GRE Vocabulary
arresting
attracting or capable of attracting attention or interest; striking making or having made an arrest
arid
being without moisture; extremely dry; parched: arid land barren or unproductive because of lack of moisture lacking interest or imaginativeness; sterile; jejune
aptitudes
capability; ability; innate or acquired capacity for something; talent readiness or quickness in learning; intelligence the state or quality of being apt; special fitness
antiquated
continued from, resembling, or adhering to the past; old-fashioned no longer used; obsolete or obsolescent
adulatory
excessive devotion to someone; servile flattery
adroit
expert or nimble in the use of the hands or body cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious
artless
free from deceit, cunning, or craftiness; ingenuous not artificial; natural; simple; uncontrived lacking art, knowledge, or skill
amity
friendship; peaceful harmony mutual understanding and peaceful relationship, especially between nations; peace; accord
affluent
having an abundance of wealth, property, or other material goods; prosperous; rich abounding in anything; abundant
apathetic
having or showing little or no emotion not interested or concerned; indifferent or unresponsive
amiable
having or showing pleasant, good-natured personal qualities; affable friendly; sociable
annotated
supplied with or containing explanatory notes, textual comments, etc.
abolition
the act of abolishing the state of being abolished; annulment; abrogation
amended
to alter, modify, rephrase, or add to or subtract from (a motion, bill, constitution, etc.) by formal procedure to change for the better; improve
antedated
to be of older date than; precede in time to assign to an earlier date to cause to return to an earlier time
appease
to bring to a state of peace, quiet, ease, calm, or contentment; pacify; soothe to satisfy, allay, or relieve; assuage
agglomerated
to collect or gather into a cluster or mass gathered together into a cluster or mass
accrue
to happen or result as a natural growth, addition, etc. to be added as a matter of periodic gain or advantage, as interest on money
ape (v.)
to imitate; mimic
amortized
to liquidate or extinguish (a mortgage, debt, or other obligation), especially by periodic payments to the creditor or to a sinking fund
ameliorate
to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve
amalgamate
to mix or merge so as to make a combination; blend; unite; combine
aggrieve
to oppress or wring grievously; injure by injustice to afflict with pain, anxiety, etc.
anticipate
to realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee to expect; look forward to; be sure of
abated
to reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.; lessen; diminish
abasement
to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation; humble; degrade archaic: to lower; put or bring down
abhor
to regard with extreme repugnance or aversion; detest utterly; loathe; abominate
abjured
to renounce, repudiate, or retract, especially with formal solemnity; recant to renounce or give up under oath; forswear
appropriate (v.)
to set apart, authorize, or legislate for some specific purpose or use to take to or for oneself; take possession of
affirm
to state or assert positively; maintain as true to confirm or ratify to assert solemnly
shaman
(especially among certain tribal peoples) a person who acts as intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds, using magic to cure illness, foretell the future, control spiritual forces, etc.
ode
a lyric poem typically of elaborate or irregular metrical form and expressive of exalted or enthusiastic emotion (originally) a poem intended to be sung
pander
a person who furnishes clients for a prostitute or supplies person for illicit sexual intercourse; procurer; pimp a person who caters to or profits from the weaknesses or vices of others
proponent
a person who puts forward a proposition or proposal a person who argues in favor of something; an advocate a person who supports a cause or doctrine; adherent a person who propounds a legal instrument, such as a will for probate
zealots
a person who shows zeal an excessively zealous person; fanatic
helmsmanship
a person who steers a ship
interlocutors
a person who takes part in a conversation or dialogue the man in the middle of the line of performers in a minstrel troupe, who acts as the announcer and banters with the end man a person who questions; interrogator
dilettante
a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler a lover of an art or science, especially of a fine art
realist
a person who tends to view or represent things as they really are an artist or a writer whose work is characterized by realism
impasse
a position or situation from which there is no escape; deadlock a road or way that has no outlet; cul-de-sac
cabal
a small group of secret plotters, as against a government or person in authority the plots and schemes of such a group; intrigue
ascent
an act of ascending; upward movement; a rising movement movement upward from a lower to a higher state, degree, grade, or status; advancement
presentation
an act of presenting the state of being presented a social introduction, as of a person at court an exhibition or performance, as of a play or film offering, delivering, or bestowing, as of a gift
intentions
an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result the end or object intended; purpose
dispensations
an act or instance of dispensing; distribution something that is distributed or given out a certain order, system, or arrangement; administration or management
evasions
an act or instance of escaping, avoiding, or shirking something the avoiding of an argument, accusation, question, or the like, as by a subterfuge
timorous
full of fear; fearful subject to fear; timid characterized by or indicating fear
sanguinary
full of or characterized by bloodshed; bloody ready or eager to shed blood; bloodthirsty composed of or marked with blood
vigorous
full of or characterized by vigor strong; active; robust energetic; forceful powerful in action or effect growing well, as a plant
rancorous
full of or showing rancor bitter, rankling resentment or ill will; hatred; malice
tortuous
full of twists, turns, or bends; twisting, winding, or crooked not direct or straightforward, as in procedure or speech; intricate; circuitous deceitful indirect or morally crooked, as proceedings, methods, or policy; devious
blissful
full of, abounding in, enjoying, or conferring bliss
malicious
full of, characterized by, or showing malice; intentionally harmful; spiteful
presumptuous
full of, characterized by, or showing presumption or readiness to presume in conduct or thought, as by saying or doing something without right or permission unwarrantedly or impertinently bold; forward
explicit
fully and clearly expressed or demonstrated; leaving nothing merely implied; unequivocal clearly developed or formulated definite and unreserved in expression; outspoken
explicitly
fully and clearly expressed or demonstrated; leaving nothing merely implied; unequivocal clearly developed or formulated definite and unreserved in expression; outspoken
guise
general external appearance; aspect; semblance assumed appearance or mere semblance style of dress
gilt
gilded gold in color; golden
reciprocal
given or felt by each toward the other; mutual given, performed, felt, etc., in return corresponding; matching; complementary; equivalent
asylum
an institution for the maintenance and care of the mentally ill, orphans, or other persons requiring specialized assistance an inviolable refuge, as formerly for criminals and debtors; sanctuary
meddlesome
given to meddling; interfering; intrusive to involve oneself in a matter without right or invitation; interfere officiously and unwantedly
whimsical
given to whimsy or fanciful notions; capricious of the nature of or proceeding from whimsy, as thoughts or actions erratic; unpredictable
radiative
giving off radiation the process in which energy is emitted as particles or waves the complete process in which energy is emitted by one body, transmitted through an intervening medium or space, and absorbed by another body
somber
gloomily dark; shadowy; dimly lighted dark and dull, as color, or as things in respect to color gloomy, depressing, or dismal extremely serious; grave
morose
gloomily or sullenly ill-humored, as a person or mood characterized by or expressing gloom
verdant
green with vegetation; covered with growing plants or grass of the color green inexperienced; unsophisticated
macabre
gruesome and horrifying; ghastly; horrible of, pertaining to, dealing with, or representing death, especially its grimmer or uglier aspect
sloth
habitual disinclination to exertion; indolence; laziness
veracity
habitual observance of truth in speech or statement; truthfulness conformity to truth or fact; accuracy correctness or accuracy, as of the senses or of a scientific instrument something veracious; a truth
hirsute
hairy; shaggy of, relating to, or characteristic of hair
fortuitous
happening or produced by chance; accidental lucky; fortunate
toil
hard and continuous work; exhausting labor or effort a laborious task
sanctioned
authoritative permission or approval, as for an action something that serves to support an action, condition, etc. something that gives binding force, as to an oath, rule of conduct, etc.
uncouth
awkward, clumsy, or unmannerly strange and ungraceful in appearance or form unusual or strange
maladjusted
badly or unsatisfactorily adjusted, especially in relationship to one's social circumstances, environment, etc.
pert
boldly forward in speech or behavior; impertinent; saucy jaunty and stylish; chic; natty lively; sprightly; in good health
insolent
boldly rude or disrespectful; contemptuously impertinent; insulting an insolent person
blatant
brazenly obvious; flagrant offensively noisy or loud; clamorous tastelessly conspicuous
pithy
brief, forceful, and meaningful in expression; full of vigor, substance, or meaning; terse; forcible
stouter
bulky in figure; heavily built; corpulent; thickset; fat bold, brace, or dauntless firm; stubborn; resolute
onerous
burdensome, oppressive, or troublesome; causing hardship having or involving obligations or responsibilities, especially legal ones, that outweigh the advantages
cumbersome
burdensome; troublesome unwieldy; clumsy
deplorable
causing or being a subject for grief or regret; lamentable causing or being a subject for censure, reproach, or disapproval; wretched; very bad
dire
causing or involving great fear or suffering; dreadful; terrible indicating trouble, disaster, misfortune, or the like urgent; desperate
abhorrent
causing repugnance; detestable; loathsome
chary
cautious or careful; wary shy; timid fastidious; choosy
renowned
celebrated; famous
obloquies
censure, blame, or abusive language aimed at a person or thing, especially by numerous persons or by the general public discredit, disgrace, or bad repute resulting from public blame, abuse, or denunciation
mercurial
changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic animated; lively; spirited; quick-witted pertaining to, containing, or caused by the metal mercury
paternal
characteristic of or befitting a father; fatherly of or relating to a father related on the father's side derived or inherited from a father
voluble
characterized by a ready and continuous flow of words; fluent; glib; talkative
avaricious
characterized by avarice; greedy; covetous
sardonic
characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering
ingenious
characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction cleverly inventive or resourceful
equitable
characterized by equity or fairness; just and right; fair; reasonable
opulent
characterized by exhibiting opulence wealthy, rich, or affluent richly supplied; abundant or plentiful
erudite
characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly
vulgar
characterized by ignorance of or lack of good breeding or taste indecent; obscene; lewd crude; coarse; unrefined
profane
characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious not devoted to holy or religious purposes; unconsecrated; secular unholy; heathen; pagan
insightful
characterized by or displaying insight; perceptive an instance of apprehending the true nature of a thing, especially through intuitive understanding penetrating mental vision or discernment; faculty of seeing into inner character or underlying truth
ostentatious
characterized by or given to pretentious or conspicuous show in an attempt to impress others (of actions, manner, qualities, exhibited, etc.) intended to attract notice
fanciful
characterized by or showing fancy; capricious or whimsical in appearance suggested by fancy; imaginary; unreal led by fancy rather than by reason and experience; whimsical
amicable
characterized by or showing goodwill; friendly; peaceable
amicably
characterized by or showing goodwill; friendly; peaceable
byzantine
complex or intricate characterize by elaborate scheming an intrigue, especially for the gaining of political power or favor
homogeneous
composed of parts or elements that are all of the same kind; not heterogeneous of the same kind or nature; essentially alike
fantastical
conceived or appearing as if conceived by an unrestrained imagination; odd and remarkable; bizarre; grotesque fanciful or capricious, as persons or their ideas or actions imaginary or groundless in not being based on reality; foolish or irrational
vociferous
crying out noisily; clamorous characterized by or uttered with vociferation noisy outcry; clamor
cultivation
culture; refinement
derivative
derived not original; secondary something that has been derived
longtime
existing, occurring, or continuing for a long period of time; longstanding
lavishness
expended, bestowed, or occurring in profusion using or giving in great amounts; prodigal to expend or give in great amounts or without limit
gregarious
fond of the company of others; sociable living in flocks or herds, as animals pertaining to a flock or crowd
convivial
friendly; agreeable fond of feasting, drinking, and merry company; jovial of or befitting a feast; festive
anomalies
a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form an anomalous person or thing; one that is abnormal or does not fit in an odd, peculiar, or strange condition, situation, quality, etc.
anomaly
a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form an anomalous person or thing; one that is abnormal or does not fit in an odd, peculiar, or strange condition, situation, quality, etc.
scandal
a disgraceful or discreditable action, circumstance, etc. an offense caused by fault or misdeed damage to reputation; public disgrace defamatory talk; malicious gossip
partition
a division into or distribution in portions or shares a separation, as of two or more things something that separates or divides
drafted
a drawing, sketch, or design a first or preliminary form of any writing, subject to revision, copying, etc. act of drawing; delineating
calumnies
a false an malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something
joviality
the state or quality of being jovial; merriment; jollity endowed with or characterized by a hearty, joyous humor or a spirit of good-fellowship
laxity
the state or quality of being lax; looseness not strict or severe; careless or negligent loose or slack; not tense, rigid, or firm
mindfulness
the state or quality of being mindful or aware of something
nonchalance
the state or quality of being nonchalant; cool indifference or lack of concern; casualness
taciturnity
the state or quality of being reserved or reticent in conversation
parlay
to bet or gamble (an original amount and its winnings) on a subsequent race, contenst, etc. to use (one's money, talent, or other assets) to achieve a desired objective, as spectacular wealth or success
flummox
to bewilder; confound; confuse
politicized
to bring a political character or flavor to; make politic to engage in or discuss politics
decamped
to depart from a camp; to pack up equipment and leave a camping ground to depart quickly, secretly, or unceremoniously
emblazoned
to depict, as on an escutcheon in heraldry to decorate with brilliant colors to proclaim; celebrate or extol
unnerve
to deprive of courage, strength, determination, or confidence; upset
enervate
to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken
dissuaded
to deter by the advice or persuasion; persuade not to do something
demarcate
to determine or mark off the boundaries or limits of to separate distinctly
eminence
high station, rank, or repute a high place or part; a hill or elevation; height
tony
high-toned; stylish
incumbent
holding an indicated position, role, office, etc., currently obligatory
tenaciously
holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold highly retentive pertinacious, persistent, stubborn, or obstinate adhesive or sticky; viscous or glutinous holding together; cohesive; not easily pulled asunder; tough
kudos
honor; glory; acclaim
implicit
implied, rather than expressly stated unquestioning or unreserved; absolute potentially contained
moribund
in a dying state; near death on the verge of extinction or termination not progressing or advancing; stagnant
seriously
in a serious manner to an alarmingly grave extent with genuine, earnest intent; sincerely
taciturn
inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation dour, stern, and silent in expression and manner
stridency
making or having a harsh sound; grating; creaking having a shrill, irritating quality or character
ignominious
marked by or attended with ignominy; discreditable; humiliating disgrace; dishonor; public contempt shameful or dishonorable quality or conduct or an instance of this
syncopated
marked by syncopation cut short; abbreviated
archaically
marked by the characteristics of an earlier period; antiquated
duplicitous
marked or characterized by duplicity deceitfulness in speech or conduct, as by speaking or acting in two different ways to different people concerning the same matter; double-dealing an act or instance of such deceitfulness
national
of, relating to, or maintained by a nation as an organized whole or independent political unit owned, preserved, or maintained by the federal government
semblance
outward aspect or appearance an assumed or unreal appearance; show the slightest appearance or trace a likeness, image, or copy
ostensibly
outwardly appearing as such; professed; pretended apparent, evident, or conspicuous
plethora
overabundance; excess
minutiae
precise details; small or trifling matters
unpropitious
presenting favorable conditions; favorable indicative of favor; auspicious favorably inclined; disposed to bestow favors or forgive
wry
produced by a distortion or lopsidedness of the facial features abnormally bent or turned to one side; twisted; crooked devious in course or purpose; misdirected contrary; perverse
prolific
producing offspring, young, fruit, etc., abundantly; highly fruitful producing in large quantities or with great frequency; highly productive profusely productive or fruitful
fecund
producing or capable of producing offspring, fruit, vegetation, etc., in abundance; prolific; fruitful very productive or creative intellectually
virulence
quality of being virulent venomous hostility
quantum
quantity or amount a particular amount a share or portion a large quantity; bulk
protean
readily assuming different forms or characters; extremely variable changeable in shape or form, as an amoeba (of an actor or actress) versatile; able to play many kinds of roles
manifest
readily perceived by the eye or the understanding; evident; obvious; apparent; plain to make clear or evident to the eye or the understanding; show plainly to prove; put beyond doubt or question to record in a ship's manifest
enigmatic
resembling an enigma or a puzzling occurrence, situation, statement, person, etc.; perplexing; mysterious
intrepid
resolutely fearless; dauntless
piety
reverence for God or devout fulfillment of religious obligations the quality or state of being pious dutiful respect or regard for parents, homeland, etc. a pious act, remark, belief, or the like
mutiny
revolt or rebellion against constituted authority, especially by sailors against their officers rebellion against any authority
exacting
rigid or severe in demands or requirements requiring close application or attention given to or characterized by exaction; extortionate
draconian
rigorous; unusually severe or cruel
boisterous
rough and noisy; noisily jolly or rowdy; clamorous; unrestrained rough and stormy
curt
rudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner brief; concise; terse; laconic short; shortened
scanty
scant in amount, quantity, etc.; barely sufficient meager; not adequate lacking amplitude in extent or compass
eclectic
selecting or choosing from various sources made up of what is selected from different sources not following any one system, as of philosophy, medicine, etc., but selecting and using what are considered the best elements of all systems
menacing
something that threatens to cause evil, harm, injury, etc.; a threat a person whose actions, attitude, or ideas are considered dangerous or harmful an extremely annoying person
acerbic
sour or astringent in taste harsh or severe, as of temper or expression
grandiloquent
speaking or expressed in a lofty style, often to the point of being pompous or bombastic
bogged down
stick; become stuck
peculiarly
strange; queer; odd uncommon; unusual distinctive in nature or character from others
formalism
strict adherence to, or observance of, prescribed or traditional forms, as in music, poetry, and art
fidelity
strict observance of promises, duties, etc. loyalty conjugal faithfulness adherence to fact or detail accuracy; exactness
flamboyant
strikingly bold or brilliant; showy conspicuously dashing and colorful florid; ornate; elaborately styled
robust
strong and healthy; hardy; vigorous strongly or stoutly built suited to or requiring bodily strength or endurance rough, rude, or boisterous rich and full-bodied
aghast
struck with overwhelming shock or amazement; filled with sudden fright or horror
smitten
struck, as with a hard blow grievously or disastrously stricken or afflicted very much in love
discretionary
subject or left to one's own discretion for any use or purpose one chooses; not earmarked for a particular purpose
capricious
subject to, led by, or indicative of a sudden, odd notion or unpredictable change; erratic
posterity
succeeding or future generations collectively all descendants of one person
anemic
suffering from anemia lacking power, vigor, vitality, or colorfulness; listless; weak
spartan
suggestive of the ancient Spartans; sternly disciplined and rigorously simple, frugal, or austere brave; undaunted
imputation
the act of imputing an attribution, as of fault or crime; accusation to attribute or ascribe to attribute or ascribe (something discreditable), as to a person
instigation
the act of instigating; incitement an incentive to cause by incitement; foment to urge, provoke, or incite to some action or course
omissions
the act of omitting the state of being omitted something left out, not done, or neglected
iteration
the act of repeating; a repetition a different form or version of something
salutation
the act of saluting something uttered, written, or done by way of saluting
breach
the act or a result of breaking; break or rupture an infraction or violation, as of law, trust, faith, or promise a gap made in wall, fortification, line of soldiers, etc; rift; fissure
motivation
the act or an instance of motivating, or providing with a reason to act in a certain way the state or condition of being motivated or having a strong reason to act or accomplish something something that motivates; inducement; incentive
deviation
the act or deviating departure from a standard or norm
culmination
the act or fact of culminating that in which anything culminates; the culminating position or stage; highest point; acme
assimilation
the act or process of assimilating, or of absorbing information, experiences, etc. the state or condition of being assimilated, or of being absorbed into something the process of adapting or adjusting to the culture of a group or nation, or the state of being so adapted
comprehension
the act or process of comprehending the state of being comprehended perception or understanding capacity of the mind to perceive and understand; power to grasp ideas; ability to know
investiture
the act or process of investing the formal bestowal, confirmation, or presentation of rank, office, or possessory or prescriptive right, usually involving the giving of insignia or an official title the state of being invested, as with a garment, quality, or office
litigation
the act or process of litigating a lawsuit to make the subject of a lawsuit; contest at law
reminiscences
the act or process of recalling past experienced, events, etc. a mental impression retained and revived something that recalls or suggests something else
dissolution
the act or process of resolving or dissolving into parts or elements the resulting state the undoing or breaking of a bond, tie, union, partnership, etc. the breaking up of an assembly or organization; dismissal; dispersal
gunning
the act, practice, or art of shooting with guns; gunnery the hunting of game with guns
nose
the part of the face or facial region in humans and certain animals that contains the nostrils and the organs of smell and functions as the usual passageway for air in respiration: in humans it is a prominence in the center of the face formed of bone and cartilage, serving also to modify or modulate the voice the part as the organ of smell the sense of smell
aesthetics (n.)
