Vocab Flashcards
encomium
praise
perspicacity
“the perspicacity of her remarks”
astuteness
the quality of having a ready insight into things; shrewdness
obloquy
“He endured years of contempt and obloquy.”
criticism
pastiche
“the operetta is a pastiche of 18th century styles”
artwork that imitates other pieces
panegyric
“Vera’s panegyric on friendship”
praise
prevarication
“Because my sister Sarah does not take bad news well, I always prevaricate when telling her something she does not want to hear.”
speaking in an evasive fashion
to deviate from the truth; equivocate
equivocation
“Sean continued to equivocate when the FBI persisted in their questioning”
to speak vaguely as to avoid revealing the truth; prevaricate
discernment
“Sean showed an astonishing lack of discernment.”
ability to judge
auspicious
it was not the most auspicious moment to hold an election
favourable; conducive to success
intimation
implying or hinting at something
contrivance / contrived
to pull off something in an artificial or unnatural manner.
Esoteric
– known only to those with specialized knowledge
Dilatory
– slow; delaying
Polemic
– a written or verbal attack against someone
Alacrity
The first three weeks at his new job, Mark worked with such alacrity that upper management knew they would be giving him a promotion
eager and willing to do something
Prosaic
Unlike the talented artists in his workshop, Paul had no such bent for the visual medium, so when it was time for him to make a stained glass painting, he ended up with a prosaic mosaic.
** dull and lacking imagination
verasity
After years of political scandals, the congressman was hardly known for his veracity; yet despite this distrust, he was voted into yet another term.
truthful
eminent
(of a person) famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession.
staid
sedate, respectable, and unadventurous.
garrulous
excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.
forlorn
pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely.
gregarious
(of a person) fond of company; sociable.
bumbling
blunder specifically : to speak ineptly in a stuttering and faltering manner
prodigious
remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree
probing
the act or an instance of making a thorough inquiry, such as one by a newspaper into corrupt practices.
ingenuity
the quality of being clever, original, and inventive.
coalesced
come together to form one mass or whole.
sedulous
(of a person or action) showing dedication and diligence.
clarion
loud and clear
perdition
the place or state in which one suffers eternal punishment
eccentricity
strange and unconventional behavior; quirky
prod
push against gently
prevaricate
be deliberately ambiguous or unclear
emollient
a substance with a soothing effect when applied to the skin
emollient
a substance with a soothing effect when applied to the skin
fester
ripen and generate pus
analogy
drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity
analogy
drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity
Aberration
“The Fed will probably need convincing that the latest labour-market report was an aberrationbefore tightening policy.”
noun, a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected
BEaR-Ant
Abreast
“These daily updates were designed to help readers keep abreast of the markets…”
adjective, Up to date with the latest news, ideas, or information
Synonyms: in touch with, plugged into
Abstain
“The decision to abstain from such techniques, just and wise though it was, came at a cost.”
verb, Restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something
Synonyms: refrain, desist, hold back
Abyss
“Whose dire warnings about risks… seem most believable? Which abyss looks darker and deeper?”
noun, a deep or seemingly bottomless chasm
Synonyms: gorge, ravine, void
Adept
“An abundance of clever people—adept in English law as much as in finance—draws in banks, fund managers and so forth…”
Adept: adjective, Very skilled or proficient at something
Synonyms: expert, proficient, accomplished
Agog:
“We are now agog to know when, on the basis of its forecasts, the Bank will push up interest rates…”
adjective, Very eager or curious to hear or see something
Synonyms: excited, impatient, in suspense
Allure:
“Yet it was the allure of the Model T for millions of consumers that finally drove the horse off the road.”
noun, the quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating
Synonyms: attraction, lure, draw
Allure:
“Yet it was the allure of the Model T for millions of consumers that finally drove the horse off the road.”
noun, the quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating
Synonyms: attraction, lure, draw
Altruism
“Dr Decety is not the first to wonder, in a scientific way, about the connection between religion and altruism.”
Altruism: noun, the belief in or practice of selfless concern for the well-being of others
Synonyms: selflessness, compassion, goodwill
Ambivalent
“The first was a chronic lack of focus. Right from the start Yahoo was ambivalent about whether it should be a media or a technology company.”
Ambivalent: adjective, having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone
Synonyms: equivocal, uncertain, unsure
Annul
“Last month’s election was a re-run of a vote in October 2015, the results of which were annulled after several candidates alleged electoral malpractice.”
Annul: verb, Declare invalid
Synonyms: repeal, reverse, rescind
Apathy
“Perhaps most difficult will be overcoming the cynicism, and apathy, of the public.”
Apathy: noun, Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
Synonyms: indifference, passivity, ennui
Arbitrary
“The prevailing belief among linguists had been that the sounds used to form those words were arbitrary.”
Arbitrary: adjective, Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system
Synonyms: capricious, random, chance
Arbiter
“The viewer is, ultimately, the arbiter of influence: either partaking in the objectification, or actively challenging the power dynamic.”
Arbiter: noun, a person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter
Synonyms: authority, judge, controller
Artless
“He is loveably artless and embarrassingly awkward in his unstoppably cheerful attempts to win over the frosty members of the band…”
Artless: adjective, without guile or deception
Synonyms: candid, direct, forthright
Audacious
“It was as audacious as any heist and yet unlikely material for a Hollywood blockbuster.”
Audacious: adjective, showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks
Synonyms: bold, daring, fearless
Austere
“Not all Western airports have austere arrival concourses à la Heathrow; many have eateries and bars…”
Austere: adjective, Having an extremely plain and simple style or appearance
Synonyms: unadorned, subdued, stark
Blight
“Yet the USFS predicts that within a couple of decades, because of slowing growth and climate-related blights, the forests will become an emissions source.”
Blight: noun, a thing that spoils or damages something
Synonyms: affliction, scourge, bane
Blithe
“Mr. Cameron’s government was too posh, too cocky, too blithe about globalization’s merits, too metropolitan. Too Notting Hill.
Blithe: adjective, showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper
Synonyms: indifferent, unconcerned, blasé
“
Blowhard
“His name conjured up associations such as ‘arrogant’ and ‘blowhard’ …”
Blowhard: noun, a person who blusters and boasts in an unpleasant way
Synonyms: boaster, bragger, show-off
Bolster
“If the results are confirmed, they will bolster voters’ belief in the system.”
Bolster: verb, Support or strengthen
Synonyms: reinforce, prop up, boost
Boycott
“Conversely some prominent black women have called for a boycott, seeing Mr. Parker’s past as a disqualifying stain.”
Boycott: noun, a punitive ban that forbids relations with certain groups
Synonyms: veto, shunning, rejection
Bombastic
“Cynics may ascribe Mr. Rubio’s mild tone to the diverse population of his home state, and the fact that bombastic Mr. Trump trails in the polls there.”
Source: “A bloody week for America” published in The Economist
Bombastic: adjective, High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated
Synonyms: pompous, blustering, turgid
Burlesque
“Madame JoJo’s, a burlesque bar in London’s Soho, had its license revoked in 2014 after two bouncers brandished a baseball bat at a rowdy crowd.”
Burlesque: noun, a variety show
Synonyms: skit, farce, striptease
Chronic
“Pessimists think the productivity problem is chronic. Technological advances, they say, are ever-less revolutionary…”
Chronic: adjective, (Of a problem) long lasting and difficult to eradicate
Synonyms: constant, continuing, persistent
Cacophany
Cacophony: noun, a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
Synonyms: racket, noise, clamor
“In 1957 New York’s subway contained a haphazard mishmash of fonts, both serif and sans, and a typographic designer, sick of the visual cacophony, submitted a brief to the New York City Transit Authority…”
Source: “Fonts and cities: a love story” published in The Economist
Coda
Coda: noun, a concluding event, remark or section
Synonyms: ending, finale
“With distinct ballad, opera and hard rock sections—and a pensive intro and coda, for good measure—the song was not for listeners in a hurry.”
Source: “Bohemian Rhapsody’s long legacy” published in The Economist
Confound
Confound: verb, Prove (a theory, expectation, or prediction) wrong
Synonyms: contradict, counter, go against
“Yet in another sense, the Fed has confounded predictions—at least, those it made itself.”
Source: “The Federal Reserve prepares to raise interest rates again” published in The Economist
Deign
Deign: verb, Do something that one considers to be beneath one’s dignity
Synonyms: come down from one’s high horse
“If the Senate deigns to consider and confirm a nominee, do not expect changes overnight.”
Source: “How the election will shape the Supreme Court” published in The Economist
Disingenuous
“But shamelessly self-interested and probably contrary to his real views on the EU though it is, the mayor’s move is perhaps not entirely disingenuous.”
Disingenuous: adjective, not candid or sincere
Synonyms: dishonest, deceitful, duplicitous
Docile
Docile: adjective, Ready to accept control or instruction; submissive
Synonyms: compliant, obedient, pliant
“Docile with humans, they are fierce defenders of territory and their young.”
Source: “Breeding cows that can defend themselves against jaguars” published in The Economist
Doff
Doff: verb, Remove (an item of clothing)
Synonyms: lay hold of, take hold of
“To don shoes, to doff them, or even to throw them at somebody?”
Source: “Putting their best feet forward” published in The Economist
Dote
Dote: verb, be extremely and uncritically fond of
Synonyms: adore, love dearly, be devoted to
“Falling birth-rates allowed parents to dote on fewer children, who were increasingly likely to go to school.”
Source: “Love’s labour” published in The Economist
Ephemeral
Ephemeral: adjective, Lasting for a very short time
Synonyms: fleeting, passing, short-lived
“One was Song Dong, just 19 and studying oil painting which he quickly abandoned. Now he is known for his performances and his ephemeral—sometimes edible—installations.”
Source: “Robert Rauschenberg: Ripe for reassessment” published in The Economist
Endow
Endow: verb, Provide with a quality, ability, or asset
Synonyms: equip, bless, give
“Good and inspiring teachers, meanwhile, such as… J.K. Rowling’s Minerva McGonagall, are portrayed as endowed with supernatural gifts…”
Source: “Teaching the teachers” published in The Economist
Ethos
Ethos: noun, the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community
Synonyms: character, atmosphere, climate
“Mr. Cotton presented himself as a member of the generation moved by the patriotic spirit… leaving civilian careers to join the army and learn a ‘warrior ethos.’”
Source: “Growing Cotton in Iowa” published in The Economist
Facetious
Facetious: adjective, Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor
Synonyms: flippant, glib, tongue-in-cheek
“’More disturbing,’ says Mr. Hart, I didn’t note that his column was facetious. In tone, it was indeed, and I should have noted that.”
Source: “The etymological fallacy” published in The Economist
Faction
Faction: noun, a small, organized, dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics
Synonyms: contingent, section, sector
“One particular separatist faction is now widely accepted to have been responsible for a string of small bombs which detonated in August…”
Source: “The death of the Thai king throws the country into turmoil” published in The Economist
Fallow
Fallow: adjective, Inactive
Synonyms: dormant, quiet, slack
“Their fickle attention might waver for a few fallow years of rebuilding, but Angel Stadium will still be standing…”
Source: “Why baseball’s best player should be sent packing” published in The Economist
Falter
Falter: verb, Move unsteadily or in a way that shows lack of confidence
Synonyms: stumble, fumble
“His early steps were faltering, and a frailer soul might have been daunted by his mentors’ fate…”
Source: “Obituary: John Glenn died on December 8th” published in The Economist
Flail
Flail: verb, Flounder; struggle uselessly
Synonyms: thrash, thresh, squirm
“This means that, a good accent, rhythm and grammar notwithstanding, the intermediate-to-advanced learner is likely to flail…”
Source: “The humble linguist” published in The Economist
Fluke
Fluke: noun, Unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck
Synonyms: coincidence, accident, a twist of fate
“Was this a fluke? Mr. Baker is not the first to notice the anomaly.”
Source: “Risk and the stockmarket” published in The Economist
Forage
Forage: verb, (of a person or animal) search widely for food or provisions
Synonyms: hunt, scavenge, grub
“And you must be ready to abandon tired orthodoxies of the left and right and forage for good ideas across the political spectrum.”
Source: “The next supermodel” published in The Economist
Fortuitous
Fortuitous: adjective, Happening by a lucky chance
Synonyms: fortunate, advantageous, opportune
“Thanks to these sensible policies, and the fortuitous tailwind of higher productivity growth, the economy boomed and prosperity was shared.”
Source: “Can she fix it?” published in The Economist
Fringe
Fringe: noun, the unconventional, extreme, or marginal wing of a group or sphere of activity
Synonyms: peripheral, radical, unorthodox
“Fringe beliefs reinforced in these ways can establish themselves and persist long after outsiders deem them debunked…”
Source: “Yes, I’d lie to you” published in The Economist
Garner
Garner: verb, Gather or collect (something, especially information or approval)
Synonyms: accumulate, amass, assemble
“Labs that garnered more pay-offs were more likely to pass on their methods to other, newer labs…”
Source: “Incentive malus” published in The Economist
Gist
Gist: noun, the substance or essence of a speech or text
Synonyms: quintessence, main idea
“Machine translation, too, has gone from terrible to usable for getting the gist of a text…”
Source: “Finding a voice” published in The Economist
Gossamer
Gossamer: adjective, Used to refer to something very light, thin, and insubstantial or delicate
Synonyms: gauzy, gossamery, fine
“Like a saintly relic, the gossamer threads that tie the two halves offer the promise of miraculous healing by evoking the vulnerability of the suffering body.”
Source: “Die and do” published in The Economist
Grovel
Grovel: verb, Act in an obsequious manner in order to obtain someone’s forgiveness or favor
Synonyms: be servile, suck up, flatter
“She writes…in the knowledge that some of these lovers will snoop into her diary to see what she’s written. (‘Does she get a kick out of my groveling in the last two years?)”
Source: “When she was good” published in The Economist
Harangue
Harangue: noun, a lengthy and aggressive speech
Synonyms: tirade, diatribe, rant
“State-run China Central Television (CCTV) has broadcast harsh criticisms of some multinationals, including an absurd harangue over Starbucks’ prices…”
Source: “A harder road ahead” published in The Economist
Impetuous
Impetuous: adjective, Acting or done quickly and without thought or care
Synonyms: impulsive, rash, hasty
“The report holds many lessons, including for this newspaper, which supported the invasion of Iraq: about the danger of impetuous decision-making…”
Source: “The dangerous chill of Chilcot” published in The Economist
Inert
Inert: adjective, Lacking vigor
Synonyms: idle, inactive, underactive
“America’s founders, he argued, put their faith in reasoned discussion among citizens and believed that the ‘greatest menace to freedom is an inert people.’ “
Source: “Citizen Brandeis” published in The Economist
Indictment
Indictment: noun, a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime
Synonyms: arraignment, citation
“A criminal indictment would, in all likelihood, force the prime minister to resign.”
Source: “A new scandal rocks Israel’s prime minister” published in The Economist
Ingrate
Ingrate: noun, an ungrateful person
“Greater liberty… over the past generation is abused by ingrates who think it funny to depict their leaders pantless…”
Source: “Run!” published in The Economist
Insipid
Insipid: adjective, Lacking vigour or interest
Synonyms: boring, vapid, dull
“It was a stultifying procession of patriotic songs… insipid skits and bald propaganda.”
Source: “Core values” published in The Economist
Lax
Lax: adjective, Not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful
Synonyms: slack, slipshod, negligent
“Mario Draghi has faced attacks from critics in Germany (for being too lax) and Greece (for being too tight).”
Source: “Rethinking central bank independence” published in The Economist
Listless
Listless: adjective, (Of a person or their manner) lacking energy or enthusiasm
Synonyms: lethargic, enervated, lackadaisical
“Ukraine is brimming with weapons and thousands of militiamen, angry with a corrupt and listless government they feel has hijacked the revolution.”
Source: “Mr. Saakashvili goes to Odessa” published in The Economist
Loll
Loll: verb, Sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way
Synonyms: lounge, sprawl, drape oneself
“The pair loll on a green hillside at Murnau south of Munich where Münter had bought a house.”
Source: “Eye music” published in The Economist
Livid
Livid: adjective, furiously angry
Synonyms: infuriated, irate, fuming
“A livid Vladimir Putin minced no words in his response, calling the downing a ‘stab in the back’…”
Source: “Turkey’s downing of a Russian jet was a confrontation waiting to happen” published in The Economist
Lurid
Lurid: adjective, Presented in vividly shocking or sensational terms
Synonyms: melodramatic, exaggerated, overdramatized
“Their absence from the public eye, especially in a Western country with an abundant supply of good hospitals, tends to spark lurid rumours of illness and even death.”
Source: “Malawi’s president disappears” published in The Economist
Mar
Mar: verb, Impair the quality or appearance of
Synonyms: spoil, ruin, damage
“These oversights mar an otherwise engaging and interesting account, but perhaps it is natural that a history of space should have a few gaping holes.”
Source: “The uncanny physics of empty space” published in The Economist
Mince
Mince: verb, Use polite or moderate expressions to indicate disapproval
“President Barack Obama didn’t mince his words in a tweet on June 21st, the day after the Senate failed to pass four proposals…”
Source: “Senators fail the American people (again)” published in The Economist
Minion
Minion: noun, a follower or underling of a powerful person
Synonyms: henchman, yes-man, lackey
“Its minions have set up thousands of social-media “bots” and other spamming weapons to drown out other content.”
Source: “Yes, I’d lie to you” published in The Economist
Mirth
Mirth: noun, Amusement, especially as expressed in laughter
Synonyms: merriment, high spirits
“A further proposal, to cut the salaries of senior public managers by 25%, has caused both anger and mirth.”
Source: “Letting go, slowly” published in The Economist
Modest
Modest: adjective, not excessively large, elaborate, or expensive
Synonyms: ordinary, simple, plain
“They can be seen in the modest dress, office decor and eating habits of Angela Merkel, the daughter of a Lutheran pastor…”
Source: “How Martin Luther has shaped Germany for half a millennium” published in The Economist
Morose
Morose: adjective, Sullen and ill-tempered
Synonyms: sullen, sulky, gloomy
“Mr. Macron’s can-do political energy stands out in morose France, home to 10% unemployment and growth last year of just 1.1%.”
Source: “Beardless youth” published in The Economist
Muse
Muse: noun, a person or personified force who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist
Synonyms: inspiration, influence, stimulus
“Mr. Blackwell’s mother was Fleming’s mistress, muse and supposedly the model for Pussy Galore.”
Source: “Island story” published in The Economist
Oblique
Oblique: adjective, Not explicit or direct in addressing a point
Synonyms: indirect, inexplicit, roundabout
“’Fire at Sea’ has been praised for offering an oblique, poetic alternative to a more conventional campaigning documentary…”
Source: “The odd, award-winning migration movie ‘Fire at Sea’” published in The Economist
Opaque
Opaque: adjective, Not able to be seen through; not transparent
Synonyms: cloudy, obscure
“But Mr. Kim is so opaque and so little is known about how decisions come about in the capital, Pyongyang, that deterring North Korea is fraught with difficulty.”
Source: “A nuclear nightmare” published in The Economist
Overwrought
“She made prodigious strides as a writer and learned to temper her overwrought outpourings.”
Overwrought: adjective, (of a piece of writing or a work of art) too elaborate or complicated in design or construction
Synonyms: overblown, contrived, exaggerated
Pertain
Pertain: verb, be appropriate, related, or applicable
Synonyms: concern, relate to, be related to
“Religious exceptions to the law, such as those pertaining to animal welfare, should ideally be ended…”
Source: “Like other old institutions, England’s state religion uses artful adaptation” published in The Economist
Pine
Pine: verb, Miss and long for the return of
“Few DJs pine for the days of ones-and-twos; the possibilities of modern technology are too alluring.”
Source: “Now that anyone can be a DJ, is the art form dead?” published in The Economist
Placate
Placate: verb, Make (someone) less angry or hostile
Synonyms: appease, pacify, mollify
“The government has tried to placate voters without abandoning its policies.”
Source: “It’s cold outside” published in The Economist
Platitude
Platitude: noun, A remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful
Synonyms: cliché, truism, commonplace
“For most of her end-of-term grilling by the liaison committee… she wore an aquiline scowl, quibbling with the questions and, when pushed, cleaving to evasive platitudes…”
Source: “Assessing the first six months of Theresa May” published in The Economist
Pletora
Plethora: noun, a large or excessive amount
Synonyms: excess, overabundance, surplus
“Podcasts were facing fierce competition for audiences’ attention from a plethora of other new digital-native products including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.”
Source: “2016: the year the podcast came of age” published in The Economist
Posit
Posit: verb, Put forward as fact or as a basis for argument
Synonyms: postulate, propound, submit
“Mr. Ansar and his co-authors assume this margin is 40%: they posit a ratio of expected benefits to costs of 1.4 for every project.”
Source: “Opinion is divided on China’s massive infrastructure projects” published in The Economist
Prodigal
Prodigal: noun, a person who leaves home and behaves recklessly, but later makes a repentant return
“As the 73-year-old Mr. Obiang becomes frailer, his sons, including the prodigal Teodorín, have begun jockeying to succeed him.”
Source: “Palace in the jungle” published in The Economist
Prophetic
Prophetic: adjective, Accurately describing or predicting what will happen in the future
Synonyms: predictive, visionary
“As the depleted council began, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware… said he still hoped it could avoid being mired in Orthodoxy’s internal woes and ‘speak in a firm, prophetic voice’ to humanity.”
Source: “The autumn of the patriarchs” published in The Economist
Purist
Purist: noun, a person who insists on absolute adherence to traditional rules or structures
Synonyms: pedant, dogmatist, perfectionist
“From this purist point of view, there is only one Christian church worthy of the name….”
Source: “Eastern Christian leaders face ultra-conservative grumbles as they prepare for a summit” published in The Economist
Pyre
Pyre: noun, a heap of combustible material, especially one for burning a corpse as part of a funeral ceremony
“Yet Ms McInerney takes the story deeper, skillfully setting a funeral pyre ‘for that Ireland’…”
Source: “Irish charm” published in The Economist
Quack
Quack: noun, a person who dishonestly claims to have special knowledge in some field
Synonyms: swindler, charlatan, fraud
“That can cause malnutrition and eating disorders—and supports a vast, quack-ridden diet industry.”
Source: “Declare war on misleading metaphors” published in The Economist
Reticence
Reticence: noun, the quality of not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily
Synonyms: reserve, introversion, restraint
“Mr. Harding is more comfortable with facts; with classic English reticence, he buries his family’s responses in footnotes and summaries.”
Source: “Vantage point” published in The Economist
Rue
Rue: verb, Bitterly regret (something one has done or allowed to happen)
Synonyms: deplore, lament, bemoan
“Meanwhile, Mr. Showalter will now have a long six months to rue his slavery to the save rule before his club plays another game.”
Source: “Progressive managers are finding sweet relief by unshackling their closers” published in The Economist
Ruminate
Ruminate: verb, Think deeply about something
Synonyms: contemplate, consider, mull over
“Alfred Sauvy, the French thinker… was prone to worry that the first world would become ‘a society of old people, living in old houses, ruminating about old ideas.’”
Source: “Age invaders” published in The Economist
Stigma
Stigma: noun, a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person
Synonyms: shame, disgrace, dishonour
“A stigma against adults having fun, strong in the aftermath of the Second World War, has faded.”
Source: “Toymakers bounce back in the land of adult nappies” published in The Economist
Strut
Strut: verb, Walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait
Synonyms: swagger, prance, parade
“Dogs strut their stuff on its pavements tricked out in tutus, hoodies, boots, overalls and trousers.”
Source: “Furry fashionable” published in The Economist
Strut
Strut: verb, Walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait
Synonyms: swagger, prance, parade
“Dogs strut their stuff on its pavements tricked out in tutus, hoodies, boots, overalls and trousers.”
Source: “Furry fashionable” published in The Economist
Sublime
Sublime: adjective, of very great excellence or beauty
Synonyms: awe-inspiring, awesome, majestic
“Yet life in the ocean can still mount sublime spectacles.”
Source: “If the ocean was transparent” published in The Economist
Syncopation
Syncopation: noun, A displacement of the beat or accents in (music or a rhythm) so that strong beats become weak and vice versa
“She dances an assortment of lissom steps, marvelously shedding shoes and socks as the Beethoven famously shifts from solemnity to syncopation.”
Source: “Her final steps” published in The Economist
Surly
Surly: adjective, Bad-tempered and unfriendly
Synonyms: ill-natured, grumpy, glum
“Here, poverty and economic decline has led to the surly separation of a left-behind, resentful white working class and a Muslim minority.”
Source: “Integration nation” published in The Economist
Taunt
Taunt: noun, A remark made in order to anger, wound, or provoke someone
Synonyms: jeer, gibe, sneer
“But in the past two years taunts have turned into deadly attacks.”
Source: “Murder for profit” published in The Economist
Tawdry
Tawdry: adjective, Showy but cheap and of poor quality
Synonyms: gaudy, flashy, garish
“A team of 21 organisers resigned from the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (NPBCU), throwing the festival of tawdry pop into doubt.”
Source: “Why Ukraine’s Eurovision song contest is in crisis” published in The Economist
Temperate
Temperate: adjective, Relating to or denoting a region or climate characterized by mild temperatures
Synonyms: mild, clement, pleasant
“It can remain temperate in such a close orbit only because Proxima is a red dwarf, and thus much cooler than the sun. “
Source: “Proximate goals” published in The Economist
Terse
Terse: adjective, Sparing in the use of words
Synonyms: curt, brusque, abrupt
“In a terse phone-call on Thursday night, President Barack Obama paused only briefly to congratulate Mr. Netanyahu on his victory…”
Source: “Picking up the pieces” published in The Economist
Tome
Tome: noun, a book, especially a large, heavy, scholarly one
Synonyms: volume, work, opus
“It is a tome to which most recent arguments about regulation and economic reform are merely annotations.”
Source: “Britain’s newly interventionist economic consensus is a question, not an answer” published in The Economist
Torrid
Torrid: adjective, Full of difficulty or tribulation
“The pound, after a few torrid days of trading immediately after the vote, has stabilized.”
Source: “How Britain’s post-referendum economy is faring” published in The Economist
Transgression
Transgression: noun, an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct
Synonyms: offense, crime, sin
“We can forgive most kinds of transgression—anger, adultery, avarice—but we cannot forgive absurdity.”
Source: “Can we forgive Anthony Weiner?” published in The Economist
Treacherous
Treacherous: adjective, Guilty of or involving betrayal or deception
Synonyms: traitorous, disloyal, perfidious
“It sang of domineering men, treacherous women and the manly solace of tequila.”
Source: “Mexico’s mirror” published in The Economist
Vapid
Vapid: adjective, offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; bland
Synonyms: insipid, uninspired, uninteresting
“Mr. Silver delighted in savaging commentators who relied on vapid clichés like ‘momentum shifts’ and ‘game-changers.’”
Source: “Pushback” published in The Economist
Vestige
Vestige: noun, a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists
Synonyms: remnant, remainder, fragment
“He said this would remove a ‘lingering vestige of the cold war.’ “
Source: “Politics this week” published in The Economist
Vilify
Vilify: verb, Speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner
Synonyms: disparage, denigrate, defame
“Its publications and social-media accounts, however, have vilified Turkey ever since the country decided last year to open its airbases to coalition jets…”
Source: “Soft target” published in The Economist
Viscous
Viscous: adjective, having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid
Synonyms: gummy, glue-like, gluey
“Not all barrels of oil are alike. Crudes can be viscous like tar or so ‘light’ they float on water.”
Source: “Crude measure” published in The Economist
Volatile
Volatile: adjective, Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse
Synonyms: tense, strained, turbulent
“The period from the 1940s to the 1970s, when governments took primary responsibility for keeping economies out of slumps, was more volatile and inflationary…”
Source: “The desperation of independents” published in The Economist
Waffle
Waffle: noun, Lengthy but trivial or useless talk or writing
Synonyms: prattle, hot air, drivel
“Most voters say they know little about the candidates or their policies, some of which are pure waffle.”
Source: “No walk in the Park” published in The Economist
Waft
Waft: verb, Pass or cause to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air
Synonyms: drift, float, glide
“The acrid scent of smoke wafts from his clothes.”
Source: “Despite tough talk, Indonesia’s government is struggling to stem deforestation” published in The Economist
Wanton
Wanton: adjective, (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked
Synonyms: malicious, malevolent, spiteful
“Over the decades these Muslim non-people, without legal or any other sort of protection, have been the victims of wanton discrimination and violence…”
Source: “Myanmar’s shame” published in The Economist
Whitewash
Whitewash: verb, Deliberately attempt to conceal unpleasant facts about (a person or organization)
Synonyms: cover up, sweep under the carpet
“Indeed, in trying to whitewash the past, the government may stir up prejudice instead.”
Source: “The politics of memory” published in The Economist
Whittle
Whittle: verb, Reduce something in size, amount, or extent by a gradual series of steps
Synonyms: erode, wear away, diminish
“Democrats had spent a nervous September watching that lead whittle away after Mrs. Clinton’s bout of pneumonia…”
Source: “Hillary Clinton’s polling compared with Barack Obama’s” published in The Economist
Winsome
Winsome: adjective, Attractive or appealing in appearance or character
Synonyms: engaging, charming, winning
“By the time Mr. Pattinson came along as the winsome vampire in “Twilight”, the teenage rebels were starting the movie already dead.”
Source: “James Dean, death-cult idol” published in The Economist
Wizened
Wizened: adjective, Shriveled or wrinkled with age
Synonyms: lined, creased, withered
“His son, himself a wizened old man, is nonplussed by the news; he looks like an eccentric, or maybe the village drunk…”
Source: “The meandering, sure-footed genius of “Thithi” published in The Economist
Wry
Wry: adjective, Using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humor
Synonyms: ironic, sardonic, satirical
“Catherine Merridale is one of the foremost foreign historians of Russia, combining wry insights with deep sympathy for the human beings…”
Source: “Missed connection” published in The Economist
Zeal
Zeal: noun, Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective
Synonyms: passion, zealousness, fervor
“But it was his zeal in amassing land by borrowing heavily that gave him his edge—and ultimately brought him down.”
Source: “A gambler on shale” published in The Economist
Abasement
Abasement: noun, the action or fact of abasing or being abased; humiliation or degradation
Synonyms: belittlement, disgrace
“But of course, Europe needs more than humility or self-abasement if it is to absorb the migrants who are now sailing or trudging towards its heart.”
Source: “A non-European pope is hailed as the greatest European” published in The Economist
Acerbic
Acerbic: adjective, (Especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright
Synonyms: sardonic, biting, caustic
“Mr. Zhang presented a friendly face in Hong Kong, prompting the Big Lychee, an acerbic local blog, to note: ‘Few sights are more painful to behold than a senior Chinese Communist Party official attempting to be nice…‘”
Source: “Rocking boats, shaking mountains” published in The Economist
Acolyte
Acolyte: noun, a person assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession
Synonyms: assistant, helper, follower
“Critics refer to a ‘cult’ of ‘acolytes’ around a ‘Great Leader’, unwilling to challenge him or engage seriously with the work of non-Chomskyan scholars.”
Source: “Noam Chomsky” published in The Economist
Accession
Accession: verb, the action or process of formally joining an association or institution
Synonyms: joining, signing up, enrollment
“China had expected to win the status of a market economy in December, 15 years after its accession to the World Trade Organization…”
Source: “An obsession with stable growth leads to vulnerabilities in China” published in The Economist
Acumen
Acumen: noun, the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain
Synonyms: astuteness, awareness, acuity
“Literary critics admire his summer reading selections, musicians his playlists, scientists and tech entrepreneurs his acumen and curiosity.”
Source: “A reflection on Barack Obama’s presidency” published in The Economist
Abate
Abate: verb, become less intense or widespread
Synonyms: subside, die away, die down
“A broad cash crunch and broken supply chains threaten a sharp economic slowdown—albeit one that will abate…”
Source: “The dire consequences of India’s demonetization initiative” published in The Economist
Apostle
Apostle: noun, a vigorous and pioneering advocate or supporter of a particular cause
Synonyms: proponent, promoter, propagandist
“On the website of this apostle of anti-Americanism, there is an article rejoicing in the fact that the United States need no longer be treated as an enemy… “
Source: “Russian anti-liberals love Donald Trump but it may not be entirely mutual” published in The Economist
Apprise
Apprise: verb, Inform or tell (someone)
Synonyms: notify, let know, advise
“If not exactly legitimate, secret information is often useful in apprising countries of the intentions of others.”
Source: “What are the spies for?” published in The Economist
Armada
Armada: noun, a fleet of warships
Synonyms: flotilla, squadron, navy
“This month he also unveiled plans to send an armada of tiny spaceships, powered by laser beams and equipped with all sorts of sensors…”
Source: “Crazy diamonds” published in The Economist
Winsome
“By the time Mr. Pattinson came along as the winsome vampire in “Twilight”, the teenage rebels were starting the movie already dead.”
Winsome: adjective, Attractive or appealing in appearance or character
Synonyms: engaging, charming, winning
Wizened
“His son, himself a wizened old man, is nonplussed by the news; he looks like an eccentric, or maybe the village drunk…”
Wizened: adjective, Shriveled or wrinkled with age
Synonyms: lined, creased, withered
Wry
“Catherine Merridale is one of the foremost foreign historians of Russia, combining wry insights with deep sympathy for the human beings…”
Wry: adjective, Using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humor
Synonyms: ironic, sardonic, satirical
Zeal
“But it was his zeal in amassing land by borrowing heavily that gave him his edge—and ultimately brought him down.”
Zeal: noun, Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective
Synonyms: passion, zealousness, fervor
Abasement
“But of course, Europe needs more than humility or self-abasement if it is to absorb the migrants who are now sailing or trudging towards its heart.”
Abasement: noun, the action or fact of abasing or being abased; humiliation or degradation
Synonyms: belittlement, disgrace
Acerbic
“Mr. Zhang presented a friendly face in Hong Kong, prompting the Big Lychee, an acerbic local blog, to note: ‘Few sights are more painful to behold than a senior Chinese Communist Party official attempting to be nice…‘”
Acerbic: adjective, (Especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright
Synonyms: sardonic, biting, caustic
Acolyte
“Critics refer to a ‘cult’ of ‘acolytes’ around a ‘Great Leader’, unwilling to challenge him or engage seriously with the work of non-Chomskyan scholars.”
Acolyte: noun, a person assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession
Synonyms: assistant, helper, follower
Accession
“China had expected to win the status of a market economy in December, 15 years after its accession to the World Trade Organization…”
Accession: verb, the action or process of formally joining an association or institution
Synonyms: joining, signing up, enrollment
Acumen
“Literary critics admire his summer reading selections, musicians his playlists, scientists and tech entrepreneurs his acumen and curiosity.”
Acumen: noun, the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain
Synonyms: astuteness, awareness, acuity
Abate
“A broad cash crunch and broken supply chains threaten a sharp economic slowdown—albeit one that will abate…”
Abate: verb, become less intense or widespread
Synonyms: subside, die away, die down
Apostle
“On the website of this apostle of anti-Americanism, there is an article rejoicing in the fact that the United States need no longer be treated as an enemy… “
Apostle: noun, a vigorous and pioneering advocate or supporter of a particular cause
Synonyms: proponent, promoter, propagandist
Apprise
“If not exactly legitimate, secret information is often useful in apprising countries of the intentions of others.”
Apprise: verb, Inform or tell (someone)
Synonyms: notify, let know, advise
Armada
“This month he also unveiled plans to send an armada of tiny spaceships, powered by laser beams and equipped with all sorts of sensors…”
Armada: noun, a fleet of warships
Synonyms: flotilla, squadron, navy
Arson
“The political landscape already feels as ready to burn as any… drought-stricken forest, so that throwing inflammatory statements around would be as wicked as any act of arson.”
Arson: noun, the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property
Synonyms: incendiarism, pyromania
Ascribe
“He had spent years training to be a neurosurgeon; his doctor first ascribed his sharp pains and dwindling frame to the demands of residency.”
Ascribe: verb, Attribute something to (a cause)
Synonyms: attribute to, assign to, blame on
Barrage
“Whatever the outcome of individual claims, the barrage of litigation will probably prompt firms to adjust their online terms.”
Barrage: noun, A concentrated outpouring, as of questions or blows
Synonyms: abundance, mass, profusion
Bevy
“Of the bevy of bullet points in Mr. Obama’s new package of executive actions, the most consequential is his decision to require significantly expanded background checks.”
Bevy: noun, a large group of people or things of a particular kind
Synonyms: group, crowd, cluster
Boor
“End a sentence in a preposition, and there are still people who will think you a boor.”
Boor: noun, an unrefined, ill-mannered person
Synonyms: lout, oaf, ruffian
Bucolic
“General Electric… is now swapping its bucolic site for a collection of warehouses on the Boston waterfront.”
Bucolic: adjective, Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life
Synonyms: rustic, rural, pastoral
Canonical
“The medium now mostly consists of recycling the same canonical works by European men from centuries past.”
Canonical: adjective, (Of an artist or work) belonging to the literary or artistic canon
Synonyms: established, authoritative
Capricious
“But there is a body of academic work that supports the idea that elections often misfire. For one thing, voters can be capricious.”
Capricious: adjective, given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
Synonyms: fickle, inconstant, changeable
Chauvinism
“As recently as 2014, a biannual survey of right-wing attitudes in Germany found that xenophobia, chauvinism, anti-Semitism and authoritarian longings were declining.”
Chauvinism: noun, Excessive or prejudiced loyalty or support for one’s own cause, group, or gender
Synonyms: jingoism, excessive patriotism, sectarianism
Circumpsect
“’This is an area where we need to be extraordinarily careful and circumspect’, he said. ‘We’re literally talking about life and death.’”
Circumspect: adjective, Wary and unwilling to take risks
Synonyms: cautious, wary, careful
Coalesce
“As they radiate away, the waves tend to coalesce to form two main shock waves.”
Coalesce: verb, Come together and form one mass or whole
Synonyms: merge, unite, fuse
Coffer
“This scheme drains public coffers and is horribly corrupt.”
Coffer: noun, the funds or financial reserves of a group or institution
Synonyms: resources, money, finances
Condone
“Rashad Ali… argues that deradicalisation can be worse than useless if practitioners, while condemning IS, condone other violence.”
Condone: verb, Accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive)
Synonyms: disregard, let pass, excuse
Contrite
“As the election results were coming in, a contrite Mr. Turnbull took ‘full responsibility’ for the government’s poor performance.”
Contrite: adjective, Feeling or expressing remorse or penitence
Synonyms: regretful, sorry, apologetic
Credulous
“Supplements boast a unique trifecta: lax regulation, potent marketing and millions of credulous consumers keen to pin their hopes of a healthier life on a pill.”
Credulous: adjective, having or showing too great a readiness to believe things
Synonyms: gullible, naive
Elucidate
“One was from almost 600 people who had completed… a questionnaire intended to elucidatethe different tendencies of people to engage in sexual relationships without a deep emotional commitment.”
Source: “Cads and dads” published in The Economist
Elucidate: verb, Make (something) clear
Synonyms: explain, make plain, illuminate
Endemic
“One of the mysteries of epidemiology is why Asia does not suffer from yellow fever. The disease is endemic in Africa, the continent where it evolved.”
Source: “A preventable tragedy” published in The Economist
Endemic: adjective, (Of a disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area
Synonyms: local, regional
Epistemology
“The only way to know for sure is to run the experiment (Mr. Lind’s exotic epistemologynotwithstanding).”
Source: “Michael Lind’s bad argument against anything” published in The Economist
Epistemology: noun, the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope
Epithet
“Preposterous’ and ‘absurd’ were among the milder epithets that could be overheard in the multilingual din.”
Source: “Snafus and successes at the Olympics” published in The Economist
Epithet: noun, an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing; a term of abuse
Synonyms: name, label, smear
Errant
“He could admit the error and fire the errant speechwriter.”
Source: “Melania Trump’s excruciating blunder” published in The Economist
Errant: adjective, Erring or straying from the proper course or standards
Synonyms: offending, guilty, culpable
Esoteric
“The subjects at hand often sound esoteric, if not silly, but the questions may prove more than merely academic.”
Source: “Sneaking with the fishes” published in The Economist
Esoteric: adjective, Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest
Synonyms: abstruse, obscure, arcane
Exemplar
‘At times ‘Utopia’ seems less an exemplar of idealism, and more of a satire on it.”
Source: “500 years on, are we living in Thomas More’s Utopia?” published in The Economist
Exemplar: noun, a person or thing serving as a typical example or excellent model
Synonyms: epitome, perfect example
Extol
“This is likely to become a media circus, with patient advocates likely to attend and extol the benefits of the treatments they received.”
Source: “A dish called hope” published in The Economist
Extol: verb, Praise enthusiastically
Synonyms: go wild about, wax lyrical about
Façade
“Its grey stone façade and arched doorways convey a feeling of prosperity, a splash of high finance in this small county town in eastern China…”
Source: “Big but brittle” published in The Economist
Façade: noun, the face of a building
Synonyms: front, frontage, exterior
Fetid
“The fetid smog that settled on Beijing in January 2013 could join the ranks of these game-changing environmental disruptions.”
Source: “The East is grey” published in The Economist
Fetid: adjective, smelling extremely unpleasant
Synonyms: stinking, smelly, foul-smelling
Florid
“A victorious Governor Jerry Brown, his voice gruffer, his pate sparer and his metaphors more florid than during his first stint in office…”
Source: “Brownian motion” published in The Economist
Florid: adjective, using unusual words or complicated rhetorical constructions
Synonyms: extravagant, grandiloquent
Flout
“It relies on its members, and on institutions… to shame and discourage people who flout important political norms.”
Source: “How strong are the institutions of liberal societies?” published in The Economist
Flout: verb, Openly disregard
Synonyms: defy, refuse to obey, go against
Foible
“The elder Bongo had a gift for politics as outsized as his personality (among other foibles, he liked to show off his pet tiger to guests).”
Source: “Trying to get past oil” published in The Economist
Foible: noun, a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone’s character
Synonyms: idiosyncrasy, eccentricity, peculiarity
Itinerant
“Her first America-set film is a freewheeling road movie in which an 18-year-old escapes a dysfunctional family by joining a group of itinerant young misfits.”
Source: “Noblesse oblige at Cannes” published in The Economist
Itinerant: adjective, Traveling from place to place
Synonyms: peripatetic, wandering, roving
Largesse
“All else equal, such largesse should indeed give the economy some temporary vim.”
Source: “King of debt” published in The Economist
Largesse: noun, Generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others
Synonyms: liberality, munificence, bounty
Limpid
“Unlike many writers of Spanish, he preferred short, simple sentences, and they gave his writing a limpid intensity.”
Source: “Poet of a magical Latin American world” published in The Economist
Limpid: adjective, (especially of writing or music) clear and accessible or melodious
Synonyms: lucid, plain, understandable
Loquacious
“Edwina, Williams’ mother, was judgmental, frigid and pious, but also as loquacious as her husband was laconic.”
Source: “Making Tenn out of Tom” published in The Economist
Loquacious: adjective, Tending to talk a great deal
Synonyms: talkative, voluble, communicative
Lucid
“But his style is lucid and his judgments scrupulously fair.”
Source: “A near-run thing” published in The Economist
Lucid: adjective, Showing ability to think clearly
Synonyms: rational, sane, in one’s right mind
Leery
“The past two decades have left working-class voters in many countries leery of globalisation.” Source: "Trade in the balance" published in The Economist
Leery: adjective, Cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions
Synonyms: careful, circumspect, on one’s guard
Malign
“Other, darker interpretations of what malign force the monster may represent once again abound…”
Source: “A well-loved monster takes Japan’s box office by storm once again” published in The Economist
Malign: adjective, evil in nature or effect
Synonyms: harmful, bad, malevolent
Maudlin
“Alas, he never really fixed his state’s finances, and voters at home have tired of his maudlintheatrics…”
Source: “Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina drop out” published in The Economist
Maudlin: adjective, Self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental
Synonyms: emotional, tearful, lachrymose
Milieu
“Armed with a view of themselves in a seething milieu of particles careening around a stretchy space-time, readers are reminded they are ‘an integral part of the world which we perceive…‘”
Source: “The universe, writ small” published in The Economist
Milieu: noun, a person’s social environment
Synonyms: sphere, background, backdrop
Mire
“Ms Park is hopelessly mired in an ever-deepening influence-peddling scandal.”
Source: “Why Park Geun-hye should resign” published in The Economist
Mire: verb, involve someone or something in (a difficult situation)
Synonyms: entangle, tangle up, embroil
Modish
“With these modish safety demonstrations becoming the norm, the question is what, exactly, do they accomplish?”
Source: “Why airline safety videos are getting catchier” published in The Economist
Modish: adjective, Conforming to or following what is currently popular and fashionable
Synonyms: modern, trendy, in
Modish
“With these modish safety demonstrations becoming the norm, the question is what, exactly, do they accomplish?”
Source: “Why airline safety videos are getting catchier” published in The Economist
Modish: adjective, Conforming to or following what is currently popular and fashionable
Synonyms: modern, trendy, in
Morose
“Mr. Macron’s can-do political energy stands out in morose France, home to 10% unemployment and growth last year of just 1.1%.”
Source: “Beardless youth” published in The Economist
Morose: adjective, Sullen and ill-tempered
Synonyms: sullen, sulky, gloomy
Forestall
“To forestall a social crisis, he mused, governments should consider a tax on robots; if automation slows as a result, so much the better.”
Forestall: verb, Prevent or obstruct (an anticipated event or action) by taking action ahead of time
Synonyms: pre-empt, get in before, get ahead of
Frenetic
“Frenetic multi-tasking—surfing the web while watching TV while listening to music—is a formula for distraction, rather than good management.”
Frenetic: adjective, Fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way
Synonyms: frantic, wild, frenzied
Gall
With enough gall and entrepreneurial spirit, it suggests, anyone can end up driving a Porsche and living in a marble-floored luxury apartment.
Gall: noun, Bold, impudent behavior
Synonyms: insolence, nerve, audacity
Galvanize
“’The decay of American politics,’ Mr. Fukuyama writes, ‘will probably continue until some external shock comes along to catalyze a true reform coalition and galvanize it into action.’”
Galvanize: verb, Shock or excite (someone), typically into taking action
Synonyms: jolt, impel
Gambit
“What began as a gambit to hold together his divided Tory party is turning into an alarmingly close contest.”
Gambit: noun, a device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, that is calculated to gain an advantage
Synonyms: plan, scheme, strategy
Goad
“Her words were meant to goad officials into action, not (presumably) to describe how she saw the coming four years of her term.”
Goad: verb, Provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate some action or reaction
Synonyms: spur, prod, egg on
Gossamer
“Like a saintly relic, the gossamer threads that tie the two halves offer the promise of miraculous healing by evoking the vulnerability of the suffering body.”
Gossamer: adjective, Used to refer to something very light, thin, and insubstantial or delicate
Synonyms: gauzy, gossamery, fine
Gouge
“They do not want monopolists to gouge consumers and stifle innovation, yet they often struggle to determine the extent to which such things are happening.”
Gouge: verb, Overcharge; swindle
Grandiloquent
“The authors give it a rather grandiloquent name: the desire ‘to force destiny, to create serendipity.’”
Grandiloquent: adjective, Pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner
Synonyms: pompous, bombastic, magniloquent
Grouse
“Some economists grouse about such rules, which can interfere with the smooth functioning of competitive labour markets…”
Grouse: verb, complain pettily; grumble
Synonyms: moan, groan, protest
Hapless
“By the 1970s, many fans argued that the spectacle of hapless pitchers feebly trying to fend off blazing fastballs was turning their at-bats into a mockery of the game.”
Hapless: adjective, (Especially of a person) unfortunate
Synonyms: unlucky, luckless, out of luck
Homage
“Over the past year, numerous young directors have been paying gushing homage to the movies which enchanted them in their youth.”
Homage: noun, Special honour or respect shown publicly
Synonyms: tribute, acknowledgement, admiration
Imbue
“Some feminists argue, moreover, that the very framework of economics is imbued with subtler forms of sexism.”
Imbue: verb, Inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality
Synonyms: saturate, fill, suffuse
Indolence
“The indolence of a society brought up to expect that oil riches will be lavished upon them is another large hurdle.”
Indolence: noun, Avoidance of activity or exertion
Synonyms: laziness, idleness, slothfulness
Immutable
“After all, whom institutions choose to celebrate and how they depict the past are choices to be debated, not immutable facts.”
Immutable: adjective, Unchanging over time or unable to be changed
Synonyms: permanent, set, steadfast
Impasse
“The Catalan impasse is part of a wider Spanish gridlock. Elections on December 20th splintered the political landscape.”
Impasse: noun, a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement
Synonyms: deadlock, dead end, stalemate
Inculcate
“The tests and ceremonies were to start inculcating a sense of common values that had previously been lacking.”
Inculcate: verb, Instill (an attitude, idea, or habit) by persistent instruction
Synonyms: imbue, infuse, inspire
Inquest
“A jury at a second inquest ruled that they were unlawfully killed.”
Inquest: noun, a judicial inquiry to ascertain the facts relating to an incident, such as a death
Synonyms: enquiry, investigation, inquisition
Irascible
“He survived, but some of his contemporaries thought that the accident changed his personality from pleasant to irascible.”
Irascible: adjective, having or showing a tendency to be easily angered
Synonyms: irritable, quick-tempered, short-tempered
Laconic
“After decades in obscurity, he has been resurrected as an important literary figure, praised for his laconic style and eyewitness testimony…”
Laconic: adjective, (of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words
Synonyms: brief, concise, terse
Prudish
“Several Pacific nations ban cross-dressing (another hand-me-down from prudish Victorians).”
Source: “Knife-edge lives” published in The Economist
Prudish: adjective, having a tendency to be easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity
Synonyms: puritanical, prim, goody-goody
Qualm
“Qualms about the force’s quality extend beyond their handling of demonstrators.”
Source: “The force is with who?” published in The Economist
Qualm: noun, an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear
Synonyms: misgiving, doubt, reservation
Qualm
“Qualms about the force’s quality extend beyond their handling of demonstrators.”
Source: “The force is with who?” published in The Economist
Qualm: noun, an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear
Synonyms: misgiving, doubt, reservation
Quell
“So the correct response is to…plump up the capital cushions of its vulnerable banks with enough public money to quell fears of a systemic crisis.”
Source: “The Italian job” published in The Economist
Quell: verb, Suppress (a feeling, especially an unpleasant one)
Synonyms: calm, soothe, pacify
Quibble
“One can quibble with some of the detail; perhaps the labour market participation rate can rise again, particularly if baby boomers find they don’t have enough money with which to retire.”
Source: “Nevsky’s prospects: China, fat tails and opaque markets” published in The Economist
Quibble: verb, Argue or raise objections about a trivial matter
Synonyms: object to, criticize, nitpick
Quotidian
“They are seers, and mystics unfettered by the quotidian, connecting with the divine and reporting back.”
Source: “The figure of the mad artistic genius is compelling, but unhelpful” published in The Economist
Quotidian: adjective, Ordinary or everyday, especially when mundane
Synonyms: day-to-day, average, daily
Recalcitrant
“In a move that may test the mettle of recalcitrant Senate Republicans, Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland, a widely respected and politically moderate judge…”
Source: “Barack Obama nominates Merrick Garland to fill Antonin Scalia’s seat” published in The Economist
Recalcitrant: adjective, having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority
Synonyms: uncooperative, intractable
Recant
“Analysts who predict turmoil are warned to shut up or recant.”
Source: “The muzzle grows tighter” published in The Economist
Recant: verb, Say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief
Synonyms: renounce, disavow, retract
Recant
“Analysts who predict turmoil are warned to shut up or recant.”
Source: “The muzzle grows tighter” published in The Economist
Recant: verb, Say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief
Synonyms: renounce, disavow, retract
Salient
“The reason for that emphasis may in part be because of the salient threat of terrorism…”
Source: “The Democrats’ orchestral finale” published in The Economist
Salient: adjective, Most noticeable or important
Synonyms: conspicuous, noticeable, obvious
Sardonic
“Ms Jefferson, it must be said, is a master of the arched-eyebrow, sardonic quip.”
Source: “A world apart” published in The Economist
Sardonic: adjective, grimly mocking or cynical
Synonyms: satirical, sarcastic, ironic
Savant
“The more a society treats its businesspeople as hero savants based on their professional successes, elevating them to positions of political power.”
Source: “Let them die” published in The Economist
Savant: noun, a learned person, especially a distinguished scientist
Synonyms: intellectual, scholar, sage
Soliloquy
“Patrick Stewart, for instance, reworked Hamlet’s soliloquy as an ode to the letter B (‘B or not a B, that is the question’).”
Source: “Big Bird, big brain” published in The Economist
Soliloquy: noun, an act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when by oneself, especially by a character in a play
Synonyms: monologue, speech
Stigma
“A stigma against adults having fun, strong in the aftermath of the Second World War, has faded.”
Source: “Toymakers bounce back in the land of adult nappies” published in The Economist
Stigma: noun, a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person
Synonyms: shame, disgrace, dishonour
Stigma
“A stigma against adults having fun, strong in the aftermath of the Second World War, has faded.”
Source: “Toymakers bounce back in the land of adult nappies” published in The Economist
Stigma: noun, a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person
Synonyms: shame, disgrace, dishonour
Stipulate
“In trade negotiations, size matters. Larger economies can stipulate terms that suit them.”
Source: “Britain’s excruciating embrace of Donald Trump shows how little independence it has gained from Brexit” published in The Economist
Stipulate: verb, Demand or specify (a requirement), typically as part of a bargain or agreement
Synonyms: set down, set out, lay down
Stratum
“But exalting Western aviation security to a higher stratum than that found in Africa is a delusion.”
Source: “The troubling case of the bomb on a flight from Mogadishu” published in The Economist
Stratum: noun, a thin layer within any structure
Synonyms: level, class, echelon
Subpoena
“Subpoenas issued by a federal grand jury earlier this year demanded that the Port Authority hand over Mr. Samson’s personal travel records…”
Source: “The chairman’s flight” published in The Economist
Subpoena: noun, A writ ordering a person to attend a court
Synonyms: summons, mandate, court order
Syntax
“The three decided to record their reactions to Belinda’s not-particularly-erotic escapades and the author’s idiosyncratic syntax.”
Source: “2016: the year the podcast came of age” published in The Economist
Syntax: noun, the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a languag
Tenet
“In the Warren and Burger courts of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, religious accommodation was a liberal tenet.”
Source: “Left, right” published in The Economist
Tenet: noun, a principle or belief
Synonyms: doctrine, precept, creed
Tout
“Providers have focused on the home, touting products such as coffee pots that turn on when the alarm clock rings…”
Source: “Where the smart is” published in The Economist
Tout: verb, Attempt to sell (something), typically by pestering people in an aggressive manner
Synonyms: endorse, urge
Verbose
“But in recent years they have become particularly verbose, bombarding consumers with any small detail that might enhance the brand.”
Source: “It’s the real thing” published in The Economist
Verbose: adjective, Using or expressed in more words than are needed
Synonyms: wordy, loquacious, long-winded
Whet
“But sham democracy often whets people’s appetite for the real thing.”
Source: “The road less travelled” published in The Economist
Whet: verb, Excite or stimulate (someone’s desire, interest, or appetite)
Synonyms: arouse, rouse, trigger
Urbane
“Beneath its urbane surface all Mr. Hough’s music is, in one way or another, a crusade.”
Source: “He’s the piano man” published in The Economist
Urbane: adjective, (Of a person, especially a man) courteous and refined in manner
Synonyms: suave, sophisticated, debonair
Abeyance
“With the euro crisis in abeyance, high oil prices have become the latest source of worry for the world economy.”
Source: “The new grease?” published in The Economist
Abeyance: noun, a state of temporary disuse or suspension
Synonyms: suspense, remission, reserve
Abjure
“Since 1986 he has been asking candidates for public office to sign his Taxpayer Protection Pledge, in which they abjure tax increases of any sort forever.”
Source: “It’s not over for Grover” published in The Economist
Abjure: verb, Solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim)
Synonyms: relinquish, reject, disavow
Anodyne
“The prospect of a day spent milling around… at the G20 summit this week, with nothing to show for it but an anodyne/2016-11-27”>anodyne communiqué, must be depressing enough.”
Source: “Agreeing to agree” published in The Economist
Anodyne: adjective, not likely to cause offence or disagreement and somewhat dull
Synonyms: bland, inoffensive, innocuous
Bilk
“Partly because they are not paid properly, they bilk the system and get away with it, thanks to political contacts.”
Source: “A tale of two villages” published in The Economist
Bilk: verb, Obtain or withhold money from (someone) by deceit or without justification
Synonyms: swindle, defraud, deceive
Canard
“In March 2014 Newsweek… identified a man living in California… as the real Satoshi, but this turned out to be an embarrassing canard.”
Canard: noun, an unfounded rumor or story
Synonyms: piece of gossip, whisper
Catalyst
“Europe, which is where the global refugee regime began 65 years ago… will have to be the catalyst for change.”
Source: “Looking for a home” published in The Economist
Catalyst: noun, a person or thing that precipitates an event
Synonyms: stimulus, impetus, spark
Catharsis
“…Robin Hanbury-Tenison, another British explorer, who is president of Survival International, calls ‘the gosh factor’—that rush of amazement and catharsis when a pinnacle is reached or a mad exploit in some jungle or desert achieved…”
Source: “A new age of discovery” published in The Economist
Catharsis: noun, the process of releasing and providing relief from strong or repressed emotions
Synonyms: emotional release, relief
Cloture
‘If you do not have the support of 60 Senators to invoke cloture and end a filibuster… you cannot pass such a deeming resolution in the Senate.’”
Source: “Why the Senate hasn’t passed a budget” published in The Economist
Cloture: noun, (in a legislative assembly) a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote
Compendium
“He relies on a crowdsourced compendium of fishermen’s tales.”
Source: “Wiki-fishing” published in The Economist
Compendium: noun, a collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject
Synonyms: compilation, anthology
Conscript
“Most Jewish Israelis are conscripted into the military; about 100,000 new recruits, fresh out of secondary school, are drafted each year…”
Source: “Tales from Silicon wadi” published in The Economist
Conscript: verb, Enlist (someone) compulsorily
Synonyms: draft, recruit, call up
Conscript
“Most Jewish Israelis are conscripted into the military; about 100,000 new recruits, fresh out of secondary school, are drafted each year…”
Source: “Tales from Silicon wadi” published in The Economist
Conscript: verb, Enlist (someone) compulsorily
Synonyms: draft, recruit, call up
Cosset
“With a big haul, Scotland’s politicians could perhaps afford to cosset oil firms. Without one, the young nation might have to milk them harder than ever.”
Source: “Running on fumes” published in The Economist
Cosset: verb, Care for and protect in an overindulgent way
Synonyms: indulge, pander to
Coterie
“He rules through a tight coterie of loyal aides, many of whom worked with him in his previous job as governor of the state of Mexico…”
Source: “The unspeakable and the inexplicable” published in The Economist
Coterie: noun, a small group of people with shared interests or tastes
Synonyms: clique, circle, inner circle
Daguerreotype
“Indeed, the earliest applications of multimedia for remembrance were the post-mortem daguerreotypes used by grieving Victorians as mementos of their dear departed.”
Source: “Difference Engine: Facebook for the dead” published in The Economist
Daguerreotype: noun, A photograph taken by an early photographic process employing an iodine-sensitized silvered plate and mercury vapor
Dilettante
“This is not the work of a dilettante, but a strong follow-up to her acclaimed short stories that came out in 2007.”
Source: “Magical realism” published in The Economist
Dilettante: noun, a person who cultivates an area of interest without real commitment or knowledge
Synonyms: dabbler, potterer, tinkerer
Diurnal
“People walk on two legs like most avian species. They are also largely diurnal and rely upon sight as their primary sense.”
Source: “Fairy creatures” published in The Economist
Diurnal: adjective, (Of animals) active in the daytime
Synonyms: daily, everyday
Dross
“Some of its best properties could be sold quickly, but the dross might take years to offload.”
Source: “How Donald Trump should handle conflicts of interest” published in The Economist
Dross: noun, something regarded as worthless
Synonyms: rubbish, junk, debris
Ebullient
“And in Elon Musk, its ebullient boss, it has a figurehead whose relentless promotion has quickly established Tesla as a luxury brand…”
Source: “On a charge” published in The Economist
Ebullient: adjective, Cheerful and full of energy
Synonyms: exuberant, buoyant, joyful
Edify
“Shows that revolve around women are so few and far between. The ones that exist are expected not only to entertain but to represent and edify us too.”
Source: “Great expectations” published in The Economist
Edify: verb, Instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually
Synonyms: educate, instruct, enlighten
Egress
“The government must ‘protect passenger safety by mandating minimum seat pitch standards to preclude ingress/egress and health issues.’”
Source: “A passenger revolt against squashed legroom” published in The Economist
Egress: noun, the action of going out of or leaving a place
Synonyms: departure, exit, withdrawal
Ersatz
“As any computer scientist will tell you, creating an ersatz version of something in software is inevitably less precise and more computationally costly than simply making use of the thing itself.”
Source: “You’ve got a nerve” published in The Economist
Ersatz: adjective, (Of a product) used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else
Synonyms: artificial, substitute, imitation
Dyspeptic
“Pity V.S. Naipaul: every couple of years or so the dyspeptic writer makes a pronouncement so extreme that it sounds like a plea for attention…”
Source: “A bend in the logic” published in The Economist
Dyspeptic: adjective, Of or having indigestion or consequent irritability or depression
Synonyms: bad-tempered, short-tempered, irritable
Erstwhile
“The stake of the Co-operative Group, its erstwhile owner, was reduced to just 20%.”
Source: “The Co-op Bank puts itself up for sale” published in The Economist
Erstwhile: adjective, former
Synonyms: old, past, one-time
Euphony
“’Good news—clarity’s a-coming!’ extol choristers from the Hot Air Ensemble in jouncing Harlemesque euphony…”
Source: “Blasting the bombast” published in The Economist
Euphony: noun, the quality of being pleasing to the ear
Synonyms: melodiousness, musicality
Expiate
“So, among the countless humiliations endured by a defeated nation, this was a petty one, now forgotten. It will be expiated on May 26th…”
Source: “Rebuilding bridges” published in The Economist
Expiate: verb, Atone for (guilt or sin)
Synonyms: make amends for, make up for
Extant
“The earliest extant painting dates to 1825 and shows him with vivid eyes and thin, sculpted lips.”
Source: “Bosom buddies” published in The Economist
Extant: adjective, still in existence; surviving
Synonyms: living, still existing, remaining
Fracas
“By the time the broadcaster took the video off its website a day later, it had caused a diplomatic fracas between Turkey and Germany.”
Fracas: noun, a noisy disturbance or quarrel
Synonyms: scuffle, brawl, affray
Frieze
“A frieze on the wall of America’s Supreme Court shows some of the great law-givers of history, including the Roman emperor Justinian, Moses and Muhammad.”
Source: “Shalt or shalt not” published in The Economist
Frieze: noun, a broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration, especially on a wall near the ceiling
Fusillade
“But thanks to poor communication, many saw it as China’s first fusillade in a global currency war. “
Source: “Taking a tumble” published in The Economist
Fusillade: noun, a series of shots fired or missiles thrown all at the same time or in quick succession
Synonyms: salvo, volley, bombardment
Gaffe
“Personally he is likeable. But he is also gaffe-prone and the progenitor of a series of undiplomatic comments…”
Source: “Britain’s new prime minister will regret appointing Boris Johnson” published in The Economist
Gaffe: noun, an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator
Synonyms: blunder, mistake, error
Gainsay
“She was too young to know better, let alone gainsay her wicked uncle.”
Source: “Royally embarrassed” published in The Economist
Gainsay: verb, Speak against or oppose (someone)
Synonyms: be against, object to, be hostile to
Gerontocracy
“But Muhammad bin Salman is not merely a young face in a gerontocracy; he is a dynamic and apparently purposeful one.”
Source: “The challenged kingdom” published in The Economist
Gerontocracy: noun, a state, society, or group governed by old people
Gerontocracy
“But Muhammad bin Salman is not merely a young face in a gerontocracy; he is a dynamic and apparently purposeful one.”
