assertion
a declaration or statement
clarity
clearness in thought or expression
cogent
convincing; reasonable
coherent
logically connected
cohesive
condition of sticking together
didactic
intended to instruct
discourse
verbal expression or exchange; conversation
eloquence
the ability to speak vividly or persuasively
emphasize
to give special attention to something, to stress
fluid
easily flowing
implication
the act of suggesting or hinting
lucid
easily understood; clear
rhetoric
the art of using language effectively and persuasively
arbiter
a judge who decides a disputed issue
biased
prejudiced
exculpate
to free from guilt or blame
impartial
not in favor of one side or the other, unbiased
incontrovertible
not able to be denied or disputed
integrity
trustworthiness; completeness
objectivity
treating facts without influence from personal feelings or prejudices
penitent
expressing remorse for one's misdeeds
plausible
seemingly valid or acceptable; credible
substantiated
supported with proof or evidence; verified
vindicated
freed from blame
condescending
treating people as weak or inferior
contemptuous
feeling hatred; scornful
despotic
exercising absolute power; tyrannical
dictatorial
domineering; oppressively overbearing
disdain
contempt, scorn
disdain
to regard or treat with contempt; to look down on
haughty
arrogant; vainly proud
imperious
arrogantly domineering or overbearing
patronizing
treating in a condescending manner
convoluted
intricate; complex
cryptic
difficult to comprehend
futile
having no useful purpose; pointless
impede
to slow the progress of
obscure
relatively unknown
obscure
to conceal or make indistinct
quandary
a state of uncertainty or perplexity
indolent
lazy
insipid
uninteresting; unchallenging
listless
lacking energy
torpor
laziness; inactivity; dullness
alienated
removed or disassociated from (friends, family, or homeland)
alliance
a union of two or more groups
disparity
inequality in age, rank, or degree; difference
servile
submissive; like a servant
suppressed
subdued; kept from being circulated
embellish
to make beautiful by ornamenting; to decorate
florid
describing flowery or elaborate speech
opulent
exhibiting a display of great wealth
ornate
elaborately decorated
ostentatious
describing a showy or pretentious display
poignant
profoundly moving; touching
ebullience
intense enthusiasm
effusive
emotionally unrestrained; gushy
egregious
conspicuously bad or offensive
flagrant
extremely or deliberately shocking or noticeable
frenetic
wildly excited or active
gratuitous
given freely; unearned; unwarranted
superfluous
extra; unnecessary
alleviate
to ease a pain or burden
asylum
a place of retreat or security
auspicious
favorable; promising
benevolent
well-meaning; generous
benign
kind and gentle
mollify
to calm or soothe
reclamation
the act of making something useful again
sanction
to give official authorization or approval
dubious
doubtful; of unlikely authenticity
fabricated
made; concocted to deceive
hypocrisy
the practice of pretending to be something one is not; insincerity
slander
false charges and malicious oral statements about someone
spurious
not genuine
astute
shrewd; clever
clandestine
secretive
coup
a brilliantly executed plan
disingenuous
not straightforward; crafty
ruse
a crafty trick
stratagem
a clever trick used to deceive or outwit
surreptitiously
done by secretive means
wary
on guard
wily
cunning
ambiguous
open to more than one interpretation
ambivalent
simultaneously having opposing feelings; uncertain
apathetic
feeling or showing little emotion
arbitrary
determined by impulse rather than reason
capricious
impulsive and unpredictable
equivocate
to avoid making a definite statement
indifferent
not caring one way or the other
spontaneous
unplanned; naturally occurring
whimsical
subject to erratic behavior; unpredictable
inconsequential
unimportant
superficial
concerned only with what is on the surface or obvious; shallow
tenuous
having little substance or strength; shaky; unsure, weak
trivial
of little importance or significance
assiduous
hard-working
compelling
forceful; urgently demanding attention
diligent
marked by painstaking effort; hard-working