desist
choose not to consume
Sentence: As Asahel would not desist from the pursuit, though warned, Abner was compelled to slay him in self-defense.
Synonym: abstain or avoid
doleful
filled with or evoking sadness
Sentence: The child had a doleful look on his face when he learned Santa Claus was not real.
Synonym: woeful or forlorn
elusive
skillful and evading capture
Sentence: The hunters finally crept up on their elusive target.
Synonym: evasive or difficult to find
engrossed
giving or marked by complete attention to
Sentence: I was engrossed from the first page to the very last page of this wonderful book.
Synonym: captivated or engaged
frustrate
hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
Sentence: He was frustrated when she couldn't figure out the math problem.
Synonym: stymie or discourage
histrionics
a performance of a play
Sentence: Led by the high-pitched howl of flamboyant front man Farrell and the guitar histrionics of Dave Navarro, their debut studio album.
Synonym: dramatics or performance
imminent
close in time; about to occur
Sentence: Projections of the earth's imminent collapse under the weight of population are centuries old.
Synonym: fast approaching or looming
inclement
severe, of weather
Sentence: Photos A big crowd braved inclement weather at the Caulfield Cup meeting.
Synonym: harsh (relating to weather)
inert
unable to move or resist motion
Sentence: Many of us believe the fact that sleep is an unchanging and inert process.
Synonym: dormant or impassive
interject
to insert between 2 elements
Sentence: You can't speak or interject until the current speaker takes their finger off the button.
Synonym: interrupt
mastiff
an old breed of powerful deep-chested smooth-coated dog used chiefly as a watchdog and guard dog
Sentence: Does your Mastiff pull you down the street when you go for a walk?
Synonym: N/A (dog breed)
obsess
be preoccupied with something
Sentence: It is not good to obsess over anything.
Synonym: preoccupy or beset
pertinent
being of striking appropriateness
Sentence: I've been finding all sorts of words in this book that are pertinent to writing a weekly column
Synonym: relevant or suitable
peruse
examine or consider with attention and in detail
Sentence: The 30-seat narrow shopfront is so cramped that it's easy to peruse the food on neighbouring tables.
Synonym: check out or examine
premonition
an early warning about a future event.
Sentence: He went out enjoying himself one presumes, but I have to say I had a premonition about this and it's been a difficult week.
Synonym: hunch or foreboding or harbinger
recoil
spring back; spring away from an impact
Sentence: Ron and Harry recoiled when they saw the looming Whomping Willow.
Synonym: finch or draw back
salient
having a quality that thrusts itself into action
Sentence: The film version of Stieg Larsson's 500-page publishing bonanza has managed to cover most of the book's salient points.
Synonym: notable
squeamish
excessively fastidious and easily disgusted
Sentence: Many people are squeamish around needles.
Synonym: nauseated or finicky
symptomatic
relating to symptoms experienced by a patient
Sentence: People with symptomatic asthma eat less fruit and consume less vitamin C and manganese than people who don't have the disease.
Synonym: indicative or characteristic
wan
deficient in color suggesting emotional or physical distress
Sentence: She gave a wan laugh.
Synonym: colorless or emotionless