the philosophical theory or set of principles governing the idea of beauty at a given time and place
opportunism
the policy or practice, as in politics, business, or one's personal affairs, of adapting actions, decisions, etc., to expediency or effectiveness regardless of the sacrifice of ethical principles action or judgment in accordance with this policy
resilience
the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy
buoyancy
the power to float or to rise in a fluid; relative lightness the power of supporting a body so that it floats; upward pressure exerted by the fluid in which a body is immersed lightness or resilience of spirit; cheerfulness
dissent
to differ in sentiment or opinion, especially from the majority; withhold assent; disagree to disagree with the methods, goals, etc., of a political party or government; take an opposing view
condoned
to disregard or overlook (something illegal, objectionable, or the like) to give tacit approval to to pardon or forgive (an offense); excuse
apportioned
to distribute or allocate proportionally; divide and assign according to some rule of proportional distribution
perturbing
to disturb or disquiet greatly in mind; agitate to throw into great disorder; derange
balkanized
to divide (a country, territory, etc.) into small, quarrelsome, ineffectual states to divide (groups, areas, etc.) into contending and usually ineffectual factions
bifurcated
to divide or fork into two branches divided into two branches
tat
to do, or make by, tatting the act or process of making a kind of knotted lace of cotton or linen thread with a shuttle
circumscribing
to draw a line around; encircle to enclose within bounds; limit or confine, especially narrowly to mark off; define; delimit
redresses
to dress again an outer garment for women and girls, consisting of bodice and skirt in one piece clothing; apparel; garb
repulsed
to drive back; repel to repel with denial, discourtesy, or the like; refuse or reject to cause feelings of repulsion in
erode
to eat into or away; destroy by slow consumption or disintegration to form (a gully, butte, or the like) by erosion
enshrine
to enclose in or as in a shrine to cherish as sacred
enshrinement
to enclose in or as in a shrine to cherish as sacred
expatiation
to enlarge in discourse or writing; be copious in description or discussion
inveigle
to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements to acquire, win, or obtain by beguiling talk or methods
pitch (v.)
to erect or set up (a tent, camp, or the like) to put, set, or plant in a fixed or definite place or position to throw, fling, hurl, or toss
scrutinized
to examine in detail with careful or critical attention to conduct a scrutiny
titillation
to excite or arouse agreeably to tickle; excite a tingling or itching sensation in, as by touching or stroking lightly
ostracize
to exclude, by general consent, from society, friendship, conversation, privileges, etc. to banish (a person) from his or her native country; expatriate
undermined
to injure to destroy by insidious activity or imperceptible stages, sometimes tending toward a sudden dramatic effect to attack by indirect, secret, or underhand means; attempt to subvert by stealth
moralizing
to reflect on or express opinions about something in terms of right and wrong, especially in a self-righteous or tiresome way
esteemed
to regard highly or favorably; regard with respect or admiration to consider as of certain value or of a certain type; regard
venerate
to regard or treat with reverence; revere
manumit
to release from slavery or servitude
palliate
to relieve or lessen without curing; mitigate; alleviate to try to mitigate or conceal the gravity of (an offense) by excuses, apologies, etc.; extenuate
tarry
to remain or stay, as in a place; sojourn to delay or be tardy in acting, starting, coming, etc., linger or loiter to wait
deposed
to remove from office or position, especially high office to testify or affirm under oath, especially in a written statement
obliterated
to remove or destroy all traces of; do away with; destroy completely to blot out or render undecipherable (writing, marks, etc.); efface
extirpated
to remove or destroy totally; do away with; exterminate to pull up by or as if by the roots; root up
eradication
to remove or destroy utterly; extirpate to erase by rubbing or by means of chemical solvent to pull up by the roots
eliminate
to remove or get rid of, especially as being in some way undesirable to omit, especially as being unimportant or irrelevant; leave out to remove from further consideration or competition, especially by defeating in a contest
stem (v.)
to remove the stem from to arise or originate
nonplussed
to render utterly perplexed; puzzle completely a state of utter perplexity
supersede
to replace in power, authority, effectiveness, acceptance, use, etc., as by another person or thing to set aside or cause to be set aside as void, useless, or obsolete, usually in favor of something mentioned; make obsolete
retort
to reply to, usually in a sharp or retaliatory way; reply to kind to to return (an accusation, epithet, etc.) upon the person uttering it to answer (an argument or the like) by another to the contrary
pathologize
to represent (something) as a disease
revivification
to restore to life; give new life to; revive; reanimate
impede
to retard in movement or progress by means of obstacles or hindrances; obstruct; hinder
recapitulated
to review by a brief summary, as at the end of a speech or discussion; summarize to sum up statements or matters "recap"
plunder
to rob of goods or valuables by open force, as in war, hostile raids, brigandage, etc. to rob, despoil, or fleece to take wrongfully, as pillage, robbery, or fraud
wax (v.)
to rub, smear, stiffen, polish, etc., with wax to fill the crevices of (ornamental marble) with colored material
immolate
to sacrifice to kill as a sacrificial victim, as by fire; offer in sacrifice to destory by fire
interspersed
to scatter here and there or place at intervals among other things to diversify with something placed or scattered at intervals
disseminate
to scatter or spread widely, as though sowing seed; promulgate extensively; broadcast; disperse
soliciting
to seek for (something) by entreaty, earnest or respectful request, formal application, etc. to entreat or petition (someone or some agency) to seek to influence or incite to action, especially unlawful or wrong action
dispatch
to send off or away with speed, as a messenger, telegram, body of troops, etc. to dismiss (a person), as after an audience
upend
to set on end, as a barrel or ship to affect drastically or radically, as tastes, opinions, reputations, or systems to defeat in competition, as in boxing or business
brandishes
to shake or wave, as a weapon; flourish
whet
to sharpen (a knife, tool, etc.) by grinding or friction to make keen or eager; stimulate the act of whetting
jibes
to shift from one side to the other when running before the wind, as fore-and-aft sail or its boom to alter course so that a fore-and-aft sail shifts in this manner
abridge
to shorten by omissions while retaining the basic contents to reduce or lessen in duration, scope, authority, etc.; diminish, curtail to deprive; cut off
evinced
to show clearly; make evident or manifest; prove to reveal the possession of (a quality, trait, etc.)
belie
to show to be false; contradict to misrepresent to act unworthily according to the standards of (a tradition, one's ancestry, one's faith, etc.) to lie about; slander
mollifies
to soften in feeling or temper, as a person; pacify; appease to mitigate or reduce; soften
besmirch
to soil; tarnish; discolor to detract from the honor or luster of
tout
to solicit business, employment, votes, or the like, importunately to solicit support for importunately to describe or advertise boastfully; publicize or promote; praise extravagantly
touted
to solicit business, employment, votes, or the like, importunately to solicit support for importunately to describe or advertise boastfully; publicize or promote; praise extravagantly
denigrate
to speak damagingly of; criticize in a derogatory manner; sully; defame to treat or represent as lacking in value or importance; belittle; disparage
malign
to speak harmful untruths about; speak evil of; slander; defame evil in effect; pernicious; baleful; injurious having or showing an evil disposition; malevolent; malicious
disparage
to speak of or treat slightingly; depreciate; belittle to bring reproach or discredit upon; lower the estimation of
botched
to spoil by poor work; bungle to do or say in a bungling manner to mend or patch in a clumsy manner
metastasize
to spread injuriously to transform, especially into a dangerous form
asserts
to state with assurance, confidence, or force; state strongly or positively; affirm; aver to maintain or defend (claims, rights, etc.) to state as having existence; affirm; postulate
galvanize
to stimulate by or as if by a galvanic current to startle into sudden activity; stimulate
incite
to stir, encourage, or urge on; stimulate or prompt to action
stanch
to stop the flow of (a liquid, especially blood) to stop the flow of blood or other liquid from (a wound, leak, etc.)
insinuated
to suggest or hint slyly to instill or infuse subtly or artfully, as into the mind to bring or introduce into a position or relation by indirect or artful methods
seething
to surge or foam as if boiling to be in a state of agitation or excitement
supplants
to take the place of (another), as through force, scheming, strategy, or the like to replace (one thing) by something else
razed
to tear down; demolish; level to the group to shave or scrape off
delineate
to trace the outline of; sketch or trace in outline; represent pictorially to portray in words; describe or outline with precision
lionize
to treat (a person) as a celebrity
flouted
to treat with disdain, scorn, or contempt; scoff at; mock to show disdain, scorn, or contempt; scoff, mock, or gibe a disdainful, scornful, or contemptuous remark or act; insult; gibe
emulate
to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass to rival with some degree of success
estrangement
to turn away in feeling or affection; make unfriendly or hostile; alienate the affections of to remove to or keep at a distance to divert from the original use or possessor
demonized
to turn into a demon or make demonlike to subject to the influence of demons
distort
to twist awry or out of shape; make crooked or deformed to give a false, perverted, or disproportionate meaning to; misrepresent
equivocate
to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge
transgressor
to violate a law, command, moral code, etc., offend; sin to pass over or go beyond (a limit, boundary, etc.) to go beyond the limits imposed by (a law, command, etc.); violate; infringe
plodding
to walk heavily or move laboriously; trudge to proceed in a tediously slow manner to work with constant and monotonous perseverance; drudge
hobble
to walk lamely; limp to proceed irregularly and haltingly
effacement
to wipe out; do away with; expunge to rub out, erase, or obliterate (outlines, traces, inscriptions, etc.) to make (oneself) inconspicuous; withdraw (oneself) modestly or shyly
recanted
to withdraw or disavow (a statement, opinion, etc.), especially formally; retract to withdraw or disavow a statement, opinion, etc., especially formally
tacit
understood without being openly expressed; implied silent; saying nothing unvoiced or unspoken
effusive
unduly demonstrative; lacking reserve pouring out; overflowing
hapless
unlucky; luckless; unfortunate
dicey
unpredictable; risky; uncertain
precocious
unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc. of or relating to premature development
loath (v.)
unwilling; reluctant; disinclined; averse
inexorably
unyielding; unalterable not to be persuaded, moved, or affected by prayers or entreaties
importunate
urgent or persistent in solicitation, sometimes annoyingly so pertinacious, as solicitations or demands troublesome; annoying
incendiary
used or adapted for setting property on fire of or relating to arouse strife, sedition, etc.; inflammatory tending to inflame the senses
laconic
using few words; expressing much in few words; concise
articulate
uttered clearly in distinct syllables capable of speech; not speechless using language easily and fluently; having facility with words
profligate
utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute recklessly prodigal or extravagant a profligate person
evanescent
vanishing; fading away; fleeting tending to become imperceptible; scarcely perceptible
variegated
varied in appearance or color; marked with patches or spots of different colors varied; diversified; diverse
synergetic
working together; cooperative
exemplary
worthy of imitation; commendable serving as a warning serving as an illustration or specimen; illustrative; typical
wracked
wreck or wreckage damage or destruction a trace of something destroyed
accolades
any award, honor, or laudatory notice
maladies
any disorder or disease of the body, especially one that is chronic or deep-seated any undesirable or disordered condition
hadron
any elementary particle that is subject to the strong interaction
buttress
any external prop or support built to steady a structure by opposing its outward thrusts, especially a projecting support built into or against the outside of a masonry wall any prop or support
buttressed
any external prop or support built to steady a structure by opposing its outward thrusts, especially a projecting support built into or against the outside of a masonry wall any prop or support
earmark
any identifying or distinguishing mark or characteristic a mark of identification made on the ear of an animal or ownership
gambits
any maneuver by which one seeks to gain an advantage to remark made to open or redirect a conversation
phased in
any of the major appearances or aspects in which a thing of varying modes or conditions manifests itself to the eye or mind a stage in a process of change or development a side, aspect, or point of view
gadfly
any of various flies, as a stable fly or warble fly, that bite or annoy domestic animals a person who persistently annoys or provokes others with criticism, schemes, ideas, demands, request, etc.
