Word of the day Merriam-Webster-2018

Cohort

Companion, colleague. , Example: A _______ of chambermaids would descend twice daily with mops

Agon

Conflict; especially : the dramatic conflict between the chief characters in a literary work. Example: The ------ of the central character, self-besieged or plagued by circumstance, runs through the history of the director's films, as does the suspicion that man's brutality to man may have a penitential purpose

Antropomorphic

Described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes. 2. Ascribing human characteristics to nonhuman things. Example: The program sees the magical _________________ bear Brigsby doing battle with an evil wizard in the moon while also teaching multiplication

Biddable

Easily led, taught, or controlled: docile. 2. capable of being bid. Example: Because of the lack of documentation, the audit couldn't directly determine whether the project met a goal of awarding 60 percent of the _______ work to local firms, and 20 percent to small businesses.

Exegesis

Exposition, explanation; especially : an explanation or critical interpretation of a text. Example: He has ... a real gift for ---------, unpacking poems in language that is nearly as eloquent as the poet's, and as clear as faithfulness allows

Fete

Festival, elaborate party, , , Example: Eileen threw an evening _____ to which she invited all their friends and family members. 2. Proceeds from the fete will help build specially adapted smart homes for our nation's most catastrophically injured service members

Vapid

Flat, dull, zest, lacking flavor. , Example: listen to the vapid chatter of the play-by-play announcer. 2. The ______ , upbeat bubblegum tone of the song never wavers

Woolgathering

Indulgence in idle daydreaming. Example: My ------- in the backseat was abruptly interrupted by a question from the taxi driver.

Nuts

Insane, crazy,2. keen, enthusiastic Example: I think the most irresponsible thing I did was invest in a company that was going nowhere.... It kept falling apart. People kept telling me I was ______. I kept pushing forward.

Cathexis

Investment of mental or emotional energy in a person, object, or idea. Examples "In 2004, Bowie had a heart attack, and he was recently rumored to be in poor health. Leading up to the release of 'The Next Day,' a jittery ------- formed. Do we judge Bowie as we always have, by his own standards? Would a new album be received reverentially, like those of the post-motorcycle-crash Bob Dylan?" — Sasha Frere-Jones, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2013 "... young lovers who marry during the giddy rush of -----, when the hormonal highs of romantic love prompt them to be in love with being in love, often find there's no cement to tightly bind their relationship." — Mike Masterson, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 25 Dec. 2016

Nebulous

Of, relating to, or resembling a nebula, 2 indistinct, vague. Example: you get more detailed narrative than in a single book without having to deal with the ________ endpoint of an ongoing series

Yegg

One that breaks open safes to steal: safecracker; also: robber. Example: The cops grabbed him and another ------ for a Philadelphia store burglary

Homiletic

Preachy, moralistic, sententious, , example, The first part is full of ______ insight, the second replete with postmodern angst.

Cursory

Rapidly and often superficially performed or produced : hasty. Example: James gave the instructions only a ----- look before he began to assemble the shelves and didn't realize until he was partway through that he would need a power drill.

Instauration

Restoration after decay, lapse or dilapidation. 2 an act of instituting or establishing something. Example: Once, humanity dreamed of the great ________—a rebirth of ancient wisdom that would compel us into a New Age...

Trammel

Restraint, a net for catching birds or fish, ,, Example, In her memoir, the singer asserts that her musicianship was ultimately hampered by the _______ of fame

Scilicet

That is to say, to with, namely. Example: Their objection—they claimed—was to the parcelling out of the top state jobs among the political (------: the other political) parties.

Frolic

To amuse oneself; make merry 2. to play and run about happily; romp. Example: Oak Island resident Wendy Brumagin was able to capture a beautiful, and what some might consider rare, image of a coyote _________king in the snow

Divest

To deprive or disposses especially of property, authority or title, to under or strip especially of clothing, ornament, or equipment, to take away from a person. Example: The court's ruling does not _____ the family of their ability to use the property.

Blench

To draw back or turn aside from lack of courage. Example: I _______ when my son first introduced me to the initials IRL, meaning In Real Life, as opposed to the online world where he and his generation spend so much of their time.

Laudable

Worthy of praise : commendable Example: Thanks to the ----- efforts of dozens of volunteers, the town's Winter Carnival was an enjoyable event for everyone.

Logomachy

a dispute over or about words 2 : a controversy marked by verbiage Example: Not that anyone could accuse this city of lacking logophiles—that's 'lovers of words,' if you have to ask. But where could word warriors go to engage in spirited ________?

slumgullion

a meat stew Examples The --------- was hot, savory, and hearty, and on this rainy night we were all eager for seconds. "She rode up a small dirt hill to a grassy clearing bordered by cabins, where she got a glimpse of the rock, big enough to seat at least a dozen campers, where she and her scouts had cooked ------- , a stew of meat and vegetables, over a camp fire." — Jodi Weigand, The Pittsburgh Tribune Review, 9 Aug. 2007

behemoth

a mighty animal described in Job 40:15-24 as an example of the power of God 2 : something of monstrous size, power, or appearance Examples "Dowd, who has lived in the same housing development since 1989, keeps a plot in the community garden: a mulchy oasis amid brick -------." — Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 25 June 2018 "Pietro's tiny shop has become a ----------- that sells goods in more than 160 countries, employs 40,000 people and makes 365,000 tons of Nutella per year." — Noah Kirsch, Forbes, 30 June 2018

Farce

a savory stuffing : forcemeat 2 : a light dramatic composition marked by broadly satirical comedy and improbable plot 3 : the broad humor characteristic of farce 4 : an empty or patently ridiculous act, proceeding, or situation Example: The company's guarantee is a -----," Jay complained. "The replacement they sent broke even more quickly than the original

tchotchke

a small trivial article usually intended for ornament Examples "How someone organizes their desk can tell you a lot about how they get work done. That's why we're stepping into the offices of enviably creative (and productive) people to look at what's on their desks—pens and notebooks and gadgets, but also décor and -------." — Deva Pardue and Maxine Builder, The New York Magazine, 10 Sept. 2018 "... a review from WireCutter ... called it the best 3D pen of the lot. While we're debating whether any home needs the flood of ------------that will inevitably pour forth as a result of this gadget, the idea of drawing something into existence is pretty appealing." — Talia Milgrom-Elcott, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2018

palindrome

a word, verse, or sentence (such as "Able was I ere I saw Elba") or a number (such as 1881) that reads the same backward or forward Examples The teacher asked the class if anyone could think of a single word ------------ with 7 letters. After a couple minutes, Mia raised her hand and said "repaper." "He went on to create Noxon Tools, named for a small Montana town.... Noxon is a ---------—spelled the same way forward or backward." — Cindy Hval, The Spokesman Review (Spokane, Washington), 13 Mar. 2018

Anent

about, concerning Example: The Act had been a sensible idea. Its absence would be noted. Not least among minority communities who welcomed the protection available from Section Six of the Act ------ Online communications

Accentuate

accent, emphasize, intensify, , , example: an effect accentuated by the pointed use of rolled 'r's. 2. Gradually, television coverage __________ spectacle; the use of slow motion, instant replay, and pre- and post-game shows

agonistic

adjective ag-uh-NISS-tik PrevNext Definition 1 : of or relating to the athletic contests of ancient Greece 2 : argumentative 3 : striving for effect : strained 4 : of, relating to, or being aggressive or defensive social interaction (such as fighting, fleeing, or submitting) between individuals usually of the same species Examples Artie Kopelman ... has also noticed non-hunting uses of bubbles in his humpback-whale encounters. In one instance last summer, he and a small group were drifting in a boat when suddenly a ring of bubbles surrounded them. 'This might have been an ---------- display, or an attempt to build a wall around us,' says Kopelman...." — Erica Cirino, The Atlantic, 28 June 2017 "In ----------- discourse, a political rival is seen and talked about as an adversary—an adversary to be beaten, for sure—but still an adversary, with the same right to be in the political arena as one's self." — Eddie Glenn, The Tulsa (Oklahoma) World, 19 Oct. 2016

perforce

by the force of circumstances Examples "All that frantic traveling was in lieu of any compelling reason to stay home, and those many, many friendships were ----- conducted at long distance." — Blake Bailey, The New York Times Book Review, 28 Dec. 2012 "But by making an opera about television—a source of entertainment for the Everyman—they are, ---------, creating a marriage of high and low." — Hilton Als, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2018

Intrepid

characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance, , Example, An ________ engineer is on the edge of fulfilling his dream

regardless

despite everything Examples Heavy rain is expected this weekend, but the county fair will go on --------. "'Don't drown, turn around' is a clever phrase created to warn motorists about traversing flooded roadways. It should be heeded by all motorists, --------- of the height of your vehicle and whether it has all-wheel drive." — Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia), 4 June 2018

declivity

downward inclination, a descending slope Examples "Early afternoon finds me off-trail by mistake among fog banks, using both hands and feet to scramble sideways and skyward along a perilously steep, grassy ------ toward the pass of Les Mattes." — Jeffrey Tayler, The National Geographic Traveler, 1 June 2017 "We make straight for the swimming pool, set in a warm --------- and surrounded by orange-trees." — Alex Preston, Harper's, October 2016

tergiversation

evasion of straightforward action or clear-cut statement : equivocation 2 : desertion of a cause, position, party, or faith Examples "Two chapters stand out. One covers the grinding combat in southern Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010, where the horrific daily reality for fighting soldiers is nicely juxtaposed with the ----------- of generals and officials safe in Kabul and Washington." — Jason Burke, The Spectator, 3 Feb. 2018 "The emotional leitmotif of Frankel's book is the Wilde-Douglas love story, one of vacillations and -------------- , perhaps the most spectacular in the annals of literary history. There were various times when each of the lovers declared he would kill the other, only to rush back into his outstretched arms." — John Simon, The Weekly Standard, 2 Mar.

nimiety

excess, redundancy Examples As she organized the potluck lunch, Julie offered suggestions for dishes that were still needed so that we wouldn't end up with a dearth of salads or a ---------- of desserts. "Like all good haunted houses, it hovers atop a hill surrounded by large gnarled oak trees. There are broken windows with little fragments in the jambs, like transparent teeth. There is an iron fence; a graveyard in the back; and a --------- of ghosts." — Richard Bangs, The Huffington Post, 6 Dec. 2017

Contrite

feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming. Example: York did in fact say he was sorry and was contrite about making that mistake.

unfettered

free, unrestrained Examples The biographer has been given ---------------access to the family's collection of personal correspondence. "We are both deeply committed to facilitating the restoration and preservation of open and -----------political dialogue." — Howard Dean and Newt Gingrich, The Chicago Daily Herald, 17 Apr. 2018

Parlous

full of danger or risk Examples "Back in Venice, he was restoring an apartment of his own ..., a stately edifice constructed ... in the mid-1600s that had fallen into a ----- condition." — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, March 2018

Maladroit

lacking skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations : inept Examples Any project, however carefully planned, is doomed to fail under ----------- management.

Ineluctable

not to be avoided, changed, or resisted : inevitable Examples "Mr. Unkrich faced a dilemma. On the one hand, he believed that artists should not be restricted to 'only telling stories about what they know and their own culture.' But he also needed to safeguard against his ------- biases and blind spots, and ensure that his film didn't 'lapse into cliché or stereotype.'" — Reggie Ugwu, The New York Times, 19 Nov. 2017 "... Mann's photographs were beautiful, although never cloying, and impossible to reduce to clean readings. But one of the deeper things they captured was the ----- pain—even in idyllic circumstances—of growing up." — Sebastian Smee, The Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2018

mantic

of or relating to the faculty of divination : prophetic Examples The magician mesmerized the crowd with her sleight-of-hand tricks as well as her ------------ predictions. "Like everyone else, I was in awe of her ------------- abilities, and I think she looked upon my storytelling endeavors with indulgence, having known both my father and my grandfather in their prime." — Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya, The Storyteller of Marrakesh, 2011

canicular

of or relating to the period between early July and early September when hot weather occurs in the northern hemisphere Examples On weekend days in the --------- season, the wait at the town's only ice cream shop was often 20 people deep. "Maggie had from her window, seen her stepmother leave the house—at so unlikely an hour, three o'clock of a --- August.... It was the hottest day of the season...." — Henry James, The Golden Bowl, 1904

tempestuous

of, relating to, or resembling a violent storm : turbulent, stormy Examples Because the player's relationship with his manager had grown more ------- over the course of the season, the decision to trade him benefited everyone. "The U.S. government stripped its embassy in Nicaragua down to bare-bone operations Monday after five days of deadly protests around the country, despite Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's efforts to calm his ---------- nation." — Monique O. Madan and Glenn Garvin, The Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2018

Demiurge

one that is an autonomous creative force or decisive power, example, Like Churchill, however, he was unclassifiable. Such _______ transcend categories

exigent

requiring immediate aid or action 2 : requiring or calling for much : demanding Examples The patients were triaged so that ------- cases would be given immediate care. "I have argued that a warrant to seize the needle should allow the police to seize the haystack to search for the needle. But there's a catch: The government should ordinarily not be allowed to use whatever else they find in the haystack. If the warrant is only to seize a needle, the police can only take away and use the needle, unless there are ---------- circumstances exposed by the discovery of other evidence." — Orin Kerr, Reason, 29 June 2018

Adust

scorched, burned. Example: The ____ landscape of volcanic rock and sand can be particularly beautiful at sunset

Uncanny

seeming to have a supernatural character or origin : eerie, mysterious 2 : being beyond what is normal or expected : suggesting superhuman or supernatural powers Example: Our waiter had an ------- resemblance to the creepy villain in the film we had just seen.

beaucoup

slang : great in quantity or amount : many, much Examples "Atlanta has --------- amenities for visitors, from one of the world's largest aquariums, to headier destinations such as the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library." — Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta, 12 July 2017 "Two estranged sisters with --------- unresolved issues meet for a European holiday in Swedish writer-director Lisa Langseth's inauspicious English-language feature 'Euphoria.'" — Alissa Simon, Variety, 8 Sept. 2017

Stanch

stop the flowing of, stop the flow of blood, , Example, The company's CEO gave the keynote address at the convention, ________ rumors that he was not recovering well from his surgery.

opportune

suitable or convenient for a particular occurrence, 2.: occurring at an appropriate time Examples Kristin seized upon the first ------ moment to approach her boss about a raise. "We believe that the recent momentum and widespread recognition the concept has received makes it an ------- time to introduce the brand to Sacramento." — David Leuterio, The Sacramento (California) Bee, 5 Apr. 2018

cerebrate

to use the mind: think Examples "You can't --------- over what you can't see, which therefore becomes an object of loathing and mistrust." — Howard Portnoy, Examiner.com, 25 June 2012 "I can never decide if Derek is incredibly shallow or so deep that he's ---- on two levels at once and I'm privy only to the superficial one." — Susan B. Johnson, Spirit Willing, 2006

gloaming

twilight, dusk Examples "It was in the ---- at Duke University in late fall of 1966. There was a wet chill in the air, most of the trees were leafless, and a low cloud cover added to the gloom. " — Bob Williams, The Chronicle (Duke University), 20 Aug. 2018 "Afterward, we meandered up Lincoln Way in the ------------, and I was delighted at the music sponsored by the Auburn Arts Commission—at Central Square and the Clock Tower. But before we reached the Clock Tower, I saw that the lights were on in Winston Smith. Auburn's bookstore open at an odd hour? Yes, yes, of course that works for me." — Susan Rushton, The Auburn (California) Journal, 3 August 2018

quirk

twist, curve Examples "If you ------ your eyebrow at The Shape of Water's merman, your jaw probably dropped clean off when you realized that some viewers were, well, thirsty for the marine man." — Melissa Broder and Samantha Hunt, Elle, 14 Sept. 2018 "The video was of a laughing baby, and I felt the corners of my mouth ------------ up. After, the computer asked me how I'd felt while watching. 'Happy,' I clicked." — Elizabeth Svoboda, MIT Technology Review, 16 Aug. 2018

loath

unwilling to do something contrary to one's ways of thinking : reluctant Examples My grandfather was naturally very proud of the company he had built, so he was ----- to admit that it was time to think about selling it and retiring. "It seems like a lot of film directors are ---- to embrace VR for the same reason that Roger Ebert famously dismissed video games as a form of art: They think it's a gimmick that punishes artistry in the name of the medium's requirements." — Alex McLevy, The A.V. Club,

Rabble

1 : A disorganized or confused collection of things 2 a : a disorganized or disorderly crowd of people : mob b : the lowest class of people. Example: The university chancellor required extra security to help get him through the ------ of protestors.

boondoggle

1 : a braided cord worn by Boy Scouts as a neckerchief slide, hatband, or ornament 2 : a wasteful or impractical project or activity often involving graft Examples "It may be an urban legend that the Pentagon spent $600 on a hammer in the 1980s, but it's no secret that the Department of Defense has at times acquired a well-deserved reputation for ------------- and profligate spending." — The National Review, 16 Oct. 2017 "Conservatives often reflexively dismiss infrastructure spending as a ------------, and liberals, perhaps in reaction, often reflexively defend it, no matter how wasteful." — Jim Surowiecki, The New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2017

Cadre

1 : a nucleus or core group especially of trained personnel able to assume control and to train others; broadly : a group of people having some unifying relationship. 2 : a cell of indoctrinated leaders active in promoting the interests of a revolutionary party 3 : a member of a cadre 4 : frame, framework Example:As Jon Gruden continues to build his coaching staff, his latest hire fits right in with the ----- of football minds with whom Gruden has had extensive experience. He has hired long time draft prep training specialist, Tom Shaw as the team's strength coach

layman

1 : a person who is not a member of the clergy 2 : a person who does not belong to a particular profession or who is not expert in some field Examples The Nobel laureate's book is an introduction to astrophysics that, despite its depth and detail, remains accessible to the ------------. "One of my favorite genres of Catholic literature is the book-length interview: the Pope or some other high-ranking churchman sits down with a reporter or other --------- , both operating on the assumption that conversation tends toward truth." — Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2018

