aberration

a deviation from what is normal, expected, or usual

His outburst was an aberration from his usual calm demeanor.

abhor

to regard with disgust and hatred

She abhors the idea of wasting food when so many are hungry.

abrogate

to repeal or do away with a law, right, or formal agreement

The new government decided to abrogate the old, outdated policies.

acumen

the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions

Her business acumen helped her turn the company into a successful enterprise.

adroit

skillful and clever in handling situations or tasks

He was adroit at solving complex mathematical problems quickly.

alacrity

cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness

She accepted the invitation with alacrity, eager to attend the event.

ameliorate

to make something better or more tolerable

The new law was introduced to ameliorate the living conditions of the poor.

anachronistic

belonging to a period other than that being portrayed

The movie's anachronistic costumes made it difficult to believe it was set in the 18th century.

apathy

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

The student's apathy toward his grades was evident in his lack of effort.

ardent

enthusiastic or passionate

She is an ardent supporter of animal rights and regularly volunteers at shelters.

assiduous

showing great care and perseverance

The assiduous student worked late into the night to finish her project.

avarice

extreme greed for wealth or material gain

His avarice led him to exploit others for personal profit.

belligerent

hostile and aggressive

The belligerent tone in his voice made it clear that he was upset.

benevolent

showing kindness and goodwill

The benevolent woman donated a large sum of money to the charity.

boisterous

noisy, energetic, and cheerful

The boisterous crowd cheered as the team scored the winning goal.

cacophony

a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

The cacophony of car horns and shouting vendors filled the street.

capricious

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

His capricious nature made him hard to predict in business meetings.

castigate

to reprimand someone severely

The teacher castigate the students for their poor behavior during the trip.

clandestine

kept secret or done secretively

Their clandestine meetings were held in hidden locations to avoid detection.

cogent

clear, logical, and convincing

Her cogent argument swayed the jury and won the case.

complacent

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements

The team became complacent after their early success and stopped improving.

condescending

having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority

He gave a condescending smile when the junior employee made a mistake.

convoluted

extremely complex and difficult to follow

The professor's convoluted explanation left the students confused.

copious

abundant in supply or quantity

The copious notes she took during the lecture were helpful for studying.

cryptic

having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure

His cryptic message left us wondering about his true intentions.

cursory

hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed

She gave a cursory glance at the report before deciding it was fine.

deference

humble submission and respect for the opinions or wishes of others

He showed deference to his elders by listening attentively to their advice.

demure

reserved, modest, or shy

The demure girl blushed when asked to speak in front of the class.

denigrate

to criticize unfairly or belittle

It’s wrong to denigrate others in order to make yourself feel superior.

diatribe

a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something

The politician’s diatribe against his opponent was harsh and unrelenting.

dichotomy

a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different

The dichotomy between rich and poor is widening in many societies.

dissonance

lack of harmony among musical notes or disagreement in ideas

There was a dissonance in their opinions that made it difficult to reach a consensus.

divulge

to make known (something secret)

He refused to divulge any information about the upcoming project.

dogmatic

inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true

His dogmatic views on politics made it hard for him to have open discussions.

ebullient

cheerful and full of energy

The ebullient child jumped up and down with excitement after hearing the good news.

eclectic

deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources

Her eclectic taste in music included everything from classical to hip-hop.

egregious

outstandingly bad or shocking

The egregious error in the report caused the company to lose clients.

enervate

to weaken or drain of energy

The hot sun enervated the hikers, making them feel sluggish and tired.

ephemeral

lasting for a very short time

The beauty of the sunset was ephemeral, disappearing as quickly as it appeared.

esoteric

intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge

The esoteric nature of quantum physics makes it difficult for most people to grasp.

exacerbate

to make a situation worse

The lack of communication only served to exacerbate the tension in the room.

exculpate

to show or declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing

The evidence presented in court exculpated the defendant, proving his innocence.

exigent

requiring immediate action or attention

The exigent circumstances of the medical emergency required swift intervention.

facetious

treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor

His facetious comments during the meeting were met with disapproval.

flabbergasted

extremely surprised or shocked

She was flabbergasted when she won the grand prize at the lottery.

furtive

attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble

He gave a furtive glance at the clock, hoping no one would notice he was late.

garrulous

excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters

The garrulous man never stopped talking about his childhood adventures.

grandiose

extravagant and imposing, especially in an exaggerated way

His grandiose plans for the new office building seemed unrealistic.

gratuitous

given or done without charge or reason, often unnecessary

The movie included gratuitous violence that seemed unnecessary to the plot.

hackneyed

overused and unoriginal

His hackneyed speech included all the usual clichés about hard work and success.

hapless

unfortunate or unlucky

The hapless traveler lost his luggage and missed his flight.

hegemony

leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group

The country’s hegemony in the region made it a dominant power.

heretical

contrary to accepted beliefs or doctrines, especially in religion

His heretical ideas were condemned by the church, leading to his excommunication.

iconoclast

a person who attacks or criticizes cherished beliefs or institutions

The artist was known as an iconoclast, challenging traditional views of art and beauty.

idiosyncratic

peculiar or individualistic in nature

His idiosyncratic taste in fashion often attracted attention for its originality.

ignominious

deserving or causing public disgrace or shame

The ignominious defeat left the team humiliated and embarrassed.

impassive

not showing or feeling any emotion

The diplomat remained impassive despite the heated debate in the room.

impeccable

in accordance with the highest standards; flawless

Her impeccable performance at the recital earned her a standing ovation.

implacable

unable to be appeased or pacified

The implacable judge refused to reduce the sentence, regardless of the defendant's plea.

impugn

to dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of something

The lawyer impugned the witness’s testimony, suggesting it was unreliable.

inane

silly or lacking sense

His inane comments during the meeting were completely irrelevant.

incisive

intelligently analytical and clear-thinking

Her incisive analysis of the issue revealed the root causes of the problem.

incongruous

not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something

The modern sculpture seemed incongruous in the old, classical museum.

indefatigable

persisting tirelessly

The indefatigable volunteer worked for hours to help organize the event.

indolent

habitually lazy or avoiding work

His indolent attitude towards studying led to poor grades.

inept

having or showing no skill; clumsy

The inept manager caused chaos by making poor decisions.

ingenuous

innocent and unsuspecting

The ingenuous child was easily tricked by the magician's sleight of hand.

inimical

harmful or hostile

His inimical attitude toward the new policy caused tension among colleagues.

insidious

proceeding in a subtle way but with harmful effects

The insidious spread of misinformation affected public opinion.

intrepid

fearless, adventurous

The intrepid explorers trekked across the jungle despite the dangers.

invective

insulting, abusive, or highly critical language

The debate turned ugly as both sides began using invective against each other.

irascible

easily angered or irritable

His irascible temper made it difficult to work with him.

laconic

using few words; concise

His laconic response made it clear that he was not interested in the conversation.

latent

existing but not yet developed or manifest

The artist's latent talent was discovered after years of practicing.

lethargic

sluggish and lacking in energy

After the long flight, she felt lethargic and needed a few hours to rest.

loquacious

very talkative

The loquacious guest monopolized the conversation throughout dinner.

lugubrious

looking or sounding sad and dismal

The lugubrious atmosphere at the funeral made everyone somber.

machinations

plots or schemes, especially those that are devious

The political machinations behind the scandal were uncovered by the press.

magnanimous

generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person

His magnanimous nature made him popular with everyone around him.

malcontent

a person who is dissatisfied or rebellious

The malcontent employee often complained about the company’s policies.

mendacious

not telling the truth; lying

The politician’s mendacious statements were exposed in the media.

meticulous

showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise

The meticulous artist spent hours perfecting every small detail of the painting.

nefarious

wicked or criminal

The nefarious activities of the gang were finally exposed by the police.

obfuscate

to deliberately make something unclear or confusing

The lawyer tried to obfuscate the truth by using complex legal jargon.

obsequious

excessively eager to please or obey

His obsequious behavior made him appear insincere to his colleagues.

officious

assertive of authority in an annoyingly domineering way

The officious manager constantly interrupted meetings, trying to take control.

onerous

involving a great deal of effort or difficulty

The onerous task of sorting through thousands of documents took weeks.

ostentatious

characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress

The ostentatious mansion was filled with expensive and unnecessary decorations.

palliate

to make less severe or intense; to alleviate

The doctor prescribed medication to palliate the patient's pain.

panacea

a universal remedy or solution to all problems

While the new policy seems beneficial, it is not a panacea for all economic issues.

paradigm

a model or pattern of something

The company’s success served as a paradigm for new startups in the industry.

parsimonious

very unwilling to spend money or resources

The parsimonious businessman refused to invest in any new projects.

pedantic

excessively concerned with minor details and rules

His pedantic explanations about grammar made the lesson tedious.

perfidious

deceitful and untrustworthy

The perfidious actions of the traitor caused great harm to the kingdom.

peruse

to read or examine carefully

She perused the contract before signing it to make sure there were no hidden clauses.

pervasive

spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people

The pervasive influence of social media has changed the way we communicate.

phlegmatic

having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition

The phlegmatic man remained calm even during the most stressful situations.

placid

calm and peaceful

The placid lake reflected the clear blue sky without a ripple.

plaintive

expressing sorrow or melancholy

The plaintive sound of the violin resonated through the concert hall.

plethora

a large or excessive amount of something

The store offered a plethora of choices for every customer.

precocious

showing unusually early development or maturity

The precocious child could read before she was three years old.

predilection

a preference or liking for something

His predilection for classical music was evident in his vast collection of records.

