pedantic adjective ostentatious in one's learning, overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, especially in teaching ambiguous adjective

open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations; difficult to comprehend, distinguish, or classify repudiate verb to reject as having no authority or binding force, to cast off or disown paradigm noun a set of forms all of which contain a particular element, an example serving as a model or pattern paradox noun a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth refute verb to prove to be false or erroneous, as an opinion or charge innocuous adjective not harmful or injurious; harmless austere adjective severe in manner or appearance, rigorously self-disciplined and severely moral; lacking softness arcane adjective known or understood by very few; mysterious, secret or obscure anomaly

noun a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form; an odd or peculiar condition pernicious adjective causing insidious harm or ruin, injury or hurt spurious adjective not genuine, authentic, or true; pretended or counterfeit petulant adjective moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some trifling annoyance propensity noun a natural inclination or tendency mercurial adjective changeable, volatile, fickle, flighty and erratic nascent adjective beginning to exist or develop sporadic adjective appearing or happening at irregular intervals in time; scattered or isolated instances arduous adjective requiring great exertion; laborious, using much energy and vigor; full of hardships cogent adjective convincing or believable by virtue of forcible, clear, or incisive presentation

perfunctory adjective performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic pithy adjective brief, forceful, and meaningful in expression; full of vigor, substance, or meaning; terse catalyst noun a person or thing that precipitates an event or change tacit adjective understood without being openly expressed; implied, unvoiced or unspoken placate verb to appease or pacify, especially by concessions or conciliatory gestures ascetic noun a person who dedicates his or her life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial for religious reasons ostensible adjective outwardly appearing, professed or pretended terse adjective neatly or effectively concise, brief and pithy abscond verb to depart in a sudden and secret manner, especially to avoid capture and legal prosecution obdurate

adjective unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings; stubborn, unyielding guile noun insidious cunning in attaining a goal; crafty or artful deception impede verb to retard in movement or progress by means of obstacles or hindrances maverick noun an unbranded calf that is separated from its mother, or a lone dissenter who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates levity noun lightness of mind, character, or behavior; lack of appropriate seriousness or earnestness phlegmatic adjective not easily excited to action or display of emotion; self-possessed, calm, or composed abeyance noun temporary inactivity, cessation, or suspension aberrant adjective departing from the right, normal, or usual course; exceptional umbrage noun offense, annoyance or displeasure; the slightest indication or vaguest feeling of suspicion, doubt or hostility partisan noun

an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, especially one that shows a biased, emotional allegiance lassitude noun weariness of body or mind from strain; a condition of indolent indifference apposite adjective suitable, well-adapted, pertinent, relevant or apt salubrious adjective favorable to or promoting health reprobate adjective morally depraved, unprincipled or bad; rejected by God and beyond hope of salvation castigate verb to criticize or reprimand severely, or punish in order to correct chicanery noun trickery or deception by quibbling or sophistry recondite adjective dealing with very profound or difficult subject matter; beyond ordinary knowledge or understanding imperious adjective domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial or overbearing laud verb to praise, extol reverent

adjective feeling, exhibiting, or characterized by reverence; deeply respectful pedestrian adjective lacking in vitality, imagination or distinction; commonplace or dull impecunious adjective having little or no money; penniless, poor sedulous adjective diligent in application or attention; persistently or carefully maintained trenchant adjective incisive or keen, as language or a person; vigorous, effective and energetic mendacious adjective telling lies, habitually dishonest, untruthful mollify verb to soften in feeling or temper; pacify or appease; reduce or soften perfidious adjective deliberately faithless, treacherous or deceitful torpid adjective inactive or sluggish; slow; dull or lethargic objective noun something that one's efforts or actions are intended to attain or accomplish; a purpose, goal or target sanguine

adjective cheerfully optimistic or confident; reddish, ruddy moot adjective open to discussion or debate; doubtful mitigate verb to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate astute adjective of keen penetration or discernment; clever or shrewd obtuse adjective not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect; dull sycophant noun a person who uses flattery to win favor; one who fawns, a toady nefarious adjective extremely wicked or villainous; iniquitous clandestine adjective characterized by secrecy or concealment, especially for purposes of subversion or deception manifest verb to make clear or evident, to prove beyond a doubt solace noun comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or trouble; something that gives comfort, consolation, or relief

