malign
evil
indignant
annoyed or angry
personable
pleasant in appearance and manner
munificent
generous
mendacious
lying
nugatory
without value
ersatz
fake
parallel
noun: a thing that is similar to or analogue to another
adj.: aligned and equidistant
clandestine
hidden
ingenuity
innovation or creativity
implication
the conclusion that can be drawn from something, although it is not explicitly stated
suggestion, insinuation, innuendo
iteration
version
obsolete
out of date
solipsistic
the theory that only the self exists or can be known to exist (sometimes used a bit figuratively to mean really selfish)
sophomoric
juvenile
quixotic
idealistic or unrealistic
arresting
striking or dramatic
undue
excessive or unwarranted
ran the gauntlet
withstood an attack from all sides
ran the gamut
the word is still used to mean "the full range of notes that a voice or instrument can produce." Figuratively, gamut means "the full range or scope of something"
similar to the expression "from A to Z
held the line
imposed a limit
override
cancel or negate
ape
mimic or copy
disclaim
deny
ponderous
1. slow and clumsy becuase of great weight
2. dull, laborious, or excessively solemn
shabby
mediocre of of poor quality
cogent
convincing
cabal
secret political faction (faction = small; organized group whiten a larger one)
literati
well-educated people who are interested in literature
hoi-polloi
the masses; the common people
incendiary
literally means designed to cause fires and figuratively means to exciting or provocative
parochial
ordinary, low-class, unsophisticated
dulcet
sweet and soothing that typically refers to sound
facile
overly simple
urbane
suave or sophisticated
painstaking
meticulous or thorough
baneful
harmful
noxious
poisonous
patronizing
condescending
amenable
-cooperative or compliant (word generally applies better to people)
-(of a person) open and responsive to suggestion, easily persuaded or controlled
pragmatic
sensible or practical
condescending
patronizing
stolid
unemotional
ambiguous
unclear (more appropriate for describing a situation or statement than a person)
whimsical
positive meaning: fanciful or playful
negative meaning: capricious or erratic
ambivalent
mixed feelings
equivocal
mixed feelings
officious
domineering or intrusive
supersede
a figurative word meaning replace (I.e. I was superseded by younger workers at my job.)
overtake
literally meaning of physically passing something
can also mean come suddenly or unexpectedly upon
champion
noun: person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals
verb: support the cause of; defend
outstrip
literally meaning of physically passing something
faculties
inherent mental or physical powers
poultices
soft, moist masses of material applied to the body to heal or relieve pain
foible
1. the part of a sword blade between the middle and point
2. a minor flaw or shortcoming in character
mores
customs or traditions
aptitudes
natural ability
peccadillo
a minor flaw
a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin
awful
very bad or unpleasant
paean
praise
plaudits
praise
tributes
praise
insinuation
an unpleasant hint or suggestion of something bad
capricious
given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
erratic
(adj.) not regular or consistent; different from what is ordinarily expected; undependable
abate
v. reduce, diminish
(noun form: abatement)
adhere
(v.) stick to
such as with glue or to a plan or belief
cohere
become united, hold together as part of the same mass
(use adhere for attaching to different kinds things together, and cohere for things of the same kind...."good cookie dough coheres instead of crumbles")
alienate
(verb) cause to become unfriendly, hostile or distant
(more info: in law, alienate means to transfer property to another owner. an alienable right is one that you cannot give away or sell.)
disaffect
cause to lose affection or loyalty
estrange
to make hostile or indifferent
apathy
a lack of feeling, emotion, or interest
antipathy
deep dislike, aversion, or repugnance
artless
free of deceit or craftiness, natural, genuine; lacking skill or knowledge, crude, uncultured
(think of the word as lack of artifice, or artificiality.... artless can be either positive (free of deceit) or negative (lacking skill)
ingenuous
(adj.) innocent, simple; frank, sincere, genuine;
unsophisticated; artless; straightforward; candid; unsuspecting
guileless
artless
honest, straightforward
artifice
a skillful or ingenious device; a clever trick; a clever skill; trickery
balk
(verb) refuse to proceed or to do something
(more info: balk comes from a word for a beam or ridge--when a horse or mule balks, it stops short and refuses to proceed. Occasionally, balk is used as a noun for an impediment, much like a beam or ridge, or a
demur
(v) show reluctance or object, especially for moral reasons
bygone
past, former (adj.); that which is in the past (usually plural noun)
erstwhile
former
quondam
former, sometime
let bygones be bygones
to agree to let go of old disagreements
chauvinism
n. fanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory; undue or biased devotion to any group, cause, etc.
