Studied by 28 peopledrivel
(n) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense (v) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly
noncommittal
(adj.) not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position S: cagey, uninformative, playing it safe, playing it close to vest A; positive, definite, committed
intercede
(v.) to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement S: intervene, mediate
permeate
(v) to spread through, penetrate, soak through
umbrage
(n.) shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment, a vague suspicion S: irritation, pique, annoyance A: pleasure, delight, satisfaction
infringe
(v) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds
prerogatives
(n.) a special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence S: prerequisite, perk
tenuous
(adj.) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported S: flimsy, insubstantial, vague, hazy A: strong, solid, substantial, vaild
callow
(adj.) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers
elicit
(v.) to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person) S; call forth, evoke, extract, educe A: repress, quash, squelch, stifle
interloper
(n) one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder
enjoin
(v.) to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit S: bid, charge, adjure A: allow, permit
seditious
(adj.) resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government S: mutinous, rebellious A; supportive, faithful, allegiant
expiate
(v.) to make amends; make up for; to avert
nominal
(adj.) existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously S; titular, inconsequential A: actual, exorbitant
transcend
(v.) to rise above or beyond, exceed S: surpass, outstrip
assuage
(v.) to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench S: mitigate, alleviate, slake, allay A: intensify, aggravate, exacerbate
surmise
(v) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess (n) likely idea that lacks definite proof
demagogues
(n.) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power S: rabble-rouser, firebrand
filch
(v.) to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts S: pilfer, purloin, swipe
resilient
(adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly S: springy, elastic, buoyant, bouncy A: rigid, stiff, inflexible, unyielding
contrive
(v.) to plan with ingenuity, invent, to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan S: think up, devise, concoct, fabricate
soporific
(adj.) tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargic (n.) something that induces sleep S: (n.) narcotic, anesthetic A: (adj.) stimulating (n.) stimulant, stimulus
vicarious
(adj.) performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another S: surrogate, substitute, imagined, secondhand A: real, actual, firsthand
amorphous
(adj.) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion S: formless, unstructured, nebulous, inchoate A: definite, well-defined, clear-cut
sinecure
(n.) a position requiring little or no work, an easy job S: "no show" job, cushy job, "plum"
surreptitious
(adj.) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation, made or accomplished by fraud S: furtive, covert, clandestine, concealed A: open, frank, aboveboard, overt
extricate
(v.) to free from entanglements or difficulties, to remove with effort S: disentangle, extract, disengage A: enmesh, entangle, involve
flout
(v.) to mock, treat with contempt S: scoff at, sneer at, snicker at, scorn A: obey, honor, revere, uphold
remonstrate
(v.) to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to S: reason against, expostulate
megalomania
(n.) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc. far in excess of reality S: delusion or grandeur A: humility, modesty, self-abasement
aggrandize
(v.) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater S: augment, amplify, enhance, exalt A: reduce, decrease, diminish
cajole
(v.) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice, to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises S: wheedle, inveigle, soft-soap, sweet-talk A: coerce, force, strong-arm
scurrilous
(adj.) coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed S: obscene, filthy, abusive, vituperative A: decorous, seemly, tasteful, dignified
erudite
(adj.) schoalary, learned, bookish, pedantic S: profoundly educated, well-read A: ignorant, uneducated, illeterate
sedulous
(adj.) persistent, showing industry and determination S: assiduous, tireless, indefatigable A: lackadaisical, listless, indolent, otiose
axiomatic
(adj.) self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle or rule S: taken for granted A: questionable, dubious, controversial
salutary
(adj.) beneficial, helpful, healthful, wholesome S: salubrious, curative A: detrimental, deleterious, pernicious
ascribe
(v.) to assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute S: impute, credit
ameliorate
(v) to improve, make better, to correct a flaw or shortcoming
meritorious
(adj.) worthy, deserving recognition and praise S: praiseworthy, laudable, commendable A: blameworthy, reprehensible, discreditable
heinous
(adj.) very wicked, offensive, hateful S: evil, odious, abominable, outrageous A: excellent, wonderful, splendid
inscrutable
(adj.) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically S: impenetrable, incomprehensible, enigmatic A: comprehensible, intelligible, penetrable
immutable
(adj.) not subject to change, constant S: unchangeable, unalterable, fixed, invariable A: changeable, inconstant, variable, fickle
scathing
(adj.) bitterly severe, withering, causing great harm S: searing, harsh, ferocious, savage A: bland, mild
*proponent
(n.) a person who puts forward a proposition or proposal; person who argues in favor of something; an advocate
repudiate
(v.) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of S: disavow, abjure, renounce A: avow affirm, aver, avouch
*conciliate
(v.) to stop someone from being angry or discontented; placate; pacify
*stalwart
(adj.) strongly and stoutly built; sturdy and robust; strong and brave, valiant; loyal, reliable, hardworking (n.) a physically stalwart person
*adjudicate
(v.) to pronounce or decree by judicial sentence; to settle or determine (an issue or dispute) judicially; to act as judge of; to sit in judgement
propensity
