ABASE (əˈbās) 🙁 v. to deprive of self-esteem, confidence; to behave in a way as to belittle or degrade someone

WAVER (ˈwāvər) 🙁 v. to shake with quivering motion; to sway or tremble; to vacillate; to falter; to hesitate

ACQUIESCE (akwēˈes) 🙁 v. to accept something reluctantly but without protest

UNDERSCORE (ˈəndərˌskôr) 🤔 v. to underline something; to stress or emphasize

BELABOR (bəˈlābər) 🙁 v. to explain or work at something beyond what is necessary; to attack verbally with harsh criticism

SUPPLANT (səˈplant) 🙁 v. to replace one thing with another; substitute; to move into the position of

CAPITULATE (kəˈpiCHəˌlāt) 🙁 v. to give up resistance; to surrender under agreed conditions

RALLY (ˈralē) 🙂v. to organize or inspire; to encourage; to demonstrate or protest; to recover or cause to recover in health, spirits, or poise

DEBUNK(dēˈbəNGk) 🙁 v. to expose as false; to reduce the inflated reputation of someone, especially by ridicule

PERPLEX (pərˈpleks) 🤔 v. to puzzle or bewilder; to make more complicated

ELICIT (ēˈlisət) 🤔 v. to draw out or bring forth, evoke, prompt

OBLITERATE (əˈblidəˌrāt) 🙁 v. to destroy completely; to remove completely from recognition or memory; to cause to become invisible or indistinct

FABRICATE (ˈfabrəˌkāt) 🤔 v. to create or make something up; to lie; to put together out of artificial or natural components or parts

LAUD (lôd) 🙂 v. to praise, extol; to acclaim, glorify

PORTEND (pôrˈtend) 🙁 v. to indicate in advance; to be a sign or warning that something is likely to happen

ENUMERATE (əˈn(y)o͞oməˌrāt) 🤔 v. to number or list; to mention one by one; to specify individually

DEPLORE (dəˈplôr) 🙁 v. to regret deeply or strongly; to express strong disapproval of

CHRONICLE (ˈkränək(ə)l) 🤔 v. to record in a factual and detailed manner; to create an historical record

MOLLIFY (ˈmäləˌfī) 🙂 v. to soften in feeling or temper

SQUANDER (ˈskwändər) 🙁 v. to waste (something, especially money or time) in a reckless and foolish manner

APPROPRIATE (əˈprōprēˌāt) ☹ v. to take possession of (typically without the owner’s permission); to devote (money or assets) to a special purpose

COMPLEMENT (kämpləmənt) ± v. to add something in a way to complete or make perfect

DEPICT (dəˈpikt) ± v. to represent or characterize; portray

DISPARAGE (dəˈsperij) ☹ v. to belittle, or bring reproach or discredit upon; to regard or represent as being of little worth

INURE (əˈn(y)o͝or) ± v. to accustom to hardship or difficulty

EMBELLISH (əmˈbeliSH) 😊 v. to beautify or enhance; exaggerate; elaborate; to make a statement more interesting by adding extra details, especially ones that are not true

EXONERATE (iɡˈzänəˌrāt) 😊 v. to clear from guilt or blame

REPUDIATE (rəˈpyo͞odēˌāt) ☹ v. to reject as false; deny

REMONSTRATE (rəˈmänˌstrāt) ☹ v. to say or plead in protest or disapproval; to make a forceful protest

ERADICATE (əˈradəˌkāt) ± v. to remove or destroy completely; put an end to

BURGEON (ˈbərjən) 😊 v. to begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish

AUGMENT (ôɡˈment) 😊 v. to make larger or greater by adding to it

POLARIZE (ˈpōləˌrīz) ☹ v. to divide into opposites; to cause something to acquire polarity; to restrict vibrations of a transverse wave, especially light, wholly or partially to one direction

