Provincial
In an age when the United States has truly global responsibilities, we cannot afford to have leaders with ... points of view.
umbrage
I take no ... at your personal remarks, but I feel you would have been better advised not to make them.
unctuous
Forever humbling himself and flattering others, Dicken's Uriah Heep is famously ...
hiatus
During the brief ... in the music, someone's ringing cell phone split the air.
intercede
If you cannot meet the college's entrance requirements, it will be futile to have someone ... on your behalf.
decadence
Weakened military, and with a large part of the population living on free "bread and circuses," the once and mighty Roman Empire now entered a period of ...
lurid
The midnight fire in our apartment building cast a .. unearthly light on the faces of the firefighters struggling to put it out.
innuendo
The managers expressed her unfavorable opinion of the job application by ... rather than by direct statement.
transcends
The issue of good faith that your conduct raises far ... the specific question of whether or not you are responsible for the problem.
hackneyed
If you take pride in expressing yourself with force and originality, you should not use so many ... phrases
meritorious
I certainly appreciate your praise, but I must say that I can see nothing so remarkably ... in having done what any decent person would do.
approbation
His confidence grew as he received clear signs of the ... of his superiors.
prerogative
I feel that, as an old friend, I have the ... of criticizing your actions without arousing resentment.
simulating
Various insects have a marvelous capacity to protect themselves by ... the appearance of twigs and other objects in their environment.
petulant
Of course you have a right to ask the waiter for a glass of water, but is there any need to use the ... tone of a spoiled child?
coalition
The only way to defeat the party in power is for all the reform groups to form a ... and back a single slate of candidates.
expostulated
Since I don't like people who play favorites in the office, I have frequently ... against such behavior with my superiors.
assuage
Although we tried to express our sympathy, we knew that mere words could do nothing to ... her grief.
elicit
In the question and answer session, we tried to ... from the candidates some definite indication of how they proposed to reduce the nation's debt.
jaded
Their tastes have been so ... by luxurious living that they seen incapable of enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
approbation
(n.) the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval
assuage
(v.) to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench
coalition
(n) a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose
decadence
(n.) decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence
elicit
(v.) to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person)
expostulate
(v.) to attempt to dissuade someone from some course of decision by earnest reasoning
hackneyed
(adj.) used so often as to lack freshness or originality
innuendo
(n.) a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense)
intercede
(v.) to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement
jaded
(adj.) wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence)
lurid
(v.) causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint
meritorious
(adj.) worthy, deserving recognition and praise
petulant
(adj.) peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset
prerogative
(n.) a special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence
provincial
(adj.) pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside; (n.) a person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outl
simulate
(v.) to make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of
transcend
(v.) to rise above or beyond, exceed
umbrage
(n) shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspicion
unctuous
(adj.) excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily; pliable
hiatus
(n.) a gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing)