Greenwald Vocab 11 (Better Defs)

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