bigot
obstinately prejudiced person
xenophobia
fear of foreigners
jingoism
extreme chauvinism plus warlike foreign policy
concede
(v) give in, admit, yield; acknowledge reluctantly; grant or give up
(noun form: concession)
contentious
(adj) controversial; prove to causing arguments, especially gratuitous or petty ones
related words: disputatious and quarrelsome
(noun: contention--> simply a claim, often a thesis or statement that will then be backed up with reasons. verb: contend--> ca
countenance
facial expression or face (noun); approve or tolerate (verb)
usage: Her countenance said it all---the look on her face was pure terror./ I saw you cheating off my paper, and I can't countenance cheating--either you turn yourself in or I'll report you.
(mo
brook
suffer or tolerate
condone
overlook or tacitly approve
culminate
(verb) reach the highest point of final stage
(noun: culmination)
acme, summit, pinnacle, apex
all words that refer to a high point or peak
denouement
conclusion or ending, such as a of a literary work, especially one that "wraps up all the loose ends
deference
(n) respectful submission; yielding to the authority or opinion of another
(verb: defer)
deterrent
(noun) something that restrains or discourages
(verb form is deter)
disingenuous
(adj) insincere, not genuine
dissembling
misleading, concealing the truth, acting hypocritically
prevaricating
misleading or lying
dissent
(v or n) disagree or take an opposing view, esp. in relation to a formal body such as a government, political party, or church; such a view
(other form: dissenters)
gainsay
deny, refute, oppose
sedition
incitement of dissent against a government; promoting rebellion by speech or writing
e.g. (abbreviation for Latin "exempli gratia")
for example, such as
(use e.g. to introduce examples and i.e. to add a definition or clarification)
i.e. (id est)
that is; "that is to say, in other words
eloquent
(adj) marked by forceful, fluid, apt. speech; expressive, emotionally moving
(always positive...."low" means "speech" and also appears in loquacious--> talkative and interlocutor--> participant in a dialogue)
rhetorical, oratorical
words related to the art of public speaking....(while a lawyer needs good rhetorical skills, sometimes rhetorical and oratorical mean only related to style and effect, and lacking substance)
ephemeral
(adj) lasting only a short time, fleeting
(comes from a Greek word for 'day.' It originally meant--and sometimes still means--lasting only one day.)
evanescent
fleeting; lasting a short time
(synonym: fugacious)
fugacious
evanescent
transient
lasting only a short time, temporary" or "staying only a short time
exacting
very severe in making demands; requiring precise attention
germane
relevant and appropriate, on-topic
pertinent
relevant
akin
related by blood; analogous or similar
hearken
(v) listen, pay attention to
(Hark is a variant of hearken and has the same meaning. e.g. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing)
impartial
unbiased, fair
(more info: "the root for 'part' appears in partisan, partial, and party--just as a member of a political party is rooting for his own side, someone who is partial is on the side of only part of the group, not everyone equally)
inconsequential
insignificant, unimportant; illogical
negligible, null, nil
nothing, or too insignificant to matter
intractable
difficult to control, manage, or manipulate; hard to cure; stubborn
(e.g. "The student is positively intractable!" vs. "back injuries often result in intractable pain; despite treatment, patients never feel fully cured.
laconic
using few words, concise
e.g. Jennings is laconic .
levy
verb, noun
collect tax from, wage war on, or enlist for military service (verb); act of collecting tax or amount owed, or the drafting of troops into military service (noun)
maverick
rebel, individualist, dissenter
mores
customs, manners, or morals of a particular group
related words: ethos (the character, personality, or moral values specific to a person, group, time period, etc.)
