intractable
(adj) not easily managed or manipulated
intransigent
(adj) uncompromising, refusing to abandon an extreme position
intrepid
(adj) fearless, resolutely courageous
inundate
(v) to cover with a flood; to overwhelm as if with a flood
inveterate
(adj) firmly established, especially with respect to a habit or attitude
irascible
(adj) easily angered, hot-tempered
ironic
(adj) poignantly contrary or incongruous to what was expected
irreverent
(adj) disrespectful in a gentle or humorous way
itinerant
(adj) wandering from place to place; unsettled
jettison
(v) to discard; to get rid of as unnecessary or encumbering
jocular
(adj) playful, humorous
junta
(n) a small governing body, especially after a revolutionary seizure of power
kismet
(n) destiny, fate
lampoon
(v) to ridicule with satire
largess
(n) generous giving (as of money) to others who may seem inferior
laudable
(adj) deserving of praise
lax
(adj) not rigid, loose; negligent
levity
(n) an inappropriate lack of seriousness, overly casual
lexicon
(n) a dictionary; a stock of terms pertaining to a particular subject or vocabulary
libertarian
(n) one who advocates individual rights and free will
libertine
(n) a free thinker, usually used disparagingly; one without moral restraint
licentious
(adj) immoral; unrestrained by society
lilliputian
(adj) very small
limber
(adj) flexible, capable of being shaped
lithe
(adj) moving and bending with ease; marked by effortless grace
loquacious
(adj) talkative
macabre
(adj) having death as a subject; dwelling on the gruesome
macrocosm
(n) the whole universe; a large-scale reflection of a
part of the greater world
malaise
(n) a feeling of unease or depression
malapropism
(n) the accidental, often comical, use of a word which resembles the one intended, but has a different, often contradictory meaning
malediction
(n) a curse, a wish of evil upon another
malevolent
(adj) exhibiting ill will; wishing harm to others
malfeasance
(n) wrongdoing or misconduct, especially by a public official
malleable
(adj) easily influenced or shaped, capable of being altered by outside forces
mannered
(adj) artificial or stilted in character
maverick
(n) an independent individual who does not go along with a group
mawkish
(adj) sickeningly sentimental
megalomania
(n) obsession with great or grandiose performance
mellifluous
(adj) having a smooth, rich flow
microcosm
(n) a small-scale representation of a larger system
milieu
(n) the physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops, environment
misanthrope
(n) a person who hates or distrusts mankind
misnomer
(n) an error in naming a person or place
missive
(n) a written note or letter
mitigate
(v) to make less severe, make milder
modicum
(n) a small portion, limited quantity
mollify
(v) to soothe in temper or disposition
mordant
(adj) biting and caustic in manner and style
mores
(n) fixed customs or manners; moral attitudes
morose
(adj) gloomy, sullen
mote
(n) a small particle, speck
mutability
(n) the quality of being capable of change, in form or character; susceptibility of change
myopic
(adj) lacking foresight, having a narrow view or long-range perspective
nebulous
(adj) vague, undefined
necromancy
(n) the practice of communicating with the dead in order to predict the future
nefarious
(adj) intensely wicked or vicous
neonate
(n) a newborn child
nihilism
(n) the belief that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is useless; the belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable
nomenclature
(n) a system of scientific names