List 18

sitting

a continuous period of being seated, especially when engaged in a particular activity

hinder

to make (something, such as a task or action) slow or difficult

garrulous

excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters

quandary

a state of perplexity or doubt

plastic

easily shaped or molded

undercut

weaken; undermine

renowned

known or talked about by many people; famous

recapitulate

summarize and state again the main points of

studied

(of a quality or result) achieved or maintained by careful and deliberate effort

rambling

(of writing or speech) lengthy and confused or inconsequential

literal

taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory

connotation

an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning

integrity

the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness

retrench

reduce or diminish (something) in extent or quantity

ubiquity

the fact of appearing everywhere or of being very common

truculent

eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant

stopgap

an improvised substitute for something lacking; a temporary expedient

enlighten

give (someone) greater knowledge and understanding about a subject or situation

revenue

income, especially when of a company or organization and of a substantial nature

reconcile

cause to coexist in harmony; make or show to be compatible

polymath

a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning

promotion

the act of furthering the growth or development of something

abstract

extract or remove (something)

eloquent

fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing

compartmentalize

divide into sections or categories

deadlock

a situation, typically one involving opposing parties, in which no progress can be made

souvenir

something that serves as a reminder

placement

the action of putting someone or something in a particular place or the fact of being placed

flip

turn over or cause to turn over with a sudden sharp movement

recant

say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, especially one considered heretical

premeditate

to think about and revolve in the mind beforehand

memo

a written message, especially in business

memoir

a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources

memento

an object kept as a reminder or souvenir of a person or event

memorable

worth remembering or easily remembered, especially because of being special or unusual

overshadow

appear much more prominent or important than

context

the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed

insurmountable

(of difficulties, problems, etc.) that cannot be dealt with successfully

fungible

mutually interchangeable

counterfeit

made in exact imitation of something valuable or important with the intention to deceive or defraud

choreograph

plan and control (an event or operation)

aggregate

formed or calculated by the combination of many separate units or items; total

demarcate

set the boundaries or limits of

trade-off

a balance achieved between two desirable but incompatible features; a compromise

sobering

tending to make one thoughtful or sober

perfunctory

done as a duty or habit, without real interest, attention or feeling

approach

start to deal with (something) in a certain way

unflinching

looking at or describing something or someone in a very direct way

debunk

expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief)

invasive

(especially of plants or a disease) tending to spread prolifically and undesirably or harmfully

mask

disguise or hide (a sensation or quality)

condescending

having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority

inveterate

firmly established by long persistence

materialize

become actual fact; happen

span

to extend across

impel

drive, force, or urge (someone) to do something

on that score

so far as that (or this) is concerned

hitch

a temporary interruption or problem

archetypal

very typical of a certain kind of person or thing

croon

to make a soft, low voice or tone

subtle

(especially of a change or distinction) so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe

brilliance

exceptional talent or intelligence

derision

contemptuous ridicule or mockery

plodding

slow-moving and unexciting

vehement

showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense

presage

(of an event) be a sign or warning that (something, typically something bad) will happen

abnegation

the act of renouncing or rejecting something

stance

intellectual or emotional attitude

contend

assert something as a position in an argument

contention

heated disagreement

contentious

causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial

utterance

a spoken word, statement, or vocal sound

negligible

so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant

render

to cause (someone or something) to be in a specified condition

amorphous

without a clearly defined shape or form

venal

showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery

perpetuate

to make something such as a bad situation, a belief, etc. continue for a long time

gross

(especially of wrongdoing) very obvious and unacceptable; blatant

controvert

deny the truth of (something)

imprudent

not wise or sensible

irreversible

that cannot be changed back to what it was before

intensify

to make intense or more intensive

intensity

the quality of being intense

deception

the action of deceiving someone

extol

praise enthusiastically

quell

put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force

fervor

intense and passionate feeling

historic

famous or important in history, or potentially so

historicism

(in artistic and architectural contexts) excessive regard for past styles

insofar as

to the extent that

gratify

give (someone) pleasure or satisfaction

inaccessible

incapable of being understood or appreciated

prevail

to gain ascendancy through strength or superiority

prevalent

widespread in a particular area or at a particular time

altruistic

showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others

be a far (long) cry from

be very different from

adjunct

a thing added to something else as a supplementary rather than an essential part

abash

cause to feel embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed

warble

(of a person) sing in a trilling or quavering voice

pernicious

having a very harmful effect on somebody or something, especially in a way that is gradual and not easily noticed