objective
factural, related to reality or physical objects; not influenced by emotions, unbiased
related words: impartial, disinterested, dispassionate, nonpartisan are all related to being fair and not having a bias or personal stake
opaque
not translucent; not allowing light, heat, etc. to pass through; dark, dull, unclear or stupid
turbid
water that is muddy and not clear because of stirred-up dirt or mud; metaphorically, it can mean obscured or confused, as in turbid feelings
partisan
devoted to a particular group, cause, etc. (adj.); fervent supporter of a group, party, idea. etc.; guerrilla fighter (noun)
more info: partisan is related to the idea of a party
related words: partial (based, prejudiced; having a special liking for somet
permeate
spread or penetrate throughout
related words: pervade is a synonym. Both words use the root "per" for "through
plummet
verb
plunge, fall straight down
preempt/ pre-empt
verb
prevent; take the place of, supplant; take before someone else can
more info: the "empt" part of preempt comes from a rare word for "purchase"--to preempt can also mean to settle on public land in order to establish the right to purchase that land be
obviate
prevent, eliminate, or make unnecessary
profound
adj. very insightful, penetrating deeply into a subject; pervasive, intense; "down to the very bottom;" at the very bottom; complete, all the way through
prudent
adj. (also prudence as noun form)
wise in practical matters, carefully providing for the future
antonym: imprudent
circumspect
cautious, prudent; careful to consider the circumstances or consequences
provident
showing foresight, being frugal or careful to provide for the future, thinking ahead in a wise way
relegate
verb
send or commit to an inferior place, rank, condition, etc.; exile, banish; assign (a task) to someone else
respectively
adverb
in the order given
sagacious
adj (sage is the noun form)
wise, showing good judgment and foresight
related words: sapient (synonym), prudent (wise in practical matters, carefully providing for the future); circumspect (cautious, prudent; careful to consider the circumstances and cons
sapient
sagacious
perspicacious
very perceptive, insightful
secular
adj. not religious or holy; pertaining to worldly things
soporific
(adj., noun) causing sleep; sleepy, drowsy (adj); something that causes sleep (noun)
related words: somnolent
sentence ex used as noun: "I was so distressed after the crash that the doctor gave me a soporific--and, sure enough, I was able to think more cl
standing
(noun, adj.)
status, rank, reputation (noun); existing indefinitely, not moveable (adj)
substantiate
verb
support with evidence or proof; give a material existence to
related words: corroborate, verify
corroborate
support, add evidence to
taciturn
adj
not talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation
related words: reticent (synonym); laconic (using few words, concise)
more info: taciturn is related to tacit (understood without being said; implied, not stated directly; silent)
transitory
adj. temporary, short-lived, not lasting
related words: ephemeral, evanescent, fugacious are synonyms
*Transient can mean "lasting only a short time, temporary" or staying only a short time," or can be a noun referring to people who move from place to pla
vacillate
(verb)
waver in one's mind or opinions, be indecisive
(related words: equivocate (use unclear language to deceive or avoid committing to a position), ambivalent (uncertain; unable to decide, or wanting to do two contradictory things at once), waffle (wave
dither
act irresolutely (irresolute descries someone who feels stuck)
tergiversate
repeatedly change one's opinions
wary
adj.
watchful, motivated by caution, on guard against danger
related words: chary (synonym), leery (suspicious or wary), vigilant (keenly watchful or alert in order to guard against danger)
chary
wary
leery
suspicious or wary
vigilant
keenly watchful or alert in order to guard against danger
disinterested
unbiased (does NOT mean uninterested)
supercilious
behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others
prim
stiffly formal and respectable; feeling or showing disapproval of anything regarded as improper
meretricious
apparently attractive but having in reality no value or integrity
(e.g. "meretricious souvenirs for the tourist trade
sober
serious, sensible, solemn
lascivious
feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire
abase
verb
(also adj form of abased and noun form of abasement)
degrade or humble; to lower in rank, status, or esteem
related words: defame, belittle
defame
attack the reputation of
belittle
put down, disparage
acumen
keen, quick, accurate insight or judgment
related words: perspicacity (acuteness of perception)
more info: acumen comes from a Latin word for "needle"--hence the idea of being mentally "sharp
analgesia
noun
(also analgesic--> noun or adj)
pain relief; inability to feel pain
related words: anodyne (pain relieving medicine or anything that relieves pain)
appropriate
(verb) set aside or authorize (such as money) for a particular purpose; take for one's own use
related words: arrogate (claim or take presumptuously or without right)
attenuate
(verb) weaken or thin out
more info: When you attenuate something, it becomes tenuous, which means thin or weak (a tenuous argument).
