone to appear in court to give testimony.

strident: Loud; shrill, piercing, high-pitched; rough-sounding

gubernatorial: Related to a governor.

persuasive: able to persuade; convincing

ersatz: Made in imitation; artificial, especially of an inferior quality.

despot: A ruler with absolute power; a tyrant.

tyrant: An absolute ruler who governs without restriction.

mire: An undesirable situation, a predicament.

predicament: An unfortunate or trying position or condition; a tight spot.

bigotry: The characteristic qualities of a bigot; intolerance or prejudice, especially religious or racial.

hackneyed: Repeated too often.

smirk: An uneven crooked smile.

innards: The internal organs of a human or animal; especially viscera, intestines.

oeuvre: A work of art.

smidgen: A very small quantity or amount.

transmogrify: To completely alter one's form.

procumbent: That trails along the ground

recumbent: Inactive; idle.

compunction: a pricking of conscience, a slight regret

debacle: An event or enterprise that ends suddenly and disastrously, often with humiliating consequences.

edify: To build, construct.

eyrie: Any high and remote but commanding place.

wrest: To pull or twist violently.

wheedle: To obtain something by guile or trickery.

canard: A false or misleading report or story, especially if deliberately so.

recalcitrant: marked by a stubborn unwillingness to obey figures of authority

welter: general confusion; disorderly mixture; aimless effort; as, a welter of papers and magazines

avarice: Excessive or inordinate desire of gain; greediness after wealth; covetousness; cupidity.

eulogise: To praise, celebrate or pay homage to someone, especially in an eloquent formal eulogy.

reticent: Keeping one's thoughts and opinions to oneself; reserved or restrained.

lugubrious: gloomy, mournful or dismal, especially to an exaggerated degree.

impudent: Not showing due respect; impertinent; bold-faced

reproach: To criticize or rebuke or bring shame on someone.

petulant: easily irritated or annoyed

mollycoddle: To be overprotective and indulgent toward; to pamper.

peremptory: Positive in opinion or judgment; decided; dictatorial; dogmatic.

sycophant: One who uses compliments to gain self-serving favor or advantage from another.

coterie: An exclusive group of people, who associate closely for a common purpose; a clique.

clique: A small, exclusive group of individuals; cabal

poseur: One who affects some behaviour, style, attitude or other condition, often to impress or influence others.

nave: The middle or body of a church, extending from the transepts to the principal entrances.

desultory: Jumping, or passing, from one thing or subject to another, without order or rational connection; without logical sequence; disconnected; immethodical; aimless.

diffident: Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.

scrawny: Thin, malnourished and weak.

wizened: withered; lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

cogitation: The process of cogitating; thought, deliberation or meditation

interlude: An intervening episode, etc.

hubris: Unchecked arrogance

VITIATE: to spoil, make faulty; to reduce the value, quality, or effectiveness of something

LEER: To look sideways or obliquely; now especially with sexual desire or malicious intent.

LARGESS: Generosity in the giving of gifts or money.

impropriety: The condition of being improper.

complacent: Uncritically satisfied with oneself or one's achievements; smug.

profligacy: shameless and immoral behaviour careless wasting

bequeath: To give or leave by will; to give by testament; especially of personal property.

encumber: to load down something with a burden

yokel: An unsophisticated person. rural

necropolis: A large cemetery, especially one of elaborate construction in an ancient city.

sophisticate: Make less natural or innocent..sophistry has a meaning as deceive

doff: To remove a hat as a greeting or mark of respect. also used for removing clothing

tote: To carry a heavy load. also means add up?

primp: To become formal or affected in dress or manners.

promulgate: To make known or public. to make into effect as a regulation

mollify: To ease a burden; make less painful; to comfort..gain good will

tipple: To sell alcoholic liquor by retail. [from earlier 16th c.]..to drink too much noun: area where unloading of freight cars is done

belay: The general command to stop or cease. other use: relates to securing a rope to a rock ( noun )

nosegay: A small bunch of fragrant flowers or herbs, tied in a bundle, often presented as a gift on meeting, and originally intended to be put to the nose for the pleasant sensation, or to mask unpleasant odours.

affectation: An attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real; false display; artificial show.

encomium: Warm praise, especially a formal expression of such praise; a tribute...a category of oration

duress: Being constrained by threat.

furor: A general uproar or commotion

parsimony: Great reluctance to spend money unnecessarily.use less resources or explanation to solve a problem

prescient: Having knowledge of events before they take place; possessing or exhibiting prescience.

trepidation: A fearful state; a state of hesitation or concern.

ire: Great anger; wrath; keen resentment. verb: to anger or iritate

epitome: The embodiment or encapsulation of.

inept: Not able to do something; not proficient; displaying incompetence, unfit, unsuitable

jingoism: Excessive patriotism or aggressive nationalism especially with regards to foreign policy.

brisling: A sprat (small herring)

bridle: To check, restrain, or control with, or as if with, a bridle; as , bridle your tongue. noun : head gear to direct a horse

ingrained: Being an element; present in the essence of a thing..fixed

convivial: Of or relating to a feast or entertainment, or to eating and drinking, with accompanying festivity; festive; social; gay; jovial.

baneful: Exceedingly harmful; causing harm, death, ruin. deadful

comely: Pleasing or attractive to the eye.

contrite: Sincerely penitent or feeling regret or sorrow, especially for one’s own actions; apologetic.

purport: To convey, imply, or profess outwardly, often falsely.

cede: To give up, give way, give away.

jostle: To move through by pushing and shoving.

quorum: ..select group..The minimum number of members required for a group to officially conduct business and to cast binding votes, often but not necessarily a majority or supermajority...

recondite: Hidden from the mental or intellectual view; secret; abstruse. profound

torrid: Full of intense emotions arising from sexual love; ardent and passionate. very hot and dry

lassitude: Lethargy or lack of energy; fatigue. langour..listlessness

languor: a state of the body or mind caused by exhaustion or disease and characterized by a languid feeling: lassitude

rampart: A defensive structure; a protective barrier; a bulwark.

bristling: Having bristles.

burnish: To make smooth or shiny by rubbing; to polish; to shine.

acrid: Sharp and harsh, or bitter and not to the taste; pungent.

consternation: Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates for reflection; causing confusion

embolden: To render (someone) more bold or courageous.

epicurean: pursuing pleasure, especially in reference to food or comfort...a person of epicurean tastes

churlish: Rude, surly, ungracious. serf, peasant rustic..lack of civility..difficult to work with ...it will be curlish not to congratulate him

serf: A semifree peasant of a low hereditary class, slavishly attached to the land owned by a feudal lord and required to perform labour, enjoying minimal legal or customary rights

surly: Lordly, arrogant, ....surly receptionist...threatening as in surly weather...surly mood..irritable,curlish

supercilious: Arrogantly superior; showing contemptuous indifference; haughty....the supercilious art dealer rolled her eyes when we asked if she had anything for under $1,000>

haughty: Conveying in demeanour the assumption of superiority; disdainful, supercilious....He rejected their offer with a tone of haughty disdain.

disdain: A feeling of contempt or scorn.: a feeling of contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior : scorn ...He regarded their proposal with disdain.

simper: To smile in a frivolous, self-conscious, often coy manner...to smile in a silly manner

coy: bashful, shy

bashful: Showing shyness....backward, shy, coy, demure, diffident, introverted, modest, recessive, retiring, self-effacing, sheepish, withdrawn

blatant: 1 : noisy especially in a vulgar or offensive manner : clamorous 2 : completely obvious, conspicuous, or obtrusive especially in a crass or offensive manner : brazen

vignette: a : a short descriptive literary sketch b : a brief incident or scene (as in a play or movie)

enamor: to cause to feel a strong or excessive interest or fascination —usually used in the passive with of or with

pilloried: to expose to public contempt, ridicule, or scorn.. The press pilloried the judge for her decision

excoriate: To strongly denounce or censure. related to skin chafing flaying...He was excoriated as a racist.

stymie: An obstacle or obstruction. verb...thwart to cause to fail.to leave confused or puzzled....

approbation: an act of approving formally or officially b : commendation, praise The company has even received the approbation of its former critics.

circumscribe: To limit narrowly; to restrict. ....

grandiloquent: overly wordy, pompous, flowery, or elaborate.

truculence: : feeling or displaying ferocity : cruel, savage. deadly, destructive: aggressively self-assertive : belligerent

qualm: 1: a sudden attack of illness, faintness, or nausea 2: a sudden access of usually disturbing emotion (as doubt or fear) 3: a feeling of uneasiness about a point especially of conscience or propriety He accepted their offer without a qualm.

aphrodisiac: substance that increases desire

unscrupulous: Without scruples, immoral unprincipled

Unrequited: not reciprocated or returned in kind

saccharine: Excessively sweet in action or disposition; syrupy.

paroxysm: A random or sudden outburst (of activity).

swivet: (Also swivvet) A state of condition of haste, flutter; extreme discomposure or distress; irritation exasperation annoyance. Officials said the evacuations were precautionary but some parents went into a swivet, demanding to know why the schools had not be

draconian: Very severe, oppressive or strict. A string of draconian measures enforced by authorities has fuelled the Egyptian uprising..." – Atul Aneja, The Hindu, January 28, 2011

alacrity: promptness in response : cheerful readiness

assuage: : to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses) : ease 2 : pacify, quiet

gallant: brave, valiant fashionable young man 1 : a young man of fashion 2 a : ladies' man b : suitor c : paramour Examples of GALLANT 1. 2.

intrepid: Fearless; bold; brave. characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance an intrepid explorer who probed parts of the rain forest never previously attempted>

audacious: a : intrepidly daring : adventurous b : recklessly bold : rash 2 : contemptuous of law, religion, or decorum : insolent 3 : marked by originality and verve — au·da·cious·ly adverb — au·da·cious·ness noun

unrequited: Unanswered; not returned; not reciprocated; not repaid. unrecquited love

charade: Definition of CHARADE 1 : a word represented in riddling verse or by picture, tableau, or dramatic action 2 plural : a game in which some of the players try to guess a word or phrase from the actions of another player who may not speak 3 : an empty or dec

narcissism: : egoism, egocentrism : love of or sexual desire for one's own body 1.

prevaricate: To shift or turn from direct speech or behaviour; to evade the truth; to waffle or be (intentionally) ambiguous.

suave: Charming, confident and elegant.sweet talk..effortlessly graceful social manners

debonair: suave, urbane and sophisticated politeness as in debonair performer suave as in debonair dismissal of financial problems made me underestimate the situation

austere: a : stern and cold in appearance or manner b : somber, grave 2 : morally strict : ascetic 3 : markedly simple or unadorned 4 : giving little or no scope for pleasure 5 of a wine : having the flavor of acid or tannin predominant over fruit flavors usua

axiomatic: : taken for granted : self-evident 2 : based on or involving an axiom or system of axioms 1. It is axiomatic that good athletes have a strong mental attitude. 2.

arduous: hard to accomplish or achieve : difficult b : marked by great labor or effort : strenuous He went through an long and arduous training program

aberrant: : straying from the right or normal way 2 : deviating from the usual or natural type : atypical # #

canonical: conforming to a general rule or acceptable procedure Orthodox

capricious: erratic inclined to change..capricious weather..capricious manager

censure: official strong criticism ▪ The country faces international censure for its alleged involvement in the assassination.

chicanery: deception by artful subterfuge or sophistry : trickery 2: a piece of sharp practice (as at law) : trick See chicanery defined for English-language learners » Examples of CHICANERY He wasn't above using chicanery to win votes.

connoisseur: [count] : a person who knows a lot about something (such as art, wine, food, etc.) : an expert in a particular subject ▪ wine connoisseurs ▪ She is a connoisseur of African art.

disabuse: show or convince (someone) that a belief is incorrect of ▪ He offered to disabuse us of what he called our “cherished myths.” ▪ Anyone expecting a romantic story will be quickly disabused of that notion by the opening chapter

disabuse: show or convince (someone) that a belief is incorrect of ▪ He offered to disabuse us of what he called our “cherished myths.” ▪ Anyone expecting a romantic story will be quickly disabused of that notion by the opening chapter

discordant: being at variance : disagreeing b : quarrelsome 2: relating to a discord — dis·cor·dant·ly adverb See discordant defined for English-language learners » Examples of DISCORDANT She has the difficult task of bringing together a number of d

Disparate: different from each other ▪ The conversation covered topics as disparate [=diverse] as fashion and biology. ▪ disparate cultures ▪ music that combines/blends disparate [=dissimilar] elements

effrontery: a very confident attitude or way of behaving that is shocking or rude : nerve ◊Effrontery describes the attitude of a person who does something very boldly and without shame even though it is wrong or offensive in some way. ▪ He had the effrontery to

eloquent: marked by forceful and fluent expression 2: vividly or movingly expressive or revealing an elequant writer and reader

enervate: 1: to reduce the mental or moral vigor of 2: to lessen the vitality or strength of example: the surgery really enervated me week afterwards

ennui: A gripping listlessness or melancholia caused by boredom; depression.a lack of spirit, enthusiasm, or interest ▪ He suffered from a general sense of ennui. [=boredom]

equivocate: to use unclear language especially to deceive or mislead someone ▪ The applicant seemed to be equivocating when we asked him about his last job. ▪ When asked about her tax plan, the candidate didn't equivocate.

erudite: having or showing knowledge that is learned by studying ▪ an erudite [=learned] scholar/professor/librarian ▪ an erudite essay

exculpate: to prove that someone is not guilty of doing something wrong .... Prosecutors said Mr. Moyer and Mr. Hayes ''deliberately mischaracterized'' an eyewitness account of what happened in an official police report in order to ''exculpate Brandon Piekarsky.''

exigent: pressing, demanding , urgent requiring immediate action or attention Example : Started his work day with flood of exigent matters that require his quick decisions

extemporaneous: done without preparation Improvised I was caught to give a extemporaneous speech in award function

filibuster: Delaying tactics, especially long, often irrelevant speeches given in order to delay progress or the making of a decision, especially on the floor of the US Senate.They engaged in a filibuster that lasted for over a week.

buccaneers: an unscrupulous adventurer especially in politics or business English buccaneer preyed over spanish ships examples: buccaneers who preyed upon treasure-laden ships in the Caribbean

buccaneer: a person who tries to become wealthy or powerful by doing things that are illegal or dishonest ▪ corporate buccaneers

pecuniary: Of, or relating to, money; monetary. Political and pecuniary motives drove the filibusters and their political supporters; so did a taste for glory

fulminate: Loudly attact or to denounce She was fulminating about the dangers of smoking. The editorial fulminated against the proposed tax increase

denounce: to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or evil The government called on the group to denounce the use of violence. The film was denounced for the way it portrayed its female characters.

ingenuous: demonstrating childlike simplicity..originality and cleverlessness..unusual aptitude of discovering or contrivaning

inure: to accustom to accept something undesirable Example : Does violence on television inure children to violence in real life?

irascible: marked by hot temper and easily provoked anger Example: an irascible old football coach

paradox: something (such as a situation) that is made up of two opposite things and that seems impossible but is actually true or possible ▪ It is a paradox that computers need maintenance so often, since they are meant to save people time

nascent: Emerging; just coming into existence.“Bread, social justice and freedom seems to be driving Egypt ’s nascent revolution.

nebulous: cloud or haze; hazy.ill defined. gone from devout born-again Christian to a more nebulous, nondoctrinal set of beliefs that do not align with organized religion

neologism: A word or phrase which has recently been coined; a new word or phrase....Webinar (Web + seminar) seems like a fine neologism for a seminar offered online

obtuse: Intellectually dull or dim-witted.blunt..Israel wouldn't be so obtuse as to use lethal force on self-described peace activists in., but it turned out that Israel could be so obtuse after all

obviate: To bypass a requirement or make it unnecessary.In the secular world, molestation of a child is crime, and a heartfelt apology for it doesn't obviate jail time. In the Catholic Church, it is a sin to be forgiven.

onerous: burdensome; difficult; wearing; tiring-TAX-PREPARATION software usually makes an onerous task easier.

paean: Any loud and joyous song of triumph..he needs a positive vision to mobilize voters. His paean to American greatness (''not just a place on a map, but a light to the world'') was part of that

paean: Any loud and joyous song of triumph..he needs a positive vision to mobilize voters. His paean to American greatness (''not just a place on a map, but a light to the world'') was part of that

parody: A work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony...It looks like a parody of Minimalist sculpture

perennial: lasting all the time.One perennial challenge pianists face is making a percussive instrument sing

perfidy: act of violating faith or allegiance; violation of a promise or vow, or of trust reposed; faithlessness; treachery...the exiled dictator was ''lonely, depressed and brooding on the perfidy of a nation that once worshiped him

perspicacious: Of acute discernment; having keen insight; mentally perceptive...Richard M. Sudhalter won wide respect as a mellifluous trumpet player and perspicacious jazz historian

prattle: to talk incessantly and in a childish manner; to babble....the company's advocate answered candidly with no attempt to obfuscate the answers with typical lawyerly prattle.

precipitate: To make something happen suddenly and quickly; hasten...tensions escalated sectional animosities and helped precipitate the Civil War,

fetish: strong and unusual desire for something..unconventional..need of a object for sexual excitement.object with magical power..us military thinkers have a german fetish..he has a fetish for secrecy..he wore a fetish for luck

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