Bastion

1 : a projecting part of a fortification 2 : a fortified area or position 3 a : a place of security or survival b : a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic Examples "For a century, the automobile has been a ------- of liberty, freeing up almost everybody from the tyranny of other people's schedules." — Charles C. W. Cooke, The National Review, 18 Dec. 2017

chapel

1 : a subordinate or private place of worship 2 : a place of worship used by a Christian group other than an established church 3 : a choir of singers belonging to a chapel 4 : a chapel service or assembly at a school or college The school required all of its students to attend ---------- daily. "The monastery contains a -------, 26 bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, meeting rooms, offices, a library and a gift shop." — Thomas Saccente, The Times Record (Fort Smith, Arkansas), 8 Oct. 2018

defenestration

1 : a throwing of a person or thing out of a window 2 : a usually swift dismissal or expulsion (as from a political party or office) Examples Although -------- may seem an appropriate response to an alarm clock set for too early an hour, the demise of the device does not change the hour of the day. "It's possible that nobody in Hollywood works harder than Tom Cruise, who, in his latest turn as Ethan Hunt, once again finds himself in a race against time after a mission goes wrong. Expect -----------, helicopter crashes, and exploding motorbikes." — Vogue (vogue.com), 22 May 2018

henchman

1 : a trusted follower : right-hand man 2 : a political follower whose support is chiefly for personal advantage 3 : a member of a gang Examples "The story follows the lives to two very different characters—Frank Guidry, a ----------- for one of New Orleans' most powerful and vicious gangsters, and Charlotte, a woman struggling to raise her two daughters while dealing with a feckless, drunken husband." — James D. Watts Jr., The Tulsa (Oklahoma) World, 11 Oct. 2018 "Since Mr. Mugabe's ouster, Mr. Mnangagwa has tried to remake Zimbabwe's image by portraying the government as business-friendly. He has appeared often at investors' conferences, wearing warm, colorful scarves to offset his fearsome reputation as Mr. Mugabe's former ---------." — Norimitsu Onishi, The New York Times, 30 July 2018

epitome

1 : a typical or ideal example : embodiment 2 a : a summary of a written work b : a brief presentation or statement of something 3 : brief or miniature form — usually used with in Examples The cabin we rented was the ----- of country charm: wide pine floors, simple sturdy furniture, and clean linen curtains billowing in the breeze of the open windows. "I really want to make movies about tangible, complicated love, and I think the ------- of love is family love." — Jeremiah Zagar, quoted in The New York Magazine, 23 Aug. 2018

acceptation

1 : acceptance; especially : favorable reception or approval 2 : a generally accepted meaning of a word or understanding of a concept Examples "About 40 fine arts students filled out a two-page application to be a part of the project, Rodriguez said.... Some have done commissioned work and sold their art on Etsy. One received an automatic ---------- to a prestigious art school in Chicago on National Portfolio Day last fall." — Laura Gutschke, The Abilene (Texas) Reporter-News, 8 Apr. 2018 "For its primary definition of 'money,' the same source states, 'In usual and ordinary --------- it means gold, silver, or paper money used as circulating medium of exchange, and does not embrace notes, bonds, evidences of debt, or other personal or real estate.'" — Tom Egan, The Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 1 June 2017

Carvansary

1 : an inn surrounding a court in eastern countries where caravans rest at night 2 : hotel, inn. Example: Most of the area's hotels are on the pricey end of the scale, but there are a few _______ for budget travelers

gaffer

1 : an old man — compare gammer 2 a British : foreman, overseer b British : employer 3 : a head glassblower 4 : a lighting electrician on a motion-picture or television set Examples Before the first day of shooting, the --------- spent several days setting up all the lights. "There were no -------- or best boys or Foley artists who called Wilmington home. Many folks didn't even know what all those words meant." — Amy Hotz, The Star-News (Wilmington, North Carolina), 11 May 2018

fungible

1 : being of such a nature that one part or quantity may be replaced by another equal part or quantity in the satisfaction of an obligation 2 : interchangeable 3 : flexible Examples "The good news—in one way of looking at it—is that Sears had significant ------- assets of decent value to raise cash and a more than cozy relationship with a few willing buyers." — Steve Dennis, Forbes.com, 31 May 2018 "The more difficult assessment is that this bizarro environment is a product of our resistance to the idea that our relationships to art and artists can be alive and ------- , that they can change." — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 25 June 2018

ritzy

1 : being, characteristic of, or befitting a snob : snobbish 2 : impressively or ostentatiously fancy or stylish : fashionable, posh Examples "Pop star Justin Timberlake ... hosted a listening party for his new album at a ------- Manhattan loft where catering was provided by René Redzepi's impossible-to-get-into Copenhagen restaurant...." — Greg Morabito, Eater.com, 17 Jan. 2018 "Allen owned one of the most desirable properties in California, a 120-acre parcel on a hilltop in -----------Beverly Crest that is on the market for $150 million." — Scott Kraft, The Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2018

vulnerable

1 : capable of being physically or emotionally wounded 2 : open to attack or damage : assailable Examples The article reminds readers to install the latest antivirus software on their computers so that they will not be -------- to malware and viruses. "Updated flood maps would give property owners an accurate picture of how -------------- their property is to flooding and would help them take the appropriate measures to prepare for future storms." — Steve Ellis, Asbury Park (New Jersey) Press, 15 Mar. 2018

Grandiose

1 : characterized by affectation of grandeur or splendor or by absurd exaggeration 2 : impressive because of uncommon largeness, scope, effect, or grandeur Example: The committee eventually scaled back the most outlandish parts of its plans for the festival, including a ------ scheme to bring in live peacocks for the event.

approbation

1 : commendation, praise 2 : an act of approving formally or officially Examples "In 2001, I moved to Lima to study literature at a local university. I fell in with a group of art students—painters, illustrators, sculptors—and even after I'd quit attending classes I'd still visit them, spending long afternoons on the cement floor of a cramped studio that two of them shared. This group became my first real friends in Peru who were not family, and their ------------ meant a lot to me." — Daniel Alarcón, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2017 "The role of a theater, she argued, was not to adjudicate political issues or get the ------ of minority groups, but, rather, to create a space between art and the public." — Dan Bilefsky, The New York Times, 12 July 2018

redolent

1 : exuding fragrance : aromatic 2 a : full of a specified fragrance : scented b : evocative, suggestive Examples "Middle Eastern food, ----- with spices, is one of the world's most popular cuisines, yet home cooks are often intimidated by the sheer number of ingredients many dishes call for." — Publisher's Weekly Review, 2 Feb. 2015 "Art Deco objects from furniture to cocktail shakers, ----------- of speed and mechanical efficiency, celebrate the modern with an optimism that seems divorced entirely from the economic realities of the 1930s, when they were all the rage." — Charles Desmarais, The San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2018

duress

1 : forcible restraint or restriction 2 : compulsion by threat; specifically : unlawful constraint Examples "I understand the impulse to marvel at Mr. Mandela's civility and eloquence, even under ----------. How, it's easy to wonder, could a man form such generous, brilliant philosophies in the face of cruelty and injustice?" — Tayari Jones, The New York Times, 6 July 2018 "It's a pattern that runs throughout history. People assume they can pollute for free until the pollution builds up and becomes a serious problem. Then—under ------------—they start paying for the trouble." — Nathanael Johnson, Grist, 3 July 2018

querulous

1 : habitually complaining 2 : fretful, whining Examples "... the punch of her performance lies in its sheer nerve; even though her character has our sympathy from the start, she keeps asking for more, tugging at us like a ----------- child until our patience cracks." — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 24 July 2017 "And while ordinarily, he was not one who was inclined to be --------- , still now on occasion, he could be. He began by asking questions concerning his wife's appearance—irritating little whys which are so trivial and yet so exasperating and discouraging to a woman." — Theodore Dreiser, The Financier, 1912

unbeknownst

1 : happening or existing without the knowledge of someone specified — usually used with to 2 : not known or not well-known : unknown Examples "... Travis was the one who paid the bills—and he often used credit cards to cover them, ------------ to Vonnie." — Penny Wrenn, Forbes.com, 9 Oct. 2013 "... Senate Bill 15, approved unanimously by that House committee Thursday, hopes to help homeowners who find themselves the victim of 'squatting'—people who illegally move into a home, often --------- to the homeowner." — Marianne Goodland, The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colorado), 12 Apr. 2018

crapulous

1 : marked by intemperance especially in eating or drinking 2 : sick from excessive indulgence in liquor Examples "Helena she was called. She was Czech. I, on the other hand, was ----- and reeked strongly—even to myself—of the odours of the tavern." — Jeremy Clarke, The Spectator, 24 May 2008 "Your former acquaintance with Deane may perhaps put it in your power to render our country the service of recovering those books. It would not do to propose it to him as for Congress. What other way would best bring it about, you know best. I suppose his distresses and his --------- will not render him difficult on this head [understanding]." — Thomas Jefferson, letter, 2 Mar. 1789

chivalry

1 : mounted men-at-arms 2 : gallant or distinguished gentlemen 3 : the system, spirit, or customs of medieval knighthood 4 : the qualities of the ideal knight : chivalrous conduct Examples "Coutts was founded in 1692. Queen Anne, who reigned from 1702 to 1714, commissioned it to make ornate ceremonial chains and badges for the knights of the Thistle, an order of ------." — Simon Clark and Phillipa Leighton-Jones, The Wall Street Journal, 15 Mar. 2018 "At the centre of the opera is Quixote's quest to retrieve the beautiful Dulcinea's stolen necklace from a gang of thieves. Quixote believes that if he can complete this act of -------, he will win her heart and hand in marriage." — Ben Neutze, Time Out Sydney (Australia), 21 Mar. 2018

noisome

1 : noxious, harmful 2 a : offensive to the senses and especially to the sense of smell b : highly obnoxious or objectionable Examples "The streets were narrow and very dirty, the air smoky and -----------, the people mostly wretched." — Ken Follett, The Man From St. Petersburg, 1982 "The last two newspaper offices where I worked were based in not-so-safe or particularly pretty areas of a city, and most nights when I left work I had to breathe in the ----------- aromas of swamp gas, paper mill, deteriorating sewer lines and a dog food processing plant...." — Jackie Torok, The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, North Carolina), 27 May 2014

biannual

1 : occurring twice a year 2 : occurring every two years Examples "The first is status quo: We could leave current daylight saving time in place, and continue to set our clocks an hour forward in spring and an hour back in fall. But some Californians want to end those -------------- clock shifts, in part because they correlate with increases in heart attacks, traffic accidents, and workplace accidents." — Joe Mathews, The Californian (Salinas, California), 15 Aug. 2018 "The Television Critics Association's just-ended biannual conference was both a micro look at programming and a macro view of the medium's direction. In a parade stretching over two weeks, about 30 networks, channels and streaming platforms held more than 100 Q&A sessions and countless one-on-one interviews to prove they've got what viewers want." — The Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, Massachusetts), 11 Aug. 2018

valorous

1 : possessing or acting with bravery or boldness : courageous 2 : marked by, exhibiting, or carried out with courage or determination : heroic Examples For carrying three wounded members of his squadron out of harm's way, the lieutenant was presented with an award that recognized his --------- actions in the heat of battle. "Why are we so sure that reading books to kids is a ----------- act, far superior to cuing up the nefarious iPad? Yes, story time can be tender, and the iPad a mechanized babysitter. But my kids ... can seem as mindlessly hooked on the narrative technology of the picture book as on the exploits of the PAW Patrol." — Julia Turner, The New York Times, 18 May 2018

fathom

1 : probe 2 : to take soundings : to measure by a sounding line 3 : to penetrate and come to understand Examples Even those close to him couldn't always --------- why he repeatedly risked his life to climb the world's tallest mountains. "It was hard to --------- that this canyon was carved not by natural forces, but by humans. But that's the Mesabi Iron Range for you." — Simon Peter Groebner, The Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota), 15 July 2018

otisoe

1 : producing no useful result : futile 2 : being at leisure : idle 3 : lacking use or effect : functionless Examples "Ever since I was seven years old, I have been collecting books and articles on the Great Flood, hoping to write the full account myself. David McCullough's The Johnstown Flood (1968) was so brilliant that it rendered my own ambition ----- ." — Michael Novak, National Review, 4 June 2014 "He did not have the patience for ------- people like Gibson, whom he put in the same category as those rude reporters who continued to pester him daily with inane queries and ridiculous suggestions." — Godfrey Wray, Beyond Revenge, 2008

Refection

1 : refreshment of mind, spirit, or body; especially : nourishment. 2 a : the taking of refreshment. b : food and drink together : repast Example: I should prefer that even in the 'Children's Houses' which are situated in tenements and from which little ones, being at home, can go up to eat with the family, school ________ should be instituted

sciential

1 : relating to or producing knowledge or science 2 : having efficient knowledge : capable Examples There was no apparent ---------- reason for the birds to have migrated this far south. "The hidden treasures of science, St. Bonaventure tells us, can be discovered ... in a knowledge of either the principles or the conclusions of --------- demonstrations." — John Francis Quinn, The Historical Constitution of St. Bonaventure's Philosophy, 1973

roseate

1 : resembling a rose especially in color 2 : overly optimistic : viewed favorably Examples "Sometimes mistaken for a flamingo, the ------- spoonbill has lots of pink shades that can fool you." — Lyle Johnson, The Gonzales Weekly Citizen (Ascension, Louisiana), 26 Apr. 2018 "... the Catalan channels, richly funded by the local parliament and putting nationalist devotees in charge, has created a --------------- picture of independence that simply doesn't fit the facts." — Peter Preston, The Observer (London), 10 Dec. 2017

utmost

1 : situated at the farthest or most distant point : extreme 2 : of the greatest or highest degree, quantity, number, or amount "The refuge, which is bordered by the Centennial Mountains and Continental Divide to the south and the Gravelly Mountains to the north, is also home to the ------------ point of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers." — Kelley Christensen, The Montana Standard, 25 Nov. 2013 "The Richmond football team is one of eight 4AA squads with a bye this week, but head coach Bryan Till is still preaching ... that keeping a sense of urgency is of the ----------- importance." — Leon Hargrove Jr., The Richmond County (North Carolina) Daily Journal, 15 Nov. 2018

Shambles

1 : slaughterhouse 2 a : a place of mass slaughter or bloodshed b : a scene or a state of great destruction : wreckage c : a scene or a state of great disorder or confusion d : great confusion : mess Examples "The scene is reminiscent of the opening of the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark, when Indiana Jones flees a cave half a step ahead of a giant boulder. Instead of running from a rock, Croft spends the game running through a city that crumbles around her as the world is reduced to ------------." — Bob Fekete, Newsweek, 21 Sept. 2018 "Career success does not exist in a vacuum. If the home life is a mess and the children and bills and house are in -----------, then it's very hard, if not impossible, to succeed at work." — Gail Saltz, quoted in Psychology Today, 1 May 2018

Kitsch

1 : something that appeals to popular or lowbrow taste and is often of poor quality 2 : a tacky or lowbrow quality or condition Examples Geraldine was amused by the ----- sold in the roadside souvenir shop, but she wasn't tempted to buy anything.

sophistry

1 : subtly deceptive reasoning or argumentation 2 : an argument apparently correct in form but actually invalid; especially : such an argument used to deceive Examples The newspaper editorial warned readers to beware politicians who use --- to convince voters to support policies not in their own best interests. "Drama, the art in which perspectives are brought into collision, is a powerful antidote to the ---- and sensationalism nullifying our capacity for intelligent debate." — Charles McNulty, The Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2017

sinew

1 : tendon; especially : one dressed for use as a cord or thread 2 a : solid resilient strength : power b : the chief supporting force : mainstay — usually used in plural Examples "This roast from the shoulder was beefy and juicy.... A thin line of -------- was the only unpleasant distraction." — Cook's Country, June 1995 "Among the materials [American explorer John Wesley Powell] left in Bloomington ... were beaded moccasins, baskets woven from grass and willow, a bow studded with metal tacks and strung with intact string made from ---- and an arrow quiver." — Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Sept. 2018

occlusion

1 : the act of occluding : the state of being occluded: such as a : the complete obstruction of the breath passage in the articulation of a speech sound b : the bringing of the opposing surfaces of the teeth of the two jaws into contact; also : the relation between the surfaces when in contact c : the inclusion or sorption of gas trapped during solidification of a material 2 : the front formed by a cold front overtaking a warm front and lifting the warm air above the earth's surface Examples The meteorologist said that the weakening ----------- heading up the coast would lead to off-and-on rain showers throughout the night. "The company's facial recognition technology can identify a particular person even in complex situations and accounts for variables like facial changes, age-gender handling, as well as facial -----------." — Abhishek Baxi, Forbes, 28 Sept. 2018

onomatopoeia

1 : the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (such as buzz, hiss) 2 : the use of words whose sound suggests the sense Examples "The 'whiz'—or is it the 'whoosh,' or maybe 'sh-sh-sh-sh-sh'?—of an ace being served is described ... by rival tennis players in the opening moments of Anna Ziegler's 'The Last Match.' The speakers concede, though, that an -------- doesn't do the job of explaining what it's like to have a meteoric ball hurtling past your ears, shattering your hopes if not the sound barrier." — Ben Brantley, The New York Times, 26 Oct. 2017 "[James] Chapman pointed out that what looks like variation in ----- is sometimes simply a rearranging of discrete sounds: clap clap in English becomes plec plec in Portuguese." — Uri Friedman, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2015

Satiety

1 : the quality or state of being fed or gratified to or beyond capacity : surfeit, fullness 2 : the revulsion or disgust caused by overindulgence or excess Examples "Yes, avocado is high in fat, but it's the good, monounsaturated kind that helps increase ------------ so you feel full with fewer calories." — Georgia Downard, Self, June 2011 "High fiber foods increase ----------- , or the feeling of fullness, and reduce appetite. Feeling fuller for longer can reduce a person's overall calorie intake." — Laura Sant, The Preston Citizen, 20 June 2018

Rectitude

1 : the quality or state of being straight 2 : moral integrity : righteousness 3 : the quality or state of being correct in judgment or procedure Example: As treasurer of the organization, she advocated a kind of fiscal ---- that is widely credited with saving the organization from financial ruin.

curfew

1 : the sounding of a bell at evening 2 a : a regulation enjoining the withdrawal of usually specified persons (such as juveniles or military personnel) from the streets or the closing of business establishments or places of assembly at a stated hour b : a signal to announce the beginning of a curfew c : the hour at which a curfew becomes effective d : the period during which a curfew is in effect Examples "In addition to park areas designed for them, adolescents can go into almost all places in Berlin, including dance clubs and bars. There are some rules, including a ---: teens under sixteen must be out of the clubs and restaurants by ten p.m., those under eighteen must leave by midnight." — Sara Zaske, Achtung Baby: An American Mom on the German Art of Raising Self-Reliant Children, 2017 "He walked with her back to the chateau; the ------------- had tolled for the laborious villagers of Fleurieres, and the street was unlighted and empty." — Henry James, The American, 1877

lambaste

1 : to assault violently : beat, whip 2 : to attack verbally : censure Examples The coach loudly ---- Danny in front of the whole team for showing up late yet again. "The governor of Latvia's central bank, a pillar of Europe's financial system for years and a zealous champion of austerity, has long been ---------- by his critics as a heartless enforcer of economic dogma." — Andrew Higgins, The New York Times, 30 Apr. 2018

chastise

1 : to censure severely : castigate 2 : to inflict punishment on (as by whipping) Examples The boss eventually had to ----- certain employees for being consistently late. "Strikingly, each time the company encounters another privacy outcry, its initial response is not to own up to the situation, explain, apologize and listen, but rather to ----- its users for daring to ask." — Kalev Leetaru, Forbes, 6 Apr. 2018

Thimblerig

1 : to cheat by trickery 2 : to swindle by a trick in which a small ball or pea is quickly shifted from under one to another of three small cups to fool the spectator guessing its location Example: ---ing the market was such an accepted practice some traders were even taunted for not stealing enough." — Leah McGrath Goodman, The Asylum, 2011

Invigilate

1 : to keep watch; especially : to supervise students at an examination 2 : supervise, monitor Example: Professors will take turns -----ing exams during the finals period.