beneficent
(adj)
doing good
related words: benevolent, eleemosynary
benevolent
expressing goodwill, helping others or charity
eleemosynary
charitable
maleficent
doing evil or harm
(antonym of beneficent)
brandish
(verb)
shake, wave, or flourish, as a weapon
usage: The Renaissance Fair ended badly, with one drunken fellow brandishing a sword and refusing to leave the ladies' dressing tent.
circumspect
(adj) cautious, prudent; careful to consider the circumstances and consequences
related words: staid (restrained, prim, settled)
connote
(verb)
(also adj form of connotation)
suggest or imply in addition to the precise, literal meaning
related word: evoke
denotation
literal meaning of a word
connotation
a feeling that accompanies the word
declivity
(noun) downward slope
related words: declination (downward slope, deterioration, deviation from the norm, refusal)
acclivity
upward slope
dilate
to become wider or make wider, cause to expand; to speak or write at length, elaborate upon
expatiate
to expand or elaborate on a topic, to explain in detail
dissolution
dissolving, the state of having been dissolved; breaking bonds or breaking up of a group of people; death; disintegration; sining into extreme hedonism, vice, and degradation
licentiousness
excessive freedom, extreme hedonism
profligacy
reckless extravagance, shameless behavior
duplicity (noun) (adj form--> duplicitous)
deceit, double-dealing, acting in two different ways for the purpose of deception
dissembling
misleading, concealing the truth, acting hypocritically
prevaricating
misleading or lying
disingenuous
not genuine
encomium
warm, glowing praise, esp. a formal expression of praise
a formal eulogy or speech of praise
laudation
praise, tribute
eulogy
a speech of praise or written work of praise, esp. a speech given at a funeral
panegyric
formal, lofty, or elaborate praise
paean
song of praise, triumph, or thanks
dulcet
melodious, agreeable to the ear
euphony
pleasing or sweet sound, especially as formed by a harmonious use of words
("eu"-->good and "phon"--> sound)
mellifluous
richly and smoothly flowing
obsequious
adj. fawning
fawn
show affection or to try to please in the manner of a dog; try to win favor through flattery or submissive behavior
to seek favor or attention;to act subserviently (n, adj: fawning)
truckle
to act subserviently
kowtow
to fawn-- or, literally, to bow until one's forehead touches the floor
sycophant, lackey, toady, myrmidon
These are all words for a person who fawns.
ford
place where a river or similar body of water is shallow enough to walk or ride a vehicle across (noun)
to cross at such a place (verb)
traverse
pass over, along, or through; go across
gestation
pregnancy; the period from conception until birth of an animal or (metaphorically) of an idea or plan
grouse
v. complain or grumble
n. a reason for complaint
hermetic
adj. airtight, sealed, isolated; reclusive; pertaining to alchemy, occult
occult
supernatural, mystical, or magical beliefs, practices, or phenomena
ignoble
adj. not noble; having mean, base, low motives; low quality
ignominious
disgraceful, humiliating, contemptible
rash
hasty, lacking forethought or caution
impetuous
passionately impulsive, marked by sudden, hasty emotion; forceful, violent
(related to impetus--> a moving force, motivation, or stimulus)
indigence (n) (also adj. form indigent)
extreme poverty
impecunious
poor, without money
penurious
poor or stingy
indigent
destitute; poor, impecunious, penniless
insolvent
unable to meet one's financial obligations, bankrupt
indignant
offended, angry at injustice
inquest
legal or judicial inquiry, especially before a jury and especially made by a coroner into the cause of someone's death; the results of such an inquiry
(inquest is a form of the word "inquire")
inundate
verb.
flood, cover with water, overwhelm
deluge
to flood or a flood, itself
engulf
flow over and enclose, swallow up or submerge
jettison
v. discard, cast off; throw items overboard in order to lighten a ship in an emergency
flotsam
jetsam; any bunch of discarded, worthless stuff
jetsam
flotsam, any bunch of discarded, worthless stuff
laudable (v. laud)
worthy of praise
livid
furiously angry, enraged
irascible
easily angered
irate
angry (ire = anger)
malinger (v) (noun form malingerer)
pretend to be sick especially to get out of work, duties, etc.