LAMENT (ləˈment) ☹ v. to feel or express sorrow or grief; to mourn

EXACERBATE (iɡˈzasərˌbāt) ☹ v. to increase in severity; aggravate

IMPEDE (imˈpēd) ☹ v. to stop or hinder progress

EXCORIATE (ekˈskôrēˌāt) ☹ v. to criticize or berate severely; to denounce

SCRUTINIZE (ˈskro͞otnˌīz) ± v. to examine or inspect closely and thoroughly

REPRESS (rəˈpres) ☹ v. to keep under control; suppress

SUBSTANTIATE (səbˈstan(t)SHēˌāt) ± v. to establish proof or evidence; prove

ALLEVIATE ☺ (əˈlēvēˌāt) v. to make easier to endure; lessen

CAPTIVATE ☺ (ˈkaptəˌvāt) v. to attract or hold the interest of

BOLSTER ☺ (ˈbōlstər) v. to support or hold up

CIRCUMSCRIBE ± 😠(ˈsərkəmˌskrīb) v. to draw a line around or enclose; to constrict the range or activity of definitely and clearly

DEPRECATE ☹ (ˈdeprəˌkāt) v. to criticize or express disapproval

EXPLOIT ☹ (ikˈsploit) v. to use selfishly for profit; to use manipulate to one’s own advantage

OBFUSCATE ☹ (ˈäbfəˌskāt) v. to confuse or bewilder; to render unclear or unintelligible

DISSEMINATE ± (dəˈseməˌnāt) v. to scatter or spread widely

EVOKE ± (əˈvōk) v. to call up or produce; to recall to the conscious mind

ADUMBRATE ± (ˈadəmˌbrāt, əˈdəmˌbrāt) v. to describe roughly or give the main points of; to give to understand

EXPURGATE ± (ˈekspərˌɡāt) v. to edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate

CAVORT ☺ (kəˈvôrt) v. to play boisterously; to jump or dance around excitedly

EXPUNGE ± (ikˈspənj) v. to remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line

ARROGATE ☹ (ˈerəˌɡāt) v. to seize and take control without authority

ABSCOND ☹ (əbˈskänd) v. to run away secretly and hurriedly, often taking something or somebody along

ABNEGATE ☹ (ˈabnəˌɡāt) v. to deny or reject a doctrine or belief; to renounce

ENERVATE ☹ (ˈenərˌvāt) v. to weaken mentally or morally; to deprive of force or strength; weaken

ENFRANCHISE ± (inˈfranˌCHīz, enˈfranˌCHīz) v. to grant freedom to, as from slavery or servitude; to give the right to vote

PALLIATE ± (ˈpalēˌāt) v. to lessen or try to lessen the seriousness or extent of; to make a disease or its symptoms less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause

CONNIVE ☹ (kəˈnīv) v. to form intrigues in an underhanded manner; to conspire to do something immoral, illegal, or harmful

SPURIOUS ☹ (ˈsp(y)o͝orēəs) adj. plausible but false; not being what it purports to be

INVETERATE ☹ (inˈvedərət) adj. having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change

ELEGY ☹ (ˈeləjē) n. a mournful poem; a lament for the dead

CANDOR ± (ˈkandər) n. the quality of being honest and straightforward

TOME ± (tōm) n. a large, scholarly book

VICISSITUDE ☹ (vəˈsisəˌt(y)o͞od) n. a variation in circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant

REPROBATE ± (ˈreprəˌbāt) n. an unprincipled person (sometimes used humorously or affectionately) adj. unprincipled (sometimes used as a humorous or affectionate approach)

DIAPHANOUS ☺ (dīˈafənəs) adj. light, delicate, translucent; (☹ insubstantial, vague)

EXIGENT ± (ˈekzəjənt) adj. demanding immediate attention; requiring precise accuracy

ALACRITY ☺ (əˈlakrədē) n. liveliness and eagerness

HAPLESS ☹ (ˈhapləs) adj. unfortunate and deserving pity

PORTENT ☺ (ˈpôrˌtent) n. a sign of something about to happen

PERNICIOUS ☹ (pərˈniSHəs) adj. exceedingly harmful especially in a gradual, subtle way

CONSTRUE ± (kənˈstro͞o) v. to make sense of; assign a meaning to; to interpret in a particular way

CALUMNY ☹ (ˈkaləmnē) n. a false accusation of an offense; the making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone's reputation

SANGUINE ☺ (ˈsaNGɡwən) adj. confidently optimistic and cheerful; optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation

STAI D ☹ (stād) adj. characterized by dignity and propriety

FETTER ☹ (ˈfedər) n. a shackle for the ankles or feet; v. to restrain with manacles particularly around the ankles

IMPETUOUS ☹ (imˈpeCH(o͞o)əs) adj. characterized by undue haste and lack of thought

ARBITRARY ± (ˈärbəˌtrerē) adj. based on or subject to individual discretion or preference; determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason

FERVENT ☺ (fuhr vehnt) adj. passionate, intense, zealous; characterized by intense emotion.

CALLOUS ☹ (kal-uhs) adj. insensitive; having no feeling

DEPREDATE ☹ (dep-rih-deyt) v. to lay waste to; to plunder, pillage, destroy, ravage; to exploit

TEMERITY ☹ (təˈmerədē) noun excessive confidence or boldness; audacity; fearless daring

PELAGIC ± [puh-laj-ik] adj. relating to open seas rather than waters adjacent to land; living or growing at or near the surface of the ocean, far from land, as certain organisms.

PUNCTILIOUS ± (pəNG(k)ˈtilēəs) adj. precise, paying attention to trivialities of etiquette; marked by precise accordance with details

APHORISM ± (ˈafəˌrizəm) n. a tersely phrased truth or opinion; adage; epigram; a brief statement of principle; or general truth

SUCCOR ☺ (ˈsəkər) n. relief during a time of struggle

DENOUEMENT ☺ (dey-noo-mahn) n. an outcome or solution to a complex series of events

SUPERCILIOUS ☹ (soo-per-sill-ee-uhs) adj. arrogant, overbearing; displaying condescending superiority over someone else

PARLEY ± (pahr-lee) n/v. discussion between enemies, often to prepare terms of surrender

SUPPLICATE ☺ (sup-lih-kate) v. to humbly ask; to write a petition for something to somebody

SURREPTITIOUS ☹ (ser-up-tish-us) adj. secretive; marked by hidden aims or methods

TACIT ± (tass-it) adj. implied or unspoken; inferred from actions or statements

OFFICIOUS ☹ (uh-fish-us) adj. prone to giving unwanted advice; intrusive in a meddling or offensive way

SYMBIOTIC ± (sim-bee-ott-ik) adj. related to a relationship that is beneficial for all involved

SYNAPSE ± (sin-apse) n. the small gap between the cells of nerves; the state of being joined together

PARAGON ☺ (par-uh-gon) n. a model of excellence; one having no equal

MAWKISH ☹ (maw-kish) adj. very sentimental; insincerely emotional

CACOPHONY ☹ (kuh-kof-uh-nee) n. unpleasant, discordant sounds; a loud harsh or strident noise

DENIGRATE ☹ (ˈdenəˌɡrāt) v. to criticize unfairly

TRIVIALIZE ☹ (ˈtrivēəˌlīz) v. to make something seem less important, significant, or complex than it really is

AMORPHOUS ± (əˈmôrfəs) adj. without a clearly defined shape or form; vague, ill-organized, unclassifiable; lacking a clear structure or focus

LIONIZE ☺ (ˈlīəˌnīz) v. to give a lot of public attention and approval to (someone); to treat as a celebrity

DEMONIZE ☹ (ˈdēməˌnīz) v. to portray as wicked and threatening; to try to make someone or a group seem completely evil

ADMONISH ☹ (ədˈmäniSH) v. to warn or reprimand someone firmly

HAMPER ☹ (ˈhampər) v. to hinder or impede the movement or progress of

NEGATE ☹ (dəˈseməˌnāt) v. to nullify or make ineffective; to deny the truth of; to prove to be false

MANIFEST ± (ˈmanəˌfest) v. to display or show by one’s acts or appearance; to demonstrate; to come into sight or view; to make a record of

IMPLICATE ☹ (ˈimpləˌkāt) v. to show to be involved in a crime; to convey indirectly; to imply

OPTIMIZE ☺ (ˈäptəˌmīz) v. to make the best or most effective use of; to modify to achieve maximum efficiency

INSTIGATE ☹ (ˈinstəˌɡāt) v. to bring about or initiate an action or event; to provoke or stir up; to serve as the inciting cause of

NECESSITATE ± (nəˈsesəˌtāt) v. to require as useful, just, or proper; to tend to or result in

PROBE ± (prōb) v. to physically explore or examine (something) with the hands or an instrument; to question or examine thoroughly or closely

VINDICATE ☺ (ˈvindəˌkāt) v. to clear someone of blame or suspicion; to show to be right by providing justification or proof; to maintain, uphold, or defend

PERT ± (pərt) adj. boldly forward in speech or behavior; being trim and chic; having or showing confidence and a lack of respect or seriousness in an amusing or appealing way

FRACTURE ± (ˈfrak(t)SHər) v. to break into pieces; to interrupt or destroy; to violate or abuse

QUALIFY ± (ˈkwäləˌfī) v. to prove capable of or fit; to make more specific; to pronounce judgment on; to describe or portray the qualities of

VALIDATE ± (ˈvaləˌdāt) v. to demonstrate to truth or value of; to make or declare legally valid; to cause a person to feel valued or worthwhile

MITIGATE ± (ˈmidəˌɡāt) v. to make less severe, serious, or painful; to make smaller

CONVOLUTED ☹ (ˈkänvəˌlo͞odəd) adj. (in reference to an argument, story, etc.) extremely complex and difficult to follow

MICROBES ± (ˈmīˌkrōb) n. a minute life form; a microorganism, especially a bacterium causing disease or fermentation

REPLICATE ± (ˈrepləˌkāt) v. to reproduce or make an exact copy of

QUAGMIRE ☹ (ˈkwaɡˌmī(ə)r) n. a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot; an awkward, complex, or hazardous situation

PUTREFACTION ☹ (ˌpyo͞otrəˈfakSHən) n. the process of decay or rotting in a body or other organic matter caused by bacterial or fungal action

SPATE ☹ (spāt) n. a sudden forceful flow in a river, especially caused by heavy rains or melting snow; a large number of similar things or events appearing or occurring in quick succession

OVERT ± (ōˈvərt,ˈōvərt) adj. open and observable; not secret or hidden; plainly or readily apparent

EMULATE ± (ˈemyəˌlāt) v. to strive to equal or match, especially by imitating

MONSTROSITY ☹ (mänˈsträsədē) n. a person or animal that is markedly unusual or deformed; something, especially a building, that is very large and unsightly

ALTRUISM ☺ (ˈaltro͞oˌizəm) n. the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others

EVANESCENT ± (evəˈnes(ə)nt) adj. tending to vanish like vapor; soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence, quickly fading or disappearing.

INFUSION ± (inˈfyo͞oZHən) n. the act of introducing a modifying element or quality; a drink, remedy, or extract prepared by soaking leaves of a plant or herb in liquid

RUDIMENTARY ± (ˌro͞odəˈment(ə)rē) adj. being in the earliest stages of development

REPRESSED ☹ (rəˈprest) adj. characterized by the suppression of impulses or emotions; kept suppressed and unconscious in one’s mind

ABYSMAL ☹ (əˈbizməl) adj. extremely bad; appalling

AMBIVALENCE ± (amˈbivələns) n. the state of being uncertain or stuck between two or more options.

BREVITY ± (ˈbrevədē) n. the quality of being brief or terse; concise or exact and effective word choice in the writing of prose.

DIMINISH ± (dəˈminiSH) v. to become smaller in scope or degree; to make less impressive or valuable

ELOQUENT ☺ (ˈeləkwənt) adj. having refined or expressive communication skills (in speaking or writing)

ERRATIC ☹ (əˈradik) adj. having no fixed course; deviating from the norm; not even or regular in pattern or movement

PEJORATIVE ☹ (pəˈjôrədiv) adj. expressing contempt or disapproval

ESOTERIC ± (ˌesəˈterik) adj. intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.

SHIRK ☹ (SHərk) v. to avoid or neglect; to be unwilling to do

IDIOSYNCRASY ± (ˌidēəˈsiNGkrəsē) n. a distinctive or peculiar feature or characteristic of a place or thing; a mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual

TUMULT ☹ (ˈt(y)o͞oˌməlt) n. a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people; confusion or disorder

AMELIORATE ☺ (əˈmēlyəˌrāt) v. to make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better

RETINUE ± (ˈretnˌ(y)o͞o) n. a group of advisers, assistants, or others accompanying an important person

RATIOCINATE ± (ratēˈōsənāt) v. to form judgments by a process of logic; to reason

TRUNCATE ± (ˈtrəNGˌkāt) v. to shorten by cutting off the top or the end

RELINQUISH ± (rəˈliNGkwiSH) v. to voluntarily cease to keep or claim; to give up

COGITATE ± (ˌkäjəˈtāt) v. to reflect upon; to turn over in one’s mind; to consider carefully and deeply

DUBIOUS ☹ (ˈd(y)o͞obēəs) adj. fraught with uncertainty or doubt; not convinced; lacking conviction; morally suspect or of questionable value

REPRESSIBLE ☹ (ˌreprəˈhensəb(ə)l) adj. deserving censure or condemnation

INDOLENCE ☹ (ˈindələns) n. inactivity resulting from a dislike of work; avoidance of activity or exertion

FECUND ☺ (ˈfe-kənd) adj. fruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive or inventive to a marked degree

SYCOPHANT ☹ (ˈsikəˌfant, ˈsi-kə-fənt) n. a servile, self-seeking flatterer; a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage

TACITURN ± (ˈtasəˌtərn) adj. (of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little.

BANAL ☹ (bə-ˈnal, ba-, -ˈnäl;bā-ˈnal) adj. repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse; lacking originality, freshness, or novelty

FALLACIOUS ☹ (fəˈlāSHəs) adj. tending to deceive or mislead; based on mistaken belief

ACUMEN ☺ ± (əˈkjuː.mən) n. shrewdness shown by keen insight; skill in making correct decisions and judgments in a particular subject, such as business or politics

INIMITABLE ☺ (iˈnimədəb(ə)l) adj. defying imitation; matchless; so good or unusual as to be impossible to reproduce or duplicate

OBDURATE ☹ (ˈäbd(y)ərət) adj. stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action; stubbornly persisting in wrongdoing; showing unfeeling resistance to tender feelings

CAPRICIOUS ☹ (kəˈpriSHəs,kəˈprēSHəs) adj. given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior; determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason

PERSPICUOUS ☺ (pər-ˈspi-kyə-wəs) adj. (of language) transparently clear, easily understandable

HUBRIS ☹ (ˈ(h)yo͞obrəs) n. excessive pride or self-confidence; overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors

CIRCUMLOCUTION ☹ (ˌsərkəmˌləˈkyo͞oSH(ə)n) n. the use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive

INSIPID ☹ (inˈsipid) adj. lacking flavor; lacking vigor, significance, or impact

STRIDENT ☹ (ˈstrīdnt) adj. unpleasantly loud and harsh; being sharply insistent on being heard

RECONDITE ± (ˈrekənˌdīt,rəˈkänˌdīt) adj. incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge

OSTENTATIOUS ☹ (ˌästənˈtāSHəs) adj. characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice

PENURY ☹ (ˈpenyərē) n. extreme poverty; destitution

CHURLISH ☹ (ˈCHərliSH) adj. rude in a mean-spirited way; lacking charm and good taste; having an irritable and unpleasant disposition

SOLEMNITY ☺ (səˈlemnədē) n. the state or quality of sedateness; a formal, dignified rite of ceremony

LUGUBRIOUS ☹ (ləˈɡ(y)o͞obrēəs) adj. looking or sounding sad and dismal; excessively mournful

BAIZE ± (bāz) n. a coarse, typically green woolen material resembling felt, used for covering billiard and card tables.

IMPORTUNATE ☹ (imˈpôrCHənət) adj. persistent, especially to the point of annoyance or intrusion; begging, demanding in an annoying way

OBSEQUIOUS ± (əbˈsēkwēəs) adj. attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery; obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree

FEIGN ☹ (fān) v. pretend to be affected by; make believe with the intent to deceive

COLLOQUIAL ± (kəˈlōkwēəl) adj. (of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary

Parallelism: in which parts of a sentence or multiple sentences are grammatically similar or identical in structure, sound, meaning, or meter.

Hypophora: in which a speaker poses a question and then immediately answers it themselves.

Repetition: in which words, phrases, sounds, or ideas are repeated for emphasis and effect.

Figurative speech: uses non-literal expressions to convey meanings, create effects, or enhance writing.

Tricolon: that involves using a series of three parallel elements—such as words, phrases, or clauses—in a sentence or passage.

Polysyndeton: characterized by the deliberate use of multiple conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses in a series.

Juxtaposition: in which two or more contrasting elements—such as ideas, characters, settings, or themes—are placed close together or side by side for the purpose of highlighting their differences or creating a more complex understanding.

Allusion: in which a speaker or writer makes a reference to a person, place, event, work of literature, or other cultural element, often indirectly.

Incongruity: where there’s a mismatch between what is expected and what actually occurs.

Reversal: where the usual order or expected outcome is turned upside down.

Parody: humorously imitates or exaggerates the style, tone, or content of another work, genre, or individual.

Satire: uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to criticize or mock individuals, institutions, or societal norms.

Sarcasm: involves making a statement in which the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning of the words used.

Ambiguity: where a statement or phrase has multiple meanings or interpretations, often intentionally.

Dramatic Irony: where the audience or readers know more about a situation, event, or piece of information than the characters within the story.

Situational Irony: where there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs.

Verbal Irony: in which a speaker says something but means the opposite, or something quite different from what is literally expressed.

Understatement: where a speaker deliberately downplays or minimizes the significance of something, often to create a subtle effect or highlight the true extent of a situation by contrast.

Hyperbole involves exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Persuasion: the act of convincing someone to adopt a particular belief, attitude, or course of action.

Rhetorical Question: a question posed not to elicit an actual response, but to make a point or provoke thought.

Pedantic: An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish; using big words for the sake of using big words.

Aphorism: characterized by a concise, clever, and often memorable statement that expresses a general truth, principle, or observation about life.

Apostrophe: A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer.

Caricature: a visual or verbal depiction that exaggerates certain features, traits, or aspects of a person, group, or situation for comedic or critical effect.

Chiasmus: in which two or more clauses or phrases are balanced against each other by reversing their structure.

Didactic: that is intended to instruct, teach, or provide guidance on moral, ethical, or educational matters.

Euphemism: where a mild or indirect word or expression is used in place of a more direct, harsh, or blunt one.

Homily: that is typically delivered as part of a religious service or sermon.

Metonymy: where one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated.

Zeugma: in which a single word, often a verb or adjective, governs or modifies two or more words, though these words typically have different meanings or contexts.

Litotes: that involves making an understatement by using double negatives or negating the opposite to emphasize a point.

Diction: refers to the choice of words and style of expression used by a writer or speaker.

Syntax: The way sentences are grammatically constructed.

Anadiplosis: where the last word or phrase of one clause is repeated at the beginning of the next clause or sentence.

Synecdoche: in which a part of something is used to represent the whole, or the whole is used to represent a part.

Syllogism: a form of logical reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed premises.

Loose sentence/non-periodic sentence: a type of sentence in which the main clause or principal idea comes first, followed by one or more subordinate or additional clauses.

Periodic sentence: a sentence structure in which the main clause or principal idea is delayed until the end of the sentence.

Asyndeton: where conjunctions are deliberately omitted from a series of related clauses or phrases.

Tropes: that involve the use of language in non-literal ways to convey meaning or create a specific effect.

Rhetoric: the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively; Language that is elaborate, pretentious, insincere, or intellectually vacuous.

Propaganda: a form of communication aimed at influencing the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of people, often by presenting information in a biased or misleading way.

Polemical: refers to a style of writing or speech that is strongly critical, controversial, or argumentative, often designed to challenge or refute a particular idea, opinion, or position.

Apologists: are those who defend their beliefs against polemicists.

Colloquialism: a local or regional dialect (“y'all" or "gonna" ) not used in formal speech.

Dialect: A regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary, especially a way of speaking that differs from the standard variety of the language.

Vernacular: the language (spoken) of a particular group, profession, region.

Antimetabole: (a type of chiasmus but using exact words) A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the words in reverse grammatical order.

Archaic Diction: archaism – the use of older, outdated words and expressions.

Hortative: a sentence meant to encourage, to cheer someone on, or a call to action “Keep going!” “ You can do anything.”

Imperative: a sentence that gives instruction or advice or command.

Interrogative: a sentence that asks a question.

Inversion: the different arrangement (syntax) of words from the normal subject-verb arrangement.

Synesthesia: describing a sensual impression using a different sense or transferring one sensory function on to another.

Anecdote: A personal story or brief narrative often used to illustrate an idea or make a point.

Logos: relies on logic and reason to persuade an audience.

Ethos: refers to the credibility or ethical appeal of the speaker or writer.

Pathos: to appeal to the audience's emotions.

Invective: the use of angry and insulting language in satirical writing.