Word 9

decoy (n)

a bird or mammal, or an imitation of one, used by hunters to attract other birds or mammals. "a decoy duck" a person or thing used to mislead or lure an animal or person into a trap. "we need a decoy to distract their attention" synonyms: lure, bait, red herring; More 2. a pond from which narrow netted channels lead, into which wild ducks may be enticed for capture. verb verb: decoy; 3rd person present: decoys; past tense: decoyed; past participle: decoyed; gerund or present participle: decoying /dəˈkoi/ 1. lure or entice (a person or animal) away from an intended course, typically into a trap. "they would try to decoy the enemy toward the hidden group" synonyms: lure, entice, induce, inveigle, ensnare; More

phalanx (n)

a body of troops or police officers, standing or moving in close formation. "six hundred marchers set off, led by a phalanx of police" a group of people or things of a similar type forming a compact body. "he headed past the phalanx of waiting reporters to the line of limos"

RECOGNIZANCE (N)

a bond by which a person undertakes before a court or magistrate to observe some condition, especially to appear when summoned. "he was released on his own recognizance"

LEDGER (n)

a book or other collection of financial accounts of a particular type. "the total balance of the purchases ledger" synonyms: book, account book, record book, register, log, accounts; More records, books; balance sheet, financial statement "a sales ledger"

SMORGASBORD (n)

a buffet offering a variety of hot and cold meats, salads, hors d'oeuvres, etc. a wide range of something; a variety. "the album is a smorgasbord of different musical styles"

CHARNEL HOUSE

a building or vault in which corpses or bones are piled. a place associated with violent death. "Europe in the immediate postwar period had become a charnel house"

CHARM OFFENSIVE

a campaign of flattery and friendliness designed to achieve the support or agreement of others. "a charm offensive aimed at winning the confidence of Russia"

REPOSITORY (n)

a central location in which data is stored and managed. "the metadata will be aggregated in a repository" a person or thing regarded as a store of information or in which something abstract is held to exist or be found. "his mind was a rich repository of the past" synonyms: store, storehouse, depository, self-storage; More

MICROCOSM (n)

a community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristic qualities or features of something much larger. "Berlin is a microcosm of Germany, in unity as in division" humankind regarded as the epitome of the universe.

ARMS RACE

a competition between nations for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons, especially between the US and the former Soviet Union during the Cold War.

close-knit

describes a group of people in which everyone helps and supports each other; (of a group of people) united or bound together by strong relationships and common interests. "a close-knit community"

APPRISE (v)

inform or tell (someone). "I thought it right to apprise Chris of what had happened" synonyms: inform, tell, notify, advise, brief, make aware, enlighten, update, keep posted; More informalclue in, fill in, bring up to speed "we'll apprise you of any changes in your husband's condition"

Jarring (adj)

incongruous in a striking or shocking way; clashing. "the telephone struck a jarring note in those Renaissance surroundings" 2. causing a physical shock, jolt, or vibration. "the truck came to a jarring halt"

APPRISE (V)

inform or tell (someone). "I thought it right to apprise Chris of what had happened" synonyms: inform, tell, notify, advise, brief, make aware, enlighten, update, keep posted; More

STEW (v)

informal worry about something, especially on one's own. "James will be expecting us, so we will let him stew a bit"

UNENCUMBERED (adj)

not having any burden or impediment. "he needed to travel light and unencumbered" free of debt or other financial liability.

OBLIQUELY (adverb)

not in a direct way; indirectly. "he referred only obliquely to current events" synonyms: diagonally, at an angle, slantwise, sideways, sidelong, aslant More

MINUTIAE (n)

the small, precise, or trivial details of something. "the minutiae of everyday life" synonyms: details, niceties, finer points, particulars, trivia, trivialities "the captain cannot be concerned with the minutiae of shipboard life"

ambit (n)

the scope, extent, or bounds of something. "within the ambit of federal law" synonyms: scope, extent, range, breadth, width, reach, sweep; More

MINUTIAE (n)

the small, precise, or trivial details of something. "the minutiae of everyday life" synonyms: details, niceties, subtleties, finer points, particulars, specifics; More

GRAIN (n)

the smallest possible quantity or amount of a quality. "there wasn't a grain of truth in what he said" synonyms: trace, hint, tinge, suggestion, shadow; More

OUTSET (n)

the start or beginning of something. "a field of which he had known nothing at the outset and learned on the job" synonyms: start, starting point, beginning, commencement, dawn, birth, origin, inception, opening, launch, inauguration; informalthe word go "at the outset, we had nothing but problems" antonyms: end

BONDAGE (n)

the state of being a slave. "the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt's bondage" synonyms: slavery, enslavement, servitude, subjugation, subjection, oppression, domination, exploitation, persecution; More enthrallment, thraldom; historicalserfdom, vassalage "our own freedom is not so gratifying when we must look upon the bondage of others" antonyms: liberty 2. sexual practice that involves the tying up or restraining of one partner.

INCREDULITY (N)

the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something. "he stared down the street in incredulity" synonyms: disbelief, incredulousness, lack of belief, unbelief, lack of credence, doubt, doubtfulness, dubiety, dubiousness, lack of conviction; More

INCREDULITY (n)

the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something. "he stared down the street in incredulity" synonyms: disbelief, incredulousness, lack of belief, unbelief, lack of credence, doubt, doubtfulness, dubiety, dubiousness, lack of conviction; More antonyms: credulity, belief

COGNITIVE DISSONANCE

the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change.

BANISTER (n)

the structure formed by uprights and a handrail at the side of a staircase. synonyms: handrail, railing, rail; More a single upright at the side of the staircase. "I stuck my head between the banisters" synonyms: handrail, railing, rail; More

ERGONOMICS

the study of people's efficiency in their working environment.

CHICANERY (n)

the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose. "an underhanded person who schemes corruption and political chicanery behind closed doors" synonyms: trickery, deception, deceit, deceitfulness, duplicity, dishonesty, deviousness, unscrupulousness, underhandedness, subterfuge, fraud, fraudulence,

Inextricably

incapable of being disentangled or untied

ROM-COM

(in movies or television) a romantic comedy.

INCUMBENT (adj)

: imposed as a duty : obligatory incumbent on us to take action

INCONSISTENT

Contradictory

DIFFUSE INFORMATION

Lacking clarity

COLLATERAL EFFECT

Unintentional or incidental effects

hieroglyph (n)

a stylized picture of an object representing a word, syllable, or sound, as found in ancient Egyptian and other writing systems.

GUMSHOE (N)

a detective. "he'd been intrigued enough to put a gumshoe on the case"

TAPER (v)

`diminish or reduce or cause to diminish or reduce in thickness toward one end. "the tail tapers to a rounded tip" synonyms: narrow, thin (out), come to a point, attenuate "the leaves taper at the tip" antonyms: thicken, swell gradually lessen. "the impact of the dollar's depreciation started to taper off" synonyms: decrease, lessen, dwindle, diminish, reduce, decline, die down, peter out, wane, ebb, slacken (off), fall off, let up, thin out "the meetings soon tapered off" antonyms: increase

MALADY (n)

a disease or ailment. "an incurable malady" synonyms: illness, sickness, disease, infection, ailment, disorder, complaint, indisposition, affliction, infirmity, syndrome; More

FLARE UP

a sudden outburst of something, especially violence or a medical condition. "a flare-up between the two countries"

ANNUS HORRIBILIS (n)

a year of disaster or misfortune.

JAUNDICE (n)

bitterness, resentment, or envy.

WROUGHT

brought into being; made:

DIS

disrespectful talk. "the airwaves bristle with the sexual dis of shock jocks"

COPACETIC

in excellent order

AFOUL (adverb)

into conflict or difficulty with.

INANE (adj)

lacking significance, meaning, or point

Affective forecasting

our ability to predict how events will make us feel

EMBALMING

preserves the human body intact

AD NAUSEAM (adv)

referring to something that has been done or repeated so often that it has become annoying or tiresome. "the inherent risks of nuclear power have been debated ad nauseam"

stricture (n)

something that restrains; negative criticism

SIMONY (n)

the buying and selling of church offices

Immutable

unchangeable

UNTOWARD (adj)

unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient. "both tried to behave as if nothing untoward had happened" synonyms: unexpected, unanticipated, unforeseen, unpredictable, unpredicted; More antonyms: expected, timely, appropriate

BIFURCATE (v, adj)

verb verb: bifurcate; 3rd person present: bifurcates; past tense: bifurcated; past participle: bifurcated; gerund or present participle: bifurcating /ˈbīfərˌkāt/ 1. divide into two branches or forks. "just below Cairo the river bifurcates" adjective adjective: bifurcate /bīˈfərkāt,bīˈfərkət/ 1. forked; branched. "a bifurcate tree"

EFFERVESCENT

vivacious and enthusiastic. "effervescent young people"

DORK

a man's penis.

FLATLINE (v)

(of a person) die. (of a project or undertaking) fail. "the film has flatlined" 2. fail to increase; remain static. "their share of the vote has flatlined at about 3%"

BARTER (v, n)

(V) exchange (goods or services) for other goods or services without using money. "he often bartered a meal for drawings" synonyms: trade, swap, exchange, sell "they bartered grain for salt" (N) the action or system of exchanging goods or services without using money. "it will be paid for by a mixture of barter and cash" the goods or services used in bartering. "I took a supply of coffee and cigarettes to use as barter"

RAMP UP

(especially in reference to the production of goods) increase or cause to increase in amount. "they ramped up production to meet booming demand"

INTER VIVOS (adverb & adj)

(especially of a gift as opposed to a legacy) between living people. "gifts made inter vivos"

UNKEMPT (ADJ)

(especially of a person) having an untidy or disheveled appearance. "they were unwashed and unkempt" synonyms: untidy, messy, scruffy, disordered, disheveled, disarranged, rumpled, windblown, ungroomed, bedraggled, in a mess, messed up, shabby, slovenly, shaggy; More antonyms: tidy, neat

DEDUCTIBLE

(in an insurance policy) a specified amount of money that the insured must pay before an insurance company will pay a claim. "a traditional insurance policy with a low deductible"

UMPIRE (n)

(in some sports) an official who watches a game or match closely to enforce the rules and arbitrate on matters arising from the play. synonyms: referee, linesman, adjudicator, arbitrator, judge, moderator, official; More ref, ump "the umpire reversed his decision" a person chosen to arbitrate between contending parties.

VIRAC (n)

(in the Roman Catholic Church) a representative or deputy of a bishop. (in the Episcopal Church) a member of the clergy in charge of a chapel. (in the Church of England) an incumbent of a parish where tithes formerly passed to a chapter or religious house or layman. (in other Anglican Churches) a member of the clergy deputizing for another. synonyms: minister, rector, priest, parson, minister of religion, clergyman, clergywoman, cleric, churchman, churchwoman, ecclesiastic, pastor, father, man/woman of the cloth, man/woman of god, curate, chaplain, curé, presbyter, preacher, lay preacher, evangelist, divine; More a cleric or choir member appointed to sing certain parts of a cathedral service.

PREEN (v)

(of a bird) straighten and clean its feathers with its beak. "robins preened at the pool's edge" synonyms: clean, tidy, groom, smooth, arrange; archaicplume "the robin preened its feathers" (of a person) devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one's appearance. "adolescents preening in their bedroom mirrors" synonyms: admire oneself, primp oneself, groom oneself, spruce oneself up; More informaltitivate oneself, doll oneself up, gussy oneself up "she preened before the mirror" congratulate or pride oneself. "he's busy preening himself on acquiring such a pretty girlfriend"

NEBULOUS (adj)

(of a concept or idea) unclear, vague, or ill-defined. "nebulous concepts like quality of life" synonyms: vague, ill-defined, unclear, hazy, uncertain, indefinite, indeterminate, imprecise, unformed, muddled, confused, ambiguous "nebulous ideas"

GAPING (N)

(of a hole, wound, etc.) wide open. "there was a gaping hole in the wall" synonyms: cavernous, yawning, wide, broad; More

mansplain (v)

(of a man) explain (something) to someone, typically a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing. "I'm listening to a guy mansplain economics to his wife"

up-and-coming (adj)

(of a person beginning a particular activity or occupation) making good progress and likely to become successful. "up-and-coming young players" synonyms: promising, budding, emerging, rising, with potential, to watch, upwardly-mobile; More

PRESUMPTUOS

(of a person or their behavior) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate. "I hope I won't be considered presumptuous if I offer some advice" synonyms: brazen, overconfident, arrogant, egotistical, overbold, bold, audacious, pert, forward, familiar, impertinent, fresh, free, insolent, impudent, cocksure; More

DECREPIT

(of a person) elderly and infirm. "a decrepit old drunk" synonyms: feeble, enfeebled, infirm, weak, weakened, weakly, frail, debilitated, incapacitated, wasted, doddering, tottering, out of shape, in bad shape; More antonyms: strong, fit worn out or ruined because of age or neglect. "centuries-old buildings, now decrepit and black with soot" synonyms: dilapidated, rickety, run down, broken-down, tumbledown, ramshackle, worn out, derelict, in ruins, ruined, falling apart, falling to pieces, in (a state of) disrepair, creaky, creaking, gone to rack and ruin, on its last legs; More antonyms: sound

UNWITTING (adj)

(of a person) not aware of the full facts. "an unwitting accomplice" synonyms: unknowing, unconscious, unsuspecting, oblivious, unaware, innocent, in the dark "an unwitting accomplice" antonyms: knowing not done on purpose; unintentional. "we are anxious to rectify the unwitting mistakes made in the past" synonyms: unintentional, unintended, inadvertent, involuntary, unconscious, accidental "an unwitting mistake" antonyms: conscious

CONVULSE (v)

(of a person) suffer violent involuntary contraction of the muscles, producing contortion of the body or limbs. "she convulsed, collapsing to the floor with the pain" synonyms: shake uncontrollably, go into spasms, shudder, jerk, thrash about "his whole body convulsed" (of an emotion, laughter, or physical stimulus) cause (someone) to make sudden, violent, uncontrollable movements. "Carlos was convulsed by a second bout of sneezing" 2. throw (a country) into violent social or political upheaval. "a wave of mass strikes convulsed the Ruhr, Berlin, and central Germany"

CONVULSE (v)

(of a person) suffer violent involuntary contraction of the muscles, producing contortion of the body or limbs. "she convulsed, collapsing to the floor with the pain" synonyms: shake uncontrollably/violently, go into spasms, shudder, jerk, thrash about; suffer a fit "his whole body convulsed" (of an emotion, laughter, or physical stimulus) cause (someone) to make sudden, violent, uncontrollable movements. "she rocked backward and forward, convulsed with helpless mirth" synonyms: laugh uproariously, roar with laughter, hold one's sides, be doubled up with laughter; More 2. throw (a country) into violent social or political upheaval. "a wave of mass strikes convulsed the Ruhr, Berlin, and central Germany"

VOLUBLE (adj)

(of a person) talking fluently, readily, or incessantly. "a voluble game-show host" synonyms: talkative, loquacious, garrulous, verbose, long-winded, wordy, chatty, chattery, gossipy, chattering, babbling, blathering, prattling, jabbering, effusive, gushing, forthcoming, conversational, communicative, expansive, open, unreserved; More antonyms: taciturn, uncommunicative, mute (of speech) characterized by fluency and readiness of utterance. "an excited and voluble discussion"

PRANCE (v)

(of a person) walk or move around with ostentatious, exaggerated movements. "she pranced around the lounge impersonating her favorite pop stars" synonyms: cavort, dance, jig, trip, caper, jump, leap, spring, bound, skip, hop; More parade, strut, swagger, swank; frisk, gambol, romp, frolic, curvet; informalsashay, cut a/the rug; rarepeacock, rollick, capriole "he was prancing around in his underpants"

MEANDER (v)

(of a person) wander at random. "kids meandered in and out" synonyms: stroll, saunter, amble, wander, roam, ramble, rove, drift, maunder, stray, straggle; More (of a speaker or text) proceed aimlessly or with little purpose. "a stylish offbeat thriller which occasionally meanders" synonyms: ramble, prattle, maunder, prate, blather, blether, blither, drivel, chatter, rattle, drift; M

indie (ADJ, N)

(of a pop group, record label, or film company) not belonging to or affiliated with a major record or film company. characteristic of the deliberately unpolished or uncommercial style of small independent pop groups. noun noun: indie; plural noun: indies 1. an indie pop group, record label, or film company. indie music regarded as a genre.

BLEAK (adj)

(of a situation or future prospect) not hopeful or encouraging; unlikely to have a favorable outcome. "he paints a bleak picture of a company that has lost its way" synonyms: unpromising, unfavorable, unpropitious, inauspicious; More discouraging, disheartening, depressing, dreary, dismal, dim, gloomy, black, dark, grim, hopeless, somber "the future is bleak" antonyms: promising (of a person or a person's expression) cold and forbidding. "his bleak, near vacant eyes grew remote"

OPERATIVE WORD

(of a word) having the most relevance or significance in a phrase or sentence. "a young man, and the operative word is young, should go into the armed services at around seventeen" synonyms: key, significant, relevant, applicable, pertinent, apposite, germane, apropos, crucial, critical, main, chief, major, central, pivotal, fundamental, vital, important, essential ""might" is the operative word" antonyms: irrelevant

CALLOW (adj)

(of a young person) inexperienced and immature. "earnest and callow undergraduates" synonyms: immature, inexperienced, naive, green, as green as grass, born yesterday, raw, unseasoned, untrained, untried; More

TAXI (v)

(of an aircraft) move slowly along the ground before takeoff or after landing. "the plane taxis up to a waiting limousine"

ABUTT (v)

(of an area of land or a building) be next to or have a common boundary with. "gardens abutting Prescott Street" touch or lean upon. "masonry may crumble where a roof abuts it" synonyms: adjoin, be adjacent to, butt against, border, neighbor, join, touch, meet, reach, be contiguous with "two rows of forsythia abut one another where the driveway meets the sidewalk"

augur (v)

(of an event or circumstance) portend a good or bad outcome. "the end of the cold war seemed to augur well" synonyms: bode; More

PITHY (adj)

(of language or style) concise and forcefully expressive. synonyms: succinct, terse, concise, compact, short (and sweet), brief, condensed, to the point, epigrammatic, crisp, thumbnail; More antonyms: verbose

GLISTEN (v)

(of something wet or greasy) shine; glitter. "his cheeks glistened with tears" synonyms: shine, sparkle, twinkle, glint, glitter, glimmer, shimmer, wink, flash; literaryglister "the sea glistened in the morning light"

OUTPOST

. a small military camp or position at some distance from the main force, used especially as a guard against surprise attack. 2. a remote part of a country or empire. something regarded as an isolated or remote branch of something. "the community is the last outpost of civilization in the far north"

PROLIX (adj)

(of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy. "he found the narrative too prolix and discursive" synonyms: lengthy, long-winded, long-drawn-out, overlong, prolonged, protracted, interminable, laborious, ponderous, endless, unending, verbose, wordy, full of verbiage, verbal, diffuse, discursive, digressive, rambling, wandering, circuitous, meandering, maundering, periphrastic, circumlocutory; More informalwindy; rareambagious, pleonastic, circumlocutionary, logorrhoeic "his prolix speeches could often be tiresome"

EMERITUS (adj)

(of the former holder of an office, especially a college professor) having retired but allowed to retain their title as an honor. "emeritus professor of microbiology"

DAPPER (adj)

(typically of a man) neat and trim in dress, appearance, or bearing. "he looked very dapper in a dark silk suit" synonyms: smart, spruce, trim, debonair, neat, tidy, neat and tidy, crisp, well dressed, besuited, well groomed, well turned out, smartly dressed, elegant, chic, dashing; More soigné;

NEFARIOUS (adj)

(typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal. "the nefarious activities of the organized-crime syndicates" synonyms: wicked, evil, sinful, iniquitous, egregious, heinous, atrocious, vile, foul, abominable, odious, depraved, monstrous, fiendish, diabolical, unspeakable, despicable; More antonyms: good

IMPUGN (v)

(v.) to call into question; to attack as false

foible (noun)

1. a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character. "they have to tolerate each other's little foibles" synonyms: weakness, failing, shortcoming, flaw, imperfection, blemish, fault, defect, limitation; More quirk, kink, idiosyncrasy, eccentricity, peculiarity "we tolerate each other's foibles" antonyms: strength

gorge (n)

1. a narrow valley between hills or mountains, typically with steep rocky walls and a stream running through it. synonyms: ravine, canyon, gully, defile, couloir; More

AUBURN (n, v)

. (chiefly of a person's hair) of a reddish-brown color. synonyms: reddish-brown, red-brown, Titian (red), tawny, russet, chestnut, copper, coppery, rufous, rust "auburn hair" noun noun: auburn 1. a reddish-brown color.

FRAUGHT (adj)

. (of a situation or course of action) filled with or destined to result in (something undesirable). "marketing any new product is fraught with danger" synonyms: full of, filled with, rife with; More attended by, accompanied by "their world is fraught with danger" 2. causing or affected by great anxiety or stress. "there was a fraught silence" synonyms: anxious, worried, stressed, upset, distraught, overwrought, worked up, antsy, agitated, distressed, distracted, desperate, frantic, panic-stricken, panic-struck, panicky; More beside oneself, at one's wits' end, at the end of one's tether/rope; informalwound up, in a state, in a flap, in a cold sweat, tearing one's hair out, having kittens "she sounded a bit fraught"

OASIS (n)

. a fertile spot in a desert where water is found. synonyms: watering hole, watering place, waterhole, spring "an oasis near Cairo" a pleasant or peaceful area or period in the midst of a difficult, troubled, or hectic place or situation. "an oasis of calm in the center of the city" synonyms: refuge, haven, retreat, sanctuary, sanctum, shelter, harbor, asylum "the park is an oasis filled with half a million flowers and thousands of lights"

HOAX (n)

. a humorous or malicious deception. "they recognized the plan as a hoax" synonyms: practical joke, joke, jest, prank, trick; More ruse, deception, fraud, bluff, confidence trick; informalcon, spoof, scam, setup "the Piltdown man was perhaps the most successful hoax of the twentieth century"

screed

. a long speech or piece of writing, typically one regarded as tedious. "her criticism appeared in the form of screeds in a local film magazine" 2. a leveled layer of material (e.g., cement) applied to a floor or other surface. a strip of plaster or other material placed on a surface as a guide to thickness. verb verb: screed; 3rd person present: screeds; gerund or present participle: screeding; past tense: screeded; past participle: screeded 1. level (a floor or layer of concrete) with a straight edge using a back and forth motion while moving across the surface.

ELITIST (adj)

. a person who believes that a society or system should be led by an elite. "critics portray him as an out-of-touch elitist" synonyms: aristocrat, blue blood; snob "the elitists wield too much influence"

PHILISTINE (n)

. a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them. "I am a complete philistine when it comes to paintings" synonyms: uncultured, lowbrow, anti-intellectual, uncultivated, uncivilized, uneducated, unenlightened, commercial, materialist, bourgeois; More a member of a non-Semitic people of ancient southern Palestine, who came into conflict with the Israelites during the 12th and 11th centuries BC.

ENTERPRISE (n)

. a project or undertaking, typically one that is difficult or requires effort. "a joint enterprise between French and Japanese companies" synonyms: undertaking, endeavor, venture, exercise, activity, operation, task, business, proceeding; More project, scheme, plan, program, campaign "a joint enterprise" initiative and resourcefulness. "success came quickly, thanks to a mixture of talent, enterprise, and luck" synonyms: initiative, resourcefulness, imagination, entrepreneurialism, ingenuity, inventiveness, originality, creativity; More quick-wittedness, cleverness; enthusiasm, dynamism, drive, ambition, energy; boldness, daring, courage, leadership; informalgumption, get-up-and-go, oomph "we want candidates with enterprise" 2. a business or company. "a state-owned enterprise" synonyms: business, company, firm, venture, organization, operation, concern, corporation, establishment, partnership; More informaloutfit, setup "a profit-making enterprise" entrepreneurial economic activity.

VENTURE (n)

. a risky or daring journey or undertaking. "pioneering ventures into little-known waters" a business enterprise involving considerable risk. synonyms: enterprise, undertaking, project, initiative, scheme, operation, endeavor, speculation, plunge, gamble, gambit, experiment "a business venture"

CONVENTIONAL (n)

. a way in which something is usually done, especially within a particular area or activity. "the woman who overturned so many conventions of children's literature" behavior that is considered acceptable or polite to most members of a society. "he was an upholder of convention and correct form" synonyms: custom, usage, practice, tradition, way, habit, norm; More rule, code, canon, punctilio; propriety, etiquette, protocol; formalpraxis; mores "social conventions" a large meeting or conference, especially of members of a political party or a particular profession. "a convention of retail merchants" synonyms: conference, meeting, congress, assembly, gathering, summit, convocation, synod, conclave "the party's biennial convention"

SPLURGE (n)

. an act of spending money freely or extravagantly. "the annual pre-Christmas splurge"

ENCLOSURE

. an area that is sealed off with an artificial or natural barrier. synonyms: paddock, fold, pen, compound, stockade, ring, yard; More an artificial or natural barrier that seals off an area.

czar (tzar)

. an emperor of Russia before 1917. "Tsar Nicholas II" a South Slav ruler in former times, especially one reigning over Serbia in the 14th century. 2. a person appointed by government to advise on and coordinate policy in a particular area. "America's new drug czar"

MUTINY

. an open rebellion against the proper authorities, especially by soldiers or sailors against their officers. "a mutiny by those manning the weapons could trigger a global war" synonyms: insurrection, rebellion, revolt, riot, revolution, uprising, rising, coup, coup d'état, putsch, protest, strike; More verb verb: mutiny; 3rd person present: mutinies; past tense: mutinied; past participle: mutinied; gerund or present participle: mutinying 1. refuse to obey the orders of a person in authority. synonyms: rise up, rebel, revolt, riot, take part in an insurrection/uprising, resist/oppose authority, disobey/defy authority, refuse to obey orders; More

SHODDY (adj)

. badly made or done. "we're not paying good money for shoddy goods" synonyms: poor-quality, inferior, second-rate, third-rate, low-grade, cheap, cheapjack, tawdry, rubbishy, trashy, gimcrack, jerry-built, crude, tinny; More antonyms: well made, careful lacking moral principle; sordid. "a shoddy misuse of the honor system" noun

avuncular (adj)

. relating to an uncle. kind and friendly toward a younger or less experienced person. adjective: avuncular "an avuncular manner" 2. ANTHROPOLOGY relating to the relationship between men and their siblings' children.

CODDLE (v)

. treat in an indulgent or overprotective way. "I was coddled and cosseted" synonyms: pamper, cosset, mollycoddle, wait on someone hand and foot, cater to someone's every whim; More spoil, indulge, overindulge, humor, pander to; spoon-feed, feather-bed, wrap in cotton wool, overparent; pet, baby, mother, nanny; archaiccocker "don't coddle repeat offenders—some of them prefer jail" antonyms: neglect, treat harshly, be strict with

CULTIVATE (v)

. try to acquire or develop (a quality, sentiment, or skill). "he cultivated an air of indifference" synonyms: try to acquire, pursue, court; More try to win the friendship or favor of (someone). "it helps if you go out of your way to cultivate the local people" synonyms: seek the friendship of, seek the favor of, try to win over, try to get someone on one's side, try to get on someone's good side, woo, court, pay court to, rub up the right way, run after, make advances to, make up to, keep sweet, ingratiate oneself with, curry favor with; More antonyms: ignore apply oneself to improving or developing (one's mind or manners). synonyms: improve, better, refine, elevate, polish; More

sack (v)

1. INFORMAL dismiss from employment. "any official found to be involved would be sacked on the spot" synonyms: dismiss, give someone their notice, throw out, get rid of, lay off, make redundant, let go, discharge, cashier; More antonyms: hire, take on

SCAB (n)

1. a dry, rough protective crust that forms over a cut or wound during healing.

hoe

1. a long-handled gardening tool with a thin metal blade, used mainly for weeding and breaking up soil. verb 1. use a hoe to dig (earth) or thin out or dig up (plants).

backdrop (n, v)

1. a painted cloth hung at the back of a theater stage as part of the scenery. the setting or background for a scene, event, or situation. "the conference took place against a backdrop of increasing diplomatic activity" verb verb: backdrop; 3rd person present: backdrops; past tense: backdropped; past participle: backdropped; gerund or present participle: backdropping 1. provide a background or setting for. "an ornate fountain, and at its center, backdropped with golden spray, a statue of a young girl"

EXPAT (short for expatriation)

1. a person who lives outside their native country. "American expatriates in London" ARCHAIC a person exiled from their native country. synonyms: emigrant, nonnative, émigré, migrant; informalexpat "expatriates working overseas" antonyms: national

FACULTY (n)

1. an inherent mental or physical power. "her critical faculties" synonyms: power, capability, capacity, facility, wherewithal, means; More senses, wits, reason, intelligence "the faculty of speech" an aptitude or talent for doing something. "the author's faculty for philosophical analysis" synonyms: ability, proficiency, competence, capability, potential, capacity, facility; More aptitude, talent, gift, flair, bent, skill, knack, genius; expertise, expertness, adeptness, adroitness, dexterity, prowess, mastery, artistry "an unusual faculty for unearthing contributors"

CONJECTURE (n)

1. an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information. "conjectures about the newcomer were many and varied" synonyms: guess, speculation, surmise, fancy, notion, belief, suspicion, presumption, assumption, theory, hypothesis, postulation, supposition; More antonyms: fact an unproven mathematical or scientific theorem. "the Goldbach conjecture" (in textual criticism) the suggestion or reconstruction of a reading of a text not present in the original source.

ANIMUS (n)

1. hostility or ill feeling. "the author's animus toward her" 2. motivation to do something. "the reformist animus came from within the Party"

PERENNIALLY

1. in a way that continues for a long or apparently infinite time; permanently. "a new blow to the perennially struggling economy" 2. on a yearly basis for several years. "a lily that grows perennially from bulbs"

FLINCH (v)

1. make a quick, nervous movement of the face or body as an instinctive reaction to surprise, fear or pain. "she flinched at the acidity in his voice" synonyms: wince, start, shudder, quiver, jerk, shy "he flinched at the noise"

CONCOMITANT (adj)

1. naturally accompanying or associated. "she loved travel, with all its concomitant worries" synonyms: attendant, accompanying, associated, related, connected; More antonyms: unrelated noun noun: concomitant; plural noun: concomitants 1. a phenomenon that naturally accompanies or follows something. "some of us look on pain and illness as concomitants of the stresses of living"

NONJUDICIAL (adj)

1. not resulting from a court ruling or judgment. "nonjudicial punishment" 2. not involving courts or judges. "nonjudicial appointments"

superlative (adj)

1. of the highest quality or degree. "a superlative piece of skill" synonyms: excellent, magnificent, wonderful, marvelous, supreme, consummate, outstanding, remarkable, fine, choice, first-rate, first-class, premier, prime, unsurpassed, unequaled, unparalleled, unrivaled, preeminent; More

SOCIO (combining form)

1. relating to society; society and ... "socioeconomic" 2. relating to sociology; sociology and ... "sociolinguistics"

PURGE (v)

1. rid (someone) of an unwanted feeling, memory, or condition, typically giving a sense of cathartic release. "Bob had helped purge Martha of the terrible guilt that had haunted her" synonyms: cleanse, clear, purify, wash, shrive, absolve "he purged them of their doubt" free someone from (an unwanted feeling, memory, or condition). remove (a group of people considered undesirable) from an organization or place in an abrupt or violent manner. "he purged all but 26 of the central committee members" synonyms: remove, get rid of, expel, eject, exclude, dismiss, sack, oust, eradicate, clear out, weed out "lawbreakers were purged from the army"

CAW (n)

1. the harsh cry of a crow or similar bird.

ADDLED (adj)

1. unable to think clearly; confused. "this might just be my addled brain playing tricks" 2. (of an egg) rotten.

monolithic (adj)

2. (of an organization or system) large, powerful, and intractably indivisible and uniform. "rejecting any move toward a monolithic European superstate" synonyms: inflexible, rigid, unbending, unchanging, fossilized "a monolithic organization"

GRIT (n)

2. courage and resolve; strength of character. "he displayed the true grit of the navy pilot" synonyms: courage, bravery, pluck, mettle, backbone, spirit, strength of character, strength of will, moral fiber, steel, nerve, fortitude, toughness, hardiness, resolve, resolution, determination, tenacity, perseverance, endurance; More

categorically (adv)

absolutely, entirely in a way that is unambiguously explicit and direct. "the rules state categorically, "No violence.""

PESTILENCE (n)

: a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating; especially : bubonic plague 2 : something that is destructive or pernicious I'll pour this pestilence into his ear — William Shakespeare

TOGGLE (v)

: to switch between two different options for (something, such as a computer setting) usually by pressing a single button or a simple key combination

TAKE UP THE GAUNTLET

accept (or issue) a challenge. "he threw down the gauntlet to cabinet colleagues"

ABLEIST (v)

A PERSON or People who discriminate or social prejudice against people with disabilities. It can also be someone who judges or makes fun of someone with a disability or handicap.

moot point

A debatable question, an issue open to argument; also, an irrelevant question, a matter of no importance. For example, Whether Shakespeare actually wrote the poem remains a moot point among critics, or It's a moot point whether the chicken or the egg came first.

preponderance of the evidence

A requirement that more than 50% of the evidence points to something. This is the burden of proof in a civil trial.

SUPERPREDATOR

A term used to refer to dangerous youth in which rehabilitation seemed improbable. The term is considered a racist term as it was used almost exclusively in regard to African American youth.

Ebonics

American black English regarded as a language in its own right rather than as a dialect of standard English.

LITMUS TEST

If you say that something is a litmus test of something, you mean that it is an effective and definite way of proving it or measuring it.

BARREL (V)

INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN drive or move fast, often heedless of surroundings or conditions. "we barreled across the Everglades" synonyms: charge, plow, stampede, rush, go headlong; zoom "barreling down the road"

SAPPY

INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN excessively sentimental; mawkish. "sappy old love songs" 2. (of a plant) containing a lot of sap.

(From the court's standpoint) when is a fact legally relevant?

If a decision in the case woukd actually be affected by it - if the court would incline towards one side when the fact if present and toward the other side if it is absent

(Lawyer's standpoint) when is a fact relevant?

If there is substantial likelihood that the fact's existence will influence some decision by the count, either by bearing directly on the final judgement or by affecting one of the many lesser rulings that the judge will make along the way

BLUE FLU (n)

Informal job actions by officers in which they call in sick and/or refuse to perform certain job functions in an attempt to win labor concessions from their employers.; a strike action, especially among police officers, in which workers are absent on the pretext of sickness.

RETAINER AGREEMENT

It is common for a person seeking the services of a lawyer (attorney) to pay a retainer ("retainer fee") to the lawyer, to see a case through to its conclusion.[2] A retainer can be a single advance payment or a recurring (e.g. monthly) payment.[3] Absent an agreement to the contrary, a retainer fee is refundable if the work is not performed; is a work for hire contract. It falls between a one-off contract and permanent employment, which may be full-time or part-time.[1] Its distinguishing feature is that the client or customer pays in advance for professional work to be specified later. The purpose of a retainer fee is to ensure payment for future services or work to be rendered.

Notably

Most importantly

Fecund (adj)

Productive; fertile producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertile. "a lush and fecund garden" synonyms: fertile, fruitful, productive, high-yielding; More rich, lush, flourishing, thriving "the fecund wheat fields" antonyms: barren technical (of a woman or women) capable of becoming pregnant and giving birth.

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH

Someone or something with potential or talent but lacking training or polish

P.M. (post meridiem)

The 12-hour clock is a time convention in which the 24 hours of the day are divided into two periods: a.m. (from Latin ante meridiem, translates to, before midday) and p.m. (from Latin post meridiem translates to, past midday).

REMAINS AT LARGE

That's bad news, because it means they're not in police custody. People use this term when someone escapes from the police or hasn't been captured yet. ... A criminal is at large until the police catch him.

Primus (Latin)

The first

Vacuity (n)

The state of lacking any real meaning, importance, or intelligence; lack of thought or intelligence; empty-headedness. "full of excitement, I listened to my first student sermon - only to be taken aback by its vacuity" 2. empty space; emptiness.

focalism

The tendency to fixate only on the upside

Begrudge (v)

To resent another's success; to give with reluctance

Ensue (v)

To result from, to follow; happen or occur afterward or as a result. "the difficulties that ensued from their commitment to Cuba" synonyms: result, follow, develop, proceed, succeed, emerge, stem, arise, derive, issue; More occur, happen, take place, come next/after, transpire, supervene; formaleventuate; literarycome to pass, befall "Evelyn showed up unexpectedly and a fierce argument ensued"

TRUE NORTH

True North is your orienting point - your fixed point in a spinning world - that helps you stay on track as a leader. It is derived from your most deeply held beliefs, values, and the principles you lead by. It is your internal compass, unique to you, representing who you are at your deepest level.

CHANCELLOR (n)

US the president or chief administrative officer of a college or university; a senior state or legal official. "the Lord chancellor and the judges will consider the application"

Sundry (adj)

Various or diverse

Nefarious (adj)

Wicked or criminal; typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal. "the nefarious activities of the organized-crime syndicates" synonyms: wicked, evil, sinful, iniquitous, egregious, heinous, atrocious, vile, foul, abominable, odious, depraved, monstrous, fiendish, diabolical, unspeakable, despicable; More villainous, criminal, corrupt, illegal, unlawful; dateddastardly "the nefarious long-lost brother returns to steal Iris's inheritance" antonyms: good

UNDERDOG

a competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest. "we go into this game as the underdogs" synonyms: weaker party, victim, prey; More loser, scapegoat; informallittle fellow, little guy, fall guy, stooge "he particularly relished a political battle when he was the underdog" a person who has little status in society. "what is it like to be an underdog in America?"

UNDERDOG (n)

a competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest. "we go into this game as the underdogs" synonyms: weaker party, victim, prey; More loser, scapegoat; informallittle fellow, little guy, fall guy, stooge "he particularly relished a political battle when he was the underdog" a person who has little status in society. "what is it like to be an underdog in America?"

Morass (n)

a complicated or confused situation. "she would become lost in a morass of lies and explanations" synonyms: confusion, chaos, muddle, tangle, entanglement, imbroglio, mix-up, jumble, clutter; More

EXPOSITION (n)

a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory. "the exposition and defense of his ethics" synonyms: explanation, description, elucidation, explication, interpretation; More account, commentary, appraisal, assessment, discussion, exegesis "a lucid exposition"

TRACHOMA (n)

a contagious bacterial infection of the eye in which there is inflamed granulation on the inner surface of the lids.

SCABIES (n)

a contagious skin disease marked by itching and small raised red spots, caused by the itch mite.

FOLLOW UP

a continuation or repetition of something that has already been started or done, in particular. an activity carried out as part of a study in order to monitor or further develop earlier work. "follow-up interviews" further observation or treatment of a patient, especially to monitor earlier treatment. "patients who require proper medical follow-up" a piece of work that builds on or exploits the success of earlier work. "she is writing a follow-up to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice"

CLENCH (n)

a contraction or tightening of part of the body. "she saw the anger rise, saw the clench of his fists"

KOOK (n)

a crazy or eccentric person

IVORY (n)

a creamy-white color.

EUREKA (exclamation)

a cry of joy or satisfaction when one finds or discovers something. synonyms: bingo, I've got it, that's it "Eureka! The word 'borage' completes the crossword puzzle!"

RAVINE (n)

a deep, narrow gorge with steep sides. synonyms: gorge, canyon, gully, couloir; More

RESPONDENT (n)

a defendant in a lawsuit, especially one in an appeals or divorce case. 2. a person who replies to something, especially one supplying information for a survey or questionnaire or responding to an advertisement.

ROUT (n)

a disorderly retreat of defeated troops. "the retreat degenerated into a rout" synonyms: disorderly retreat, retreat, flight, headlong flight "the army's offensive turned into an ignominious rout" DATED•LAW an assembly of people who have made a move toward committing an illegal act which would constitute an offense of riot.

MISGIVING (n)

a feeling of doubt or apprehension about the outcome or consequences of something. "we have misgivings about the way the campaign is being run" synonyms: qualm, doubt, reservation; More

TREPIDATION (n)

a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen. "the men set off in fear and trepidation" synonyms: fear, apprehension, dread, fearfulness, fright, agitation, anxiety, worry, nervousness, tension, misgivings, unease, uneasiness, foreboding, disquiet, dismay, consternation, alarm, panic; More

FEALTY (n)

a feudal tenant's or vassal's sworn loyalty to a lord. "they owed fealty to the Earl rather than the King" formal acknowledgement of loyalty to a lord. "a property for which she did fealty"

ONSLAUGHT (n)

a fierce or destructive attack. "a series of onslaughts on the citadel" synonyms: assault, attack, offensive, advance, charge, onrush, rush, storming, sortie, sally, raid, descent, incursion, invasion, foray, push, thrust, drive, blitz, bombardment, barrage, salvo; historicalbroadside "the battalion's onslaught was relentless" a large quantity of people or things that is difficult to cope with. "an onslaught of electronic mail"

DICTUM (n)

a formal pronouncement from an authoritative source. "the First Amendment dictum that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech"" synonyms: pronouncement, proclamation, direction, injunction, dictate, command, commandment, order, decree, edict, mandate, diktat "he received the dictum with evident reluctance" a short statement that expresses a general truth or principle. "the old dictum "might makes right."" synonyms: saying, maxim, axiom, proverb, adage, aphorism, saw, precept, epigram, motto, truism, commonplace, platitude; More

Canon (noun)

a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged. "the appointment violated the canons of fair play and equal opportunity" synonyms: principle, rule, law, tenet, precept; More standard, convention, criterion, measure "the canons of fair play and equal opportunity" the works of a particular author or artist that are recognized as genuine. "the Shakespeare canon" synonyms: list of works, works, writings, oeuvre "the Shakespeare canon"

CON MAN

a man who cheats or tricks someone by gaining their trust and persuading them to believe something that is not true.

dashboard

a graphical summary of various pieces of important information, typically used to give an overview of a business. "an executive dashboard enables a CEO to see bank balances, the top five customers, accounts receivable, and accounts payable" a home page on a website giving access to different elements of the site's functionality. "the main line graph in the dashboard shows daily traffic to our side over the past 30 days"

ESTABLISHMENT (n)

a group in a society exercising power and influence over matters of policy or taste, and seen as resisting change. synonyms: the authorities, the powers that be, the system, the ruling class; More an influential group within a specified profession or area of activity. "rumblings of discontent among the medical establishment"

VANGUARD (N)

a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas. "the experimental spirit of the modernist vanguard" a position at the forefront of new developments or ideas. "the prototype was in the vanguard of technical development" synonyms: forefront, advance guard, spearhead, front, front line, fore, van, lead, cutting edge; More antonyms: rear, followers the foremost part of an advancing army or naval force.

RUT (N)

a habit or pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change. "the administration was stuck in a rut and was losing its direction" synonyms: boring routine, humdrum existence, routine job, same old round, groove, grind, daily grind, treadmill, dead end, assembly line "Julian felt he was stuck in a rut"

TUG (n)

a hard or sudden pull. "another tug and it came loose" synonyms: pull, jerk, wrench, heave; informalyank "the ropes still held but one good tug would do it"

OBSIDIAN (n)

a hard, dark, glasslike volcanic rock formed by the rapid solidification of lava without crystallization.

Ricin (n)

a highly toxic protein obtained from the pressed seeds of the castor-oil plant.

AMBER (n)

a honey-yellow color typical of amber. "her eyes were green flecked with amber" a yellow light used as a cautionary signal between green for "go" and red for "stop". plural noun: ambers "the lights were at amber"

CURATOR

a keeper or custodian of a museum or other collection. "the curator of drawings at the National Gallery" synonyms: custodian, keeper, conservator, guardian, caretaker, steward a person who selects acts to perform at a music festival.

SCALPEL (n)

a knife with a small, sharp, sometimes detachable blade, as used by a surgeon.

JAMBOREE (n)

a large celebration or party, typically a lavish and boisterous one. "the film industry's annual jamboree in Cannes" synonyms: rally, gathering, convention, conference; More a large rally of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. synonyms: rally, gathering, convention, conference; More

gulf (n)

a large difference or division between two people or groups, or between viewpoints, concepts, or situations. "a wide gulf between theory and practice" synonyms: divide, division, separation, gap, breach, rift, split, chasm, abyss; More

Squadron (n)

a large group of people or things. "he immediately commissioned a squadron of architects"

Welter (n)

a large number of items in no order; a confused mass. "there's such a welter of conflicting rules" synonyms: confusion, jumble, tangle, clutter, mess, hotchpotch, mishmash, flurry, rush, mass "a welter of confused sounds" a state of general disorder. "the attack petered out in a welter of bloody, confused fighting"

CONCOURSE (n)

a large open area inside or in front of a public building, as in an airport or train station. "the domestic arrivals concourse" synonyms: entrance, foyer, lobby, hall; More

CATACLYSM (N)

a large-scale and violent event in the natural world. a sudden violent upheaval, especially in a political or social context. "the cataclysm of the First World War" synonyms: disaster, catastrophe, calamity, tragedy, devastation, holocaust, ruin, ruination, upheaval, convulsion, apocalypse, act of God "their homeland was destroyed by a great cataclysm"

ROSTER (n)

a list or plan showing turns of duty or leave for individuals or groups in an organization. "next week's duty roster" synonyms: list, listing, register, schedule, agenda, calendar, roll, directory, table; rota "according to the roster, he was due to work today" a list of members of a team or organization, in particular of athletes available for team selection.

STRIPE (n)

a long narrow band or strip, typically of the same width throughout its length, differing in color or texture from the surface on either side of it. "a pair of blue shorts with pink stripes" synonyms: line, band, strip, belt, bar, streak, vein, flash, blaze; More

ARIA (n)

a long, accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.

