Power words 5

nemesis

nemesis

a powerful rival, a usually unconquerable opponent

nomadic

without a permanent home, constantly wandering

nominal

insignificant, trifling

novel

new, original

nuance

a subtle distinction, a slight difference indefinition

nullify

to repeal, cancel, render void

obliterate

to blot out, leaving no traces, to destroy

obscure

unclear, vague, partially hidden, hard to understand

obviate

to make unnecessary, to avert, to preclude, to prevent

odious

hateful, evil, vile

odyssey

a long difficult journey marked by changes in fortune

ogle

to stare at in a disrespectful way

oligarchy

a government in which the power is in the hands of a few

opaque

difficult to see through, unclear, dark

opportunist

a person who takes advantage of opportunity with no regard for principle

osmosis

gradual or subtle absorption, an unconscious process of absorption

oust

to eject, to banish, to expel

overture

an opening move, a preliminary offer

palatable

pleasant to the taste, agreeable in feeling

paltry

a tiny or insignificant amount, meager, scant

pariah

an outcast

partition

a dividing wall, a division

paucity

scarcity, smallness in number or amount

pedantic

boringly scholarly, academic in mode

penchant

a strong like for something, a predilection

permeate

to spread or seep through, to penetrate, to pervade

peruse

to study, to read over leisurely

philanthropy

good will towards all people, love of mankind, act of generosity

pious

reverent, devout, dutiful; may at times be marked by hypocrisy

pique

to hurt or rile the feelings of someone, irritate

pivotal

crucial, something around which things turn

placate

to soothe, to appease to concessions

plausible

believable

poignant

emotionally moving

polemic

a powerful argument to defend a thesis

precept

a rule or principle to guide conduct

preclude

to make impossible, to shut out, to bar

pretentious

showy, self-important, make unjustifiable claims to excellence

prolific

marked by abundant production or offspring

prosaic

dull, unimaginative, lacking excitement

provincial

limited in outlook, narrow in ideas

prudent

careful, cautious

quaint

pleasantly old-fashioned, picturesque

quell

to put an end to, to squelch, to calm

quintessential

the most perfect example of