hollow
Empty, void
Without significance or value- meaningless
allusive
having reference to something implied or inferred; containing, abounding in, or characterized by allusions.
restrained
controlled, restricted
poignant
Deeply moving; strongly affecting the emotions- touching, moving, sad
detached
Impartial, disinterested; unconcerned, distant, aloof
audacious
(adj.) bold, adventurous, recklessly daring
somber
(adj.) dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spiri
giddy
(adj.) dizzy; light-headed; lacking seriousness
sentimental
of or prompted by feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia
emotional, nostalgic
fanciful
Over-imaginative and unrealistic
highly ornamental or imaginative in design.
complimentary
expressing a compliment; praising or approving
flattering, appreciative
condescending
patronizing, supercilious, superior, snobbish, snobby, scornful, disdainful, lofty, lordly, haughty, imperious;
contemptuous
scornful, disdainful, disrespectful, insulting, insolent, full of contempt; derisory, derisive, mocking, sneering, jeering, scoffing, taunting, withering, scathing, snide; condescending, supercilious, arrogant
nostalgic
Longing for the past-wistful, evocative, longing/yearning/pining for the past, romantic, sentimental, emotional about the past, regretful, dewy-eyed, maudlin, homesick
zealous
Extremely active, eager, devoted
irreverent
(adj.) disrespectful
candid
(adj.) frank, sincere; impartial; unpose
satiric
(adj.) mocking
whimsical
lightly acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
learned
having acquired much knowledge through study- scholarly, erudite, well educated, knowledgeable, well read, intellectual, intelligent, clever, academic, literary, bookish, highbrow, studious, sage, wise, sagacious, discerning, donnish, cerebral, enlightene
mock-heroic
A purposefully done over-imitation of something heroic
objective
Based on real facts and not influenced by personal beliefs or feelings
diffident
(adj.) shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved
petty
(informal terms) small and of little importance
elegiac
Expressing sorrow or lamentation
disdainful
Full of bitter scorn and pride; aloof
lugubrious
sorrowful; mournful; dismal
pedantic
excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overscrupulous
indignant
(adj.) filled with resentment or anger over something unjust, unworthy, or mean
flippant
Humorous in a disrespectful, casual way; rudely witty
patronizing
Condescending, humilating
facetious
Humorous; playfully joking, flippant, jocular
clinical
very efficient and without feeling; coldly detached.
mock-serious
jokingly serious
inflammatory
(adj.) causing excitement or anger; leading to violence or disorder
benevolent
(adj.) kindly, charitable
burlesque
a ludicrous, mocking, lewd imitation
incisive
(adj.) sharp, keen, penetrating (with a suggestion of decisiveness and effectiveness)
scornful
Feeling or expressing contempt or derision
effusive
Emotionally excessive; overly demonstrative
colloquial
Characteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing
compassionate
Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.
impartial
unbiased; neutral
insipid
Dull
pretentious
(adj.) done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one's skill or abilities, ambitious
vibrant
Lively; full of vitality
moralistic
characterized by or displaying a concern with morality; didactic, overly instructive
taunting
reproaching in scornful or sarcastic language; jeering; mocking
turgid
Pompous;
sardonic
cynical; scornfully mocking
contentious
argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement
insolent
Boldly disrespectful
jargon
(noun) specialized technical terminology; a characteristic language of a particular group
vulgar
Crude; indecent
scholarly
Intellectual, academic
esoteric
known or understood only by a few
connotative
The ideas or concepts a word suggests in addition to its literal definition
literal
Exactly true, rather than figurative or metaphorical
artificial
insincere or affected
euphemistic
substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive.
sensuous
Appealing to the senses
figurative
departing from a literal use of words; metaphorical
bombastic
pompous in speech and manner
abstruse
Difficult to understand
grotesque
(adj.) unnatural, distorted; bizarre
concrete
existing in a material or physical form; not abstract- tangible, tactile
idiomatic
characteristic of a particular language
cultured
Educated, polished, and refined
picturesque
1. visually very appealing or impressive, often by virtue of quaintness or unusualness or through seeming fit for a painting or photograph
homespun
Simple and unsophisticated
provincial
unsophisticated, narrow-minded, parochial, small-town, suburban, insular, parish-pump, inward-looking, limited, restricted, localist, conservative, narrow;
small-minded, petty, blinkered, illiberal, inflexible, bigoted, prejudiced, intolerant;
trite
(adj) commonplace; overused, stale
obscure
Difficult to see, vague
awe
A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder
veneration
Profound Respect
solemn
Not cheerful or smiling; serious; gloomy
reverence
A feeling or attitude of deep respect
sanguine
ruddy; cheerfully optimistic
mirth
Gladness and gaiety; great merriment.
relish
(n.) enjoyment or satisfaction; something that adds a pleasing flavor; (v.) to enjoy greatly
bliss
Extreme happiness
despondent
Downhearted; hopeless; overwhelmed with sadness
dismal
Causing gloom or depression
funereal
sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral
saturnine
gloomy, dark, sullen, morose
dejection
Lowness in spirits; sadness; depression
morose
(adj) having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable
bleak
Depressing, discouraging, harsh, cold, barren, raw
remorse
Deep and painful regret for wrongdoing
guilt
agony
Great pain of mind or body; suffering
anguish
(n.) great mental suffering, distress, or pain; (v.) to be deeply tormented by pain or sorrow
barren
too poor to produce much or any vegetation.
showing no results or achievements; unproductive.
bleak and lifeless
affection
A fond or tender feeling
cherish
be fond of, love, adore
fondness
affinity
romantic
conducive to or characterized by the expression of love
platonic
intimate and affectionate but not sexual
adoration
(noun) admiration
passion
Fervor, ardor
lust
have a strong desire for something
rapture
A state of great joy, delight, or love
ecstasy
Extreme happiness
infatuated
Filled with excessive, shallow, or foolish love or desire.
enamor
Fond of; feeling love towards
compassion
(n.) sympathy for another's suffering; pity
exaltation
Great joy
zeal
Extremely active, eager, devoted
fervor
feelings of great warmth and intensity
ardor
Enthusiasm or passion
elation
A feeling of great joy or pride
jubilant
Joyful, happy
buoyancy
Lightness or resilience of spirit; cheerfulness.
serene
tranquil, placid
tranquil
calm, peaceful, serene, placid
placid
Calm, peaceful, tranquil
anticipate
expect
vehement
(adj.) intense, forceful, powerful, showing strong feeling (anger)
outrage
an extremely strong reaction of anger, shock, or indignation.
antipathy
extreme dislike
petulant
(adj) peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset
incensed
angry
irascible
(adj) easily angered, irritable
riled
angry
acrimony
Bitterness or sharpness of temper, manner, or speech; hostility.
irate
(adj.) angry
wrath
(n.) intense anger
rancor
A deep, long-held feeling of hatred or bitterness.
hostility
A strong hatred or dislike
miffed
offended, annoyed
choleric
Extremely irritable or easily angered; irascible
aggravation
an exasperated feeling of annoyance
futility
feeling of being ineffective; uselessness, hopelessness
umbrage
A feeling of anger caused by being offended
bristle
to show irritation
exasperation
Irritation, frustration
witty
showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humour
humorous
cynical
believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.
contemptuous; mocking.
biting
sharp; sarcastic
vengeance
(n.) punishment in return for an injury or a wrong; unusual force or violence
abhorrence
Hate coupled with disgust
animosity
(n.) strong dislike; bitter hostility
enmity
(n.) hatred, ill-will
malice
Desire to harm others
pique
a feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, especially to one's pride.
feel irritated or resentful
arouse
aversion
A strong dislike
loathe
Hate
despise
Look down on; scorn; feel contempt for; abhor; disdain
scorn
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
disdain
Intense dislike
repugnance
Extreme dislike; disgust
resentment
s, a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
spite
a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone.
timidity
lack of self-confidence or courage
apprehension
Anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
anxiety
A state of over worry
dismay
To discourage; make fearful or uneasy
agitation
(n.) a violent stirring or movement; noisy confusion, excitment; a stirring up of public enthusiasm
sinister
(adj.) appearing evil or dangerous; threatening evil or harm
startle
To scare or surprise
uneasy
not comfortable; worried or nervous
qualms
misgivings, reservations, causes for hesitancy
angst
a feeling of deep anxiety or dread
trepidation
Fear, nervous apprehension
intimidation
Fear, restraint or discouragement caused by threat; the act of causing such
appalled
horrified, shocked
dreadful
causing fear or dread or terror
Words to comment on the EFFECTIVENESS
depicts, evokes, portrays, conveys, paints, describes
Words used to SUPPORT A POINT
demonstrates, exemplifies, clarifies, delineate, illustrates, shows, denotes, therefore
words used for EMPHASIS
reiterates, stresses, emphasizes, reinforces, echoes, highlights, underlines, underpins, focuses, furthermore, underscores, thus
words used to comment on the EFFECT OF DICTION
connotes/connotations, suggests, parallels, alludes, infers, implies,
words used to COMPARE/ CONTRAST
contrasts, juxtaposes, conversely, difference, dichotomy, however, in spite of, nevertheless, similarly,
critical
censorious, condemnatory, condemning, castigatory, reproving, denunciatory, deprecatory, disparaging, disapproving, scathing, criticizing, fault-finding, judgemental, negative, unfavourable, unsympathetic;
criticize
censure, denounce, condemn,attack, disapprove of, carp at, disparage, denigrate, deprecate, malign, vilify, besmirch, pan, slam, hammer, blast, savage, crucify;
dangerous
hazardous, perilous, risky, high-risk, fraught with danger, unsafe, uncertain, unpredictable, precarious, insecure, exposed, vulnerable,
important
main, chief, principal, key, major, salient, prime, dominant, foremost, supreme, predominant, paramount, overriding, cardinal, crucial, vital, indispensable, critical, essential, significant, urgent; central, fundamental, basic;
influential
powerful, authoritative, dominant, controlling, strong; important, prominent, predominant, leading, prestigious, distinguished, noteworthy