adulterate
to corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value
ambidextrous
able to use both hands equally well; very skillful; deceitful, hypocritical
augment
to make larger, increase
bereft
deprived of; made unhappy through a loss
deploy
to position or arrange; to utilize; to form up
dour
stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored
fortitude
courage in facing difficulties
gape
to stare with open mouth; to open the mouth wide; to open wide
gibe
to utter taunting words; an expression of scorn
guise
an external appearance, cover, mask
insidious
intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous
intimation
a hint, indirect suggestion
opulent
wealthy, luxurious; ample; grandiose
pliable
easily bent, flexible; easily influenced
reiterate
to say again, repeat
stolid
not easily moved mentally or emotionally; dull unresponsive
tentative
experimental in nature; uncertain, hesitant
unkempt
not combed; untidy; not properly maintains; unpolished, rude
verbatim
word for word; exactly as written or spoken
warily
cautiously, with great care
adroit
skillful, expert in the use of the hands or mind
amicable
peaceable, friendly
averse
having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling
belligerent
given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive; one at war, one engaged in war
benevolent
kindly, charitable
cursory
hasty, not thorough
duplicity
treachery, deceitfulness
extol
to praise extravagantly
feasible
possible, able to be done
grimace
a wry face, facial distortion; to make a wry face
holocaust
a large-scale destruction, especially by fire; a vast slaughter; a burnt offering
impervious
not affected or hurt by; admitting of no passage or entrance
impetus
a moving force, impulse, stimulus
jeopardy
danger
meticulous
extremely careful; particular about details
nostalgia
a longing for something past; homesickness
quintessence
the purest essence or form of something; the most typical example
retrogress
to move backward; to return to an earlier condition
scrutinize
to examine closely
tepid
lukewarm; unenthusiastic, marked by an absence of interest
adversary
an enemy, opponent
alienate
to turn away; to make indifferent or hostile; to transfer, convey
artifice
a skillful or ingenious device; a clever trick; a clever skill; trickery
coerce
to compel, force
craven
cowardly; a coward
culinary
of or related to cooking or the kitchen
delete
to erase, wipe out, cut out
demise
a death, especially of a person in a lofty position
exhilarate
to enliven, cheer, give spirit or liveliness to
fallow
plowed but not seeded; inactive; reddish-yellow; land left unseeded; to plow but not seed
harass
to disturb, worry; to trouble by repeated attacks
inclement
stormy, harsh; sever in attitude or action
muse
to think about in a dreamy way, ponder
negligible
so unimportant that is can disregarded
perpetuate
to make permanent or long lasting
precedent
an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action
punitive
inflicting or aiming at punishment
redress
to set right, remedy; relief from wrong or injury
sojourn
a temporary stay; to stay for a time
urbane
refined in manner or style, suave
affiliated
associated, connected
ascertain
to find out
attainment
an accomplishment, the act of achieving
bequeath
to give or pass on as an inheritance
cogent
forceful, convincing; relevant, to the point
converge
to move toward one point, approach nearer together
disperse
to scatter, spread far and wide
esteem
to regard highly; a highly favorable opinion or judgement
expunge
to erase, obliterate, destroy
finite
having limits; lasting for a limited time
invulnerable
not able to be wounded or hurt; shielded against attack
malevolent
spiteful, showing ill will
nonchalant
cool and confident, unconcerned
omniscient
knowing everything; having unlimited awareness or understanding
panacea
a remedy for all ills; cure-all; an answer to all problems
scrupulous
exact, careful, attending thoroughly to details; having high moral standards, principled
skulk
to move about stealthily; to lie in hiding
supercilious
proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a feeling of superiority
uncanny
strange, mysterious, weird, beyond explanation
venial
easily excused; pardonable
altruistic
unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others
assent
to express agreement; agreement
benefactor
one who does good to others
chivalrous
marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly
clemency
mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness
dearth
a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine
diffident
shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved
discrepancy
a difference; a lack of agreement
embark
to go aboard; to make a start; to invest
facile
easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely felt
indomitable
unconquerable, refusing to yield
infallible
free from error; absolutely dependable
plod
to walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly
pungent
causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting
remiss
neglectful in performance of one's duty, careless
repose
toe rest; lie; place; relaxation, peace of mind, calmness
temerity
rashness, boldness
truculent
fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly, destructive; scathingly harsh
unfeigned
sincere, real, without pretense
virulent
extremely poisonous; full of malice; spiteful
accede
to yield to; to assume an office or dignity
brandish
to wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion
comprise
to include or contain; to be made up of
deft
skillful, nimble
destitute
deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in
explicit
definite, clearly stated
extirpate
to tear up by the roots; to destroy totally
inopportune
coming at a bad time; not appropriate
ironic
suggesting an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens; given to irony, sarcastic
musty
stale, moldy; out-of-date
officious
meddling; excessively forward in offering services or assuming authority
ominous
unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen
pinnacle
a high peak or point
premeditated
considered beforehand, deliberately planned
rampant
growing without check, running wild
solace
comfort, relief; to comfort, console
stately
dignified, majestic
supple
bending easily; bending with agility; readily adaptable; servile
suppress
to stop by force, put down
venal
open to or marked by bribery or corruption