H3 2025 Week 6 (Track 1)

epithet

a descriptive phrase or nickname associated with something

obeisance

a gesture showing courtesy and respect

subjugate

to dominate or place under one's rule

omen

a sign of the future; a portent

scintilla

a spark; a tiny amount

emaciated

abnormally thin from poor diet or starvation

obfuscate

to make less clear; to obscure with confusing language

spurious

false; not authentic

conduit

a tunnel or pathway

exact

to demand or obtain by force

sinuous

snake-like; twisting and curving

gesticulate

to make gestures

incur

to bring upon oneself something undesirable

sardonic

sarcastic; sneeringly critical

juvenile

very young; immature

eclipse

to overshadow; to outdo and obscure

gouge

to scratch or scoop out deeply

heckle

to taunt or mock from the audience

tendentious

biased, especially in print or media

painstaking

very thorough and meticulous

canon

the officially recognized body of works or laws

levee

a raised earthwork that holds back water

profess

to declare or claim openly

benighted

in a state of darkness or ignorance

missive

a written message or letter

lapse

to decline or falter from a previous standard

kitsch

art that is cheesy or in bad taste

pliant

flexible; easily persuaded

inimical

harmful; hostile

disinter

to dig up; to exhume

oxymoron

a contradictory phrase like "jumbo shrimp"

philistine

a person indifferent to art or culture

headlong

done rashly and without planning

regale

to entertain with stories or talk

imbibe

to drink in; to absorb

finesse

delicate or subtle skill

palpable

able to be touched or plainly perceived

turmoil

a state of great confusion and uproar

motif

a recurring theme or image in art

inhibit

to restrict or hold back

lucrative

profitable; money-making

proselytize

to convert others to a belief or idea

exonerate

to free from guilt or blame

listless

lacking energy; spiritless

hoard

a stockpile of valuables

jaded

dulled by excess or overexposure

secular

non-religious; worldly

redoubtable

fearsome; formidable

deft

skilled; quick and agile

trepidation

fear or dread

apex

the highest point

infatuated

foolishly or obsessively in love

penurious

extremely poor or stingy

leeway

freedom of movement or action

ersatz

artificial; an inferior substitute

aggravate

to worsen or annoy

inclement

severe or harsh, usually of weather

clemency

mercy; leniency

cherub

an angelic child or one who resembles such an angel

domestic

relating to the home or family

posthumous

occurring after death

inexorable

unstoppable; unyielding

quagmire

a bog or difficult situation

impeccable

without fault or flaw

prepossessing

charming and attractive

accommodate

to provide for or fit

mollify

to soothe or calm

estrange

to alienate; to make hostile

supercilious

haughty; arrogantly superior

unscrupulous

lacking morals; ruthless

tactile

relating to the sense of touch

tightfisted

very stingy; cheap

gild

to cover with gold

fulsome

excessively flattering and likely insincere

intrinsic

essential; inherent

passé

out of date; no longer fashionable

toddle

to walk unsteadily like a small child

covert

hidden; secret

scourge

a cause of widespread suffering or a whip

diaphanous

sheer and translucent

iconoclast

one who rebels against traditions

drone

to make a low continuous hum

barb

a sharp cutting remark or hooked point

unscathed

unharmed; undamaged

mortify

to deeply embarrass or humiliate

bilk

to cheat or swindle

bona fide

genuine; authentic

transcend

to surpass; to go beyond limits

buttress

to support or reinforce

manifesto

a public declaration of principles

manifest

obvious; apparent

diatribe

a harsh denunciatory speech or writing

minuscule

extremely small; tiny

watershed

a turning point or crucial dividing line

appropriate

to seize for one's use or set aside for a purpose

requisite

necessary; required

forestall

to prevent or delay

dichotomy

a division into two parts

indoctrinate

to teach a set of beliefs uncritically

allude

to make an indirect reference