abstruse
adj. extremely difficult to understand
syn: arcane, recondite, occult
ant: simple, straightforward
affront
n. an open or intentional insult; a slight
v. to insult to one's face; to face in defiance, confront
syn: offense; offend
ant: compliment, praise
canard
n. a false rumor, fabricated story
syn: hoax
captious
adj. excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism; intended to trap, confuse, or show up
syn: faultfinding, carping
ant: uncritical
cognizant
adj. aware, knowledgeable, informed; having jurisdiction
syn: acquainted
ant: unaware, unconscious, oblivious
contrite
adj. regretful for some misdeed or sin; plagued by a sense of guilt; thoroughly penitent
syn: remorseful, rueful
ant: unapologetic, impenitent
cynosure
n. the center of attraction, attention, or interest; something that serves to guide or direct
syn: focus
decorous
adj. well-behaved, dignified, socially proper
syn: seemly, becoming, tasteful
ant: unbecoming, improper, tasteless
deign
v. to think it appropriate or suitable to one's dignity to do something; to condescend
syn: deem
desiccated
adj. thoroughly dried out; divested of spirit or vitality; arid and uninteresting
syn: dehydrated, shriveled
ant: sodden, waterlogged, drenched
efficacy
n. to power to produce a desired result
syn: effectiveness, potency, reliability
ant: impotence
engender
v. to bring into existence, give rise to, produce; to come into existence, assume form
syn: generate, cause, form
ant: stop, deter
etheral
adj. light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly (rather than earthbound)
syn. heavenly, celestial, gossamer
ant. infernal, hellish, thick, heavy
facade
n. the front or face of a building; a surface appearance (as opposed to what may lie behind)
syn. exterior, surface, mask
ant. interior
ghoulish
adj. revolting in an unnatural or morbid way; suggestive of someone who robs graves or otherwise preys on the dead
syn. barbarous, monstrous
incongruous
adj. not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible
syn. discordant
ant. compatible, harmonious, consistent
machination
n. a crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some (usually evil) end
syn. plot, maneuver
mesmerize
v. to hypnotize, entrance; to fascinate, enthrall, bewitch
opprobrium
n. disgrace arising from shameful conduct; contempt, reproach
syn. infamy, dishonor, odium
ant. acclaim, honor, glory, renown
putative
adj. generally regarded as such; reputed; hypothesized, inferred
syn. supposed, presumed
ant. corroborated, confirmed