prosaic

lacking poetic beauty; dull and unimaginative

The report was filled with prosaic details and lacked any exciting analysis.

protean

able to change or adapt easily to different situations

The protean actor took on many diverse roles throughout his career.

prudent

acting with or showing care and thought for the future

It’s prudent to save money for unexpected emergencies.

pusillanimous

showing a lack of courage or determination

His pusillanimous behavior made him reluctant to confront the issue head-on.

quixotic

exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical

His quixotic plans to solve global poverty were full of optimism but lacked practicality.

rancor

bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long-standing

The long-running feud between the two families was filled with rancor.

recalcitrant

stubbornly disobedient or resistant to authority

The recalcitrant student refused to follow the teacher's instructions.

recondite

little known or understood; obscure

The recondite theories presented in the book were difficult to grasp without further study.

redolent

strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something

The redolent aroma of fresh bread filled the kitchen.

refute

to disprove or show to be false

The defense lawyer was able to refute the witness's testimony with solid evidence.

relegate

to assign to a lower or less important position

The new employee was relegated to menial tasks until he gained more experience.

remonstrate

to protest or object to something

The workers remonstrated against the new policy, demanding better conditions.

reprehensible

deserving condemnation or criticism

His reprehensible behavior at the meeting left everyone uncomfortable.

rescind

to revoke, cancel, or repeal

The company decided to rescind the offer after the applicant failed the background check.

reticent

not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily

She was reticent about her personal life, preferring to keep it private.

revere

to regard with deep respect or admiration

The community reveres its elders and seeks their advice in times of need.

salacious

having or conveying undue interest in sexual matters

The salacious gossip spread quickly through the office, causing discomfort.

sanguine

optimistic or positive, especially in a difficult situation

Despite the challenges, he remained sanguine about the future of the project.

sardonic

grimly mocking or cynical

His sardonic comments about the boss's leadership style made everyone uncomfortable.

scintillating

sparkling or shining brightly; brilliantly lively or exciting

The scintillating performance by the pianist captivated the audience.

serendipity

the occurrence of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way

They met by pure serendipity while traveling in Europe.

somnolent

sleepy or drowsy

The somnolent atmosphere in the room made it hard to stay awake during the lecture.

specious

superficially plausible but actually wrong or deceptive

His specious argument appeared convincing at first but fell apart under scrutiny.

spurious

not being what it purports to be; false or counterfeit

His spurious claims about the company's profits were quickly debunked.

staid

sedate, respectable, and unadventurous

The staid old man preferred to spend his evenings reading quietly by the fireplace.

stalwart

loyal, reliable, and hardworking

As a stalwart supporter of the team, she never missed a match, rain or shine.

stymie

prevent or hinder the progress of

The roadblocks stymied the project, causing it to be delayed for months.

succinct

briefly and clearly expressed

Her succinct response to the question saved everyone a lot of time.

Superfluous

Unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.

The report contained a superfluous amount of data that was not needed for the analysis.

Surreptitious

Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.

They exchanged surreptitious glances during the meeting, as if they were hiding something important.

Terse

Sparing in the use of words; abrupt.

His terse response left no room for further discussion, making it clear he was done with the conversation.

Ubiquitous

Present, appearing, or found everywhere.

Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society, with nearly everyone owning one.

Unctuous

Excessively or ingratiatingly flattering; oily.

The unctuous salesman kept complimenting the customer in an effort to make the sale.

Vacillate

Waver between different opinions or actions.

She vacillated between accepting the job offer and staying in her current position.

Vainglorious

Excessively proud of oneself or one's achievements.

His vainglorious attitude made it hard for others to take him seriously.

Venerate

Regard with great respect or reverence.

The community venerates its elders for their wisdom and contributions.

Veracity

Conformity to facts; accuracy.

The journalist was praised for the veracity of her report, as every detail was thoroughly checked.

Verbose

Using more words than are needed.

His verbose explanation only confused the audience more, rather than clarifying the issue.

Vestige

A trace or remnant of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.

The ruins of the ancient castle are a vestige of a bygone era.

Viable

Capable of working successfully.

The scientist developed a viable solution to the environmental problem that could be implemented worldwide.

Vigilant

Keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties.

The security guard remained vigilant throughout the night, ensuring the building was safe.

Vindicate

Clear (someone) of blame or suspicion.

The new evidence served to vindicate the accused, proving their innocence.

Virtuoso

A person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit.

The young pianist was a virtuoso, impressing the audience with her flawless performance.

Vociferous

Expressing or characterized by strong opinions or feelings.

The vociferous protestors made their demands loud and clear.

Voracious

Wanting or devouring great quantities of food.

He had a voracious appetite and could eat an entire pizza on his own.

Winsome

Attractive or appealing in appearance or character.

Her winsome smile made everyone feel welcome in her presence.

Zealous

Having or showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.

The zealous volunteers worked tirelessly to help build the community center.