Day 8

abound

exist in large numbers or amounts.

amorphous

without a clearly defined shape or form.

belie

1. (of an appearance) fail to give a true impression of (something).

2. fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation).

capricious

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

cerebral

1. of the cerebrum of the brain.

2. intellectual rather than emotional or physical.

congenial

1. (of a person) pleasing or liked on account of having qualities or interests that are similar to one's own.

2. (of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to one's taste or inclination.

conspicuous

1. clearly visible.

2. attracting notice or attention.

cursory

hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.

daunting

seeming difficult to deal with in prospect; intimidating.

deify

worship or regard as a god.

didactic

in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to appear patronizing.

disseminate

spread (something, especially information) widely.

feasible

possible to do easily or conveniently.

flout

openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention)

homogeneous

of the same kind; alike.

humdrum

lacking excitement or variety; boringly monotonous.

insipid

• lacking flavor or energy; weak or tasteless.

• lacking vigor or interest.

loquacious

tending to talk a great deal; talkative.

misanthropic

having or showing a dislike of other people; unsociable.

misnomer

a wrong or inaccurate name or designation.

negligent

failing to take proper care over something.

obsequious

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.

placate

make (someone) less angry or hostile.

proclivity

a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition towards a particular thing.

puerile

childishly silly and immature.

quixotic

extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.

spendthrift

a person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible way.

taciturn

(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.

wary

feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.

austere

1. Strict in manner

2. Lack of comforts or luxuries

adulterate

render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance.

advocate

a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.

aggrandize

increase the power, status, or wealth of.

alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness; eagerness

ambivalent

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

ameliorate

make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.

amenable

open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled.

anachronistic

belonging to a period other than that being portrayed.

audacious

1. showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.

2. showing an impudent lack of respect.

• bold; rude

avaricious

having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

banal

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.

benign

1. gentle and kind.

2. not harmful to the environment.

brazen

bold and without shame.

calumny

the making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation; slander.

candid

truthful and straightforward; frank.

castigate

reprimand (someone) severely.

caustic

1. sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way.

2. able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action.

• sarcastic; corrosive

construe

interpret (a word or action) in a particular way.

contrite

feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong; feeling guilty

convoluted

1. (especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow.

2. intricately folded, twisted, or coiled.

covet

yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another).

craven

contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly.

decorum

behaviour in keeping with good taste and propriety.

deft

neatly skilful and quick in one's movements.

demur

object; hesitate

derivative

1. something which is based on another source.

2. imitative of the work of another artist, writer, etc., and usually disapproved of for that reason.

desiccate

remove the moisture from (something); cause to become completely dry.

diatribe

a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something; tirade; verbal attack

incredulous

(of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something; doubtful, skeptical

ingenuous

(of a person or action) innocent and unsuspecting.

aloof

not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant.

clangor

a continuous loud banging or ringing sound.

conventional

1. based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed.

2. (of a bid) intended to convey a particular meaning according to an agreed convention.

debunk

expose the falseness or hollowness of (an idea or belief).

diminutive

1. extremely or unusually small.

2. (of a word, name, or suffix) implying smallness, either actual or imputed to convey affection,scorn etc.

discernible

able to be discerned; recognizable

enigmatic (syn: arcane)

difficult to interpret or understand; arcane; mysterious

estranged

(of a person) no longer close or affectionate to someone; alienated.

extravagant

lacking restraint in spending money or using resources.

fanciful

1. over-imaginative and unrealistic.

2. highly ornamental or imaginative in design.

frivolous

no serious purpose or value

• not serious; silly

heterogeneous

diverse in character or content.

imperious

arrogant; domineering.

impertinent

1. not showing proper respect; rude.

2. not pertinent to a particular matter; irrelevant.

• rude; irrelevant

invasive

tending to spread very quickly and undesirably or harmfully.

irresolute

showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain.

laudable

(of an action, idea, or aim) deserving praise and commendation.

lax

1. not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful.

2. (of the limbs or muscles) relaxed.

marginalize

insignificant; peripheral

panache

flamboyant confidence of style or manner.

plodding

slow-moving; unexciting.

prosaic

having or using the style or diction of prose as opposed to poetry; lacking imaginativeness or originality.

remedial

giving or intended as a remedy or cure.

restive

(of a person) unable to remain still, silent, or submissive, especially because of boredom or dissatisfaction.

sporadic

occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated.

stigmatize

describe or regard as worthy of disgrace or great disapproval; label as disgrace or great disapproval

undermine

1. lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of, especially gradually or insidiously.

2. erode the base or foundation of (a rock formation).

utterly

completely and without qualification; absolutely.

weary

feeling or showing extreme tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion; extreme tiredness

zealous

having or showing zeal; intense excitement

abate

(of something unpleasant or severe) become less intense or widespread.

abjure

strongly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim).

anomalous

deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.

antipathy (syn: loathe)

a deep-seated feeling of aversion; hatred, hostility

arcane

understood by few; mysterious or secret.

arduous

involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.

artless

naive; simple; skilless

ascetic

characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons; austere, strict lifestyle

assuage

fulfill desire; decrease negative feeling

betray

1. unintentionally reveal; be evidence of.

2. expose (one's country, a group, or a person) to danger by treacherously giving information to an enemy.