(n.) a natural inclination or predilection toward S: natural bent, proclivity, penchant A: natural incapacity or inability
proclivity
(n.) a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human (character or behavior) S: penchant, propensity A: inability, incapacity
hiatus
(n.) a gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing) S: pause, lacuna (a gap or pause) A: continuity, continuation
aura
(n.) that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality S: ambience, atmosphere
aspersion
(n.) a damaging or derogatory statement, the act of slandering or defaming S: innuendo, calumny, denigration A: endorsement, testimonial, praise
approbation
(n.) the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval S: commendation, sanction A: disapproval, condemnation, censure
expostulate
(v.) to attempt to dissuade someone from some course of decision by earnest reasoning S: protest, remonstrate, complain
abominate
(v.) to have an intense dislike or hatred for S: loathe, abhor, despise, detest A: relish, savor, esteem
castigate
(v.) to punish severely, to criticize severely S: chastise, rebuke, censure, upbraid A: reward, honor, praise, laud
precipitate
(v) to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to
ingratiate
(v) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense)
commiserate
(v.) to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress S: feel sorry for, empathize A: feel no sympathy for
lassitude
(n) a weariness of body or mind, lack of energy
sangfroid
(n.) composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances S: poise, self-assurance, equanimity A: excitability, hysteria, flappability
ennui
(n.) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom S: languor, world-weariness, listlessness A: enthusiasm, liveliness, excitement, intensity
tenuous
(adj.) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported S: flimsy, insubstantial, vague, hazy A: strong, solid, substantial, valid
vitriolic
(adj.) bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid) S: withering, acerbic, mordant A: bland, saccharine, honeyed, sugary
*rancor
(n.) bitter, rankling resentment or ill will; hatred; malice
transient
(adj.) lasting only a short time; fleeting; (n.) one who stays only a short time S: (adj.) impermanent, ephemeral, evanescent A: (adj.) permanent, imperishable, immortal
equitable
(adj.) fair, just, embodying principles of justice S: right, reasonable, evenhanded A: unjust, unfair, one-sided, disproportionate
*durability
(n.) the ability to last over time, resisting wear, breakage, deterioration, etc.
provincial
(adj.) pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside; (n.) a person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outlying area; a soldier from a province or colony S: (adj.) narrow-minded, parochial, insular, naive A: (adj.) cosmopolitan, catholic, broad-minded
insular
(adj.) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience S: narrow-minded, parochial, provincial A: catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal
*esoteric
(n.) things understood by or meant for a select few; recondite matters or items; intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest
*baneful
(adj.) destructive; pernicious, can also mean deadly; poisonous
fractious
(adj.) tending to be troublesome, unruly, quarrelsome, contrary, unpredictable S: refractory, recalcitrant, peevish A: docile, tractable, cooperative
*docile
(adj.) easily managed or handled; tractable; readily trained or taught; teachable
affable
(adj.) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to S: genial amicable, agreeable, cordial A: surly cantankerous, dour, inhospitable
bizarre
(adj.) extremely strange, unusual, atypical S: grotesque, fantastic, outlandish A: normal, typical, ordinary, expected
intrinsic
(adj) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part
hackneyed
(adj.) used so often as to lack freshness or originality S: banal, trite, commonplace, corny A: new, fresh, novel (new), original
*novelty
(n.) state or quality of being novel, new, or unique; newness; a novel occurrence, experience, or proceeding
brusque
(adj.) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities S: curt, tactless, ungracious, gruff, rough A: gracious, tactful, courteous, diplomatic
*brevity
(n.) shortness of time or duration; briefness: the quality of expressing much in few words; terseness
vapid
(adj.) dull, uninteresting, tiresome, lacking in sharpness, liveliness, or force S: insipid, lifeless, colorless A: zesty, spicy, savory, colorful, lively
lurid
(adj.) causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint S: gruesome, gory, grisly, baleful, ghastly A: pleasant, attractive, appealing, wholesome
sleazy
(adj.) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable S: inferior, cheesy, tawdry, tatty A: superior, first-rate, quality, sturdy
reverberated
(v.) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly S: rumble, thunder, boom echo
sepulchral
(adj.) funereal, typical of the tomb, extremely gloomy or dismal S: doleful, lugubrious, mortuary
blazon
(v.) to adorn or embellish; to display conspicuously; to publish or proclaim widely S: broadcast, trumpet A:hide, conceal, cover up, bury
unctuous
(adj.) excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty oily; pliable S: mealy-mouthed, servile, fawning, greasy A: gruff, blunt
expostulate
(v.) to attempt to dissuade someone from some course of decision by earnest reasoning S: protest, remonstrate, complain
*debase
(v.) to reduce in quality or value; adulterate
circuitous
(adj.) roundabout, not direct S: indirect, meandering, winding A: straight, direct, as the crow flies
epitome
(n) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality
caveat
(n.) a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior \n S: admonition, word to the wise
precepts
(n.) a rule of conduct or action \n S: principle, maxim
*addenda
an item of additional material added at the end of a book or document, typically in order to correct, clarify, or supplement something.
S: appendix
coalitions
(n.) a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose \n S: alliance, league, federation, combine \n A: splinter group
archetypes
(n.) an original model on which something was patterned or replicated; the ideal example of a particular type of person or thing \n S: model, prototype, epitome
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