Words for Ability and Particularity
adroit (adj.) - skilled with hands or body, resourceful, clever
ambisinister (adj.) - clumsy or unskillful with both hands
bailiwick (noun) - a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work
heuristic (noun/adj.) - enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves
impetuous (adj.) - acting or done quickly and without thought or care
jettison (noun, verb) - to throw goods overboard to lighten a vessel in distress or act of
pancratic (adj.) - by or giving mastery of all subjects or matters
sagacious (adj.) - having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd
soporific (adj.) - tending to induce drowsiness or sleep
spirituel (adj.) - showing or having a refined and graceful mind or wit, airy or ethereal
supererogate (verb) - to do more than duty requires
taciturn (adj.) - (of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little
Words for Absurdity and Vivacity
bumper (noun) - a generous glassful of an alcoholic drink, typically one drunk as a toast
farrago (noun) - a confused mixture or concoction
imbroglio (noun) - an extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation
jape (noun, verb) - to mock, joke or jest
perfuncturate (verb) - To perform in a perfunctory manner; to do negligently
quaff (verb) - drink (something, especially an alcoholic drink) heartily
raillery (noun) - good-humored teasing or banter
rhapsodize (verb) - speak or write about someone or something with great enthusiasm and delight
skylark (verb) - pass time by playing tricks or practical jokes; indulge in horseplay
soirée (noun) - an evening party or gathering, typically in a private house, for conversation or music
wassail (noun, verb) - spiced ale or mule, or to drink plentiful amounts of alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way
Words for Boldness and Strength
ardor (noun) - great warmth or feeling, fervor, burning heat
daunt (verb) - to overcome with fear, intimidate or frighten, lessen courage of
degage (adj.) - easy in manner or style, detached
gainsay (verb) - to deny, dispute, contradict, speak or act against, oppose
inveigh (verb) - to protest strongly or attack vehemently with words
malapert (adj.) - unbecomingly bold or saucy
obdurate (adj.) - unmoved by persuasion, pity or tender feelings, unyielding
raffish (adj.) - unconventional and slightly disreputable, especially in an attractive manner
recalcitrant (adj.) - having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline
rococo (adj.) - extravagantly or excessively ornate, especially, as of music or literature
sardonic (adj.) - grimly mocking or cynical
sockdolager (noun) - a forceful or final blow
sophomania (noun) - unrealistic belief in one's own intelligence
supercilious (adj.) - behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others
trenchant (adj.) - vigorous or incisive in expression or style
Words for Compassion and Infatuation
alphamegamia (noun) - the marriage between a young woman and older man
appetency (noun) - a longing or desire, or a natural tendency or affinity
concupiscent (adj.) - filled with lust
deference (noun) - respectful submission to another's judgment, opinion, will
deprecate (verb) - to express earnest disapproval of, protest against a scheme
eleemosynary (adj.) - pertaining to or dependent on charity
ensconce (verb) - establish or settle someone or something in a comfortable, safe, or secret place
exhort (verb) - to urge, advise, or caution earnestly, admonish urgently
imago (noun) - an unconscious, idealized mental image of someone, especially a parent, that
incalescent (adj.) - increasing in heat or ardor, especially from infatuation
influences a person's behavior
phlegmatic (adj.) - having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition, also stolid
supplicate (verb) - ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly
uxorious (adj.) - having or showing an excessive or submissive fondness for one's wife
Words for Context and Rhetoric
accismus (noun) - form of irony wherein person pretends not to want an object they truly desire
circumlocution (noun) - use of many words to express an idea that could otherwise be in few
dilogy (noun) - R.D. where one is deliberately ambiguous
epiplexis (noun) - R.D. where one reproaches the audience in order to convince or persuade
exegesis (noun) - a critical, in-depth explanation
felicitous (adj.) - well-suited for the occasion, as an action, manner or expression