tenets
any opinion, principle, doctrine, dogma, etc., especially one held as true by members of a profession, group, or movement
legume
any plant of the legume family, especially those used for feed, food, or as a soil-improving crop the pod or seed vessel of such a plant any table vegetable of the legume family
paean
any song of praise, joy, or triumph
hierarchy
any system of persons or things ranked one above another government by ecclesiastical rulers the power or dominion of hierarch
nettled
any various allied or similar plants to irritate, annoy, or provoke to sting as a nettle does
conglomerates
anything composed of heterogeneous materials or elements a corporation consisting of a number of subsidiary companies or divisions in a variety of unrelated industries, usually as a result of merger or acquisition
contraband
anything prohibited by law from being imported or exported goods imported or exported illegally illegal or prohibited trade; smuggling
curbed
anything that restrains or controls; a restraint; check an enclosing framework or border
seemingly
apparent; appearing, whether truly or falsely, to be as specified appearance, especially outward or deceptive appearance
specious
apparently good or right though lacking real merit; superficially pleasing or plausible pleasing to the eye but deceptive
enraptured
to move to rapture; delight beyond measure
procure
to obtain or get by care, effort, or the use of special means to bring about, especially by unscrupulous and indirect means to obtain (a person) for the purpose of prostitution
preordained
to ordain beforehand; foreordain to invest with ministerial or sacerdotal functions; confer holy orders upon
daunting
to overcome with fear; intimidate to lessen the courage of; dishearten
flabbergast
to overcome with surprise and bewilderment; astound
subverted
to overthrow (something established or existing) to cause the downfall, ruin, or destruction of to undermine the principles of; corrupt
confound
to perplex or amaze, especially by a sudden disturbance or suprise; bewilder; confuse to throw into confusion or disorder to treat or regard erroneously as identical; mix or associate by mistake
cajole
to persuade by flattery or promises; wheedle; coax
inter
to place (a dead body) in a grave or tomb; bury
flag (v.)
to place a flag or flags over or on; decorate with flags to signal or warn (a person, automobile, etc.) with or as if with a flag to communicate (information) by or as if by a flag
marginalize
to place in a position of marginal importance, influence, or power
canonization
to place in the canon of saints to glorify to make canonical; place to include within a canon, especially of scriptural works to consider or treat as a sacrosanct or holy
posit
to place, put, or set to lay down or assume as a fact or principle; postulate something that is posited; an assumption; postulate
posited
to place, put, or set to lay down or assume as a fact or principle; postulate something that is posited; an assumption; postulate
eulogized
to praise highly to speak or write a eulogy about
laud
to praise; extol a song or hymn of praise
cultivate
to prepare and work on (land) in order to raise crops; till to promote or improve the growth of (a plant, crop, etc.) by labor and attention to produce by culture the develop or improve by education or training; train; refine
override
to prevail or have dominance over; have final authority or say over; overrule to disregard, set aside, or nullify; countermand to take precedence over; preempt or supersede
foster
to promote the growth or development of; further; encourage to bring up, raise, or rear, as a foster child to care for or cherish
scotch (v.)
to put a definite end to; crush; stamp out; foil to cut, gash, or score to injure so as to make harmless to block or prop with a wedge or chock
propound
to put forward or offer for consideration, acceptance, or adoption; set forth; propose
jeopardize
to put in jeopardy; hazard; risk; imperil hazard or risk of or exposure to loss, harm, death, or injury peril or danger
imperil
to put in peril or danger; endanger
redacted
to put into suitable literary form; revise; edit to draw up or frame (a statement, proclamation, etc.) to hire or remove (confidential parts of a text) before publication or distribution, or to examine (a text) for this purpose
defer
to put off (action, consideration, etc.) to a future time to exempt temporarily from induction into military service to put off action; delay
cite
to quote (a passage, book, author, etc.), especially as an authority to mention in support, proof, or confirmation; refer to as an example to summon officially or authoritatively to appear in court
citing
to quote (a passage, book, author, etc.), especially as an authority to mention in support, proof, or confirmation; refer to as an example to summon officially or authoritatively to appear in court
resurrected
to raise from the dead; bring to life again to bring back into use, practice, etc. to rise from the dead
culminate
to reach the highest point, summit, or highest development to end or arrive at a final stage to rise to or form an apex; terminate
gainsay
to deny, dispute, or contradict to speak or act against; oppose
hamstring
(in humans and other primates) any of the tendons that bound the ham of the knee
rhetoric
(in writing or speech) the undue use of exaggeration or display; bombast the art or science of all specialized literary uses of language in prose or verse, including the figures of speech the study of the effective use of language the ability to use language effectively
heads (v.)
(of a coin) with the top, or obverse, facing up
effeminate
(of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy characterized by excessive softness, delicacy, self-indulgence, etc.
philandering
(of a man) to make love with a woman one cannot or will not marry; carry on flirtations
elitist
(of a person or class of persons) considered superior by others or by themselves, as in intellect, talent, power, wealth, or position in society catering to or associated with an elitist class, its ideologies, or its institutions
obscure
(of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain not clear to the understanding; hard to perceive (of language, style, a speaker, etc.) not expressing the meaning clearly or plainly indistinct to the sight or any other sense; not readily seen, heard, etc.; faint
tremulous
(of persons, the body, etc.) characterized by trembling, as from fear, nervousness, or weakness timid; timorous; fearful (of things) vibratory, shaking, or quivering (of writing) done with a trembling hand
bombastic
(of speech, writing, etc.) high-sounding; high flown; inflated; pretentious
polemical
a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc. a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist
clamor
a loud uproar, as from a crowd of people a vehement expression of desire or dissatisfaction
appellations
a name, title, or designation the act of naming
austerity
austere quality; severity of manner, life, etc.; sternness
pernicious
causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful deadly; fatal
outright
complete or total downright or unqualified without further payments due, restrictions, or qualifications
concomitant
existing or occurring with something else, often in a lesser way; accompanying; concurrent
ingenuous
free from reserve, restraint, or dissimulation; candid; sincere artless; innocent; naive
preternatural
out of the ordinary course of nature; exceptional or abnormal outside of nature; supernatural
railed
a bar of wood or metal fixed horizontally for any of various purposes, as for a support, barrier, fence, or railing a fence; railing on of two fences marking the inside and outside boundaries of a racetrack
diatribes
a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism
charade
a blatant pretense or deception, especially something so full of pretense as to be a travesty
hector
a blustering, domineering person; a bully
debased
to reduce in quality or value; adulterate to lower in rank, dignity, or significance
language
a body of words and the system for their use common to a people who are of the same community or nation, the same geographical area, or of the same cultural tradition communication by voice in the distinctively human manner, using arbitrary sounds in conventional ways with conventional meanings; speech
panned (v.)
a broad, shallow container of metal, usually having sides flaring outward toward the top, used in various forms for frying, baking, washing, etc. any similar receptacle or part, as the scales of a balance the amount a pan holds or can hold; panful
covey
a brood or small flock of partridges or similar birds a group, set, or company
house
a building in which people live; residence for human beings a household a family, including ancestors and descendants
luminary
a celestial body, as the sun or moon a body, object, etc., that gives light a person who has attained eminence in his or her field or is an inspiration to others
fettered
a chain or shackle placed on the feet anything that confines or restrains
happenstance
a chance happening or event
vicissitude
a change or variation occurring in the course of something interchange or alternation, as of states or things
chronicling
a chronological record of events; a history to record in or as in a chronicle
polemic
a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc. a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist
quips
a clever or witty remark or comment a sharp, sarcastic remark; a cutting jest a quibble an odd or fantastic action or thing
whitewash
a composition, as of lime and water or of whiting, size, and water, used for whitening walls, woodwork, etc. anything, as deceptive words or actions, used to cover up or gloss over faults, errors, or wrongdoings, or absolve a wrongdoer from blame
counterfactual
a conditional statement the first clause of which expresses something contrary to fact
mishmash
a confused mess; hodgepodge; jumble
fallacy
a deceptive, misleading, or false notion, belief, etc. a misleading or unsound argument deceptive, misleading, or false nature; erroneousness
rout
a defeat attended with disorderly flight; dispersal of a defeated force in complete disorder any overwhelming defeat a tumultuous or disorderly crowd of persons the rabble or mob
progeny
a descendant or offspring, as a child, plant, or animal such descendants or offspring collectively something that originates or results from something else; outcome; issue
chagrin
a feeling of vexation, marked by disappointment or humiliation
novel
a fictitious prose narrative of considerable length and complexity, portraying characters and usually presenting a sequential organization of action and scenes
similes
a figure or speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared, as in "she is like a rose" an instance of such a figure of speech or a use of word exemplifying it
forfeit
a fine; penalty an act of forfeiting; forfeiture something to which the right is lost, as for commission of a crime or misdeed, neglect of duty, or violation of a contract an article deposited in a game because of a mistake and redeemable by a fine or penalty
dame
a form of address to any woman of rank or authority a matronly woman of advanced age; matron
monological
a form of dramatic entertainment, comedic solo, or the like by a single speaker a prolonged talk or discourse by a single speaker, especially one dominating or monopolizing a conversation any composition, as a poem, in which a single person speaks alone
croquet
a game played by knocking wooden balls through metal wickets with mallets the act of driving away an opponent's ball by striking one's own when the two are in contact
debacle
a general breakup or dispersion; sudden downfall or rout a complete collapse or failure
spooked
a ghost; specter to haunt; inhabit or appear in or to as a ghost or specter to frighten; scare
tribute
a gift, testimonial, compliment, or the like, given as due or in acknowledgment of gratitude or esteem a stated sum or other valuable consideration paid by one sovereign or state to another in acknowledgment of subjugation or as the price of peace, security, protection, or the like
melancholy
a gloomy state of mind, especially when habitual or prolonged; depression sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness affected with, characterized by, or showing melancholy; mournful; depressed
fascism
a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcible suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism
factions
a group or clique within a larger group, party, government, organization, or the like party strife and intrigue; distension
hodgepodge
a heterogeneous mixture; jumble
coup
a highly successful, unexpected stroke, act, or move; a clever action or accomplishment
cavalier
a horseman, especially a mounted solider; knight one having the spirit or bearing of a knight; a courtly gentleman; gallant a man escorting a woman or acting as her partner in dancing
parodied
a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing the genre of literary composition represented by such imitations a burlesque imitation of a musical composition
hinging
a jointed device or flexible piece on which a door, gate, shutter, lid, or other attached part turns, swings, or moves a natural anatomical joint at which motion occurs around a transverse axis, as that of the knee or a bivalve shell that on which something is based or depends; pivotal consideration or factor
despots
a king or other ruler with absolute, unlimited power; autocrat any tyrant or oppressor
galleys
a kitchen or an area with kitchen facilities in a ship, plane, or camper
pundits
a learned person, expert, or authority a person who makes comments or judgments, especially in an authoritative manner; critic or commentator
farce
a light, humorous play in which the plot depends upon a skillfully exploited situation rather than upon the development of character humor of the type displayed in such works foolish show; mockery; a ridiculous sham
bolster
a long, often cylindrical, cushion or pillow for a bed, sofa, etc. anything resembling this in form or in use as a support
distinction
a marking off or distinguishing as different the recognizing or noting of differences; discrimination a discrimination made between things as different; special regard or favoritism
gauntlet
a medieval glove, as of mail or plate, worn by a knight in armor to protect the land a glove with an extended cuff for the wrist the cuff itself
counterpoint
a melody composed to be combined with another melody any element that is juxtaposed and contrasted with another
peasant
a member of a class of persons, as in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, who are small farmers or farm laborers of low social mark a coarse, unsophisticated, boorish, uneducated person of little financial means
commando
a member of a military assault unit or team trained to operate quickly and aggressively in especially urgent, threatening situations, as against terrorists holding hostages
foibles
a minor weakness or failing of character; slight flaw or defect the weaker part of a sword blade, between the middle and the point
misnomers
a misapplied or inappropriate name or designation an error in naming a person or thing
medley
a mixture, especially of heterogeneous elements; hodgepodge; jumble a piece of music combining tunes or passages from various sources
melange
a mixture; medley
paragon
a model or pattern of excellence or of a particular excellence someone of exceptional merit
exemplars
a model or pattern to be copied or imitated a typical example or instance an original or archetype
modicum
a moderate or small amount
morbidities
a morbid state or quality the proportion of sickness or of a specific disease in a geographical locality
coda
a more or less independent passage, at the end of a composition, introduced to bring it to a satisfactory close a concluding section or part, especially one of a conventional form and serving as a summation of preceding themes, motifs, etc., as in a work of literature or drama anything that serves as a concluding part
leitmotifs
a motif or theme associated throughout a music drama with a particular person, situation, or idea
compatriots
a native or inhabitant of one's own country; fellow countryman or countrywoman of the same country
affinity
a natural liking for or attraction to a person, thing, idea, etc. a person, thing, idea, etc., for which such a natural liking or attraction is felt
sobriquets
a nickname
solecisms
a nonstandard or ungrammatical usage a breach of good manners or etiquette any error, impropriety, or inconsistency
epoch
a particular period of time marked by distinctive features; events, etc. the beginning of a distinctive period in the history of anything a point of time distinguished by a particular event or state of affairs; a memorable date
temper (v.)
a particular state of mind or feelings habit of mind, especially with respect to irritability or patience, outbursts of anger, or the like; disposition heat of mind or passion, shown in outbursts of anger, resentment, etc.
millennia
a period of 1000 years a period of general righteousness and happiness, especially in the indefinite future
polymath
a person of great learning in several fields of study; polyhistor
patrician
a person of noble or high rank; aristocrat a person of very good background, education, and refinement
peer
a person of the same legal status a person who is equal to another in abilities, qualifications, age, background, and social status something of equal worth or quality
peers
a person of the same legal status a person who is equal to another in abilities, qualifications, age, background, and social status something of equal worth or quality
anathema
a person or thing detested or loathed a person or thing accursed or consigned to damnation or destruction
boosterish
a person or thing that boosts, especially an energetic and enthusiastic supporter
bane
a person or thing that ruins or spoils a deadly person (often used in combination, as in the names of poisonous plants) death; destruction; ruin
artisans
a person skilled in an applied art; a craftsperson a person or company that makes a high-quality or distinctive product in small quantities, usually by hand or usual traditional methods
fiduciary
a person to whom property or power is entrusted for the benefit of another of, based on, or in the nature of trust and confidence, as in public affairs depending on public confidence for value or currency, as fiat money
fascist
a person who believes in or sympathizes with fascism a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcible suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism
pacifist
a person who believes in pacifism or is opposed to war or to violence of any kind
ascetic
a person who dedicates his or her life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification or religious reasons a person who leads an austerely simple life, especially one who abstains from the normal pleasures of life or denies himself or herself material satisfaction
priggish
a person who displays or demands of others pointlessly precise conformity, fussiness about trivialities, or exaggerated propriety, especially in a self-righteous or irritating manner
harbingers
a person who goes ahead and makes known the approach of another; herald anything that foreshadows a future event; omen; sign a person sent in advance of troops, a royal train, etc. to provide or secure lodgings and other accommodations
pedestrian
a person who goes or travels on foot; walker going or performed on foot; walking of or relating to walking lacking in vitality, imagination, distinction, etc.; commonplace; prosaic or dull
autodidact
a person who has learned a subject without the benefit of a teacher or formal education; a self-taught person
patrons
a person who is a customer, client, or paying guest, especially a regular one, of a store, hotel, or the like a person who supports with money, gifts, efforts, or endorsement an artist, writer, museum, cause, charity, institution, special event, or the like
mongers
a person who is involved with something in a petty or contemptible way (usually use in combination) to sell; hawk
novice
a person who is new to the circumstances, work, etc., in which he or she is placed; beginner; tyro
narcissists
a person who is overly self-involved, and often vain and selfish
stoic
a person who maintains or affects the mental attitude advocated by Stoics impassive; characterized by calm, austere fortitude befitting the Stoics
steward
a person who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others a person who has charge of the household of another, buying or obtaining food, directing the servants, etc. an employee who has charge of the table, wine, servants, etc., in a club, restaurant, or the like
overseer
a person who oversees; supervisor; manager
forte
a person's strong suit, or most highly developed characteristic, talent, or skill; something that one excels in the stronger part of a sword blade, between the middle and the hilt
prodigies
a person, especially a child or young person, having extraordinary talent or ability a marvelous example something wonderful or marvelous; a wander
infirmity
a physical weakness or ailment quality or state of being infirm; lack of strength a moral weakness or failing
stratagem
a plan, scheme, or trick for surprising or deceiving an enemy any artifice, ruse, or trick devised or used to attain a goal or to gain an advantage over an adversary or competitor
personable
a pleasing personal appearance; handsome or comely; attractive having an agreeable or pleasing personality; affable; amiable; sociable
ephemera
a plural of ephemeron anything short-lived or ephemeral
supplicated
a pray humbly; make humble and earnest entreaty or petition to pray humbly to; entreat or petition humbly to seek or ask for by humble entreaty
guru
a preceptor giving personal religious instruction an intellectual or spiritual guide or leader any person who counsels or advises; mentor
prologue
a preliminary discourse; a preface or introductory part of discourse, poem, or novel an introductory speech, often in verse, calling attention to the theme of a play the actor or actress who delivers this
presage
a presentiment or foreboding something that portends or foreshadows a future event; an omen, prognostic, or warning indication prophetic significance; augury foresight; prescience
boondoggle
a product of simple manual skill, as a plaited leather cord for the neck or a knife sheath, made typically by a camper or scout a work of little or no value done merely to keep or look busy
sages (n.)
