1.

a·bridge
–verb (used with object), a·bridged, a·bridg·ing.
1. to shorten by omissions while retaining the basic contents: to abridge a
reference book.
2. to reduce or lessen in duration, scope, authority, etc.; diminish; curtail:
to abridge a visit; to abridge one's freedom.
3. to deprive; cut off.

2. am·pli·fy
–verb (used with object)
1. to make larger, greater, or stronger; enlarge; extend.
2. to expand in stating or describing, as by details or illustrations; clarify by
expanding.
3. Electricity . to increase the amplitude of; cause amplification in.
4. Archaic . to exaggerate.
–verb (used without object)

5. to discourse at length; expatiate or expand one's remarks, speech, etc.

(usually fol. by on ): The preacher amplified on the theme of brotherly love.

3. brow·beat
–verb (used with object), -beat, -beat·en, -beat·ing.
to intimidate by overbearing looks or words; bully: They browbeat him into
agreeing.

4. con·coct
–verb (used with object)
1. to prepare or make by combining ingredients, esp. in cookery: to
concoct a meal from leftovers.
2. to devise; make up; contrive: to concoct an excuse.

5. dis·com·bob·u·late
–verb (used with object), -lat·ed, -lat·ing.
to confuse or disconcert; upset; frustrate: The speaker was completely
discombobulated by the hecklers.

6. down·play
–verb (used with object)

to treat or speak of (something) so as to reduce emphasis on its

importance, value, strength, etc.: The press has downplayed the
president's role in the negotiations.

7. em·bel·lish
–verb (used with object)

1. to beautify by or as if by ornamentation; ornament; adorn.

2. to enhance (a statement or narrative) with fictitious additions.

8. em·bez·zle
–verb (used with object), -zled, -zling.
to appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as money or property
entrusted to one's care.

9. es·chew
–verb (used with object)
to abstain or keep away from; shun; avoid: to eschew evil.

10. ex·on·er·ate
Definition of EXONERATE

1: to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship

2: to clear from accusation or blame

— ex·on·er·a·tion\-ˌzä-nə-ˈrā-shən\ noun

— ex·on·er·a·tive\-ˈzä-nə-ˌrā-tiv\ adjective

Examples of EXONERATE

<the results of the DNA fingerprinting finally exonerated the man, but
only after he had wasted 10 years of his life in prison>

11. ex·pe·dite
-dit·ing, adjective
–verb (used with object)
1. to speed up the progress of; hasten: to expedite shipments.
2. to accomplish promptly, as a piece of business; dispatch: to expedite
one's duties.
3. to issue or dispatch, as an official document or letter.
–adjective
4. Obsolete . ready for action; alert.

12. fore·close
verb \(ˌ)fȯr-ˈklōz\

Definition of FORECLOSE

transitive verb

1: to shut out

2: to hold exclusively

3: to deal with or close in advance

4: to subject to foreclosure proceedings

intransitive verb

: to foreclose a mortgage
Examples of FORECLOSE

 They've been unable to make their mortgage payments, and the

bank has threatened to foreclose.
 The bank has threatened to foreclose their mortgage.

13. frat·er·nize
–verb (used without object)
1. to associate in a fraternal or friendly way.
2. to associate cordially or intimately with natives of a conquered country,
enemy troops, etc.
–verb (used with object)
3. Archaic . to bring into fraternal association or sympathy.

14. im·bibe
verb \im-ˈbīb\

Definition of IMBIBE

transitive verb

1 archaic : SOAK, STEEP

2 a : to receive into the mind and retain <imbibe moral principles> b : to

assimilate or take into solution

3 a : DRINK b : to take in or up <a sponge imbibes moisture>

intransitive verb

1: DRINK 2

2 a : to take in liquid b : to absorb or assimilate moisture, gas, light, or heat

— im·bib·er noun
Examples of IMBIBE

 She imbibed vast quantities of coffee.

 She never imbibes but isn't offended when others do.

15. jux·ta·pose
–verb (used with object), -posed, -pos·ing.
to place close together or side by side, esp. for comparison or contrast.

16. lam·baste vt
Definition of LAMBASTE

1: to assault violently

2: to attack verbally :<critics lambasted his performance>

Examples of LAMBASTE

1. The coach lambasted the team for its poor play.

2. They wrote several letters lambasting the new law.

17. mit·i·gate
 –verb (used with object)
1. to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain;
moderate.
2. to make less severe: to mitigate a punishment.
3. to make (a person, one's state of mind, disposition, etc.) milder or
more gentle; mollify; appease.

–verb (used without object)

 4. to become milder; lessen in severity.

18. nit·pick
verb \ˈnit-ˌpik\

Definition of NITPICK

intransitive verb

: to engage in nit-picking

transitive verb

: to criticize by nit-picking

— nitpick noun

— nit·pick·er noun

— nit·picky\-ˌpi-kē\ adjective

Examples of NITPICK

1. <her husband nitpicks about everything: from how she puts the plates
away to how she files the bills>

19. pro·cras·ti·nate
–verb (used without object)

1. to defer action; delay: to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost.

–verb (used with object)
2. to put off till another day or time; defer; delay.

20. sti·fle
noun \ˈstī-fəl\
Definition of STIFLE

: the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a quadruped (as a horse or
dog) corresponding to the human knee