MANTLE (N)

a loose sleeveless cloak or shawl, worn especially by women. synonyms: cloak, cape, shawl, wrap, stole; historicalpelisse "a dark green velvet mantle" an important role or responsibility that passes from one person to another. "the second son has now assumed his father's mantle" synonyms: role, burden, onus, duty, responsibility "the mantle of leadership"

PARAMOUR (n)

a lover, especially the illicit partner of a married person. synonyms: lover, significant other, inamorata; More

SQUIRE (n)

a man of high social standing who owns and lives on an estate in a rural area, especially the chief landowner in such an area. "the squire of Radbourne Hall" synonyms: landowner, landholder, landlord, lord of the manor, country gentleman "the squire of the village" INFORMAL•BRITISH used by a man as a friendly or humorous form of address to another man. ARCHAIC•US a title given to a magistrate, lawyer, or judge in some rural districts. 2. HISTORICAL a young nobleman acting as an attendant to a knight before becoming a knight himself. synonyms: attendant, courtier, equerry, aide, steward, page boy "his squire carried a banner"

JAUNDICE

a medical condition with yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, arising from excess of the pigment bilirubin and typically caused by obstruction of the bile duct, by liver disease, or by excessive breakdown of red blood cells. bitterness, resentment, or envy.

MOBSTER (n)

a member of a group of violent criminals; a gangster.

QUAKER

a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian movement founded by George Fox c. 1650 and devoted to peaceful principles. Central to the Quakers' belief is the doctrine of the "Inner Light," or sense of Christ's direct working in the soul. This has led them to reject both formal ministry and all set forms of worship. "a Quaker burial ground"

FENDER BENDER

a minor collision between motor vehicles. "he was involved in a fender bender while driving without a license"

URCHIN (N)

a mischievous young child, especially one who is poorly or raggedly dressed. "he was surrounded by a dozen street urchins in rags" synonyms: mischievous child, imp, monkey, Puck, rascal, rogue, minx, mischief-maker, prankster, tearaway; More

HASH (n)

a mixture of jumbled incongruous things; a mess. synonyms: mixture, assortment, variety, array, mix, miscellany, selection, medley, mishmash, ragbag, gallimaufry, potpourri, hodgepodge "a whole hash of excuses"

FRESCOES (n)

a painting done rapidly in watercolor on wet plaster on a wall or ceiling, so that the colors penetrate the plaster and become fixed as it dries. the fresco method of painting, used in Roman times and by the great masters of the Italian Renaissance including Giotto, Masaccio, and Michelangelo.

MODUS OPERANDI (n)

a particular way or method of doing something, especially one that is characteristic or well-established. "the volunteers were instructed to buy specific systems using our usual modus operandi—anonymously and with cash" synonyms: method of working, method, way, MO, manner, technique, style, procedure, approach, course of action, plan of action, methodology, mode, fashion, process, means, strategy, plan, formula, recipe, practice; rarepraxis the way in which something operates or works.

STASIS

a period or state of inactivity or equilibrium.

peer

a person of the same age, status, or ability as another specified person. "he has incurred much criticism from his academic peers" synonyms: equal, coequal, fellow, confrere; More

STRAGGLE

a person or animal that is last in a group to do something or the last to get to or leave a place: We watched the last of the stragglers come in, three hours after the first runner. Slow and moving slowly.

WEAKLING (n)

a person or animal that is physically weak and frail. an ineffectual or cowardly person. synonyms: milksop, namby-pamby, weak person, coward, pushover, mouse; More informalwimp, weed, sissy, snowflake, drip, wet, ninny, mummy's boy, pansy, softie, doormat, runt, chicken, yellow-belly, fraidy-cat, scaredy-cat; informalwuss, pussy; archaicpoltroon "a 125-pound weakling" antonyms: strongman, hero

CREDITOR

a person or company to whom money is owed. "he sold his Ferraris to pay off his creditors"

Fodder

a person or thing regarded only as material for a specific use. "young people ending up as factory fodder"

ENIGMA

a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand. "Madeleine was still an enigma to him" synonyms: mystery, puzzle, riddle, conundrum, paradox, problem, unsolved problem, question, question mark, quandary, a closed book; More

INTERLOPER (n)

a person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong. "Japanese consumers have in the past been unreceptive to foreign interlopers in the cell phone market" synonyms: intruder, encroacher, trespasser, invader, infiltrator, unwanted person, unwanted visitor, uninvited guest; More

PACIFICIST (n)

a person who believes that war and violence are unjustifiable. "she was a committed pacifist all her life" synonyms: peace-lover, conscientious objector, passive resister, peacemaker, peacemonger, dove "you know, even pacifists can support their nation's armed forces"

SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIOR

a person who expresses or promotes socially progressive views. "these social justice warriors want to apply their politically correct standards and rules to others' speech"

decendent

a person who has died

SEER (n)

a person who is supposed to be able, through supernatural insight, to see what the future holds. synonyms: prophet, prophetess, sibyl, augur, soothsayer, wise man, wise woman, sage, oracle, prognosticator, prophesier, forecaster of the future, diviner, fortune teller, crystal gazer, clairvoyant, psychic, spiritualist, medium; More

teetotaler (N)

a person who never drinks alcohol. synonyms: nondrinker, abstainer; More antonyms: drunk, lush

APOSTATE (adj, n)

a person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle. synonyms: dissenter, heretic, nonconformist; More antonyms: follower, disciple adjective adjective: apostate 1. abandoning a religious or political belief or principle. "an apostate Roman Catholic"

AGORAPHOBE (n)

a person with an extreme or irrational fear of entering open or crowded places, of leaving their own home, or of being in places from which escape is difficult. "an obsessive-compulsive agoraphobe with no personal relationships to call his own"

PURITAN (n)

a person with censorious moral beliefs, especially about pleasure and sex. noun: puritan; plural noun: puritans

VAGRANT

a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging. synonyms: tramp, drifter, down-and-out, derelict, beggar, itinerant, wanderer, nomad, wayfarer, traveler, gypsy, rover, vagabond, transient, migrant, homeless person, beachcomber, person of no fixed address/abode, knight of the road, bird of passage, rolling stone; More

EPITAPH (n)

a phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone. synonyms: elegy, commemoration, obituary; More inscription, legend "the epitaphs on their tombstones"

MOORING (n)

a place where a boat or ship is moored. "the boat had been at its usual moorings immediately prior to the storm" the ropes, chains, or anchors by or to which a boat, ship, or buoy is moored. "the great ship slipped its moorings and slid out into the Atlantic"

FLASHPOINT (n)

a place, event, or time at which trouble, such as violence or anger, flares up. "the flashpoint of the conflagration is just blocks away"

Moeity

a portion of something, usually a half; each of two parts into which a thing is or can be divided.

vantage point

a position that allows a clear view or understanding, an advantageous position; A vantage point is also a way of thinking or a set of opinions based on your particular situation: I asked him how, from his vantage point, the media have changed over the years.

MITZVAH (n)

a precept or commandment. a good deed done from religious duty.

WAIL (n,v)

a prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger. "Christopher let out a wail" synonyms: howl, bawl, yowl, cry, moan, groan; More verb 1. give a cry of pain, grief, or anger. "Tina ran off wailing" synonyms: howl, weep, cry, sob, moan, groan, keen, lament, yowl, snivel, whimper, whine, bawl, shriek, scream, yelp, caterwaul; informalblubber "the children began to wail"

comeuppance

a punishment or fate that someone deserves. "he got his comeuppance" synonyms: just deserts, deserved fate, due, due reward, just punishment, retribution, requital; archaicrecompense "in those films the villain always got his comeuppance"

ROLLBACK

a reduction or decrease. "a 5 percent rollback of personal income taxes" a reversion to a previous state or situation. "a rollback to conditions not seen since the open shop days of the 1930s"

AUTOMATON

a robot; a mechanical "person"; a moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being. a machine that performs a function according to a predetermined set of coded instructions, especially one capable of a range of programmed responses to different circumstances. used in similes and comparisons to refer to a person who seems to act in a mechanical or unemotional way. "she went about her preparations like an automaton"

DOODLE (n)

a rough drawing made absentmindedly.

SOCIAL REGISTER

a semi-annual publication in the United States that indexes the members of American high society.

RATIONALE (n)

a set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action or a particular belief. "he explained the rationale behind the change" synonyms: reason(s), reasoning, thinking, logic, grounds, sense; More principle, theory, argument, case; motive, motivation, explanation, justification, excuse; the whys and wherefores "the rationale for offering wireless access was simple"

Collie

a sheepdog of a breed originating in Scotland, having a long, pointed nose and thick, long hair.

AWNING (n)

a sheet of canvas or other material stretched on a frame and used to keep the sun or rain off a storefront, window, doorway, or deck. synonyms: canopy, shade, marquee, sunshade, brise-soleil, shelter, cover; blind "the familiar striped awning outside the Food Center"

ANECDOTE (n)

a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person. "told anecdotes about his job" synonyms: story, tale, narrative, incident; More urban myth/legend; informalyarn "amusing anecdotes" an account regarded as unreliable or hearsay. "his wife's death has long been the subject of rumor and anecdote" the depiction of a minor narrative incident in a painting.

SHORTHAND (N)

a short and simple way of expressing or referring to something. "poetry for him is simply a shorthand for literature that has aesthetic value"

JAUNT (v, n)

a short excursion or journey for pleasure. "her little jaunt in France was over" synonyms: trip, pleasure trip, outing, excursion, day trip, day out; More tour, drive, ride, run; road trip; informalspin "a jaunt around Manhattan"

promissory note (n)

a signed document containing a written promise to pay a stated sum to a specified person or the bearer at a specified date or on demand.

SKANK (n)

a sleazy or unpleasant person. DEROGATORY a woman who has many casual sexual encounters or relationships. 2. a steady-paced dance performed to reggae music, characterized by rhythmically bending forward, raising the knees, and extending the hands palms-downward.

INKLING

a slight knowledge or suspicion; a hint. "the records give us an inkling of how people saw the world" synonyms: idea, notion, sense, impression, conception, suggestion, indication, whisper, glimmer; More

COTERIE (n)

a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, especially one that is exclusive of other people. "a coterie of friends and advisers" synonyms: clique, set, circle, inner circle, crowd, in-crowd, gang, band, pack, crew, clan, club, fellowship, brotherhood, fraternity, sorority, sect, camp, community, league, alliance, faction, cabal, junta, caucus, syndicate, nucleus, cell; push "all prime ministers develop a small coterie of kindred spirits"

uptick

a small increase. "an uptick in foreign tourism"

MODICUM (n)

a small quantity of a particular thing, especially something considered desirable or valuable. "his statement had more than a modicum of truth" synonyms: small amount, particle, speck, fragment, scrap, crumb, grain, morsel, shred, dash, drop, pinch, soupçon, jot, iota, whit, atom, smattering, scintilla, hint, suggestion, tinge; More informalsmidgen, tad "I'd like to leave while I still have a modicum of my self-respect"

ALBATROSS (n)

a source of frustration or guilt; an encumbrance (in allusion to Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner ). "an albatross of a marriage"

RECOURSE

a source of help in a difficult situation. "surgery may be the only recourse" synonyms: option, possibility, alternative, possible course of action, resort, way out, place/person to turn to, source of assistance, available resource, hope, remedy, choice, expedient; refuge "surgery may be the only recourse" the use of someone or something as a source of help in a difficult situation. "a means of solving disputes without recourse to courts of law" synonyms: resort to, make use of, use, avail oneself of, utilize, employ, turn to, call on, draw on, bring into play, bring into service, look to, appeal to; More the legal right to demand compensation or payment. "the bank has recourse against the exporter for losses incurred"

RECOURSE (n)

a source of help in a difficult situation. "surgery may be the only recourse" synonyms: option, possibility, alternative, resort, way out, hope, remedy, choice, expedient "surgery may be the only recourse" the use of someone or something as a source of help in a difficult situation. "a means of solving disputes without recourse to courts of law" synonyms: resort to, make use of, avail oneself of, turn to, call on, look to, fall back on "we had recourse to the national committee for additional funding" the legal right to demand compensation or payment. "the bank has recourse against the exporter for losses incurred"

encomium (N)

a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly. synonyms: eulogy, speech of praise, panegyric, paean, accolade, tribute, testimonial, compliment; More

SPREE (n)

a spell or sustained period of unrestrained activity of a particular kind. "he went on a six-month crime spree" synonyms: unrestrained bout, orgy; More informalbinge, splurge "a shopping spree"

SCHISM (n)

a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief. "the widening schism between Church leaders and politicians" synonyms: division, split, rift, breach, rupture, break, separation, severance, estrangement, alienation, detachment; More the formal separation of a Church into two Churches or the secession of a group owing to doctrinal and other differences.

SCHISM (n)

a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief. synonyms: division, split, rift, breach, rupture, break, separation, severance; More chasm, gulf; discord, disagreement, dissension "the schism between her father and his brother"

schism (n)

a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief. synonyms: division, split, rift, breach, rupture, break, separation, severance; More the formal separation of a church into two churches or the secession of a group owing to doctrinal and other differences.

STUPOR (n)

a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility. "a drunken stupor" synonyms: daze, state of stupefaction, state of sensele

QUANDARY (n)

a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation. "Kate is in a quandary" synonyms: predicament, plight, difficult situation, awkward situation; More a difficult situation; a practical dilemma. "a legal quandary"

Sun belt (n)

a strip of territory receiving a high amount of sunshine. the southern US from California to Florida, noted for resort areas and for the movement of businesses and population into these states from the colder northern states. noun: Sunbelt

PAROXYSM (n)

a sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity. "a paroxysm of weeping" synonyms: spasm, attack, fit, burst, bout, convulsion, seizure, outburst, outbreak, eruption, explosion, flare-up, access; More MEDICINE a sudden recurrence or attack of a disease; a sudden worsening of symptoms.

frisson (N)

a sudden strong feeling of excitement or fear; a thrill. "a frisson of excitement"

BOOKEND (V, N)

a support for the end of a row of books to keep them upright, often one of a pair. verbinformal verb: bookend; 3rd person present: bookends; past tense: bookended; past participle: bookended; gerund or present participle: bookending; verb: book-end; 3rd person present: book-ends; past tense: book-ended; past participle: book-ended; gerund or present participle: book-ending 1. occur or be positioned at the end or on either side of (something). "the narrative is bookended by a pair of incisive essays"

GULAG (n)

a system of labor camps maintained in the former Soviet Union from 1930 to 1955 in which many people died. a camp in the Gulag system, or any political labor camp.

LULL (n)

a temporary interval of quiet or lack of activity. "for two days there had been a lull in the fighting" synonyms: pause, respite, interval, break, hiatus, suspension, interlude, intermission, breathing space; More informalletup, breather "a lull in the fighting" calm, stillness, quiet, tranquility, peace, silence, hush "the lull before the storm" antonyms: activity

A SHORT FUSE

a tendency to lose one's temper quickly. "watch your tongue—he's got a very short fuse" likely to lose one's temper or explode.

DISSONANCE

a tension or clash resulting from the combination of two disharmonious or unsuitable elements. "dissonance between campaign rhetoric and personal behavior"

DISSONANCE (n)

a tension or clash resulting from the combination of two disharmonious or unsuitable elements. "dissonance between campaign rhetoric and personal behavior"

OVERTURN (V)

abolish, invalidate, or reverse (a previous system, decision, situation, etc.). "the results overturned previous findings" synonyms: cancel, reverse, rescind, repeal, revoke, retract, countermand, withdraw, take back, rule against, disallow, override, overrule, veto, set aside, quash, overthrow, repudiate, recant, annul, nullify, declare null and void, invalidate, negate, void, abrogate; More

sandbox

a testing environment that isolates untested code changes and outright experimentation from the production environment or repository,[1] in the context of software development including Web development and revision control. Sandboxing protects "live" servers and their data, vetted source code distributions, and other collections of code, data and/or content, proprietary or public, from changes that could be damaging (regardless of the intent of the author of those changes) to a mission-critical system or which could simply be difficult to revert. Sandboxes replicate at least the minimal functionality needed to accurately test the programs or other code under development (e.g. usage of the same environment variables as, or access to an identical database to that used by, the stable prior implementation intended to be modified; there are many other possibilities, as the specific functionality needs vary widely with the nature of the code and the application[s] for which it is intended).

OVERHAUL (v)

a thorough examination of machinery or a system, with repairs or changes made if necessary. "a major overhaul of environmental policies"

CONIFER (n)

a tree that bears cones and evergreen needlelike or scalelike leaves. Conifers are of major importance as the source of softwood, and also supply resins and turpentine.

PARADIGM (n)

a typical example or pattern of something; a model. "there is a new paradigm for public art in this country" synonyms: model, pattern, example, exemplar, template, standard, prototype, archetype "why should your sets of values be the paradigm for the rest of us?" a worldview underlying the theories and methodology of a particular scientific subject. "the discovery of universal gravitation became the paradigm of successful science"

HEIRLOOM

a valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations. NORTH AMERICAN denoting a traditional variety of plant or breed of animal which is not associated with large-scale commercial agriculture. "his garden is filled with heirloom vegetables"

MEDLEY (n)

a varied mixture of people or things; a miscellany. "an interesting medley of flavors" synonyms: assortment, miscellany, mixture, melange, blend, variety, mixed bag, mix, diversity, collection, selection, assemblage, combination, motley collection, pot-pourri, conglomeration, jumble, mess, confusion, mishmash, hotchpotch, hodgepodge, ragbag, pastiche, patchwork, farrago, hash; More

pauper (n)

a very poor person. "he died a pauper" synonyms: poor person, indigent, bankrupt, insolvent; More HISTORICAL a recipient of government relief or public charity. "he was buried in a pauper's grave"

INFRACTION (n)

a violation or infringement of a law or agreement. synonyms: infringement, contravention, breach, violation, transgression, breaking; More neglect, dereliction, nonobservance, failure to observe, noncompliance; delict, contumacy "an infraction of the rules

RENDITION (n)

a visual representation or reproduction. "a pen-and-ink rendition of Mars with his sword drawn" synonyms: depiction, portrayal, representation "the artist's rendition of Adam and Eve"

PENDULUM (n)

a weight hung from a fixed point so that it can swing freely backward and forward, especially a rod with a weight at the end that regulates the mechanism of a clock. used to refer to the tendency of a situation to oscillate between one extreme and another. "the pendulum of fashion"

EMPRESS (n)

a woman who is a sovereign ruler of great power and rank, especially one ruling an empire. synonyms: ruler, sovereign, queen, monarch, potentate; historicalczarina "an exhibit of gowns worn by the empress" the wife or widow of an emperor.

ADVERB

a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc. (e.g., gently, quite, then, there ).

ADVERB (n)

a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc. (e.g., gently, quite, then, there ).

efflorescence

a. A gradual process of unfolding or developing.

JETTISON (v)

abandon or discard (someone or something that is no longer wanted). "individuals are often forced to jettison certain attitudes and behaviors" synonyms: dump, drop, ditch, discharge, throw out, unload, throw overboard More "six aircraft jettisoned their loads" discard, dispose of, throw away/out, get rid of; reject, scrap, abandon, drop; informalchuck (out), dump, ditch, ax, trash, junk, deep-six "he jettisoned his unwanted papers"

JETTISON (v)

abandon or discard (someone or something that is no longer wanted). "individuals are often forced to jettison certain attitudes and behaviors" synonyms: dump, drop, ditch, discharge, throw out, unload, throw overboard More "six aircraft jettisoned their loads" discard, dispose of, throw away/out, get rid of; reject, scrap, abandon, drop; informalchuck (out), dump, ditch, ax, trash, junk, deep-six "he jettisoned his unwanted papers" antonyms: keep, retain

RELENT (V)

abandon or mitigate a harsh intention or cruel treatment. "she was going to refuse his request, but relented" synonyms: change one's mind, backpedal, do a U-turn, back down, give way/in, capitulate; More

PRACTICABLE (adj)

able to be done or put into practice successfully. "the measures will be put into effect as soon as is reasonably practicable" synonyms: realistic, feasible, possible, within the bounds/realms of possibility, viable, reasonable, sensible, workable, achievable; informaldoable "what we need is a practicable solution" able to be used; useful. "signal processing can let you transform a signal into a practicable form"

SENTIENT (adj)

able to perceive or feel things. "she had been instructed from birth in the equality of all sentient life forms" synonyms: (capable of) feeling, living, live; More conscious, aware, responsive, reactive "any sentient creature should have the good sense to avoid something so dangerous"

VENERABLE (adj)

accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character. "a venerable statesman" synonyms: respected, venerated, revered, reverenced, worshipped, honored, esteemed, hallowed, august, distinguished, acclaimed, celebrated, lionized; More

UNDERHANDED (ADJ)

acting or done in a secret or dishonest way. "an underhanded method of snatching clients from rivals" synonyms: deceitful, deceptive, dishonest, dishonorable, disreputable, unethical, unprincipled, immoral, unscrupulous, fraudulent, dubious, unfair, snide; More antonyms: honest

RETROFIT (V)

add (a component or accessory) to something that did not have it when manufactured. "drivers who retrofit catalysts to older cars" provide (something) with a component or accessory not fitted to it during manufacture. "buses have been retrofitted with easy-access features"

APPEND (v)

add (something) as an attachment or supplement. "the results of the survey are appended to this chapter" synonyms: add, attach, affix, tack on, tag on; formalsubjoin "the teacher may append comments to the final report"

ANNEX (V)

add or attach as a condition or consequence. synonyms: add, append, attach, tack on, tag on "ten amendments were annexed to the constitution"

TINCTURE (n)

alcohol. "the remedies can be administered in the form of tinctures" synonyms: solution, suspension, infusion, elixir "tincture of iodine" 2. a slight trace of something. "she could not keep a tincture of bitterness out of her voice"

feat

an achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength. "the new printing presses were considerable feats of engineering" synonyms: achievement, accomplishment, attainment, coup, master stroke, triumph; More

RUSE (n)

an action intended to deceive someone; a trick. "Eleanor tried to think of a ruse to get Paul out of the house" synonyms: ploy, stratagem, tactic, scheme, trick, gambit, cunning plan, dodge, subterfuge, machination, wile "his offer to help with my presentation was just a clever ruse"

JOHN DOE (n)

an anonymous party, typically the plaintiff, in a legal action. informal a hypothetical average man.