a profoundly wise person; a person famed for wisdom someone venerated for the possession of wisdom, judgment, and experience wise, judicious, or prudent
hemorrhaging
a profuse discharge of blood, as from a ruptured blood vessel; bleeding the loss of assets, especially in large amounts any widespread or uncontrolled loss or diffusion
tirade
a prolonged outburst of bitter, outspoken denunciation a long, vehement speech a passage dealing with a single theme or idea, as in poetry
theses
a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, especially one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections a subject for a composition or essay a dissertation on a particular subject in which one has done original research, as one presented by a candidate for a diploma or degree
pantheon
a public building containing tombs or memorials of the illustrious dead of a nation the place of the heroes or idols of any group, individual, movement, party, etc., or the heroes or idols themselves a temple dedicated to all the gods
riddled
a question or statement so framed as to exercise one's ingenuity in answering it or discovering its meaning; conundrum a puzzling question, problem, or matter a puzzling thing or person
contest
a race, conflict, or other competition between rivals, as for a prize struggle for victory or superiority strife in argument; dispute; controversy
aurora
a radiant emission from the upper atmosphere that occurs sporadically over the middle and high latitudes of both hemispheres in the form of luminous bands, streamers, or the like, caused by the bombardment of the atmosphere with charged solar particles that are being guided along the earth's magnetic lines of force
panacea
a remedy for all disease or ills; cure-all an answer or solution for all problems or difficulties
conundrums
a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words anything that puzzles
tethered
a rope, chain, or the hike, by which an animal is fastened to a fixed object so as to limit its range of movement the utmost length to which one can go in action; the utmost extent or limit of ability or resources
heralded
a royal or official messenger, especially one representing a monarch in an ambassadorial capacity during wartime a person or thing that precedes or comes before; forerunner; harbinger a person or thing that proclaims or announces
bedlam
a scene or state of wild uproar and confusion
egoist
a self-centered or selfish person an arrogantly conceited person; egoist an adherent of the metaphysical principle of the ego, or self; solipsist
truisms
a self-evident, obvious truth
sycophant
a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite
lackey
a servile follower; toady a footman or liveried manservant
manacled
a shackle for the hand; handcuff restraints; checks to handcuff; fetter to hamper; restrain
anecdote
a short account of a particular incident or event, especially of an interesting or amusing nature a short, obscure historical or biographical account
parables
a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lessons a statement or comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like
salvo
a simultaneous or successive discharge of artillery, bombs, etc. a round of fire given as a salute a round of cheers or applause
stymie
a situation or problem presenting such difficulties as to discourage or defeat any attempt to deal with or resolve it to hinder, block, or thwart
inkling
a slight suggestion or indication; hint; intimation a vague idea or notion; slight understanding
simulacrum
a slight, unreal, or superficial likeness or semblance an effigy, image, or representation
mote
a small particle or speck, especially of dust
rapier
a small sword, especially of the 18th century, having a narrow blade and used for thrusting a longer, heavier sword, especially of the 16th and 17th centuries, having a double-edged blade and used for slashing and thrusting
hamlet
a small village
brook
a small, natural stream of fresh water
gaffe
a social blunder;faux pas
dystopian
a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease, and overcrowding
poultices
a soft, moist mass of cloth, bread, meal, herb, etc., applied hot as a medicament to the body to apply a poultice to
sentries
a soldier stationed at a place to stand guard and prevent the passage of unauthorized persons, watch for fires, etc., especially a sentinel stationed at a pass, gate, opening in a defense work, or the like a member of a guard or watch
equilibrium
a state of rest or balance due to the equal action of opposing forces equal balance between any powers, influences, etc.; equality of effect mental or emotional balance; equanimity
paradox
a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth a self-contradictory and false proposition any person, thing, or situation exhibiting an apparently contradictory nature
cornerstone
a stone uniting two masonry walls at an intersection a stone representing the nominal starting place in the construction of a monumental building, usually carved with the date and laid with appropriate ceremonies
diameter
a straight line passing through the center of a circle or sphere and meeting the circumference or surface at each end a straight line passing from side to side of any figure or body, through its center
exploits
a striking or notable deed; feat; spirited or heroic act
aversion
a strong feeling of dislike, opposition, repugnance, or antipathy to cause or object of dislike; person or thing that causes antipathy
penchant
a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something
honeycombed
a structure of rows of hexagonal wax cells, formed by bees in their hive for the storage of honey, pollen, and their eggs a piece of this containing honey and chewed as a sweet anything whose appearance suggests such a structure, especially in containing many small units or holes
bridge
a structure spanning and providing passage over a river, chasm, road, or the like a connecting, transitional, or intermediate route or phase between two adjacent elements, activities, conditions, or the like
contention
a struggling together in opposition; strife a striving in rivalry; competition; contest strife in debate; dispute; controversy
cubist
a style of painting and sculpture developed in the early 20th century, characterized chiefly by an emphasis on formal structure, the reduction of natural forms to their geometrical equivalents, and the organization of the planes of a represented object independently of representational requirements
sophistry
a subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but generally fallacious method of reasoning a false argument; sophism
populist
a supporter or adherent of populism
predilection
a tendency to think favorably of something in particular; partiality; preference
aphorism
a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation
touchstone
a test or criterion for the qualities of a thing a black siliceous stone formerly used to test the purity of gold and silver by the color of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal
communism
a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or the state
palettes
a thin and usually oval or oblong board or tablet with a thumb hole at one end, used by painters for holding and mixing colors any other flat surface used by a painter for this purpose
statue
a three-dimensional work of art, as a representational or abstract form, carved in stone or wood, molded in a plastic material, cast in bronze, or the like
repertory
a type of theatrical presentation in which a company presents several works regularly or in alternate sequence in one season a theatrical company that presents productions in this manner
parameter
a variable entering into the mathematical form of any distribution such that the possible values of the variable correspond to different distributions
myriad
a very great or indefinitely great number of persons or things ten thousand of an indefinitely great number; innumerable having innumerable phases, aspects, variations, etc.
peccadilloes
a very minor or slight sin or offense; a trifling fault
iota
a very small quantity; jot; whit the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet the vowel sound represented by this letter
fulmination
a violent denunciation or censure violent explosion
specter
a visible incorporeal spirit, especially one of a terrifying nature; ghost; phantom; apparition some object or source of terror or dread
honed
a whetstone of fine, compact texture for sharpening razors and other cutting tools a precision tool with a mechanically rotated abrasive tip, for enlarging holes to precise dimensions
bon-mots
a witty remark or comment; clever saying; witticism
witticisms
a witty remark or sentence
doyenne
a woman who is the senior member, as in age or rank, of a group, class, profession, etc.
pillory
a wooden framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used to expose an offender to public derision to set in the pillory to expose to public derision, ridicule, or abuse
solvent
able to pay all just debts having the power of dissolving; causing solution a substance that dissolves another to form a solution
teeming (adj.)
abounding or swarming with something, as with people prolific or fertile
brusque
abrupt in manner; blunt; rough
musings
absorbed in thought; meditative contemplation; reflection
palatable
acceptable or agreeable to the palate or taste; savory acceptable or agreeable to the mind or feelings
rash
acting or tending to act too hastily or without due consideration characterized by or showing too great haste or lack of consideration
auxiliary
additional; supplementary; reserve used as a substitute or reserve in case of need giving support; serving as an aid; helpful
inimical
adverse in tendency or effect; unfavorable; harmful unfriendly; hostile
denial
an assertion that something said, believed, alleged, etc., is false refusal to believe a doctrine, theory, or the like disbelief in the existence or reality of a thing
jaundiced
affected with or colored by or as if by jaundice affected with or exhibiting prejudice, as from envy or resentment a state of feeling in which views are prejudiced or judgment is distorted, as by envy or resentment
congenial
agreeable, suitable, or pleasing in nature or character suited or adapted in spirit, feeling, temper, etc.; compatible
euphony
agreeableness of sound; pleasing effect to the ear, especially a pleasant sounding or harmonious combination or succession of words
congruent
agreeing; accordant; congruous
equivocal
allowing the possibility of several different meanings, as a word or phrase, especially with intent to deceive or misguide; susceptible of double interpretation; deliberately ambiguous
omnipotent
almighty or infinite in power, as God having very great or unlimited authority or power an omnipotent being
piddling
amounting to very little; trifling; negligible
lapses
an accidental or temporary decline or deviation from an expected or accepted condition or state; a temporary falling or slipping from a previous standard a slip or error, often of a trivial sort; failure an interval or passage of time; elapsed period a moral fall, as from rectitude or virtue
subversion
an act or instance of subverting the state of being subverted; destruction something that subverts or overthrows
dispersal
an act, sate, or instance of dispersing or of being dispersed
partisan
an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, especially a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance of, relating to, or characteristic of partisans; partial to a specific party, person, etc.
partisanship
an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, especially a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance of, relating to, or characteristic of partisans; partial to a specific party, person, etc.
revisionist
an advocate of revision, especially of some political or religious doctrine a reviser any advocate of doctrines, theories, or practices that depart from established authority or doctrine
socialist
an advocate or supporter of socialism a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole
mead
an alcoholic liquor made by fermenting honey and water any of various nonalcoholic beverages
rejoinder
an answer to a reply; response
serendipity
an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident good fortune; luck
incensed
an aromatic gum or other substance producing a sweet odor when burned, used in religious ceremonies, to enhance a mood, etc. the perfume or smoke rising from such a substance when burned
subterfuge
an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hid something, etc.
sentiments
an attitude toward something; regard; opinion a mental feeling; emotion refined or tender emotion; manifestation of the higher or more refined feelings
pidgins
an auxiliary language that has come into existence through the attempts by the speakers of two different languages to communicate and that is primarily a simplified form of one of the languages, with a reduced vocabulary and grammatical structure and considerable variation in pronunciation
plaudits
an enthusiastic expression of approval a demonstration or round of applause, as for some approved or admired performance
paradigms
an example serving as a model; pattern a framework containing the basic assumptions, ways of thinking, and methodology that are commonly accepted by members of a scientific community
conceit
an excessively favorable opinion of one's own ability, importance, wit, etc. something that is conceived in the mind; a thought; idea imagination; fancy
maxim
an expression of a general truth or principle, especially an aphoristic or sententious one a principle or rule of conduct
complaints
an expression of discontent, regret, pain, censure, resentment, or grief; lament; faultfinding a cause of discontent, pain, grief, lamentation, etc. a cause of bodily pain or ailment; malady
idioms
an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituents elements, as the kick the bucket or hang one's head, or from the general grammatical rules of a language, as the table round for the round table, and that is not a constituent of a larger expression of like characteristics a language, dialect, or style of speaking peculiar to a people a construction or expression of one language whose parts correspond to elements in another language but whose total structure or meaning is not matched in the same way in the second language
insights
an instance of apprehending the true nature of a thing, especially through intuitive understanding penetrating mental vision or discernment; faculty of seeing into inner character or underlying truth
utopia
an ideal place or state any visionary system of political or social perfection
hindrance
an impeding, stopping, preventing, or the like the state of being hindered a person or thing that hinders
dearth
an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack scarcity and dearness of food; famine
eons
an indefinitely long period of time; age the largest division of geologic time, comprising two or more eras
innuendos
an indirect intimation about a person or things, especially of disparaging or a derogatory nature
fledgling
an inexperienced person young, new, or inexperienced
solicitousness
anxious or concerned anxiously desirous eager careful or particular
excise
an internal tax or duty on certain commodities, as liquor or tobacco, levied on their manufacture, sale, or consumption within the country a tax levied for a license to carry on certain employments, pursue certain sports, etc.
interlude
an intervening episode, period, space, etc. a short dramatic piece, especially of a light or farcical character, formerly introduced between the parts or acts of miracle and morality plays or given as part of other entertainments any intermediate performance or entertainment, as between the acts of a play
parcel
an object, article, container, or quantity of something wrapped or packed up; small package; bundle a quantity or unit of something, as of a commodity for sale; lot a group, collection, or assemblage of persons or things a distinct, continuous portion or tract of land a part, portion, or fragment
sinecure
an office or position requiring little or no work, especially one yielding profitable returns an ecclesiastical benefice without cure of souls
audit
an official examination and verification of accounts and records, especially of financial accounts a report or statement reflecting an audit; a final statement of account the inspection or examination of a building or other facility to evaluate or improve its appropriateness, safety, efficiency, or the like
inquisitions
an official investigation, especially one of a political or religious nature, characterized by lack of regard for individual rights, prejudice on the part of the examiners, and recklessly cruel punishments any harsh, difficult, or prolonged questioning the act of inquiring; inquiry; research an investigation, or process of inquiry
hallmark
an official mark or stamp indicating a standard of purity, used in marking gold and silver articles assayed by the Goldsmiths' Company of London; plate mark any mark or special indication of genuineness, good quality, etc.
hysteria
an uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear, often characterized by irrationality, laughter, weeping, etc.
stanchion
an upright bar, beam, post, or support, as in a window, stall, ship, etc. to furnish with stanchions to secure by or to a stanchion or stanchions
irate
angry; enraged arising from or characterized by anger
scintillating
animated; vivacious; effervescent witty; brilliantly clever
solicitous
anxious or concerned anxiously desirous eager careful or particular
approbation
approval; commendation official approval or sanction
labile
apt or likely to change
skittish
apt to start or shy restlessly or excessively lively fickle; uncertain shy; coy
lubricious
arousing or expressive of sexual desire; lustful; lecherous
iconoclastic
attacking or ignoring cherished beliefs and long-held traditions, etc., as being based on error, superstition, or lack of creativity breaking or destroying images, especially those set up for religious veneration
fruition
attainment of anything desired; realization; accomplishment enjoyment, as of something attained or realized
incipient
beginning to exist or appear; in an initial stage
nascent
beginning to exist or develop
superficial
being at, on, or near the surface of or relating to the surface external or outward concerned with or comprehending only hwat is on the surface or obvious shallow; not profound or thorough
superfluous
being more than is sufficient or required; excessive unnecessary or needless
sole
being the only one; only being the only one of the kind; unique; unsurpassed; matchless belonging or pertaining to one individual or group to the exclusion of all others; exclusive
veritable
being truly or very much so
credence
belief as to the truth of something something giving a claim to belief or confidence
provincial
belonging or peculiar to some particular province; local of or relating to the provinces having or showing the manners, viewpoints, etc., considered characteristic of unsophisticated inhabitants of a province; rustic; narrow or illiberal; parochial
genteel
belonging or suited to polite society well-bred or refined; polite; elegant; stylish affectedly or pretentiously polite, delicate, etc.
pliant
bending readily; flexible; supple; adaptable easily influenced; yielding to others; compliant
lithe
bending readily; pliant; limber; supple; flexible
defeasible
capable of being annulled or terminated
credible
capable of being believed; believable worthy of belief or confidence; trustworthy
malleable
capable of being extended or shaped by hammering or by pressure from rollers adaptable or tractable
passable
capable of being passed through, beyond, or over; fit to be traversed, penetrated, crossed, etc., as a road, forest, or stream adequate; acceptable capable of being circulated legally or having a valid currency, as a coin
tangible
capable of being touched; discernible by the touch; material or substantial real or actual, rather than imaginary or visionary definite; not vague or elusive
caustic
capable of burning, corroding, or destroying living tissue severely critical or sarcastic
hardy
capable of enduring fatigue, hardship, exposure, etc.; sturdy; strong (of plants) able to withstand the cold of winter in the open air bold or daring; courageous
efficacious
capable of having the desired result or effect; effective as a means, measure, remedy, etc.
