anomalous
abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual
syn: exceptional, atypical unusual, aberrant
ant: normal, regular, customary, typical, ordinary
aspersion
a damaging or derogatory statement, the act of slandering or defaming
syn:innuendo, calumny, denigration
ant: endorsement, testimonial, praise
bizarre
extremely strange, unusual, atypical
syn: grotesque, fantastic, outlandish
ant: normal, typical, ordinary, expected
brusque
abrupt, blunt, with no formalities
syn:curt, tactless, ungracious, gruff, rough
ant: gracious, tactful, courteous, diplomatic
cajole
to coax, persuade through flatter or artifice, to decieve with soothing thoughts or false promises
syn: wheedle, inveigle, soft-soap, sweet-talk
ant: coerce, force, strong-arm
castigate
to punish severely, to criticize severely
syn: chastise, rebuke, censure, upbraid
ant: reward, honor, praise, laud
contrive
to plan with ingenuity, invent, to bring about as the result of a scheme or a plan
syn: think up, devise, concoct, fabricate
demagogue
a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims, and promises, in order to gain power
syn: rabble-rouser, firebrand
disabuse
to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking
syn:undeceive, enlighten, set straight
ant: decieve, delude, pull wool over one's eyes
ennui
weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, bordeom
syn: languor, world-weariness, listlessness
ant: enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity
fetter
a chain or shackle placed on the feet, anything that confines or restrains, to chain or shackle to render helpless or impotent
syn:bond, restraint, bind, hamper
ant: free, liberate, emancipate
heinous
very wicked, offensive, hateful
syn:evil, odious, abominable, outrageous
ant: excellent, wonderful, splendid
immutable
not subject to change, constant
syn: unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable
ant: chamgeable, inconstant, variable, fickle
insurgent
one who rebels or rises against authority, rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority surging or rushing in or on
syn: revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous
ant: loyalist, loyal, faithful
megalomania
a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, far in excess or reality
syn: delusions of grandeur
ant: humility, modesty, self-abasement
sinecure
a position requiring little or no work, an easy job
syn: no show job, cush job, plum
surreptitious
stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation, made or accomplished by fraud
syn: furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed
ant: open, frank, aboveboard, overt
transgress
to go beyond a limit or goundary, to sin, violate a law
syn: overstep, exceed, trespass, err
ant: obey, toe the line
transmute
to change from one nature, substance, or form to another
syn: transform, convert, translate, metamorphose
ant: maintain unchanged, preserve
vicarious
performed suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another
syn: surrogate, substitute, imagined, second hand
ant: real, actual, firsthand