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abate
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to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
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abscond
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to leave secretly
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abstain
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to choose not to do something
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abyss
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an extremely deep hole
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adulterate
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to make impure
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advocate
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to speak in favor of
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aesthetic
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concerning the appreciation of beauty
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aggrandize
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to increase in power, influence, and reputation
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alleviate
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to make more bearable
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amalgamate
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to combine; to mix together
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ambiguous
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doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways
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ameliorate
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to make better; to improve
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anachronism
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something out of place in time
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analogous
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similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
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anomaly
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deviation from what is normal
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antagonize
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to annoy or provoke to anger
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antipathy
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extreme dislike
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apathy
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lack of interest or emotion
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arbitrate
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to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
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archaic
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ancient; old-fashioned
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ardor
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intense and passionate feeling
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articulate
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able to speak clearly and expressively
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assuage
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to make something unpleasant less severe
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attenuate
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to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
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audacious
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fearless and daring
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austere
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severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
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banal
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predictable, cliched, boring
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bolster
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to support; to prop up
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bombastic
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pompous in speech and manner
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cacophony
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harsh, jarring noise
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candid
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impartial and honest in speech
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capricious
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changing one's mind quickly and often
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castigate
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to punish or criticize harshly
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catalyst
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something that brings about a change in something else
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caustic
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biting in wit
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chaos
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great disorder or confusion
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chauvinist
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someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
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chicanery
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deception by means of craft or guile
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cogent
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convincing and well reasoned
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condone
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to overlook, pardon, or disregard
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convoluted
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intricate and complicated
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corroborate
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to provide supporting evidence
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creduluous
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too trusting; gullible
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crescendo
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steadily increasing volume or force
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decorum
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appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
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deference
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respect, courtesy
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deride
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to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
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desiccate
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to dry out thoroughly
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desultory
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jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
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diatribe
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an abusive, condemnatory speech
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