CONFIGURATION (n)

an arrangement of elements in a particular form, figure, or combination. "the broad configuration of the economy remains capitalist" synonyms: arrangement, layout, geography, design, organization, order, grouping, positioning, disposition, alignment; More shape, form, appearance, formation, structure, setup, format "proper configuration of the sound system will improve the acoustics"

CONTENTION (n)

an assertion, especially one maintained in argument. "statistics bear out his contention that many runners are undertrained for this event" synonyms: argument, claim, plea, submission, allegation, assertion, declaration; More opinion, stand, position, view, belief, thesis, case "we questioned the validity of his contention" heated disagreement. "the captured territory was one of the main areas of contention between the two countries" synonyms: disagreement, dispute, disputation, argument, discord, conflict, friction, strife, dissension, disharmony "a point of contention" antonyms: agreement

IDYLL (N)

an extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque episode or scene, typically an idealized or unsustainable one. "the rural idyll remains strongly evocative in most industrialized societies" synonyms: perfect time, ideal time, wonderful time, moment of bliss, honeymoon; More a short description in verse or prose of a picturesque scene or incident, especially in rustic life. synonyms: pastoral, eclogue, georgic, rural poem "the poem began as a two-part idyll"

CON (n)

an instance of deceiving or tricking someone. "a con artist" synonyms: swindle, deception, trick, racket, bit of sharp practice, fraud; More informalscam, con trick, sting, gyp, kite, diddle, rip-off, fiddle, swizzle, swizz; informalbunco, boondoggle, hustle, grift; informalrort "a public relations con"

INCURSION (N)

an invasion or attack, especially a sudden or brief one. "incursions into enemy territory" synonyms: attack on, assault on, raid on, invasion of, storming of, overrunning of, foray into, blitz on, sortie into, sally against/into, advance on/into, push into, thrust into, descent on; More antonyms: retreat

incursion (n)

an invasion or attack, especially a sudden or brief one. "incursions into enemy territory" synonyms: attack on, assault on, raid on, invasion of, storming of, overrunning of, foray into, blitz on, sortie into, sally into/against, advance on/i

DIRECTIVE (n)

an official or authoritative instruction. "moral and ethical directives" synonyms: instruction, direction, command, order, charge, injunction, prescription, rule, ruling, regulation, law, dictate, decree, dictum, edict, mandate, fiat; formalordinance "a directive from the front office"

EDICT (n)

an official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority. synonyms: decree, order, command, commandment, mandate, proclamation, pronouncement, dictate, fiat, promulgation; More law, statute, act, bill, ruling, injunction; formalordinance "rules established by government edict"

MUTINY (n,v)

an open rebellion against the proper authorities, especially by soldiers or sailors against their officers. "a mutiny by those manning the weapons could trigger a global war" synonyms: insurrection, rebellion, revolt, riot, uprising, insurgence, insubordination "there was a mutiny over wages" refuse to obey the orders of a person in authority. synonyms: rise up, rebel, revolt, riot, disobey/defy authority, be insubordinate "thousands of soldiers mutinied"

miasma (n)

an oppressive or unpleasant atmosphere which surrounds or emanates from something. "there was a miasma of despair over this place"

COMMONER (n)

an ordinary person, without rank or title. 2. a person who has the right of common (commonage). 3. (at some British universities) an undergraduate who does not have a scholarship.

PAC

an organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation, especially at the federal level. "her political action committee has raised almost $900,000 this election cycle"

CONTOUR (n)

an outline, especially one representing or bounding the shape or form of something. "she traced the contours of his face with her finger" synonyms: outline, shape, form; More an outline of a natural feature such as a hill or valley. "cliffs with grassy rounded contours" short for contour line. a line joining points on a diagram at which some property has the same value. "the map shows contours of every 10-foot difference in elevation" a way in which something varies, especially the pitch of music or the pattern of tones in an utterance. "the movement tends to place more emphasis on rhythm than melodic contour"

QUIZLET (n)

an overhead cost or expense. "research conducted in space requires more overhead" synonyms: running costs, operating costs, fixed costs, budget items, costs, expenses; oncosts antonyms: variable costs, cost of sales

LOUT

an uncouth and aggressive man or boy. "drunken louts" synonyms: ruffian, hooligan, thug, boor, oaf, hoodlum, rowdy, bully boy; More informalyob, yobbo, tough, roughneck, bruiser, gorilla, yahoo; informalchav, hoodie; informallug; informalocker; informalhoon "a crowd of drunken louts" antonyms: smoothie, gentleman

CESSPOOL (n)

an underground container for the temporary storage of liquid waste and sewage. a disgusting or corrupt place. "they should clean out their own political cesspool"

VAGARY (N)

an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's behavior. "the vagaries of the weather" synonyms: quirk, idiosyncrasy, peculiarity, oddity, eccentricity, unpredictability, fluctuation, foible, whim, whimsy, notion, conceit, caprice, fancy, kink, crotchet; More

GAFE (N)

an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator; a blunder. "an unforgivable social gaffe" synonyms: blunder, mistake, error, slip; More

GAFFE (n)

an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator; a blunder. "an unforgivable social gaffe" synonyms: blunder, mistake, error, slip; More

OBTUSE (adj)

annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand. "he wondered if the doctor was being deliberately obtuse" synonyms: stupid, slow-witted, slow, dull-witted, unintelligent, ignorant, simpleminded, witless; More insensitive, imperceptive, uncomprehending; informaldim, dimwitted, dense, dumb, slow on the uptake, halfwitted, brain-dead, moronic, cretinous, thick, dopey, lamebrained, ********, dead from the neck up, boneheaded, chowderheaded "he frustrated his teachers by pretending to be obtuse" antonyms: clever, astute difficult to understand. "some of the lyrics are a bit obtuse"

CEDAR (n)

any of a number of conifers that typically yield fragrant, durable timber, in particular.

ASUNDER (adverb)

apart; divided. "those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder" synonyms: apart, up, in two; More into pieces, to pieces, to bits, to shreds "the very fabric of society may be torn asunder" into pieces. "the desk burst asunder"

PURPORT (v)

appear or claim to be or do something, especially falsely; profess. "she is not the person she purports to be" synonyms: claim to be, profess to be, pretend to be; More appear to be, seem to be; be ostensibly, pose as, impersonate, masquerade as, pass for "this work purports to be authoritative"

MOLLIFY (v)

appease the anger or anxiety of (someone). "nature reserves were set up around the power stations to mollify local conservationists" synonyms: appease, placate, pacify, conciliate, humor, soothe, calm, calm down, still, quieten, propitiate; square someone off "nature reserves were set up to mollify local conservationists" antonyms: enrage RARE reduce the severity of (something); soften. synonyms: allay, assuage, alleviate, mitigate, ease, lessen, reduce, moderate, lull, temper, tone down, cushion, quell, soften, blunt "the government's undertaking mollified the fears of the public" antonyms: inflame, aggravate

CO-OPT (v)

appoint to membership of a committee or other body by invitation of the existing members. to take something, especially some kind of power, that wasn't originally yours or that wasn't originally supposed to go to you ; divert to or use in a role different from the usual or original one. "social scientists were co-opted to work with the development agencies" adopt (an idea or policy) for one's own use. "the green parties have had most of their ideas co-opted by bigger parties"

CONTEND (v)

assert something as a position in an argument. "he contends that the judge was wrong" synonyms: assert, maintain, hold, claim, argue, insist, state, declare, profess, affirm; More allege; formalaver "he contends that the judge was wrong"

OFFICIOUS

assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way, especially with regard to petty or trivial matters. "the security people were very officious"

PIGEONHOLE (v)

assign to a particular category or class, especially in a manner that is too rigid or exclusive. "a tendency to pigeonhole him as a photographer and neglect his work in sculpture and painting" synonyms: categorize, compartmentalize, classify, characterize, label, brand, tag, typecast, ghettoize, designate "they were pigeonholed as an indie guitar band" put aside for future consideration. "she pigeonholed her worry about him" synonyms: postpone, put off, put back, defer, shelve, hold over, put to one side, put on ice, mothball, put in cold storage; informalput on the back burner "the plan was pigeonholed last year"

STAGGER (v)

astonish or deeply shock. "I was staggered to find it was six o'clock" synonyms: amaze, astound, astonish, surprise, startle, stun, confound, dumbfound, stupefy, daze, take aback, leave open-mouthed, leave aghast; More informalflabbergast, bowl over "I was absolutely staggered"

FURTIVE (adj)

attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive. "they spent a furtive day together" synonyms: secretive, secret, surreptitious; More antonyms: open, above board suggestive of guilty nervousness. "the look in his eyes became furtive"

ASCRIBE (v)

attribute (a text, quotation, or work of art) to a particular person or period.

EX POST

based on actual results rather than forecasts. "the ex post trade balance"

EX ANTE

based on forecasts rather than actual results. "this is an ex ante estimate of the variance"

DENOTE (v)

be a sign of; indicate. "this mark denotes purity and quality" synonyms: designate, indicate, be a mark of, signify, signal, symbolize, represent, mean; More typify, characterize, distinguish, mark, identify "the headdresses denoted warriors" suggest, point to, smack of, indicate, show, reveal, intimate, imply, convey, betray, bespeak, spell "his manner denoted an inner strength" stand as a name or symbol for. "the level of output per firm, denoted by X"

PORTEND

be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen. "the eclipses portend some major events" synonyms: presage, augur, foreshadow, foretell, prophesy; More

PARTAKE (v)

be characterized by (a quality). "the birth of twins became an event that partook of the mythic" synonyms: have the qualities/attributes of, suggest, evoke, be characterized by, hint at, manifest, evince "the lyric essay partakes of the poem in its distillation of ideas and musicality of language" join in (an activity). "visitors can partake in golfing or clay pigeon shooting" synonyms: participate in, take part in, engage in, join in, enter into, get involved in, share in, contribute to, play a part in, have a hand in, sit in on "only senior officers are allowed to partake in the negotiations" antonyms: be excluded from, sit out eat or drink (something). "she had partaken of a cheese sandwich and a cup of coffee" synonyms: consume, have, eat, drink, take, ingest, devour; More informalwolf down, polish off, tuck into "those averse to sushi can partake of the hot buffet" antonyms: forgo, abstain from

MARVEL (n,v)

be filled with wonder or astonishment. "she marveled at Jeffrey's composure" synonyms: be amazed, be astonished, be surprised, be awed, stand in awe, wonder; More noun noun: marvel; plural noun: marvels 1. a wonderful or astonishing person or thing. "the marvels of technology" synonyms: wonder, miracle, sensation, spectacle, phenomenon; More

TEEM (V)

be full of or swarming with. "every garden is teeming with wildlife" synonyms: be full of, be filled with, be alive with, be brimming with, be overflowing with, abound in, be swarming with, be bursting at the seams with; More

TEEMING (V)

be full of or swarming with. "every garden is teeming with wildlife" synonyms: be full of, be filled with, be alive with, be brimming with, be overflowing with, abound in, be swarming with, be bursting at the seams with; More

GAPE (V)

be or become wide open. "a large duffel bag gaped open by her feet" synonyms: open wide, open up, yawn; More stare with one's mouth open wide in amazement or wonder. "they gaped at her as if she were an alien" synonyms: stare, stare open-mouthed, stare in wonder, gawk, goggle, gaze, ogle, look fixedly, look vacantly; More

WARP (v)

become or cause to become bent or twisted out of shape, typically as a result of the effects of heat or dampness. "moisture had warped the box" synonyms: buckle, twist, bend, distort, deform, misshape, malform, curve, make/become crooked/curved, flex, bow, arch, contort, gnarl, kink, wrinkle "timber which is too dry will warp and lose its strength"

BURGEON (v)

begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish. "manufacturers are keen to cash in on the burgeoning demand" synonyms: flourish, thrive, prosper, improve, develop; More expand, escalate, swell, grow, boom, mushroom, snowball, rocket "the toy industry is burgeoning"

POSTURE (v)

behave in a way that is intended to impress or mislead others. "a masking of fear with macho posturing" synonyms: pose, strike an attitude, strut "Keith postured, flexing his biceps" adopt (a certain attitude) so as to impress or mislead. "the companies may posture regret, but they have a vested interest in increasing Third World sales" 2. ARCHAIC place (someone) in a particular attitude or pose. "and still these two were postured motionless"

supercilious (adj)

behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others. "a supercilious lady's maid" synonyms: arrogant, haughty, conceited, disdainful, overbearing, pompous, condescending, superior, patronizing, imperious, proud, snobbish, snobby, smug, scornful, sneering; More informalhoity-toity, high and mighty, uppity, snooty, stuck-up, snotty, snot-nosed, jumped up, too big for one's britches "a supercilious young clerk"

HERETICAL (adj)

believing in or practicing religious heresy. "heretical beliefs" synonyms: dissident, dissenting, nonconformist, unorthodox, heterodox, apostate, freethinking, iconoclastic, schismatic, renegade; More holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted. "I feel a bit heretical saying this, but I think the film has too much action"

GNAW (V)

bite at or nibble something persistently. "watching a dog gnaw at a big bone" synonyms: chew, bite, nibble, munch, crunch, champ, chomp, masticate; More bite at or nibble (something). "she sat gnawing her underlip" synonyms: erode, wear away, wear down, eat away (at), chip away (at), bite into, corrode, consume, devour; rarefret "pressures which are gnawing away the industry's independence" 2. cause persistent and wearing distress or anxiety. "the doubts continued to gnaw at me" synonyms: prey on someone's mind, nag, plague, torment, torture, trouble, distress, worry, haunt, oppress, weigh heavily on someone's mind, be a weight on someone's mind, burden, hang over, harry, bother, exercise, fret; More

ANIMATE

bring to life. "the desert is like a line drawing waiting to be animated with color" give inspiration, encouragement, or renewed vigor to. "she has animated the nation with a sense of political direction" synonyms: enliven, vitalize, give (new) life to, breathe (new) life into, energize, invigorate, revive, vivify, liven up, light up, cheer up, gladden; More encourage, hearten, inspire, exhilarate, thrill, excite, fire, arouse, rouse, stir, stimulate, galvanize, electrify; informalbuck up, pep up, give someone a buzz, ginger up; informallight a fire under; rareinspirit "a sense of excitement animated the whole school" antonyms: depress, inhibit 2. give (a movie or character) the appearance of movement using animation techniques. adjective adjective: animate /ˈanəmət/ 1. alive or having life. "all of creation, animate and inanimate" synonyms: living, alive, live, breathing, sentient, conscious; More organic; archaicquick "an animate being" antonyms: inanimate lively and active; animated. "party photos of animate socialites"

REPRIEVE (v,n)

cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, especially someone condemned to death). "under the new regime, prisoners under sentence of death were reprieved" synonyms: grant a stay of execution to, cancel/postpone/commute/remit someone's punishment; More antonyms: charge, punish abandon or postpone plans to close or put an end to (something). "the threatened pits could be reprieved" synonyms: save, rescue, grant a stay of execution to, give a respite to; informaltake off the hit list "the accident and emergency unit has also been reprieved"

HEEDLESS

careless; thoughtless; unmindful

NAB (v)

catch (someone) doing something wrong. "Olympic drug tests nabbed another athlete yesterday" synonyms: catch, capture, apprehend, arrest, seize, grab; More take, grab, or steal (something). "Dan nabbed the seat next to mine"

SNARE (v)

catch or trap (someone). "I snared a passing waiter"

BOG (v)

cause (a vehicle, person, or animal) to become stuck in mud or wet ground. "the car became bogged down on the beach road" (of a person or process) be unable to make progress. "you must not get bogged down in detail"

TRANSFIX (v)

cause (someone) to become motionless with horror, wonder, or astonishment. "he was transfixed by the pain in her face" synonyms: mesmerize, hypnotize, spellbind, bewitch, captivate, entrance, enthrall, fascinate, engross, enrapture, stun, stupefy, astound, grip, root someone to the spot, stop someone dead, stop someone in their tracks; More paralyze, petrify, immobilize, freeze, rivet; raregorgonize "he sat transfixed by the film's sheer beauty" 2. pierce with a sharp implement or weapon. "a field mouse is transfixed by the curved talons of an owl" synonyms: impale, stab, spear, pierce, spike, skewer, stick, gore, pin, bayonet, harpoon, lance, run through, puncture, perforate; raretranspierce "a picture of a nail transfixing a splayed hand"

cow (v)

cause (someone) to submit to one's wishes by intimidation. "the intellectuals had been cowed into silence" synonyms: intimidate, daunt, browbeat, bully, badger, dragoon, bludgeon, tyrannize, overawe, awe, dismay, dishearten, unnerve, subdue, scare, terrorize, frighten, petrify; More

puncture (n)

cause a sudden collapse of (mood or feeling). "the earlier mood of optimism was punctured" synonyms: put an end to, cut short, reverse, prick, deflate, flatten, reduce "she knows how to puncture the wordiness of his speeches"

ENDEAR (v)

cause to be loved or liked. "Flora's spirit and character endeared her to everyone who met her"

unmoor (v)

cause to feel insecure, confused, or disconnected. "the loss of his wife has unmoored him"

Deleterious (adj)

causing harm or damage. "divorce is assumed to have deleterious effects on children" synonyms: harmful, damaging, detrimental, injurious; More adverse, disadvantageous, unfavorable, unfortunate, undesirable, bad "the deleterious effects of smoking" antonyms: beneficial

PESKY (adj)

causing trouble; annoying. "pesky mosquitoes"

CATATONIC (adj)

characterized by a marked lack of movement, activity, or expression

MORBID (adj)

characterized by or appealing to an abnormal and unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, especially death and disease. "he had long held a morbid fascination with the horrors of contemporary warfare" synonyms: ghoulish, macabre, unhealthy, gruesome, unwholesome; More abnormal, aberrant, disturbing, worrisome; informalsick, weird "a morbid fascination with contemporary warfare" antonyms: wholesome 2. MEDICINE of the nature of or indicative of disease. "the treatment of morbid obesity"

REET

chiefly dialectal variant of right. (For example: that's the reet answer')

hard-press (adj)

closely pursued. "the hard-pressed French infantry" synonyms: under attack, closely pursued, hotly pursued, harried, hounded "the hard-pressed French infantry" 2. burdened with urgent business. "training centers are hard-pressed and insufficient in numbers" synonyms: in difficulties, under pressure, under stress, troubled, beleaguered, harassed, with one's back to the wall, with one's back up against the wall, in a tight corner, in a tight spot, between a rock and a hard place; More antonyms: untroubled in difficulties. "creating jobs in the hard-pressed construction industry"

imposter syndrome

collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success. 'Imposters' suffer from chronic self-doubt and a sense of intellectual fraudulence that override any feelings of success or external proof of their competence.

CONFLATE (v)

combine (two or more texts, ideas, etc.) into one. "the urban crisis conflates a number of different economic and social issues"

FLIMSY (adj)

comparatively light and insubstantial; easily damaged. "voyagers who crossed the sea in flimsy boats" synonyms: insubstantial, slight, light, fragile, breakable, frail, shaky, unstable, wobbly, tottery, rickety, ramshackle, makeshift; More antonyms: sturdy (of clothing) light and thin. "I wore flimsy clothes and needed warming" synonyms: thin, light, lightweight, fine, ultra-fine, diaphanous, sheer, delicate, insubstantial, floaty, filmy, silken, chiffony, gossamer, gossamer-thin, gossamer-like, gossamery, gauzy, gauze-like, cobwebby, feathery; More antonyms: thick (of a pretext or account) weak and unconvincing. "a pretty flimsy excuse" synonyms: weak, feeble, poor, inadequate, insufficient, thin, unsubstantial, unconvincing, implausible, unsatisfactory, paltry, trifling, trivial, shallow "this is very flimsy evidence on which to base any such assessment" antonyms: sound

COMPREHENSIVE (adj)

complete; including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something. "a comprehensive list of sources" of large content or scope; wide-ranging. "a comprehensive collection of photographs" synonyms: inclusive, all-inclusive, complete; More thorough, full, extensive, all-embracing, exhaustive, detailed, in-depth, encyclopedic, universal, catholic; far-reaching, radical, sweeping, across the board, wholesale; broad, wide-ranging; informalwall-to-wall "a comprehensive review of our defense policy" antonyms: limited

heterogeneous (adj)

composed of different kinds, diverse diverse in character or content. "a large and heterogeneous collection" synonyms: diverse, varied, varying, variegated, miscellaneous, assorted, mixed, sundry, disparate, multifarious, different, differing, motley; More informalhodgepodge, mixed-bag; literarydivers "a heterogeneous collection of art" antonyms: homogeneous

COMPEDIOUS (adj)

concise; containing or presenting the essential facts of something in a comprehensive but concise way. "a compendious study" synonyms: succinct, pithy, short and to the point, short and sweet, potted, thumbnail, brief, crisp, compact, concise, condensed, shortened, contracted, compressed, abridged, abbreviated, summarized, summary, abstracted; More in a nutshell, in a few well-chosen words; informalsnappy; rarelapidary, epigrammatic, synoptic, aphoristic, gnomic "a compendious essay on Italian music" antonyms: rambling, expanded

SEDITION (n)

conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch. synonyms: incitement (to riot/rebellion), agitation, rabble-rousing, fomentation (of discontent), troublemaking, provocation, inflaming; More rebellion, revolt, insurrection, rioting, mutiny, insurgence, insurgency, subversion, civil disorder, insubordination, disobedience, resistance, defiance "advocating multiparty democracy is considered sedition"

SHRIFT (n)

confession, especially to a priest. "go to shrift" absolution by a priest.