viable
capable of living vivid; real; stimulating, as to the intellect, imagination, or senses
sensibilities
capacity for sensation or feeling; responsiveness or susceptibility to sensory stimuli mental susceptibility or responsiveness; quickness and acuteness of apprehension or feeling keen consciousness or appreciation
canny
careful; cautious; prudent astute; shrewd; knowing; sagacious skilled; expert
deliberate
carefully weighted or considered; studied; intentional characterized by deliberation or cautious consideration; careful or slow in deciding leisurely and steady in movement or action; slow and even; unhurried
contrite
caused by or showing sincere remorse filled with a sense of guilt and the desire for atonement; pentinent
disquieting
causing anxiety or uneasiness; disturbing
loathsome
causing feelings of loathing; disgusting; revolting; repulsive
horrific
causing horror
parsimoniousness
characterized by or showing parsimony; frugal or stingy extreme or excessive economy or frugality; stinginess; niggardliness
obsequious
characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference; fawning servilely compliant or deferential obedient; dutiful
redundant
characterized by verbosity or unnecessary repetition in expressing ideas; prolix being in excess; exceeding what is usual or natural having some unusual or extra part or feature characterized by superabundance or superfluity
clandestine
characterized by, done in, or executed with secrecy or concealment, especially for purposes of subversion or deception; private or surreptitious
mimetic
characterized by, exhibiting, or of the nature of imitation or mimicry mimic or make-believe
sanguine
cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident reddish; ruddy
preposterous
completely contrary to nature, reason, or common sense, absurd; senseless; utterly foolish
germane
closely or significantly related; relevant; pertinent
serendipitous
come upon or found by accident; fortuitous of, relating to, or suggesting serendipity good; beneficial; favorable
solace
comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or trouble; alleviation of distress or discomfort something that gives comfort, consolation, or relief
spontaneous
coming or resulting from a natural impulse or tendency; without effort or premeditation; natural and unconstrained; unplanned given to acting upon sudden impulses arising from internal forces or causes; independent of external agencies; self-acting growing naturally or without cultivation, as plants and fruits; indigenous
venerability
commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character hallowed by religious, historic, or other lofty associations impressive or interesting because of age, antique appearance, etc.
venerable
commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character hallowed by religious, historic, or other lofty associations impressive or interesting because of age, antique appearance, etc.
mundane
common; ordinary; banal; unimaginative of or relating to this world or earth as contrasted with heaven; worldly; earthly of or relating to the world, universe, or earth
putative
commonly regarded as such; reputed; supposed
discourse
communication of thought by words; talk; conversation a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing, as a dissertation, treatise, sermon, etc.
propriety
conformity to established standards of goods or proper behavior or manners appropriateness to the purpose or circumstances; suitability rightness or justness
simpatico
congenial or like-minded; likable
allegorical
consisting of or pertaining to allegory; of the nature of of containing allegory; figurative
diligence
constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind
assiduous
constant; unremitting constant in application or effort; working diligently at a task; persevering; industrious; attentive
concrete
constituting an actual ting or instance; real pertaining to or concerned with realities or actual instances rather than abstractions; particular (opposed to general)
fallacious
containing a fallacy; logically unsound deceptive; misleading disappointing; delusive
laudatory
containing or expressing praise
honorific
conveying honor, as a title or a grammatical form used in speaking to or about a superior, elder, etc. a class of forms used to show respect, especially in direct address a title or term of respect
cogent
convincing or believable by virtue of forcible, clear, or incisive presentation; telling to the point; relevant; pertinent
sangfroid
coolness of mind; calmness; composure
quotidian
daily usual or customary; everyday ordinary; commonplace
risque
daring close to indelicacy or impropriety; off-color
duplicity
deceitfulness in speech or conduct, as by speaking or acting in two different ways to different people concerning the same matter; double-dealing an act or instance of such deceitfulness
slanderous
defamation; calumny a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report
desiccated
dehydrated or powdered
aberrant
departing from the right, normal, or usual course deviating from the ordinary, usual, or normal type; exceptional; abnormal
empirical
derived from or guided by experience or experiment depending upon experience or observation alone, without using scientific method or theory, especially as in medicine provable or verifiable by experience or experiment
culpable
deserving blame or censure; blameworthy
contemptible
deserving of or held in contempt; despicable
laudable
deserving praise; praiseworthy; commendable
ergonomic
designed to minimize discomfort
baneful
destructive; pernicious deadly; poisonous
anomalous
deviating from or inconsistent with the common order, form, or rule,; irregular; abnormal not fitting into a common or familiar type, classification, or pattern; unusual
banal
devoid of freshness or originality; hackneyed; trite
deft
dexterous; nimble; skillful; clever
deftly
dexterous; nimble; skillful; clever
deftness
dexterous; nimble; skillful; clever
heterogeneous
different in kind; unlike; incongruous composed of parts of different kinds; having widely dissimilar elements or constituents
sedulous
diligent in application or attention; persevering; assiduous persistently or carefully maintained
frank
direct and unreserved in speech; straightforward; sincere without inhibition or subterfuge; direct; undisguised
retrospective
directed to the past; contemplative of past situations, events, etc. looking or directed backward retroactive, as a statue
vindictiveness
disposed or inclined to revenge; vengeful proceeding from or showing a revengeful spirit
disconcertingly
disturbing to one's composure or self-possession; upsetting, discomfiting confusing, usually in the face of something totally unexpected; perplexing
divergent
diverging; differing; deviating pertaining to or causing divergence to move, lie, or extend in different directions from a common point; branch off
beneficent
doing good or causing good to be done; conferring benefits; kindly in action or purpose
imperious
domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing urgent; imperative
tantamount to
equivalent, as in value, force, effect, or signification
extemporaneous
done, spoken, performed, etc., without special advance preparation; impromptu previously planned by delivered with the help of few or no notes speaking or performing with little or no advance preparation
bloodthirsty
eager to shed blood; murderous enjoying or encouraging bloodshed or violence, especially as a spectator or clamorous partisan
entreaty
earnest request or petition; supplication
dust
earth or other matter in fine, dry particles a cloud of finely powdered earth or other matter in the air any finely powdered substance, as sawdust
tractable
easily managed or controlle; docile; yielding easily worked, shaped, or otherwise handled; malleable
irascible
easily provoked to anger; very irritable characterized or produced by anger
lucid
easily understood; completely intelligible or comprehensible characterized by clear perception or understanding; rational or sane shining or bright clear; pellucid; transparent
comestible
edible; eatable
volatile
evaporating rapidly; passing off readily in the form of vapor tending or threatening to break out into open violence; explosive changeable; mercurial; flighty
exorbitant
exceeding the bounds of custom, propriety, or reason, especially in amount or extent; highly excessive
debauchery
excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; intemperance
fastidious
excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please requiring or characterized by excessive care or delicacy; painstaking
prudish
excessively proper or modest in speech, conduct, dress, etc. characteristic of a prude
garrulous
excessively talkative in a rambling, roundabout manner, especially about trivial matters wordy or diffuse
exhaustive
exhausting a subject, topic, etc., comprehensive; thorough tending to exhaust or drain, as resources or strength
motley
exhibiting great diversity of elements being of different colors combined wearing a parti-colored garment
inherently
existing in someone or something as a permanent and inseparable element, quality, or attribute; inhering
ubiquitous
existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent
savvy
experienced, knowledgeable, and well-informed; shrewd (often used in combination) practical understanding; shrewdness or intelligence; common sense
peril
exposure to injuring, loss, or destruction; grave risk; jeopardy; danger something that causes or may cause injury, loss, or destruction
couched in
express in a particular way; utter
prolix
extended to great, unnecessary, or tedious length; long and wordy (of a person) given to speaking or writing at great or tedious length
lofty
extending high in the air; of imposing height; towering exalted in rank, dignity, or character; eminent elevated in style, tone, or sentiment, as writings or speech arrogantly or condescendingly superior in manner; haughty
egregious
extraordinary in some bad way; glaring; flagrant
singular
extraordinary; remarkable; exceptional unusual or strange; odd; different being the only one of its kind; distinctive; unique separate; individual
quixotic
extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable impulsive and often rashly unpredictable
baroque
extravagantly ornate, florid, and convoluted in character or style
parsimony
extreme or excessive economy or frugality; stinginess; niggardliness
punctilious
extremely attentive to punctilios; strict or exact in observance of the formalities or amenities of conduct or actions
epicurean
fond of or adapted to luxury or indulgence in sensual pleasures; having luxurious tastes or habits, especially in eating and drinking
munificent
extremely liberal in giving; very generous characterized by great generosity
excruciating
extremely painful; causing intense suffering; unbearably distressing; torturing exceedingly elaborate or intense; extreme
vitality
exuberant physical strength or mental vigor capacity for survival or for the continuation of a meaningful or purposeful existence power to live or grow
delinquent
failing i or neglectful of a duty or obligation; guilty of a misdeed or offense (of an account, tax, debt, etc.) past due; overdue
conversance
familiar by use or study having regular or frequent conversation; intimately associating; acquainted
impeccable
faultless; flawless; irreproachable not liable to sin; incapable of sin
salubrious
favorable to or promoting health; healthful
xenophobia
fear or hatred of foreigners, people from different cultures, or stranger fear or dislike of the customs, dress, etc., of people who are culturally different from oneself
indignant
feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base
reverent
feeling, exhibiting, or characterized by reverence; deeply respectful
zeal
fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor
fealty
fidelity; faithfulness
truculent
fierce; cruel; savagely brutal brutally harsh; vitriolic; scathing aggressively hostile; belligerent
vainglorious
filled with or given to vainglory characterized by, showing, or proceeding from vainglory
keen
finely sharpened, as an edge; so shaped as to cut or pierce substances readily sharp, piercing, or biting characterized by strength and distinctness of perception; extremely sensitive or responsive
primal
first; original; primeval of first importance; fundamental
mores
folkways of central importance accepted without question and embodying the fundamental moral views of a group
fatuous
foolish or inane, especially in an unconscious, complacent manner; silly unreal; illusory
momentum
force or speed of movement; impetus, as of a physical object or course of events
erstwhile
former; of times past
complementary
forming a complement; completing complementing each other
divisive
forming or expressing division or distribution creating dissension or discord
squalid
foul and repulsive, as from lack of care or cleanliness; neglected and filthy wretched; miserable; degraded; sordid
hale
free from disease or infirmity; robust; vigorous
guileless
free from guile; sincere; honest; straightforward; frank
cosmopolitan
free from local, provincial, or national ideas, prejudices, or attachments; at home all over the world of or characteristic of cosmoplite
equable
free from many changes or variations; uniform uniform in operation or effect, as laws
dry
free from moisture or excess moisture; not moist; not wet having or characterized by little or no rain characterized by absence, deficiency, or failure or natural or ordinary moisture
abstruse
hard to understand; recondite; esoteric obsolete. secret; hidden
noxious
harmful or injurious to health or physical well-being morally harmful; corrupting; pernicious
raucous
harsh; strident; grating rowdy; disorderly
asperity
harshness or sharpness of tone, temper, or manner; severity; acrimony hardship; difficulty; rigor roughness of surface; unevenness
benign
having a kindly disposition; gracious showing or expressive of gentleness or kindness favorable; propitious
averse
having a strong feeling of opposition, antipathy, repugnance, etc.; opposed
fetid
having an offensive odor; stinking
quaint
having an old-fashioned attractiveness or charm; oddly picturesque strange, peculiar, or unusual in an interesting, pleasing, or amusing way skillfully or cleverly made
grizzled
having gray or partly gray hair gray or partly gray
hegemonic
having hegemony, or dominance leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others, as in a confederation leadership; predominance
perspicacious
having keen mental perception and understanding; discerning
selfless
having little or no concern for oneself, especially with regard to fame, position, money, etc.; unselfish
impecunious
having little or no money; penniless; poor
baseless
having no base; without foundation; groundless
clairvoyant
having or claiming to have the power of seeing objects or actions beyond the range of natural vision of, by, or pertaining to clairvoyance
eloquent
having or exercising the power of fluent, forceful, and appropriate speech characterized by forceful and appropriate expression movingly expressive
tendentious
having or showing a definite tendency, bias, or purpose a natural or prevailing disposition to move, proceed, or act in some direction or toward some point, end, or result
sagacious
having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practice sense; shrewd
fervent
having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm, etc.; ardent
listlessly
having or showing little or no interest in anything; languid; spiritless; indifferent
naive
having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality; unsophisticated; ingenuous having or showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information; credulous
prescient
having prescience, or knowledge of things or events before they exist or happen; having foresight
urbane
having the polish and suavity regarded as characteristic of sophisticated social life in major cities reflecting elegance, sophistication, etc., especially in expression
qualified
having the qualities, accomplishments, etc., that fit a person for some function, office, or the like having the qualities, accomplishments, etc., required by law or custom for getting, having, or exercising a right, holding an office, or the like modified, limited, or restricted in some way
consanguineous
having the same ancestry or descent; related by blood
prurient
having, inclined to have, or characterized by lascivious or lustful thoughts, desires, etc. causing lasciviousness or lust having a restless desire or longing
nebulous
hazy, vague, indistinct, or confused cloudy or cloudlike of or resembling a nebula or nebulae in deep space; nebular
modishness
in the current fashion; stylish
torpid
inactive or sluggish slow; dull; apathetic; lethargic dormant, as a hibernating or estivating animal
insurmountable
incapable of being surmounted, passed over, or overcome; insuperable
insensibly
incapable of feeling or perceiving; deprived of sensation; unconscious, as a person after a violent blow without or not subject to a particular feeling or sensation unaware; unconscious; unappreciative
futile
incapable of producing any result; ineffective; useless; not successful trifling; frivolous; unimportant
trenchant
incisive or keen, as language or a person; caustic; cutting vigorous; effective; energetic clearly or sharply defined; clear-cut; distinct
martial
inclined or disposed to war; warlike of, suitable for, or associated with war or the armed forces characteristic of or befitting a warrior
bellicose
inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile; belligerent; pugnacious
lascivious
inclined or lustfulness; wanton; lewd arousing sexual desire indicating sexual interest or expressive of lust or lewdness
infinitesimal
indefinitely or exceedingly small; minute immeasurably small; less than an assignable quantity of, relating to, or involving infinitesimals
dissolute
indifferent to moral restraints; given to immoral or improper conduct; licentious; dissipated
feckless
ineffective; incompetent; futile having no sense of responsibility; indifferent; lazy
dissonance
inharmonious or harsh sound; discord; cacophony disagreement or incongruity
deleterious
injurious to health harmful; injurious
scarcity
insufficiency or shortness of supply; dearth rarity; infrequency
probity
integrity and uprightness; honesty
didactic
intended for instruction; instructive inclined to teach or lecture others too much teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson
insidious
intended to entrap or beguile stealthily treacherous or deceitful operating or proceeding in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless way but actually with grave effect
besotted
intoxicated; drunk infatuated or obsessed
collusive
involving collusion; fraudulently contrived by agreement
mystics
involving or characterized by esoteric, otherworldly, or symbolic practices or content, as certain religious ceremonies and art; spiritually significant; ethereal of the nature of or pertaining to mysteries known only to the initiated of occult character, power, or significance of obscure or mysterious character or significance
perilous
involving or full of grave risk or peril; hazardous; dangerous
blithe
joyous, merry, or happy in disposition; glad; cheerful without thought or regard; carefree; heedless
mirthful
joyous; cheerful; jolly; merry providing mirth; amusing
discreet
judicious in one's conduct or speech, especially with regard to respecting privacy or maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature; prudent; circumspect showing prudence and circumspection; decorous modestly unobtrusive; unostentatious
acumen
keen insight; shrewdness
poignant
keenly distressing to the feelings keen or strong in mental appeal affecting or moving the emotions pungent to the smell
moderate (v.)
kept or keeping within reasonable or proper limits; not extreme, excessive, or intense of medium quantity, extent, or amount mediocre or fair calm or mild, as of the weather
erudition
knowledge acquired by study, research, etc.; learning; scholarship
vacillating
not resolute; wavering; indecisive; hesitating oscillating; swaying; fluctuating
indifference
lack of interest or concern unimportance; little or no concern the quality or condition of being indifferent mediocre quality; mediocrity
lackluster
lacking brilliance or radiance; dull lacking liveliness, vitality, spirit, or enthusiasm a lack of brilliance or vitality
diffident
lacking confidence in one's own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy restrained or reserved in manner, conduct, etc.
