anomalous
(adj) abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual
Feeling protective of my friend but knowing of his difficulties placed me in an anomalous position.
synonyms: exceptional, unusual, aberrant
aspersion
(n) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming
Think twice before casting aspersion on his honesty, for he might be telling the truth.
synonyms: innuendo, calumny
bizarre
(adj) extremely strange, unusual, atypical
Years from now I will look at this picture and wonder what sort of bizarre costume I was wearing.
synonyms: grotesque, fantastic, outlandish
brusque
(adj) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities
His request for a large loan for an indefinite length of time was met with a brusque refusal.
synonyms: tactless, ungracious
cajole
(v) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises
With a smile, a joke, and a second helping of pie, she would cajole him into doing what she wanted.
synonyms: wheedle, inveigle
castigate
(v) to punish severely; to criticize severely
After he castigated the unruly children, they settled down to study quietly.
synonyms: chastise, censure
contrive
(v) to plan with ingenuity; to bring about through a plan
She can contrive wonderful excuses; but when she tries to offer them, her uneasiness gives her away.
synonyms: think up, concoct, fabricate
demagogue
(n) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
Often a show of angry concern conceals the self-serving tactics of a demagogue.
synonyms: rabble-rouser, firebrand
disabuse
(v) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking
He thinks that all women adore him, but my sister will probably disabuse him of that idea.
synonyms: undeceive, enlighten
ennui
(n) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation of interest, boredom
Some people seem to confuse sophistication with ennui.
synonyms: languor, world-weariness, listlessness
fetter
(n) a chain or shackle placed on the feet (often used in plural); anything that confines or restrains; (v) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent
The old phrase "chain gang" refers to a group of prisoners forced to work, each one joined to th
heinous
(adj) very wicked, offensive, hateful
A town so peaceful, quiet, and law-abiding was bound to be horrified by so heinous a crime.
synonyms: evil, odious, outrageous
immutable
(adj) not subject to change, constant
Scientists labored to discover a set of immutable laws of the universe.
synonyms: unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable
insurgent
(n) one who rebels or rises against authority; (adj) rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on
George Washington and his contemporaries were insurgent against Britain.
The army was confident that they could crush the insu
megalomania
(n) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc, far in excess of reality
Sudden fame and admiration can make people feel unworthy--or it can bring on feelings or megalomania.
synonyms: delusions of grandeur
sinecure
(n) a position requiring little or no work; an easy job
The office of Vice President of the United States was once considered no more than a sinecure.
synonyms: "no-show" job, cushy job, "plum
surreptitious
(adj) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud
The movie heroine blushed when she noticed the surreptitious glances of her admirer.
synonyms: furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed
transgress
(v) to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law
The penitent citizens promised never again to transgress the laws of the land.
synonyms: overstep, trespass
transmute
(v) to change from one nature, substance, or form to another
To transmute distrust into cooperation along that war-torn border will take more than talk and treaties.
synonyms: transform, convert
vicarious
(adj) performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in the place of another
In search of vicarious excitement, we watched movies of action and adventure.
synonyms: surrogate, secondhand