Abate - To reduce in intensity; to lessen

Abet - To support or encourage

Abhor - To hate something

Abnegate - To deny or to give up the right or privilege to something

Abscond - To escape, run away, or let go of something

Advocate - To support or argue for a cause

Allue - To refer to something indirectly; commonly used in literature

Ambiguity - Something that can be understood or interpreted in more than one manner

Analogy - A comparison of two otherwise unalike things based on resemblance of a particular aspect; widely used in literature

Apprehend - To arrest someone recognize the meaning of an idea or a thing

Articulate - To explain something clearly

Bane - Something capable of causing destruction or ruin

Bereft - Lacking something needed, wanted, or expected; a person grieving the death of a loved one

Bias - To possess an inclined outlook towards an object or an idea

Berate - To scold someone strongly

Brevity - Something or event that is short in length or duration

Cache - A secure place that is used to store objects secretly

Capitalize - To profit from a resource or an opportunity

Capitulate - To surrender on terms agreed upon in advance

Credible - Something that can be trusted on the basis of logic or rationale

Corroborate - To support with evidence or authority

Complacent - Accepting something after being self-satisfied

Construe - To construct or interpret meaning out of a sentence or words

Contentious - Inclined towards argument or dispute

Covet - to yearn to possess

Dearth - an inadequate supply; scarcity

Debunk - To expose the falseness of a fact

Defunct - no longer in effect or use; not operating or functioning

Didactic - Something that is intended to be taught

Delegate - A representative; to entrust work or responsibility to another person

Dispel - To drive away something (can also be a belief system or a myth)

Doctrine - Principles or rules that create a belief system

Dogma - a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true

Eclectic - Composed of elements drawn from various sources; can be used to refer to a person who pursues an eclectic method or approach

Embezzle - To take something (usually money or property) dishonestly for one’s own use

Elicit - To draw out an answer or explanation often by skillful questioning or discussion

Empirical - based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic

Emulate - to match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation

Espouse - adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life)

Extort - To take something forcefully from a person

Expedite - To speed up the process or progress of an event

Extraneous - irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with.

Equivocal - having two or more possible meanings: ambiguous

Foil - prevent (something considered wrong or undesirable) from succeeding; thwart

Fallacy - a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument

Fortuitous - Fortunate or lucky

Flagrant - So bad as to be impossible to overlook

Grandiloquent - pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner, especially in a way that is intended to impress.

Gratuitous - uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted - uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted

Hapless - Unfortunate

Hegemony - The social, cultural, ideological, or economic influence exerted by a dominant group

Heterogenous - Something originating from an outside source; something consisting of different elements from various sources

Hubris - excessive pride or self-confidence

Idiosyncrasy - a mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual

Impetuous - acting or done quickly and without thought or care

Impute - To blame someone unjustly

Incumbent - necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility

Incite - encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behavior)

Insurgent - Someone who revolts against civil authority or an established government; a rebel

Licentious - Someone who disregards moral, ethical, or legal restraints

Linchpin - a person or thing vital to an enterprise or organization

Litigate - To decide and settle in a court of law

Maxim - Universal truth, fundamental principle, or rule of conduct, or proverb

Multifarious - Many and of various types.

Nadir - The lowest point of something

Noxious - harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant

Opine - To put forth one’s point-of-view about something

Ostensible - To demonstrate or exhibit

Ostracism - The state of being outcasted or barred from a community or group

Paradigm - A typical example or pattern of something; a model

Partisan - A person who is strongly devoted to a particular cause or group

Pejorative - A word or phrase that has negative connotations (ex: loser)

Penchant - a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something

Placid - Free of disturbance; calm

Prerogative - A right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class

Prompt - to give a cue to a person to help them focus on a specific topic, task, or purpose

Prosecute - To carry on a legal action against an accused person to prove his or her guilt; to follow up to the end

Quaint - Attractively unusual or old-fashioned

Quixotic - Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical

Refute - To deny or disregard

Relegate - To send or consign to an inferior position, place, or condition

Requisition - The act of requiring or demanding

Sanctity - The state or quality of being holy, sacred, or saintly

Sanctuary - A safe or a sacred place

Sanguine - Optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation

Serendipity - The gift of finding valuable or agreeable things not looked for

Solicit - To ask for or request

Spur - Impulsive; to move to action

Surreptitious - Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of

Tirade - A long, angry speech of criticism or accusation

Torpid - Lacking in energy or vigor

Torrent - A violent or forceful flow of wind or water

Travesty - An inferior imitation of something

Ubiquitous - Existing or being everywhere at the same time

Undermine - To weaken or ruin secretly or gradually

Utilitarian - Designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive

Veracity - Conformity to facts; accuracy

Vestige - trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists

Vilify - To utter slanderous and abusive statements against

Warrant - To give proof of the authenticity or truth of something