shirk
skulk
to hide for a bad reason, such as avoiding work (or waiting to attack someone, etc.)
milieu
environment, atmosphere; the environmental setting in which something happens or develops
zeitgeist
the spirit of an age, the cultural or intellectual mood of a time period
ethos
the character, personality, or moral values specific to a person, group, time period, etc.
morose
gloomy, sullen
morbid
mentally unhealthy, diseased, gruesome
nontrivial
important or big enough to matter
trifling, nugatory
ostentatious
pretentious, boastful showiness
garish
something much too bright, vivid, or fancy
gaudy
cheap, tasteless, or overly colorful way
parley
discussion, negotiation, esp. between enemies (noun); to have a discussion (verb)
armistice
truce, mutual agreement to temporarily stop fighting
penury
(n) extreme poverty or scarcity, destitution
indigent
destitute (without the basic necessities of life)
destitute
without the basic necessities of life
insolvent
unable to meet one's financial obligations, bankrupt; indigent
phlegmatic
adj. apathetic, sluggish, not easily excited or made emotional
related words: indolent, torpid, sluggish, idle, lethargic, loafing, slack are all words related to laziness or slowness
prattle
talk in an idle, simple-minded, meaningless, or foolish way; chatter, babble
synonym: prate
propagate
v. reproduce, spread, increase
proliferate
increase or spread rapidly or excessively
pulchritude
physical beauty
comeliness
pulchritude (physical beauty)
repudiate
reject, cast off, deny that something has authority
repast
a meal (noun); to east or feast (verb)
*from a Latin root for feeding, also found in pasture (where farm animals eat)
comestibles
food
gustatory
pertaining to taste
contrite
remorseful for one's wrongs
penitent
remorseful for one's sins, or a person who is remorseful
rue
regret, remorse (noun); to feel regret or remorse (verb)
semantic
relating to different meanings of words or other symbols
squalid
disgusting, filthy, foul, extremely neglected
sordid
foul, squalid or morally squalid (ignoble)
strut
n. a structural support or brace
v. to swagger or walk in a showy or pompous way, such as in a fashion show
bolster
strengthen, support, fortify
buttress
a support against a building; to strengthen or support
synoptic
adj. relating to synopsis or summary; giving a general view
digest
a periodical containing shortened versions of works published elsewhere
recapitulation
summary or the act of summing up
pr�cis
summary or abstract
compendium
concise but complete summary; a list or collection
transgression
violation of a law; moral rule, order; sin
contravene
violate, act counter to, oppose
err
be mistaken, sin
unconscionable
adj. not guided by conscience; morally wrong, unjust, unreasonable
unscrupulous
unprincipled, not guided by moral rules
vestige
trace or sign of something that once existed
(vestigial features in biology are those left over from previous stage of evolution)
scintilla
a tiny bit or trace
wan
unnaturally pale, or showing some other indication of sickness, unhappiness, etc.; weak, lacking forcefulness
pallid
sallow
sickly-yellow in color
aberrant
deviating from normal or correct
abscond
v. to leave secretly and hid, often to avoid the law
advocate
v. --> to speak, plead, or argue for a cause, nor in another's behalf
n--> one who advocates
aggrandize
v. to make greater, to increase, thus, to exaggerate
amalgamate
v. to unite or mix
(n: amalgamation)
ambrosial
adj. extremely pleasing to the senses, divine (as related to the gods) or delicious
(n: ambrosia)
anachronism
n. a person or artifact appearing after its own time or out of chronological order (adj: anachronistic)
anomalous
adj. peculiar; unique, contrary to the norm
(n: anomoly)
antediluvian
adj. ancient; outmoded (literally, before the flood)
antipathy
n. hostility toward, objection, or aversion to
arbitrate
v. to sette a dispute by impulse
(n: arbitration)
assuage
v. to make less severe; to appease or satisfy
attenuate
v. weaken
audacious
adj. extremely bold; fearless, especially said of human behavior
(n: audacity)
aver
v. to declare
banal
adj. commonplace or trite (n: banality)
barefaced
adj. unconcealed, shameless, or brazen
blandishment
n. speech or action intended to coax someone into doing something
bombast
n. pompous speech
adj: bombastic
breach
n, v
a lapse, gap or break, as in a fortress wall
to break or break through
burgeon
v, n
to grow or flourish; a bud or new growth
buttress
v, n
to support; a support
cadge
v.
