connoisseur
someone with informed and discriminating judgement, especially in matters of art, literature, or taste
pundit
an expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called on to give opinions about it to the public
savant
a learned person, especially a distinguished scientist
maven
an expert or connoisseur
cognoscenti
people (plural) who are considered to be especially well informed about a particular subject
neophyte
a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief
greenhorn
an inexperienced person
tenderfoot
an inexperienced person (especially someone inexperienced in outdoor living)
tyro
beginner; novice
consensus
collective uniformity of opinion; general agreement in feeling or belief
dissidence
protest against official policy; dissent
construe
to interpret or analyze something in a particular way
consummate
complete or perfect in the highest degree
superlative
to the highest degree; above the rest
transcendent
going beyond the limits of ordinary experience
virtuoso
a person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit
inept
having or showing no skill; clumsy
indifferent
having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned
copious
large in number or quantity
bounteous
generously given or giving; bountiful (often flowers/food)
profuse
produced or given in large amounts
lavish
sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious
scanty
small or insufficient in quantity or amount
vacuous
having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless
barren
empty of meaning or value
corpulent
excessively fat or bulky
husky
strong; hefty
burly
(of a person) large and strong; heavily built
portly
having a stout body; somewhat fat (used especially of a man)
stout
(of a person) somewhat fat or of heavy build
rotund
(of a person) plump; rounded
gaunt
(of a person) lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age
corroborate
to confirm
confute
to argue or point out error
impugn
to call into question; to attack verbally
counsel
a. advice secured through consultation, b. an adviser, especially a legal adviser, c. to advise or recommend as a course of action
exhort
to urge strongly
admonish
warn or reprimand someone firmly
credibility
the ability to inspire belief or trust
criterion
a standard or principle on which to base a judgement or decision
touchstone
a means of testing worth or genuineness
canon
an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature
crucial
at a point that will determine the final outcome; of supreme importance
pivotal
vitally important, essential
culpable
at fault; blameworthy
peccant
violating a moral law; sinful
wanting
lacking
censurable
deserving of blame or correction
reprehensible
deserving blame or punishment
meritorious
worthy, deserving recognition and praise
laudable
(of an action, idea, or goal) deserving praise and commendation
cursory
hasty and superficial
perfunctory
(of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection
slapdash
done too hurriedly and carelessly
exhaustive
examining, including, or considering all elements or aspects; fully comprehensive
meticulous
showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise
curtail
to shorten or reduce
truncate
shorten the duration or extent of
augment
to make greater, increase
cynical
inclined to doubt deny the virtuousness or honesty of human motives; sneeringly bitter or negative.
misanthropic
hating mankind
derisive
expressing contempt or ridicule
sardonic
grimly mocking or cynical
acerbic
biting, bitter in tone or taste
sanguine
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation
pathos
appeal by empathy
plethora
an excess, a lot
ethos
appeal by credibility
panacea
remedy for all ills
hoi polloi
the common people; the masses
acme
the point at which someone or something is best, perfect, or most successful
nemesis
someone or something a person cannot conquer or achieve; a hated enemy
dogma
a (set of) principles that is excepted as truth
antithesis
the direct opposite, a sharp contrast
iota
a very small amount
apotheosis
the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax
hedonist
person who pursues pleasure as a goal
atheist
a person who believes there is no god
agnostic
one who believes that the existence of a god can be neither proven nor disproven
egalitarian
relating to or believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities
misogynist
one who hates women
monotheist
a person who believes in only one God.
heretic
someone who goes against accepted religious beliefs
fundamentalist
a person who believes in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture in a religion.
iconoclast
one who attacks common beliefs or institutions