caterwaul

1 : to make a harsh cry 2 : to protest or complain noisily Examples The woods were quiet until the sound of a chainsaw ------------ in the distance broke the calm. "Between begging calls, the young birds made more practice launches, flapping their wings and jumping. Paired adults were re-forming their relationships; returning birds went in for bouts of head flicking and kissing. Neighbors were in dispute, ----------- above the din." — Tim Dee, The New York Review of Books, 11 Sept. 2018

atone

1 : to make amends : to provide or serve as reparation or compensation for something bad or unwelcome — usually + for 2 : to make reparation or supply satisfaction for : expiate — used in the passive voice with for Examples James tried to --------- for the mistakes of his youth by devoting his life to helping others. "Tony Stark became Iron Man partially to ------- for his history of global weapons profiteering." — Alex Biese and Felecia Wellington Radel, Asbury Park (New Jersey) Press, 1 July 2018

vitiate

1 : to make faulty or defective : impair 2 : to debase in moral or aesthetic status 3 : to make ineffective Examples Some feared that the superintendent's decision to reinstate the students would ------- the authority of the principal who suspended them in the first place. "Convected heating essentially is the heating of the air itself and it warms the walls and furnishings only slightly, as turning on and off a convector heater will show. However it may also be argued that this essentially ------ the recycled air, causes dryness and often physical discomfort." — James Le Fanu, The Telegraph (UK), 18 Mar. 2016

founder

1 : to make or become disabled or lame 2 : to give way : collapse 3 : to become submerged : sink 4 : to come to grief : fail Examples As the vessel began to ------ , the captain ordered everyone on board to prepare to abandon ship. "If you adore New York City, you can't stand Los Angeles—and vice-versa, or so the myth goes. But the Jennifer Aniston-Justin Theroux marriage, according to People, may have -------- on just that urban divide." — Michael H. Hodges, The Detroit News, 17 Feb. 2018

circumvent

1 : to manage to get around especially by ingenuity or stratagem 2 a : to hem in b : to make a circuit around Examples A couple of clever students were able to -------- the security protocols on the school's network and gain access to the database storing their grades. "... [P]artygoers stood patiently on another queue for the elevator. Jim Belushi—one of the 29 actors featured in W's 'Best Performances' issue—---------- the elevator line and went for the steps." — Jasmin Rosemberg, Variety, 5 Jan. 2018

amortize

1 : to pay off (an obligation, such as a mortgage) gradually usually by periodic payments of principal and interest or by payments to a sinking fund 2 : to gradually reduce or write off the cost or value of (something, such as an asset) Examples "A standard three-year, 15,000-mile Momentum lease will run about $410 per month with the down payment --------------." — J. P. Vettraino, AutoWeek, 8 Jan. 2018 "A typical car factory costs between $500 million and $1 billion to build, and the tooling and machinery are ---------------- over many years, which is why they need to produce hundreds of thousands of vehicles per year to be profitable." — Alan Ohnsman and Joann Muller, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2017

connive

1 : to pretend ignorance of or fail to take action against something one ought to oppose 2 a : to be indulgent or in secret sympathy : wink b : to cooperate secretly or have a secret understanding 3 : conspire, intrigue Examples "Arnold worked out a plan not only to turn over the fort and its men to the British but at the same time to --------- at the British capture of George Washington." — Gordon S. Wood, The Weekly Standard, 1 June 2018 "Officers who -------- and cheat to pad their paychecks aren't just stealing money. They're also eroding the crucial bond between the public and those sworn to protect and serve them." — The Boston Globe, 16 July 2018

enervate

1 : to reduce the mental or moral vigor of 2 : to lessen the vitality or strength of Examples Dehydration and prolonged exposure to the sun had ------------ the shipwrecked crew, leaving them almost too weak to hail the passing vessel. "In contrast, there was dignity in the Joad family (of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath). When the Dust Bowl smothered Oklahoma, the Joads were not ------------- , they moved west in search of work." — George Will, The Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2016

whelm

1 : to turn (something, such as a dish or vessel) upside down usually to cover something : to cover or engulf completely with usually disastrous effect 2 : to overcome in thought or feeling : overwhelm 3 : to pass or go over something so as to bury or submerge it Examples The hotel was adequate but we were far from ------------ by the view of the alley and the lack of hot water. "By the time San Jose annexed the town to expand its sewage-treatment plant in 1968, nature had already begun to reclaim the bayside. The town of 2,500 splintered, rusted and sank as groundwater was over-pumped, sea water rose on all sides and storm surges ----------- the backed-up drains." — Jennifer Wadsworth, The San Jose (California) Inside, 8 Dec. 2016

hark back

1 : to turn back to an earlier topic or circumstance 2 : to go back to something as an origin or source Examples "In Tea With The Dames, [Maggie Smith is] joined by fellow dames Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, and Eileen Atkins; the women ------------- on their early roles on stage and screen, talk about their ex-husbands and marriages...." — Hunter Harris, The New York Magazine, 26 Sept. 2018 "To stay connected with senior executives, she made heavy use of WhatsApp's group-chat function and called her group Table Talk, an effort to ----------- to those early days at her kitchen table." — Sarah Ellison, Vanity Fair, March 2018

Periphasis

1 : use of a longer phrasing in place of a possible shorter form of expression 2 : an instance of periphrasis Examples "There are countless passages of asinine ---------: 'The accelerant enzymes her image infuses in Bob create a chemical cocktail he can only counter with self-preservational condescension.' As these examples suggest, the book is only intermittently comprehensible." — James Marriott, The Times (London), 7 Apr. 2018 "Literary translation is challenging, and tends to work best when the translator has recourse to the amplifying and telescoping powers of -------, poetic license, and, if it comes to it, a discreet footnote here or there. Few of these tools are at the disposal of the cinematic translator." — Elias Muhanna, The New Yorker, 30 May 2014

kaput

1 : utterly finished, defeated, or destroyed 2 : unable to function : useless 3 : hopelessly outmoded Examples "Sure, there are still top-billed behemoths capable of guaranteeing a strong opening, like Dwayne Johnson and Leonardo DiCaprio, but for the most part, the idea of a box office movie star is ---------." — Brandon Katz, The Observer, 19 May 2018 "Whether a jagged maw of grinning shark teeth, or a perpetually surprised oval, the automobile grille serves a very important function: it allows air to flow in, cooling the radiator and generally keeping the engine from overheating and going -------." — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 1 Apr. 2018

benevolent

1 a : marked by or disposed to doing good b : organized for the purpose of doing good 2 : marked by or suggestive of goodwill Examples "The sky above was blue, the whole scene lit by a bright ----------- sun on that crisp winter day." — Arnold Thomas Fanning, The Irish Times, 2 June 2018 "At the center is a boy who is poor but honest, brave and hard-working—attributes that eventually attract the attention of an older, well-off and ---------- stranger who, accustomed to greedy jerks, is moved by the strength of his character and helps to lift him from indigence." — Ginia Bellafante, The New York Times, 3 June 2018

risorgimento

1: the 19th century movement for Italian political unity 2 : a time of renewal or renaissance : revival Examples "Aware of and influenced by the English poetry of the ------------- , Melville kept to his own preoccupations rather than merely echoing the political stances of other poets or his acquaintances...." — Hershel Parker, Melville: The Making of a Poet, 2007 "If Mr. Smith offended professional historians, he found a receptive audience with Italian readers, who made 'Italy: A Modern History' a runaway best seller, one of the most popular academic works ever published in Italy. His ideas were greeted warmly by Italian leftists, who regarded the ---------as a failed revolution, but his sheer readability also contributed to sales." — William Grimes, The New York Times, 2 Aug. 2017

susurrous

: full of whispering sounds Examples As the vacationers slept, the only sound was the ------------- breeze blowing through the curtains of the open window. "Silence, more anticipatory than uncomfortable, replaced the ------------swirl of conversation, that tentative tête-à-tête among those who may or may not be acquainted but have a certain thing in common." — Sam McManis, SFGate.com, 9 Mar. 2015

Panegyric

A eulogistic oration or writing; also : formal or elaborate praise. Example: The club's president opened the awards ceremony with a touching panegyric for several prominent members who had passed away during the last year.

Tucket

A fanfare of a trumpet. Example: By this time the _______ was sounding cheerily in the morning, and from all sides Sir Daniel's men poured into the main street and formed before the inn

Tincture

A solution of a medicinal substance in an alcoholic solvent, color, tint. Exmaple: You can find turmeric in powder culinary spice form and in its whole root form, as well as in ______ , tablets, and capsules.

Popinjay

A strutting supercilious person. Example: Who does that guy think he is?" Amanda asked in regard to the _______ who strolled into the restaurant demanding to be seated instantly.

Nebbish

A timid, meek, or ineffectual person. Example: Lyle may have come across as a ______, but he stood up to the bully who gave him a hard time—and the students in the cafeteria who witnessed the confrontation showed their support

Spavind

Affected with swelling, old and decrepit, over-the-hill. Example: The team is sadly __________, and the new coaching staff will have to look to rebuild over the next couple of seasons.

Lexicographer

An author or editor of a dictionary. Example: Noah Webster believed that a ------'s work was to document a language as it is used, without any judgment or subjective influence

Never-never land

An ideal or imaginary place Example: Lester seems to think he lives in some kind of -------------- where people don't have to accept responsibility for their actions.

Reprehensible

Blameworthy, guilty, example; citing the recent accusations of bribery as both plausible and __________

Sanguine

Bloodred, 2. consisting of or relating to blood, bloodthirsty, sanguinary, ruddy 3 : having blood as the predominating bodily humor; also : having the bodily conformation and temperament held characteristic of such predominance and marked by sturdiness, ruddy color, and cheerfulness Example: The coach insisted that he was _____ about his team's chances in the playoffs, even though his star player was injured.

Newfangled

1 : attracted to novelty 2 : of the newest style or kind Examples "If you're more like me and less like the authors of Fortune's outstanding blockchain and cryptocurrency site The Ledger, this ----------- stuff is more often than not clear as mud. I don't intend to completely elucidate it for you in one day." — Adam Lashinsky, Fortune.com, 7 Mar. 20187

homogenous

1 : of the same or a similar kind or nature 2 : of uniform structure or composition throughout Examples Stir in the flour, water, eggs, and sugar until it all blends together into one ------------- mixture. "The new makeovers also are being tailored to a store's community. That's a shift from the former -------------- approach that stocked the company's 175 stores with the same inventory." — Shandra Martinez, The Grand Rapids (Michigan) Press, 4 Mar. 2018

traduce

1 : to expose to shame or blame by means of falsehood and misrepresentation 2 : violate, betray Examples "Here, at last, was someone prepared publicly to speak up for the BBC when so many others were seeking to ------------ and destroy it." — Jason Cowley, New Statesman, 19 Nov. 2012 "Some players' records reflect abilities enhanced by acts of bad character—surreptitious resorts to disreputable chemistry that ------------es sportsmanship. But as younger writers who did not cover baseball during the PED era become Hall of Fame voters, the electorate is becoming less interested in disqualifying PED users." — George Will, The Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2017

headlong

1 : with the head foremost 2 : without deliberation : recklessly 3 : without pause or delay Examples He's impulsive when it comes to romance and often rushes ------ into relationships, with little thought given to their long-term viability. "What was once optimistically pitched as a complete 800-mile program that could be built for about $35 billion and conceivably up and running by as early as 2020 has run ---- into an unrelenting wall of obstacles, including engineering, litigation and politics." — Tim Sheehan, The Fresno (California) Bee, 15 Mar. 2018

ingratiate

: to gain favor or favorable acceptance for by deliberate effort — usually used with with Examples "He ingratiated himself with Crispin, deliberately ignoring Crispin's suspicion of him." — Zadie Smith, White Teeth, 2000 "Ford is also hoping to ingratiate itself with investors as its stock price still hovers around $11." — Nora Naughton, The Detroit News, 20 June 2018

Bindle stiff,

hobo; especially : one who carries his clothes or bedding in a bundle, , example: A ______ ____ smoked in the partly open doorway

perennial

present at all seasons of the year 2 : persisting for several years usually with new herbaceous growth from a perennating part 3 a : persistent, enduring b : continuing without interruption : constant, perpetual c : regularly repeated or renewed : recurrent Examples "Kieran [Culkin] called Saines in 2016 after a two-year hiatus to say, 'You know, I think I want to act again. I want to do This Is Our Youth.' Written by Kenneth Lonergan, ... the play has become a ---------- showcase for young actors." — Sam Kashner, Vanity Fair, December 2018 "Making the kids think of school as important to their complicated, often tragic lives—while meeting the demands of the curriculum—was a --------------struggle." — Sarah Stodder, The Washingtonian, November 2018

Sacerdotal

priestly, , Example: The priest gives a homily after reciting the Gospel as part of his _______ duties.

rodomontade

1 : a bragging speech 2 : vain boasting or bluster : rant Examples "In the hands of the Philadelphia Artists' Collective, [Maria Marten, or, Murder in the Red Barn] becomes a rowdy lark full of ---- --------- nd dastardly deeds. Directed by Charlotte Northeast with gusto and goofiness, this is both a 19th-century melodrama and a burlesque of a 19th-century melodrama." — Toby Zinman, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 5 Jan. 2018 "That he should credit such a -----------, and carry the pamphlet on his bosom and the words in his heart, is the clear proof of the man's lunacy." — Robert Louis Stevenson, The Master of Ballantrae, 1889

petard

1 : a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall 2 : a firework that explodes with a loud report Examples "The metal walls of the narrow corridor would scatter ricochets and shrapnel in every direction, and any intact panels of reflex armor would ignite grenades and --------- in counterfire...." — John C. Wright, The Judge of Ages, 2014 "I ran back and seized a tin box which had been filled with candles. It was about the size of my busby—large enough to hold several pounds of powder. Duroc filled it while I cut off the end of a candle. When we had finished, it would have puzzled a colonel of engineers to make a better ---------." — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard, 1896

epiphet

1 : a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing 2 : a disparaging or abusive word or phrase 3 : the part of a taxonomic name identifying a subordinate unit within a genus Examples The school's policy makes it clear that derogatory ---- will not be tolerated. "Herbert Hoover, who could justifiably campaign as a progressive Republican, pigeonholed Smith as an advocate of state socialism (the same ------------ that a spiteful Smith would hurl at Roosevelt in 1936)." — Sam Roberts, The New York Times, 22 Apr. 2018

cornucopia

1 : a curved, hollow goat's horn or similarly shaped receptacle (such as a horn-shaped basket) that is overflowing especially with fruit and vegetables (such as gourds, ears of corn, apples, and grapes) and that is used as a decorative motif emblematic of abundance 2 : an inexhaustible store : abundance 3 : a receptacle shaped like a horn or cone Examples "While the auction will offer a ------------- of decorative and fine art spanning many centuries and continents, its crown jewels are the Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and modern paintings." — James Reginato, Vanity Fair, Holiday 2017 "With the veritable -------------- of fitness gurus, fad diets, weight-loss programmes, and food boot-camps present today, it's not shocking that there is an information overload on nutrition everywhere." — Pooja Sachin Duggal, Business World, 14 Apr. 2018

lapidary

1 : a cutter, polisher, or engraver of precious stones usually other than diamonds 2 : the art of cutting gems Examples ---- is more of a science than an art: the cutter needs to be aware of the physical properties of the material before fashioning it. "Even before it was acquired by Harry Winston in 2013, the 101.73-carat gem ... was described by Christie's as 'the most perfect diamond ever offered for sale at auction.' It took two years for --------- to cut the flawless pear-shaped stone, which has since been named the Winston Legacy." — Town & Country, October 2017

lycanthropy

1 : a delusion that one has become a wolf 2 : the assumption of the form and characteristics of a wolf held to be possible by witchcraft or magic Examples The 1941 film The Wolf Man starred Lon Chaney, Jr., as a man cursed with --------. "Born in 1859, Alfred Edward Housman came from a talented family.... His sister Clemence's novella, The Were-Wolf, is one of the most powerful stories ever written about ------------." — Michael Dirda, The Washington Post, 13 July 2017

shenanigan

1 : a devious trick used especially for an underhand purpose 2 a : tricky or questionable practices or conduct — usually used in plural b : high-spirited or mischievous activity — usually used in plural Examples The CEO resigned amid accusations of financial -------------- and dubious deals. "And the protesters outside were just the start of the -------------. Inside the building, one person attended the hearing dressed in a Russian troll costume." — Kevin Roose, The New York Times, 16 Apr. 2018

umbrage

1 : a feeling of pique or resentment at some often fancied slight or insult 2 : shady branches : foliage 3 : shade, shadow 4 a : an indistinct indication : vague suggestion : hint b : a reason for doubt : suspicion Examples "Often, after an active morning, she would spend a sunny afternoon in lying stirless on the turf, at the foot of some tree of friendly ----------." — Charlotte Brontë, Shirley, 1849 "If you can find one of these big roosts, the birds are quite entertaining to watch. When they settle in for the evening, they're noisy and quarrelsome and seem to take ------- at many things." — Jim Wright, The Daily Record (Morristown, New Jersey), 26 July 2018

riposte

1 : a fencer's quick return thrust following a parry 2 : a retaliatory verbal sally : retort 3 : a retaliatory maneuver or measure Examples "A --- to the stuffy awards shows in music-industry centers like Los Angeles and New York, the impetus behind the Bay Area Music Awards was to play it fast, loose and irreverent." — Aidin Vaziri, The San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Mar. 2018 "Director Phyllida Lloyd delivers a ---- to the idea that cinema derived from theatre is somehow a static, inflexible affair with her vital all-female production of Julius Caesar." — Screen International, 25 June 2017

gridiron

1 : a grate for broiling food 2 : something consisting of or covered with a network 3 : a football field Examples "Despite his prowess on the --------, he received little attention from Division-I football programs." — Tom Layberger, Forbes, 14 Sept. 2018 "[Thomas] Jefferson wanted wide streets, lots of land reserved for public space, and a rectangular pattern of streets. L'Enfant insisted on radial avenues that intersect a ---------- of streets at odd angles. Many city planners believe that if Jefferson's plan had been adopted, there would be fewer traffic problems in Washington, D.C., today." — Ann Feetham, Cobblestone, 1 Sept. 2012

weald

1 : a heavily wooded area : forest 2 : a wild or uncultivated usually upland region Examples "With food, terroir remains the best term to define how variations in landscape and climate in a place give a region a certain identity. This is aired strikingly, with Toby Glanville's photographs of the estuary and marshes, ---------- and orchards—a soothing greyness, an atmosphere of English Nordic to get you into the mood and cook Harris's recipes, mostly easy to make." — Rose Prince, The Spectator, 18 Nov. 2017 "Challenger's house was on the very edge of the hill, and from its southern face, in which was the study window, one looked across the vast stretch of the ------------- to where the gentle curves of the South Downs formed an undulating horizon." — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Poison Belt, 1913

linchpin

1 : a locking pin inserted crosswise (as through the end of an axle or shaft) 2 : one that serves to hold together parts or elements that exist or function as a unit Examples Investors are betting that the new product line will be the --------- that secures the company's place in the very competitive market in the years and decades to come. "Saudi Arabia planned to take its giant oil company, Saudi Aramco, to the public markets. It was to be the --------- of a grand economic vision, generating billions of dollars to pay for future-proofing the kingdom's economy, including huge investments in technology." — Michael J. de la Merced, The New York Times, 25 Aug. 2018

ingenue

1 : a naive girl or young woman 2 : the stage role of an ingenue; also : an actress playing such a role Examples "Aberra, a native of Ethiopia, helped to change the way that women presented themselves on their wedding day. She recognized that not all women wanted to promenade down the aisle looking like a Disney princess, a sweet ---------- or a modern-day Marie Antoinette." — Robin Givhan, The Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2018 "Tina Fey wrote 'Mean Girls,' but she's no Regina George. On the first day of rehearsals for her new Broadway musical, based on the 2004 hit comedy, she had a message for her cast of ---- : Avoid the trappings of fame. That meant no diva-like behavior in real life." — Ramin Setoodeh, Variety, 10 Apr. 2018

nidus

1 : a nest or breeding place; especially : a place or substance in an animal or plant where bacteria or other organisms lodge and multiply 2 : a place where something originates, develops, or is located Examples The neighborhood had long been a ------ of crime and vice, but community policing and other interventions have done much to reduce the crime rate in recent years. "Ancient cities grew up along navigable rivers—think Cairo, Rome, Paris and London. In the 19th century, railroad stations were the ----- for Chicago, Denver, and Sacramento." — Alison Stuebe, The News & Observer (Raleigh, North Carolina), 20 Mar. 2017

aegis

1 : a shield or breastplate emblematic of majesty that was associated with Zeus and Athena 2 a : protection b : controlling or conditioning influence 3 a : auspices, sponsorship b : control or guidance especially by an individual, group, or system Examples The matter will be dealt with under the ------- of the ethics committee. "The security office is not part of the main White House staff operation. Located outside the West Wing, it has an independent director who is not a political appointee. Its work, however, falls under the broader ----- of the White House chief of staff's office." — Anne Gearan, The Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2018

tarradiddle

1 : a trivial or childish lie : fib 2 : pretentious nonsense Examples "The time came when she not only told her -- about having 'hunted quite a lot,' she even came near believing it." — George Orwell, Burmese Days, 1934 "As truths go, the history of Miss Rossiter she had laid out was unimpressive: a forked-tongue ---------- of the highest order and if I were to serve it up to Hardy and be found out afterwards I should be lucky to escape arrest, if not a smack on the legs with a hairbrush for the cheek of it." — Catriona McPherson, Danny Gilver and the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains, 2009

mentor

1 : a trusted counselor or guide 2 : tutor, coach Examples Graduates of the program sometimes go on to become ------------ to those making their way through the rigorous process of earning their certification. "If you can find a ------------ who is experienced in your field, they can provide you with insights that you may not get anywhere else. Think of them as kind of being a walking, talking, unofficial guidebook. They know the unspoken truths." — Abdullahi Muhammed, Forbes.com, 30 June 2018

tome

1 : a volume forming part of a larger work 2 : book; especially : a large or scholarly book Examples It took me more than a month to finish reading that 800-page -------- on the French Revolution. "I also bring a book I've never read, some large ----------- that I'm wary of, but that I also think will captivate me once I'm on page one hundred, and I won't be able to put it down." — Alejandro Zambra, Not To Read (translated by Megan McDowell), 2018

