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Approbation

n- the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval
Syn- commendation, sanction
Ant- disproval, condemnation, censure

Assuage

v- to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to appease, satisfy, quench
Syn- mitigate, alleviate, slake, allay
Ant- intensify, aggravate, exacerbate

Coalition

n- a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose
Syn- alliance, league, federation, combine
Ant- splinter group

Decadence

n- decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence
Syn- degeneration, corruption
Ant- rise, growth, development, maturation

Elicit

v- to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person)
Syn- call forth, evoke, extract, educe
Ant- repress, quash, squelch, stifle

Expostulate

v- to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning

Hackneyed

adj- used so often as to lack freshness or originality
Syn- banal, trite, commonplace, corny
Ant- new, fresh, novel, original

Hiatus

n- a gap, opening, break (in sense of having an element missing)
Syn- pause, lacuna
Ant- continuity, continuation

Innuendo

n- a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense)
Syn- insinuation, intimidation
Ant- direct statement

Intercede

v- to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement
Syn- intervene, mediate

Jaded

adj- wearied, worn-out, dulled (in sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence)
Syn- sated, surfeited, cloyed
Ant- unspoiled uncloyed

Lurid

adj- causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or swallow color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint
Syn- gruesome, gory, grisly, baleful, ghastly
Ant- pleasant, attractive, appealing, wholesome

Meritorious

adj- worthy, deserving recognition and praise
Syn- praiseworthy, laudable, commendable
Ant- blameworthy, reprehensible, discreditable

Petulant

adj- peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset
Syn- irritable, testy, waspish
Ant- even-tempered, placid, serene, amiable

Prerogative

n- a special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence
Syn- perquisite, perk

Provincial

adj- pertaining to an outlaying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited or backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside
n- a person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outlaying area; a soldier from a province or colony
Syn- narrow-minded, parochial, insular, naive
Ant- cosmopolitan, catholic, broad-minded

Simulate

v- to make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of
Syn- feign, pretend, affect

Transcend

v- to rise above or beyond, exceed
Syn-surpass, outstrip

Umbrage

n- shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspicion
Syn- irritation, pique, annoyance
Ant- pleasure, delight, satisfaction

Unctuous

adj- excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily; pliable
Syn- mealymouthed, servile, fawning, greasy
Ant- gruff, blunt