ad hominem

an attack on the person rather than the issue at hand

antithesis

the direct opposite

archetype

a perfect example; an original pattern or model

bolster

to support; to prop up

caricature

a satiric portrait or representation

cogent

clear, logical, and convincing

corroborate

to confirm

cursory

hasty, not thorough

daunt

to intimidate; to discourage

expository

explanatory

false dilemma

an argument that provides only two outcomes to a problem, ignoring other possibilities

fracas

uproar; brawl

haughty

arrogant; vainly proud

idiosyncratic

having strange or unusual features of behaviors

immune

safe from harm; protected

inclined

tending toward one direction

jocular

joking

lucid

clear; easy to understand (elucidate)

miser

someone who hoards money

mitigate

to make less severe, serious, or painful

oxymoron

a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction. Ex: "The cold fire in his eyes."

paucity

smallness of quantity; dearth

perceptive

having keen understanding; discerning

pessimism

gloominess; a belief that the bad guys always win

profligate

extremely wasteful; wildly extravagant

precarious

dangerously unstable

reprove

to scold; to find fault with

superficial

shallow; on the surface only

uniform

constant; without variety

wily

cunning