Sensibility

1 : ability to receive sensations : sensitiveness 2 : peculiar susceptibility to a pleasurable or painful impression (as from praise or a slight) — often used in plural 3 : awareness of and responsiveness toward something (such as emotion in another) 4 : refined or excessive sensitiveness in emotion and taste Examples "In 1973, while heading the New York Philharmonic, he replaced the orchestra members' chairs with rugs and cushions, the better to appeal to the ------ of a young, post-hippie audience that regarded classical music as stuffy and pedantic." — George Varga, The San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2016 "His guest appearances mark something more than the usual exchange of core audiences between individual artists, though they are definitely that; they're a chance to enlarge the ------ of rap itself, to remind himself that, however hard and successfully he strains to be the biggest rapper, rap as a whole is always bigger than he is." — Frank Guan, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2018

rubric

1 : an authoritative rule; especially : a rule for conduct of a liturgical service 2 : heading, title; also : class, category 3 : an explanatory or introductory commentary : gloss; specifically : an editorial interpolation 4 : an established rule, tradition, or custom 5 : a guide listing specific criteria for grading or scoring academic papers, projects, or tests Examples "... Katharine Briggs (1875-1968) and her daughter, Isabel Myers (1897-1980), ... devised a ------ that identified personality according to four 'easy to understand and easily relatable' categories: extravert or introvert, thinking or feeling, sensing or intuiting, judging or perceiving." — Kirkus Reviews, 1 July 2018 "The whole ---------- of employer-employee relations is undergoing a transformation—and the approach of treating employees as mere units in an assembly line is fast becoming outdated. In today's context, the extent of a company's employee engagement does play a role in a professional's decision to join it." — Avik Chanda, quoted in Business World, 27 Apr. 2018

Nondescript

1 : belonging or appearing to belong to no particular class or kind : not easily described 2 : lacking distinctive or interesting qualities : dull, drab Example: The famous spy was a quiet, ------- man that people had a difficult time describing even a few minutes after meeting him, which was clearly an advantage in his profession.

mordant

1 : biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style : incisive 2 : acting as a mordant (as in dyeing) 3 : burning, pungent Examples "When Clementine tried to tell him that the result might well be a blessing in disguise, [Winston Churchill] maintained his normal standards of ------------ wit by replying that 'at the moment it's certainly very well disguised.'" — Roy Jenkins, Churchill: A Biography, 2001 "For Lucas Hedges, acting is a kind of ongoing education in how to live in the world. Take his performance as a troubled and --------- young man who's just lost his father in Kenneth Lonergan's gorgeously melancholy 2016 film Manchester by the Sea, which Hedges calls 'the most formative role of my life.'" — Adam Green, Vogue, 24 Sept. 2018

halcyon

1 : calm, peaceful 2 : happy, golden 3 : prosperous, affluent Examples "Today, California is in the black and has even banked an emergency fund of eight billion dollars. Unemployment is less than five per cent. Still, there is nothing ---------- about Brown's vision of the future. At a press conference in January, he unveiled his valedictory budget proposal ... and made clear that this was no cause for celebration." — Connie Bruck, The New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2018 "There was a time when the gates opened at Molson Stadium and fans flocked in to watch the Alouettes play. And mostly, win. Until those ----------- days return, the organization realizes something must change." — Herb Zurkowsky, The Gazette (Montreal), 31 May 2018

verbose

1 : containing more words than necessary : wordy; also : impaired by wordiness 2 : given to wordiness Examples "[The] text ... is --------- and vague, and so comically overheated that it can feel like a parody of late Tennessee Williams, when that playwright's florid style had graduated to full rococo." — Elisabeth Vincentelli, The New York Times, 20 Sept. 2018 "But Tuesday's overly ---------- —let's call it a diatribe—portrayed Brown in a light we haven't seen to this point. He was visibly frustrated and completely exasperated, as if, in that particular moment, he decided to unfurl eight years of pent up anger and indignation." — Pro Football Weekly, 13 June 2018

bereft

1 : deprived or robbed of the possession or use of something — usually used with of 2 : lacking something needed, wanted, or expected — used with of 3 : suffering the death of a loved one : bereaved Examples "The sustaining whirlwind had let her down, to stumble on again ..., -- of moral support which is wanted in life more than all the charities of material help." — Joseph Conrad, Chance, 1913 "People rarely relate intimate tales of misery and isolation on Facebook. Rather, social media postings typically feature fun and friendship, and people who lack them are likely to feel left out and ----." — Jane E. Brody, The New York Times, 26 June 2018

languid

1 : drooping or flagging from or as if from exhaustion : weak 2 : sluggish in character or disposition : listless 3 : lacking force or quickness of movement : slow Examples The trial proceeded at a --------- pace as each attorney called up a whole roster of witnesses to testify. "Of all the musicians whose work might cry out for a razzle-dazzle jukebox musical, Jimmy Buffett—he of the ----- odes to umbrella drinks and beach vacations—would seem to be at the bottom of the list." — Christopher Kelly, The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey), 23 Mar. 2018

solstice

1 : either of the two points on the ecliptic at which its distance from the celestial equator is greatest 2 : the time of the sun's passing one such point on the ecliptic which occurs about June 21 to begin summer in the northern hemisphere and about December 21 to begin winter in the northern hemisphere Examples People all over the world have observed celebrations linked to the summer and winter ----------- since ancient times. "The Earth wobbles on its axis once every 27,000 years.... This alters the relationship between the --------------- and the distance from the Earth to the Sun." — Steven A. Ackerman and Jonathan Martin, The Chippewa Herald, 8 Oct. 2018

winsome

1 : generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence 2 : cheerful, lighthearted Examples "... the song's giddy piano licks and bass groove are so --------- and familiar, the whole thing's tough to place in any particular setting. Simply put, it's a pop song, in a very classic sense." — Chris Payne, Billboard, 17 May 2017 "The --------- Canadian comedy 'Don't Talk to Irene' combines a high school misfit movie with a backstage musical and adds a few fantastical flourishes for an uplifting tale about an outsider finding her place in the world. It's so sweet it just might give you a cavity." — Katie Walsh, The Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2018

jocose

1 : given to joking : merry 2 : characterized by joking : humorous Examples "Mr. Battle has a pleasant, ---------- style of public address, but Ms. Jamison's is without equal, exciting in rhythm and phrasing, hilarious in off-the-cuff remarks, generous in spirit." — Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times, 4 Dec. 2015 "His natural sound, the tone that rises when he is writing unself-consciously to friends, is nothing like the voice of his good fiction. He was naturally garrulous and --------- —indeed, by the time he was a celebrity he was so garrulous and jocose that it shocked people, though he was just being himself." — Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 3 July 2017

garrulous

1 : given to prosy, rambling, or tedious loquacity : pointlessly or annoyingly talkative 2 : using or containing many and usually too many words : wordy Examples Bob's ---------- and outgoing nature is a stark contrast to his brother's more retiring demeanor. "Travel impresses on the memory a kaleidoscope of disparate images.... Men in long gray shirts and trousers play cards. In a dusty, narrow street, an old woman sells vegetables. ---------- gray and black crows look for food along the sewage canal." — Krista Kafer, The Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2017

raillery

1 : good-natured ridicule : banter 2 : an instance of joking or ridicule : jest Examples "Hardin rarely got angry at anyone. Fuzz was always trying to get his goat with some unprovoked ----------- , but Hardin understood that was the point and couldn't even force himself to be riled." — Michael MacLeod, The Antioch Review, Fall 2009 "Indeed, the sense of camaraderie between cast members is striking. Charlotte Ritchie and Simon Bird in particular have a steady repartee that makes the interview feel more like a cosy chat, and it is clear that the wit and ---------- that distinguish the play are equally prevalent off stage." — Katie Sayer and Emily Lawford, Cherwell (Oxford University), 5 June 2017

circuitous

1 : having a circular or winding course 2 : not being forthright or direct in language or action Examples While either method will yield the correct answer, one is far less ------ and therefore considered superior. "The path has been --------- and turbulent, but Andersen is back on a football field, back in those comfortable colors and trademark visor, and back at Utah." — Christopher Kamrani, The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, Utah), 9 Mar. 2018

Plangent

1 : having a loud reverberating sound 2 : having an expressive and especially plaintive quality Example: The campers were awoken by the ------ howl of a coyote off in the distance.

reticent

1 : inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech : reserved 2 : restrained in expression, presentation, or appearance 3 : reluctant Examples Unlike the chatty, gregarious protagonist of his novel, the author is quite ------ in public. "Tech companies, like Apple and Facebook, have been extremely --------- to lift barriers for investigators because they fear it will compromise user security." — Jake Kanter, Business Insider, 14 June 2018

multitudinous

1 : including a multitude of individuals : populous 2 : existing in a great multitude 3 : existing in or consisting of innumerable elements or aspects Examples The author's appearance is expected to attract a ----------- gathering that will fill the entire auditorium. "First and foremost are the hiking trails, which while multitudinous and beautiful, are remarkably hard to navigate." — Jamie Hale, The Oregonian, 24 June 2018

besot

1 : infatuate 2 : to make dull or stupid; especially : to muddle with drunkenness Examples "Anyone spending time watching Australian TV ... must conclude that food and the cooking thereof ----- our nation." — Garry Barker, The Age (Melbourne, Australia), 26 June 2014 "They debauch the spirit of the ignorant and credulous with mystical trash, as effectually as if they had ----- their brains with gin, and then pick their pockets with the same facility." — Sir Walter Scott, The Antiquary, 1816

ostensible

1 : intended for display : open to view 2 : being such in appearance : plausible rather than demonstrably true or real Examples The novel's ------ hero is in the end a villain of epic proportions. "It's never for the profits or the sheer satisfaction of sticking it to your enemies and putting yourself in the best possible light. No, there's always some ----- higher cause." — Rich Lowry, The Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2018

mawkish

1 : lacking flavor or having an unpleasant taste 2 : exaggeratedly or childishly emotional Examples "Naomi Watts gives a committed, grounded performance as a single mother who finds herself surprisingly agreeable to doing whatever it takes to stay connected to her beloved older son. Few films aspire to be both a ---------- tearjerker and a Hitchcockian thriller, and The Book Of Henry makes a pretty convincing case why more shouldn't." — Tim Grierson, Screen International, 15 June 2017 "Now for the tears of joy, the kind to which ------------ septuagenarians fall prey. First was the experience of taking the grandchildren to Giffords Circus.... " — Max Hastings, The Spectator, 26 Aug. 2017

impromptu

1 : made, done, or formed on or as if on the spur of the moment : improvised 2 : composed or uttered without previous preparation : extemporaneous Examples When we got word of Caitlin's good news, we threw an ---------- party to celebrate. "West capped off his curious musical guest gig, where he subbed for Ariana Grande, with a rambling rant after NBC's broadcast ended. The ------- speech was captured by Chris Rock, who posted it to his Instagram Story." — Kim Willis, USA Today, 30 Sept. 2018

orotund

1 : marked by fullness, strength, and clarity of sound : sonorous 2 : excessively elevated or inflated : pompous, bombastic Examples "'This time, it's personal.' Yeah, yeah, you've no doubt heard that ----------- threat before in movie trailers for the newest sequel to some action revenge movie starring Charles Bronson, Bruce Willis or Liam Neeson." — Jeff Simon, The Buffalo News, 15 Dec. 2017 "She attacked 'Dopo notte, atra e funesta,' from Ariodante, with downright ferocity (the text partly describes a ship tossed in a tempest). It was an excellent display piece for her distinctive voice, which is deeply pitched and ----- of character, yet capable of finely calibrated coloratura." — James M. Keller, The Santa Fe New Mexican, 5 Jan. 2018

sacrosanct

1 : most sacred or holy : inviolable 2 : treated as if holy : immune from criticism or violation Examples "Cowperwood's private office ... was a solid cherry-wood box in which he could shut himself completely—sight-proof, sound-proof. When the door was closed it was ----------- ." — Theodore Dreiser, The Titan, 1914 "The launch of Elon Musk's Falcon Heavy from the Kennedy Space Center ... was the latest in a series of milestones reviving interest in space. It happened on the -------- stretch of sand along the Florida coast that has witnessed so many epic flights out of the atmosphere." — Christian Davenport, The Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2018

recalcitrant

1 : obstinately defiant of authority or restraint 2 a : difficult to manage or operate b : not responsive to treatment c : resistant The magazine, aimed at parents and caregivers of young children, will include the latest in child development science as well as practical information, like tricks for persuading even the most --------- toddler to cooperate. "But the reforms are stalled, held back by ---------bureaucrats loathe to give up their authority and perks...." — William M. LeoGrande, Newsweek, 11 May 2018

mercurial

1 : of, relating to, or born under the planet Mercury 2 : having the qualities of eloquence, ingenuity, or thievishness attributed to the god Mercury or to the influence of the planet Mercury 3 : characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood 4 : of, relating to, containing, or caused by mercury Examples "Uncle Chris felt a touch of embarrassment. It occurred to him that he had been betrayed by his ------------ temperament into an attitude which, considering the circumstances, was perhaps a trifle too jubilant." — P. G. Wodehouse, Jill the Reckless, 1921 "The result is a stylish, and at times mind-bending, re-imagining of the characters, with Batman trying to find a way back to his own time period while dealing with such foes as The Joker, Harley Quinn, Gorilla Grodd and Two-Face who run amok in increasingly outlandish ways, as well as the ---------- Catwoman." — Tim Clodfelter, The Winston-Salem (North Carolina) Journal, 10 May 2018

Cuckoo

1 : of, relating to, or resembling the cuckoo 2 : deficient in sense or intelligence : silly Example: One of the kids had some ---- theory about the house being demolished because of evidence of a UFO landing visible in the tiles of its roof.

acolyte

1 : one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties 2 : one who attends or assists a leader : follower Examples The lawyer arrived with one of her ----------s, an eager young attorney who'd recently been hired by the firm. "His main rival, Henri Falcón, a former state governor who was once an ----------- of Mr. Chávez's but broke with him to join the opposition, received 1.8 million votes." — William Neuman and Nicholas Casey, The New York Times, 21 May 2018

Tenebrous

1 : shut off from the light : dark, murky 2 : hard to understand : obscure 3 : causing gloom. Example: "Stay close to me," said my brother as we walked through the ________ alley alongside the apartment building.

abrogate

1 : to abolish by authoritative action: annul 2 : to treat as nonexistent Examples "U.S. deterrence in the Taiwan Strait used to resemble U.S. deterrence elsewhere: Washington had a formal alliance with the Republic of China and stationed troops in Taiwan. But the United States -------------- the alliance treaty when it broke official ties with the Republic of China in 1979." — Scott Kastner, The Washington Post, 30 Apr. 2018 "While we must not engage in partisan political acts such as endorsing candidates and parties, to remain silent on the pressing issues of our time is to ----------- our moral responsibility." — Rabbi Dan Fink, The Idaho Statesman, 21 Apr. 2018

sandbag

1 : to bank, stop up, or weight with sandbags 2 a : to hit or stun with or as if with a sandbag b : to treat unfairly or harshly c : to coerce by crude means d : to conceal or misrepresent one's true position, potential, or intent especially in order to take advantage over : to hide the truth about oneself so as to gain an advantage over another Examples Management must have realized that reading employee survey responses aloud at the company-wide meeting would make employees feel ------------, but they chose to do it anyway. "Lock's season began with Heisman Trophy dreams. It has detoured toward a familiar and unfortunate destination, the place where the quarterback's career numbers are ---------by his struggles when the spotlight shines." — Ben Frederickson, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 3 Nov. 2018

fustigate

1 : to beat with or as if with a short heavy club : cudgel 2 : to criticize severely Examples Matthew was thoroughly ----------- for failing to reserve a table large enough to accommodate all of the visitors from the corporate main office. "Ontario Court Justice Charles Vaillancourt ... ------- them all, effectively characterizing the charges against Duffy as an abuse of power. " — Neil Macdonald, CBC.ca, 23 Apr. 2016

Oblige

1 : to constrain by physical, moral, or legal force or by the exigencies of circumstance 2 a : to put in one's debt by a favor or service b : to do a favor for c : to do something as or as if as a favor Examples "Bessie would rather have stayed, but she was ------- to go, because punctuality at meals was rigidly enforced at Gateshead Hall." — Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, 1847 "The band has been playing the anniversary shows around the country since mid-2017, and after West Coast fans demanded a local performance, the nine-piece ska band from Boston happily ---------." — Kelli Skye Fadroski, The Chico (California) Enterprise-Record, 29 June 2018

schmooze

1 : to converse informally : chat; also : to chat in a friendly and persuasive manner especially so as to gain favor, business, or connections 2 : to engage in informal conversation with Examples Conference attendees will have plenty of chances to --------- with the industry's power players. "We're spending less time -------ing with our co-workers, going from an average of 2.5 hours a week in the mid-1970s to under an hour in 2012." — Katrina Trinko, The Visalia (California) Times-Delta, 7 May 2018

secrete

1 : to deposit or conceal in a hiding place 2 : to appropriate secretly : abstract Examples The squirrel had ----ed nuts all over the yard in preparation for winter, and as spring approached, more were still to be found. "Then he allegedly sneaked the cash into a truck, moved the truck outside and covered the bag with his raincoat before ----ing it away in his personal car." — Tina Moore et al., The New York Post, 27 July 2018

Delegate

1 : to entrust to another 2 : to appoint as one's representative 3 : to assign responsibility or authority Example: He said the current board seems to ------- rather than take input and make decisions based on what the community wants....