EMBLAZE (v)

conspicuously inscribe or display (a design) on something. "T-shirts emblazoned with the names of baseball teams" synonyms: adorn, decorate, ornament, embellish; inscribe "an official t-shirt with the logo emblazoned on it" depict (a heraldic device). "the cardinal's coat of arms is emblazoned on the door panel" synonyms: display, depict, show "a flag with a hammer and sickle emblazoned on it"

MEASLY (adj)

contemptibly small or few. "three measly votes" synonyms: paltry, meager, scanty, niggardly, miserable, inadequate, insufficient; More

PROSELYTIZE (v)

convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another. "the program did have a tremendous evangelical effect, proselytizing many" synonyms: evangelize, convert, save, redeem, win over, preach (to), recruit, act as a missionary "I'm not here to proselytize" advocate or promote (a belief or course of action). "Davis wanted to share his concept and proselytize his ideas" synonyms: promote, advocate, champion, advance, further, spread, proclaim, peddle, preach, endorse, urge, recommend, boost "he wanted to proselytize his ideas"

PROMISSORY (adj)

conveying or implying a promise. "statements that are promissory in nature" ARCHAIC indicative of something to come; full of promise. "the glow of evening is promissory of the splendid days to come"

COMMENSURATE (adj)

corresponding in size or degree; in proportion. "salary will be commensurate with experience" synonyms: equivalent, equal, corresponding, correspondent, comparable, proportionate, proportional; More antonyms: disproportionate

LATHER (v)

cover something liberally with (a substance). "she lathered a slice of toast with butter"

EXPANSIVE (N)

covering a wide area in terms of space or scope; extensive or wide-ranging. "deep, expansive canyons" synonyms: extensive, sweeping, rolling; More antonyms: limited, restricted 2. (of a person or their manner) open, demonstrative, and communicative. "she felt expansive and inclined to talk" synonyms: communicative, forthcoming, sociable, friendly, outgoing, unreserved, uninhibited, open, affable, amiable, genial, chatty, talkative, conversational, garrulous, loquacious, voluble, effusive, demonstrative, extrovert, extroverted; More antonyms: uncommunicative, reserved, taciturn 3. tending toward economic or political expansion. "expansive domestic economic policies"

LACERATE

criticize forcefully or severely. "her true venom seems reserved for the media itself as she lacerates our obsession with celebrity"

INQUISITIVE (adj)

curious or inquiring. "he was very chatty and inquisitive about everything" unduly curious about the affairs of others; prying. "I didn't want to seem inquisitive" synonyms: curious, intrigued, interested, burning with curiosity, agog; More over-curious, over-interested, prying, spying, scrutinizing, eavesdropping, intrusive, interfering, busybody, meddling, meddlesome; inquiring, questioning, probing; informalnosy, nosy-parker, snooping, snoopy; nebby; rarebusy "their inquisitive neighbors had gathered at the gate" antonyms: uninterested

DUPLICITOUS (adj)

deceitful. "treacherous, duplicitous behavior"

PERFIDY (n)

deceitfulness; untrustworthiness. synonyms: treachery, duplicity, deceit, deceitfulness, disloyalty, infidelity, faithlessness, unfaithfulness, betrayal, treason, double-dealing, untrustworthiness, breach of trust; literaryperfidiousness "the perfidy of her husband"

STUDDED (adj)

decorated or augmented with studs. "a studded leather belt"

CONTRACT (v)

decrease in size, number, or range. "glass contracts as it cools" synonyms: shrink, get smaller, become smaller; More decrease, diminish, reduce, dwindle, decline, shrivel "glass, like other substances, contracts as it cools" antonyms: expand, increase

staggering (v)

deeply shocking; astonishing. "the staggering bills for maintenance and repair"

PUNT (v)

delay in answering or taking action; equivocate. "he would continue to punt on questions of Medicare"

MINE (v)

delve into (an abundant source) to extract something of value, especially information or skill. "how do they manage to mine such a rich vein of talent?" synonyms: search, delve into, scour, scan, read through, survey "medical data was mined for relevant statistics"

HIGH-OCTANE (adj)

denoting gasoline having a high octane number and thus good antiknock properties. powerful or dynamic. "a high-octane forty-year-old"

CISGENDER (adj)

denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender corresponds with their birth sex. "this newfound attention to the plight of black trans folks by primarily cisgender allies is timely and necessary"

CUNEIFORM (adj)

denoting or relating to the wedge-shaped characters used in the ancient writing systems of Mesopotamia, Persia, and Ugarit, surviving mainly impressed on clay tablets.

pigeonhole

deposit (a document) into a pigeonhole. "he pigeonholed his charts and notes" assign to a particular category or class, especially in a manner that is too rigid or exclusive. "a tendency to pigeonhole him as a photographer and neglect his work in sculpture and painting" synonyms: categorize, compartmentalize, classify, characterize, label, brand, tag, typecast, ghettoize, designate "they were pigeonholed as an indie guitar band" put aside for future consideration. "she pigeonholed her worry about him" synonyms: postpone, put off, put back, defer, shelve, hold over, put to one side, put on ice, mothball, put in cold storage; informalput on the back burner "the plan was pigeonholed last year"

ECLECTIC (adj)

deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources. "her musical tastes are eclectic" synonyms: wide-ranging, broad-based, extensive, comprehensive, encyclopedic; More varied, diverse, catholic, all-embracing, multifaceted, multifarious, heterogeneous, miscellaneous, assorted "an eclectic mix of party music"

ECLECTIC (adj, n)

deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources. "her musical tastes are eclectic" synonyms: wide-ranging, broad-based, extensive, comprehensive, encyclopedic; More varied, diverse, catholic, all-embracing, multifaceted, multifarious, heterogeneous, miscellaneous, assorted "an eclectic mix of party music"

RESOLVE (n)

determination, firmness of purpose; firm determination to do something. "she received information that strengthened her resolve" synonyms: determination, resolution, firmness of purpose, fixity of purpose, purpose, purposefulness, resoluteness, single-mindedness, strength of will, strength of character, will power, firmness, intentness, decision, decidedness; More steadfastness, staunchness, manfulness, perseverance, persistence, indefatigability, tenacity, tenaciousness, staying power, strong-mindedness, backbone, dedication, commitment, constancy, the bulldog spirit, pertinacity, pertinaciousness; stubbornness, doggedness, obstinacy, obdurateness, obduracy, inflexibility; spiritedness, braveness, bravery, boldness, courage, courageousness, pluck, pluckiness, stout-heartedness; Sitzfleisch; informalguts, spunk, grit, stickability; informalstick-to-it-iveness; archaicintension; rareperseveration "attempts to intimidate him merely strengthened his resolve" antonyms: indecision

unwieldy (adj)

difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight. "the first mechanical clocks were large and unwieldy" synonyms: cumbersome, unmanageable, unhandy, unmanoeuvrable; More antonyms: manageable, dainty (of a system or bureaucracy) too big or badly organized to function efficiently.

SHUNT (v)

direct or divert (someone or something) to a less important place or position. "amateurs were gradually being shunted to filing jobs" push or pull (a train or part of a train) from the main line to a siding or from one track to another. "their train had been shunted into a siding" push or shove (someone or something). "chairs were being shunted back and forth"

unsavory (adj)

disagreeable and unpleasant because morally disreputable. "an unsavory reputation" synonyms: disreputable, unpleasant, undesirable, disagreeable, nasty, mean, rough; More immoral, degenerate, dishonorable, dishonest, unprincipled, unscrupulous, low, villainous; informalshady, crooked "an unsavory character" antonyms: reputable disagreeable to taste, smell, or look at. synonyms: unpalatable, unappetizing, distasteful, disagreeable, unappealing, repugnant, off-putting, unattractive; More inedible, uneatable, disgusting, revolting, nauseating, sickening, foul, raunchy, nasty, vile; tasteless, bland, flavorless; informalyucky "unsavory portions of food" antonyms: tasty, appetizing

FAR-FLUNG (adj)

distant or remote. "the far-flung corners of the world" widely distributed. "newsletters provided an important link to a far-flung membership"

SEVER (v)

divide by cutting or slicing, especially suddenly and forcibly. "the head was severed from the body" synonyms: cut off, chop off, detach, disconnect, dissever, separate, part; More antonyms: join, attach put an end to (a connection or relationship); break off. "he severed his relations with Lawrence" synonyms: break off, discontinue, suspend, end, terminate, cease, dissolve "they severed diplomatic relations" antonyms: establish, maintain

BIFURCATE (v)

divide into two branches or forks. "just below Cairo the river bifurcates"

WHOLESALE (adj)

done on a large scale; extensive. "the wholesale destruction of the natural order" synonyms: extensive, widespread, large-scale, wide-ranging, comprehensive, total, mass; indiscriminate "wholesale destruction" antonyms: partial

REDLINE (v)

drive with (a car engine) at or above its rated maximum rpm. "both his engines were redlined now" 2. refuse (a loan or insurance) to someone because they live in an area deemed to be a poor financial risk. cancel (a project).

DECILE (N)

each of ten equal groups into which a population can be divided according to the distribution of values of a particular variable. "the lowest income decile of the population" each of the nine values of the random variable that divide a population into ten such groups.

HOMOPHONE (n)

each of two or more words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling, e.g., new and knew. each of a set of symbols denoting the same sound or group of sounds.

HOMONYM

each of two or more words having the same spelling but different meanings and origins (e.g., pole1 and pole2); a homograph. each of two words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling (e.g., to, too, and two); a homophone.

PUGNACIOUS (adj)

eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight. "his public statements became increasingly pugnacious" synonyms: combative, aggressive, antagonistic, belligerent, bellicose, warlike, quarrelsome, argumentative, contentious, disputatious, defiant, hostile, threatening, truculent; More antonyms: peaceable, friendly

RAUNCHY (adj)

earthy, vulgar, and often sexually explicit. "a raunchy new novel" synonyms: sexually explicit, sexy, suggestive, erotic, racy, risqué, provocative, spicy, juicy, bawdy, ribald, uninhibited, unrestrained, earthy; More coarse, rude, smutty, vulgar, crude; informalsteamy, naughty; informalsaucy, fruity; informalgamy; euphemisticadult "the show went on for a long time and it was fairly raunchy"

PARTAKE (v)

eat or drink (something). "she had partaken of a cheese sandwich and a cup of coffee" synonyms: consume, have, eat, drink, take, devour, polish off, ingest; More informaltuck into, wolf down, dispose of, get outside of, get one's laughing gear round "she had partaken of a cheese sandwich and a cup of coffee" 2. join in (an activity). "visitors can partake in golfing or clay pigeon shooting" synonyms: participate in, take part in, engage in, enter into, join in, get involved in, share in, play a part in, contribute to, have a hand in, have something to do with "video conferencing allows executives to partake in negotiations abroad" 3. be characterized by (a quality). "the birth of twins became an event that partook of the mythic" synonyms: have the qualities/attributes of, suggest, evoke, be characterized by, hint at, evince, manifest "Bohemia is where eastern and western Europe meet, partaking of both, part of neither"

HEURISTIC (adj)

enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves. "a "hands-on" or interactive heuristic approach to learning" COMPUTING proceeding to a solution by trial and error or by rules that are only loosely defined.

SPAN (V)

extend across (a period of time or a range of subjects). "their interests span almost all the conventional disciplines" synonyms: last, cover, extend, spread over, comprise "his career spanned twenty years"

Neanderthal

extinct robust human of Middle Paleolithic in Europe and western Asia

GRAPPLE

engage in a close fight or struggle without weapons; wrestle. "passersby grappled with the man after the knife attack" synonyms: wrestle, struggle, tussle; More brawl, fight, scuffle, clash, combat, battle; close, engage "he threw himself forward and grappled with him" seize hold of (someone). synonyms: seize, grab, lay hold of, take hold of, grip, hold, grasp, clasp, clench, catch hold of, catch, lay one's hands on, get one's hands on "he launched into the crowd to grapple his unfortunate prey" antonyms: let go of, release struggle with or work hard to deal with or overcome (a difficulty or challenge). "other towns are still grappling with the problem" synonyms: tackle, confront, address oneself to, face, attend to, attack, get down to; More deal with, cope with, get/come to grips with; concentrate on, focus on, apply oneself to, devote oneself to; informalget stuck into, get cracking on, get weaving on, have a crack at, have a go at, have a shot at, have a stab at "a writer grappling with the problems of exile" antonyms: avoid

TRAVAIL (V)

engage in painful or laborious effort. (of a woman) be in labor.

RELISH (v)

enjoy greatly. "he was relishing his moment of glory" synonyms: enjoy, delight in, love, like, adore, be pleased by, take pleasure in, rejoice in, appreciate, savor, revel in, luxuriate in, glory in; More gloat over, feel self-satisfied about, crow about; informalget a kick out of, get a thrill out of "he was relishing his moment of glory" antonyms: dislike

GARGANTUAN (ADJ)

enormous. "a gargantuan appetite" synonyms: enormous, extremely big, extremely large, massive, huge, colossal, vast, immense, cosmic, tremendous, gigantic, giant, monstrous, towering, mammoth, prodigious, elephantine, mountainous, mighty, monumental, epic, king-size, king-sized, titanic, Herculean, Brobdingnagian, substantial, hefty, weighty, bulky; More antonyms: tiny

PROHIBITIVE (adj)

especially of a law or rule) forbidding or restricting something. "prohibitive legislation" synonyms: proscriptive, prohibitory, restrictive, repressive "prohibitive regulations" (of a condition or situation) preventing someone from doing something. "a wind over force 5 is prohibitive" 2. (of a price or charge) excessively high; difficult or impossible to pay. "the costs involved were prohibitive" synonyms: exorbitant, excessively high, sky-high, overinflated; More out of the question, beyond one's means; extortionate, unreasonable; informalsteep, criminal "prohibitive costs"

UNTENABLE (adj)

especially of a position or view) not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection. "this argument is clearly untenable" synonyms: indefensible, insupportable, unsustainable, unjustified, unjustifiable, flimsy, weak, shaky "these untenable explanations are not helping your case"

SPRY (adj)

especially of an old person) active; lively. "he continued to look spry and active well into his eighties" synonyms: sprightly, lively, energetic, active, full of life, full of energy, vigorous, spirited, animated, vivacious, playful, jaunty, perky, frisky, agile, nimble; More informalchipper, sparkly, zippy, zappy, full of vim and vigor, full of beans; informalpeppy, peart; informalwick; archaicfrolicsome, sportive, as lively as a grig "he's remarkably spry for a man of his age" antonyms: doddery, inactive

ensconce (v)

establish firmly in a position; establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe, or secret place. "Agnes ensconced herself in their bedroom" synonyms: settle, install, establish, park, shut, plant, lodge, position, seat, entrench, shelter, screen; More

IMPUNITY

exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action. "the impunity enjoyed by military officers implicated in civilian killings" synonyms: immunity, indemnity, exemption (from punishment), freedom from liability, nonliability, license; More amnesty, dispensation, reprieve, pardon, exoneration; stay of execution; privilege, favoritism, special treatment, carte blanche "the lawsuit attempts to fight the impunity that these military officials have enjoyed for too long" without punishment, with no ill consequences, scot-free, unpunished "they boldly break laws at will, and do so with impunity" antonyms: liability

IMPUNITY (n)

exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action. "the impunity enjoyed by military officers implicated in civilian killings" synonyms: immunity, indemnity, exemption (from punishment), freedom from liability, nonliability, license; More antonyms: liability

ABOUND

exist in large numbers or amounts. "rumors of a further scandal abound" synonyms: be plentiful, be abundant, be numerous, proliferate, superabound, thrive, flourish, be thick on the ground; More antonyms: be scarce, meager, scanty have in large numbers or amounts. "this land abounds with wildlife" synonyms: be full of, overflow with, teem with, be packed with, be crowded with, be thronged with, be jammed with; More

LUXE (adj)

expensive and of high quality; luxurious. "the luxe 65-room Four Seasons hotel"

SPELL OUT

explain step-by-step

SPOUT (v)

express (one's views or ideas) in a lengthy, declamatory, and unreflecting way. "he was spouting platitudes about animal rights" synonyms: hold forth, sound off, go on, talk at length, expatiate; More

PONTIFICATE (v)

express one's opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic. "he was pontificating about art and history" synonyms: hold forth, expound, declaim, preach, lay down the law, express one's opinion (pompously), sound off, spout (off), dogmatize, sermonize, moralize, pronounce, lecture, expatiate; More informalpreachify, mouth off, spiel; rareperorate "he began to pontificate about life and art"

REPETANT

expressing or feeling sincere regret and remorse; remorseful. "he is truly repentant for his incredible naivety and stupidity" synonyms: penitent, contrite, regretful, full of regret, sorrowful, rueful, remorseful, apologetic, conscience-stricken, ashamed, guilt-ridden, chastened, self-reproachful, shamefaced, guilty; rarecompunctious "Nancy looked suitably repentant and said she was sorry" antonyms: unrepentant, impenitent

doleful (adj)

expressing sorrow; mournful. "a doleful look" synonyms: mournful, woeful, sorrowful, sad, unhappy, depressed, dismal, gloomy, morose, melancholy, miserable, forlorn, wretched, woebegone, despondent, dejected, disconsolate, downcast, crestfallen, downhearted, heartbroken, heavy-hearted, despairing, desolate, grief-stricken; More antonyms: cheerful causing grief or misfortune. "doleful consequences"

RAVENOUS (adj)

extremely hungry. synonyms: very hungry, starving, starved, famished; More informalwith one's stomach cleaving to one's backbone; raresharp-set, esurient "I'm absolutely ravenous—I missed lunch" antonyms: full (of hunger or need) very great; voracious. "a ravenous appetite" synonyms: voracious, insatiable, ravening, wolfish; More greedy, gluttonous, gannet-like; literaryinsatiate; rareedacious "her ravenous appetite"

RABID (adj)

extremely violent : furious b : going to extreme lengths in expressing or pursuing a feeling, interest, or opinion rabid editorials a rabid supporter

foreboding

fearful apprehension; a feeling that something bad will happen. "with a sense of foreboding she read the note"

LOATHE (V)

feel intense dislike or disgust for. "she loathed him on sight" synonyms: hate, detest, abhor, despise, abominate, dislike greatly, execrate; More

WARY (adj)

feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems. "dogs that have been mistreated often remain very wary of strangers" synonyms: cautious, careful, circumspect, on one's guard, chary, alert, on the alert, on the lookout, on the qui vive, prudent; More

BRIM (v)

fill or be full to the point of overflowing. "a brimming cup" fill something so completely as almost to spill out of it. "large tears brimmed in her eyes" be possessed by or full of feelings or thoughts. "he is brimming with ideas" Origin

SILT (n)

fine sand, clay, or other material carried by running water and deposited as a sediment, especially in a channel or harbor. synonyms: sediment, deposit, alluvium, mud "the flooding brought more silt"

LANUGO (n)

fine, soft hair, especially that which covers the body and limbs of a human fetus or newborn.

PANACHE (n)

flamboyant confidence of style or manner. "he entertained Palm Springs society with great panache" synonyms: flamboyance, confidence, self-assurance, style, flair, elan, dash, verve, zest, spirit, brio, éclat, vivacity, gusto, liveliness, vitality, energy; More informalpizzazz, oomph, zip, zing "the chorus line lacks panache"

ANTICS (n)

foolish, outrageous, or amusing behavior. "the antics of our political parties" synonyms: capers, amusing behavior, pranks, larks, escapades, high jinks, skylarking, stunts, tricks, horseplay, romps, frolics; More silliness, foolish behavior, tomfoolery, foolery, clowning, buffoonery; informalmonkey tricks; informaldidoes; archaicharlequinades "she laughed, recalling her son's antics"

STACK UP (phrase verb)

form or cause to form a large quantity; build up. "cars stack up behind every bus, while passengers stand in line to pay fares" 2. NORTH AMERICANinformal measure up; compare. "our rural schools stack up well against their urban counterparts" make sense; correspond to reality. "to blame the debacle on the antics of a rogue trader is not credible—it doesn't stack up"

CONCEIVE (v)

form or devise (a plan or idea) in the mind. "the dam project was originally conceived in 1977" synonyms: think up, think of, dream up, devise, formulate, design, originate, create, develop; More informalcook up, hatch "the project was conceived in 1977" form a mental representation of; imagine. "without society an individual cannot be conceived as having rights" synonyms: imagine, envisage, visualize, picture, think, envision, grasp, appreciate, apprehend; formalideate "I can hardly conceive what it must be like"

MUCH OBLIGED

formal or old-fashioned. expressions used when one wants to indicate that one is very grateful for something

AFFABLE (adj)

friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to. "an affable and agreeable companion" synonyms: friendly, amiable, genial, congenial, cordial, warm, pleasant, pleasing, nice, likable, personable, charming, agreeable, sympathetic, benevolent, benign, good-humored, good-natured, kindly, kind, courteous, civil, gracious, approachable, accessible, amenable, sociable, outgoing, gregarious, convivial, jovial, clubbable, comradely, neighborly, welcoming, hospitable, obliging, easygoing, informal, open, communicative, unreserved, uninhibited, natural, relaxed, easy; More

ADO (n)

fuss, especially about something that is unimportant. "on the face of it, this is much ado about almost nothing" 2. trouble or difficulty. "she had much ado to keep up with him"

FINICKY (adj)

fussy about one's needs or requirements. "a finicky eater" synonyms: fussy, fastidious, punctilious, overparticular, difficult, exacting, demanding; More showing or requiring great attention to detail. "a finicky, almost fetishistic collector"

BONAFIDE (adj)

genuine; real. "only bona fide members of the company are allowed to use the logo" synonyms: authentic, genuine, real, true, actual; More legal, legitimate, lawful, valid, proper; informallegit, the real McCoy "the table is definitely an imitation Chippendale, but the chairs are bona fide" antonyms: bogus adverbLAW adverb: bonafide 1. sincerely; without intention to deceive. "the court will assume that they have acted bona fide"

RABID (adj)

having or proceeding from an extreme or fanatical support of or belief in something. "the show's small but rabid fan base" synonyms: extreme, fanatical, overzealous, extremist, maniacal, passionate, fervent, overkeen, diehard, uncompromising, illiberal; More informalgung-ho, foaming at the mouth "her rabid anti-immigration views" antonyms: moderate

MEANDER

gerund or present participle: meandering (of a river or road) follow a winding course. "a river that meandered gently through a meadow" synonyms: zigzag, wind, twist, turn, curve, curl, bend, snake "the river meandered gently through the meadow" (of a person) wander at random. "kids meandered in and out" synonyms: stroll, saunter, amble, wander, roam, ramble, rove, drift, maunder, stray, straggle; More (of a speaker or text) proceed aimlessly or with little purpose. "a stylish offbeat thriller which occasionally meanders" synonyms: ramble, prattle, maunder, prate, blather, blether, blither, drivel, chatter, rattle, drift; More

RUMPLE (v)

give a creased, ruffled, or disheveled appearance to. "a rumpled bed" synonyms: crumple, crease, wrinkle, tumble, crush, crinkle, ruck, ruck up, scrunch up, disorder; More antonyms: smooth (out), smooth

enrapture (v)

give intense pleasure or joy to. "Ruth was enraptured by the child who was sleeping in her arms so peacefully" synonyms: delight, enchant, captivate, charm, enthrall, entrance, bewitch, beguile, transport, thrill, excite, exhilarate, intoxicate, take someone's breath away; More informalbowl over, blow someone's mind; literaryravish "enraptured by the music"

REVAMP (v)

give new and improved form, structure, or appearance to. "an attempt to revamp the museum's image" synonyms: renovate, redecorate, refurbish, recondition, rehabilitate, rebuild, reconstruct, overhaul, make over; More

GRUDGING (adj)

given, granted, or allowed only reluctantly or resentfully. "a grudging apology" synonyms: reluctant, unwilling, forced, halfhearted, unenthusiastic, hesitant; More begrudging, resentful; envious, jealous "her grudging apology" antonyms: eager (of a person) reluctant or resentfully unwilling to give, grant, or allow something. "Oliver was grudging about accepting Wickham's innocence"

ZEAL (n)

great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective. "his zeal for privatization" synonyms: passion, ardor, love, fervor, fire, avidity, devotion, enthusiasm, eagerness, keenness, appetite, relish, gusto, vigor, energy, intensity; fanaticism "Ross's zeal for football" antonyms: apathy, indifference

STEER (v)

guide the movement or course of (someone or something). "he had steered her to a chair" synonyms: guide, conduct, direct, lead, take, usher, shepherd, marshal, herd "Luke steered her down the path" (of a person) guide or control the movement of (a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft), for example by turning a wheel or operating a rudder. "he steered the boat slowly toward the busy quay" synonyms: guide, direct, maneuver, drive, pilot, navigate; More con, helm "he steered the boat" (of a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft) be guided in a specified direction. "the ship steered into port" follow (a course) in a specified direction. "the fishermen were steering a direct course for Kodiak"

HOUND (v)

harass, persecute, or pursue relentlessly. "a tenacious attorney general who had hounded Jimmy Hoffa and other labor bosses" synonyms: pursue, chase, follow, shadow, be hot on someone's heels, hunt (down), stalk, track, trail, tail, dog; More harass, hassle, persecute, harry, pester, bother, badger, torment, bedevil; informalbug, give someone a hard time, devil "she was hounded by the press" force, drive, pressure, pressurize, push, urge, coerce, impel, dragoon, strong-arm; nag, bully, browbeat; informalbulldoze, railroad, hustle "they hounded him out of office"

BRITTLE (adj)

hard but liable to break or shatter easily. "her bones became fragile and brittle" synonyms: breakable, fragile, delicate; More splintery; formalfrangible "glass is a brittle material" antonyms: flexible, resilient (of a sound, especially a person's voice) unpleasantly hard and sharp and showing signs of instability or nervousness. "a brittle laugh" synonyms: harsh, hard, sharp, grating "a brittle laugh" antonyms: soft (of a person or behavior) appearing aggressive or hard but unstable or nervous within. "her manner was artificially bright and brittle" synonyms: edgy, anxious, unstable, high-strung, tense, excitable, jumpy, skittish, neurotic; informaluptight "a brittle young woman" antonyms: relaxed