to get something taking advantage of someone
caprice
n. impulse
adj: capricious
castigate
b. to chastise or criticize harshly
caustic
adj. capable of dissolving by chemical action; highly critical
chicanery
n. deception by trickery
complaisant
adj. willingly compliant or accepting of the status quo
conflagration
n.a great fire
corporeal
adj. of or having to do with material, as opposed to spiritual, tangible
corporal
adj. of the body
a non-commissioned officer a ranked between a sergeant and a private
corroborate
v. to strengthen or support
craven
adj. n
cowardly; a coward
culpable
adj, deserving of blame
dearth
n. lack, scarcity
deference
n. submission or courteous yielding
depict
v. to show, create a picture of.
deprecation
belittlement
depredation
n. the act of preying upon or plundering
descry
to make clear, to say
desiccate
to dry out thoroughly
diatribe
a bitter abusive denunciation
diffident
lacking self-confidence, modest
disabuse
adj. to free a person from flashed or error
disparaging
belittling
dispassionate
calm; objective; unbiased
dissemble
v. to conceal one's real motive, to being
dogged
adj. stubbor or determined
dogmatic
relying upon doctrine or dogma, as opposed to evidence
eclectic
adj. selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources (sentence ex: Many modern decorators prefer an eclectic style" n: eclecticism)
efficacy
n. effectives; capability to produce a desired effect
effluent
adj, n
the quality of flowing out
emollient
adj, n
softening; something that softens
emulate
v. to strive to equal or excel (n: emulation)
endemic
adj. prevalent in or native to a certain region, locality or people
"The disease was endemic to the region
enervate
to weaken or destroy the strength or vitality of
engender
v. to give rise, to propagate, to cause:
"His slip of the tongue engendered much laughter'
enigma
n. puzzle, mystery
erudite
scholarly, displaying deep intensive learning
esoteric
adj. intended for or understood by only a few
"The esoteric discussion confused some people
eulogy
a spoken or written tribute to the deceased
exacerbate
to increase the bitterness or violence of; to aggravate
exculpate
to demonstrate or prove to be blameless
exorbitant
exceeding customary or normal limits, esp. in quantity or price "The cab fare was exorbitant.
extant
in existence, still existing.
fathom
n.or v.
a measure of length (six feet) used in nautical settings
to penetrate to the depths of something in order to understand it
feign
to give false appearance or impression
fervid, fervent
adj. highly emotional, hot
fledgling
n, adj. a baby bird; an inexperienced person; inexperienced
florid
flushed with a rosy color, as in complexion
very ornate and flowery ex: florid prose
floundering
struggling
garrulous
verbose, talkative; rambling
gossamer
n; adj. fine cobweb on foliage; fine gauzy fabric, very fine
guile
n. skillful deceit
sly or cunning intelligence, artfulness, art, artifice
(v: beguile, adj: beguiling. *these two words have an additional meaning: to charm or chanrmgin, while the word guile does not generally have any such positive connotations)
hapless
unfortunate
headlong
headfirst, impulsive, hasty, impulsively; hastily; without forethought
iconoclast
n. one who attacks traditional ideas or institutions or one who destroys sacred images
(ad: iconoclastic)
impecunious
adj. penniless; poor
imperious
commanding
implication
insinuation or connotation
imply
to suggest indirectly, to entail
improvidence
n. an absence of foresight; a failure to provide for future needs or events
inchoate
in an initial or early stage; incomplete, disorganized
incorrigible
not capable of being corrected
indelible
adj. permanent, strong
"an indelible impression
ineffable
indescribable, inexpressible in words, unspeakable
ingenious
clever
innocuous
harmeless; having no adverse affect; not likely to provoke strong emotion
insensible
adj. numb; unconscious
insipid
lacking zest or excitement; dull
insular
of or pertaining to an island, thus, excessively exclusive
intransigent
adj, stubborn; immovable; unwilling to change
irascible
prone to outbursts or temper, easily angered