Demarcate

1 : to fix or define the limits of : delimit 2 : to set apart : distinguish. Example: These so-called stelae, some roughly 10 stories high with intricately carved stone, are thought to have _______ royal burial places.

quail

1 : to give way : falter 2 : to recoil in dread or terror : cower Examples "It wasn't so long ago that book publishers and bookstore owners were ---------- about the coming of e-books, like movie theatre owners at the dawn of the television age." — Michael Hiltzik, The Gulf Times, 10 May 2017 "I've a Pooh in me, blundering about, trying to think large thoughts, making pronouncements I hope won't be challenged. And I'm sometimes a Piglet, -------- in front of imaginary dangers, or figuratively jumping up and down to squeak, 'I'm here! What about me?'" — Jim Atwell, The Cooperstown (New York) Crier, 15 June 2017

indoctrinate

1 : to instruct especially in fundamentals or rudiments : teach 2 : to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle Examples "Clearly, [in the television series 'The Handmaid's Tale'] the Sons of Jacob have been scarily successful in ---------- Americans—or, more specifically, young former Americans—to accept a new set of social mores." — Elena Nicolaou, Refinery29.com, 24 May 2018 "There were two academies in the frigate. One comprised the apprentice boys, who, upon certain days of the week, were --------- in the mysteries of the primer by an invalid corporal of marines, a slender, wizzen-cheeked man, who had received a liberal infant-school education." — Herman Melville, White Jacket, 1850

assuage

1 : to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses) : ease 2 : to make quiet : pacify 3 : to put an end to by satisfying : appease, quench Examples "Prince wrote often and eagerly about the idea of sanctuary—places where his spiritual anxieties were ------------ ." — Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 25 June 2018 "The interview offers a rare glimpse of what Charles might be like as king, and is perhaps an effort to ------------- critics who have worried that he would diverge from British monarchs, who are bound by tradition to reign, not rule, over their subjects." — Palko Karasz, The New York Times, 8 Nov. 2018

Elucidate

1 : to make lucid especially by explanation or analysis 2 : to give a clarifying explanation Example: The D.A. was engaging and insightful as he -----ed upon not only the proper steps to get a felony removed from your criminal background, but also the procedures of diversion and executive pardon

decimate

1 : to select by lot and kill every tenth man of 2 : to exact a tax of 10 percent from 3 a : to reduce drastically especially in number b : to cause great destruction or harm to Examples Budget cuts have --------- public services in many towns and cities throughout the state. "We must do everything we can to eliminate the diseases that have potential to --- our population if we do not take action." — Kacie L. Pauls, The Kansas City (Missouri) Star, 22 Mar. 2018

paste

1 : to strike hard at 2 : to beat or defeat soundly Examples "But, Moody came up next and ------ a liner into right for a single, which fueled a five-run inning for the Roughers." — Mike Tupa, The Bartlesville (Oklahoma) Examiner-Enterprise, 7 June 2018 "A year ago, the Miners were ---- by Texas early in the season but had reason to leave feeling all right about itself.... This one is a bit tougher to rationalize...." — Bret Bloomquist, The El Paso Times, 3 Sept. 2017

transpire

1 : to take place : go on, occur 2 a : to become known or apparent : develop b : to be revealed : come to light 3 : to give off vaporous material; specifically : to give off or exude watery vapor especially from the surfaces of leaves 4 : to pass in the form of a vapor from a living body 5 : to pass off or give passage to (a fluid) through pores or interstices Examples Plants ---- more profusely under dry, hot weather conditions. "The single best way to improve the vibe of a room is with candles. And for that you're going to want a good-looking set of candlesticks. They are ... the easy upgrade, the little hint that something really fun is about to -----------." — Bon Appétit, December 2017

advert

1 : to turn the mind or attention — used with to 2 : to call attention in the course of speaking or writing : make reference — used with to Examples "He also -----ed to the practice of demanding that producers take back unsold produce as an 'unfair' practice that concerns the commission." — Patrick Smyth, The Irish Times, 12 Apr. 2018 "Painfully as I am affected by the family calamity which has fallen on me, I cannot let this opportunity pass without ----ing to another subject which seriously concerns your welfare...." — Wilkie Collins, No Name, 1862

collaborate

1 : to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor 2 : to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country and especially an occupying force 3 : to cooperate with an agency or instrumentality with which one is not immediately connected Examples "Everyone needs to know how to ----------- well, and you can practice that skill in many ways: by setting up working groups, lending a hand to your coworkers, and checking in to make sure your goals line up with your teammates." — Judith Humphrey, Fast Company, 21 Mar. 2018 "The friends—Todd Anderson, a printmaking professor at Clemson University, and Bruce Crownover, a master printer at Tandem Press at the University of Wisconsin-Madison—------ on the oversized art book 'The Last Glacier,' which was on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City earlier this year." — Carol Schmidt, The Billings (Montana) Gazette, 9 Apr. 2018

pamphleteer

1 : to write and publish pamphlets 2 : to engage in partisan arguments indirectly in writings Examples Though he is remembered today for his novels and essays, George Orwell was also known to --------- for causes important to him. "After the pamphlet wars between supporters of Louis XIII and Marie de Medicis, in 1618-19, several ------------- were sentenced to death, and the attempt to arrest unlicensed booksellers led many to flee the country. More broadly, the political chaos brought about by pamphleteering in France contributed to the absolutism of Louis XIV, who used the printing press as a tool of state control." — Stephen Marche, The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2018

grudging

1 : unwilling, reluctant 2 : done, given, or allowed unwillingly, reluctantly, or sparingly Examples "The class differences between teacher and students are so pronounced that they threaten to plunge the film into a schoolhouse drama—that well-worn genre in which a charismatic authority figure, inevitably likable yet inevitably tough, gains her students' ---- respect and eventual trust." — Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times, 22 Mar. 2018 "There is no ------------ marriage of art and politics in her work; as John Berger, one of her longtime interlocutors and a formative influence, wrote, 'Far from my dragging politics into art, art has dragged me into politics.' [Arundhati] Roy's work conveys a similar spirit." — Parul Sehgal, The Atlantic, 17 June 2017

metier

1 : vocation, trade 2 : an area of activity in which one excels : forte Examples "Instinctively, Winnie Mandela found her --------- as a born politician, appearing in any troubled area to assure the populace that liberation was nigh." — The Daily Telegraph (London), 3 Apr. 2018 "'We're going to react to them and improvise,' says [Zeena] Parkins, a classically trained pianist from Detroit who found her ---------- in Manhattan's Lower East Side experimental music scene in the 1980s, when she electrified her harp to be heard amid the din of guitars and drums and other instruments." — Jesse Hamlin, The San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Apr. 2018

quiddity

1 : whatever makes something the type that it is : essence 2 a : a trifling point : quibble b : an unusual personal opinion or habit : eccentricity Examples "The elegant, punky, petroleum-like smokiness that imbues every good mezcal, and which is its ---------, comes from the burning of the agave heart." — Ray Harvey, The Coloradoan, 19 May 2016 "An apparently intractable fact of life is that our thoughts are inaccessible to one another. Our skulls are like space helmets; we are trapped in our heads, unable to convey the ------ of our sensations." — Jason Pontin, Wired, 16 Apr. 2018

quip

1 a : a clever usually taunting remark : gibe b : a witty or funny observation or response usually made on the spur of the moment 2 : quibble, equivocation 3 : something strange, droll, curious, or eccentric : oddity Examples To almost every comment I made, Adam responded with a ----- and a smile. "The cancellation of the CW network's 'Veronica Mars' after three precious, ratings-starved seasons was a TV tragedy. Viewers reluctantly moved on, but we did not forget the girl who was quick with a -----, and perhaps even quicker with a taser." — Karla Peterson, The San Diego Union Tribune, 25 Aug. 2018

symposium

1 a : a convivial party (as after a banquet in ancient Greece) with music and conversation b : a social gathering at which there is free interchange of ideas 2 a : a formal meeting at which several specialists deliver short addresses on a topic or on related topics — compare colloquium b : a collection of opinions on a subject; especially : one published by a periodical c : discussion Examples "Scholars, culinary historians, writers, and chefs come together for this ------------... that chronicles the fascinating history of beef in the region." — Saveur, October 2009 "In 1977 [astronomer Beatrice Tinsley] organized and hosted a ----------- that brought together the world's experts on the evolution of stars and galaxies. The transcribed proceedings ... have become a classic reference for researchers." — The New York Times, 18 July 2018

Panoply

1 a : a full suit of armor b : ceremonial attire 2 : something forming a protective covering 3 a : a magnificent or impressive array *** b : a display of all appropriate appurtenances Examples "Like many of the islands of the Caribbean, Jamaica is home to a cuisine that combines a heady mixture of flavors, spices, techniques and influences from the ----------- of cultures that have inhabited its shores." — Maria Sonnenberg, Florida Today, 11 July 2018 "'Autumn in Venice: Ernest Hemingway and His Last Muse' focuses on the final turbulent decade of a life, but Andrea di Robilant captures the full panoply of quirks and conflicts that often made Papa and those closest to him miserable." — Michael Mewshaw, The Washington Post, 26 July 2018

marshal

1 a : a high official in the household of a medieval king, prince, or noble originally having charge of the cavalry but later usually in command of the military forces b : a person who arranges and directs the ceremonial aspects of a gathering 2 a : field marshal b : a general officer of the highest military rank 3 a : an officer having charge of prisoners b : a ministerial officer appointed for a judicial district (as of the U.S.) to execute the process of the courts and perform various duties similar to those of a sheriff c : a city law officer entrusted with particular duties d : the administrative head of a city police department or fire department Examples The -------- confirmed that the house fires were arson and were likely set by the same person. "On the first day, ... the guy I was playing with ricocheted his ball off a tree and into a swamp. Lost ball. Except that when we get up there, the guy ... says, 'Got it! Here it is!' and points down to a ball in the rough. I said, 'There's no way that's your ball. I watched it go into the swamp.' Even the ------ standing there agreed with me...." — Raymond Floyd, quoted in Golf Digest, June 2018

menagerie

1 a : a place where animals are kept and trained especially for exhibition b : a collection of wild or foreign animals kept especially for exhibition 2 : a varied mixture Examples "Joe proved a quick country convert, taking ownership of the grounds and the growing ----- , which now includes eight Icelandic sheep, eight Bantam chickens, and two collies." — Caroline Collins McKenzie, Country Living, December 2017 "I can never find my keys in the four pockets in my pants. So the typical golf bag, with its -------- of zippers and storage, presents a particular nightmare of lost essentials." — Tom Chiarella, Popular Mechanics, June 2017

repartee

1 a : a quick and witty reply b : a succession or interchange of clever retorts : amusing and usually light sparring with words 2 : adroitness and cleverness in reply : skill in repartee Examples "One of my favorite parts of that scene was Kim's -------- with him, trying to show how smart she is, him pretending to forget the case and her knowing it—all just so he could test her." — Patrick Fabian, quoted in Variety, 11 Sept. 2018 "The joy of the romantic comedy lies less in its mise en scène, and more in its witty ------------ and character chemistry.... The will-they-won't-they tension is enough for the movie to power through the silliest moments. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 21 June 2018

dram

1 a : a unit of avoirdupois weight equal to 1/16 ounce b : a unit of apothecaries' weight equal to 1/8 ounce c : a unit of liquid capacity equal to 1/8 fluid ounce 2 a : a small portion of something to drink b : a small amount Examples The two of them don't have a -------- of sense between them, so I'm not surprised that they got into so much trouble. "Do you know what I just found out? Monkey Shoulder blended Scotch? Totally not made from monkey shoulders. As far as I'm informed, there are no monkey parts whatsoever in this delicious ----------." — Mat Dinsmore, The Coloradoan, 22 Jan. 2014

Bravado

1 a : blustering swaggering conduct b : a pretense of bravery 2 : the quality or state of being foolhardy Example: The quiet, reserved actor is primarily known for playing characters who radiate ----- and swagger.

volatile

1 a : characterized by or subject to rapid or unexpected change b : unable to hold the attention fixed because of an inherent lightness or fickleness of disposition 2 a : tending to erupt into violence : explosive b : easily aroused c : lighthearted, lively 3 : readily vaporizable at a relatively low temperature 4 : difficult to capture or hold permanently : evanescent, transitory 5 : flying or having the power to fly Examples Our financial advisor cautioned us to be conservative with our investments while the stock market was still ----------. "A second round of testing has been ordered for a Massachusetts charter school where elevated levels of toxic chemicals were detected. ... Initial testing ... found high levels of petroleum and other ---------- organic compounds." — The Associated Press, 8 July 2018

Ad hoc

1 a : concerned with a particular end or purpose b : formed or used for specific or immediate problems or needs 2 : fashioned from whatever is immediately available : improvised. Example: he spread of bike sharing has made millions of lives a bit easier and a bit better.... In more and more realms of life the convenient ------- access provided by digital systems is taking the place of the assured access once offered by personal ownership

eccentric

1 a : deviating from conventional or accepted usage or conduct especially in odd or whimsical ways b : deviating from an established or usual pattern or style 2 a : deviating from a circular path; especially : elliptical b : located elsewhere than at the geometric center; also : having the axis or support so located Examples "Nothing is more ---- in our egocentric world than generosity." — Filip Noterdaeme, quoted in The New York Times, 7 June 2018 "Charlie has the ---- habit of making a clucking sound that signifies everything and nothing. It's part of the film's unsettling sound design, which composer Colin Stetson ratchets up to full creep mode with a soundtrack that freezes the heart." — Peter Howell, The Toronto Star, 8 June 2018

balmy

1 a : having the qualities of balm : soothing b : mild, temperate 2 : crazy, foolish Examples "Men often don't moisturize their skin during the hotter months, but should. It's a misconception that oily skin doesn't get dehydrated. Use a lightweight moisturizer that isn't heavy or sticky in ------- weather." — Joane Amay, Ebony, June 2018 "He arose with the first peep of day, and sallied forth to enjoy the -------- breeze of morning...." — Thomas Love Peacock, Headlong Hall, 1816

audacious

1 a : intrepidly daring : adventurous b : recklessly bold : rash 2 : contemptuous of law, religion, or decorum : insolent 3 : marked by originality and verve Examples The band has been making original and creative music for well over ten years, but their latest album is by far their most ---------- to date. "[Patrick Mahomes] has already thrown 14 touchdown passes without an interception, and his ability to make plays when everything breaks down—like that ------------- left-handed pass against the Broncos—has turned him into an early MVP front-runner." — Dave Skretta, The Cincinnati (Ohio) Enquirer, 7 Oct. 2018

anathema

1 a : one that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority b : someone or something intensely disliked or loathed — usually used as a predicate nominative 2 a : a ban or curse solemnly pronounced by ecclesiastical authority and accompanied by excommunication b : the denunciation of something as accursed c : a vigorous denunciation : curse Examples "Diets were ------ to Julia because they implied that food was harmful." — Cook's Illustrated, November & December 2004 "Preordaining a peaceful future, especially an apparently zombie-free one, should be --------- to a show that clings to week-by-week anticipation." — Charles Bramesco, The New York Times, 5 Mar. 2018

fulcrum

1 a : prop; specifically : the support about which a lever turns b : one that supplies capability for action 2 : a part of an animal that serves as a hinge or support Examples "Normally, bending involves using the hip as a -------- , and erector spinae muscles to support our trunk. When Jackson leaned over, he transferred the fulcrum to the ankle, with the calf and Achilles tendon under strain." — Jake Rossen, Mental Floss, 22 May 2018 "In 2014, then-Attorney General Greg Abbott issued a nonbinding opinion advising that bag bans are legal if they are not aimed at 'solid waste management.' That murky phrase, which appears in the Texas Health and Safety Code, has become the ----------- for debate on the issue." — Emma Platoff, The Texas Tribune, 22 June 2018

lunette

1 a : something that has the shape of a crescent or half-moon b : an opening in a vault especially for a window c : the surface at the upper part of a wall that is partly surrounded by a vault which the wall intersects and that is often filled by windows or by mural painting d : a low crescentic mound (as of sand) formed by the wind 2 : the figure or shape of a crescent moon Examples "All the windows and doors were topped with --------------s of small-paned glass." — Theodore Dreiser, The Financier, 1912 "But what people found most striking about the school was the elaborate ------------ built on the exterior of the building over the front entrance. With the ------------'s intricate sunburst design, Iddles School caught the attention of many passersby." — Becky Kark, The Herald-Palladium (St. Joseph, Michigan), 15 July 2018

obdurate

1 a : stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing b : hardened in feelings 2 : resistant to persuasion or softening influences Examples ------------ lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have made it difficult for the state legislature to get anything done this term. "The emigrants were strong-willed and o-------------- durate. Their dreams were based as much on imagination as on the writings and maps of land speculators and entrepreneurs." — Edward Cuddihy, The Buffalo (New York) News, 1 Oct. 2017

mise-edn-scene

1 a : the arrangement of actors and scenery on a stage for a theatrical production b : stage setting 2 a : the physical setting of an action (as of a narrative or a motion picture) : context b : environment, milieu Examples "For the night of his election last May ..., he arranged a dramatic ------------: while loudspeakers played Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy,' the new president walked alone across the courtyard of the Louvre as spotlights threw his larger-than-life shadow on the façade of the former royal palace." — Tom Sancton, Vanity Fair, May 2018 "The action ... took place around me as if I were invisible, though that illusion was quickly dispelled when a large rectangular mirror was wheeled to within a few feet of where I sat. Gulp. The plot may not have thickened at that point, but my self-consciousness surely did. Like it or not, I was now part of the --------------...." — David Weiss, Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2017

pacify

1 a : to allay the anger or agitation of : soothe b : appease, propitiate 2 a : to restore to a tranquil state : settle b : to reduce to a submissive state : subdue Examples "To check on the health of a colony of bees it is usually necessary to open the hive, a procedure which involves using smoke to ----- the bees." — The Economist, 31 Mar. 2018 "In the areas that were hardest for the army to ---- , former residents and monitoring groups report a rising tide of arrests." — Louisa Loveluck, The Washington Post, 27 May 2018

Abide

1 a : to bear patiently : tolerate b : to endure without yielding : withstand 2 : to wait for : await 3 : to accept without objection 4 : to remain stable or fixed in a state 5 : to continue in a place : sojourn Example: Susan has been a vegetarian for years and can no longer ---- even the smell of cooked meat.