innate adjective existing in one from birth; inherent in the essential character of something ephemeral adjective lasting a very short time; short-lived or transitory perpetual adjective continuing or enduring forever or an indefinitely long time futile adjective incapable of producing any result; useless trite adjective lacking in freshness or effectiveness because of constant use or excessive repetition; hackneyed and stale laconic adjective expressing much in few words; concise implicit adjective implied rather than expressly stated; unquestioning or unreserved implication noun something suggested as naturally to be inferred or understood prosaic adjective commonplace or dull; having the character of prose rather than poetry jaded adjective dulled by overindulgence; worn out or wearied, as by overwork or overuse resolution

noun a formal opinion or intention made after voting by a formal organization, a legislature or a club affable adjective pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to; friendly or cordial rhetorical adjective concerned with mere style or effect; tending to use bombast obfuscate verb to confuse, bewilder, or stupefy, to make obscure or unclear stigma noun a mark of disgrace or infamy; a stain or reproach, as on one's reputation reiterate verb to say or do again; to repeat excessively pejorative adjective having a disparaging, derogatory, or belittling effect or force infer verb to derive by reasoning; conclude or judge from premises or evidence; to indicate, hint or suggest chagrin noun a feeling of vexation, marked by disappointment or humiliation nexus noun a means of connection; the core or center, as of a matter or situation nebulous

adjective hazy, vague, indistinct, or confused; cloudy or cloudlike idiosyncrasy noun a characteristic, habit, mannerism, or the like, that is peculiar to an individual haughty adjective disdainfully proud, snobbish or scornfully arrogant protocol noun the customs and regulations dealing with diplomatic formality, precedence, and etiquette abhor verb to regard with extreme aversion or to detest utterly fortitude noun mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously incorrigible adjective bad beyond correction or reform abstruse adjective hard to understand, esoteric or secretive maudlin adjective tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental furtive adjective taken and used by stealth; secret, sly or shifty

abrogate verb to abolish by official means; annul by an authoritative act; repeal tepid adjective lukewarm; characterized by a lack of force or enthusiasm impervious adjective not permitting entrance; incapable of being injured, influenced or persuaded omniscient adjective having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things incessant adjective continuing without interruption; ceaseless or unending xenophobia noun an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers censure verb to criticize or reproach in a harsh or vehement manner inchoate adjective not yet completed or fully developed cache noun a hiding place in the ground, for ammunition, food or treasure wanton adjective done maliciously or unjustifiably; deliberate and without motive or provocation

juxtapose verb to place close together or side by side for comparison or contrast mandate noun a command or authorization to act in a particular way on a public issue given by the electorate to its representative allude verb to refer casually or indirectly; to make an allusion tenet noun any opinion, principle, doctrine, dogma held as true by members of a profession, group, or movement ramification noun a related or derived subject, problem; an outgrowth, consequence or implication forbearance noun a refraining from something, patient endurance or self-control cohort noun a group or company, companion or associate heed noun careful attention, notice or observation hone verb to enlarge or finish; to make more acute or effective raconteur noun a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly

pecuniary adjective pertaining to money; exacted in monetary payments or involving a fine bucolic adjective pertaining to shepherds or suggesting an idyllic rural life adroit adjective nimble in the use of the hands or body; cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious stagnant adjective not flowing or running, such as water or air; characterized by lack of development, advancement, or progressive movement obviate verb to anticipate and prevent by effective measures; render unnecessary odious adjective deserving or causing hatred; highly offensive or disgusting heresy noun an opinion at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, especially of a church or religious system soporific adjective tending to cause sleep; sleepy or drowsy superlative adjective of the highest kind, surpassing all else or others; supreme; extreme abstemious adjective moderate in eating and drinking, temperate in diet

prevaricate verb to speak falsely or misleadingly; deliberately misstate or create an incorrect impression; lie realm noun the region, sphere, or domain within which anything occurs, prevails, or dominates guise noun general external appearance; aspect or semblance static adjective characterized by a stationary condition showing little or no change; lacking movement, development or vitality inculcate verb to implant by repeated statement or admonition; teach persistently and earnestly impasse noun a position or situation from which there is no escape; deadlock urbane adjective having the polish regarded as characteristic of sophisticated social life in major cities; reflecting elegance and sophistication rectify verb to make or set right; remedy; to correct indelible adjective making marks that cannot be erased or removed truculent

adjective fierce, cruel, brutally harsh or aggressively hostile opulence noun wealth, riches, or affluence parochial adjective pertaining to a parish or the education they provide; very limited or narrow in scope or outlook; provincial impartial adjective not biased; fair and just indemnify verb to compensate for damage or loss sustained; to secure against anticipated loss mercenary adjective working or acting merely for money or other reward; venal indomitable adjective that cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable bellicose adjective inclined to fight; aggressively hostile uncouth adjective awkward, clumsy, or unmannerly; strange and ungraceful in appearance or form steadfast adjective

fixed in direction, firm in purpose, resolution, faith or attachment; unwavering inimical adjective adverse in effect; unfavorable, harmful and unfriendly chimera noun a mythological monster, commonly represented with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail; any horrible creature of the imagination fret verb to express worry, annoyance or discontent wry adjective produced by a distortion or lopsidedness of the facial features, devious in course or purpose; misdirected bereft adjective deprived brusque adjective abrupt in manner; blunt or rough surfeit noun an excessive amount or overindulgence in eating or drinking cessation noun a temporary or complete stopping; discontinuance berate verb to scold or rebuke imbue

verb to impregnate or inspire, as with feelings, opinions, moisture or color garner verb to gather or deposit in or as if in a granary calumny noun a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something taut adjective tightly drawn, not slack; emotionally or mentally strained or tense collusion noun a secret agreement for fraudulent or treacherous purposes; conspiracy frenetic adjective frantic; frenzied rant verb to speak or declaim extravagantly or violently; talk in a wild or vehement way; rave harangue noun a long, passionate, vehement speech delivered before a public gathering accede verb to give consent or approval suave adjective smoothly agreeable or polite; agreeably or blandly urbane callow

adjective immature or inexperienced; a featherless young bird rancor noun bitter, rankling resentment or ill will; hatred or malice perdition noun a state of final spiritual ruin; loss of the soul abase verb to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation initiate verb to begin or to introduce into the knowledge of some art or subject gauche adjective lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness miscreant noun a vicious or depraved person; a villain artifice noun a clever trick or stratagem; a cunning, crafty device parity noun equality in amount, status, or character; equivalence or correspondence mellifluous adjective sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding foray noun a quick raid, a quick, sudden attack

amity noun friendship, mutual understanding and a peaceful relationship tawdry adjective gaudy; showy and cheap; low, mean or base mire verb to plunge and fix in marshy land; to involve or entangle gaffe noun a social blunder, a faux pas disperse verb to move apart in different directions without order or regularity; become scattered recidivism noun habitual relapse, as into crime or antisocial behavior staid adjective of settled character, not flighty or capricious metamorphosis noun a complete change of form, structure, or substance, appearance, character or circumstance lateral adjective pertaining to the side; situated at, proceeding from, or directed to a side innovate verb to introduce something new; make changes in anything established

strident adjective making a harsh sound; having a shrill, irritating quality or character syllogism noun using deductive reasoning; an extremely subtle, sophisticated, or deceptive argument galvanize verb to stimulate by an electric current flux noun the flowing in of the tide; continuous change or movement gravity noun heaviness or weight; serious or critical nature inundate verb to flood with water; deluge or overwhelm goad verb to prick or drive with, to prod or incite caliber noun the diameter of something of circular section, especially the inside of a tube beseech verb to make an urgent appeal odium noun intense hatred or dislike toward a person or thing regarded as contemptible, despicable, or repugnant

obeisance noun a movement of the body expressing deep respect or deferential courtesy; a bow or curtsy infamy noun extremely bad reputation, public reproach, or strong condemnation as the result of a shameful, criminal, or outrageous act savant noun a person of profound or extensive learning; a learned scholar