latent
present or potential but not evident or active
(n: latency)
laudable
praiseworthy, commendabl
leviathan
n. giant whale, therefore, something very large
loquacious
adj. talkative
lucid
clear, translucent
lugubrious
weighty, mournful, or gloomy, especially to an excessive degree
magnanimity
generosity and nobility
malevolent
malicious; evil; having or showing ill will
misanthrope
one who hates people
misnomer
incorrect name or word for something
misogynist
one who hates women
(misogynistic)
nefarious
wicked, evil
noisome
harmful, offensive, destructive
obdurate
hardened against influence or feeling; intractable
obviate
v. to prevent by anticipatory measures; to make unnecessary
occlude
to close or shut off; to obstruct
(n: occlusion)
opaque
adj. not transparent or translucent; dense; difficult to comprehend
ossified
adj. turned to bone, hardened like bone
panegyric
a writing or speech in praise of a person or thing
peccadillo
a small sin or fault
pedantic
showing a narrow concern for rules or formal book learning; making an excessive display of one's own learning
perfidious
deliberately treacherous; dishonest
petulant
easily or frequently annoyed, especially over trivial matters; childishly irritable
phlegmatic
not easily excited; sluggish
placate
to calm or reduce anger by making concessions
"The professor tried to placate his students by postponing the exam.
ponderous
heavy; massive; awkward; dull
pragmatic
concerned with facts; practical, as opposed to highly principled or traditional
"His pragmatic approach often offended idealists."
n: pragmatism
precipice
cliff with a vertical or nearly vertical face; a dangerous place from which one is likely to fall; metaphorically, a very risky circumstance
prevaricate
to stray away from or eade the truth:
"When we asked him what his intentions were, he prevaricated."
n: prevarication; prevaricator
prodigal
rashly wasteful
propitiate
to conciliate; to appease
pulchritudinous
beautiful (n: pulchritude)
pusillanimous
cowardly, timid, or irresolute; petty
quiescence
inactivity; stillness; dormancy (adj: quiescent)
rarefy
to make or become thin; to purify or refine
(n: rarefaction, adj: rarefied)
reproof
the act of censuring, scolding, or rebuking
(v: reprove)
rescind
to repeal and annul
sagacious
having a sharp or powerful intellect or discernment
(n: sagacity)
sanguine
cheerful; confident
"Her sanguine attitude put everyone at ease."
(Sangroid (n.) is a related French word meaning unflappability. Literally, it means cold blood)
sate
v. to satisfy fully or to excess
saturnine
adj. having a gloomy or morose temperament
savant
n. a very knowledgable person; a genius
sedulous
adj. diligent; persevering; persistent
"Her sedulous devotion to overcoming her background impressed many."
(n. sedulity; sedulousness; adv. sedulously)
specious
adj. seemingly true but really false; deceptively convincing or attractive
superficial
only covering the surface
"A superficial treatment of the topic was all they wanted.
tacit
adj. unspoken
"Katie and Carmella had a tacit agreement that they would not mention the dented fender to their parents.
taciturn
adj. habitually untalkative or silent
(n. taciturnity)
temperate
adj. exercising moderation and self-denial; calm or mild
(n: temperance)
tirade (diatribe)
n. an angry speech
"His tirade had gone on long enough.
tractable
adj. ability to be easily managed or controlled
turpitude
n. depravity; moral corruption, wickedness; baseness
tyro
n. beginner; person lacking experience in a specific endeavor
vacuous
adj. empty; without contents; without ideas or intelligence
venerate
great respect or reverence
vex
v. to annoy, to bother, to perplex; to puzzle; to debate at length
viscous
slow moving; highly resistant flow
(n: viscosity)
volatile
adj. explosive; fickle (n: volatility)
voracious
craving or devouring large quantities of food, drink, or other things
"She is a voracious reader.
waver
to hesitate or to tremble
wretched
extremely pitiful or unfortunate (n: wretch)
zeal
n. enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal
(n: zealot; zealotry; adj: zealous)