1.
askance: (adv.) with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval
2.
attenuate: (v.) to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value
3.
benign: (adj.) gentle, kind, forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant
4.
cavil: (v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp; (n.) a trivial objection or criticism
5.
charlatan: (n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack
6.
decimate: (v.) to kill or destroy a large part of
7.
foible: (n.) a weak point, failing, minor flaw
8.
forgo: (v.) to do without, abstain from, give up
9.
fraught: (adj.) full or loaded with; accompanied by
10.
inure: (v.) to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure
11.
luminous: (adj.) emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating
12.
obsequious: (adj.) marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons
13.
obtuse: (adj.) blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; measuring between 90 and 180 degrees; not causing a sharp impression
14.
oscillate: (v.) to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver
15.
penitent: (adj.) regretful for one's sins or mistakes; (n.) one who is sorry for wrongdoing
16.
peremptory: (adj.) having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal; offensively self-assured, dictatorial; determined; resolute
17.
rebuff: (v.) to snub; to repel, drive away; (n.) a curt rejection, a check
18.
reconnoiter: (v.) to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection
19.
shambles: (n.) a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess
20.
sporadic: (adj.) occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order
