 | Term | Definition |
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substantiate |
provide evidence to support or prove the truth of |
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gratuitous |
uncalled for, unwarranted; lacking good reason; done free of charge |
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guile |
sly or cunning intelligence; guileless - innocent and without deception |
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visceral |
related to deep inner feelings rather than intellect |
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milieu |
social setting |
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temerity |
excessive confidence or boldness |
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sardonic |
grimly mocking or cynical |
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inexorable |
impossible to stop or prevent |
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atavistic |
relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral |
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insouciance |
casual lack of concern; indifference |
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inimical |
tending to obstruct or harm |
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opine |
hold and state as one’s opinion |
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recalcitrant |
having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline |
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quixotic |
exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical |
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pedantic |
of or like a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning |
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idiosyncrasy |
a mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual; a distinctive or peculiar feature or characteristic of a place or thing |
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epoch |
a period of time in history or in a person’s life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics |
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avail |
use or take advantage of (an opportunity or available resource) |
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polity |
an organized society; a state as a political entity |
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contingency |
a future event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty; a provision for such events; absence of uncertainty in events |
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indemnify |
compensate (someone) for harm or loss |
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parity |
the state or condition of being equal, esp. regarding status or pay |
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ignominious |
deserving or causing public disgrace or shame |
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disingenuous |
not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does |
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paradigm |
a typical example or pattern of something; a model; a worldview underlying the theories and methodology of a particular scientific subject |
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paradox |
a statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory; something that combines contradictory features or qualities |
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plenary |
unqualified; absolute |
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bastion |
an institution, place, or person strongly defending or upholding particular principles, attitudes, or activities |
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pedagogic |
of or relating to teaching |
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probative |
affording proof or evidence |
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approbation |
approval |
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junta |
a military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force |
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sua sponte |
of one’s own accord |
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immaculate conception |
something without sin or ulterior motives |
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cadre |
a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession |
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specious |
superficially possible, but actually wrong |
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a posteriori |
relating to or denoting reasoning or knowledge that proceeds from observations or experiences to the deduction of probable causes |
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expedient |
convenient and practical, although possibly improper or immoral |
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inexorable |
impossible to stop or prevent |
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polemical |
or or relating to, or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech |
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canvass |
ascertain |
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abstraction |
the quality of dealing with ideas rather than events |
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pejorative |
expressing contempt or disapproval |
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desultory |
lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm; unfocused; occurring randomly or occasionally |
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gregarious |
(of a person) fond of company; sociable |
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misanthrope |
a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society |
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lacustrine |
of, relating to, or associated with lakes |
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parity |
the state or condition of being equal, esp. regarding status or pay |
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perfunctory |
(of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection |
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innominate |
not named or classified |
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epithet |
an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned |
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extant |
(esp. of a document) still in existence; surviving |
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pejorative |
expressing contempt or disapproval |
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augury |
a sign of what will happen in the future; an omen |
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privation |
a state in which things that are essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are scarce or lacking |
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halcyon |
denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful |
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idyll |
an extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque episode or scene, typically an idealized or unsustainable one |
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unmitigated |
absolute; unqualified |
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sacrosanct |
(esp. of a principle, place, or routine) regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with |
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coup de grâs |
a final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal |
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obtuse |
annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand |
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aggregate |
a whole formed by combining several (typically disparate) elements |
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disparate |
essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison |
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quotidian |
of or occurring every day; daily; ordinary or everyday, esp. when mundane |
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congener |
a thing or person of the same kind or category as another |
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beguile |
charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way |
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aphorism |
a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” |
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pithy |
(of language or style) concise and forcefully expressive |
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incipient |
in an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop |
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innocuous |
not harmful or offensive |
