anomalous
(adj.) Abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual
S: exceptional, atypical, unusual, aberrant
aspersion
(n.) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming
S: innuendo, calumny, denigration
bizarre
(adj.) extremely strange, unusual, atypical
S: grotesque, fanastic, outlandish
brusque
(adj.) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities
S: curt, tactless, ungracious, gruff, rough
cajole
(v.) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises
S: wheedle, inveigle, soft-soap, sweet-talk
castigate
(v.) to punish severely; to criticize severely
S: chastise, rebuke, censure, upbraid
contrive
(v.) to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan
S: think up, devise, concoct, fabricate
demagogue
(n.) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
S: rabble-rouser, firebrand
disabuse
(v.) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking
S: undeceive, enlighten, set straight
ennui
(n.) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom
S: languor, world-weariness, listessness
fetter
(n.) a chain or shackle placed on the feet (often used in plural anything that confines or restrains; (v.) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent
S: (n.)bond, restraint; (v.) bind, hamper
heinous
(adj.) very wicked, offensive, hateful
S: evil, odious, abominable, outrageous
immutable
(adj.) not subject to change, constant
S: unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable
insurgent
(n.) one who rebels or rises against authority; (adj.) rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority surging or rushing in or on
S: (adj.) revolutionary, rebellious, mutinous
megalomania
(n.) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality
S: delusions of grandeour
sinecure
(n.) a position requiring little or no work; an easy job
S: "no show" job, cushy job, "plum
surreptitious
(adj.) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud
S: furtuve, covert, clandestine, concealed
transgress
(v.) to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law
S: overstep, exceed, trespass, err
transmute
(v.) to change from one nature, substance, or form to another
S: transform, convert, translate, metamorphose
vicarious
(adj.) performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in one place or another
S: surrogate, substitute, imagined, secondhand