embarrass

1 a : to cause to experience a state of self-conscious distress b : to place in doubt, perplexity, or difficulties c : to involve in financial difficulties 2 a : to hamper the movement of b : hinder, impede 3 : to make intricate : complicate 4 : to impair the activity of (a bodily function) or the function of (a bodily part) Examples He was ----- to discover that he had been talking to prospective clients all day with a piece of spinach lodged in his teeth. "To start with, the existence of the blog post itself is a striking demonstration of privilege. Most people think twice before publicly -------ing their former employers, for fear that it will ruin their careers or they will face other types of retaliation." — Sarah Kessler, Quartz, 27 Jan. 2018

arrogate

1 a : to claim or seize without justification b : to make undue claims to having : assume 2 : to claim on behalf of another : ascribe The city council has accused the mayor of ------ decision-making authority to himself that rightly belongs with the council. "Teenage girls rule in the tart but sweet new Broadway musical Mean Girls. But their system of high-school government is far from a democracy: It's a reign of terror, angst and mall fashions, where popularity is ------------ and then ruthlessly enforced." — Adam Feldman, TimeOut New York, 8 Apr. 2018

immure

1 a : to enclose within or as if within walls b : imprison 2 : to build into a wall; especially : to entomb in a wall Examples "Agnes ... is a suburban lifer, a mousy, resigned little woman whose life is ---------- by her home, her family, and her church." — Jonathan Richards, The Santa Fe New Mexican, 7 Sept. 2018 "In the croissants and their variations, the layers are as distinct as ribs, from slabs of cold butter ---------- in fold after fold of dough; the interior resembles a honeycomb of air, due to steam released during baking as the butter slowly melts." — Ligaya Mishan, The New York Times, 13 Mar. 2018

vouchsafe

1 a : to grant or furnish often in a gracious or condescending manner b : to give by way of reply 2 : to grant as a privilege or special favor Examples "Juan Carlos, who announced on Monday that he is abdicating the throne, was long revered for his role in ----------ing Spain's transition to democracy following the death, in 1975, of the country's geriatric Fascist leader, Generalissimo Francisco Franco." — Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 2 June 2014 "By the end of 'This Flat Earth,' Julie comes to seem like a latter-day variation on Emily, the heroine of Wilder's 'Our Town,' who is --------- a glimpse of small human lives within a cosmic framework." — Ben Brantley, The New York Times, 9 Apr. 2018

Admonish

1 a : to indicate duties or obligations to b : to express warning or disapproval to especially in a gentle, earnest, or solicitous manner 2 : to give friendly earnest advice or encouragement to 3 : to say (something) as advice or a warning Examples The teacher -----------ed the students to not speak over one another. "Ringo Starr rocked, he rolled, he sang, he spoke, he ------ ed us all to embrace peace and love, not as a tired cliché, but as a tool for the times." — John W. Barry, The Poughkeepsie (New York) Journal, 21 Sept. 2018

Validate

1 a : to make legally valid : ratify b : to grant official sanction to by marking c : to confirm the validity of (an election); also : to declare (a person) elected 2 a : to support or corroborate on a sound or authoritative basis b : to recognize, establish, or illustrate the worthiness or legitimacy of. Example: Reaching home, I anxiously handed my report card to Mother. ______ my angst, she took it and reached into a battered shoebox containing the report cards of my older sister Tanja

thwart

1 a : to oppose successfully : defeat the hopes or aspirations of b : to run counter to so as to effectively oppose or baffle : contravene 2 : to pass through or across Examples The baby howled when her mother ---------ed her in her effort to crawl up the stairs. "... nearly 1,850 firefighters already working the blaze planned to build 'indirect lines'— containment lines placed in front of the fire's active edge—but were faced with the possibility that their efforts could be -----------ed by the weather." — Sarah Ravani, The San Francisco Chronicle, 20 July 2018

cajole

1 a : to persuade with flattery or gentle urging especially in the face of reluctance : coax b : to obtain from someone by gentle persuasion 2 : to deceive with soothing words or false promises Examples "Wertheim and the 60 Minutes crew were only permitted into the building's circular library, despite an attempt to ---------- former Lampoon president Alice Ju to grant them further access." — Brit McCandless Farmer, CBSNews.com, 8 Apr. 2018 "Designers call the ways marketers and developers ------------ and mislead us into giving up our data 'dark patterns,' tactics that exploit flaws and limits in our cognition." — Christopher Mims, The Wall Street Journal, 22 Apr. 2018

gloss

1 a : to provide a brief explanation or interpretation for : explain, define b : interpret 2 : to dispose of by false or perverse interpretation Examples Although not intended for the layperson, the text is relatively free of jargon and most of the technical vocabulary has been -----------. "At times, however, the author doesn't tell quite enough. For example, he ------- the phrase 'kickapoo joy juice' as sportswriter Red Smith's 'frontier euphemism for a blazing fastball.' He should have gone on to explain that Smith lifted the term from Al Capp, the creator of 'Li'l Abner.'" — Dennis Drabelle, The Washington Post, 19 Apr. 2013

mayhem

1 a : willful and permanent deprivation of a bodily member resulting in the impairment of a person's fighting ability b : willful and permanent crippling, mutilation, or disfigurement of any part of the body 2 : needless or willful damage or violence Examples "Joe is not your average Joe. He is a contract killer.... The business is low-grade; payments are made with an envelope of cash stuffed above a ceiling tile, and, at the end of a hard night's -------, Joe returns to the small house that he shares with his elderly mother." — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2018 "We are very fortunate to live in a society with 911 responders, but they may not be able to get to victims in a crowded arena, or the police may have to block their entry because of ongoing ------." — USA Today, 1 Mar. 2018

Yahoo

1 capitalized Yahoo : a member of a race of brutes in Swift's Gulliver's Travels who have the form and all the vices of humans 2 : a boorish, crass, or stupid person Examples The reputation the teenagers had for being a bunch of self-involved ----------- was belied by their courteous treatment of the stranded motorists. "In a place like America, we seem to revel in these geographic judgments. And so Northerners stereotype Southerners as Confederate flag-waving, pickup driving, moonshine-drinking ----------- and Southerners depict Northerners as snooty, elitist, big city, latte-drinking, Volvo-driving liberals." — John F. Hudson, The Cambridge (Massachusetts) Chronicle, 31 May 2018

gumption

1 chiefly dialectal : common sense, horse sense 2 : enterprise, initiative Examples "When fatigue began to take over his body and his legs started to quake, LaDonna had the ----- to throw his best fastball of the day." — Gregg Sarra, Newsday (New York), 29 May 2018 "Negotiating salary increases requires finesse, timing and being informed. It also requires a certain measure of -----." — The Laramie (Wyoming) Boomerang, 10 June 2018

skirl

1 of a bagpipe : to emit the high shrill tone of the chanter; also : to give forth music 2 : to play (music) on the bagpipe Examples "Then the Dropkick Murphys victory song -----------ed over the PA and the player pile was on, followed by the Red Sox team rushing the left field fence and flipping over it, reminiscent of Torii Hunter's vain try for a David Ortiz homer during the 2013 playoffs." — Jack Shea, The Martha's Vineyard Times, 23 June 2014 "On a crisp spring morning in West Roxbury, several honor guards stood at rigid attention outside Holy Name Church as scores of bagpipes -----------ed." — Eric Moscowitz, The Boston Globe, 4 Apr. 2014

Holy writ

1 often capitalized Holy Writ : Bible 2 : a writing or utterance having unquestionable authority Examples "But just because these people claim to be experts doesn't mean their every utterance should be treated as ------- ." — James Delingpole, The Spectator, 7 Apr. 2018 "---------- t is a text we read and engage with fully. In an imaginative appropriation of the text of Scripture, and through the workings of grace, we somehow understand beyond articulation...." — Edward T. Wheeler, Commonweal, 6 Oct. 2017

habiliment

1 plural : characteristic apparatus : trappings 2 a : the dress characteristic of an occupation or occasion — usually used in plural b : clothes — usually used in plural Examples "My riches are these poor ----------, / Of which if you should here disfurnish me, / You take the sum and substance that I have." — William Shakespeare, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, 1595 "Kerr Gulch likes to have clothing delivered to her door by an online 'partner in personal style' called Stitch Fix. After sampling Stitch Fix's assortment of attire, Kerr holds onto the handsomest ---------and boxes up the rest for shipment back to the company." — The Canyon Courier (Evergreen, Colorado), 28 Dec. 2017

pyrotechnique

1 singular or plural in construction : the art of making or the manufacture and use of fireworks 2 a : a display of fireworks b : a spectacular display (as of extreme virtuosity) Examples The town's much-anticipated Independence Day ------------- will be launched from the usual place: a tower on a mountain ridge along its eastern border. "His talent as a writer and caricaturist was evident from the start in his verbal ------------ and perfect mimicry of speech patterns, his meticulous reporting, and his creative use of pop language and explosive punctuation." — Deirdre Carmody and William Grimes, The New York Times, 15 May 2018

dossier

: a file containing detailed records on a particular person or subject Examples The agency maintains extensive -------------- on all of its employees and contractors. "The council overwhelmingly supported a resolution to set up an 'independent mechanism' that will collect and analyze evidence of the 'most serious international crimes' and prepare ----------------that will make it easier for prosecutors to bring cases to trial in national, regional or international courts." — Nick Cumming-Bruce, The New York Times, 28 Sept. 2018

Chiliad

: a group of 1000 2 : a period of 1000 years; especially : one reckoned from the beginning of the Christian era Examples Erin's pursuit of an MD degree felt like it took a ------, but she achieved her goal and is now running her own pediatric clinic. "While teachers may offer children some new vocab words, there are some at-home tricks parents can also use to make sure their children learn a ---------- of new words." — Herb Scribner, The Petoskey (Michigan) News-Review, 6 Sept. 2015

musket

: a heavy large-caliber muzzle-loading usually smoothbore shoulder firearm; broadly : a shoulder gun carried by infantry Examples "They could see changes going on among the troops. There were marchings this way and that way. A battery wheeled leisurely. On the crest of a small hill was the thick gleam of many departing -----." — Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage, 1895 "It's not the gun that kicked off the Revolution with that shot heard round the world, but it's similar. The -------is now in every history book. It's come to symbolize freedom and independence—even celebrated recently on Broadway, in the smash hit, Hamilton." — Lee Cowan, speaking on CBS, 13 Mar. 2016

melancholia

: a mental condition and especially a manic-depressive condition characterized by extreme depression, bodily complaints, and often hallucinations and delusions Examples "Nevertheless, wakened out of her --------- and called to the dinner table, she changed her mind. A little food in the stomach does wonders." — Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie, 1900 "The ocean as healer beckoned people through the centuries. English doctors of yester-century prescribed 'sea baths' even to dissolve ---------." — Liza Field, The Roanoke (Virginia) Times, 13 Jan. 2018

zibeline

: a soft lustrous wool fabric with mohair, alpaca, or camel's hair Examples "It's a simple, elegant design: high-collar, buttons, long sleeves, with lace and a sheer bodice. Its fabric catches the light very delicately—Bridges found the thick --------------- in London." — Hunter Harris, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2018 "The second gown is a more structured design of either silk ------------ or silk taffeta, with hand-embroidered silk thread and Swarovski crystals in three different sizes." — Joyce Chen, The Knot, 7 May 2018

brouhaha

: a state of commotion or excitement : hubbub, uproar Examples There was much ----- in the tabloids over the young actor's sudden marriage to the woman who had been his high school sweetheart. "But where do you go, when the temperatures are soaring and you want to cool off but without all of the ----- that comes along with a trip to one of our more popular, crowded city beaches?" — Ji Suk Yi, The Chicago Sun-Times, 25 July 2018

Peripeteia

: a sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances or situation especially in a literary work Examples The novel is populated by a number of secondary characters, each of whom plays a crucial role in the protagonist's -----------. "Before ever writing Chapter one, he will write synopsis after synopsis, for up to a year, ironing out all the wrinkles, developing not just plot and ------(or twists) but character." — Andy Martin, The Independent, 25 Nov. 2016

abandon

: a thorough yielding to natural impulses; especially : enthusiasm, exuberance Examples: The winning photograph was of a dog bounding with -------- through a field of snow. "The drum solo has long been a concert punchline. Foo Fighters, in recognition of that, made Hawkins' solo as ridiculous and over the top as possible. His drum kit, perched upon a hydraulic lift, soared twenty feet in the air as he pounded the skins with reckless ------------." — Jim Ryan, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2018

furlong

: a unit of distance equal to 220 yards (about 201 meters) Examples "They tramped on again. But they had not gone more than a ---------- when the storm returned with fresh fury." — J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 1954 "Entered in the nine------- Pennsylvania Derby is a mix of local runners taking a shot at at least a portion of the $1 million purse and high-profile horses that have been running in graded stakes...." — Teresa Genaro, Forbes, 18 Sept. 2018

manifesto

: a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer Examples "Mr. Eddie Lampert, the chairman of Sears Holdings and mastermind of the Kmart/Sears merger ... famously published a 15-page -----------in 2009 which covered everything from the economic meltdown to civil liberties, and contained a suggested reading list that included free-market Austrian economist Friedrich Hayek." — Mary Jane Quirk, Consumerist, 8 Jan. 2013 "American Audacity is the rare example of a collection that coheres into a --------. Its essays were published during the last seven years, many in The New Republic and The Daily Beast, on topics as various as the art of hate mail, Herman Melville's life and the Boston Marathon bombing...." — Nathaniel Rich, The New York Times, 19 Aug. 2018

lenitive

: alleviating pain or harshness : soothing Examples Peppermint, chamomile, and ginger are all reputed to have a --------- effect on the digestive system. "The air in Eastbourne ... is melancholy with the sweet memories of childhood, and the promises it breathes are prayerful and --------: all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." — Howard Jacobson, The Independent (London), 2 Aug. 2008

glade

: an open space surrounded by woods Examples "Whenever they got a glimpse of the sun in an open ----------they seemed unaccountably to have veered eastwards." — J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 1954 "Park on the side of the road near the sign where possible, but try to avoid going too far off into the mud. Walk past the sign and across a --------- before descending into the hollow." — James Baughn, The Southeast Missourian, 5 Apr. 2018

benison

: blessing, benediction Examples "I offer thanks for the little things and the big things, everyday ---------- and once-in-a-blue-moon moments of grace." — Kati Schardl, The Tallahassee (Florida) Democrat, 17 Nov. 2017 "In the second half of the second act, the show shrinks and darkens as Hamilton's life does. The last song, describing the 50-year widowhood of Eliza, gives an unexpected ------------." — Richard Brookhiser, The National Review, 6 Apr. 2

viva coce

: by word of mouth : orally Examples "He was examined according to standard inquisitorial procedures derived from Roman law and medieval practice. Interrogators put questions to the accused who answered viva voce, in writing, or both, as demanded." — Donald Weinstein, Savonarola: The Rise and Fall of a Renaissance Prophet, 2011 "In the old days, voter turnout was significant because the rite was an open event and fun-filled. In colonial Maryland and Virginia, for example, a citizen would cast his vote orally—viva voce—and then would be rewarded with food and strong drink by the candidate he had just voted for." — Thomas V. DiBacco, The Washington Times, 26 Oct. 2016

derring-do

: daring action : daring Examples "They're two of the most celebrated climbers in the world, struggling to find the right words to describe an astonishing act of human --------: On June 3, 2017, Honnold ascended the Freerider route of El Capitan, a nearly 3,000-foot rock face in Yosemite National Park, noted for its glassy-smooth granite and holds that extend only to the fingertips. And he did it all without a rope." — Scott Tobias, The New York Magazine, 26 Sept. 2018 "But Ben Macintyre, a journalist who specialises in books about spies and ------------, has crafted his story as a real-life thriller, as tense as John le Carré's novels, or even Ian Fleming's.... 'The Spy and the Traitor' is a gripping reconstruction, even for those with only a cursory interest in the secret world." — The Economist, 22 Sept. 2018

meritorious

: deserving of honor or esteem Examples "Markle received citations for ------------- conduct in the battle at Fort Erie." — Mike McCormick, The Terre Haute (Indiana) Tribune-Star, 15 Apr. 2018 "The Seven Seals award, signed by ESGR National Chair, Craig McKinley, is presented for ------------- leadership and initiative in support of the men and women who serve America in the National Guard and Reserve." — The Hattiesburg (Mississippi) American, 13 May 2018

adulation

: excessive or slavish admiration or flattery Examples "It's hard to imagine the safest environment being one where thousands of people are within feet of you and millions more are watching your every move. But that was the case with Tiger Woods. ... When he played, he was wrapped in a blanket of admiration, ----------- and respect." — Frank Nobilo, Golf Digest, November 2017 "I am very shy from the attention more so than I anticipated. Growing and increasing with time, the more -------- or positive feedback I get, the more reclusive I feel, which is really not something I anticipated." — Lorin Ashton, quoted in Billboard, 9 June 2017

slimsy

: flimsy, frail Examples "For one thing, she'll have to make Daisy some clothes first, because Daisy hasn't got much to wear except what she's got on.... Just about all she's got to her name is that little ----- gingham jumper she's wearing." — Erskine Caldwell, A Woman in the House, 1936 "With Nebraska going out in the quarterfinals against Michigan—leaving the Cornhuskers with a ------- resume nearly devoid of high-end wins—the Big Ten is poised to produce only four tournament teams for the first time since 2008." — Patrick Stevens, The Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2018

agog

: full of intense interest or excitement : eager Examples We were all ---------- over the rumor that the famous actor would be coming to town for his next movie. "As we went through the book, we felt like little children while turning page after page, --------- at the incredible artwork! Although the subject of faeries might be considered for kids, this is not a book full of cute little Tinkerbells." — Ed and Cynthia Justus, The Garden Island (Lihue, Hawaii), 2 Mar. 2018

notorious

: generally known and talked of; especially : widely and unfavorably known Examples "Black-legged ticks, ---------- for transmitting the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, are now present in almost half of U.S. counties, up nearly 45 percent since 1998." — Bradley Rife et al., O, The Oprah Magazine, April 2018 "Galveston Island has it all. To some, Texas' bustling island will always be defined by its storied past, its nineteenth-century elegance, big-city ambitions, ------- seaport, and even more notorious storms." — Texas Monthly, May 2018

pugnacious

: having a quarrelsome or combative nature : truculent Examples "In almost all the Orders, the males of some species, even of weak and delicate kinds, are known to be highly ---------; and some few are furnished with special weapons for fighting with their rivals." — Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man,1871 "[Coach Gregg] Popovich, whose interviews can be humorously ---------, wasn't in the mood to look back on the streak on Monday night, saying 'Awww, it's wonderful,' without further elaboration." — Victor Mather, The New York Times, 11 Apr. 2018

millefleur

: having an allover pattern of small flowers and plants Examples The museum's collection includes several medieval tapestries with ------------ designs. "An early 16th century ---------- tapestry is a charmer, with children playing amidst the birds and animals and the thousand flowers of the style's name." — Sherry Lucas, The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi), 29 Sept. 2002

intestine

: internal; specifically : of or relating to the internal affairs of a state or country Examples News reports of --------- disagreements between the country's two most powerful political factions led to murmurings that the country was on the precipice of civil war. "Never, during the whole existence of the English nation, had so long a period passed without -------------- hostilities. Men had become accustomed to the pursuits of peaceful industry, and, exasperated, as they were, hesitated long before they drew the sword." — Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England, 1848

fugacious

: lasting a short time : evanescent Examples The rock band's rise in popularity turned out to be -----, and within two years its members had moved on to other careers. "The maple leaves are a yellow light signaling me to slow down and take in the last pulse of color of a ---------- fall." — David Johnson, The Daily News of Newburyport (Massachusetts), 26 Nov. 2013

superjacent

: lying above or upon : overlying Examples "Village streets threaded around the hillside, eternally watched over by the --------- castle." — Evan Rail, The New York Times, 25 Sept. 2011 "Article 56 of the convention provides that ... the coastal State has ... sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources ... of the waters ----------- to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil...." — Costas Stamatiou and Yiota Georgiou, Mondaq Business Briefing, 5 June 2018

compendious

: marked by brief expression of a comprehensive matter : concise and comprehensive Examples Noah Webster's style of defining for the first American dictionary was ---------. "For the past few years his writing has been an elegant and -------- ongoing exploration of Britain's social history through its council estates." — Lynsey Hanley, The Guardian, 19 Apr. 2018

frenetic

: marked by excitement, disorder, or anxiety-driven activity : frenzied, frantic Examples "For Youse and the roughly 90 employees who work at the store, the 5-mile move capped more than a half-year of planning, followed by a ------------- two days in which everything from the one store was transferred to the other." — Chad Umble, LancasterOnline.com, 22 Oct. 2018 "During his years as a sports broadcaster in Chicago, Adam Harris realized his volunteer work as a youth baseball coach often would provide a welcome break from the ------------ world of media." — Karen Ann Cullotta, The Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2018

imperturbable

: marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness : serene Examples The ---------- captain did not panic when the boat sailed into the path of a violent storm. "Synchronicity is no stranger to sports. Back in 2016, a clip of two synchronized swimmers, strutting toward the pool like cool, ------------- twins, went briefly viral." — Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 17 January 2018

rash

: marked by or proceeding from undue haste or lack of deliberation or caution Examples "I know you're upset about not getting a raise, but I think it would be ---- to quit your job in protest," said Martha to her friend. "We were at the mall, and two of my boys were bored and asked to ride the escalator up to the second floor while I checked out. We were in a department store where I could see the escalators from where I was standing and, being flustered and overwhelmed, I made a ------------- decision and said, 'Sure, one time.'" — Carmen Rasmusen Herbert, The Deseret News, 1 July 2018

jabberwocky

: meaningless speech or writing Examples Amanda learned to ignore her critics, dismissing their attacks as the ---- of minds with nothing more important to think of about. "When LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh stepped into the crowded room, fashionably late, ----- ceased and the only sound you heard was the whir and click of cameras." — Greg Cote, The Miami Herald, 28 Sept. 2010

nary

: not any : not one Examples "I must have it back as I have ------- other copy." — Flannery O'Connor, letter, 1961 "Under harsh fluorescent hangar lights that would make even a brand-new Mercedes appear to have been painted with a broom, Symmetry reveals ------- ripple nor flaw." — Stephan Wilkinson, Popular Science, March 2004

perspicacious

: of acute mental vision or discernment : keen Examples "Captivated by the breadth of its elegant façade—echoed in the grandeur of the interior spaces—the ------------- owners enlisted their trusted decorator Jacques Grange ... to collaborate on a sensitive renovation. — Angus Wilkie, Architectural Digest, December 2017 "Elsewhere in his speech, Daniels was ----------- about the challenges that Purdue graduates are likely to face during the course of their careers and civic lives." — Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, 6 June 2018

puissant

: of great force or vigor : strong, powerful Examples The article was written by one of the nation's most respected and --------- advocates for the rights of minorities. "When Elektra finally understands and calls out his name, the orchestra unleashed a berserk fury of sound, after which Goerke floated a serene but -------- high note, beginning the ecstatic soliloquy that marks one of the opera's emotional high points." — Charles T. Downey, The Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2014

coeval

: of the same or equal age, antiquity, or duration Examples "Fantasy is at least as immense as realism and much older—essentially ------------- with literature itself. Yet fantasy was relegated for fifty years or sixty years to the nursery." — Ursula Le Guin, quoted in Electric Literature, 1 Apr. 2016 "If animals are our other, there is nothing quite so other as the octopus. It is the alien with whom we share our planet, a ----- evolutionary life form whose slithery slipperiness and more than the requisite number of limbs ... symbolize the dark mystery and fear of the deep." — Philip Hoare, The Guardian, 18 Sept. 2017

enigmatic

: of, relating to, or resembling an enigma : mysterious Examples "The magic of the Mona Lisa's smile is that it seems to react to our gaze. What is she thinking? She smiles back mysteriously. Look again. Her smile seems to flicker. We glance away, and the ----------smile lingers in our minds, as it does in the collective mind of humanity." — Walter Isaacson, The Atlantic, November 2017 "The Chapel of the Good Shepherd, also known as the Nevelson Chapel, is the work of Louise Nevelson, a flamboyant New York City sculptor who rose to prominence for her postwar abstract assemblages that turned street detritus into ---------- works of art." — Jack Balderrama Morley, The Architects Newspaper (archpaper.com), 15 Aug. 2018

by and large

: on the whole : in general Examples "Studies have shown that, ---------, when hospitals lose financial resources, they make cuts that could harm some patients." — Austin Frakt, The New York Times, 29 Aug. 2018 "The action is, ------------, wordless (a TV set provides the occasional scrolling quote), with amplified sound and Carberry's playing of prepared instruments adding atmosphere." — Thom Dibdin, The Stage (London), 9 Aug. 2018

lodestar

: one that serves as an inspiration, model, or guide Examples "Tisvilde, on Zealand's north coast, stands out as a ---------- for the city's creative set, ever since two of those historic hotels, the Helenkilde Badehotel and Tisvilde Strandhotel, were tastefully renovated a decade ago by the former Royal Danish Ballet principal Alexander Kølpin." — Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, March/April 2012 "I had to spend hours preparing to be half as good as Charles. I'm still working on it. Even before I knew him, he was my --------—and he always will be." — Marc A. Thiessen, The Washington Post, 13 June 2018

grinch

: one who spoils the pleasure of others : killjoy, spoilsport Examples "Chalk it up to a weary world eager for uplifting entertainment, the surprise of a diamond-in-the-rough performer or simply the sheer delight of watching Britain's Got Talent judge and notorious -------- Simon Cowell grow a heart right before the audience's eyes." — Michelle Tauber et al., People, 4 May 2009 "Not content with banning Christmas in 2016, the country's supreme ---------- , Kim Jong Un, went further by prohibiting gatherings that involve alcohol and singing, according to South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS)." — John Onyanga-Omara, The Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, South Dakota), 20 Dec. 2017

Tomfoolery

: playful or foolish behavior Examples The antics in the play itself apparently inspired ------ behind the scenes as well, as cast members reported a host of practical jokes including a few on opening night. "Presented as an oral history in a series of conversations between the couple, the book features anecdotes, hijinks, photos, and a veritable grab bag of -----------." — Brandy McDonnell, NewsOK.com, 1 Oct. 2018

canorous

: pleasant sounding : melodious Examples "His artistry, technical proficiency, and ----------- melodies have an introspective yet uplifting feeling by virtue of the beauty and honesty that so naturally accompany the acoustic guitar." — Kevin Gillies, Noozhawk (Santa Barbara, California), 26 Nov. 2018 "There is an element of truth to that, but Zephyr—such a ------------- hippie-child name—sang a populist tune not found in any Beltway progressive songbook." — Bill Kauffman, American Conservative, 1 Nov. 2014

de rigueur

: prescribed or required by fashion, etiquette, or custom : proper Examples "[Emma] Stone, who patiently smiled through the -------- photo shoot in front of a backdrop emblazoned with the logos of the festival and its sponsors, should be extra light on her feet these days after singing and dancing with co-star Ryan Gosling in one of the opening night movies, 'La La Land.'" — Paul Liberatore, The Marin Independent Journal (Marin County, California), 6 Oct. 2016 "It's fascinating to compare not only the speeches that Robert and the king's heir give before heading into combat, but also Robert's words with those Gibson's Wallace delivers in 'Braveheart.' So much has changed in nearly a quarter century's time that Mackenzie's idea of blockbuster heroism robs his 'Outlaw King' of the bombastic pep talk that would have been ----------- for a studio movie." — John Simon, The Weekly Standard, 2 Mar. 2018

pro rata

: proportionately according to an exactly calculable factor (such as a share or liability) Examples "The Senate also structured the budget bill so that any new money must be added -- ----, meaning proportionally to all areas where a deficit now exists." — Tim Morris, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), 13 June 2018 "Specifically, an S corporation is not a separate taxable entity for federal, and most state, income tax purposes. Instead, profits and losses of an S corporation are divided ------ --- among the shareholders and 'passed through' to their personal returns." — Mike Cote, The Union Leader (Manchester, New Hampshire), 27 May 2018

Occident

: regions or countries lying to the west of a specified or implied point of orientation Examples "... [We] begin in Jerusalem and skip to Istanbul, from where the Orient Express sets off on its long and winding route to the grayer delights of the ---." — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2017 "Look up Tangier in any atlas and you can see what makes it special. It's the crossroads of the ancient world, where Orient and ----------- collide." — William Cook, The Spectator, 16 Nov. 2013

cerulean

: resembling the blue of the sky Examples "The images in Nicolas Party's paintings are simple, vivid, inexplicably funny, and profoundly odd. He paints the face of a man in a brown hat with a large snail on top, against a background of ----------blue." — Dodie Kazanjian, Vogue, June 2018 "The new oceanfront pool is scheduled to debut by summer's end...; complete with cabanas and a second tiki bar serving food all day, it will bring guests even closer to the ----------- Atlantic." — Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes, 2 July 2018

resplendent

: shining brilliantly : characterized by a glowing splendor Examples His eyes were drawn to his elegant wife—------- in a fashionable evening gown—who had just appeared at the top of the stairway. "The princes, all of whom have served in some capacity in the British armed forces, were ------- in blue RAF uniforms, and the women glowed in stylish ensembles." — Maria Puente, USA Today, 11 July 2018

memento

: something that serves to warn or remind; also : souvenir Examples The box on the shelf in her closet is filled with ------------- of Julie's basketball career—awards, newspaper clippings, team photographs, and her old uniform. "Old photos and other ------------from his father's time in the military covered the small table." — Amaris Castillo, The Lowell (Massachusetts) Sun, 6 Oct. 2018

jaunty

: sprightly in manner or appearance : lively Examples "Hitching his wistful voice and elegant violin to a --------- tempo suggesting an Appalachian hoedown, Andrew Bird evokes a sense of restless longing on this album, his 12th." — Jon Young, Mother Jones, March/April 2012 "All this, Twain relates in a -------- , first-person style, almost a cleaned-up, more formal version of the voice he used in his previous novel, 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' (1885)." — Michael Dirda, The Washington Post, 3 July 2018

taciturn

: temperamentally disinclined to talk Examples "The waiter, previously friendly and good-humored, was tonight solemn and --------." — Taylor Stevens, The Informationist, 2011 "One was ------and steady; the other was volatile and virtuosic. When Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe met in the Wimbledon singles final in 1980, they provided a compelling study in contrasts, both in personality and playing style." — Andrew R. Chow, The New York Times, 5 July 2018

deportment

: the manner in which one conducts oneself : behavior Examples The candidate chosen for the position had an exceptional resume, but it was her ---------- and personality as exhibited during interviews that were the deciding factors. "The one artisanal, teachable thing is outer conduct. You can't restructure a genome, but, as Mr. Turveydrop, in [Charles Dickens'] 'Bleak House,' insisted, you really can teach --------." — Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2018

trousseau

: the personal possessions of a bride usually including clothes, accessories, and household linens and wares Examples I am fortunate to be in possession of various family heirlooms, including several items from my great-grandmother's -----------. "Sifting through these abandoned papers ... one gets the sense of a community occupied primarily with day-to-day concerns: The price of wheat, the contents of a daughter's ----------, news from a relative one hasn't heard from in a while, a dispute over grazing rights, the quality of a certain fabric from Morocco." — Michael David Lukas, The Forward (New York City, New York), 30 Mar. 2018

milieu

: the physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops : environment Examples "In researching my second film, Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict, I learned just how much independence and bravery it took for Guggenheim to step away from her very traditional roots and move at the age of 20 to Paris, where she ... became part of the -------- of the Surrealist artists, and ultimately set out on the path to becoming a world famous patron." — Lisa Vreeland, Town & Country, March 2018 "Critics have called [Nicole] Holofcener 'the female Woody Allen,' noting that the two directors, both Jewish, explore a -------- disproportionately populated by writers, artists, and shrinks." — Ariel Levy, The New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2018

voracity

: the quality or state of being ravenous or insatiable Examples Elena reads books with such ------------- that she returns to the library two or three times a week. "In the end, spiders' ----------- actually works out to mankind's benefit. Since they primarily feast on bugs, their hunger means fewer pests in the garden, fewer mosquitoes in the yard, and fewer flies in the house." — Christopher Ingraham, The Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2017

obviate

: to anticipate and prevent (something, such as a situation) or make (an action) unnecessary Examples "Many tech experts wouldn't expect the online advertising and data powerhouse to be interested in blockchain—a technology that, in many ways, -------- the need for the cloud and enables users to wrest control of their data from big tech companies." — Ben Dickson, PC Magazine, 27 Apr. 2018 "But for those of us who relish the familiarity of the status quo and perhaps cannot afford the $50,000 a year or more that assisted living would cost, our current homes may require some adjustments to postpone—and perhaps ---------—any need to move to safer if not more pleasurable dwellings." — Jane E. Brody, The New York Times, 21 May 2018

exculpate

: to clear from alleged fault or guilt Examples A false lead from an ancestry site is no different than eliminating suspects through regular detective work; except people are more easily -----------." — Julie O'Connor, The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey), 13 May 2018 "But the longer and more often you misremember something, the truer it becomes. Misremembering a bad thing as less bad might liberate a survivor, but it also might ----- a perpetrator." — Margaret Lyons, The New York Times, 26 May 2018

buttonhole

: to detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the outer garments of Examples "Her colleagues remember [Shila] Kaur at the annual World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, -----ing senior health officials and patiently explaining to them why people thousands of miles away needed better access to medicines or were worried about the rise of antibiotic resistance." — Andrew Green, The Lancet, 13 Jan. 2018 "... rather than forcing her out, they turned her into a household name, someone who is stopped in the street by fans keen to take a selfie with a champion of human rights. And indeed I witnessed such popular support; she arrived a few minutes ahead of me, and had already been ------------- by the time I stomped up those restaurant stairs." — Michael Short, The Age (Melbourne, Australia), 12 May 2018

scintillate

: to emit sparks : spark 2 : to emit quick flashes as if throwing off sparks : sparkle 3 : to throw off as a spark or as sparkling flashe Examples The critics praised Doreen's performance in the play, declaring that she took a rather mundane script and made it ---------- with wit and excitement. "Stephen Strasburg -----ed with seven scoreless innings in which he allowed two hits with three walks and six strikeouts over 105 pitches." — Mike Puma, The New York Post, 4 July 2017

debunk

: to expose the sham or falseness of Examples "Illusionists and comedians Penn and Teller have made a career out of pulling back the curtain, whether to reveal the methods magicians employ in their tricks or to --- pseudoscientific claptrap on their former television series." — Marc Mohan, The Oregonian, 7 Mar. 2014 "The show tells great stories, but it's also devoted to helping you --------- fantastical ones. Its recurring 'Skeptic Check' feature deflates pseudoscientific claims and conspiracy theories." — Erin Blakemore, The Washington Post, 26 June 2018

glumph

: to move with a clumsy heavy tread Examples Mary's teenage son ------ into the house and flung himself onto the couch, sighing heavily. "Incredibly, a massive rhinoceros comes ------ ing toward us as rapidly as something that weighs more than two tons and resembles a tank on four legs can move." — Barbara Marshall, The Palm Beach (Florida) Post, 27 Aug. 2017

rebuff

: to reject or criticize sharply : snub Examples "The wait at [Sushi Sho in the Ritz-Carlton] is worth it for a chance to dine with the chef most famously known for ----------- Michelin inspectors back home and eschewing the stars they'd have borne." — Cliff Lee, The Globe and Mail (Canada), 14 July 2018 "When the 49ers first tried to trade for Jimmy Garoppolo early in the 2017 offseason, general manager John Lynch was --------- by Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who told Lynch that Garoppolo was unavailable." — Eric Ting, SFGate.com (San Francisco), 28 Aug. 2018

proficient

: well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge Examples "The audition process is intense. Rockettes must be ---------- in ballet, tap, and jazz. Hundreds of women come to auditions and the line to get into Radio City Music Hall wraps around the building." — Melinda Farrell, USA Today, 1 Nov. 2017 "However, for those looking to improve their performance in virtually every field, taking the time to improve your reading efficiency and vocabulary can pay dividends down the road. In fact, ------------ readers usually have better paid jobs and are 2.5 times more likely to earn $850 or more a week." — Macworld, 20 Dec. 2017

Croesus

A very rich man. Example: I'd marry Lord Merton.... He's the silverest of silver foxes. He's richer than ------. He's charming.

Preternatural

Existing outside of nature, extraordinary. Example: Spielberg has ridden his ________ talent to a career that has brought in nearly $10 billion at the box office

Carp

To find fault or complain querulously. Example: The play begins in 1619, three years after his death, when a few of his former colleagues are ___________ about the pirated versions of his plays now cluttering London stages and bookstalls.

Meander

To follow a winding or intricate course. 2: to wander aimlessly or casually without urgent destination: ramble. Example: The trail --------s through towering evergreens, over a creek and beside a waterfall

Yuppify

To make appealing to yuppies; also : to infuse with the qualities or values of yuppies Example: My sister rents an expensive apartment in a neighborhood that was recently yuppified

Scarify

To make scratches or small cuts. 2. to lacerate the feeling of. 3. to break up, to loosen up, or roughen the surface of something. to cut or soften the wall of a hasten germination. Example: Canna seeds need to be -------ed by filing through the hard shells before they germinate

Irrump

To rush in forcibly or violently. To undergo a sudden upsurge in numbers especially when natural ecological balances and checks are disturbed. Example: Purple finches and pine siskins both are expected to _________southward due to poor cone crops in the Northeast and Canada

Retrodict

To utilize present information or ideas to infer or explain (a past event or state of affairs), Example: Geologists have ________ the positions of the continents millions of years ago.

Bird-dog

To watch closely, 2. to seek out; follow, detect. Example: With millions of city dollars invested, citizens are ------ging the riverfront development project to its completion.

