Featured Words

quisling

A traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying their country.

polysemy

The coexistence of many possible meanings for a word or phrase.

aleatory

Depending on the throw of a dice or on luck; relating to or denoting luck or chance.

autarky

Economic independence or self-sufficiency; a country or region that is self-sufficient.

vituperation

Bitter and abusive language.

contumely

Insolent or insulting language or treatment.

perfidy

Deceitfulness; untrustworthiness; a deliberate breach of faith.

apostasy

The formal abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief or principle.

hegemony

Leadership or dominant influence exercised by one nation, state, or group over others.

senescence

The process of deterioration with age; loss of a cell's power of division and growth, or general biological aging.

acerbic

Sharp, forthright, and biting or sour in tone, temper, or style.

dissemble

To conceal one's true motives, feelings, or beliefs.

chicanery

The use of trickery, especially in legal, financial, or political matters, to achieve a purpose.

mendacious

Not telling the truth; lying or habitually dishonest.

polymath

A person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning.

excoriate

To criticize someone or something very severely; to strip off the skin (literally).

ataraxia

A state of serene calmness and untroubled tranquility of mind.

eudaimonia

A condition of human flourishing, living well, and realizing one's full potential; true objective well-being.

intransigence

Refusal to change one's views or to agree about something.

stochastic

Having a random probability distribution or pattern that may be analyzed statistically but may not be predicted precisely.

transience

The state or fact of lasting only for a short time; impermanence.

verisimilitude

The appearance of being true or real.

propitiate

To win or regain the favor of a god, spirit, or person by doing something that pleases them.

sagacious

Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; wise or shrewd.

perspicacious

Having a ready insight into and understanding of things.

pusillanimous

Showing a lack of courage, determination, or spirit; faint-hearted.

recreant

Cowardly or traitorous; a craven deserter or apostate.

munificent

Extremely generous, lavish, or bountiful in giving gifts or money.

rapprochement

An establishment or resumption of harmonious relations, especially between two countries.

aberrant

Departing from an accepted standard, normal biological type, or expected moral path.

expiate

To atone for guilt or sin.

invective

Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.

opprobrium

Harsh criticism or public disgrace arising from shameful conduct.

iconoclastic

Characterized by an attack on settled beliefs or institutions.

sedition

Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.

duplicity

Deceitfulness in speech or conduct, double-dealing, or acting in two different ways to different people.

omnipotence

The quality of having unlimited or very great power.

subjugate

Bring under domination or control, especially by conquest.

potentate

A monarch or ruler, especially an autocratic one.

sardonic

Grimly mocking, cynical, or characterized by a bitter, scornful sneer.

caustic

Sarcastic, cutting, and biting in a scathing and bitter way.

aspersion

An attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something.

canard

An unfounded rumor or story; a fabricated report.

prevaricate

To speak or act in an evasive way to avoid telling the truth or committing oneself.

equivocate

To use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself.

specious

Superficially plausible, but actually wrong or misleading.

spurious

Not being what it purports to be; false, fake, or counterfeit.

omniscient

Knowing everything; having unlimited awareness or understanding.

xenophobia

Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.

diaspora

The dispersion or scattering of any people from their original homeland.

equanimity

Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation.

redolent

Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something; fragrant or smelling strongly of something.

consternation

A feelings of anxiety, dismay, or sudden confusion caused by something unexpected.

timorous

Showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence; timid by disposition.

filibuster

An action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically violating the required procedures.

unfettered

Restrained or uninhibited; released from physical or metaphorical shackles.

forsooth

Indeed (often used ironically to express doubt or contempt).

attrition

The process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure.

ostracize

To deliberately exclude, shun, or banish someone from a society, group, or social circle.

erudite

Having or showing great knowledge or learning; scholarly.