Source: “The challenged kingdom” published in The Economist
Gerontocracy: noun, a state, society, or group governed by old people
Halcyon
“In their halcyon days the mainstream parties used to share most of the vote between them.”
Source: “The churn down under” published in The Economist
Halcyon: adjective, Denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful
Synonyms: happy, golden, idyllic
Hegemony
“Yet if the hegemony of the dollar is unstable, its would-be successors are unsuitable.”
Source: “Dominant and dangerous” published in The Economist
Hegemony: noun, Leadership or dominance, especially by one group over others
Synonyms: leadership, dominance, dominion
Hermetic
“More worryingly, there was a hermetic logic to them which, with the passions they aroused, made it possible to see how they could beguile and thrill many more.”
Source: “How a nation went mad” published in The Economist
Hermetic: adjective, Insulated or protected from outside influences
Synonyms: airtight, sealed
Heterodox
“Among those discriminated against for holding heterodox religious views, the Bahai community continues particularly to suffer.”
Source: “Human rights in Iran are still atrocious” published in The Economist
Heterodox: adjective, not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs
Synonyms: unorthodox, heretical, dissenting
Homogeneous
“It also has proportionately more immigrants than almost anywhere else. Next to London, famously cosmopolitan cities like Paris and Berlin are actually rather homogeneous.”
Source: “Britain’s unparalleled diversity is here to stay” published in The Economist
Homogeneous: adjective, of the same kind; alike
Synonyms: uniform, identical, unvaried
Homogeneous
“It also has proportionately more immigrants than almost anywhere else. Next to London, famously cosmopolitan cities like Paris and Berlin are actually rather homogeneous.”
Source: “Britain’s unparalleled diversity is here to stay” published in The Economist
Homogeneous: adjective, of the same kind; alike
Synonyms: uniform, identical, unvaried
Iconoclast
“He has overtaken Manuel Valls, the centre-left prime minister, as the left’s most outspoken iconoclast, and shown up the Socialist left as die-hard conservatives.”
Source: “How France’s economy minister is trying to change the country” published in The Economist
Iconoclast: noun, a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
Synonyms: critic, skeptic, dissenter
Idyll
“That might just persuade them to forgive the scriptwriters for the unwelcome disruption to their rural idyll.”
Source: “Violence in the shires” published in The Economist
Idyll: noun, an extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque episode or scene
Synonyms: perfect time, ideal time, honeymoon
Ignoble
“Moreover, by controlling the body he controlled the equally unruly mind, keeping it pure from ‘ignoble strife’.”
Source: “Raising the temple” published in The Economist
Ignoble: adjective, not honorable in character or purpose
Synonyms: dishonorable, unworthy, base
Impugn
“Impugning Mr. Abe’s motives is too cynical. His commitment to economic revival was no doubt sincere…”
Source: “Three-piece dream suit” published in The Economist
Impugn: verb, Dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of (a statement or motive)
Synonyms: call into question, challenge
Incise
“This 12th-century incense burner is incised with calligraphy that identifies its maker and first owner.”
Source: “Centuries of glory” published in The Economist
Incise: verb, Mark or decorate (an object or surface) with a cut or a series of cut
Synonyms: engrave, etch, carve
Incubus
“The Japanese people, freed of the incubus of a war industry which by 1938 was absorbing 61 per cent of their national income, have a chance of recovering…”
Source: “Victory in the East” published in The Economist
Incubus: noun, a cause of distress or anxiety
Knell
“The change in policy is a blow to the prison industry, but it hardly sounds a death knell for its business model.”
Source: “America is phasing out the federal use of private prisons” published in The Economist
Knell: noun, the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral
Synonyms: toll, ringing, chime
Lachrymose
“This morning the world is not talking about a dubious song by the host, a lachrymose speech or even an appalling outfit.”
Source: “Normal for Hollywood” published in The Economist
Lachrymose: adjective, Inducing tears; sad
Synonyms: sad, tearful, weepy
Lacuna
“This insane lacuna in the justice system reflects extreme systemic prejudice by drivers against cyclists, and would be easy enough to fix.”
Source: “The American right-of-way” published in The Economist
Lacuna: noun, an unfilled space or interval; a gap
Synonyms: interval, gap
Lambaste
“Yet the president was lambasted for his otherworldly complacency.”
Source: “Learning to live with it” published in The Economist
Lambaste: verb, Criticize (someone or something) harshly
Synonyms: castigate, chastise, condemn
Larceny
“But there are still no checks and balances on its exercise, as the larceny of governors illustrates.”
Source: “With an unfriendly neighbour, Mexico needs to strengthen itself” published in The Economist
Larceny: noun, Theft of personal property
Synonyms: stealing, robbery, pilfering
Libertine
“There are aunts for every worldview, from libertine to puritan and from reactionary to radical.”
Source: “Whatever should I do?” published in The Economist
Libertine: adjective, a person who rejects accepted opinions in matters of religion
Synonyms: freethinker, hedonist, profligate
Lugubrious
“The lugubrious strains of ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’ waft across a sunny beach in Acapulco.”
Source: “Girlfriend in a conga” published in The Economist
Lugubrious: adjective, Looking or sounding sad and dismal
Synonyms: mournful, gloomy, sad
Maelstrom
“The execution of its leaders, as much as the Easter Rising itself, triggered a maelstrom of events: a surge of anti-British rage…”
Source: “A terrible problem is born” published in The Economist
Maelstrom: noun, a situation or state of confused movement or violent turmoil
Synonyms: turbulence, tumult, turmoil
Magnate
“Several of America’s great industrialists built empires in Pittsburgh, including Andrew Carnegie, a steel magnate. “
Source: “From zero to seventy (billion)” published in The Economist
Magnate: noun, a wealthy and influential businessman or businesswoman
Synonyms: industrialist, tycoon, mogul
Magnate
“Several of America’s great industrialists built empires in Pittsburgh, including Andrew Carnegie, a steel magnate. “
Source: “From zero to seventy (billion)” published in The Economist
Magnate: noun, a wealthy and influential businessman or businesswoman
Synonyms: industrialist, tycoon, mogul
Malaproprism
“And so on down the list of supposed malapropisms. ‘You can observe a lot by watching,’ means plenty…”
Source: “Yogi Berra, linguistic savant” published in The Economist
Malaproprism: noun, the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect
Synonyms: misuse, solecism, blunder
Misanthropy
“[Labour] did not fall into the traps of the old left: confusing individualism for misanthropy…”
Source: “The land that Labour forgot” published in The Economist
Misanthropy: noun, a dislike of humankind
Synonyms: cynicism, hatred of mankind
Monolithic
“Four things have made Europe a harsher environment for the centre left: its own success, structural change in the economy, a reduced fear of political extremes and the decline of monolithic class groups.” Source: "Rose thou art sick" published in The Economist
Monolithic: adjective, large, powerful, and intractably indivisible and uniform
Synonyms: inflexible, rigid, unbending
Munificent
“Anyone with a few million dollars to spare can join in. The initial awards for physics, for example, were followed by equally munificent prizes in life sciences and mathematics.”
Source: “The Breakthrough prizes” published in The Economist
Munificent: adjective, Larger or more generous than is usual or necessary
Synonyms: bountiful, lavish, handsome
Myopic
“They are also myopic, judging politicians’ economic management on the basis of only the very recent past.”
Source: “X marks the knot” published in The Economist
Myopic: adjective, nearsighted
Synonyms: short-sighted, insular, small-minded
Myopic
“They are also myopic, judging politicians’ economic management on the basis of only the very recent past.”
Source: “X marks the knot” published in The Economist
Myopic: adjective, nearsighted
Synonyms: short-sighted, insular, small-minded
Nadir
“Between its pre-crisis peak in late 2007 and its nadir at the end of 2009, the economy contracted by 11.2%”
Source: “Celtic phoenix” published in The Economist
Nadir: noun, the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization
Synonyms: the all-time low, zero
Neophyte
“Mr. Gioia also delves into musical theory, in a way that will help both jazz neophytes and experts understand what they are listening to.”
Source: “Steps to heaven” published in The Econom
Neophyte: noun, a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief
Synonyms: beginner, learner, novice
Noisome
“Last July the Internal Security Ministry placed a follow-on order for Skunk, worth $45,000. So far the noisome substance has not been used abroad…”
Source: “A whiff from hell” published in The Economist
Noisome: adjective, having an extremely offensive smell
Synonyms: irritating, disagreeable, unpleasant
Nostrum
“It became a nostrum among rank-and-file Republicans that mainstream opinion polls are biased and should be ignored…”
Source: “State of denial” published in The Economist
Nostrum: noun, a pet scheme or favorite remedy, especially one for bringing about some social or political reform or improvement
Synonyms: cure, prescription, answer
Occlude
“Mars will be as far away as 370m kilometres in 2013, and occluded for two weeks by the sun to boot…”
Source: “Interplanetary broadband” published in The Economist
Occlude: verb, Stop, close up, or obstruct
Synonyms: block, cover, shut in
Paean
“’It is the right that has inherited the ambitious modernist urge to destroy and innovate in the name of a universal project,’ Tony Judt, a British historian, lamented in ‘Ill Fares the Land’, a paean to social democracy he dictated on his death bed.”
Source: “Rose thou art sick” published in The Economist
Paean: noun, a song of praise or triumph
Synonyms: song of praise, hymn, alleluia
Panoply
“’The panoply of restrictions results in greater disenfranchisement,’ the ruling read, ‘than any of the law’s provisions individually.’”
Source: “North Carolina voter ID law is struck down as racially discriminatory” p
Panoply: noun, a complete or impressive collection of things
Synonyms: array, range, collection
Pastiche
“Both enjoyed producing small articles and pastiches, she for the college magazine, he for avant-garde publications…”
Pastiche: noun, an artistic work consisting of a medley of pieces taken from various sources
Synonyms: mixture, blend, medley
Paucity (n)
“Yet the paucity of businesses is not due to a shortage of opportunities to make money.”
lack of something; small quantity; insufficient quantity
Synonyms: scarcity, sparseness, dearth
Pellucid
“Turning a crowd from hostility to adoration through pellucid, charismatic truthtelling is a venerable Hollywood trope…”
Pellucid: adjective, clear; easily understood
Synonyms: comprehensible, understandable
Phalanx
“A collection of giant slabs surrounded by thick iron railings, protected by a phalanx of armed guards…”
Phalanx: noun, a body of troops or police officers standing or moving in close formation
Phalanx
“A collection of giant slabs surrounded by thick iron railings, protected by a phalanx of armed guards…”
Phalanx: noun, a body of troops or police officers standing or moving in close formation
Philistine
“By choosing such an unimpeachably serious and artistic project as its first film production, the company has made anyone who grumbles seem like a philistine.”