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piquant |
pleasantly stimulating or exciting to the mind |
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recidivism |
a tendency to lapse into a previous condition or pattern of behavior, esp. a falling back or relapse into prior criminal habits |
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duplicitous |
deceitful; Law (of a charge or plea) containing more than one allegation |
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congenital |
(esp. of a disease or physical abnormality) present from birth |
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syncretism |
the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought |
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atrophy |
(of body tissue or an organ) waste away, typically due to the degeneration of cells, or become vestigial during evolution; figurative gradually decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect |
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sanctimonious |
derogatory making a show of being morally superior to other people |
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prurient |
having or encouraging an excessive interest in sexual matters |
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sally |
make a military sortie |
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copasetic (copacetic) |
informal in excellent order; fine |
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embolize |
to lodge in and obstruct (as a blood vessel or organ) |
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parlance |
a particular way or speaking or using words, esp. a way common to those with a particular job or interest |
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indubitable |
impossible to doubt; unquestionable |
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assuage |
make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense |
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primeval (primaeval) |
of or resembling the earliest ages in the history of the world |
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solipsism |
the view or theory that the self is all that can be known to exist |
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mitigate |
make less severe, serious, or painful |
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behoove |
formal it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something; it is incumbent on; [with negative] it is appropriate or suitable; it befits |
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incumbent |
[on, upon] necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility; (of an official or regime) currently holding office |
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deductive |
characterized by the inference of particular instances from a general law |
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inductive |
characterized by the inference of general laws from particular instances |
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rhapsody |
an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling |
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libertine |
a person, esp. a man, who behaves without moral principles or a sense of responsibility, esp. in sexual matters |
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specious |
superficially plausible, but actually wrong; misleading in appearance, esp. misleadingly attractive |
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evince |
reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling); be evidence of; indicate |
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anodyne |
not likely to provoke dissent or offense; uncontentious or inoffensive, often deliberately so |
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encomium |
a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly |
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abnegate |
renounce or reject (something desired or valuable) |
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reticent |
note revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily |
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unremitting |
never relaxing or slackening; incessant |
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opprobrium |
harsh criticism or censure |
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perspicacious |
having a ready insight into and understanding of things |
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caveat |
a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations |
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patina |
figurative an impression or appearance of something |
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perfervid |
intense and impassioned |
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aberration |
a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome |
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reprehensible |
deserving censure or condemnation |
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pathos |
a quality that evokes pity or sadness |
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watershed |
an event or period marking a turning point in a course of action or state of affairs |
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avarice |
extreme greed for wealth or material gain |
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pervasive |
(esp. of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people |
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attrition |
the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure |
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fealty |
a feudal tenant’s or vassal’s sworn loyalty to a lord |
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iniquity |
immoral or grossly unfair behavior |
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perdition |
(in Christian theology) a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death |
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mawkish |
sentimental in a feeble or sickly way |
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precept |
a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought |
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prescient |
having or showing knowledge of events before they take place |
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myopia |
lack of imagination, foresight, or intellectual insight; nearsightedness |
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solipsism |
the view or theory that the self is all that can be known to exist |
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denouement |
the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved; the climax of a chain of events, usually when something is decided or made clear |
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gregarious |
(of a person) fond of company; sociable |
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idiosyncrasy |
a mode of behavior of way of thought peculiar to an individual |
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contravene |
violate the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct); conflict with (a right, principle, etc.), esp. to its detriment |
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inchoate |
just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary |
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urbane |
(of a person, esp. a man) suave, courteous, and refined in manner |
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propensity |
an inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way |
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comport (oneself) |
behave; (with) - accord with, agree with |
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sublime |
of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe |
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euphony |
the quality of being pleasing to the ear, esp. through a harmonious combination of words |
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sleight |
the use of dexterity or cunning, esp. so as to deceive |
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ipso facto |
by that very fact or act |
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in concert with |
to be in agreement, accordance, or harmony with |
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impetus |
the force that makes something happen or happen more quickly |
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inure |
accustom someone to something, esp. something unpleasant |
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sanctimonious |
making a show of being morally superior to other people |
