accolade
praise or approval; a ceremonial embrace or greeting
acerbity
sourness or bitterness of taste; harshness or severity of manner or expression
attrition
the process of wearing down by friction or gradual impairment
bromide
a trite or commonplace remark; a tiresome or boring person; a sedative
chauvinist
extravagantly patriotic; blindly devoted to a cause; such a person
chronic
continuing over a long period or time or recurring often
expound
to explain in detail
factionalism
party strife and intrigue
immaculate
spotless; without blemish or fault
imprecation
a curse; the act of cursing
ineluctable
not able to be avoided, changed, inevitable
mercurial
characterized by rapid or unpredictable changes of mood; fickle or inconstant
palliate
to make less serious or severe by glossing over; to relieve without actually curing, mitigate
protocol
customs and regulations dealing with official behavior and etiquette, as in a court or among diplomats; a type of international agreement; a memorandum, official account, or record
resplendent
shining or gleaming brilliantly; splendid or magnificent
stigmatize
to brand or mark as in some way discreditable, disgraceful, or ignominious
sub rosa
in secret; confidentially; privately; secretive
vainglory
excessive pride in and boastfulness about one's own accomplishments or qualities; a vain show or display
vestige
a trace or visible evidence of something that once existed but now is lost or vanished
volition
the power to choose, will, or decide; the act of choosing, willing, or deciding
accoutrements
accessory items of clothing or equipment; a soldier's outfit, usually not including arms or clothing; trappings
apogee
the point in the orbit of heavenly body or artificial satellite farthest from the earth; the farthest or highest point
apropos
appropriate, opportune; relevantly; incidentally, by the way; speaking of
bicker
to engage in a petty or peevish dispute; to move or run rapidly, rush; to flicker, quiver
coalesce
to blend together or fuse so as to form one body or substance
contretemps
an inopportune or embarrassing occurrence; a mishap
convolution
a rolling up, coiling, or twisting together; a sinuous folding or design
cull
to pick out or select; to gather or collect
disparate
completely distinct or different; entirely dissimilar
dogmatic
certain of the truth of one's own ideas; inclined to state opinions as if they were indisputable facts
licentious
morally or sexually unrestrained; having no regard for accepted rules, customs, or laws
mete
to distribute or apportion by or as if by measure; to allot
noxious
harmful to physical health or morals
polemic
an aggressive attack on or refutation of a specific opinion or doctrine
populous
full of people; filled to capacity; densely populated; having a large population
probity
complete and confirmed honesty; total integrity
repartee
a swift, witty reply; conservation full of such remarks; skill in making such replies or conversation
supervene
to take place or occur as something additional or unexpected; to follow immediately after
truncate
to shorten by or as if by cutting off, lop
unimpeachable
beyond doubt or reproach; unquestionable
adumbrate
to outline or sketch broadly; to foreshadow or prefigure; to disclose partially
apotheosis
the elevation of a person to a divine rank or status; the glorification of a parson as an ideal; a glorified ideal
ascetic
practicing strict self-denial for the sake of personal or spiritual discipline; one who leads a life of self-discipline, especially to express religious devotion
bauble
a small, showy ornament of little value or use
beguile
to mislead or deceive; to cheat; to divert; to cause to vanish unnoticed
burgeon
to put forth new buds, leaves, or greenery; to develop rapidly or suddenly
complement
something that completes a whole; the quantity or number needed to make up a whole; the full number of allowance; to complete
contumacious
obstinately or willfully disobedient; openly rebellious
curmudgeon
an irascible, churlish person; grouchy
didactic
intended to instruct, especially morally; inclined to moralize too much
disingenuous
lacking in sincerity or candor
exculpate
to clear of guilt or blame
faux pas
a slip in manners or conduct; a social blunder
fulminate
to denounce or condemn vehemently; to explode, detonate
fustian
inflated or pretentious language in speech or writing; a cloth made of cotton and flax
hauteur
haughtiness of bearing or attitude
inhibit
to restrain or hold back; to hinder or arrest; to prohibit
jeremiad
an elaborate or prolonged lamentation; any tale of woe
opportunist
one who makes a practice of taking advantage of circumstances to further his or her own self-interest, regardless of principles or ultimate consequences
unconscionable
not guided or restrained by conscience, prudence, or reason; unscrupulous; immoderate