List 17

check

stop or slow down the progress of (something undesirable)

contrive

create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice

suffocate

feel or cause to feel trapped and oppressed

endemic

(of a plant or animal) native or restricted to a certain country or area

sparse

austere; meager

pseudonym

a fictitious name, especially one used by an author

elite

a select part of a group that is superior to the rest in terms of ability or qualities

elitist

relating to or supporting the view that a society or system should be led by an elite

banal

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring

devastating

highly destructive or damaging

raging

showing violent uncontrollable anger

pedestrian

lacking inspiration or excitement; dull

wane

to become smaller or less

avert

prevent or ward off (an undesirable occurrence)

spearhead

lead (an attack or movement)

approbation

approval or praise

dated

old-fashioned

eclipse

to make (something) less important or popular

donation

something that is given to a charity, especially a sum of money

avaricious

having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain

archaeology

the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains

underlying

being the cause or basis of something

reprehend

reprimand

jejune

(of ideas or writings) dry and uninteresting

conviction

a firmly held belief or opinion

convincing

capable of causing someone to believe that something is true or real

undertake

commit oneself to and begin (an enterprise or responsibility); take on

torpor

a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy

slant

a peculiar or personal point of view, attitude, or opinion

purview

the scope of the influence or concerns of something

parsimonious

extremely unwilling to spend money

rodent

a gnawing mammal of an order that includes rats, mice, squirrels, hamsters, porcupines, and their relatives, distinguished by strong constantly growing incisors and no canine teeth

modulate

exert a modifying or controlling influence on

opposition

resistance or dissent, expressed in action or argument

high-handed

(of people or their behavior) using authority in an unreasonable way, without considering the opinions of other people

instigate

bring about or initiate (an action or event)

ostentation

pretentious and vulgar display, especially of wealth and luxury, intended to impress or attract notice

given

specified or stated

compliant

inclined to agree with others or obey rules, especially to an excessive degree; acquiescent

edifying

providing moral or intellectual instruction

halfhearted

without enthusiasm or energy

for all

in spite of

presume

to suppose to be true without proof

duplicity

deceitfulness

dependence

the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else

expedite

make (an action or process) happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly

ephemeral

lasting a very short time

confer

grant or bestow (a title, degree, benefit, or right)

indifferent

having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned

tout

attempt to persuade people of the merits of (someone or something)

murky

dark and gloomy, especially due to thick mist

circumstellar

revolving around or surrounding a star

entity

a thing with distinct and independent existence

publicize

make (something) widely known

publicity

the notice or attention given to someone or something by the media

notwithstanding

in spite of

discursion

a turning away from the main subject

perennial

continuing without interruption

inborn

existing from birth

pragmatic

solving problems in a practical and sensible way rather than by having fixed ideas or theories

charismatic

exercising a compelling charm that inspires devotion in others

oracular

hard to interpret; enigmatic

congestion

the state of being overcrowded, esp. with traffic or people

extroverted

outgoing and socially confident

gripping

firmly holding the attention or interest; exciting

scathing

witheringly scornful; severely critical

commute

a regular journey of some distance to and from one's place of work

resolve

fixity of purpose; resoluteness

strand

a single thin length of something such as thread, fiber, or wire, especially as twisted together with others

vexation

the state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried

spate

a large number or amount

dispute

a disagreement, argument, or debate

forage

to search for something (such as food or supplies)

ground

an area of knowledge or subject of discussion or thought

flighty

fickle and irresponsible

enamor

be filled with a feeling of love for

air

an impression of a quality or manner given by someone or something

trenchant

vigorous or incisive in expression or style

tweak

improve (a mechanism or system) by making fine adjustments to it

usage

manner of treating

clumsy

awkward in movement or in handling things

manifest

display or show (a quality or feeling) by one's acts or appearance; demonstrate

reinforce

to strengthen by additional assistance, material, or support; make stronger or more pronounced

draconian

(of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe

cosmopolitan

familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures

meddle

interfere in or busy oneself unduly with something that is not one's concern

taxing

physically or mentally demanding

forgo

omit or decline to take (something pleasant or valuable); go without

outrage

arouse fierce anger, shock, or indignation in (someone)

mockery

teasing and contemptuous language or behavior directed at a particular person or thing

reassure

say or do something to remove the doubts and fears of someone

obsequious

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree

return

a profit from an investment

acclaim

praise enthusiastically and publicly

construe

interpret (a word or action) in a particular way

abstruse

difficult to understand; obscure

wayward

difficult to control or predict because of unusual or perverse behavior

white-hot

exhibiting or marked by extreme fervor or zeal

proclivity

a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing

mercurial

characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood