askance
(adv.) with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval
synonyms: distrustfully, suspiciously, skeptically
attenuate
(v.) to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value
synonyms: think out, dilute, water down
antonyms: thicken, strengthen, bolster
benign
(adj.) gentle, kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant
synonyms: benevolent, salutary, salubrious, harmless
antonyms: malevolent, deleterious
cavil
(v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp; (n.) a trivial objection or criticism
synonyms: (v.) nitpick, quibble
charlatan
(n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack
synonyms: fraud, mountebank
decimate
(v.) to kill or destroy a large part of
synonyms: ravage, devastate
foible
(n.) a weak point, failing, minor flaw
synonyms: shortcoming, defect, quirk
antonyms: forte, virtue
forgo
(v.) to do without, abstain from, give up
synonyms: refrain from, renounce
antonyms: indulge in, partake of
fraught
(adj.) full of or loaded with; accompanied by
synonyms: charged with
antonyms: devoid of, lacking, deficient in
inure
(v.) to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure
synonyms: accustom, acclimate
luminous
(adj.) emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating
synonyms: radiant, bright, refulgent, lustrous
antonyms: dark, opaque, dim, murky
obsequious
(adj.) marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons
synonyms: fawning, servile, sycophantic, mealymouthed
antonyms: assertive, bumptious, overbearing, candid, frank, independent
obtuse
(adj.) blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; measuring between 90 and 180 degrees; not causing a sharp impression
synonyms: stupid, dumb, thick, mild, dull-witted
antonyms: acute, perceptive, quick-witted
oscillate
(v.) to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver
synonyms: vibrate, vacillate
penitent
(adj.) regretful for one's sins or mistakes. (n.) one who is sorry for wrongdoing
synonyms: (adj.) remorseful, regretful, rueful, sorry
antonyms: (adj.) unrepentant, remorseless
peremptory
(adj.) having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal; offensively self-assured, dictatorial; determined, resolute
synonyms: high-handed, unconditional
antonyms: irresolute, tentative, mild, unassuming
rebuff
(v.) to snub; to repel, drive away; (n.) a curt rejection, a check
synonyms: (v.) spurn, repulse, reject; (n.) setback
antonyms: (v.) accept, welcome
reconnoiter
(v.) to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection
synonym: scout
shambles
(n.) a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess
sporadic
(adj.) occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order
synonyms: intermittent, spasmodic
antonyms: constant, steady, continuous, uninterrupted