- absolve: to pardon
- ascetic: one who lives a holy life of self-denial
- avarice: extreme greed
- despot: an oppressive tyrant
- dexterous: skillful with the hands
- embezzle: to steal money from an employer
- emollient: a substance that softens
- exonerate: to clear from accusation
- fleece: to defraud of money; to swindle
- garish: flashy; loud
- hedonist: a pleasure seeker
- intransigent: uncompromising
- larceny: theft
- machination: a crafty scheme or stratagem
- misanthrope: one who hates humankind
- mollify: to soothe the anger of
- narcissist: one in love with his/her image
- nefarious: evil; wicked; sinful
- nihilist: one who rejects moral distinctions and truths
- pertinacity: stubbornness
- placate: to soothe; to pacify
- subterfuge: a scheme; an attempt to deceive
- swindle: to cheat; to bilk or filch
- sybarite: a luxury seeker
- vindicate: to clear from blame
- zealot: one who engages passionately in a cause