amorphous
lacking definite form; having no specific shape; formless of no particular kind or character; indeterminate; having no pattern or structure; unorganized
affectless
lacking feeling or emotion; indifferent to the suffering of others
maladroitness
lacking in adroitness; unskillful; awkward; bungling; tactless
desultory
lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random
disingenuous
lacking in frankness, candor, or sincerity; falsely or hypocritically ingenuous; insincere
languid
lacking in vigor or vitality; slack or slow lacking in spirit or interest; listless; indifferent drooping or flagging from weakness or fatigue; faint
effete
lacking in wholesome vigor; degenerate; decadent exhausted of vigor or energy; worn out unable to produce; sterile
vapid
lacking or having lost life, sharpness, or flavor; insipid; flat without liveliness or spirit; dull or tedious
gauche
lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward; crude; tactless
deficient
lacking some element or characteristic; defective insufficient; inadequate a person who is deficient, especially one who is mentally defective
copious
large in quantity or number; abundant; plentiful having or yielding an abundant supply exhibiting abundance or fullness, as of thoughts or words
ephemeral
lasting a very shot time; short-lived; transitory lasting but one day
perennially
lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring (of plants) having a life cycle lasting more that two years lasting or continuing throughout the entire year, as a stream perpetual; everlasting; continuing; recurrent
hegemony
leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others, as in a confederation leadership; predominance
pale
light-colored or lacking in color lacking the usual intensity of color due to fear, illness, stress, etc. of a low degree of chroma, saturation, or purity; approaching white or gray
fickle
likely to change, especially due to caprice, irresolution, or instability, casually changeable
relished
liking or enjoyment of the taste of something pleasurable appreciation of anything; liking
belletristic
literature regarded as a fine art, especially as having a purely aesthetic function light and elegant literature, especially that which is excessively refined, characterized by aestheticism, and minor in subject, substance, or scope
lissome
lithesome or lithe, especially of body; supple; flexible agile, nimble, or active
vivacious
lively; animated; spirited
detriment
loss, damage, disadvantage, or injury a cause of loss or damage
hermetic
made airtight by fusion or sealing not affected by outward influence or power; isolated of, relating to, or characteristic of occult science, especially alchemy
hackneyed
made commonplace or trite; stale; banal
callous
made hard; hardened insensitive; indifferent; unsympathetic having a callus; indurated, as parts of the skin exposed to friction
unscrupulous
not scrupulous; unrestrained by scruples; conscienceless; unprincipled
duplicitously
marked or characterized by duplicity deceitfulness in speech or conduct, as by speaking or acting in two different ways to different people concerning the same matter; double-dealing an act or instance of such deceitfulness
munitions
materials used in war, especially weapons and ammunition material or equipment for carrying on any undertaking
equanimity
mental or emotional stability or composure, especially under tension or strain; calmness; equilibrium
mercantilist
mercantile practices or spirit; commercialism mercantile system
puckish
mischievous; impish
temperate
moderate or self-restrained; not extreme in opinion, statement, etc. moderate as regards indulgence of appetite or passion, especially in the use of alcoholic liquors not excessive in degree, as things, qualities, etc.
tepid
moderately warm; lukewarm characterized by a lack of force or enthusiasm
definitive
most reliable or complete, as of a text, author, criticism, study, or the like having its fixed and final form; providing a solution or final answer; satisfying all criteria
retrograde
moving backward; having a backward motion or direction; retiring or retreating inverse or reversed, as order
facile
moving, acting, working, proceeding, etc., with ease, sometimes with superficiality easily done, performed, use, etc. easy or unconstrained, as manners or persons
illiberal
narrow-minded; bigoted
proclivity
natural or habitual inclination or tendency; propensity; predisposition
terseness
neatly or effectively concise; brief and pithy, as language abruptly concise; curt; brusque
unseemly
not seemly; not in keeping with established standards or taste or proper form; unbecoming or indecorous in appearance, speech, conduct, etc. inappropriate for time or place
unabashed
not ashamed, disconcerted, or apologetic; boldly certain of one's position
irrefutable
not capable of being refuted or disproved
unkempt
not combed uncared-for or neglected; disheveled; messy unpolished; rough; crude
unbridled
not controlled or restrained not fitted with a bridle
incorrigible
not corrigible; bad beyond correction or reform impervious to constraints or punishment; willful; unruly; uncontrollable firmly fixed; not easily changed not easily swayed or influenced
indecipherable
not decipherable; illegible not understandable; incomprehensible
indeterminable
not determinable; incapable of being ascertained incapable of being decided or settled
indeterminate
not determinate; not precisely fixed in extent; indefinite; uncertain not clear; vague not established not settled or decided
indisputably
not disputable or deniable; unconstestable unquestionably real, valid, or the like
phlegmatic
not easily excited to action or display of emotion; apathetic; sluggish self-possessed, calm, or composed
stolid
not easily stirred or moved mentally; unemotional; impassive
unflappable
not easily upset or confused, especially in a crisis; imperturbable
ineffectual
not effectual; without satisfactory or decisive effect unavailing; futile powerless; impotent
stagnant
not flowing or running, as water, air, etc. stale or foul from standing, as a pool of water characterized by lack of development, advancement, or progressive movement inactive, sluggish, or dull
dull
not sharp; blunt causing boredom; tedious; uninteresting not lively or spirited; listless
incongruous
out of keeping or place; inappropriate; unbecoming not harmonious in character; inconsonant; lacking harmony of parts inconsistent
spurious
not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the claimed, pretended, or proper source; counterfeit of illegitimate birth; bastard
bogus
not genuine; counterfeit; spurious; sham
unconscionable
not guided by conscience; unscrupulous not in accordance with waht is just or reasonable excessive; extortionate
innocuous
not harmful or injurious; harmless not likely to irritate or offend; inoffensive; an innocuous remark not interesting, stimulating, or significant; pallid; insipid
asymmetrical
not identical on both sides of a central line; unsymmetrical; lacking symmetry
heterodox
not in accordance with established or accepted doctrines or opinions, especially in theology; unorthodox holding unorthodox doctrines or opinions
amorality
not involving questions of right or wrong; without moral quality; neither moral or immoral having no moral standards, restraints, or principles; unaware of or indifferent to questions of right or wrong
transient
not lasting, enduring, or permanent; transitory lasting only a short time; existing briefly; temporary staying only a short time a person or thing that is transient, especially a temporary guest, boarder, laborer, or the like
illicit
not legally permitted or authorized; unlicensed; unlawful disapproved of or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons
facetious
not meant to be taken seriously or literally amusing; humorous lacking serious intent; concerned with something nonessential, amusing, or frivolous
immoderate
not moderate; exceeding just or reasonable limits; excessive; extreme
immutable
not mutable; unchangeable; changeless
impartial
not partial or biased; fair; just
impartiality
not partial or biased; fair; just
impenetrable
not penetrable; that cannot be penetrated, pierced, entered, etc. inaccessible to ideas, influences, etc. incapable of being understood; inscrutable; unfathomable
impervious
not permitting penetration or passage; impenetrable incapable of being injured or impaired incapable of being influenced, persuaded, or affected
impious
not pious or religious; lacking reverence for God, religious practices, etc., irreligious; ungodly
devoid
not possessing, untouched by, void, or destitute to deplete or strip of some quality or substance
impotent
not potent; lacking power or ability utterly unable (to do something) without force or effectiveness lacking bodily strength or physically helpless
improvident
not provident; lacking foresight; incautious; unwary neglecting to provide for future needs
unqualified
not qualified; not fit; lacking requisite qualifications not modified, limited, or restricted in any way; without reservations absolute; complete; out-and-out
obtuse
not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect; not sensitive or observant; dull not sharp, acute, or pointed; blunt in form indistinctly felt or perceived, as pain or sound
irredeemable
not redeemable; incapable of being bought back or paid irremediable; irreparable; hopeless beyond redemption; irreclaimable
insolvent
not solvent; unable to satisfy creditors or discharge liabilities, either because liabilities exceed assets or because of inability to pay debts as they mature pertaining to bankrupt persons or bankruptcy
lax
not strict or severe; careless or negligent loose or slack; not tense, rigid, or firm not rigidly exact or precise; vague open, loose, or not retentive, as diarrheal bowels
implacability
not to be appeased, mollified, or pacified; inexorable
dauntless
not to be daunted or intimidated; fearless; intrepid; bold
unwieldy
not wieldy; wielded with difficulty; not readily handled or managed in use or action, as from size, shape, or weight; awkward; ungainly
idle
not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing not spent or filled with activity not in use or operation; not kept busy habitually doing nothing or avoiding work; lazy of no real worth, importance, or significance
inchoate
not yet completed or fully developed; rudimentary just begun; incipient not organized; lacking order
postmodern
noting or pertaining to architecture of the late 20th century, appearing in the 1960s, that consciously uses complex forms, fantasy, and allusions to historic styles, in contrast to the austere forms and emphasis on utility of standard modern architecture extremely modern; cutting-edge
officious
objectionably aggressive in offering one's unrequested and unwanted services, help, or advice; meddlesome marked by or proceeding from such forwardness
impediments
obstruction; hindrance; obstacle any physical defect that impedes normal or easy speech; a speech disorder
surreptitious
obtained, done, made, etc., by stealth; secret or unauthorized; clandestine acting in a stealthy way obtained by subreption; subreptitious
hyperboles
obvious and intentional exaggeration an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as "to wait an eternity"
contrived
obviously planned or forced; artificial; strained
grotesque
odd or unnatural in shape, appearance, or character; fantastically ugly or absurd; bizarre fantastic in the shaping and combination of forms, as in decorative work combining incongruous human and animal figures with scrolls, foliage, etc.
rife with
of common or frequent occurrence; prevalent; in widespread existence, activity, or use current in speech or report abundant, plentiful, or numerous
apocryphal
of doubtful authorship or authenticity false; spurious
ponderous
of great weight; heavy; massive awkward or unwieldy dull and labored
inconsequential
of little or no importance; insignificant; trivial inconsequent; illogical irrelevant
important
of much or great significance or consequence mattering much entitled to more than ordinary consideration or notice prominent or large of considerable influence or authority, as a person or position
immaterial
of no essential consequence; unimportant not pertinent; irrelevant not material; incorporeal; spiritual
nugatory
of no real value; trifling; worthless of no force or effect; ineffective; futile; vain not valid
tyrannical
of or characteristic of a tyrant unjustly cruel, harsh, or severe; arbitrary or oppressive; despotic
solipsistic
of or characterized by solipsism, or the theory that only the self exists, or can be proved to exist extreme preoccupation with and indulgence of one's feelings, desires, etc., egoistic self-absorption
boorish
of or like a boor; unmannered; crude; insensitive
apocalyptic
of or like an apocalypse; affording a revelation or prophecy predicting or presaging imminent disaster and total or universal destruction
neanderthals
of or relating to Neanderthal man primitive, unenlightened, or reactionary; culturally or intellectually backward
pedantic
ostentatious in one's learning overly concerned with minute details or formalism, especially in teaching
totalitarian
of or relating to a centralized government that does not tolerate parties of differing opinion ans that exercises dictatorial control over many aspects of life exercising control over the freedom, will, or thought of others; authoritarian; autocratic
puerile
of or relating to a child or to childhood childishly foolish; immature or trivial
polarized
of or relating to a medium that exhibits polarization
monolithic
of or relating to a monolith made of only one stone consisting of one piece; solid or unbroken
paradigmatic
of or relating to a paradigm an example serving as a model; pattern a framework containing the basic assumptions, ways of thinking, and methodology that are commonly accepted by members of a scientific community
pragmatic
of or relating to a practical point of view or practical considerations of or relating to pragmatics treating historical phenomena with special reference to their causes, antecedent conditions, and results of or relating to the affairs of state or community
prophetic
of or relating to a prophet of the nature of or containing prophecy having the function or powers of a prophet, as a person predictive; presageful or portentous; ominous
sophomoric
of or relating to a sophomore or sophomores suggestive of or resembling the traditional sophomore; intellectually pretentious, overconfident, conceited, etc., but immature
histrionic
of or relating to actors or acting deliberately affected or self-consciously emotional; overly dramatic, in behavior of speech
exegetic
of or relating to exegesis; explanatory; interpretative critical explanation or interpretation of a text or portion of a text, especially of the Bible
hermeneutic
of or relating to hermeneutics; interpretative; explanatory the science of interpretation, especially of the Scriptures the branch of theology that deals with the principles of Biblical exegesis
ideological
of or relating to ideology speculative; visionary the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group such a body of doctrine, myth, etc., with reference to some political and social plan, as that of fascism, along with the devices for putting it into operation
logistical
of or relating to logistics the planning, implementation, and coordination of details of a business or other operations
sectarian
of or relating to sectaries or sects narrowly confined or devoted to a particular sect narrowly confined or limited in interest, purpose, scope, etc.
bucolic
of or relating to sheperds; pastoral of, relating to, or suggesting an idyllic rural life
semiotic
of or relating to signs of or relating to semiotics
sartorial
of or relating to tailors or their trade of or relating to clothing or style of manner of dress
cerebral
of or relating to the cerebrum or the brain betraying or characterized by the use of the intellect rather than intuition or instinct
earthy
of the nature of or consisting of earth or soil realistic; practical coarse or unrefined direct; robust; unaffected
figurative
of the nature of or involving a figure of speech, especially a metaphor; metaphorical and not literal metaphorically so called abounding in or fond of figures of speech
vitreous
of the nature of or resembling glass, as in transparency, brittleness, hardness, glossiness, etc. of or relating to glass obtained from or containing glass
saccharine
of the nature of or resembling that of sugar containing or yielding sugar very sweet to the taste; sugary cloyingly agreeable or ingratiating
sweeping
of wide range or scope moving or passing about over a wide area moving, driving, or passing steadily and forcibly on
hierarchical
of, belonging to, or characteristic of a hierarchy any system of persons or things ranked one above another government by ecclesiastical rulers the power or dominion of hierarch
charismatic
of, having, or characteristic of charisma
conjectural
of, of the nature of, or involving conjecture; problematical given to making conjectures
satiric
of, pertaining to, containing, or characterized by satire indulging in or given to satire the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriving vice, folly, etc. a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule
reactionary
of, pertaining to, marked by, or favoring reaction, especially extreme conservatism or rightism in politics; opposing political or social change
demagogic
of, relating to, or characteristic of a demagogue a person, especially an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people a leader of the people
proverbially
of, relating to, or characteristic of a proverb expressed in a proverb or proverbs of the nature of or resembling a proverb having been made the subject of a proverb
impudent
of, relating to, or characterized by impertinence or effrontery unmannerly intrusion or presumption; insolence
orthodox
of, relating to, or conforming to the approved form of any doctrine, philosophy, ideology, etc. of, relating to, or conforming to beliefs, attitudes, or modes of conduct that are generally approved customary or conventional, as means or method; established
parochial
of, relating to, or financially supported by one or more church parishes of or relating to parochial schools or the education they provide very limited or narrow in scope or outlook; provincial
vestigial
of, relating to, or of the nature of a vestige a mark, trace, or visible evidence of something that is no longer present or in existence a surviving evidence or remainder of some condition, practice, etc.
dialectical
of, relating to, or of the nature of logical argumentation the art or practice of logical discussion as employed in investigating the truth of theory or opinion
seditious
of, relating to, or of the nature of sedition given to or guilty of sedition incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government any action, especially in speech or writing, promoting such discontent or rebellion
labyrinthine
of, relating to, or resembling a labyrinth complicated; tortuous
providential
of, relating to, or resulting from divine providence opportune, fortunate, or lucky
blandishments
often, blandishments. something, as an act or speech, that tends to flatter, coax, entice, etc.
moot
open to discussion or debate; debatable; doubtful of little or no practical value, meaning, or relevance; purely academic
overt
open to view or knowledge; not concealed or secret
contrary
opposite in nature or character; diametrically or mutually opposed opposite in direction or position
orthodoxy
orthodox belief or practice orthodox character
ebullient
overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited
pallid
pale; faint or deficient in color; wan lacking in vitality or interest
profound
penetrating or entering deeply into subjects of thought or knowledge; having deep insight or understanding originating in or penetrating to the depths of one's being being or going far beneath what is superficial, external, or obvious of deep meaning; of great and broadly inclusive significance
parlous
perilous; dangerous to a large extent; greatly
doggedly
persistent in effort; stubbornly tenacious
literati
persons of scholarly or literary attainments; intellectuals
pertinent
pertaining or relating directly and significantly to the matter at hand; relevant to have reference or relation; relate to belong or be connected as a part, adjunct, possession, or attribute
concessionary
pertaining to concession; of the nature of a concession a concessionaire
kinetic
pertaining to motion caused by motion characterized by movement
utilitarian
pertaining to or consisting in utility having regard to utility or usefulness rather than beauty, ornamentation, etc. of, relating to, or adhering to the doctrine of utilitarianism
synoptic
pertaining to or constituting a synopsis; affording or taking a general view of the principal parts of a subject
anachronistic
pertaining to or containing an anachronism
tangential
pertaining to or of the nature of a tangent; being or moving in the direction of a tangent merely touching; slightly connected divergent or digressive, as from a subject under consideration tending to digress or to reply to questions obliquely
literary
pertaining to or of the nature of books and writings, especially those classed as literature pertaining to authorship versed in or acquainted with literature; well-read
farcical
pertaining to or of the nature of farce resembling farce; ludicrous; absurd a light, humorous play in which the plot depends upon a skillfully exploited situation rather than upon the development of character humor of the type displayed in such works foolish show; mockery; a ridiculous sham
idiosyncratic
pertaining to the nature of idiosyncrasy, or something peculiar to an individual
torturous
pertaining to, involving, or causing torture or suffering
ironically
pertaining to, of the nature of, exhibiting, or characterized by irony or mockery using or prone to irony
emblematic
pertaining to, of the nature of, or serving as an emblem; symbolic
pulchritude
physical beauty; comeliness
piecemeal
piece by piece; one piece at a time; gradually into pieces or fragments
coltish
playful; frolicsome of, relating to, or resembling a colt not trained or disciplined; unruly; wild
dulcet
pleasant to the ear; melodious pleasant or agreeable to the eye or the feelings; soothing
placid
pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet or undisturbed
quanta
plural of quantum quantity or amount a particular amount a share or portion a large quantity; bulk
ominously
portending evil or harm; foreboding; threatening; inauspicious indicating the nature or a future event, for good or evil; having the significance of an omen; being a portent
strapping
powerfully built; robust large; whopping
regressive
regressing or tending to regress; retrogressive to move backward; go back to revert to an earlier or less advanced state or form
agrarian
relating to land, land tenure, or the division of landed property pertaining to the advancement of agricultural groups
dogmatic
relating to or of the nature of a dogma or dogmas or any strong set of principles concerning faith, morals, etc., as those laid down by a church; doctrinal asserting opinions in a doctrinaire or arrogant manner; opinionated
unilateral
relating to, occurring on, or involving one side only undertaken or done by or on behalf of one side, party, or faction only; not mutual having only one side or surface; without a reverse side or inside
celebrated
renowned; well-known
restitution
reparation made by giving an equivalent or compensation for loss, damage, or injury caused; indemnification the restoration of property or rights previously taken away, conveyed, or surrendered restoration to the former or original state or position
iterative
repeating; making repetition; repetitious
repentant
repenting; penitent; experiencing repentance characterized by or showing repentance to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc. to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the better; be pentinent
bipartisan
representing, characterized by, or including members from two parties or factions
purported
reputed or claimed; alleged
requisite
required or necessary for a particular purpose, position, etc.; indispensable something requisite; a necessary quality, thing, etc.
ersatz
serving as a substitute; synthetic; artificial an artificial substance or article used to replace something natural or genuine; a substitue
declarative
serving to declare, make known, or explain
heuristic
serving to indicate or point out; stimulating interest as a means of furthering investigation encouraging a person to learn, discover, understand, or solve problems on his or her own, as by experimenting evaluating possible answers or solutions, or by trial and error
restorative
serving to restore; pertaining to restoration capable of renewing health or strength to bring back into existence, use, or the like; reestablish to bring back to a former, original, or normal condition, as a building, statue, or painting
dementia
severe impairment or loss of intellectual capacity and personality integration, due to the loss of or damage to neurons in the brain
licentious
sexually unrestrained; lascivious; libertine; lewd unrestrained by law or general morality; lawless; immoral going beyond customary or proper bounds or limits; disregarding rules
mordant
sharply caustic or sarcastic, as wit or a speaker; biting burning; corrosive having the property of fixing colors, as in dyeing
acrimony
sharpness, harshness, or bitterness of nature, speech, disposition, etc.
flagrancy
shockingly noticeable or evident; obvious; glaring notorious; scandalous
politic
shrewd or prudent in practical matters; tactful; diplomatic contrived in a shrewd and practical way; expedient
magnitude
size; extent; dimensions great importance or consequence greatness of size or amount moral greatness
cunning
skill employed in a shrewd or sly manner, as in deceiving; craftiness; guile adeptness in performance; dexterity
torpor
sluggish inactivity or inertia lethargic indifference; apathy a state of suspended physical power and activities dormancy, as of a hibernating animal
paucity
smallness of quantity; scarcity; scantiness smallness of insufficiency of number; fewness
supplement
something added to complete a thing, supply a deficiency, or reinforce or extend a whole a part added to a book, document, etc., to supply additional or later information, correct errors, or the like a part, usually of special character, issued as an additional feature of a newspaper or other periodical
contrivance
something contrived; a device, especially a mechanical one the act or manner of contriving; the faculty or power of contriving a plan or scheme; expedient
nemesis
something that a person cannot conquer, achieve, etc. an opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome an agent or act of retribution or punishment
catalyst
something that causes activity between two or more persons or forces without itself being affected a person or thing that precipitates an event or change
complement
something that completes or makes perfect the quantity or amount that completes anything either of two parts or things needed to complete the whole; counterpart
encumbrances
something that encumbers; something burdensome, useless, or superfluous; burden; hindrance a dependent person, especially a child
effect (v.)
something that is produced by an agency or cause; result; consequence power to produce results; efficacy; force; validity; influence the state of being operative or functional; operation or execution; accomplishment or fulfillment
winsome
sweetly or innocently charming; winning; engaging
mellifluous
sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding flowing with honey; sweetened with or as if with honey
wag
to move from side to side, forward and backward, or up and down, especially rapidly and repeatedly
consecration
the act of consecrating; dedication to service and worship of a deity ordination to a sacred office, especially to the episcopate
deification
the act of deifying the sate of being deified the result of deifying
deprivation
the act of depriving the fact of being deprived dispossession; loss
dissipation
the act of dissipating the state of being dissipated; dispersion; disintegration a wasting by misuse mental distraction; amusement; diversion
distension
the act of distending or the state of being distended to expand by stretching, as something hollow or elatic to spread in all directions; expand; swell
alienation
the act of alienating, or of causing someone to become indifferent or hostile the state of being alienated, withdrawn, or isolated from the objective world, as through indifference or disaffection
appropriation
the act of appropriating anything appropriated for a special purpose, especially money
ascension
the act of ascending; ascent
excoriation
the act of excoriating to denounce or berate severely; flay verbally to strip off or remove the skin from
painstaking
taking or characterized by taking pains or trouble; expending or showing diligent care and effort; careful careful and diligent effort
meticulous
taking or showing extreme care about minute details; precise; thorough finicky; fussy
meticulousness
taking or showing extreme care about minute details; precise; thorough finicky; fussy
maudlin
tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental foolishly or mawkishly sentimental because of drunkenness
mendacious
telling lies, especially habitually; dishonest; lying; untruthful false or untrue
evasive
tending or seeking to evade; characterized by evasion elusive or evanescent
innovative
tending to innovate, or introduce something new or different; characterized by innovation
pacific
tending to make or preserve peace; conciliatory not warlike; peaceable; mild at peace; peaceful calm; tranquil
demeaning
that demeans; debasing; degrading
redoubtable
that is to be feared; formidable commanding or evoking respect, reverence, or the like
disinclination
the absence of inclination; reluctance; unwillingness
disaffection
the absence or alienation of affection or goodwill; estrangement; disloyalty
iconoclasm
the action or spirit of iconoclasts a person who attacks cherished beliefs, traditional institutions, etc., being based on error or superstition a breaker or destroyer of images, especially those set up for religious veneration
avant garde
the advance group in any field, especially in the visual, literary, or musical arts, whose works are characterized chiefly by unorthodox and experimental methods of or relating to the experimental treatment of artistic, musical, or literary material
slipstream
the air-stream pushed back by a revolving aircraft propeller the air-stream generating reduced air pressure and forward suction directly behind a rapidly moving vehicle
stems
the ascending axis of a plant, whether above or below ground, which ordinarily grows in an opposite direction to the root or descending axis the stalk that supports a leaf, flower, or fruit the main body of that portion of a tree, shrub, or other plant which is above ground; trunk; stalk
ideology
the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group such a body of doctrine, myth, etc., with reference to some political and social plan, as that of fascism, along with the devices for putting it into operation
base
the bottom support of anything; that on which a thing stands or rests a fundamental principle or groundwork; foundation; basis the bottom layer or coating, as of makeup or paint
ecologies
the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms the set of relationships existing between organisms and their environment
ecology
the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms the set of relationships existing between organisms and their environment
pragmatists
the branch of semiotics dealing with the causal and other relations between words, expressions, or symbols and their users practical considerations
limelight
the center of public attention, interest, observation, or notoriety
pedantry
the character, qualities, practices, etc., of a pedant, especially undue display of learning slavish attention to rules, details, etc. an instance of being pedantic
elite
the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons persons of the highest class a group of persons exercising the major share of authority or influence within a larger group
prose
the ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure, as distinguished from poetry or verse matter-of-fact, commonplace, or dull expression, quality, discourse, etc.
populace
the common people of a community, nation, etc., as distinguished from the higher classes all the inhabitants of a place; population
banality
the condition or quality of being banal, devoid of freshness or originality; hackneyed; trite
dramaturgy
the craft or technique of dramatic composition
opprobrium
the disgrace or the reproach incurred by conduct considered outrageously shameful; infamy a cause or object of such disgrace or reproach
hedonism
the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good devotion to pleasure as a way of life
verged
the edge, rim, or margin of something the limit or point beyond which something begins or occurs; brink a limiting belt, strip, or border of something
verges
the edge, rim, or margin of something the limit or point beyond which something begins or occurs; brink a limiting belt, strip, or border of something
verging
the edge, rim, or margin of something the limit or point beyond which something begins or occurs; brink a limiting belt, strip, or border of something
gamut
the entire scale or range
patent
the exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor to manufacture, use, or sell and invention for a certain number of years an invention or process protected by this right
intransigence
the state or quality of being intransigent, or refusing to compromise or agree; inflexibility
theology
the field of study and analysis that threats God and of God's attributes and relations to the universe; study of divine things or religious truth; divinity a particular form, system, branch, or course of this study
pedagogy
the function or work of a teacher; teaching the art of science of teaching; education; instructional methods
psyche
the human soul, spirit, or mind the mental or psychological structure of a person, especially as a motive force
chaff
the husks of grains and grasses that are separated during threshing straw cut up for fodder worthless matter; refuse the membranous, usually dry, brittle bracts of the flowers of certain plants
pith
the important or essential part; essence; core; heart
finale
the last piece, division, or movement of a concert, opera, or composition the concluding part of any performance, course of proceedings, etc.; end
protagonist
the leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work a proponent for an advocate of a political cause, social program, etc. the leader or principal person in a movement, cause, etc.
nadir
the lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair
gist
the main or essential part of a matter the ground of legal action
simony
the making of profit out of sacred things the sin of buying or selling ecclesiastical preferments, benefices, etc.
patriarch
the male head of a family or tribal line a person regarded as the father or founder of an order, class, etc.
asceticism
the manner of life, practices, or principles of an ascetic the doctrine that a person can attain a high spiritual and moral state by practicing self-denial, self-mortification, and the like rigorous self-denial; extreme abstinence; austerity
congress
the national legislative body of a nation, especially of a republic
referents
the object or event to which a term or symbol refers
eloquence
the practice or art of using language with fluency and aptness
nave
the principal longitudinal area of a church, extending from the main entrance or narthex to the chancel, usually flanked by aisles of less height and breadth: generally used only by the congregation
acculturation
the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of this process
triage
the process of sorting victims, as of a battle or disaster, to determine medical priority in order to increase the number of survivors the determination of priorities for action of, relating to, or performing the task of triage
catharsis
the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music
adherence
the quality of adhering; steady devotion, support, allegiance, or attachment
brutality
the quality of being brutal; cruelty; savagery a brutal act or practice
ingenuity
the quality of being cleverly inventive or resourceful; inventiveness cleverness or skillfulness of conception or design an ingenious contrivance or device
insouciance
the quality of being insouciant; lack of care or concern; indifference free from concern, worry, or anxiety; carefree; nonchalant
magnanimity
the quality of being magnanimous generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness high-minded; noble proceeding from or revealing generosity or nobility of mind, character, etc.
tenacity
the quality of being tenacious, or of holding fast; persistence the quality of retaining something the quality or property of holding together firmly
urbanity
the quality of being urbane; refined courtesy or politeness; suavity urbanities, civilities or amenities the quality or state of being urban
indolence
the quality or state of being indolent having or showing a disposition to avoid exertion; slothful
profundity
the quality or state of being profound; depth profound or deep matters a profoundly deep place; abyss
posture
the relative disposition of the parts of something the position of the limbs or the carriage of the body as a whole an affected or unnatural attitude a mental or spiritual attitude one's image or policy as perceived by the public, other nations, etc.
hinterland
the remote or less developed parts of a country; back country the land lying behind a coastal region an area or sphere of influence in the unoccupied interior claimed by the state possessing the coast an inland area supplying goods, especially trade goods, to a port
dwindled
to become smaller and smaller; shrink; waste away to fall away, as in quality; degenerate to make smaller and smaller; cause to shrink
lard
the rendered fat or hogs, especially the internal fat of the abdomen to apply lard or grease to to prepare or enrich (lean meant, chicken, etc.) with pork or fat, especially with lardons to supplement or enrich with something for improvement or ornamentation
suffrage
the right to vote, especially in political election a vote given in favor of a proposed measure, candidate, or the like
taxonomy
the science or technique of classification a classification in to ordered categories
spectroscopy
the science that deals with the use of the spectroscope and with spectrum analysis
chronology
the sequential order in which past events occur a statement of this order a reference work organized according to the dates of events
jingoistic
the spirit, policy, or practice of jingoes; bellicose chauvinism a person who professes his or her patriotism loudly and excessively, favoring vigilant preparedness for war and an aggressive foreign policy; bellicose chauvinist
complicity
the state of being an accomplice; partnership or involvement in wrongdoing
primacy
the state of being first in order, rank, importance, etc.
vacuity
the state of being vacuous or without contents; vacancy; emptiness absence of thought or intelligence; inanity; blankness a time or state of dullness, lacking in mental or physical action or productivity
perpetuity
the state of character of being perpetual endless or indefinitely long duration or existence; eternity endless or indefinitely long duration or existence; eternity something that is perpetual
partiality
the state or character of being partial a favorable bias or prejudice a special fondness, preference, or liking
solemnity
the state or character of being solemn; earnestness; gravity; impressiveness
discrepancy
the state or quality of being discrepant or in disagreement, as by displaying an unexpected or unacceptable difference; inconsistency an instance of difference or inconsistency
candor
the state or quality of being frank, open, and sincere in speech or expression; candidness freedom from bias; fairness; impartiality
impact
the striking of one thing against another; forceful contact; collision an impinging influence; effect an impacting; forcible impinging the force exerted by a new idea, concept, technology, or ideology
etymologies
the study of historical linguistic change, especially as manifested in individual words
euphemistically
the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt
tonality
the sum of relations, melodic and harmonic, existing between the tones of a scale or musical system (in painting, graphics, etc.) the system of tones or tints, or the color scheme, of a picture the quality of tones
constitution
the system of fundamental principles according to which a nation, sate, corporation, or the like, is governed
apex
the tip, point, or vertex; summit climax; peak; acme
equivocations
the use of equivocal or ambiguous expressions, especially in order to mislead or hedge; prevarication an equivocal, ambiguous expression; equivoque
irony
the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected
pervades
to become spread throughout all parts of
immortalized
to bestow unending fame upon; perpetuate to make immortal; endow with immortality
bustling
to move or act with a great show of energy to abound or teem with something; display an abundance of something; teem to cause to bustle; hustle
taut
tightly drawn; tense; not slack emotionally or mentally strained or tense in good order or condition; tidy; neat
eschew
to abstain or keep away from; shun; avoid
habituated
to accustom (a person, the mind, etc.), as to a particular situation
inured to
to accustom to hardship, pain, etc.; toughen or harden; habituate to come into use; take or have effect to become beneficial or advantageous
conceded
to acknowledge as true, just, or proper; admit to acknowledge (an opponent's victory, score, etc.) before it is officially established to grant as a right or privilege; yield
inscribing
to address or dedicate (a book, photograph, etc.) informally to a person, especially by writing a brief personal note in or on it to mark (a surface) with words, characters, etc., especially in a durable or conspicuous way to write, print, mark, or engrave (words, characters, etc.) to enroll, as on an official list
laurels
to adorn or wreathe with laurel to honor with marks of distinction
impressed
to affect deeply or strongly in mind or feelings; influence in opinion to fix deeply or firmly on the mind or memory, as ideas or facts to urge, as something to be remembered or done
piques
to affect with sharp irritation and resentment, especially by some wound to pride to wound (the pride, vanity, etc.) to excite (interest, curiosity, etc.) to arouse an emotion or provoke to action
assent
to agree or concur; subscribe to to give in; yield; concede
obviate
to anticipate and prevent or eliminate (difficulties, disadvantages, etc.) by effective measures; render unnecessary
aver
to assert or affirm with confidence; declare in a positive or peremptory manner
defame
to attack the good name or reputation of, as by uttering or publishing maliciously or falsely anything injurious; slander or libel; calumniate to disgrace; bring dishonor upon
elude
to avoid or escape by speed, cleverness, trickery, etc.; evade to escape the understanding, perception, or appreciation of
expatriate
to banish (a person) from his or her native country to withdraw (oneself) from residence in one's native country to withdraw (oneself) from allegiance to one's country
bodes
to be an omen of; potend to announce beforehand; predict
attest to
to bear witness to; certify; declare to be correct, true, or genuine; declare the truth of, in other words or writing, especially affirm in an official capacity to give proof or evidence of; manifest to put an oath
cauterizes
to burn with a hot iron, electric current, fire, or a caustic, especially for curative purposes; treat with a cautery
evoked
to call up or produce (memories, feelings, etc.) to elicit or draw forth to call up; cause to appear; summon
evoking
to call up or produce (memories, feelings, etc.) to elicit or draw forth to call up; cause to appear; summon
peddle
to carry (small articles, goods, wares, etc.) from place to place for sale at retail; hawk to deal out, distribute, or dispense, especially in small quantities to sell (drugs) illicitly
delves
to carry on intensive and thorough research for data, information, or the like; investigate
instigating
to cause by incitement; foment to urge, provoke, or incite to some action or course
hindered
to cause delay, interruption, or difficulty in; hamper; impede to prevent from doing, acting, or happening; stop
entail
to cause or involve by necessity or as a consequence to impose as a burden
render
to cause to be or become; make to do; perform to furnish; provide to exhibit or show (obedience, attention, etc.)
rendered
to cause to be or become; make to do; perform to furnish; provide to exhibit or show (obedience, attention, etc.)
congeal
to change from a soft or fluid state to a rigid or solid state, as by cooling or freezing to curdle; coagulate, as a fluid to make or become fixed, as ideas, sentiments, or principles
tansmute
to change from one nature, substance, form, or condition into another; transform
transmogrify
to change in appearance or form, especially strangely or grotesquely; transform
exculpate
to clear from a charge of guilt or fault; free from blame; vindicate
vindicated
to clear, as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like to afford justification for; justify to uphold or justify by argument or evidence to assert, maintain, or defend (a right, cause, etc.) against opposition
shuttered (v.)
to close or provide with shutters to close (a store or business operations) for the day or permanently to close or close down
recoiling
to coil again
contravening
to come or be in conflict with; go or act against; deny or oppose to violate, infringe, or transgress
exuded
to come out gradually in drops, as sweat, through pores, or small openings; ooze out to send out, as sweat; emit through pores or small openings to project or display conspicuously or abundantly; radiate
indemnify
to compensate for damage or loss sustained, expense incurred, etc. to guard or secure against anticipated loss; give security against (future damage or liability)
confers
to consult together; compare opinions; carry on a discussion or deliberation to bestow upon as a gift, favor, honor, etc.
epitomized
to contain or represent in small compass; serve as a typical example of; typify
commune
to converse or talk together, usually with profound intensity, intimacy, etc.; interchange thoughts or feelings to be in intimate communication or rapport interchange of ideas or sentiments
castigate
to criticize or reprimand severely to punish in order to correct
curtailing
to cut short; cut off a part of; abridge; reduce; diminish
waning
to decrease in strength, intensity, etc. to decline in power, importance, prosperity, etc. to draw to a close; approach an end
discounted (v.)
to deduct a certain amount from (a bill, charge, etc.) to offer for sale or sell at a reduced price to advance or lend money with deduction of interest on (commercial paper not immediately payable)
commentated
to deliver a commentary on to write a commentary on; annotate
proscribe
to denounce or condemn (a thing) as dangerous or harmful; prohibit
disclaim
to deny or repudiate interest in or connection with; disavow; disown
negating
to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of to nullify or cause to be ineffective to be negative; bring or cause negative results
strive
to exert oneself vigorously; try hard to make strenuous efforts toward any goal to contend in opposition, battle, or any conflict; compete to struggle vigorously, as in opposition or resistance to rival; vie
oust
to expel or remove from a place or position occupied
chide
to express disapproval of; scold; reproach to harass, nag, impel, or the like by chiding
chided
to express disapproval of; scold; reproach to harass, nag, impel, or the like by chiding
deprecating
to express earnest disapproval of to urge reasons against; protest against (a scheme, purpose, etc.) to depreciate; belittle
depreciated
to express earnest disapproval of to urge reasons against; protest against (a scheme, purpose, etc.) to depreciate; belittle
detest
to feel abhorrence of; hate; dislike intensely
rue
to feel sorrow over; repent of; regret bitterly to wish that (something) had never been done, taken place, etc. to feel sorrow, repentance, or regret
enamored
to fill or inflame with love to charm or captivate
ascertain
to find out definitely; learn with certainty or assurance; determine
delimit
to fix or mark the limits or boundaries of; demarcate
inundates
to flood; cover to overspread with water; deluge to overwhelm
ensues
to follow in order; come afterward, especially in immediate succession to follow as a consequence; result
injecting
to force (a fluid) into a passage, cavity, or tissue to introduce (something new or different) to introduce arbitrarily or inappropriate; intrude to interject (a remark, suggestion, etc.), as into conversation
compel
to force or drive, especially to a course of action to secure or bring about by force to force to submit; subdue to overpower
deem
to form or have an opinion; judge; think to hold as an opinion; think; regard
fester
to form pus; generate purulent matter; suppurate to cause ulceration, as a foreign body in the flesh to putrefy or rot to rankle, as a feeling of resentment
satisfies
to fulfill the desires, expectations, needs, or demands of (a person, the mind, etc.); give full contentment to to put an end to (a desire, want, need, etc.) by sufficient or ample provision to give assurance to; convince
patronize
to give (a store, restaurant, hotel, etc.) one's regular patronage; trade with to behave in an offensively condescending manner toward to act as a patron toward (an artist, institution, etc.); support
contribute
to give (money, time, knowledge, assistance, etc.) to a common supply, fund, etc., as for charitable purposes to furnish (an original written work, drawing, etc.) for publication
dissemble
to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of to put on the appearance of; feign
heeding
to give careful attention to to give attention; have regard careful attention; notice; observation
incentivize
to give incentives to
reneged
to go back on one's word
burgeoning
to grow or develop quickly; flourish to begin to grow, as a bud; put forth buds, shoots, etc., as a plant
coalesced
to grow together or into one body to unite so as to form one mass, community, etc. to blend or come together
crane
to hoist, lower, or move by or as by a crane
beseeched
to implore urgently to beg eagerly for; solicit
imbues
to impregnate or inspire, as with feelings, opinions, etc. to saturate or impregnate with moisture, color, etc. to imbrue
bedazzled
to impress forcefully, especially so as to make oblivious to faults or shortcomings to dazzle so as to blind or confuse
exacerbate
to increase the severity, bitterness or violence of (disease, ill feeling, etc.); aggravate to embitter the feelings of (a person); irritate; exasperate
extrapolate
to infer (an unknown) from something that is known; conjecture
beguiled
to influence by trickery, flattery, etc.; mislead; delude to take away from by cheating or deceiving to charm or divert
interpolate
to introduce (something additional or extraneous) between other things or parts; interject; interpose; intercalate to alter (a text) by the insertion of new matter, especially deceptively or without authorization
infuses
to introduce, as if by pouring; cause to penetrate; instill to imbue or inspire to steep or soak (leaves, barks, roots, etc.) in a liquid so as to extract the soluble properties or ingredients
sussing
to investigate or figure out
vexing
to irritate; annoy; provoke to torment; trouble; distress; plague; worry to discuss or debate (a subject, question, etc.) with vigor or at great length to disturb by motion; stir up; toss about
shunned
to keep away from (a place, person, object, etc.), from motives of dislike, caution, etc.; take pains to avoid
mitigate
to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate to make less severe to make (a person, one's state of mind, disposition, etc.) milder or more gentle; mollify; appease
bask
to lie in or be exposed to a pleasant warmth to enjoy a pleasant situation
skulk
to lie or keep in hiding, as for some evil reason to move in a stealthy manner; slink
degrade
to lower in dignity or estimation; bring into contempt to lower in character or quality; debase to reduce in amount, strength, intensity, etc
mummified
to make (a dead body) into a mummy, as by embalming and drying to make (something) resemble a mummy; dry or shrivel up to preserve (an idea, institution, custom, etc.) that may have outlived its usefulness or relevance
deified
to make a god of; exalt to the rank of a deity; personify as a deity to adore or regard as a deity
deify
to make a god of; exalt to the rank of a deity; personify as a deity to adore or regard as a deity
stipulate
to make an express demand or arrangement as a condition of agreement to arrange expressly or specify in terms of agreement to require as an essential condition in making an agreement to promise, in making an agreement
blunt (v.)
to make blunt or dull to weaken or impair the force, keenness, or susceptibility of
fabricate
to make by art or skill and labor; construct to make by assembling parts or sections
retching
to make efforts to vomit to vomit the act or an instance of retching
enraged
to make extremely angry; put into a rage; infuriate
defile
to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase to violate the chastity of to make impure for ceremonial use; desecrate to sully, as a person's reputation
humanize
to make humane, kind, or gentle to make human to become human or humane
promulgates
to make known by open declaration; publish; proclaim formally or put into operation (a law, decree of a court, etc.) to set forth or teach publicly (a creed, doctrine, etc.)
signify
to make known by signs, speech, or action to be a sign of; mean; portend to be of importance or consequence
assuage
to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; mitigate to appease; satisfy; allay; relieve to soothe, calm, or mollify
corroborate
to make more certain; confirm
normalizing
to make normal to establish or resume (relations) in a normal manner, as between countries to become normal; resume a normal state
decipherable
to make out the meaning of (poor or partially obliterated writing, etc.) to discover the meaning of (anything obscure or difficult to trace or understand) to interpret by the use of a key, as something written in cipher
perpetuate
to make perpetual to preserve from extinction or oblivion continuing or enduring forever; everlasting lasting an indefinitely long time continuing or continued without intermission or interruption; ceaseless
explicate
to make plain or clear; explain; interpret to develop (a principle, theory, etc.)
requite
to make repayment or return for (service, benefits, etc.) to make retaliation for (a wrong, injury, etc.); avenge to make return to (a person, group, etc.) for service, benefits, etc. to retaliate on (a person, group, etc.) for a wrong, injury, etc. to give or do in return
husband (v.)
to manage, especially with prudent economy to use frugally; conserve
designation
to mark or point out; indicate; show; specify to denote; indicate; signify to name; entitle; style to nominate or select for duty, office, purpose, etc.; appoint; assign
underscore
to mark with a line or lines underneath; underline, as for emphasis to stress; emphasize a line drawn beneath something written or printed
trepidation
tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; perturbation trembling or quivering movement; tremor
convoluted
twisted; coiled complicated; intricately invovled
myopic
unable or unwilling to act prudently; shortsighted lacking tolerance or understanding; narrow-minded
inevitably
unable to be avoided, evaded, or escaped; certain; necessary sure to occur, happen, or come; unalterable that which is unavoidable
disinterested
unbiased by personal interest or advantage; not influenced by selfish motives not interest; indifferent
vituperations
verbal abuse or castigation; violent denunciation or condemnation
jurisprudent
versed in jurisprudence the science or philosophy of law a body or system of laws
innumerable
very numerous incapable of being counted; countless
antediluvian
very old, old-fashioned, or out of date; antiquated; primitive
minuscule
very small (of letters or writing) small; not capital
puritanical
very strict in moral or religious matters, often excessively so; rigidly austere
strife
vigorous or bitter conflict, discord, or antagonism a quarrel, struggle, or clash competition or rivalry
militant
vigorously active and aggressive, especially in support of a case engaged in warfare; fighting a militant person a person engaged in warfare or combat
turpitude
vile, shameful, or base character; depravity a vile or depraved act
genial
warmly and pleasantly cheerful; cordial favorable for life, growth, or comfort; pleasantly warm; comfortably mild characterized by genius
leery
wary; suspicious
prodigal
wastefully or recklessly extravagant giving or yielding profusely; lavish lavishly abundant; profuse a person who spends, or has spent, his or her money or substance with wasteful extravagance; spendthrift
lassitude
weariness of body or mind from strain, oppressive climate, etc.; lack of energy; listlessness; languor a condition of indolent indifference
notorious
widely and unfavorably known publicly or generally known as for a particular trait
credulous
willing to believe or trust too readily, especially without proper or adequate evidence; gullible marked by or arising from credulity
venal
willing to sell one's influence, especially in return for a bribe; open to bribery; mercenary able to be purchased, as by a bribe associated with or characterized by bribery
prudent
wise or judicious in practical affairs; sagacious; discreet or circumspect; sober careful in providing for the future; provident
askance to
with suspicion, mistrust, or disapproval with a side glance; sidewise; obliquely
insipid
without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities; vapid without sufficient taste to be pleasing, as food or drink; bland
ineptness
without skill or aptitude for a particular task or assignment; maladroit generally awkward or clumsy; haplessly incompetent inappropriate; unsuitable; out of place absurd or foolish
mercenary
working or acting merely for money or other reward; venal hired to serve in a foreign army, guerrilla organization, etc. a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army
artifices
a clever trick or stratagem; a cunning, crafty device or expedient; wile trickery; guile; craftiness cunning; ingenuity; inventiveness
antipathy
a natural, basic, or habitual repugnance; aversion an instinctive contrariety or opposition in feeling an object of natural aversion or habitual dislike
aquiline
(of the nose) shaped like an eagle's beak; hooked of or like the eagle
anarchist
a person who advocates or believes in anarchy or anarchism a person who seeks to overturn by violence all constituted forms and institutions of society and government, with no purpose of establishing any other system of order in the place of that destroyed a person who promotes disorder or excites revolt against any established rule, law, or custom
actuarial
a person who computes premium rates, dividends, risks, etc., according to probabilities based on statistical records
amateurs
a person who engages in a study, sport, or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity
adherents
a person who follows or upholds a leader, cause, etc.; supporter; follower
apologist
a person who makes a defense in speech or writing of a belief, idea, etc.
arcades
a series of arches supported on piers or columns an arched, roofed-in gallery an arched or covered passageway, usually with shops on each side
anomie (or anomy)
a state or condition of individuals or society characterized by a breakdown or absence of social norms and values, as in the case of uprooted people
apathy
absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting
antagonistic
acting in opposition; opposing, especially mutually hostile; unfriendly
antagonism
an active hostility or opposition, as between unfriendly or conflicting groups an opposing force, principle, or tendency
apologia
an apology, as in defense or justification of a belief, idea, etc. a work written as an explanation or justification of one's motives, convictions, or acts
artifacts
any object made by human beings, especially with a view to subsequent use a handmade object, as a tool, or the remains of one, as a shard of pottery, characteristic of an earlier time or cultural stage, especially such an object found at an archaeological excavation
albatross
any of several large, web-footed sea birds of the family a seemingly inescapable moral or emotional burden, as of guilt or responsibility
aristocratic
of or relating to govenment by an aristocracy belonging to or favoring the aristocracy characteristic of an aristocrat; having the manners, or qualities associated with the aristocracy
antithetical to
of the nature of or involving antithesis directly opposed or contrasted; opposite
anecdotal
pertaining to, resembling, or containing anecdotes pertaining to the relationship of figures or to the arrangement of elements in a scene so as to emphasize the story content of a subject
affability
pleasantly easy to approach and talk to; friendly; cordial; warmly polite showing warmth and friendliness; benign; pleasant
amenable
ready or willing to answer, act, agree, or yield; open to influence, persuasion, or advice; agreeable; submissive; tractable
aesthetic (adj.)
relating to the philosophy of aesthetics; concerned with notions such as the beauty and the ugly
arduous
requiring great exertion; laborious; difficult requiring or using much energy and vigor; strenuous hard to climb; steep hard to endure; full of hardships; severe
arcadian
rural, rustic, or pastoral, especially suggesting simple, innocent contentment
abreast of
side by side; beside each other in a line equal to or alongside in progress, attainment, or awareness
artful
slyly crafty or cunning; deceitful; tricky skillful or clever in adapting means to ends; ingenious done with or characterized by art or skill
artfully
slyly crafty or cunning; deceitful; tricky skillful or clever in adapting means to ends; ingenious done with or characterized by art or skill
apocrypha
various religious writings of uncertain origin regarded by some as inspired, but rejected by most authorities
alluring
very attractive or tempting; enticing; seductive fascinating; charming
akimbo
with hand on hip and elbow bent outward