askance
with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval
S = distrustfully, suspiciously
attenuate
to make thin or slender; to weaken or lesson in force, intensity or value
S = thin out, dilute, water down
A = thicken, strengthen, bolster
benign
gentle, kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant
cavil
(v) to find fault in a petty way, carp; (n) a trivial objection or criticism
S = nitpick (v)
charlatan
one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack
S= mountbank
decimate
to kill or destroy a large part of
S = devastate
foible
a weak point, minor flaw, failing
S = shortcoming, quirk
A = forte, virtue
forgo
to do without, abstain from, give up
S = refrain from, renounce
A = indulge in, partake
fraught
full or loaded with; accompanied by
S = charged with
A = devoid of, lacking deficient in
inure
to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure
S = accustom, acclimate
luminous
emitting or reflecting light, glowing, illuminating
S = bright, refulgent, lustrous
A = dark, opaque, dim, murky
obsequious
marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self interested reasons
S = fawning, servile, sycophantic, mealymouthed
A = assertive, bumptious, candid, frank, independent
obtuse
blunt, not coming to the point; slow or dull in understanding; measuring between 90 and 180 degrees; not causing a sharp impression
S = dumb, thick, mild, dull-witted
A = perceptive, quick-witted
oscillate
to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm to fluctuate or waver
S = vibrate
penitent
regretful for one's sins or mistakes; (n) one who is sorry for wrongdoing
S = remorseful, regretful, rueful
A = remorseless
peremptory
having the nature or a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal; offensively self assured, directorial, determined, resolute
S = unconditional,
A = irresolute, mild, unassuming
rebuff
(v) to snub; to repel, drive away; (n) a curt rejection, a check
S = (v) repulse, reject (n) setback
A = (v) accept, welcome
reconnoiter
to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection
S = scout
shambles
a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess
sporadic
occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order
S = intermittent, spasmodic
A = steady, continuous, uninterrupted