hypophora (noun) - R.D. where one asks and answers their own question
laconic (adj.) - marked by minimum of words, brusque
mimesis (noun) - rhetorical immitation of another's words or mannerisms, slangly meme
mot juste (noun) - a word or phrase that exactly fits the case
noema (noun) - stating something obscurely in order to force others to work it out
ostensibly (adv.) - purportedly or apparently, but perhaps not actually
parapraxis (noun) - a freudian slip, error in speech, memory, or physical action
paromologia (noun) - partial admission of opponent's argument to strengthen one's final position
rigmarole (noun) - a lengthy and complicated procedure, story, or statement
saga (noun) - a long story of heroic achievement
Words for the Cosmic and Exalted
alate (adj.) - having wings or wing-like appendages
ambrosial (adj.) - worthy of the gods
angelocracy (noun) - rule or domination by angels
apogee (noun) - the highest point in the development of something, apex
august (adj.) - inspiring reverence, majestic or venerable
auspicious (adj.) - favored by fortune
benison (noun) - a blessing or utterance of good wishes
corruscate (verb) - (of light) flash or sparkle, also scintillate
echelon (noun) - a level of command, authority or rank
empyrean (adj.) - belonging to or deriving from heaven, in particular the highest part
entheat (adj.) - divinely inspired
halidom (noun) - a sanctuary or object considered holy or sacred, also fane
ineffable (adj.) - too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words
interregnum (noun) - interval of time between reigns, any interruption in continuity
isangelous (adj.) - as good as or equal to angels
lustration (noun) - policy or ceremony performed before entering a holy place
numinous (adj.) - inspiring awe and reverence, filled with a sense of supernatural presence
orison (noun) - a prayer, usually said aloud
paragon (noun) - a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality
prognosticate (verb) - foretell or prophesy (an event in the future)
satori (noun) - sudden enlightenment
septemvir (noun) - a ruling body of seven
talaria (noun) - winged sandals as worn by certain gods, especially Hermes
theophany (noun) - a visible manifestation to humankind of God or a god
venerate (verb) - regard with great respect, to revere
zenith (noun) - the time at which something is most powerful or successful
Words for Crassness and Indecency
asperity (noun) - harshness of tone or manner
brusque (adj.) - abrupt in manner, blunt, rough
dudgeon (noun) - state or fit of intense indignation, resentment, or ill humor
eristic (adj.) - pertaining to arguing for its own sake
eschew (verb) - to avoid or shun
flout (verb) - to treat with contempt and disregard
fulsome (adj.) - offensive to taste or sense, insincere or excessively lavish
mordant (adj.) - sharply caustic or sarcastic, as wit or a speaker
obtrude (verb) - to thrust something on someone uninvitedly
onerous (adj.) - involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome
peccadillo (noun) - a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin
pillory (verb) - attack or ridicule publicly
ribald (adj.) - referring to sexual matters in an amusingly rude or irreverent way
vouchsafe (verb) - to give or grant someone something, in a condescending or gracious way
Word for Criticism
animadvert (verb) - to comment unfavorably or critically
arbitrary (adj.) - based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system
aspersion (noun) - a damaging or derogatory remark or criticism, or the act of
benighted (adj.) - in a state of pitiful or contemptible intellectual or moral ignorance
captious (adj.) - marked by a disposition to find fault or raise objections
chichi (adj.) - attempting stylish elegance but achieving only an overelaborate pretentiousness
diatribe (noun) - sharp, bitter attack or criticism
excoriate (verb) - to flay verbally
flounce (verb) - go or move in an exaggeratedly impatient or angry manner
foofaraw (noun) - a great deal of fuss or attention given to a minor matter
gimcrack (noun) - flimsy or poorly made but deceptively attractive
harangue (noun) - scolding, long, intense verbal attack
insipid (adj.) - lacking flavor, vigor, or interest, antonym: sapid
maculate (verb) - to stain or make impure
objurgate (verb) - to express strong disapproval of, to criticize severely
officious (adj.) - aggressive in offering uninvited help or advice
pablum (noun) - bland or insipid intellectual fare, entertainment, etc.