INTRACTABLE

hard to control or deal with. "intractable economic problems" synonyms: unmanageable, uncontrollable, ungovernable, out of control, out of hand, impossible to cope with; More (of a person) difficult or stubborn. synonyms: stubborn, obstinate, obdurate, inflexible, unadaptable, unmalleable, unbending, unyielding, uncompromising, unaccommodating, uncooperative, difficult, awkward, perverse, contrary, disobedient, indomitable, refractory, recalcitrant, pigheaded, bull-headed, willful; More

cursory (adj)

hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed. "a cursory glance at the figures" synonyms: perfunctory, desultory, casual, superficial, token, uninterested, halfhearted, inattentive, unthinking, offhand, mechanical, automatic, routine; More antonyms: thorough, painstaking

TINGE (V)

have a slight influence on; imbue slightly with a feeling or quality. "this visit will be tinged with sadness" synonyms: influence, affect, touch, flavor, color, modify; taint "his optimism is tinged with realism"

PAROCHIAL (adj)

having a limited or narrow outlook or scope. "this worldview seems incredibly naive and parochial" synonyms: narrow-minded, small-minded, provincial, narrow, small-town, conservative, illiberal, intolerant; informaljerkwater "she was constantly challenging their parochial approach to education"

CHECKERED (adj)

having a pattern of alternating squares of different colors. synonyms: checked, multicolored, many-colored, harlequin, varicolored, particolored "he wore short checkered breeches" marked by periods of varied fortune or discreditable incidents. "his checkered past might hurt his electability" synonyms: varied, mixed, eventful, full of ups and downs, up and down; More unsettled, unstable, irregular, erratic, inconstant, fluctuating, changeful; diverse, diversified, multifaceted, many-faceted; rarevicissitudinous "the corporation has had a checkered history"

VELVETY (adj)

having a smooth, soft appearance, feel, or taste. "robes of velvety black"

EVERGREEN (adj)

having an enduring freshness, success, or popularity. "in Hollywood parlance, Star Trek is an evergreen asset"

RABID (adj)

having or proceeding from an extreme or fanatical support of or belief in something. "the show's small but rabid fan base" synonyms: extreme, fanatical, overzealous, over-enthusiastic, extremist, violent, maniacal, wild, passionate, fervent, diehard, uncompromising; More intolerant, unreasonable, illiberal, bigoted, prejudiced, biased, partisan, one-sided; informalraving, gung-ho; informalswivel-eyed; literaryperfervid "a rabid anti-royalist"

VAIN (adj)

having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth. "their flattery made him vain" synonyms: conceited, narcissistic, self-loving, in love with oneself, self-admiring, self-regarding, self-obsessed, egocentric, egotistic, egotistical; More 2. producing no result; useless. "a vain attempt to tidy up the room" synonyms: futile, useless, pointless, to no purpose, hopeless, in vain; More

keen (adj)

having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm. "keen believers in the monetary system" synonyms: eager, anxious, intent, impatient, determined, ambitious, champing at the bit; More antonyms: reluctant, apathetic, halfhearted

JAGGED (adj)

having rough, sharp points protruding. "the jagged edges gashed their fingers" synonyms: spiky, spiked, barbed, snaggy, nicked, pointed, ragged, craggy, rough, uneven, irregular, broken; More antonyms: smooth

ebony

heavy blackish or very dark brown timber from a mainly tropical tree. a very dark brown or black color. "his ebony hair" synonyms: black, jet black, pitch black, coal black, ink black, black as night, black as pitch, sable, inky, sooty, raven, dark; literaryebon "he stared at her with his ebony eyes"

BALK (v)

hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking. "any gardener will at first balk at enclosing the garden" synonyms: eschew, resist, refuse to, be unwilling to, draw the line at, be reluctant to, draw back from, flinch from, shrink from, shy from, recoil from, quail at, demur from, hesitate over, scruple to, take exception to, not like to, hate to, jib at; More scorn, disdain "sensitive gardeners who balk at using pesticides"

Arrival fallacy

illusion that once we make it, once we attain our goal or reach our destination, we will reach lasting happiness

dispassionate

impartial; calm, free from emotion

FOIST (v)

impose an unwelcome or unnecessary person or thing on. "don't let anyone foist inferior goods on you" synonyms: impose, force, thrust, offload, unload, dump, palm off, fob off; More

INDUBITABLE (adj)

impossible to doubt; unquestionable. "an indubitable truth" synonyms: unquestionable, undoubtable, indisputable, unarguable, undebatable, incontestable, undeniable, irrefutable, incontrovertible, unmistakable, unequivocal, certain, sure, positive, definite, absolute, conclusive, watertight, ironclad; More beyond doubt, beyond the shadow of a doubt, beyond dispute, beyond question, not in question, not in doubt; informalsure as shootin' "indubitable testimony" antonyms: doubtful

INDOMITABLE (adj)

impossible to subdue or defeat. "a woman of indomitable spirit" synonyms: invincible, unconquerable, unbeatable, unassailable, invulnerable, unshakable, unsinkable; More antonyms: submissive

INSCRUTABLE (adj)

impossible to understand or interpret. "Guy looked blankly inscrutable" synonyms: enigmatic, mysterious, unreadable, inexplicable, unexplainable, incomprehensible, impenetrable, unfathomable, unknowable; More opaque, abstruse, arcane, obscure, cryptic "he was a financial genius with inscrutable motives" antonyms: transparent

UNINTELLIGIBLE (adj)

impossible to understand. "dolphin sounds are unintelligible to humans" synonyms: incomprehensible, indiscernible, mumbled, indistinct, unclear, slurred, inarticulate, incoherent, garbled More

BAFFLING (adj)

impossible to understand; perplexing. "the crime is a baffling mystery for the police"

POINTEDLY (adv)

in a direct and unambiguous way, often indicating criticism or displeasure. "he pointedly refused to shake hands"

SUBTLY (adverb)

in a manner that is so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe. "the script subtly shifts in tone from comedy to tragedy" in a delicately complex and understated way. "a subtly flavored dessert" 2. in a clever and indirect way, in order to achieve something. "he would prattle on about something else for a while before subtly raising the question again"

ANEW (n)

in a new or different and typically more positive way. "her career had begun anew, with a lucrative Japanese modeling contract" once more; again. "tears filled her eyes anew" synonyms: again, once more, once again, a second time, afresh, over again "tears filled her eyes anew"

ANEW (adverb)

in a new or different, typically more positive, way. "her career had begun anew, with a lucrative Japanese modeling contract" once more; again. "tears filled her eyes anew" synonyms: again, afresh, another time, once more/again, over again "may we please begin anew?"

SUBSTANTIVELY (adverb)

in a way that is important, meaningful, or considerable. "the parties differ substantively on many issues" 2. with regard to legal rights and duties. "the ruling was flawed procedurally and substantively"

DEFTLY

in a way that is neatly skillful and quick in movement. "her fingers moved deftly, quickly parting the grass" in a clever way. "he has deftly handled the flak he's received"

UNOBTRUSIVELY (adverb)

in a way that is not conspicuous or attracting attention. "he slipped unobtrusively out of the apartment"

keenly (adverb)

in an eager or enthusiastic manner. "one of this year's most keenly anticipated movies" 2. intensely. "they are keenly aware of the problems of their community" 3. BRITISH cheaply; competitively. "the car is keenly priced"

SHEEPISHLY (adverb)

in an embarrassed manner due to shame or a lack of self-confidence. "I smiled sheepishly, my face instantly flushing"

INTRINSICALLY (adverb)

in an essential or natural way. "murder is intrinsically evil" or "intrinsically speaking"

INCIPIENT (adj)

in an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop. "he could feel incipient anger building up" (of a person) developing into a specified type or role. "we seemed more like friends than incipient lovers" synonyms: developing, impending, growing, emerging, emergent, dawning; More just beginning, starting, inceptive, initial; nascent, embryonic, fledgling, in its infancy, germinal; rudimentary, inchoate; rareembryonal "a system to detect incipient problems early" antonyms: full-blown

BATED (adj)

in great suspense; very anxiously or excitedly. "he waited for a reply to his offer with bated breath"

CONCUBINE

in polygamous societies) a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives. ARCHAIC a mistress. synonyms: mistress, paramour, kept woman; More lover; kerida; informalfancy woman, bit on the side; archaicdoxy, courtesan, leman; historicalodalisque, hetaera, lorette

AFOOT (adj)

in preparation or progress; happening or beginning to happen. "plans are afoot for a festival" synonyms: going on, happening, around, about, abroad, circulating, current, stirring, in circulation, at large, going about, in the air, in the wind; More

AFOOT (adv)

in preparation or progress; happening or beginning to happen. "plans are afoot for a festival" synonyms: going on, happening, around, about, abroad, stirring, circulating, in circulation, at large, in the air/wind; More

IN A NUTSHELL

in the fewest possible words. "she put the matter in a nutshell"

SMARMY

ingratiating and wheedling in a way that is perceived as insincere or excessive. "a smarmy, unctuous reply" synonyms: unctuous, ingratiating, smooth, slick, oily, greasy, fulsome, flattering, obsequious, sycophantic, fawning; More

GASP (v)

inhale suddenly with the mouth open, out of pain or astonishment. "a woman gasped in horror at the sight of him" synonyms: pant, puff, wheeze, breathe hard, choke, fight for breath "she collapsed on the ground, gasping" say (something) while catching one's breath, especially as a result of strong emotion. "Jeremy gasped out an apology" strain to take a deep breath. "she surfaced and gasped for air" synonyms: catch one's breath, draw in one's breath, gulp; More exclaim, cry (out) "I gasped in surprise"

CONSTRICT (v)

inhibit or restrict. "the fear and the reality of crime constrict many people's lives" synonyms: impede, restrict, inhibit, obstruct, limit, interfere with, hinder, hamper, check, curb "scale buildup on shower heads constricts water flow" antonyms: assist make narrower, especially by encircling pressure. "chemicals that constrict the blood vessels" synonyms: narrow, make/become narrower, tighten, compress, contract, make/become smaller, shrink, draw in; More squeeze, choke, strangle, strangulate; archaicstraiten "fat constricts the blood vessels"

SLIGHT (v)

insult (someone) by treating or speaking of them without proper respect or attention. "he was careful not to slight a guest" synonyms: insult, snub, rebuff, repulse, spurn, treat disrespectfully, give someone the cold shoulder, cold-shoulder, brush off, turn one's back on, keep at arm's length, disregard, ignore, cut (dead), neglect, take no notice of, disdain, scorn; More

PREFACE (v,n)

introduce or begin (a speech or event) with or by doing something. "it is important to preface the debate with a general comment"

ENCROACH (v)

intrude on (a person's territory or a thing considered to be a right). "rather than encroach on his privacy she might have kept to her room" synonyms: intrude, trespass, impinge, butt in, barge in, cut in, obtrude, impose oneself; More invade, infiltrate, interrupt, infringe, violate, interfere with, disturb, disrupt; tread on someone's toes, step on someone's toes; informalgatecrash, horn in on, muscle in on, invade someone's space; archaicentrench on "she didn't want to encroach on his privacy" advance gradually beyond usual or acceptable limits. "the sea has encroached all around the coast"

STUMP SPEECH

is a standard speech used by a politician running for office. Typically a candidate who schedules many appearances prepares a short standardized stump speech that is repeated verbatim to each audience, before opening to questions.

QUIP

joke

SKULK

keep out of sight, typically with a sinister or cowardly motive. "don't skulk outside the door like a spy!" move stealthily or furtively. "he spent most of his time skulking about the corridors" synonyms: lurk, loiter, hide, conceal oneself, lie in wait, keep out of sight; More creep, sneak, slink, move furtively, sidle, slope, pad, prowl, tiptoe, pussyfoot "he spent most of his time skulking about the corridors" shirk one's duties or responsibilities. "we were accused of skulking" noun noun: skulk; plural noun: skulks 1. a group of foxes. "the skulk howls away into the night"

ineptness

lack of competence or judgement; Lacking or showing a lack of skill or competence; bungling or clumsy: an inept actor; an inept performance. 2. Showing a lack of judgment, sense, or reason; inappropriate or foolish:

FOLLY (n)

lack of good sense; foolishness. "an act of sheer folly" a foolish act, idea, or practice. plural noun: follies "the follies of youth" synonyms: foolishness, foolhardiness, stupidity, idiocy, imbecility, silliness, inanity, lunacy, madness, rashness, recklessness, imprudence, injudiciousness, lack of caution, lack of foresight, lack of sense, irrationality, illogicality, irresponsibility, thoughtlessness, indiscretion; More informalcraziness; informaldaftness "he cursed himself for his folly"

INCONTINENCE

lack of voluntary control over urination or defecation. "causes of urinary incontinence" 2. lack of self-restraint. "the emotional incontinence of modern society"

STATIC

lacking in movement, action, or change, especially in a way viewed as undesirable or uninteresting. "demand has grown in what was a fairly static market" synonyms: unchanged, fixed, stable, steady, unchanging, changeless, unvarying, invariable, constant, consistent "static prices" antonyms: variable COMPUTING (of a process or variable) not able to be changed during a set period, for example, while a program is running.

Perennial

lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring. "his perennial distrust of the media" synonyms: everlasting, perpetual, eternal, continuing, unending, never-ending, endless, undying, ceaseless, abiding, enduring, lasting, persisting, permanent, constant, continual, unfailing, unchanging, never-changing "the perennial fascination with crime"

slothful (adj)

lazy. "fatigue made him slothful" synonyms: lazy, idle, indolent, work-shy, inactive, inert, sluggish, apathetic, lethargic, listless, languid, torpid, slow-moving, slow, heavy, dull, enervated, shiftless, lackadaisical; More

MARQUEE (n)

leading; preeminent. modifier noun: marquee "a marquee player"

HEARKEN (v)

listen. "he refused to hearken to Thomas's words of wisdom"

CANTY

lively; brisk; in good spirits.

OUTLANDISH (adj)

looking or sounding bizarre or unfamiliar. "outlandish, brightly colored clothes" 2. ARCHAIC foreign or alien. synonyms: weird, queer, offbeat, far out, freakish, grotesque, quirky, zany, eccentric, off-center, idiosyncratic, unconventional, unorthodox, funny, bizarre, fantastic, unusual, extraordinary, strange, unfamiliar, unknown, unheard of, alien, foreign, peculiar, odd, curious; More atypical, irregular, anomalous, deviant, abnormal, quaint, out of the way, ludicrous, preposterous; outré; informalway-out, wacky, freaky, kooky, screwy, kinky, oddball, cranky; informaloff the wall, in left field, bizarro, backasswards; datedsingular "he wears outlandish clothes" antonyms: ordinary, commonplace, conventional

Photobleaching (n)

loss of color by a pigment (such as chlorophyll or rhodopsin) when illuminated.

FLINCH (v)

make a quick, nervous movement as an instinctive reaction to fear, pain, or surprise. "she flinched at the acidity in his voice" synonyms: wince, start, shy (away), recoil, shrink, pull back, back away, shy away, draw back, withdraw, blench, cringe, squirm, quiver, shudder, shiver, tremble, quake, shake, quail, cower, waver, falter, hesitate, get cold feet, blanch "Curtis flinched as the passenger window imploded" antonyms: stand firm

STREAMLINE

make more efficient; simplify; make (an organization or system) more efficient and effective by employing faster or simpler working methods. "the company streamlined its operations by removing whole layers of management" synonyms: efficient, smooth-running, well run, well organized, slick; More modernized, up to date, rationalized, simplified; timesaving, labor-saving "a streamlined organization" antonyms: inefficient

CONSTRICT (v)

make narrower, especially by encircling pressure. "chemicals that constrict the blood vessels" synonyms: narrow, make narrower, tighten, compress, contract, squeeze, strangle, strangulate; archaicstraiten "fat constricts the blood vessels" antonyms: expand, dilate become narrower. "he felt his throat constrict" (of a snake) coil around (prey) in order to asphyxiate it. inhibit or restrict. "the fear and the reality of crime constrict many people's lives" synonyms: restrict, impede, limit, inhibit, obstruct, interfere with, hinder, hamper "fear of crime constricts many people's lives"

SHUN

persistently avoid, ignore, or reject (someone or something) through antipathy or caution. "he shunned fashionable society" synonyms: avoid, evade, eschew, steer clear of, shy away from, fight shy of, keep one's distance from, give a wide berth to, have nothing to do with; More antonyms: welcome

PREVARICATOR

person who speaks falsely; liar. a person who speaks so as to avoid the precise truth; quibbler; equivocator.

FORGE (v)

make or shape (a metal object) by heating it in a fire or furnace and beating or hammering it. synonyms: hammer out, beat into shape, found, cast, mold, model; More 2. create (a relationship or new conditions). "the two women forged a close bond" synonyms: build, build up, construct, form, create, establish, set up, put together "they forged a partnership with city government" 3. produce a copy or imitation of (a document, signature, banknote, or work or art) for the purpose of deception. synonyms: fake, falsify, counterfeit, copy fraudulently, copy, imitate, reproduce, replicate, simulate; More antonyms: genuine

GASLIGHT (v)

manipulate (someone) by psychological means into questioning their own sanity. "in the first episode, Karen Valentine is being gaslighted by her husband"

ROTE

mechanical or habitual repetition of something to be learned. "a poem learned by rote in childhood" synonyms: mechanically, automatically, unthinkingly, mindlessly; More from memory, by heart "we learned our multiplication tables by rote"

UNSPARING (adj)

merciless; severe. "he is unsparing in his criticism of the arms trade" synonyms: merciless, pitiless, unpitying, ruthless, relentless, remorseless, unmerciful, unforgiving, implacable, uncompromising; More antonyms: merciful, gentle, mild 2. given freely and generously. "she had won her mother's unsparing approval" synonyms: ungrudging, unstinting, willingly given, free, free-handed, ready, beneficent, benevolent, big-hearted, kindhearted, kind, unselfish; More antonyms: grudging, mean

PARAPHERNALIA

miscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activity. "drills, saws, and other paraphernalia necessary for home improvements" synonyms: equipment, stuff, things, apparatus, tackle, kit, implements, tools, utensils, material(s), appliances, rig, outfit, accoutrements,

GLUMLY

moody, sulky; despondent, melancholy

FOREMOST (adj)

most prominent in rank, importance, or position. "one of the foremost art collectors of his day" synonyms: leading, principal, premier, prime, top, top-level, greatest, best, supreme, preeminent, outstanding, most important, most prominent, most influential, most illustrious, most notable; More ranking, number-one, star "the foremost impressionist of his age"

OSCILLATE (v)

move or swing back and forth at a regular speed. "a pendulum oscillates about its lowest point" synonyms: swing, sway, swing from side to side, swing back and forth, swing backwards and forwards, swing to and fro, vibrate; informalwigwag "the pendulum started to oscillate" waver between extremes of opinion, action, or quality. "he was oscillating between fear and bravery" synonyms: waver, swing, fluctuate, alternate, see-saw, veer, yo-yo, sway, go from one extreme to the other, vary, vacillate, teeter, hover; More informalwobble, blow hot and cold "he was oscillating between fear and bravery"

CONCOMITANT (adj)

naturally accompanying or associated. "she loved travel, with all its concomitant worries" synonyms: attendant, accompanying, associated, related, connected; More resultant, consequent "the rise of urbanism brought a concomitant risk of crime" antonyms: unrelated noun noun: concomitant; plural noun: concomitants 1. a phenomenon that naturally accompanies or follows something. "some of us look on pain and illness as concomitants of the stresses of living"

DEFT (adj)

neatly skillful and quick in one's movements. "a deft piece of footwork" demonstrating skill and cleverness. "the script was both deft and literate" synonyms: skillful, adept, adroit, dexterous, agile, nimble, handy; More

incumbent on(upon)

necessary as a duty for (someone)

PASSE (adj)

no longer fashionable; out of date. "miniskirts are passé—the best skirts are knee-length" ARCHAIC (especially of a woman) past one's prime.

NARY

not a single

OPAQUE (ADJ)

not able to be seen through; not transparent. "the windows were opaque with steam" synonyms: nontransparent, cloudy, filmy, blurred, smeared, smeary, misty, hazy; More antonyms: transparent, translucent, clear (especially of language) hard or impossible to understand; unfathomable. "technical jargon that was opaque to her" synonyms: obscure, unclear, mysterious, puzzling, perplexing, baffling, mystifying, confusing, unfathomable, incomprehensible, unintelligible, ambiguous, Delphic, impenetrable, oblique, enigmatic, cryptic, hazy, foggy; informalas clear as mud "the technical jargon was opaque to him" antonyms: clear

SPURIOUS (adj)

not being what it purports to be; false or fake. "separating authentic and spurious claims" synonyms: bogus, fake, false, counterfeit, forged, fraudulent, sham, artificial, imitation, simulated, feigned, deceptive, misleading, specious; More informalphony, pretend "an attempt to be excused due to some spurious medical condition" antonyms: genuine (of a line of reasoning) apparently but not actually valid. "this spurious reasoning results in nonsense" archaic (of offspring) illegitimate.

TENTATIVE (adj0

not certain or fixed; provisional. "a tentative conclusion" synonyms: provisional, unconfirmed, unsettled, indefinite, pencilled in, preliminary, to be confirmed, TBC, subject to confirmation; More antonyms: definite done without confidence; hesitant. "he eventually tried a few tentative steps round his hospital room" synonyms: hesitant, uncertain, cautious, unconfident, timid, hesitating, faltering, shaky, unsteady, halting; More antonyms: confident

self-effacing (adj)

not claiming attention for oneself; retiring and modest. "his demeanor was self-effacing, gracious, and polite"

Impersonal

not influenced by, showing, or involving personal feelings. "the impersonal march of progress" synonyms: neutral, unbiased, nonpartisan, nondiscriminatory, unprejudiced, unswayed, objective, detached, disinterested, dispassionate, free from discrimination, without favoritism, with no axe to grind, without fear or favor; More fair, just, equitable, balanced, even-handed "the hand of fate is brutal but impersonal" aloof, distant, remote, reserved, withdrawn, unemotional, unfeeling, unsentimental, dispassionate, passionless, cold, cool, frigid, unresponsive, indifferent, unconcerned; formal, stiff, rigid, wooden, starchy, stilted, restrained, self-controlled, matter-of-fact, businesslike, clinical; informalstandoffish; raregelid "even his children found him strangely impersonal" antonyms: biased, warm, emotional

UNPALATABLE (adj)

not pleasant to taste. synonyms: unappetizing, uninviting, unappealing, unsavory, off-putting, inedible, uneatable; More bitter, sour, rancid; disgusting, revolting, nauseating, sickening, horrible, tasteless, flavorless, bland, insipid; informalyucky, sick-making, gross "scraps of unpalatable food" antonyms: palatable, tasty difficult to tolerate or accept. "the unpalatable fact that many of the world's people are starving" synonyms: disagreeable, unpleasant, displeasing, unattractive, regrettable, unwelcome, upsetting, distressing, lamentable, repugnant, nasty, horrible, dreadful, hateful, distasteful, offensive, objectionable, obnoxious, repulsive, repellent, vile, foul "he had been bold enough to speak the unpalatable truth"

reticent (adj)

not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily. "she was extremely reticent about her personal affairs" synonyms: reserved, withdrawn, introverted, inhibited, diffident, shy; More antonyms: expansive

groveling (n)

obsequious behavior aimed at obtaining forgiveness or favor. "it was time to give in and do a bit of groveling"

ANTEBELLUM (adj)

occurring or existing before a particular war, especially the American Civil War. "the conventions of the antebellum South"

CIRCUITOUS

of a route or journey) longer than the most direct way. "the canal followed a circuitous route" synonyms: roundabout, indirect, winding, meandering, serpentine, tortuous, twisting; More rareanfractuous "a circuitous route" indirect, oblique, roundabout, circumlocutory, periphrastic; meandering, discursive, digressive, long-winded; evasive; rarecircumlocutionary, ambagious "a circuitous discussion" antonyms: direct, straight, to the point

DISBAND (v)

of an organized group) break up or cause to break up and stop functioning. synonyms: break up, disperse, demobilize, dissolve, scatter, separate, go separate ways, part company "the unit was scheduled to disband" antonyms: assemble

HYBRID (adj)

of mixed character; composed of mixed parts.

