List 20

incentive

something that incites or has a tendency to incite to determination or action

shrewd

marked by clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen

hodgepodge

a confused mixture

dire

(of a situation or event) extremely serious or urgent

recount

to tell all about

simultaneous

happening at the same time

magnanimity

generosity

profound

(of a state, quality, or emotion) very great or intense

cumulative

increasing or increased in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions

rhetoric

language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience, but often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content

obeisance

deferential respect

project

estimate or forecast (something) on the basis of present trends

flagrant

(of something considered wrong or immoral) conspicuously or obviously offensive

polish

refinement or elegance in a person or thing

tyrant

a person exercising power or control in a cruel, unreasonable, or arbitrary way

quotidian

commonplace, ordinary

lavish

large in amount, or impressive, and usually costing a lot of money

noticeable

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

warrant

justify or necessitate (a certain course of action)

scarce

deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand

functional

designed to be practical and useful, rather than attractive

munificent

extremely generous

crack

find a solution to; decipher or interpret

proscribe

forbid, especially by law

participant

a person who takes part in something

pleasantry

a mild joke

involuntary

happening without you wanting it to

qualify

make fit for; have the necessary credentials

plausible

superficially pleasing or persuasive

whim

a sudden desire or change of mind, especially one that is unusual or unexplained

obtuse

annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand

fluctuation

an irregular rising and falling in number or amount; a variation

urbane

polite and confident

suggestive

indicative or evocative

benevolent

(of a person) generous or doing good

milieu

a person's social environment

belie

to give a false impression of

soothe

relieve or ease (pain)

spur

a thing that prompts or encourages someone; an incentive

virgin

not yet touched, used, or exploited

characterize

(of a feature or quality) be typical or characteristic of

characteristic

typical of a particular person, place, or thing

innovation

the act or process of innovating

precocity

(of a child) having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual

dour

relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance

exasperate

irritate intensely; infuriate

exalt

hold (someone or something) in very high regard; think or speak very highly of

tepid

showing little enthusiasm

covert

not openly acknowledged or displayed

voluble

speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently

roil

to stir up ; disturb, disorder

unassailable

unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated

opportune

done or occurring at a favorable or useful time; well-timed

proselytizer

an advocator or a promotor of (a belief or course of action)

wherewithal

the money or other means needed for a particular purpose

old-fashioned

in or according to styles or types no longer current or common; not modern

obtrusive

noticeable or prominent in an unwelcome or intrusive way

slacken

to become less active

documentary

(of a movie, a television or radio program, or photography) using pictures or interviews with people involved in real events to provide a factual record or report

undocumented

not recorded in or proved by documents

fiery

having a passionate, quick-tempered nature

warehouse

a large building where raw materials or manufactured goods may be stored before their export or distribution for sale

vista

a pleasing view, especially one seen through a long, narrow opening

repulse

cause (someone) to feel intense distaste and aversion

burdensome

difficult to carry out or fulfill; taxing

imperial

majestic or magnificent

imperialist

of, relating to, supporting, or practicing imperialism

imperious

assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering

eccentric

(of a person or their behavior) unconventional and slightly strange

carnivore

an animal that feeds on flesh

issue

supply or distribute (something)

impasse

a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement; a deadlock

diverge

differ in opinion

proprietary

relating to an owner or ownership

querulous

complaining in a petulant or whining manner

skirt

to avoid (something) especially because it is difficult or will cause problems

compensate

give (someone) something, typically money, in recognition of loss, suffering, or injury incurred

mainstay

a thing on which something else is based or depends

pedant

a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning

fence

to restrict the activity of

stale

(of a person) no longer able to perform well or creatively because of having done something for too long

scrupulous

careful about doing what is honest and morally right

pretext

a false reason that you give for doing something, usually something bad, in order to hide the real reason; an excuse

awareness

knowledge or perception of a situation or fact

novel

new or unusual in an interesting way

compunction

a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad

accede

assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty

rationale

a set of reasons or a logical basis for a course of action or a particular belief

rationalize

attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true or appropriate

decode

convert (a coded message) into intelligible language

advocate

publicly recommend or support

stagnate

to become or remain stagnant

supplant

supersede and replace

bankruptcy

the state of being bankrupt

myriad

a countless or extremely great number

betray

unintentionally reveal; be evidence of

litigation

the process of taking legal action

far-reaching

having important and widely applicable effects or implications

cluster

be or come into a cluster or close group; congregate

adversary

one's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute