abstract -not concrete

aesthetic -having to do with the appreciation of beauty

alleviate -to ease a pain or a burden

ambivalent -simultaneously feeling opposing feelings; uncertain

apathetic -feeling or showing little emotion

auspicious -favorable; promising

benevolent -well-meaning; generous

candor -sincerity; openness

cogent -convincing; reasonable

comprehensive -broad or complete in scope or content

contemporary -current, modern; from the same time

conviction -a fixed or strong belief

diligent -marked by painstaking effort; hard-working

dubious -doubtful; of unlikely authenticity

eclectic -made up of a variety of sources or styles

egregious -conspicuously bad or offensive

exculpate -to free from guilt or blame

florid -flowery or elaborate in style

gratuitous -given freely; unearned; unwarranted

hackneyed -worn out through overuse; trite

idealize -to consider perfect

impartial -not in favor of one side or the other; unbiased

imperious -arrogantly domineering or overbearing

inherent -inborn; built-in

innovative -introducing something new

inveterate -long established; deep-rooted; habitual

laudatory -giving praise

maverick -one who resists adherence to a group

mollify -to calm or soothe

novel -strikingly new or unusual

obdurate -stubborn; inflexible

objectivity -judgment uninfluenced by emotion

obstinate -stubbornly adhering to an opinion

ornate -elaborately decorated

ostentatious -describing a pretentious display

paramount -of chief concern or importance

penitent -expressing remorse for one's misdeeds

pervasive -dispersed throughout

plausible -seemingly valid or acceptable; credible

profound -having great depth or seriousness

prosaic -unimaginative; dull; ordinary

quandary -a state of uncertainty or perplexity

rancorous -hateful; marked by deep-seated ill will

spurious -not genuine; false; counterfeit

stoic -indifferent to pleasure or pain; impassive

superfluous -extra; unnecessary

tenuous -having little substance or strength; unsure; weak

timorous -timid; fearful

transitory -short-lived; temporary

vindicated -freed from blame