Placate
It is quite useless to try to _______ dissatisfied customers who actually enjoy being angry and making complaints.
Alluded
Phyllis was too polite to mention John's crude behavior at the party, but she certainly ________ to it when she spoke of "unnecessary unpleasantness.
Guile
His skillful use of flattery and double-talk to persuade us to agree to his scheme was a typical example of his _________.
Placid
Neither misfortunes nor happy events seem to have the slightest effect on my friend's _________ disposition.
Potent
America's most _______ weapon in the struggle for world influence is its great tradition of democracy and freedom.
Superficial
Although the cut on my arm was bleeding quite heavily, it proved to be quite _________ and required only a tight bandage.
Conclusive
The tapes of the conversations were regarded as _____ proof that the official had been aware of the crime.
Itinerary
We spent many pleasant hours poring over all kinds of maps and guidebooks, planning the _________ for our field trip across the United States.
Exemplary
Their idea of a(n) __________ student is someone so perfect in many ways that he or she would be too good to exist.
Clairvoyant
Sherlock Holmes assured Dr. Watson that it simple deduction, not some _______ faculty, that led him to the document's hiding place.
Stark
When we consider the _______ misery of the last years of his life, we must conclude that he paid in full for all his offenses.
Integrity
I selected them as my business partners not only because I respect their ability but also because I have unlimited confidence in their character and _____.
Endemic
Blue jeans, once _________ to the cowboys of the American West, are now familiar part of the world'd wardrobe.
Fathom
By disregarding the flood of excuses, explanations, and justifications, we were able to ______ the true reasons for her actions.
Misconstrue
Legally a defendant is innocent until proven guilty, so do not __________ a refusal to testify as an admission of guilt.
Protrude
If you allow your foot to __________ into the asile, someone may trip over it.
Disreputable
In 1722, Daniel Defoe published his famous account of the somewhat _________ history of Moll Flanders.
Obnoxious
His conceit and his cold disregard of other people's feelings make him utterly ___________!
Pretext
On the _________ of delivering a package, the burglar sought to gain entrance to the house.
Protrude
In that neighborhood of small homes, a few massive apartment buildings __________ like giants set down in a community of dwarfs.
Guile
Tom Sawyer used __________ to get the other boys to do his work by convincing them that whitewashing a fence was fun.
Stark
The spectacular remains of that brilliant period stand in _______ contrast to the poverty of archaeological finds from pervious eras.
Alluding
Instead of ________ so often to your own achievements and successes, why not wait for other people to mention them?
Exemplary
Although most of us cannot hope to match Mother Teresa's pue idealism, we may regard her noble life as inspiring and _______.
Misconstrued
In times of crisis, the utmost care must be taken to prevent ordinary military maneuvers from being ______ as hostile acts.
Integrity
A candidate for the highest office in the land should be, above all, a person of unshakable _____.
Disreputable
Is it any wonder that your parents are worried, knowing that you are associating with such a _____ group of people.
Potent
The prospect of extremely high starting salaries is a _____ argument for pursuing a career in computer science.
Superficial
Do not be taken in by any _______ resemblances between their half-baked ideas and the sensible program we proposed.
Clairvoyant
With some psychics it is difficult to tell where the ______ leaves off and the con artist begins.
Placid
Mother was as upset as any of us, but she managed to conceal her fears so that she looked positively _______.
Pretext
Marge produced a convenient headache as her _______ for having to leave early.
Obnoxious
I find no one more _____ than a person who insists on talking instead of listening to the brilliant and important things I have to say.
Placate
If the British government had made a sincere effort to ______ the colonists, would the American Revolution have occurred?
Fathom
Modern scientists use all kinds of high-tech gadgetry to _______ the depths of the ocean.
Itinerary
Why not include Mount Vernon in the ______ of our spring vacation?
Conclusive
It is all very well for science fiction writers to speculate, but is there any ______ evidence that UFOs exist?
Endemic
Some people maintain that intelligent life must exist elsewhere in the universe, but I firmly believe that it is _______ to Earth.