NUGATORY (adj)

of no value or importance. "a nugatory and pointless observation" synonyms: worthless, unimportant, inconsequential, valueless, trifling, trivial, insignificant, meaningless "a nugatory observation" useless; futile. "the teacher shortages will render nugatory the hopes of implementing the new curriculum" synonyms: futile, useless, vain, unavailing, null, invalid "the shortages will render our hopes nugatory"

FILIAL (adj)

of or due from a son or daughter. "a display of filial affection" synonyms: dutiful, devoted, compliant, respectful, affectionate, loving "a display of filial affection"

SUPERLATIVE (adj)

of the highest quality or degree. "a superlative piece of skill" synonyms: excellent, magnificent, wonderful, glorious, marvelous, brilliant, supreme, consummate, outstanding, prodigious, dazzling, remarkable, formidable, fine, choice, sterling, first-rate, first-class, of the first water, of the first order, of the highest order, premier, prime, unsurpassed, unequaled, unparalleled, unrivaled, unbeatable, peerless, matchless, singular, unique, transcendent, best, greatest, worthiest, preeminent, perfect, fa

put someone up

offer accommodation;

PARENTIFICATION

often defined as a type of role reversal, boundary distortion, and inverted hierarchy between parents and other family members in which children or adolescents assume developmentally inappropriate levels of responsibility in the family of origin that go unrecognized, unsupported, and unrewarded.

NONDENOMINATIONAL

open or acceptable to people of any Christian denomination.

FLOUT (v)

openly disregard (a rule, law or convention). "these same companies still flout basic ethical practices" synonyms: defy, refuse to obey, disobey, break, violate, fail to comply with, fail to observe, contravene, infringe, breach, commit a breach of, transgress against; More

JERRY-RIGGED (adj)

organized or constructed in a crude or improvised manner

IMMEMORIAL

originating in the distant past; very old. "an immemorial custom" synonyms: ancient, old, very old, age-old, antediluvian, timeless, dateless, archaic, long-standing, long-lived, timeworn, time-honored; More ancestral, traditional, atavistic; of yore, rooted in the past "an immemorial custom" antonyms: recent

RUST BELT

parts of the northeastern and midwestern US that are characterized by declining industry, aging factories, and a falling population. Steel-producing cities in Pennsylvania and Ohio are at its center. "the smokestacks of the Rust Belt were no longer allowed to blast wastes into the air"

SHELL SOMETHING OUT ( or shell out)

pay a specified amount of money, especially an amount that is resented as being excessive. "it doesn't make sense to shell out $8.50 for an elevator ride"

ILUMINATI (n)

people claiming to possess special enlightenment or knowledge of something. "some mysterious standard known only to the illuminati of the organization" a sect of 16th-century Spanish heretics who claimed special religious enlightenment. plural proper noun: Illuminati a Bavarian secret society founded in 1776, organized like the Freemasons. noun: Illuminati

COGNOSCENTI (n)

people who are considered to be especially well informed about a particular subject. "it was hailed by the cognoscenti as one of the best golf courses in Europe"

taxing (adj)

physically or mentally demanding. "they find the work too taxing" synonyms: demanding, exacting, challenging, burdensome, arduous, onerous, difficult, hard, tough, heavy, laborious, back-breaking, strenuous, rigorous, uphill, stringent; More antonyms: easy, gentle

GRAFT (n)

practices, especially bribery, used to secure illicit gains in politics or business; corruption. "sweeping measures to curb official graft" synonyms: corruption, bribery, dishonesty, deceit, fraud, unlawful practices, illegal means, payola; More informalpalm-greasing, hush money, kickbacks, crookedness "sweeping measures to curb official graft" antonyms: honesty gains secured by corruption. "government officials grow fat off bribes and graft"

MECHANISM (n)

procedure, process, system, operation, method, technique, means, medium, agency, channel "a formal mechanism for citizens to lodge complaints" 2. a natural or established process by which something takes place or is brought about. "we have no mechanism for assessing the success of forwarded inquiries" synonyms: procedure, process, system, operation, method, technique, means, medium, agency, channel "a formal mechanism for citizens to lodge complaints"

TRUMPET (v)

proclaim widely or loudly. "the press trumpeted another defeat for the government" synonyms: proclaim, announce, declare, herald, celebrate, shout from the rooftops "companies trumpeted their success"

WANTONLY (literary)

profusely

inroad

progress; an advance. "an important way to make inroads in reducing spending" an instance of something being affected, encroached on, or destroyed by something else. "serious inroads had now been made into my pitiful cash reserves" 2. a hostile attack; a raid.

auspices (n)

protection or support; patronage If an organization authorizes you to do a specific task, even if you don't work for them directly, you are working under their auspices. Auspices means endorsement.

REFUTE (v)

prove (a statement or theory) to be wrong or false; disprove. "these claims have not been convincingly refuted" synonyms: disprove, prove wrong, prove false, debunk, discredit, invalidate; More informalpoke holes in; formalconfute "attempts to refute Einstein's theory" prove that (someone) is wrong. deny or contradict (a statement or accusation). "a spokesman totally refuted the allegation of bias" synonyms: disprove, prove wrong, prove false, debunk, discredit, invalidate; More informalpoke holes in; formalconfute "attempts to refute Einstein's theory"

OUTFIT (v)

provide (someone) with a set of clothes. "an auction of dolls outfitted by world-famous designers" synonyms: equip, kit out, fit out/up, rig out, supply, arm; More dress, attire, clothe, deck out; archaicapparel, invest, habit "enough swords to outfit an army" provide with equipment. "planes outfitted with sophisticated electronic gear"

UNDERGIRDS (v)

provide support or a firm basis for.

CATER (v)

provide with what is needed or required. "the school caters to children with learning difficulties" try to satisfy (a particular need or demand). "he catered to her every whim" synonyms: serve, provide for, meet the needs/wants of, accommodate; More provide food and drink, typically at social events and in a professional capacity. "he catered a lunch for 20 people"

input (v0

put (data) into a computer. synonyms: feed in, put in, load, insert; More

SHORTLIST (v)

put (someone or something) on a short list. "the novel was short-listed for the Booker Prize"

MUZZLE (v)

put a muzzle on (an animal). prevent (a person or group) from expressing their opinions freely. "the politicians want to muzzle us and control what we write" synonyms: gag, silence, censor, stifle, restrain, check, curb, fetter "attempts to muzzle the media"

APPRIZE (v)

put a price upon; appraise. "the sheriff was to apprize the value of the lands" value highly; esteem. "how highly your Highness apprizeth peace"

effectuate (V)

put into force or operation. "school choice would effectuate a transfer of power from government to individuals"

CULMINATE (v)

reach a climax or point of highest development. "the tensions and disorders which culminated in World War II" synonyms: come to a climax, come to a crescendo, come to a head, reach a finale, peak, climax, reach a pinnacle; More build up to, lead up to; come to an end with, end with, finish with, conclude with, close with, terminate with; informalwind up "nine days of processions and parades culminating in a dramatic fire-walking ceremony"

CULMINATE (v)

reach a climax or point of highest development. "the tensions and disorders which culminated in World War II" synonyms: come to a climax, come to a head, peak, climax, reach a pinnacle; More be the climax or point of highest development of. "her book culminated a research project on the symmetry studies of Escher" ASTRONOMYASTROLOGY (of a celestial body) reach the highest point at the meridian.

PERUSE (v)

read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way. "he has spent countless hours in libraries perusing art history books and catalogues" examine carefully or at length. "Laura perused a Caravaggio" synonyms: read, study, scrutinize, inspect, examine, wade through, look through; More browse through, leaf through, scan, run one's eye over, glance through, flick through, skim through, thumb through, dip into; archaiccon "as he sipped his coffee, he perused the newspaper"

profligacy (n)

reckless extravagance or wastefulness in the use of resources. "the government returned to fiscal profligacy"

WHITTLE (v)

reduce something in size, amount, or extent by a gradual series of steps. "the short list of fifteen was whittled down to five" synonyms: erode, wear away, eat away, consume, use up, reduce, diminish, undermine, weaken, threaten, sabotage, subvert, compromise, destroy, impair, mar, spoil, ruin, impede, hinder, damage, hurt, injure, cripple, disable, enfeeble, emasculate, sap, shake, break, crush "the powers of the papacy were gradually whittled away"

REDUCTIVE (adj)

tending to present a subject or problem in a simplified form, especially one viewed as crude. "such a conclusion by itself would be reductive" (with reference to art) minimal. "he combines his reductive abstract shapes with a rippled surface" 2. relating to chemical reduction.

Venerare (v)

regard with great respect; revere. "Mother Teresa is venerated as a saint" synonyms: revere, reverence, respect, worship, adulate, hallow, deify, idolize, hold sacred, exalt, honor, esteem, look up to, think highly of, pay homage to, pay tribute to; More adore, praise, extol, aggrandize, lionize, hold in awe, stand in awe of, marvel at, value; informalput on a pedestal; raremagnify, laud "the Hindus venerate oxen" revered, respected, esteemed, honored; hallowed, holy, sacred "one of the most venerated shrines in the Himalayan world" antonyms: despise

ALPINE (adj)

relating to high mountains. "alpine and subalpine habitats" relating to the Alps. adjective: Alpine "the major Alpine ski venues" (of skiing) involving downhill racing. adjective: Alpine "an alpine ski team"

IDIOSYNCRATIC

relating to idiosyncrasy; peculiar or individual. "she emerged as one of the great, idiosyncratic talents of the nineties" synonyms: distinctive, individual, characteristic, distinct, distinguishing, peculiar, individualistic, different, typical, special, specific, representative, unique, personal, private, essential; More eccentric, unconventional, uncommon, abnormal, irregular, aberrant, anomalous, odd, off-center, quirky, queer, strange, weird, bizarre, outlandish, freakish, extraordinary; raresingular "each researcher had his or her own idiosyncratic interest"

paternalistic (adj)

relating to or characterized by the restriction of the freedom and responsibilities of subordinates or dependents in their supposed interest. "the paternalistic attitude of colonial Victorian

PHALLIC (adj)

relating to or resembling a phallus or erect penis. "a phallic symbol" PSYCHOANALYSIS of or denoting the genital phase of psychosexual development, especially in males.

TRANSACTIONAL (adj)

relating to the conducting of business, especially buying or selling. "access to transactional data such as records of purchases" relating to exchange or interaction between people. "transactional models of social evolution"

AURAL (adj)

relating to the ear or the sense of hearing. "aural anatomy"

COMPUNCTION (n)

remorse, regret; a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad. "spend the money without compunction" synonyms: scruples, misgivings, qualms, worries, unease, uneasiness, hesitation, hesitancy, doubts, reluctance, reservations; More guilt, feelings of guilt, guilty conscience, pangs/twinges of conscience, remorse, regret, contrition, contriteness, self-reproach, repentance, penitence "she had no compunction about deceiving them"

ATONEMENT (n)

reparation for a wrong or injury. "she wanted to make atonement for her husband's behavior" (in religious contexts) reparation or expiation for sin. "an annual ceremony of confession and atonement for sin" CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY the reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ. noun: Atonement; noun: the Atonement

ABROGATE (v)

repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement). "a proposal to abrogate temporarily the right to strike" synonyms: repudiate, revoke, repeal, rescind, overturn, overrule, override, do away with, annul, cancel, break off, invalidate, nullify, void, negate, dissolve, countermand, veto, declare null and void, discontinue; More antonyms: institute, introduce 2. evade (a responsibility or duty). "we believe the board is abrogating its responsibilities to its shareholders"

GARBLE (v)

reproduce (a message, sound, or transmission) in a confused and distorted way. "the connection was awful and kept garbling his voice" synonyms: mix up, muddle, jumble, confuse, obscure, distort, scramble; More misstate, misquote, misreport, misrepresent, mistranslate, misinterpret, misconstrue, twist "the message was garbled in transmission"

EVINCE

reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling). "his letters evince the excitement he felt at undertaking this journey" synonyms: reveal, show, make clear, make plain, make obvious, make manifest, manifest, indicate, display, exhibit, demonstrate, be evidence of, evidence, attest to, testify to, bear witness to; More antonyms: conceal be evidence of; indicate. "man's inhumanity to man as evinced in the use of torture"

RAM (v)

roughly force (something) into place. "he rammed his stick into the ground" synonyms: force, thrust, plunge, stab, push, sink, dig, stick, cram, jam, stuff, pack "he rammed his sword into its sheath" (of a vehicle or vessel) be driven violently into (something, typically another vehicle or vessel) in an attempt to stop or damage it. "their boat was rammed by a Japanese warship" crash violently against something. "the stolen car rammed into the front of the house" synonyms: hit, strike, crash into, collide with, impact, run into, smash into, smack into, bump (into), butt "a van rammed the police car" beat (earth or the ground) with a heavy implement to make it hard and firm. "a long curving wall made of rammed earth" force (something) to be accepted. "Sunday's referendum to ram through a new constitution"

NUZZLE (v)

rub or push against gently with the nose and mouth. "he nuzzled her hair" synonyms: nudge, nose, prod, push "the horse nuzzled at her coat pocket" lean or snuggle against. "the dog nuzzled up against me" synonyms: snuggle, cuddle (up), nestle, curl up, settle down, snug down, burrow, embrace, hug, lie close to "a girl was nuzzling up to her boyfriend"

CAUSTIC (adj)

sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way. "the players were making caustic comments about the refereeing" synonyms: sarcastic, cutting, biting, mordant, sharp, bitter, scathing, derisive, sardonic, ironic, scornful, trenchant, acerbic, abrasive, vitriolic, acidulous "a caustic comment"

ENUNCIATE (v)

say or pronounce clearly. "she enunciated each word slowly" synonyms: pronounce, articulate; More express (a proposition or theory) in clear or definite terms. "a written document enunciating this policy" synonyms: express, state, put into words, declare, profess, set forth, assert, affirm; More

retort (v)

say something in answer to a remark or accusation, typically in a sharp, angry, or wittily incisive manner. ""No need to be rude," retorted Isabel" synonyms: answer, reply, respond, say in response, return, counter, rejoin, riposte, retaliate, snap back ""Oh, sure," she retorted" 2. ARCHAIC repay (an insult or injury). "it was now his time to retort the humiliation" turn (an insult or accusation) back on the person who has issued it. "he was resolute to retort the charge of treason on his foes" use (an opponent's argument) against them. "the answer they make to us may very easily be retorted"

INTERSPERSE (v)

scatter among or between other things; place here and there. "interspersed between tragic stories are a few songs supplying comic relief" synonyms: scatter, distribute, disperse, spread, strew, dot, sprinkle, pepper, litter; literarybestrew "giant lobelia were interspersed among crags of rock" diversify (a thing or things) with other things at intervals. "a patchwork of open fields interspersed with copses of pine" synonyms: intermix, mix, mingle; More

LOBBY (v)

seek to influence (a politician or public official) on an issue. "it is recommending that booksellers lobby their representatives" synonyms: seek to influence, try to persuade, bring pressure to bear on, importune, sway; More

specious (adj)

seeming true, but actually being fallacious; misleadingly attractive; plausible but false

PARADOXICAL (adj)

seemingly absurd or self-contradictory. "by glorifying the acts of violence they achieve the paradoxical effect of making them trivial" synonyms: contradictory, self-contradictory, inconsistent, incongruous, anomalous; More illogical, puzzling, baffling, incomprehensible, inexplicable "I admit it seems paradoxical for a pacifist such as myself to be in favor of this military action"

CURATE (v)

select, organize, and look after the items in (a collection or exhibition). "both exhibitions are curated by the museum's director" select the performers or performances that will feature in (an arts event or program). "in past years the festival has been curated by the likes of David Bowie" select, organize, and present (online content, merchandise, information, etc.), typically using professional or expert knowledge. "nearly every major news organization is using Twitter's new lists feature to curate tweets about the earthquake"

AXIOMATIC

self-evident or unquestionable. "it is axiomatic that dividends have to be financed"

SEVERALLY (adverb)

separately or individually; each in turn. "the partners are jointly and severally liable"

torch(v)

set fire to. "the shops had been looted and torched" synonyms: burn, set fire to, set on fire, set alight, incinerate, put a match to "one of the stores had been torched"

CEMENT (v)

settle or establish firmly. "the two firms are expected to cement an agreement soon"

SHEEN (v)

shine or cause to shine softly. "men entered with rain sheening their steel helms"

TRUNCATE (v)

shorten (something) by cutting off the top or the end. "a truncated cone shape" synonyms: shorten, cut, cut short, curtail, dock, prune, trim, lop, abbreviate, telescope; More antonyms: lengthen, extend CRYSTALLOGRAPHY replace (an edge or an angle) by a plane, typically so as to make equal angles with the adjacent faces.

irreverent

showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously. "she is irreverent about the whole business of politics" synonyms: disrespectful, disdainful, scornful, contemptuous, derisive, disparaging; More

GLIB

showing little forethought or preparation :

EMPHATIC (adj)

showing or giving emphasis; expressing something forcibly and clearly. "the children were emphatic that they would like to repeat the experience" synonyms: vehement, firm, wholehearted, forceful, forcible, energetic, vigorous, direct, assertive, insistent; More certain, definite, out-and-out, one hundred percent; decided, determined, categorical, unqualified, unconditional, unequivocal, unambiguous, absolute, explicit, downright, outright, clear "an emphatic denial" antonyms: hesitant, tentative (of an action or event or its result) definite and clear. "he walked stiffly, with an emphatic limp" synonyms: conclusive, decisive, decided, unmistakable; More resounding, telling; informalthundering "an emphatic victory" antonyms: narrow

underwritten

sign and accept liability under (an insurance policy), thus guaranteeing payment in case loss or damage occurs. accept (a liability or risk) under an insurance policy. 2. (of a bank or other financial institution) pledge to buy all the unsold shares in (an issue of new securities). undertake to finance or otherwise support or guarantee (something). "they were willing to underwrite the construction of a ship" synonyms: sponsor, support, back, insure, guarantee, indemnify, subsidize, pay for, finance, fund; More 3. archaic write (something) below something else, especially other written matter.

GUILE

sly or cunning intelligence. "he used all his guile and guts to free himself from the muddle he was in" synonyms: cunning, craftiness, craft, artfulness, art, artifice, wiliness, slyness, deviousness, shrewdness, canniness, ingenuity; More wiles, ploys, schemes, stratagems, maneuvers, subterfuges, tricks, ruses; deception, deceit, duplicity, underhandedness, double-dealing, trickiness, sharp practice, treachery, chicanery, fraud, skulduggery; informalfoxiness; archaicknavery, knavishness, management "they penetrated the city's defenses by guile" antonyms: honesty, candor

SNEER

smile or speak in a contemptuous or mocking manner. "she had sneered at their bad taste" synonyms: smirk, curl one's lip, smile disparagingly, smile contemptuously, smile cruelly More

CANVASS (v)

solicit votes from (electors in a constituency). "in each ward, two workers canvassed some 2,000 voters" synonyms: campaign, electioneer, stump, barnstorm "he's canvassing for the Green Party" question (someone) in order to ascertain their opinion on something. "they promised to canvass all member clubs for their views" synonyms: poll, question, ask, survey, interview "they promised to canvass all members" try to obtain; request. "they're canvassing support among shareholders" synonyms: seek, try to obtain "they're canvassing support" 2. discuss thoroughly. "the issues that were canvassed are still unresolved"

ONE-OFF (n)

something done, made, or happening only once, not as part of a regular sequence. "the meeting is a one-off" a person who is unusual or unique, especially in an admirable way. "he's a one-off, no one else has his skills"

AFFLICTION

something that causes pain or suffering. "a crippling affliction of the nervous system" synonyms: disorder, disease, malady, complaint, ailment, illness, indisposition, scourge, plague, trouble, menace, evil, visitation "the herb is reputed to cure a variety of afflictions" pain or suffering. "poor people in great affliction" synonyms: suffering, distress, pain, trouble, misery, wretchedness, hardship, misfortune, adversity, sorrow, torment, tribulation, woe, cross to bear, thorn in one's flesh/side; More

MATRIX

something within or from which something else originates, develops, or takes form an atmosphere of understanding and friendliness that is the matrix of peace

PLAINTIVE

sounding sad and mournful. "a plaintive cry" synonyms: mournful, sad, wistful, doleful, pathetic, pitiful, piteous, melancholy, melancholic, sorrowful, unhappy, wretched, woeful, grief-stricken, broken-hearted, heartbroken, desolate, heart-rending, forlorn, woebegone, disconsolate; More literaryplangent, heartsick, dolorous "a plaintive cry"

set something in motion

start something moving or working. synonyms: start, begin, activate, institute, initiate, launch, get under way, get going, get in operation, get working/functioning, get off the ground, start/get/set the ball rolling; More start or trigger a process or series of events. "plunging oil prices set in motion an economic collapse" synonyms: start, begin, activate, institute, initiate, launch, get under way, get going, get in operation, get working/functioning, get off the ground, start/get/set the ball rolling; More

ASSERT

state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully. "the company asserts that the cuts will not affect development" synonyms: declare, maintain, contend, argue, state, claim, propound, submit, posit, postulate, adduce, move, advocate, venture, volunteer, aver, proclaim, announce, pronounce, attest, affirm, protest, profess, swear, insist, avow; More formalopine; rareasseverate "he asserted that the day of the cottage industry was over"

FLOUNDER (v)

struggle or stagger helplessly or clumsily in water or mud. "he was floundering about in the shallow offshore waters" synonyms: struggle, thrash, thresh, flail, toss and turn, twist and turn, pitch, splash, stagger, stumble, falter, lurch, blunder, fumble, grope, squirm, writhe "the dragoons were floundering in the boggy ground" struggle mentally; show or feel great confusion. "she floundered, not knowing quite what to say" synonyms: struggle mentally, be out of one's depth, be in the dark, have difficulty, be confounded, be confused, be dumbfounded; More be in serious difficulty. "many firms are floundering" synonyms: struggle financially, be in dire straits, face financial ruin, be in difficulties, face bankruptcy/insolvency "more firms are floundering"

philology

study (love) of language and literature; the study of language in oral and written historical sources; it is a combination of literary criticism, history, and linguistics.[1] Philology is more commonly defined as the study of literary texts as well as oral and written records, the establishment of their authenticity and their original form, and the determination of their meaning.

DEFER (v)

submit humbly to (a person or a person's wishes or qualities). "he deferred to Tim's superior knowledge" synonyms: yield, submit, give way, give in, surrender, accede, bow, capitulate, acquiesce, knuckle under; More antonyms: stand up to, disobey

ALLUDE (v)

suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at. "she had a way of alluding to Jean but never saying her name" synonyms: refer to, touch on, suggest, hint at, imply, mention (in passing), make an allusion to; formaladvert to "the prosecutor alluded to Dixon's past"

NONPLUS (v)

surprise and confuse (someone) so much that they are unsure how to react. "Diane was nonplussed by such an odd question" synonyms: confused, bewildered, bemused, puzzled, perplexed, baffled, stumped, mystified, stupefied, muddled, befuddled, fuddled, dumbfounded, at sea, at a loss, at sixes and sevens, thrown (off balance), taken aback, disoriented, disconcerted, discomposed, troubled, discomfited, unnerved, shaken, shaken up, dazed, stunned, surprised, astonished, astounded; More

APACE

swiftly; quickly. "work continues apace" synonyms: quickly, fast, swiftly, rapidly, speedily, briskly, without delay, posthaste, expeditiously "the wagon moved apace across the prairie" antonyms: slowly

OVERHAUL (v)

take apart (a piece of machinery or equipment) in order to examine it and repair it if necessary. "a company that overhauls and repairs aircraft engines" synonyms: service, maintain, repair, mend, fix up, patch up, rebuild, renovate, revamp, recondition, remodel, refit, refurbish, modernize; More

PLUNDER (v)

take material from (artistic or academic work) for one's own purposes. "we shall plunder related sciences to assist our research" steal goods from (a place or person), typically using force and in a time of war or civil disorder. "looters moved into the disaster area to plunder stores" synonyms: pillage, loot, rob, raid, ransack, despoil, strip, ravage, lay waste, devastate, sack, rape "they plundered the countryside" steal (goods), typically using force and in a time of disorder. synonyms: steal, purloin, thieve, seize, pillage; embezzle "money plundered from pension funds"

PREEMPTIVE

taken as a measure against something possible, anticipated, or feared; preventive; deterrent

RAVE (V)

talk wildly or incoherently, as if one were delirious or insane. "Nancy's having hysterics and raving about a black ghost" synonyms: talk wildly, babble, jabber, talk incoherently "he was raving about the fires of hell" 2. speak or write about someone or something with great enthusiasm or admiration. "New York's theater critics raved about the acting" synonyms: praise enthusiastically, go into raptures about/over, wax lyrical about, sing the praises of, rhapsodize over, enthuse about/over, acclaim, eulogize, extol, overpraise; More

HECTOR (v)

talking in a bullying way. "a brusque, hectoring manner"

EVEN KEEL

technically an idiom which means everything is stable or under control.

RECOUNT (v)

tell someone about something; give an account of an event or experience. "I recounted the tale to Steve" synonyms: tell, relate, narrate, give an account of, describe, portray, depict, paint, unfold, set forth, present, report, outline, delineate, retail, recite, repeat, rehearse, relay, convey, communicate, impart; More detail, enumerate, list, specify, itemize, cite, particularize, catalog "she listened incredulously to the chain of events recounted by her sister"

ACUMEN (n)

the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain. "business acumen" synonyms: astuteness, awareness, shrewdness, acuity, sharpness, sharp-wittedness, cleverness, brightness, smartness; More judgment, understanding, sense, common sense, canniness, discernment, wisdom, wit, sagacity, perspicacity, ingenuity, insight, intuition, intuitiveness, perception, perspicuity, penetration; capability, enterprise, initiative, resourcefulness, flair, vision; brains, powers of reasoning; savoir faire; informalnous, savvy, know-how, horse sense, gumption, gray matter; informalcommon; informalsmarts; raresapience, arguteness "a gullible young man with little or no business acumen"

mobility (n)

the ability to move between different levels in society or employment. "industrialization would open up increasing chances of social mobility" synonyms: adaptability, flexibility, versatility, adjustability "an increasing mobility in the workforce"

EVOCATION (n)

the act of bringing or recalling a feeling, memory, or image to the conscious mind. "the vivid evocation of stillness in the title poem" an account or work of art that brings or recalls a feeling, memory, or image to the conscious mind. "his 560-page epic is a detailed, moving evocation of childhood" the action of eliciting a response. "the mutual evocation of responses through body language" 2. the action of invoking a spirit or deity. "the evocation of wandering spirits"

BATTERING (n)

the action of striking repeatedly with hard blows. "the south of England will take the heaviest battering" the action of subjecting one's spouse, partner, or child to repeated violence. "outrage at wife battering and child abuse" a severe criticism, reprimand, or defeat. "the movie took a battering from critics"

BEREAVEMENT

the action or condition of being bereaved. "there is no right way to experience bereavement" synonyms: loss, deprivation, dispossession, privation; More

AMORTIZATION

the action or process of gradually writing off the initial cost of an asset. "due to the amortization of initial costs, the risks of negative working capital are mitigated" the action or process of reducing or paying off a debt with regular payments. "because of amortization, you'll own your home by the end of the loan term" a period in which a debt is reduced or paid off by regular payments. "75% of the mortgages have an amortization of 25 years or less"

ALMAGAMATION (n)

the action, process, or result of combining or uniting. "the threat of amalgamation with a competitor" synonyms: combination, union, blend, mixture, fusion, coalescence, synthesis, composite, amalgam "the amalgamation of Gleich Sanitation and Air-Sentry is now official"

ferreting (n)

the activity of hunting with ferrets, typically for rabbits. "ferreting is increasing in popularity"

URL (n)

the address of a World Wide Web page. "type a URL into a browser's address bar"; a location or address identifying where documents can be found on the Internet.

TURNOVER (n)

the amount of money taken by a business in a particular period. "a turnover approaching $4 million" synonyms: (gross) revenue, income, yield; More sales, gross "an annual turnover of $2.25 million"

proxy (n)

the authority to represent someone else, especially in voting. "they may register to vote by proxy" synonyms: deputy, representative, substitute, delegate, agent, surrogate, stand-in, attorney, go-between "I am here to vote as Mrs. Carlson's proxy" a person authorized to act on behalf of another. plural noun: proxies a document authorizing a person to vote on another's behalf. 2. a figure that can be used to represent the value of something in a calculation. "the use of a US wealth measure as a proxy for the true worldwide measure"

THAUMATURGY

the capability of a magician or a saint to work magic or miracles.

MONEY LAUNDERING

the concealment of the origins of illegally obtained money, typically by means of transfers involving foreign banks or legitimate businesses. "he was convicted of money laundering and tax evasion"

OPACITY (n)

the condition of lacking transparency or translucence; opaqueness. "thinner paints need black added to increase opacity" synonyms: cloudiness, nontransparency, opaqueness, filminess, blurriness, blurredness, blur, haziness, haze "analyzing the opacity of their drinking water" obscurity of meaning. "the difficulty and opacity in Barthes' texts" synonyms: obscurity, lack of clarity, abstruseness, unclearness, unintelligibility, density, incomprehensibility "the opacity of his arguments"

FOLLOW THROUGH

the continuing of an action or task to its conclusion. "the company assures follow-through on all aspects of the contract"

REGALIA

the emblems or insignia of royalty, especially the crown, scepter, and other ornaments used at a coronation. the distinctive clothing worn and ornaments carried at formal occasions as an indication of status. "the Bishop of Florence in full regalia"

mansplanning (n)

the explanation of something by a man, typically to a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing. "your response is classic mansplaining"

poetic justice (n)

the fact of experiencing a fitting or deserved retribution for one's actions. "the noise was deafening and it was poetic justice when the amplifiers stalled just before the start"

VACILLATION (N)

the inability to decide between different opinions or actions; indecision. "his vacillation between conciliatory remarks and recriminations" synonyms: dithering, indecision, indecisiveness, irresoluteness, uncertainty, unsureness, doubt, wavering, teetering, temporization, hesitation, oscillation, fluctuation, inconstan

VERNACULAR (n)

the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region. "he wrote in the vernacular to reach a larger audience" synonyms: language, dialect, regional language, regionalisms, patois, parlance; More the terminology used by people belonging to a specified group or engaging in a specialized activity. plural noun: vernaculars "gardening vernacular"

GIRTH (n)

the measurement around the middle of something, especially a person's waist. synonyms: circumference, perimeter; More width, breadth "a tree ten feet in girth" a person's middle or stomach, especially when large. synonyms: stomach, midriff, middle, abdomen, belly, gut; More informaltummy, tum "he tied the towel around his girth"

WHEREWITHAL (n)

the money or other means needed for a particular purpose. "they lacked the wherewithal to pay" synonyms: money, ready money, cash, capital, finance(s), resources, funds, reserves; More means, ability, capability; informaldough, bread, loot, the ready, readies, shekels, moolah, the necessary, wad, boodle, dibs, gelt, ducats, rhino, gravy, scratch, stuff, oof; informaldosh, brass, lolly, spondulicks, wonga, ackers; informaldinero, greenbacks, simoleons, bucks, jack, mazuma; informalOscar; informalsplosh, green, tin; datedl.s.d.; informalkale, rocks, shinplasters; archaicpelf "she had the wherewithal to buy anything which took her fancy"

SNAIL MAIL

the ordinary postal system as opposed to email.

SNAIL MAIL (n)

the ordinary postal system as opposed to email.

PERP (n)

the perpetrator of a crime. "he steps into a pothole chasing a perp down a dark street"

IMPOSTER SYNDROME

the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills. "people suffering from impostor syndrome may be at increased risk of anxiety"

OBJECT

the person or thing affected by the verb:

BANTER (n)

the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks. "there was much singing and good-natured banter" synonyms: repartee, raillery, ripostes, sallies, swordplay, quips, wis

EXTORTION (n)

the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats. "he used bribery and extortion to build himself a huge, art-stuffed mansion" synonyms: demanding money with menaces, exaction, extraction, blackmail; shakedown "he was arrested on a charge of extortion"

rendition (n)

the practice of sending a foreign criminal or terrorist suspect covertly to be interrogated in a country with less rigorous regulations for the humane treatment of prisoners.

pOLITICAL CHAIR (PARTY CHAIR)

the presiding officer of a political party. ... They often also have influence in candidate selections, and sometimes in the development and promulgation of party policy.

vogue

the prevailing fashion or style at a particular time. "the vogue is to make realistic films" synonyms: fashion, mode, style, trend, taste, fad, fancy, passing fancy, craze, rage, enthusiasm, passion, infatuation, obsession, mania, fascination; More adjective 1. popular; fashionable. ""citizenship" was to be the government's vogue word"

AFFABILITY

the quality of being affable; geniality. "an air of benign affability" synonyms: friendliness, amiability, geniality, congeniality, cordiality, warmth, warmness, pleasantness, niceness, charm, agreeableness, good humor, good nature, kindliness, kindness, courtesy, courteousness, civility, graciousness, approachability, approachableness, accessibility, amenability, sociability, gregariousness, conviviality, clubbability, neighbourliness, hospitable manner, obliging nature, easygoing manner, informality, lack of reserve, naturalness, relaxedness, ease, easiness; More informalchumminess, palliness; informalclubbiness "a caring doctor blessed with a natural ease and affability"

RIGOR (n)

the quality of being extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate. "his analysis is lacking in rigor" synonyms: meticulousness, thoroughness, carefulness, diligence, scrupulousness, exactness, exactitude, precision, accuracy, correctness, strictness "intellectual rigor" severity or strictness. plural noun: rigors "the full rigor of the law" synonyms: strictness, severity, stringency, toughness, harshness, rigidity, inflexibility, intransigence "a mine operated under conditions of rigor" demanding, difficult, or extreme conditions. plural noun: rigours; plural noun: rigors "the rigors of a harsh winter" synonyms: hardship, harshness, severity, adversity; More

PREPONDERANCE

the quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance. "the preponderance of women among older people" synonyms: prevalence, predominance, dominance More

NIHILISM (n)

the rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless. synonyms: skepticism, negativity, cynicism, pessimism; More PHILOSOPHY extreme skepticism maintaining that nothing in the world has a real existence.

EUGENICS (N)

the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics. Developed largely by Francis Galton as a method of improving the human race, it fell into disfavor only after the perversion of its doctrines by the Nazis.

PURVIEW (n)

the scope of the influence or concerns of something. "such a case might be within the purview of the legislation" a range of experience or thought. "social taboos meant that little information was likely to come within the purview of women generally"

ambit (n)

the scope, extent, or bounds of something. "within the ambit of federal law" synonyms: scope, extent, bounds, confines, limits, range, breadth, width, reach, sweep, purview, span, stretch, spread, horizon; More

BRUNT (n)

the worst part or chief impact of a specified thing. "education will bear the brunt of the cuts" synonyms: full force, force, impact, shock, burden, pressure, weight; More effect, repercussions, consequences "the brunt of the downsizing was felt most by the warehouse crew"

scoot over

they move to a different position, for example to make space for someone else to sit down.

DURESS (n)

threats, violence, constraints, or other action brought to bear on someone to do something against their will or better judgment. "confessions extracted under duress" synonyms: coercion, compulsion, force, pressure, intimidation, constraint; More

COERCION (n)

threats, violence, constraints, or other action brought to bear on someone to do something against their will or better judgment. "confessions extracted under duress" synonyms: coercion, compulsion, force, pressure, pressurization, intimidation, threats, constraint, enforcement, exaction; informalarm-twisting "their confessions were extracted under duress"

ON CLOUD NINE

to be in a state of blissful happiness.

TIP OFF

to give someone a warning or secret information about something; To warn someone about or against something:warn, alert,

CANVASS

to go through (a district) or go to (persons) in order to solicit orders or political support or to determine opinions or sentiments canvass voters canvassed the neighborhood to solicit magazine subscriptions

UP THE ANTE

to increase the costs, risks, or considerations involved in taking an action or reaching a conclusion. whenever they reached their goal, they upped the ante by setting more complex challenges for themselves.

JUMBLED UP

to mix in a confused mass; put or throw together without order:

SECOND FIDDLE

to someone, your position is less important than theirs in something that you are doing together. She hated the thought of playing second fiddle to Rose.

PERIPATETIC (adj)

traveling from place to place, especially working or based in various places for relatively short periods. "the peripatetic nature of military life" synonyms: nomadic, itinerant, traveling, wandering, roving, roaming, migrant, migratory, unsettled "I could never get used to her peripatetic lifestyle"

shaft (v)

treat (someone) harshly or unfairly. "I suppose she'll get a lawyer and I'll be shafted"

UNBRIDLED (adj)

uncontrolled; unconstrained. "a moment of unbridled ambition" synonyms: unrestrained, unconstrained, uncontrolled, uninhibited, unrestricted, unchecked, uncurbed, rampant, runaway, irrepressible, unstoppable, uncontainable, unquenchable; More excessive, wild, intemperate, immoderate, wanton, self-indulgent "she strikes the ball with an unbridled enthusiasm" antonyms: restrained, controlled

GROK (V)

understand (something) intuitively or by empathy. "because of all the commercials, children grok things immediately" empathize or communicate sympathetically; establish a rapport.

tacit (adj)

understood or implied without being stated. "your silence may be taken to mean tacit agreement" synonyms: implicit, understood, implied, inferred, hinted, suggested, insinuated; More antonyms: explicit, stated

gravy (n)

unearned or unexpected money.

GUNG-HO

unthinkingly enthusiastic and eager, especially about taking part in fighting or warfare. "the gung-ho soldier who wants all the big military toys"

MENDACITY (n)

untruthfulness. "people publicly castigated for past mendacity"

UNDUE (adj)

unwarranted or inappropriate because excessive or disproportionate. "this figure did not give rise to undue concern" synonyms: excessive, extreme, immoderate, intemperate, disproportionate, inordinate; More antonyms: due, appropriate, proper

INCREDULOUS (adj)

unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true : not credulous : skeptical

STINGY (adj)

unwilling to give or spend; ungenerous. "his employer is stingy and idle" synonyms: mean, miserly, niggardly, close-fisted, parsimonious, penny-pinching, cheeseparing, Scroogelike; informaltightfisted, cheap, tight, mingy, money-grubbing "you can think I'm stingy all you want, I'm not giving you a penny" antonyms: generous, liberal

ABREAST (adverb)

up to date with the latest news, ideas, or information. "keeping abreast of developments" synonyms: up to date with, up with, in touch with, informed about, acquainted with, knowledgeable about, conversant with, familiar with, au courant with, au fait with "try to keep abreast of current affairs"

Prop (v)

use an object to keep (something) in position. "he found that the door to the office was propped open"

SWINDLE (n,v)

use deception to deprive (someone) of money or possessions. "a businessman swindled investors out of millions of dollars" obtain (money) fraudulently. "he was said to have swindled $62.5 million from the pension fund" synonyms: defraud, cheat, trick, dupe, deceive, fool, hoax, hoodwink, bamboozle; More noun noun: swindle; plural noun: swindles 1. a fraudulent scheme or action. "he is mixed up in a $10 million insurance swindle" synonyms: fraud, trick, deception, deceit, cheat, sham, artifice, ruse, dodge, racket, wil

STRAIT (n)

used in reference to a situation characterized by a specified degree of trouble or difficulty. "the economy is in dire straits" synonyms: a bad/difficult situation, a sorry condition, difficulty, trouble, crisis, a mess, a predicament, a plight, a tight corner; More a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water. "the Strait of Gibraltar" synonyms: channel, sound, narrows, inlet, stretch of water, arm of the sea, sea passage, neck; kyle "the island is separated from the mainland by a strait about six miles wide"

HAZY (adj)

vague, indistinct, or ill-defined. "hazy memories" synonyms: vague, indistinct, unclear, faint, dim, indefinite, ill-defined, nebulous, shadowy, blurred, fuzzy, muzzy, woolly, confused, muddled "hazy memories" antonyms: clear

UNSTINTING (adj)

very generous; given or giving without restraint; unsparing. "he was unstinting in his praise" synonyms: ungrudging, unsparing, willingly given, free, free-handed, ready, beneficent, benevolent, big-hearted, kindhearted, kind, unselfish; More lavish, liberal, generous, magnanimous, openhanded, munificent, bountiful; profuse, abundant, ample; literarybounteous, plenteous "her unstinting charity work"

RETCH (v)

vomit. "he retched up a thin stream of vomit" synonyms: vomit, cough up, bring something up, regurgitate; More be sick; get sick; informalpuke (something up), chunder, chuck up, hurl, spew, do the technicolor yawn; informalhonk, sick something up; informalboke; informalspit up, barf, upchuck, toss one's cookies, blow chunks "he retched all over the table"

wade (v)

walk through water or another liquid or soft substance. "we waded ashore" synonyms: paddle, wallow, dabble; informalsplosh "they waded in the icy water" walk through (something filled with water). "firefighters waded the waist-deep flood water" read laboriously through (a long piece of writing). synonyms: plow, plod, trawl, labor, toil; More informal get involved in (something) vigorously or forcefully. "he waded into the yelling, fighting crowd" informal make a vigorous attack or intervention. "Nicola waded in and grabbed the baby"

DAWDLE (v)

waste time; be slow. "I couldn't dawdle over my coffee any longer" synonyms: linger, dally, take one's time, drag one's feet, be slow, waste time, kill time, fritter time away, idle; More antonyms: hurry move slowly and idly. "Ruth dawdled back through the woods" synonyms: amble, stroll, go/walk slowly, loiter (along), move at a snail's pace, not keep pace, hold back, lag behind, fall behind, trail behind; More antonyms: speed

AD HOC

when necessary or needed. "the group was constituted ad hoc" adjective adjective: ad hoc; adjective: adhoc 1. created or done for a particular purpose as necessary. "the discussions were on an ad hoc basis" synonyms: impromptu, extempore, extemporary, extemporaneous, expedient, emergency, improvised, rough and ready, makeshift, make-do, cobbled together, thrown together; More jury-rigged, jury; informalquick and dirty "discussions were held on an ad hoc basis" as the need arises, when necessary, when needed "committees of inquiry can be set up ad hoc"

IGE (intergenerational earnings elasticity)

which measures how much of a child's deviation from average income can be accounted for by the parents' income. An IGE of zero means that there's no relationship at all between parents' income and that of their offspring. An IGE of one says that the destiny of a child is to end up right where she came into the world.

UNDERSIGNED (adj)

whose signature is appended. "we, the undersigned, wish to protest the current activities of the company"

CLENCH (v)

with reference to the fingers or hand) close into a tight ball, especially when feeling extreme anger. "she clenched her fists, struggling for control" (with reference to the teeth) press or be pressed tightly together, especially with anger or determination or so as to suppress a strong emotion. "her teeth clenched in anger" synonyms: squeeze together, clamp together, close/shut tightly; make into a fist "he stood there clenching his hands" grasp (something) tightly, especially with the hands or between the teeth. "he clenched the steering wheel so hard that the car wobbled" synonyms: grip, grasp, grab, clutch, clasp, hold tightly, seize, press, squeeze "he clenched the iron bar" (of a muscular part of the body) tighten or contract sharply, especially with strong emotion. "Mark felt his stomach clench in alarm"

HEREWITH (adverb)

with this letter. "I send you herewith fifteen dollars"

COVERTLY (adv)

without being openly acknowledged or displayed; secretly. "a transcript of a covertly taped meeting"

READILY (adverb)

without hesitation or reluctance; willingly. "he readily admits that the new car surpasses its predecessors" synonyms: willingly, without hesitation, unhesitatingly, gladly, happily, cheerfully, with pleasure, with good grace, without reluctance, ungrudgingly, voluntarily; More antonyms: reluctantly without delay or difficulty; easily. "illegal fireworks are readily available" synonyms: easily, with ease, without difficulty, effortlessly "the island is readily accessible from the mainland" antonyms: with difficulty

TOIL (v,n)

work extremely hard or incessantly. "we toiled away" synonyms: work hard, labor, work one's fingers to the bone, work like a Trojan, work like a dog, work day and night, exert oneself, keep at it, keep one's nose to the grindstone, grind away, slave away, grub away, plow away, plod away; More noun 1. exhausting physical labor. "a life of toil" synonyms: hard work, toiling, labor, slaving, struggle, effort, exertion, application, industry, grind, slog, blood, sweat, and tears, drudgery; More

INSCRIBE (v)

write or carve (words or symbols) on something, especially as a formal or permanent record. "his name was inscribed on the new silver trophy" synonyms: carve, write, engrave, etch, cut, incise; More mark (an object) with characters. "the memorial is inscribed with ten names" synonyms: carve, write, engrave, etch, cut, incise; More write an informal dedication to someone in or on (a book). "he inscribed the first copy "To my dearest grandmother."" synonyms: dedicate, address, name, sign "a book inscribed to him by the author" archaic enter the name of (someone) on a list or in a book; enroll.

PERSONAL LEGEND

your life's spiritual purpose. It's a spiritual calling that awakens a deep desire and passion to live with a sense of purpose for something greater than yourself.