Social Dynamics

abide

To tolerate; accept; put up with; To obey or conform to a rule, law, or standard

absolve

To set free from an obligation, debt, or responsibility, especially from guilt or blame

acquiesce

To accept or comply with something passively or without protest, even though you may not agree with it

affable

Pleasant and easy to approach or talk to; friendly and approachable

alacrity

Cheerful readiness or promptness, especially in carrying out a task or request

allure

The power to attract or tempt by arousing interest, pleasure, or desire

altruistic

Unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others

amiable

Friendly and easy to get along with

apartheid

A system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that existed in South Africa from 1948 to 1994

ascendancy

The state of being in a higher or dominant position

assimilate

To take in and incorporate as one's own; absorb

autonomous

Having the right or power to govern oneself without external control

avuncular

Resembling an uncle in character or behavior

beleaguer

To persistently harass or annoy someone; to trouble or pester persistently

belligerent

Hostile or aggressive, especially in a way that is likely to provoke a fight

beset

To trouble or harass greatly; to distress with difficulties or problems

bestow

To present (a gift) or confer (an award or honor)

bourgeois

Relating to or belonging to the middle class, especially the wealthy middle class

camaraderie

The spirit of good fellowship and friendship among people who share a common activity or experience

clandestine

Done or kept secret, especially for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose

clemency

Leniency or mercy; the disposition to be mild or forgiving

coalition

A temporary alliance between two or more groups, especially political parties, formed to pursue a common goal or interest

collusion

Secret or illegal cooperation, especially between two or more people for an unlawful or fraudulent purpose

comply

To act in accordance with a wish, command, or rule; to obey

concede

To yield or give in; to surrender

concord

Agreement or harmony between people, groups, or things

condone

To overlook or excuse a fault, mistake, or wrongdoing, especially without offering reproof or punishment

Friendly, pleasant, and agreeable

congenial

congregate

To come together or assemble in a group, especially in large numbers

conspiracy

A secret plan or agreement between two or more people to do something unlawful or harmful

convene

To come together in a group

cosmopolitan

Having wide international sophistication and experience

court

To pay attention to or show favor to someone

covert

Kept secret or hidden from view; concealed

decoy

A person or thing used to lure someone or something into a trap or dangerous situation

destitute

Extremely poor; poverty-stricken

deter

To discourage or restrain someone from doing something, especially by instilling fear, anxiety, doubt, or difficulty

egalitarian

Believing in or characterized by the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities

eminent

Standing above others in quality or position; prominent

encroach

To advance beyond the usual or proper limits, typically in a gradual or stealthy way, and infringe upon the territory or rights of another

exodus

The departure of a large group of people from a place, especially in search of a better life; a mass departure

exploit

To make full use of and benefit from, often for personal gain, sometimes unethically or unfairly

faction

A group of people within a larger group, especially a political party, government, or organization, who have particular interests or aims and often oppose the prevailing policy or view

fawning

Attempting to win favor by flattery or a servile way of behaving

fend

TV: (usually followed by "off") To ward off or repel an attack, difficulty, or danger;

IV: (usually followed by "for") To manage on one's own

fiasco

A complete and humiliating failure; a disaster

fraternal

Characterized by or promoting brotherly feeling

genial

Warmly agreeable

homage

Demonstrated respect or admiration, especially that shown by a subject to a ruler; An acknowledgement of a debt or influence; a reference or allusion to a work of art

impartial

Free from favoritism or bias; fair and just

impose

To inflict or force on someone

juggernaut

An unstoppable or overwhelming force or power

kowtow

To show excessive or servile deference or obedience to someone

largess

An act of kindness or generosity

machination

A crafty or scheming action or artful design intended to accomplish a usually evil or treacherous end

magnanimous

Being generous and forgiving

magnate

A person of great wealth and influence, especially in a particular industry or field

meddlesome

Given to meddling; interfering; intrusive

merit

To deserve or earn

milieu

The physical and social setting in which something exists or happens

nepotism

The practice of favoring relatives or friends in employment, promotions, or other benefits because of their personal relationship to you, especially in business or politics

obliged

Indebted; grateful for something done or given

obsequious

Excessively eager to please or obey, often in a servile or flattering way

orchestrate

To coordinate or harmonize the actions of different people or things

ostracize

To exclude or banish someone from a group or society, usually as a form of punishment

pandemonium

A wild uproar or unrestrained disorder; tumult or chaos

patronize

To treat someone in a condescending or superior way, as if they are less intelligent or important than yourself

philanthropy

The love of mankind and the active effort to promote human welfare

plebeian

(n): Any person of low social rank or status; (adj): Coarse, vulgar, or lacking in refinement

preeminent

Outstanding, exceptional; surpassing others in quality or achievement

prerogative

A right or privilege exclusive to a particular person or group, typically by virtue of their office or rank

prestige

High reputation or influence, gained from success, achievements, or position

provincial

Narrow-minded or lacking in sophistication, typically because of limited experience of the world

rampant

Widespread and uncontrolled; flourishing unchecked

regal

Having the dignified bearing or manner of a monarch; stately and impressive; magnificent, splendid, or luxurious

relegate

Send into exile or banish

ruse

A trick or stratagem intended to deceive someone

sabotage

Undermine or hinder the success of something, often by deliberate action

scuffle

A short, confused, and often disorganized fight or struggle

servile

Submissively or obsequiously compliant or deferential, especially towards those in authority

shun

Deliberately avoid someone or something, typically because of dislike or fear

sinecure

An office or position that involves minimal duties or responsibilities but provides a salary or income

skirmish

A minor battle or fight, typically between small groups of troops

spurn

Reject (someone or something) with disdain or contempt

squander

Spend (money, time, resources, etc.) wastefully or carelessly.

Miss or waste an opportunity

stigmatize

Mark or describe someone or something as being bad or disgraceful, thereby reducing their status or acceptance in society

subdue

Bring under control, especially by force or superior power

subordinate

Inferior or lower in rank or importance

succumb

Give way to superior force; yield

surrogate

Something that takes the place of another thing, often in a temporary or symbolic way

ulterior

Lying beneath or beyond what is revealed, evident, or supposed; hidden or secret

unanimous

Characterized by or showing complete agreement

vantage

A state, position, or opportunity affording superiority or advantage

vicarious

Experienced or realized through imaginative or sympathetic participation in the experience of another

vouch

To provide or offer something, especially on loan