Salvo

a : a simultaneous discharge of two or more guns in military action or as a salute b : the release all at one time of a rack of bombs or rockets (as from an airplane) c : a series of shots by an artillery battery with each gun firing one round in turn after a prescribed interval d : the bombs or projectiles released in a salvo 2 a : a sudden burst b : a spirited attack Examples The newspaper article was intended as a ---------- against the mayor's policies. "Soda industry fires ---- at Harvard researchers over sugary drink study warnings" — headline, The Boston Globe, 19 June 2018

banshee

a female spirit in Gaelic folklore whose appearance or wailing warns a family that one of them will soon die Examples "The family is reputed to have its own --------that howls when one of them is going to die. Corran remembered that on receiving reports that the banshee had been heard, telegrams were sent to everyone in the family to find out if they were all right." — The Daily Telegraph (London), 16 July 2018 "Moments after the ----- wail of the air raid siren began, the teacher of my Grade 6 class shouted, 'Under the desks, children! Quickly!'" — Ken Cuthertson, The Globe and Mail (Canada), 14 April 2018

Veld

a grassland especially of southern Africa usually with scattered shrubs or trees Examples "In the South African cakes you'll find marula—a fruit that grows in the -----, typically used to make a popular liqueur—and naartjie, a type of sweet mandarin orange." — Kristen Hartke, The Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2017 "I duck as swarming bees zoom overhead, trailing their queen. They are gone again in a second, coiling off in a shadowy murmuration across the -------." — Aidan Hartley, The Spectator, 13 Jan. 2018

slew

a large number Examples Daniel regularly receives a -------- of clothing catalogs as part of his junk mail. "We had two weeks off and wanted to take a fun mother-daughter trip to Europe but didn't want to grapple with the --------- of flights we'd have to take to visit multiple cities or the constant unpacking and packing involved on such a trip." — Shivani Vora, The New York Times, 11 Mar. 2018

Manticore

a legendary animal with the head of a man, the body of a lion, and the tail of a dragon or scorpion Examples The recently unearthed stela depicts a ----- and several other frightening and fantastic creatures.

wonderlust

a strong desire to travel : strong longing for or impulse toward wandering Examples "The trip inspired a new commitment to working with artisans from around the world. It also reanimated her genetic sense of ----------. She recently went back to Peru, to meet with a weaver she's been working with since that first trip." — Olivia Stren, Elle, 19 Nov. 2017 "David and Victoria Beckham know how to live life to the fullest. Days after ringing in their 19th wedding anniversary, the Beckhams have embarked on a family vacation to Croatia—and it is --------inducing." — Marissa G. Muller, W Magazine, 17 July 2018

effigy

an image or representation especially of a person; especially : a crude figure representing a hated person Examples "At one meeting, he remembers, the leader of a competing company was hung in ------------ as employees cheered." — Evan Bush, The Seattle Times, 25 Feb. 2018 "On the gathering's penultimate day, the giant ----------—or Man, as it is known—is set ablaze during a raucous, joyful celebration." — John Rogers and Janie Har, The Chicago Sun-Times, 28 Apr. 2018

Embargo

an order of a government prohibiting the departure of commercial ships from its ports 2 : a legal prohibition on commerce 3 : stoppage, impediment; especially : prohibition 4 : an order by a common carrier or public regulatory agency prohibiting or restricting freight transportation. Example: The _________ has forced freight companies to find new routes. Indian food suppliers, for example, used to make a stop in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Now they fly their products on cargo planes direct to Qatar

Mnemonic

assisting or intended to assist memory; also : of or relating to a technique of improving the memory 2 : of or relating to memory. Example: James taught his students the ________________ sentence "King Philip Came Over For Good Spaghetti" to help them remember the levels of biological classification

Hornswoggle

bamboozle, hoax. get the better of (someone) by cheating or deception. , Example: avoid getting _________ by advertising claims. 2 An unsuccessful indie actress ... tries to _________ a celebrity into appearing in the film

betwixt

between Examples "O villainous! I have looked upon the world for four times / seven years, and since I could distinguish ---------- a benefit and / an injury, I never found man that knew how to love himself." — William Shakespeare, Othello, 1622 "Barry is a bit -------- and between as a viewing experience: too violent for people who don't like violence, not energetic or dramatic enough for people who do." — Willa Paskin, Slate Magazine, 23 Mar. 2018

nascent

coming or having recently come into existence Examples "At this point, the scholarly reexamination of the Bible met up with another movement, the -------- Protestant Reformation." — James L. Kugel, How to Read the Bible, 2007 "Bezos starts by upending the world of books with his start-up Amazon, using the --------- Internet to challenge brick-and-mortar book chains like Barnes and Noble." — Chris Impey, The Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2018

flummox

confuse Examples "A computer glitch at the IRS knocked offline the agency's ability to process many tax returns filed electronically, a stunning breakdown that left agency officials --------- and millions of Americans bewildered." — Jeff Stein, Damian Paletta, and Mike DeBonis, The Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2018 "The reason for math's bad rap is that the very same teachers and parents who have psychic scars from their own inability to correctly memorize their multiplication tables in the fourth grade are today completely -------- by elementary school kids' homework." — Esther J. Cepeda, The Record (Bergen County, New Jersey), 26 Apr. 2018

Gainsay

contradict, oppose. y, Example: but it does not provide enough evidence to _______ the conclusions of earlier scholars. 2. There is no gainsaying the fact that we have an obesity problem in the United States

Bespoke

custom-made, , Example, Matt, a lifelong collector of vintage and ______ men's suiting, takes dressing for an occasion very seriously

nocuous

harmful Examples The factory owners have said that they will upgrade the plant to comply with new regulations on ------- emissions. "Late summer means giving way to fall's colors. But one color that doesn't make everyone's favorite list is a layer of bright green floating on top of your favorite creek, river, pond or lake. These rafts of green material can be innocuous in some cases, and quite -------- in others." — John Ferro, The Poughkeepsie Journal, 24 Sept. 2015

festinate

haten Examples The patient's tendency to ---- meant that he was at risk of falling. "He rocketed almost uncontrollably to the piano, but once there, played a Chopin nocturne with exquisite control and timing and grace—only to ---------- once again as soon as the music ended." — Oliver Sacks, Musicophila, 2007

nonchalant

having an air of easy unconcern or indifference Examples "After the doors closed, the man ... grabbed onto the train from the outside. And off he went, surfing through the subway tunnel while some commuters ... rode unsuspecting inside, according to a video captured by another subway rider.... The video ... shows the man holding on in a calm, --------- manner, even letting down one of his arms." — Samantha Schmidt, The Washington Post, 12 July 2018 "By the time of [Jennifer] Lawrence's arrival, the teenage girl sitting next to me—a Hunger Games obsessive—was completely starstruck, gawping and garbling. Obviously, I was the -------- journalist, unfazed by fame and all that nonsense." — The London Evening Standard, 20 Jan. 2014

ambivalent

having or showing simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings toward something : characterized by ambivalence Examples Bianca was --------- about starting her first year away at college—excited for the new opportunities that awaited but sad to leave her friends and family back home. "A new study from LinkedIn found that many people feel ------- in their careers—wondering if they should stay in the same job or take time to invest in learning new skills or even change to a new path altogether." — Shelcy V. Joseph, Forbes, 3 Sept. 2018

lucubration

laborious or intensive study; also : the product of such study — usually used in plural Examples The book is a collection of ---------- on the effect advancements in computer science have on economic policy. "Surely when we talk about our mental lives we're simply thinking of everything that makes human beings special, different—our thoughts, our language-based ---------." — Tim Parks, The New York Review of Books, 21 Nov. 2016

indigence

level of poverty in which real hardship and deprivation are suffered and comforts of life are wholly lacking Examples "But how do the poor minority fare? Perhaps it will be found that just in proportion as some have been placed in outward circumstances above the savage, others have been degraded below him. The luxury of one class is counterbalanced by the --------------- of another." — Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854 "---- isn't rare in Rochester and in Monroe County's towns, given the area's systemic poverty. And for the public defenders' clients, Donaher says, 'any amount of cash bail is an enormous obstacle, because they don't have cash.'" — Tianna Mañón, The Rochester (New York) City Newspaper, 11 Apr. 2018

inchmeel

little by little, gradually Examples "The big beam in the back room ... came out with less trouble than Lydia had expected.... Cataracts of fine mortar dust fell continuously along most of its length as Lydia levered it ---------- onto the cradle of scaffolding she had built." — Peter Dickinson, The Lively Dead, 1975 "Judy fights against her own body to accomplish the smallest tasks, fighting battles ------ in a war she'll never win." — Serena Donadoni, The Village Voice, 22 June 2018

Vanward

located in the vanguard : advanced Example: opportunities now exist for ---- companies in a variety of industries, especially other financial services businesses and retailing

succinct

marked by compact precise expression without wasted words Examples "[Ninni] Holmqvist's writing is spare in style, elegantly -------, but the layers of the world she's created are manifold." — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 25 July 2017 "[Steve] Bartels' keynote, at a ----------30 minutes, managed to cover broad ground, including the surge of interest in hip-hop thanks to streaming, which has brought new interest in the genre's catalog." — Leila Cobo, Billboard.com, 7 June 2017

Weltschmerz

mental depression or apathy caused by comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state 2- a mood of sentimental sadness Examples Carson found himself plunging into a state of --------- as he grew older and discovered that the world was much more complicated than he had envisioned as a youth. "The mad narrator or central figure is in a world that may be experienced as confusing, grotesque or volatile; above all, it is private, closed in on itself, unavailable to outsiders.... The notion of insanity as a kind of extreme loneliness is good for a wallow in adolescent-romantic ----------, if not much else." — Scott McLemee, Inside Higher Ed, 29 June 2018

Lugubrious

mournful; especially : exaggeratedly or affectedly mournful 2 : dismal Example: Most of the interviewees talk in the ------ tones of the defeated. We all know the story ends badly

luddite

one of a group of early 19th-century English workmen destroying laborsaving machinery as a protest; broadly : one who is opposed to especially technological change Examples Responding to an interview question in Parade, July 2008, actress/screenwriter Emma Thompson jested, "I'm a ---------- , and I write longhand with an old fountain pen." "It's not that firefighters are -----------. But in life-and-death situations, they can't afford to rely on solutions that haven't been thoroughly field-tested." — Carolyn Said, The San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Aug. 2018

mufti

ordinary dress as distinguished from that denoting an occupation or station; especially : civilian clothes when worn by a person in the armed forces Examples "Norderval sings in a soaring, evocative line. Even in ----------, her performance, not as honed as it will be after another three weeks of rehearsals, is riveting." — Cynthia Robins, The San Francisco Chronicle, 17 June 2001 "'I'm Chief Inspector Barnaby. Can I help you?' 'Well...' She eyed him doubtfully. 'May I ask why you're in -----?' 'In what? Oh'—he followed her stern gaze. 'I'm a detective. Plain clothes.'" — Caroline Graham, The Killings at Badger's Drift, 1987

Palmary

outstanding, best Examples A daughter of missionaries, Pearl S. Buck wrote many works about Chinese life and culture, with her --------- novel, The Good Earth, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1932. "The -00000 case of telling someone what to do is to issue, for instance, the simple imperative 'Go away'—an utterance which may or may not have the effect of making its addressee go away, but at any rate tells him to." — G. J. Warnock, Contemporary Moral Philosophy, 1967

orgulous

proud Examples The hotel manager tended to adopt an ---------- air with those guests who were not regular visitors and who might be unaware of the building's rich and storied history. "He astutely recognized that intimate relations with the --------- Kennedys could only heighten his influence. Indeed, apart from Robert Kennedy and Douglas Dillon, McNamara was the only member of Kennedy's Cabinet to enter the president's social life." — Jacob Heilbrunn, The New Republic, 22 Mar. 1993

Leonin

relating to, suggestive of, or resembling of lion, , Example, Jamie has a _____ aspect, with a high clear brow and soft curls eddying over his ears and along his collar

Officinall

tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain : medicina, , Example: The plant turned out to have __________ properties and could be used to make an anti-itch ointment.

remuneration

the act or fact of paying an equivalent to for a service, loss, or expense : recompense, pay Examples The actor was offered a modest speaking fee by the host as ---- for giving her speech at the awards ceremony. "Travelers who are bumped from an overbooked flight can seek ------- —as can people who were delayed more than three hours by a 'technical difficulty.'" — Melanie Lieberman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2018

muliebrity

the quality of being a woman : femininity Examples Helene tried to convey to her daughter that ---------- was best expressed not by dressing a certain way or conforming to others' expectations, but by being her own true, confident self. "Wonder Woman has flaws.... It succeeds in spite of them, and that is to be admired, but we cannot start viewing this as the epitome of the female superhero motion picture. We will accomplish more, and faster, if we view this film as the starting point for ------------ in the comic-book blockbuster." — Thomas Burns Scully, PopDust, 5 June 2017

Synchronicity

the quality or fact of being synchronous, Example Nolan always gets wonderful work from his casts and crews, but I'm not sure if I've ever seen this level of flawless _________ from start to finish in his films before Dunkirk.

Mansuetude

the quality or state of being gentle : meekness, tameness, Example: While Barbara was swimming to meet the dawn, Miltoun was bathing in those waters of _______ and truth which roll from wall to wall in the British House of Commons

boustrophedon

the writing of alternate lines in opposite directions (as from left to right and from right to left) Examples The archaeologist noticed that the text on the tablet was written in ----------. "A few days later the same Captain Pasha gave them a gift of an ancient ---------- inscription which had been at the door of a Greek chapel; many generations of peasants had rubbed against it, believing it relieved their rheumatism." — Sally Emerson, Independent on Sunday (London), 13 May 2001

asseverate

to affirm or declare positively or earnestly Examples "One can ------------ that a thesaurus is a treasury of words," Felix said ruefully, "but I presume that my own utilization of such costs me some intelligibility." "A survey conducted by Pacific Community Resources (2003) ---------- drug use among teens is higher than ever today." — Sheila Cordry & Janell D. Wilson, Education, Fall 2004

flocculate

to aggregate or coalesce into small lumps or loose clusters Examples During fermentation, yeast cells ------------ and either rise to the top or sink to the bottom of the vat. "The polymer causes organics and dirt in the water to --------------- or collect together out of suspension." — Jill Pickett, The News-Enterprise (Elizabethtown, Kentucky), 2 May 2013

Meld

to blend or mix together : merge. Example: Right away you perceive a chorus of instruments—trumpet, piano, saxophone and vibes—that have acquired the ability to ------ their individual voices into a complementary, unified sound that delights the ears

Famish

to cause to suffer severely from hunger, 2 : to suffer for lack of something necessary, , Example, Eating healthy regularly is more important than ______ to shed a few pounds

transmogrify

to change or alter greatly and often with grotesque or humorous effect Examples "It hadn't been cleaned in more than two years and the captured leaves had ---- into a wonderfully fecund compost." — Frank Mulligan, The Leader (Corning, New York), 8 Aug. 2014 "He was present in 1917 when communists shot their way to power and Imperial Russia -------- into the Soviet Union." — Colin Nickerson, The Boston Globe, 30 Apr. 2017

eventuate

to come out finally : result, come about Examples The accident eventuated from a cascade of mistakes that could easily have been prevented with better operator training. "Charles Dickens is at his best when he compares events in London and Paris during a period of revolution. While the historian may help us to understand the social context that eventuates in a revolution, it is a novel that shows the personal tragedies that come from the breakdown of social order." — Allan Powell, The Herald-Mail (Hagerstown, Maryland), 7 Apr. 2016

Reify

to consider or represent (something abstract) as a material or concrete thing : to give definite content and form to (a concept or idea) Examples "Increased awareness of automated surveillance, in other words, is most effective at demystifying the systems doing the watching, not ----- their wisdom and authority." — John Herrman, The New York Times, 14 Jan. 2018 "The home is a haven to be sure. There neatness scrubs away history like grease while retaining the polished signs of the past and -------- the timeless." — William H. Gass, The New York Times Book Review, 3 Aug. 1986

Hachure

to denote surfaces in relief (as on a map) by shading with short lines drawn in the direction of slope Example: Topographic surveys were done for the first time with compasses.... And mapmakers developed new methods for depicting terrain. One method, called ----ing, used lines to indicate the direction and steepness of a slope.

Recuse

to disqualify (oneself) as judge in a particular case; broadly : to remove (oneself) from participation to avoid a conflict of interest. Example: Because she was a frequent customer at the plaintiff's shop, the judge _______ herself from the case

bedizen

to dress or adorn gaudily Examples The children entertained themselves for hours with the contents of the old trunk, donning fancy dresses and ----ing themselves with jewelry and scarves. "Designed by architect Pierre Dené, the two-story 'rancho deluxe' ---------ed itself with every California-style feature that defined its era. It had a Roman brick fireplace, terrazzo floors and big dramatic windows." — Lisa Gray, The Houston Chronicle, 20 Apr. 2008

Career

to go at top speed especially in a headlong manner Examples The nervous passengers gripped their seats and exchanged anxious looks as the bus ----- down the icy road. "The year continued apace, as Hollywood ------ haphazardly between wildly unexpected successes and 'sure things' that bombed just as dramatically." — Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2017

emblazon

to inscribe or adorn with or as if with heraldic bearings or devices b : to inscribe (something, such as heraldic bearings) on a surface 2 : celebrate, extol Examples Outside the stadium in the hours before the game, thousands of fans wearing shirts and hats --------with the hometown team's logo gathered. "Berkshire County knows David York as the man just daring enough to open a museum dedicated to dogs and ------------ the sides of a stretch limousine with a depiction of a dachshund." — Adam Shanks, The Berkshire Eagle (Massachusetts), 19 June 2018

Extenuate

to lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of by making partial excuses : mitigate, 2 : to lessen the strength or effect of, , Example, Ryan's tardiness to work that morning was _____ by the fact that his first meeting of the day was cancelled.

agress

to make an attack : to act aggressively Examples Certain indicators, such as irritability, can signify an animal's likelihood to ----------. "Under-socialized dogs are risks to their owners and to others because they can become frightened by everyday things, making them more likely to -------- or bite." — Dottie Nelson, The Addison County (Vermont) Independent, 17 July 2017

Adapt

to make or become fit (as for a new use) often by modification

Defer

to put off, delay. to postpone induction of (a person) into military service Examples "She made suggestions including ---- the decision again, as well as opening the opportunity for more applicants to be considered...." — Kelly Fisher, The Tennessean, 17 Jan. 2018

Placate

to soothe or mollify especially by concessions : appease. , Example, Laughing can _______ even the most skittish of horses. City officials said they hope to placate riders by next summer

bloviate

to speak or write verbosely and windily Examples "It's a slow night. Just a couple of other regulars and our usual bartender, a bright, young fellow who seems to enjoy his customers' company, despite our tendency to -------." — Bruce VanWyngarden, The Memphis Flyer, 15 Feb. 2018 "Wall Street analysts and the media covering them have often -----ed about the lamentable end of retail, the death of department stores, the changing fickle habits of Millennials, the power of online retail, and the tragedy of an America left behind." — Monica Showalter, The American Thinker, 6 July 2017

tantalize

to tease or torment by or as if by presenting something desirable to the view but continually keeping it out of reach Examples "The scientist ----- them with a radical theory about the foundation of the universe, which proposes that time and space fluctuate in a bubbly, unstable state known as 'quantum foam.'" — Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 25 Sept. 2017 "Bearcubs incorporate electric harps and all manner of strange synthetic noise to ---------- your ear drums." — Kat Bein, Billboard.com, 15 June 2017

mollycoddle

to treat with an excessive or absurd degree of indulgence or attention Examples The newborn cub at the wildlife park is enjoying being --------- by its mother. "You work longer hours than most of your friends, you never know where your next paycheck is coming from and there's no HR team to --------- you when times get tough... it's safe to say that the life of a self-employed worker is one plagued by instabilities." — Olivia Petter, The Independent (London), 16 Mar. 2018

Telegenic

well-suited to the medium of television; especially : having an appearance and manner that are markedly attractive to television viewers.. Example: The future looks promising for this charismatic and ------ young politician.

Mutatis mutandis

with the necessary changes having been made. , Example: taken out from another book, only ________ ________ example 2: The same is true, mutatis mutandis, of 'Autumn'