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intercede
(v.) to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement
He asked me to intercede with the coach on his behalf.
hackneyed
(adj.) used so often as to lack freshness or originality
The novel had a dull and hackneyed plot.
approbation
(n.) the expression of approval or favorable opinion
The official approval or sanction was greeted by smiles of approbation.
innuendo
(n.) a hint, indirect suggestions, or reference (often derogatory)
My reputation was tarnished by innuendo.
coalition
(n.) a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose
We created a coalition of many community organizations.
elicit
(v.) to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person)
After the crime, there was an attempt to elicit information.
hiatus
(n.) a gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing)
The exhausted physician needs a hiatus from her career.
assuage
(v.) to make easier or milder, to relieve, to quiet, calm
Trying to assuage her hurt feelings, I apologized profusely.
decadence
(n.) decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay
Excessive self-indulgence: an example of decadence in ancient societies.
expostulate
(v.) to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasioning
I found it useless to expostulate with the stubborn referee.
simulate
(v.) to make a pretense of; to imitate
She tried hard to simulate interest in what he was saying.
jaded
(adj.) wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence)
He was jaded from too many parties.
umbrage
(n.) an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; vague suspicion
I took umbrage at such vile treatment of the guest.
prerogative
(n.) a special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence
As the President of the club, it was her prerogative to appoint a secretary.
lurid
(adj.) causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale of sallow in color; terrible in intensity or lack of restraint
Please spare us the lurid details of the murder.
transcend
(v.) to rise above or beyond, to exceed
Hopefully, I’ll be able to transcend the language barriers with visual storytelling.
provincial
(adj.) pertaining to an outlying area; narrow in outlook; the sense of being limited and backward; (n.) a person with a narrow point of view; person from an outlying area
He is a very narrow-minded and provincial in his views.
petulant
(adj.) peevish, annoyed by trifles; easily irritated and upset
He acted like a petulant child who had been refused what he wanted.
unctuous
(adj.) fatty, oily, and pliable; excessively smooth; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness or sincerity
His insincere and unctuous compliments were an obvious effort to win votes for Prom King.
meritorious
(adj.) deserving recognition and praise
He was rewarded with a plaque after many years of meritorious service
Ameliorate
v. Make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.
Aplomb
.n Self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.
Bombastic
adj. High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated.
Callow
adj. (of a young person) Inexperienced and immature.
Drivel
n. (talking) nonsense
Epitome
n. A person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type.
Exhort
v. Strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something
Egregious
adj. Outstandingly bad; shocking.
Infringe
v. Actively break the terms of (a law, agreement, etc.)
Ingratiate
v. Bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering or trying to please them.
intrinsic
(adj) belonging to someone or something by its very nature; essential; inherent
Her intrinsic interest in the field of astronomy was evident from a young age, as she spent countless hours stargazing and learning about the constellations.
permeate
(v) to spread through; penetrate; soak through
The aroma of brewing coffee began to permeate the kitchen, gradually filling the entire house with its rich, enticing scent.
occult
(adj) secret or hidden from view; mysterious, magical, or uncanny; (n) matters involving the supernatural
Some people believe that certain ancient symbols hold occult powers and can bring luck or protection when used in rituals and charms.
inveigh
(v) to make a violent attack in words; express strong disapproval
She would often inveigh against the injustices she saw in society, passionately advocating for change and equality.
nonplussed
(adj) puzzled; not knowing what to do; at a loss
When the professor asked Leah an unexpected question, she was completely nonplussed, unable to formulate a coherent response.
surmise
(v) to think or believe without supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n) likely idea that lacks definite proof
Based on the evidence at the crime scene, the detective could only surmise what happened, as the true motive remained a mystery.
stringent
(ad) strict or severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste
The school's dress code was so stringent that it required students to wear uniforms, adhere to a specific color code, and maintain a strict grooming policy.
interloper
(n) one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be; an intruder
As an outsider in the tight-knit community, she often felt like an interloper at their local gatherings.
precipitate
(v) to fall as moisture; to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; (adj) characterized by excessive haste;
The CEO's decision to cut costs without consulting the employees precipitated a wave of uncertainty and concern among the staff.
lassitude
(n) weariness of body or mind; lack of energy;
The hot, humid weather left me feeling a deep sense of lassitude, making it difficult to gather the energy to do anything productive.
immutable
(adj) unchanging over time or unable to be changed; unalterable.
Scientists labored to discover a set of immutable laws of the universe.
contrive
(v) to plan with ingenuity; to bring about through a plan
He contrived a plan to surprise me on my birthday.
vicarious
(adj) experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person.
In search of vicarious excitement, we watched movies of action and adventure.
castigate
(v) to reprimand someone severely; to criticize harshly.
After he castigated the unruly children, they settled down to study quietly.
heinous
(adj) shockingly wicked or evil; utterly reprehensible.
A town so peaceful and law-abiding was bound to be horrified by such a heinous crime.
transmute
(v) to change from one nature or form to another
Through hard work and dedication, she managed to transmute her passion for art into a successful career.
cajole
(v) to persuade someone to do something by flattery or coaxing.
After countless efforts to cajole his dog into donning a bow tie proved futile, he conceded that canine couture was a non negotiable affair.
fetter
(v) to restrain with chains or shackles; to render hopeless; (n) a chain or shackle placed on the feet
It is said that good inventors do not fetter themselves with conventional thinking.
transgress
(v) to go beyond a limit or boundary; violate a law
Despite the danger of certain death, Romeo chose to transgress into Capulet lands in order to pledge his love for Juliet.
ennui
(n) weariness and dissatisfaction from a lack of occupation or interest; boredom
The students collectively sighed with ennui as the teacher announced yet another round of quadratic equations.
brusque
(adj) abrupt; blunt; with no formalities
The waiter’s brusque demeanor towards customers made the dining experience less enjoyable, leaving patrons feeling unwelcome.
surreptitious
(adj) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud Detecting a surreptitious movement in the shadows, I realized someone was quietly observing our private conversation. |
bizzare
(adj) extremely strange, unusual, or atypical Years from now, you will look at this photo in the yearbook and wonder what sort of bizzare costume you were wearing for spirit day. |
megalomania
(n) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth talent, etc. His megalomania reached new heights when he insisted on having a throne installed in his classroom, and a "Ruler of the School" nameplate. |
disabuse
(v) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking High school disabused me of the belief that popularity was the key to happiness. |
aspersion
(n) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming
The critic's constant aspersion on the actor's talent seemed driven more by personal bias than a fair evaluation of his work.
impromptu
(adj) without preparation; offhand; suddenly or hastily done
The impromptu decision to have a picnic in the park turned out to be the highlight of our weekend.
sinecure
(n) a position requiring little or no work; an easy job.
His job felt more like a sinecure with minimal responsibilities and ample free time.
anomalous
(adj) abnormal or irregular; departing from the usual
The sudden and anomalous usually quiet and reserved student raised concerns among the teachers.
deference
(n) courteous yielding to the wishes and ideas of another person; great respect marked by submission
In the meeting, she spoke with deference to her experienced colleagues, acknowledging their expertise in the matter.
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