palaver (verb, noun) - to talk unnecessarily at length
pique (noun) - a feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, especially to one's pride
recriminate (verb) - to counter with accusations
stultify (verb) - cause to lose enthusiasm, initiative, especially as a result of a tedious or restrictive routine
tendentious (adj.) - expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one
torpor (noun) - a state of physical or mental inactivity
touchstone (noun) - a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized
velleity (noun) - a wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to action
vilipend (verb) - regard as worthless or of little value, depreciate
waylay (verb) - stop or interrupt (someone) and detain them in conversation or trouble them in some other way
zugzwang (noun) - a situation in which the obligation to make a move in one's turn is a serious, often decisive, disadvantage
Words for Darkness and Occultism
ampulla (noun) - a flask for sacred uses such as holding holy oil
cruse (noun) - an earthenware pot or jar
perdition (noun) - a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death
periapt (noun) - an item worn as a charm or amulet
philter (noun) - a drink supposed to arouse desire for a particular person, love potion
tenebrific (adj.) - producing darkness
thanatism (noun) - the belief that the soul ceases to exist when the body dies
vade mecum (noun) - a handbook or guide that is kept constantly at hand for consultation
vespertilian (adj.) - pertaining to bats or other creatures of the night
vestigial (adj.) - forming a very small remnant of something that was once much larger or more noticeable
Words for Deception and Manipulation
abscond (verb) - to depart in a sudden and secret manner, esp to avoid legal consequences
adumbrate (verb, adj.) - to produce faint image or resemblance, conceal or darken partially
bilk (verb) - defraud, cheat, swindle
blandishment (noun) - action or speech, that tends to flatter, coax, entice
bowdlerize, expurgate (verb) - to remove or modify the parts considered offensive
cadge (verb) - to borrow without intent to repay
cajole (verb) - persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery
chicanery (noun) - use of trickery to deceive, also skulduggery
collogue (verb) - to confer secretly
cozen (verb) - to deceit or obtain by deceit
defalcate (verb) - to steal or misuse money or property entrusted to one's care
foment (verb) - instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action), also invidious
eisegesis (noun) - interpretation expressing interpreter's own ideas/bias rather than actual meaning
equivocate (verb) - to use ambiguous expressions, to avoid commitment or mislead, to palter
flummox (verb) - to confuse or perplex
inscrutable (adj.) - incapable of being analyzed, not easily understood
inveigle (verb) - to acquire by beguiling talk or methods
kenspeckle (adj.) - conspicuous
legerdemain (noun) - sleight of hand, artful deception
levant (verb) - run away, typically leaving unpaid debts
malinger (verb) - to pretend illness, especially in order to shirk one's duty or avoid work
mendacious (adj.) - telling lies, habitually dishonest, untruthful
obfuscate (adj.) - to make obscure, unclear or abstruse, darken
palliate (verb) - make less severe, uncomfortable, or disguise the gravity of
prevaricate (verb) - to make a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
renege (verb) - to go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract
skulk (verb) - keep out of sight, typically with a sinister or cowardly motive
sophistry (noun) - the use of fallacious arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving
stonewall (verb) - delay or block (a request, process, or person) by refusing to answer questions or by giving evasive replies, especially in politics
tarradiddle (noun) - a petty lie
venal (adj.) - showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery
verisimilitude (noun) - the appearance of being true or real
Words for Epithets and Roles
apothecary (noun) - a person who prepared and sold medicines and drugs
beldam (noun) - an old woman, also gammer
bellwether (noun) - a leader of a movement or activity, a leading indicator of future trends
bibliopole (noun) - person who buys and sells books, especially rare ones
buck (noun) - a fashionable and daring young man
cicisbeo (noun) - the man with whom a women is having an a air
cotquean (noun) - a man who busies himself with women's work or affairs
coxcomb (noun) - a vain and conceited man, a dandy
dandiprat (noun) - a young or insignificant person
demagogue (noun) - a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument, populist
eminence gris (noun) - a person who wields power or exerts influence behind the scenes
fainéant (noun) - an idle or ineffective person, also lurdan
famulus (noun) - an assistant or servant, especially one working for a magician or scholar
fizgig (noun) - a gadding flirting girl or woman
gadabout (noun) - a habitual socialite or pleasure-seeker
gallant (noun) - a man who pays special attention to women
gudgeon (noun) - a credulous or easily fooled person
harridan (noun) - a strict, bossy, or belligerent woman
iconoclast (noun, adj. [-ic]) - breaker or destroyer of images held precious or sacred
jade (noun) - an ill-tempered or disreputable woman
magdalen (noun) - a reformed prostitute
pachyderm (noun) - a person who is not sensitive to criticism or ridicule
philodox (noun) - a person who loves or vehemently propounds his or her own opinions
picaroon (noun) - a rogue or scoundrel, also varlet
poltroon (noun) - an utter coward, also scaramouch is they are a braggart
popinjay (noun) - a vain or conceited person, especially one who dresses or behaves extravagantly
quidnunc (noun) - an inquisitive and gossipy person
rapscallion (noun) - a mischievous person
revenant (noun) - a person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead
ruffian (noun) - a violent person, especially one involved in crime
