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irresolute  

unable to make up one's mind

obdurate  

 stubborn and not willing to change one's mind

acquiesce

to give in, albeit reluctantly

insubordinate

difficult to control, rebellious

impressionable  

 easily influenced

amenable

agreeable and likely to go along

pliant

giving in easily to the will of others

intransigent  

unyielding, not budging in one's position

obscure

not well known

illustrious

well known, famous for positive achievements

nonentity

an unknown person, one lacking in importance

notoriety

a bad reputation

fanfare

attention and adulation typically accompany a famous person

snub

to ignore, pass over

cipher

a person of no importance

grave

extremely serious

lament

to mourn and wall, or to express a deep regret

decorum

the proper behavior or conduct, typically in a formal context

dirge

a song usually accompanying a funeral

propriety

proper behavior or conduct

disconsolate

so sad that one cannot be consoled or made happy

elegiac

extremely mournful

chortle

to laugh merrily and nasally

irreverent

not showing respect during occasions that call for seriousness

sardonic

bitingly sarcastic and mocking, sneering

parody

an exaggerated imitation of something or someone for a comedic effect

guffaw

a loud, unrestrained laugh

wry

dryly sarcastic

uproarious

extremely funny

flippant

not showing proper respect, irreverent

ruthless

having no compassion, merciless

scrupulous

acting according to morality and good conduct

nefarious

extremely wicked and villainous

irreproachable

without fault

incorruptible

not capable of being corrupted

diabolical

evil, like the devil

turpitude

extremely immoral behavior, depravity

advent

the beginning of a major event or phenomenon

scapegoat

a person or thing lamed for an offense it did not commit

epiphany

a sudden realization or insight

idolatry

the worship of idols

atonement

the making of amends for wrongdoing

pestilence

a widespread disease

leviathan

a large beast, or figuratively any large organization that wields great power

insurrection

a violent revolution against a ruling body

quell

to put an end to unrest or insurrection, to suppress

foment

to stir up rebellion

insurgency

an ongoing revolt or insurrection

agitate

to incite a riot or cause a group to act violently

seditious

describing behavior or action intended to stir up a revolt

subversive

aimed at upsetting the current order

Partisan

one loyal to a group or political party

filibuster

to engage in deliberate stalling practices so that a vote on a measure cannot take place.

demagogue

a leader who manipulates the public emotions for his or her own ends

lame duck

a president who, after the election of his successor, spends his time in office ineffectually

politico  

politician

apparatchik

a blindly loyal official in an (often political) organization

plenary

describing a session attended by all members of a governing body

muckraker

writer whose work exposes corruption in business or politics

incumbent

on currently holding political office

gerrymander

to break up political boundaries in an odd shape in order to give oneself or one's party an electoral edge

Canvass

to go about (usually on foot) asking for people's votes

Inaugurate

to signal, usually with a ceremony, the beginning of a person's term

Barnstorm

to make a rapid tour through rural areas for the purpose of acquiring votes

Mudslinging

the act of insulting or defaming a political opponent

Interregnum

the period between one ruler leaving office and another taking over, or a slight pause in the government if a person in power is voted in for another term

muckraker

writer whose work exposes corruption in business or politics

incumbent

on currently holding political office

gerrymander

to break up political boundaries in an odd shape in order to give oneself or one's party an electoral edge

Harbor

to contain, conceal, give shelter

Grouse

o complain or grumble

quality

to limit or restrict a statement

melancholic

sad but in a way that one indulges in that sadness

ambivalent

Feeling both positive and negative feelings toward something

fortnight

a period lasting two weeks

insipid

lacking flavor, dull and uninteresting

ennui

lack of stimulation and excitement

effervescent

full of energy and liveliness

insufferable

conceited, stuck-up

immaterial

not relevant

purple (adj.)

describing writing that tries to be too elaborate and fancy

largesse (n.)

generosity in giving gifts, or the actual gift itself

epicurean (adj.)

devoted to a life of pleasure but with a tendency for the refined

bilious (ajd.)

bad tempered

sanguine (adj.)

cheerfully optimistic

herculean (adj.)

requiring great effort

sublime (adj.)

glorious, exalted

buckle (v.)-

to fasten or to collapse

subterfuge (n.)

deception and trickery for a specific purpose

disingenuous (adj.)

pretending to be innocent and honest but actually knowing more than one acknowledges

maven (n.)-

an expert

avarice (n.)

-greed

juxtaposition

two contrasting ideas are placed side-by-side, usually to highlight their differences; creates emphasis or a more vivid image in the reader's mind.

exposition

background information on characters and events necessary for understanding the story

rising action

Events that lead to the main conflict; the events leading to the turning point

climax

The conflict or tension hits the highest point

resolution

Events following the climax in which outcome is worked out (resolved)

conclusion

Final event of a story's plot where are the loose ends are tied up

third person limited narration

Narrator outside of the story who reveals the thoughts of only SOME of the characters, which are usually important characters or the protagonist.

setting

the time and place a story takes place