abate to lessen to subside abeyance suspended action abjure promise or swear to give up abrogate repeal or annul by authority abstruse difficult to comprehend obscure acarpous effete no longer fertile worn out accretion the growing of separate things into one agog eager/excited alloy to debase by mixing with something inferior amortize end (a debt) by setting aside money aplomb self-confidence apostasy renunciation of a religious faith apostate one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions apposite highly pertinent or appropriate approbation approval arabesque a complex ornate design argot jargon slang ascetic practicing self-denial austere stark asperity roughness harshness ill temper irritability assiduous marked by careful unremitting attention or persistent application astringent able to draw together the soft organic tissues astringent substance that shrinks augury omen sign aver affirm assert prove justify baleful harmful ominous causing evil beatific having a blissful appearance beatify to bless make happy or ascribe a virtue to bedizen to adorn especially in a cheap showy manner bellicose belligerent pugnacious warlike benign kind and gentle mild (climate) benison blessing, benediction bequest arrangement to give smth at death blandishment flattery coaxing blithe cheerful casual carefree bombastic overblown burnish to polish rub to a shine cajole use flattery or deceit to persuade calumny slander aspersion capricious unpredictable; fickle castigate to chastise correct by punishing censure expression of blame or disapproval a rebuke chaff to tease good-naturedly chary cautious wary chicanery legal trickery/false argument churlish marked by a lack of civility or graciousness cloture closing device (in Parliament) to end a debate by voting coda passage that completes a piece of music coeval of the same period coexisting cogent strong convincing collusion secret agreement for a deceitful purpose commodious having plenty of space for what is needed complaisance tending to comply obliging willingness to please compunction feeling of regret for one's action concord agreement or harmony contemn to scorn or despise continent restrained contumacious insubordinate rebellious convoke call together summon cornucopia abundant supply corporeal physical of or for the body craven cowardly credulous ready to believe things cursory quick hurried dapper neat and trim in appearance dastard coward dearth shortage decry disapprove of delineate to describe, portray, or set forth with accuracy or in detail demagogue person appealing not to reasons denouement an outcome or solution the unraveling of a plot desiccant substance used to absorb moisture desultory marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose detumescence diminishing or lessening of swelling diaphanous transparent gauzy diffidence shyness dilatory tending or intended to cause delay discomfit confuse embarrass discountenance refuse to approve of disingenuous sophisticated artful trying to deceive cunning dissemble speak or behave so as to hide smth (in mind) dissolute loose in morals divestiture taking off getting rid of giving up doggerel trivial poorly constructed verse droll jesting dulcet melodious harmonious ebullience exuberance outburst of feeling ecumenical representing the whole Christian world edacious voracious devouring effete infertile worn out weak effluvia outflow in a stream of particles a noxious odor or vapor effrontery boldness impudence arrogance effulgent shining forth egress way out exit elegiac sorrowful, mournful emaciate make thin and weak encomium warm or glowing praise eulogy panegyric endemic epidemic enervate weaken deprive of strength attenuate enthral please greatly/enslave (fig) epistle letter epithet adjective equable marked by lack of variation or change equanimity calmness of temperament equanimity evenness of mind especially under stress equipoise equal distribution of weight equilibrium equivocal having a double or doubtful meaning suspicious equivocate try to deceive by equivocal language erudite learned scholarly euphonious pleasing to the ear evince to show clearly to indicate excoriate to censure scathingly excoriation severe criticism exculpate to clear from a charge of guilt exigent requiring immediate aid or action exorbitant much too high or great expiation ending expiring exscind to cut out cut away extant still in existence extirpate to destroy exterminate cut out exscind fatuous without sense foolish self-satisfaction feckless lacking purpose or vitality ineffective careless fecund fertile felicity the quality or state of being happy fervid showing earnest feeling fetter to shackle put in chains finical too fussy about food clothing etc. flax pale yellow (hair) a plant florid very much ornamented naturally red (e.g.. of face) foible defect of character (a person is wrongly proud) foppish like a man who pays too much attention to his clothes forbearance patience willingness to wait forswear renounce disallow repudiate frenetic frantic frenzied froward intractable not willing to yield or comply stubborn fulmination bitter protest gaucherie socially awkward tactless behavior germane relevant pertinent to glib ready and smooth but not sincere glut supply to much fill to excess goad smth urging a person to action gossamer soft light delicate material grandiloquent using pompous words gregarious living in societies liking the company halcyon calm