equivocate | to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead |
superfluous | 1. unnecessary; 2. being more than is sufficient or required
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bilateral | two-sided |
unilateral | one-side |
circumspect | cautious |
commensurate | 1. having the same measure; 2. corresponding in amount, magnitude, or degree |
malevolence | evil intent |
neophyte | beginner |
misanthropist | people-hater |
bellicose | warlike |
anthropomorphic | Attribution of human motivation, characteristics, or behavior to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena |
captious | easily notices and makes much of trivial faults or defects; faultfinding; difficult to please. |
neologism | new word |
malediction | a curse |
incredulous | Skeptical; disbelieving |
omniscient | all-knowing |
monomania | obsession with one thing |
specious | 1. false; 2. Having the ring of truth or plausibility but actually fallacious |
excoriate | To express strong disapproval of; to denounce |
prototype | the original or model on which something is based or formed |
xenophobia | fear of foreigners |
benediction | blessing; an expression of good wishes |
amorphous | lacking definite form; having no specific shape; formless, shapeless |
preponderance | superiority in weight, power, numbers, etc.; bulk |
magnanimous | great-minded; courageously noble in mind and heart |
mollify | to soften in feeling or temper, as a person; pacify; appease |
ichthyologist | fish scientist |
polyglot | able to speak or write several languages; multilingual |
diaphanous | almost completely transparent or translucent |
sinecure | an easy profitable job |
soliloquy | speech to oneself |
adherent | supporter |
abjure | renounce; to give up |
caustic | burning |
confluence | flowing together |
depose | to remove from office or position |
egomania | self-obsession |
egregious | outrageously bad or reprehensible; blatant, flagrant |
analgesic | painkiller |
chiromancy | palm reading |
oligarchy | government by a few |
intractable | not easily controlled; stubborn |
intransigent | not compromising |
perfidious | treacherous; deceitful |
perspicuous | clearly expressed or presented; easy to understand |
ingenuous | innocent and naive |
circumlocution | a roundabout expression |
gregarious | sociable |
discursive | rambling |
somniferous | bringing sleep |
egocentric | sef-centered |
tangible | touchable |
demagogue | person who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people |
preclude | prevent |
cryptologist | code breaker |
ethnocentrism | racial or cultural prejudice |
pedagogue | teacher |
recant | to withdraw or disavow a statement |
revoke | cancel |
pugnacious | combative |
incisive | sharp; cutting |
diatribe | abusive criticism |
anomaly | abnormality |
enumerate | to list; count |
circumscribed | limited |
intercede | mediate |
disputatious | argumentative |
loquacious | talkative |
abrogate | to abolish, do away with, or annul |
prescience | foreknowledge |
sacrosanct | sacred |
androgynous | masculine and feminine |
acronym | word from initial letters |
congenital | at birth |
cacophony | bad sound; harsh or discordant sound |