accolade
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
acrimony
bitterness
angst
an acute but unspecific feeling of anxiety
anomaly
abnormality
antidote
a remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison
avant-garde
Ahead of the times, especially in the arts
baroque
having elaborate symmetrical ornamentation
bona fide
not counterfeit or copied
bourgeois
a member of the middle class; belonging to the middle class
boondoggle
work of little or no value done merely to look busy
bravado
a swaggering show of courage
brogue
a thick and heavy shoe; a strong dialectal accent
brusque
rudely abrupt
byzantine
highly involved or intricate
cacophony
a loud harsh or strident noise
camaraderie
trust among friends
capricious
impulsive and unpredictable
carte blanche
authority with no bounds
Catch-22
a lose lose situation
caustic
sarcastic
charisma
charm
cloying
excessively sweet or sentimental
d�j� vu
the experience of thinking that a new situation had occurred before
dichotomy
a division into two parts
dilettante
showing frivolous or superficial interest
�lan
enthusiastic vigor or liveliness
disheveled
in disarray
ennui
boredom
epitome
a typical example
equanimity
steadiness of mind under stress
equivocate
to be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information
esoteric
intended for or understood by only a small group
euphemism
an inoffensive expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive
fait accompli
an irreversible accomplishment
fastidious
difficult to please
faux pas
a social blunder
fiasco
a complete failure
finagle
to trick, swindle or cheat
Freudian slip
a verbal mistake that is thought to reveal an unconscious belief, thought, or emotion
glib
artfully persuasive in speech
gregarious
sociable
harbinger
an omen or sign; forerunner
hedonist
a pleasure seeker
heresy
a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion
idiosyncratic
peculiar to the individual
idyllic
charming in a rustic way; suggestive of an idyll
indelicate
lacking propriety and good taste in manners and conduct
infinitesimal
immeasurably small
insidious
treacherous
junket
a trip taken by an official often times for pleasure at public expense
kitsch
art in pretentious bad taste
litany
any long, repetitive, or dull recital
lurid
ghastly pale
Machiavellian
unprincipled and crafty
malaise
physical discomfort (as mild sickness or depression)
malinger
to evade responsibility by pretending to be ill
mantra
a commonly repeated word or phrase
maudlin
overemotional
mercenary
a professional soldier hired by a foreign army; profit oriented
minimalist
a person who practices arts in less detailed ways
misnomer
an incorrect or unsuitable name
narcissist
someone in love with themselves
nirvana
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
non sequitur
something that does not logically follow
nouveau riche
newly rich
oblivion
total forgetfulness
ogle
look at with amorous intentions
ostentatious
showy
ostracize
to exclude from a group; banish; exile
panacea
cure-all; remedy for all diseases
paradox
a contradiction or dilemma
peevish
easily irritated or annoyed
perfunctory
hasty and without attention to detail
philistine
a person who is uninterested in intellectual pursuits
precocious
appearing or developing early
propriety
correct or appropriate behavior
quid pro quo
this for that
quintessential
perfect example
red herring
any diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue
revel
to take delight in
rhetoric
effective writing or speaking
scintillating
brilliantly clever
spartan
marked by simplicity and lack of luxury
stigma
a symbol of disgrace or infamy
stoic
unaffected by pleasure or pain
suave
having a sophisticated charm
Svengali
A person who exercises excessive control or influence over another person
sycophant
a self-serving flatterer, a brownnoser
teetotaler
one who does not drink alcohol
t�te-�-t�te
a private conversation between two people
tirade
a long, angry speech, usually very critical
tryst
a secret meeting of lovers; rendezvous
ubiquitous
being present everywhere at once
unrequited
not returned in kind
untenable
indefensible
vicarious
done or felt for, or on behalf of, another
vile
morally reprehensible
waft
be driven or carried along, as by the air
white elephant
a possession that costs more to keep than its worth
zealous
enthusiastic; fervent; fanatical