scapegrace (noun) - a mischievous or wayward person, especially a young person or child, rascal
sciolist (noun) - a person who pretends to be knowledgeable and well informed
sirrah (noun) - a condescending term for a male, younger or of lower status, also carl
slugabed (noun) - a lazy person who stays in bed late
solifidian (noun) - one who maintains that faith alone, without the performance of good works, is all that is necessary for salvation
sorner (noun) - one who obtrudes himself on another for bed and board
swain (noun) - a young lover or suitor
virago (noun) - a woman of masculine strength or spirit, a female warrior
Words for Health & Cuisine
aliment (noun, verb) - something that nourishes or sustains the mind or body, or to do so
anastasis (noun, adj. -tic) - recovery from a debilitating condition, especially irradiation of tissue
deleterious (adj.) - injurious to health
farinaceous (adj.) - consisting or made of flour or meal
kickshaw (noun) - a fancy but insubstantial cooked dish
olio (n) - a miscellaneous collection of things, such as a culinary dish
roborant (noun, adj.) - a medicine, treatment, etc. that has a strengthening or restorative effect
salubrious (adj.) - beneficial to health
soupçon (noun) - a very small quantity or trace of something
winnow (verb) - remove (people or things) from a group until only the best ones are left
Word for Nature and the Elements
alfresco (adv.) - in the open air, outdoors
apricate (verb) - to bask in the sunshine
balefire (noun) - a large open-air fire; a bonfire
billow (noun, verb) - to rise or roll in like a great wave, a surge
brumal (adj.) - of or pertaining to winter
chatoyant (adj.) - changing in luster or color
effloresce (verb) - to burst into bloom
efflux (noun) - outward flow or lapse of time or passing away, expiration
embouchure (noun) the mouth of a river or valley
estival (adj.) - of or pertaining to summer
foudroyant (adj.) - sudden, as like lightning
fulgurate (verb) - to flash or dart like lightning
garth (noun) - a yard or garden, particularly in a monastery
heliolatry (noun) - worship of the sun
lignify (verb) - make rigid and woody by the deposition of lignin in cell walls
maelstrom (noun) - a powerful whirlpool in the sea or a river
matutinal (adj.) - pertaining to or occurring in the morning
nebulize (verb) - to become vague or indistinct, as like a fine spray
noctivagant (adj.) - wandering around at night
procellous (adj.) - stormy, as like the sea
rarefy (verb) - to make or become less thin or less dense, refined, as like air
spindrift (noun) - spray blown from the crests of waves by the wind
surreptitious (adj.) - kept secret, especially because it would not be approved
taiga (noun) - a swampy forest, particularly in arctic latitudes
torrefy (verb) - to dry or roast with fire, also ustulate
fulgurate (verb) - to flash or dart like lightning
garth (noun) - a yard or garden, particularly in a monastery
heliolatry (noun) - worship of the sun
lignify (verb) - make rigid and woody by the deposition of lignin in cell walls
maelstrom (noun) - a powerful whirlpool in the sea or a river
matutinal (adj.) - pertaining to or occurring in the morning
nebulize (verb) - to become vague or indistinct, as like a fine spray
noctivagant (adj.) - wandering around at night
procellous (adj.) - stormy, as like the sea
rarefy (verb) - to make or become less thin or less dense, refined, as like air
spindrift (noun) - spray blown from the crests of waves by the wind
surreptitious (adj.) - kept secret, especially because it would not be approved
taiga (noun) - a swampy forest, particularly in arctic latitudes
torrefy (verb) - to dry or roast with fire, also ustulate
Words for Truth and Virtue
abnegate (verb) - to refuse or deny oneself some rights or conveniences, renounce
aphorism (noun) - a concise saying embodying a general truth or sagacious observation, maxim
axiomatic (adj.) - self-evident or unquestionable, also subaudition
aver (verb) - to assert or affirm with confidence or declare as fact
confute (verb) - to prove to be false
contrite (adj.) - cause by of showing sincere remorse
elucidate (verb) - to clarify or make clear
evince (verb) - to bring to light
exculpate (verb) - to clear from a charge of guilt or fault
expiate (verb) - to atone for, makes amends or reparation for
futilitarian (noun) - believing that human hopes are vain and unjustified
indaba (noun) - a meeting to discuss a serious topic
oriflamme (noun) - a principle or ideal that serves as a rallying point in a struggle
probity (noun) - the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency
shrift (noun) - a confession, usually said to a priest
veracious (adj.) - speaking or representing the truth, also veriloquent
Words for Violence and Vengeance
anathema (noun) - person or thing detested or loathed
bellicose (adj.) - inclined or eager to fight, aggressively hostile, belligerent, pugnacious
brannigan (noun) - brawl
diktat (noun) - a harsh settlement unilaterally imposed on a defeated party or authoritative decree, also ukase
disconcert (verb) - to disturb the composure of
donnybrook (noun) - brawl, free-for-all, heated quarrel of dispute
immolate (verb) - to sacrifice, kill or destroy often by fire
irascible (adj.) - easily provoked to anger, characterized or produced by anger
lupine (adj.) - savage, pertaining to or resembling the wolf
paroxysm (noun) - a sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity
pernicious (adj.) - having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
procrustean (adj.) - tending to produce conformity by violent or arbitrary means
rancor (noun) - bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long-standing
recidivism (noun) - the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend
scurrilous (adj.) - making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the intention of damaging their reputation
vicissitude (noun) - a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
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