buttress
to support or strengthen something
Vocabulary directory
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catharsis
emotional relief gained by expressing strong feelings
drowsiness
a feeling of sleepiness
effluent
liquid waste flowing out of a factory or sewage plant
extrapolate
to estimate an unknown value from known facts or trends
fingertip
the end of a finger
harmonize
to make things work well together or sound pleasing together
inimitable
so distinctive that it cannot be copied
layover
a break between stages of a journey
motility
the ability of a cell or organism to move
outgrow
to become too big or mature for something
pylon
a tall structure supporting electric cables or a bridge
quip
a short, witty remark
resplendent
attractively bright and richly colored
silicate
a mineral or compound containing silicon and oxygen
skewer
to push a thin pointed rod through food or another object
strenuously
with great effort or strong opposition
swindle
to cheat someone out of money or property
apocryphal
widely repeated but unlikely to be true
baldness
the state of having little or no hair on the head
enthralling
holding attention completely
fossilized
turned into a fossil or fixed and outdated
gaffe
an embarrassing mistake in speech or behavior
gargantuan
enormously large
gavel
a small hammer used by a judge or chairperson
laxative
a medicine that helps the bowels move
leeward
on the side sheltered from the wind
newscast
a radio or television program presenting news
nonverbal
communicated without words
panache
confident and stylish flair
pocketbook
a small book or purse; also one's available money
refrigerant
a substance used in a cooling system to transfer heat
shavings
thin pieces cut from a material such as wood
shirk
to avoid a duty or responsibility
splint
a rigid support used to keep an injured body part still
spunk
courage and determination
strident
loud and harsh, or strongly insistent
swank
fashionable and expensive
unevenly
in a way that is not equal or smooth
vastness
the quality of being extremely large in size or extent
agape
with the mouth wide open in surprise
conjugal
relating to marriage or a married couple
erratically
in an unpredictable or irregular manner
halcyon
calm, peaceful, and happy, especially of a past time
harshness
the quality of being severe or unpleasant
indented
set in from the edge or marked with notches
insolence
rude disrespect, especially toward authority
marshy
wet and soft like a marsh
mongrel
a dog of mixed breed
premonition
a feeling that something, often bad, will happen
reportage
the reporting of news or events, especially in a vivid style
scrumptious
extremely tasty
trawl
to search through a large amount of material thoroughly
uncooperative
unwilling to help or work with others
unobstructed
not blocked by anything
unobtrusive
not attracting unwanted attention
unwitting
not aware of the full facts or the effect of an action
vulgarity
rude or tasteless language or behavior
wanderlust
a strong desire to travel
clairvoyant
claiming to see future events or things hidden from ordinary senses
crag
a steep, rough rock or cliff
crystallization
the formation of crystals or the becoming clear of an idea
deadpan
showing no emotion, especially while saying something funny
escapism
the habit of seeking distraction from unpleasant realities
filial
relating to a son or daughter and their parents
gastronomy
the art and knowledge of preparing and enjoying good food
impregnable
unable to be taken by force or overcome
interdependent
mutually dependent on one another
myopic
lacking foresight; also relating to short-sightedness
overreach
to try to do or control more than one can manage
pander
to satisfy someone's desires in a way that seems unprincipled
patrician
relating to an old or upper-class family
polemic
a strongly argued attack on an idea or policy
prognostic
indicating what is likely to happen in the future
raspy
rough and harsh in sound
renunciation
the formal rejection or giving up of something
reparation
payment or action intended to make amends for harm
sacrilege
disrespectful treatment of something considered sacred
tangy
having a sharp, pleasantly sour taste
timbre
the distinctive quality of a voice or musical sound
torrid
extremely hot; also intensely passionate
tuber
a thick underground plant stem used to store food
unkempt
untidy in appearance
unmitigated
complete and not made less severe
brocade
a rich cloth woven with raised designs
charlatan
a person who falsely claims special knowledge or skill
constricted
made narrower or tighter
cornice
a decorative projection along the top edge of a building or wall
corporeal
relating to the physical body rather than the mind
dutiful
careful to fulfill duties and obligations
earshot
the distance within which a sound can be heard
frothy
covered with or consisting of small bubbles
gargoyle
a carved stone creature on a building, often used as a waterspout
infinitesimal
extremely small
laceration
a deep cut or tear in the skin
mimicry
the act of copying a person or thing
mutate
to undergo a change in genetic material
pinion
to restrain a person's arms to prevent movement
prospector
a person who searches for valuable minerals
regress
to return to an earlier, less developed state