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