and peaceful harangue a long passionate speech harrow to distress create stress or torment haughty arrogant conceited hermetic sealed by fusion hew make by hard work cut (by striking) hirsute hairy shaggy histrionic of or relating to actors, acting, or the theater homiletics act of preaching hoodwink trick mislead hubris arrogant pride iconoclast person who attacks popular beliefs idolatry excessive admiration of idyll a carefree episode or experience ignoble dishonorable common undignified ignominious shameful dishonorable undignified disgraceful imbroglio complicated and embarrassing situation impecunious having little or no money imperious commanding haughty arrogant impiety lack of reverence or dutifulness importune beg urgently solicit (of a prostitute) impromptu without preparation impugned challenged to be doubted impute to attribute to a cause or source ascribe inchoate not yet fully formed rudimentary elementary incorrigibility cannot be cured or corrected inculcate fix firmly by repetition incursion a raid a sudden attack indefatigability not easily exhaustible tirelessness indigence a level of poverty in which real hardship and deprivation are suffered and comforts of life are wholly lacking ineluctable certain inevitable ingenuous naive young artless frank honest sincere inimical harmful or friendly inscrutable incapable of being discovered or understood insipid without taste or flavor interdict prohibit forbid intransigence of a state refusing to compromise or to abandon an extreme position or attitude intransigent uncompromising inundate flood cover by overflowing inured accustomed to adapted involute complex irascible irritable easily angered irrevocable final and unalterable itinerate to travel from place to place to peregrinate jibe gibe make fun of labyrinthine to entangle the state of affairs lachrymose causing tears tearful lascivious lustful lassitude a condition of weariness or debility lassitude weariness tiredness latent present but not yet active developed or visible laudatory expressing or giving praise levee formal reception/embankment liberality free giving generosity libertine immoral person lien legal claim until a debt on it is repaid limn paint portray lionize treat as a famous person loll rest to sit or stand in a lazy way hang (dog's tongue) loquacious talkative garrulous lucubrate write in scholarly fashion luculent easily understood lucid clear macerate make or become soft by soaking in water machination plot scheme (esp. evil) maladroit tactless clumsy malapropism misuse of a word (for one that resembles it) malleable yielding easily shaped moldable adapting matriculation be admitted enter a university as a student maudlin sentimental in a silly or tearful way mellifluous sweetly flowing mendacious given to or characterized by deception or falsehood or divergence from absolute truth mendacity dishonesty mendicant beggar middling fairly good but not very good misogynist one who hates women/females morose ill-tempered unsocial multifarious varied motley greatly diversified munificent very liberal in giving or bestowing nadir lowest weakest point neophyte person who has been converted to a belief nexus a connection tie or link noisome offensive disgusting (smell) nosegay a small bunch of flowers nugatory trifling/worthless obdurate hardened and unrepenting stubborn inflexible obloquy abusively detractive language sharp criticism vituperation obstreperous noisy loud obtrusive projecting prominent undesirably noticeable obtuse blunt/stupid obviate to make unnecessary get rid of occluded blocked up odious repulsive hateful offal garbage officious too eager or ready to help offer advice ominous threatening onerous needing effort burdensome opprobrious showing scorn or reproach ossify to turn to bone to settle rigidly into an idea ostentation display to obtain admiration or envy ostracism shut out from society refuse to meet talk overweening presumptuously arrogant overbearing immoderate being a jerk paean song of praise or triumph palate roof of the mouth sense of taste palatial magnificent palliate lessen the severity of palpability can be felt touched understood palpitate tremble beat rapidly and irregularly panegyric formal praise eulogy pariah an outcast a rejected and despised person parsimonious too economical miserly patina a usually green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color paucity scarcity a lacking of paucity smallness of number peccadillo small sin small weakness in one's character pedantic bookish showing off learning pellucid transparent easy to understand penitent feeling or showing regret penurious poor/stingy penury cramping and oppressive lack of resources penury extreme poverty peregrination traveling about wandering peremptory urgent imperative unchallengeable ending debate perfidious treacherous faithless perfidy the quality or state of being faithless or disloyal perfidy treachery breaking of faith perfunctory done as a duty without care peripatetic wandering periphrastic formed by the use of function words or auxiliaries instead of by inflection perish be destroyed decay pernicious harmful injurious perspicacity quick judging and understanding petrous like a rock hard stony petulant unreasonably impatient philistine a smug ignorant person one who lacks knowledge phlegmatic calm sluggish temperament unemotional picaresque involving clever rogues or adventurers pied of mixed colors pious