| Term | Definition |
|---|
| concise (adj) | brief and to the point |
| laconic (adj) | disposed to using few words |
| succinct (adj) | spoken or written in a clear and precise manner |
| brusque (adj) | rudely abrupt |
| abridge (v) | to shorten a written text |
| brevity (n) | quality of succinct expression |
| judicious (adj) | showing sound judgment; prudent |
| adjudicate (v) | to hear and judge a case |
| astute (adj) | shrewd; keen |
| scrutinize (v) | to examine carefully |
| perjure (v) | to lie under oath |
| prudent (adj) | using good judgment |
| eloquent (adj) | well spoken |
| loquacious (adj) | very talkative |
| circumlocution (n) | evasive speech; talking around the subject |
| colloquial (adj) | conversational; using everyday language |
| grandiloquent (adj) | speaking in a pompous manner |
| elocution (n) | expressive delivery of public speech |
| benefactor (n) | one who supports or helps another |
| benign (adj) | harmless |
| benevolent (adj) | kind; considerate |
| benediction (n) | an expression of good wishes |
| euphemism (n) | the substitution of an inoffensive term for an offensive one |
| eulogy (n) | a praising tribute |
| immutable (adj) | unchangeable |
| metamorphosis (n) | a transformation |
| rupture (v) | to break open |
| transmute (v) | to transform |
| amorphous (adj) | lacking shape, changeable in form |
| mercurial (adj) | erratic, subject to wild changes in character |
| hackneyed (adj) | overused, trite |
| mundane (adj) | ordinary, typical |
| vacuous (adj) | lacking substance |
| prosaic (adj) | unimaginative, ordinary |
| insipid (adj) | uninteresting, dull, without flavor |
| banal (adj) | ordinary, trivial |
| sanguine (adj) | cheerfully optimistic |
| phlegmatic (adj) | sluggish |
| melancholy (adj) | sad, depressed |
| choleric (adj) | easily angered |
| recalcitrant (adj) | stubbornly resistant to authority |
| lethargic (adj) | sluggish; dully apathetic |
| spurious (adj) | fake; counterfeit |
| guile (n) | trickery; deceit |
| beguile (v) | to deceive with charm |
| strategem (n) | a deceitful scheme |
| surreptitious (adj) | deceptive; sneaky |
| clandestine (adj) | secret; hidden |
| stealth (n) | sneakiness; ability to avoid detection |
| transient (adj) | fleeting ; short-lived |
| ephemeral (adj) | short-lived |
| sporadic (adj) | irregular or unpredicted; infrequent |
| capricious (adj) | whimsical; impulsive |
| evanescent (adj) | likely to vanish |
| extemporaneous (adj) | done with little or no practice |
| anachronism (n) | something out of place in time |
| censure (n) | official condemnation; harsh critcism |
| diatribe (n) | malicious criticism or abuse |
| caustic (adj) | corrosive; sarcastic |
| derogatory (adj) | disparaging; belittling |
| admonish (v) | to reprimand mildly |
| repudiate (v) | to cast off publicly |
| sanctimonious (adj) | falsely pious or self-righteous |
| sacrosanct (adj) | profoundly sacred |
| sanctuary (n) | a place of refuge; a sacred place |
| sacrilegious (adj) | grossly irreverent; disrespectful of something sacred |
| revere (v) | to regard with honor and devotion |
| pious (adj) | showing religious reverence |
| deference (n) | respect for the wishes of others |
| formidable (adj) | awesome; hard to overcome; dreadful |
| potent (adj) | strong and effective |
| indomitable (adj) | unable to be conquered |
| redoubtable (adj) | arousing fear; formidable; awesome |
| robust (adj) | full of vigor |
| impervious (adj) | incapable of being penetrated or affected |
| coalesce (v) | to blend or fuse together |
| anthology (n) | a collection of works |
| convoke (v) | to call together |
| synchronize (v) | to arrange events to occur simultaneously |
| synthesis (n) | a fusion; a bringing together |
| eclectic (adj) | made up of parts from many different sources |
| yoke (v) | to join different things |
| ruthless (adj) | cruel; merciless |
| contempt (n) | scorn; disrespect |
| callous (adj) | hardened; insensitive |
| supercilious (adj) | full of haughty arrogance |
| idionsyncracy (n) | a peculiar trait or habit |
| anomaly (n) | unusual event |
| atrophy (v) | to weaken from disuse |
| abate (v) | to subside; to decrease in intensity |
| porous (adj) | filled with many holes |
| wane (v) | to grow smaller or less intense |
| lassitude (n) | a feeling of weakness |
| undermine (v) | to weaken or diminish something |
| placid (adj) | calm |
| inert (adj) | sluggish; inactive |
| listless (adj) | sluggish; without energy |
| quiescent (adj) | resting; quiet |
| serene (adj) | tranquil; calm; placid |
| static (adj) | stationary |
| languid (adj) | weak; sluggish |
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