Approbation
n- the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval
Syn- commendation, sanction
Ant- disproval, condemnation, censure
Assuage
v- to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to appease, satisfy, quench
Syn- mitigate, alleviate, slake, allay
Ant- intensify, aggravate, exacerbate
Coalition
n- a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose
Syn- alliance, league, federation, combine
Ant- splinter group
Decadence
n- decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence
Syn- degeneration, corruption
Ant- rise, growth, development, maturation
Elicit
v- to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person)
Syn- call forth, evoke, extract, educe
Ant- repress, quash, squelch, stifle
Expostulate
v- to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning
Hackneyed
adj- used so often as to lack freshness or originality
Syn- banal, trite, commonplace, corny
Ant- new, fresh, novel, original
Hiatus
n- a gap, opening, break (in sense of having an element missing)
Syn- pause, lacuna
Ant- continuity, continuation
Innuendo
n- a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense)
Syn- insinuation, intimidation
Ant- direct statement
Intercede
v- to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement
Syn- intervene, mediate
Jaded
adj- wearied, worn-out, dulled (in sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence)
Syn- sated, surfeited, cloyed
Ant- unspoiled uncloyed
Lurid
adj- causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or swallow color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint
Syn- gruesome, gory, grisly, baleful, ghastly
Ant- pleasant, attractive, appealing, wholesome
Meritorious
adj- worthy, deserving recognition and praise
Syn- praiseworthy, laudable, commendable
Ant- blameworthy, reprehensible, discreditable
Petulant
adj- peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset
Syn- irritable, testy, waspish
Ant- even-tempered, placid, serene, amiable
Prerogative
n- a special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence
Syn- perquisite, perk
Provincial
adj- pertaining to an outlaying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited or backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside
n- a person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outlaying
Simulate
v- to make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of
Syn- feign, pretend, affect
Transcend
v- to rise above or beyond, exceed
Syn-surpass, outstrip
Umbrage
n- shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspicion
Syn- irritation, pique, annoyance
Ant- pleasure, delight, satisfaction
Unctuous
adj- excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily; pliable
Syn- mealymouthed, servile, fawning, greasy
Ant- gruff, blunt