dutiful to parents devoted to religion piquant agreeably pungent stimulating pith essential part force soft liquid substance plaintive mournful melancholy sorrowful platitude a trite or banal statement unoriginality pliant pliable easily bent shaped or twisted plumb get to the root of poignant deeply moving keen ponderous heavy bulky dull portent omen marvelous threatening precepts rules establishing standards of conduct preclude prevent make impossible predilection special liking mental preference predominate have more power than others preen tidy/show self-satisfaction preponderance greatness in number strength weight preternatural not normal or usual prevaricate to equivocate to stray from the truth prim neat formal proclivity inclination profligacy shameless immorality profundity depth profuse abundant/lavish prolix tiring because too long propitious auspicious presenting favorable circumstances prosaic everyday mundane commonplace trite pedestrian proscribe denounce as dangerous provident frugal looking to the future provisional of the present time only prune dried plum silly person pucker wrinkle pugnacious fond of in the habit of fighting puissance strength punctilious precise paying attention to trivialities pungency sharpness stinging quality pusillanimous cowardly craven putrefaction becoming rotten quaff drink deeply qualm feeling of doubt temporary feeling of sickness quell suppress subdue quiescence state of being passive/motionless quiescent at rest dormant torpid quixotic generous unselfish quotidian banal everyday rabble mob crowd the lower classes of populace raconteur person who tells anecdotes rancorous feeling bitterness spitefulness rapacious greedy (esp for money) rebuff snub recalcitrant disobedient recidivism relapse into antisocial or criminal behavior reciprocity granting of privileges in return for similar recompense make payment to reward punish recondite little known abstruse redoubtable formidable causing fear refractory stubborn unmanageable untractable refulgent shining brilliant regale to delight or entertain to feast remonstrate to protest object repast meal reprobate person hardened in sin one devoid of decency repudiate disown refuse to accept or pay requite repay give in return rescind repeal/annul/cancel reticent reserved untalkative silent taciturn sagacious having sound judgment perceptive wise like a sage salubrious healthful sanctimony self-righteousness hypocritical with FALSE piety sanguine cheerful confident optimistic satiate satisfy fully saturnine cold and steady in mood : slow to act or change saturnine gloomy dark sullen morose scorn open dislike and disrespect or derision often mixed with indignation scurvy mean contemptible sedulous persevering sententious short and pithy full of maxims/proverbs sere make hard and without feeling serration having a toothed edge shunt send from one track to another lay aside evade discussion simper (give a) silly/self-conscious smile skiff small boat slake to assuage to satisfy allay smolder burn slowly without flame somatic of the body sophomoric self-assured though immature affected bombastic overblown soporific producing sleep sordid wretched comfortless contemptible specious illogical of questionable truth or merit spurious FALSE counterfeit stanch to stop the flow of a fluid stentorian extremely loud and powerful stipple paint with dots stolid having or expressing little or no sensibility; unemotional stormy marked by turmoil or fury striated striped grooved or banded strident characterized by harsh, insistent, and discordant sound strut a supporting bar suborn induce by bribery or smth to commit perjury subsume include under a rule succor assistance relief in time of distress summarily briefly without delay sumptuous magnificent superfluous more then is needed or wanted supersede take the place of supine lying on the back slow to act passive suppliant asking humbly beseeching supplicate make a humble petition to sycophant person who flatter to the rich and powerful taciturn untalkative silent tangential suddenly changeable tassel bunch of threads taut tightly stretched tautology a repetition a redundancy tawdry cheap gaudy showy tacky teetotal oppose to alcohol temerity boldness brashness intrepidness tepid lukewarm timorous fearful timid afraid torpid sleeping sluggish lethargic dormant tout person who worries others to buy smth to use his service transgress break go beyond (a limit) transitory brief trenchant forceful effective vigorous extremely perceptive incisive trite not new truculent feeling or displaying ferocity turbid muddy having the sediment stirred up turgid excessively ornate swollen or bloated tyro tiro beginner ubiquitous present everywhere umbrage offense resentment undulate to move in wavelike fashion fluctuate upbraid scold reproach urbane elegant refined in manners vacillation being uncertain hesitating vagary strange act or idea veer change direction venal ready to do smth dishonest veneration regard with deep respect veracity truth verdant fresh and green verisimilitude appearing TRUE or real veritable real rightly named vestige trace or sign vilify slander say evil things virago a loud domineering woman a scold or nag vitiate lower the quality weaken the strength vivacious lively high-spirited volubility fluency verbosity easy use of spoken language waft scent waving movement carry lightly through welter turmoil a bewildering jumble writ written order