allege
Verb
to assert without proof or confirmation
syn: claim, contend
ant: prove, deny
arrant
Adjective
thoroughgoing, out-and-out; shameless, blatant
syn: egregious, unmitigated
badinage
Noun
light and playful conversation
syn: banter, persiflage, repartee
ant: sermon
conciliate
Verb
to overcome the distrust of, win over; to appease, pacify; to reconcile, make consistent
syn: placate, mollify, propitiate
ant: antagonize, alienate, estrange
countermand
Verb
to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first
syn: recall, revoke
ant: reaffirm, reassert
echelon
Noun
one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a steplike formation or arrangement
syn: level, rank
exacerbate
Verb
to make more violent, severe, bitter, or painful
syn: aggravate, intensify, worsen
ant: alleviate, mitigate, ameliorate
fatuous
Adjective
stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way
syn: silly, vapid, inane, doltish, vacuous
ant: sensible, intelligent, perceptive, bright
irrefutable
Adjective
impossible to disprove; beyond argument
syn: indisputable, incontrovertible, undeniable
ant: disputable, indefensible, untenable
juggernaut
Noun
a massive and inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path
lackadaisical
Adjective
lacking spirit or interest, halfhearted
syn: listless, indolent, indifferent, lax
ant: energetic, vigorous, wholehearted
litany
Noun
a prayer consisting of short appeals to God recited by the leader alternating with responses from the congregation; any repetitive chant; a long list
syn: rigmarole, catalog, Megillah
macabre
Adjective
grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject
syn: grotesque, grim, ghoulish
paucity
Noun
an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth
syn: lack
ant: abundance, glut, plentitude, deluge
portend
Verb
to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give advance warning of
syn: bode, foretell, foreshadow, suggest
raze
Verb
to tear down, destroy completely; to cut or scrape off or out
syn: pull down, demolish, shave off
ant: build, construct, raise, erect
recant
Verb
to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed, renounce, retract
syn: repudiate, disavow
ant: reaffirm, reassert
saturate
Verb
to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity, to satisfy fully
syn: permeate, drench, flood, imbue
ant: drain
saturnine
Adjective
of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood
syn: sullen, morose
ant: lighthearted, cheerful, vivacious
slough
Verb
to cast off, discard; to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary; to plod through as if through mud
Noun
a mire; a state of depression
syn: (v) shed, slog
ant: (V) take on, acquire, assume