Philistine: noun, A person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts
Synonyms: oaf, anti-intellectual, boor
Pique
“The Russians have responded with predictable pique—just as many refused to condemn the violence of their football hooligans…”
Pique: noun, a feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight
Synonyms: annoyance, displeasure, indignation
Polemic
“Marion Nestle’s heavyweight polemic against Coca-Cola and PepsiCo comes at an odd moment for the industry.”
Polemic: noun, a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
Synonyms: diatribe, invective
Précis
“His latest book, ‘Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking’, is a précis of those 50 years, distilled into 77 readable and mostly bite-sized chapters.”
Précis: noun, a summary or abstract of a text or speech
Synonyms: synopsis, summation
Prosaic
“However, while it is large-scale evacuations at times of crisis that grab attention, the biggest risks that business travellers face are more prosaic.”
Prosaic: adjective, Commonplace; unromantic
Synonyms: ordinary, everyday
Prosaic
“However, while it is large-scale evacuations at times of crisis that grab attention, the biggest risks that business travellers face are more prosaic.”
Prosaic: adjective, Commonplace; unromantic
Synonyms: ordinary, everyday
Puerile
“Meanwhile, out of puerile spite, Mr. Trump launched an assault on his disapproving party leadership…”
Puerile: adjective, childishly silly and trivial
Synonyms: immature, babyish, infantile
Pundit
“And yet the prevailing view among pundits is that Russia is indeed back in Asia.”
Pundit: noun, an expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called on to give opinions about it to the public
Synonyms: authority, adviser
Querulous
“Their querulous, hostile or annoyed faces recur in her work from the late 1950s.”
Source: “Exposed” published in The Economist
Querulous: adjective, Complaining in a petulant or whining manner
Synonyms: pettish, touchy, testy
Quiescence
“Horrible conditions do not guarantee revolts, and moderately bad conditions do not necessarily thwart them. The question is what to make of the relative quiescence of America’s poor.”
Quiescence: noun, a state or period of inactivity or dormancy
Synonyms: inactivity, inertia, latency
Quixotic
“In one chapter… the director probes some of the quixotic visionaries driving the digital revolution forward.”
Quixotic: adjective, exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
Synonyms: unrealistic, impractical, romantic
Quixotic
“In one chapter… the director probes some of the quixotic visionaries driving the digital revolution forward.”
Quixotic: adjective, exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
Synonyms: unrealistic, impractical, romantic
Raconteur
“The latest continental raconteur eager to spin Ireland’s tale is the European Union.”
Raconteur: noun, a person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way
Synonyms: storyteller, spinner of yarns
Redress
“There must be redress by an independent tribunal for those who have been mistreated.”
Redress: noun, remedy or compensation for a wrong or grievance
Synonyms: reparation, restitution, recompense
Repast
“Lunchtime, it is held, would be the optimal time to invade France. Little can distract a Frenchman from his sacred noonday repast.”
Repast: noun, a meal
Synonyms: feast, banquet
Ribald
“When challenged… about human rights in Chechnya, he replied with a ribald offer to arrange for the questioner’s Islamic circumcision.”
Ribald: adjective, Referring to sexual matters in an amusingly rude or irreverent way
Synonyms: bawdy, indecent, risqué
Rococo
‘The building, which once served as the local town hall, boasts rococo wall carvings, a statue of Pallas Athena…”
Rococo: adjective, Characterized by an elaborately ornamental late baroque style of decoration
Rococo
‘The building, which once served as the local town hall, boasts rococo wall carvings, a statue of Pallas Athena…”
Rococo: adjective, Characterized by an elaborately ornamental late baroque style of decoration
Sanguine
“Some fear a future of mass unemployment. Others are sanguine that people will have time to adapt.”
Sanguine: adjective, Optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation
Synonyms: hopeful, buoyant, assured
Semantic
“Semantic parsing also ensued over whether the modifier ‘meaningful’ is significantly (or meaningfully) different from ‘significant.’”
Semantic: adjective, Relating to meaning in language or logic
Synonyms: lingual, semasiological
Sobriquet
“This provoked widespread debate about the role of intellectual property and earned him the sobriquet ‘Champion of Patents.’”
Sobriquet: noun, a person’s nickname
Synonyms: appellation, moniker
Soporific
“In the soporific heat you would be forgiven for thinking that time had forgotten the New Jersey-sized nation.”
Soporific: adjective, Tending to induce drowsiness or sleep
Synonyms: sleep-inducing, somnolent, sedative
Supine
“Last year Shinzo Abe, the prime minister, brought in a corporate-governance code which…requires hitherto supine institutional investors to keep a close eye on firms they invest in.”
Supine: adjective, Failing to act as a result of moral weakness or indolence
Synonyms: weak, spineless
Toady
“Britain’s Conservative government is accused of sacrificing the steel industry to toady up to China.”
Toady: verb, Act in an obsequious way
Synonyms: be servile towards, grovel to
Truculent
“Mr. Boehner, having abandoned his long battle with his party’s truculent right-wingers and announced his resignation in September, wanted to ‘clear the barn’ for his successor.”
Truculent: adjective, Eager or quick to argue or fight
Synonyms: defiant, aggressive
Turgid
“It promotes a cult of personality around Mr. Baghdadi. It churns out turgid propaganda about repaired bridges and newly opened schools.”
Turgid: adjective, (of language or style) tediously pompous or bombastic
Synonyms: overblown, inflated, grandiose
Tyro
“When he was a young tyro in Silicon Valley, his libertarian vision inspired many of his business decisions.”
Tyro: noun, a beginner or novice
Synonyms: learner, neophyte, newcomer
Synoptic
“They were mind-expandingly right in their synoptic vision, if frequently inexact and sometimes mistaken in their specifics.”
Synoptic: adjective, Taking or involving a comprehensive mental view
Synonyms: concise, succinct, compressed
Synoptic
“They were mind-expandingly right in their synoptic vision, if frequently inexact and sometimes mistaken in their specifics.”
Synoptic: adjective, Taking or involving a comprehensive mental view
Synonyms: concise, succinct, compressed
Umbrage
“Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine’s president, takes umbrage at charges that reforms are lagging.”
Umbrage: noun, Offense or annoyance
Synonyms: insult, affront
Upbraid
“In the past its neighbours isolated and upbraided Austria for its flirtations with nationalist extremism…”
Upbraid: verb, Find fault with (someone)
Synonyms: scold, reprimand, rebuke
Verdant
“The Holey Artisan Bakery… overlooking a placid lake in Dhaka, was a foodie’s labour of love in a verdant corner of the chaotic capital.”
Verdant: adjective, (of countryside) green with grass or other rich vegetation
Synonyms: leafy, grassy, lush
Virulent
‘A more likely catastrophe, Mr. Rawles believes, would be a pandemic virulent enough to cause the breakdown of the national sewerage system as well as the grid.”
Virulent: adjective, extremely severe or harmful in its effects
Synonyms: toxic, deadly, destructive
Vitiate
‘The firm admitted that it vitiated its stated standards for evaluating securities in an area where those standards put in question its ability to win business.”
Vitiate: verb, Destroy or impair the legal validity of
Synonyms: put an end to, do away with, scrap
Vitiate
‘The firm admitted that it vitiated its stated standards for evaluating securities in an area where those standards put in question its ability to win business.”
Vitiate: verb, Destroy or impair the legal validity of
Synonyms: put an end to, do away with, scrap
Vitriol
“Given the vitriol that has followed the film since its inception, it does well simply not to be a colossal misstep.”
Vitriol: noun, Cruel and bitter criticism
Synonyms: venom, nastiness
Yoke
“The existential consequences of throwing off the yoke of religion is debated in many countries.”
Yoke: noun, a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull
Synonyms: bond, tie, subjection
Vociferous
“Ten weeks of ever-more vociferous argument, claims and counterclaims stretch between now and June 23rd, when the vote will take place.”
Vociferous: adjective, (Especially of a person or speech) vehement or clamorous
Synonyms: blatant, clamorous, noisy
Welter
“At the same time they are subjected to a welter of conflicting pressures—acting as spin-doctors and bean-counters as well as corporate strategists and auditors.”
Welter: noun, a large number of items in no order; a confused mass
Synonyms: confusion, jumble, tangle
Winnow
“Many lawmakers from both parties join Mr. Obama in wishing to winnow America’s overstuffed prisons.”
Winnow: verb, blow a current of air through (grain) in order to remove the chaff
Synonyms: sift out, filter out
Xenophobia
“Denk will not win more than a few seats in next year’s general election, but it is posing a crucial question: at a time of rising xenophobia, can Europe’s minorities rely on the broad centre-left parties for which they usually vote?”
Xenophobia: noun, Intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries
Barbs
critical expressions
Slights
front; insult
Snub
Put someone down; insult
Valor (n)
Fighting bravely (almost associated with war)
Pugnacity
readiness to fight
Arrogance
(-) Think you are better than everybody else
Hautiness
(-) Think you are better than everybody else
Benignity
Harmlessness
Truculence
readiness to fight
Labyrinthine
“Although you may think that statecraft is a daunting affair, you should investigate the labyrinthine complexities of ecclesiastical politics practiced by hierarchal churchmen.”
irregular and twisting; confusing
Ecclesiastical
“Although you may think that statecraft is a daunting affair, you should investigate the labyrinthine complexities of ecclesiastical politics practiced by hierarchal churchmen.”
of or relating to a church especially as an established institution
Disconcerting
causing one to feel unsettled
Daunting
“Although you may think that statecraft is a daunting affair, you should investigate the labyrinthine complexities of ecclesiastical politics practiced by hierarchal churchmen.”
seeming difficult to deal with in anticipation; intimidating
Spate
“The construction foreman required his workers to exercise caution around the worksite, as a recent spate of workplace accidents left him wary of another incident.”
Group of events
Dearth
“there is a dearth of evidence”
scarcity; lack of something
congruent
in agreement or harmony
equivocal
“the equivocal nature of her remarks”
open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous; ambivalent
quixotic
“…a vast and perhaps quixotic project…”
exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
squalid
“the squalid, overcrowded prison”
“a squalid attempt to save themselves from electoral embarrassment”
- of a place) extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty or neglect.
- showing or involving a contemptible lack of moral standards
transcendental
elating to a spiritual or nonphysical realm.
churlish
rude
surveyor
look around and take note
martinet
strict disciplinarian
Aplomb
Self-confidence
Hackneyed
(of a phrase or idea) lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite
Dissemble
lie; disguise
Flamboyance
flashy
Dissimilitude
lack of resemblance
Histronics
“The judge did not care one whit for histrionics and would angrily berate any who embellished their testimonies with elaborate, pleading gestures or, worse yet, broke into feigned bouts of sobbing.”
theatrics
Whit
“The judge did not care one whit for histrionics and would angrily berate any who embellished their testimonies with elaborate, pleading gestures or, worse yet, broke into feigned bouts of sobbing.”
very small
Feign
“The judge did not care one whit for histrionics and would angrily berate any who embellished their testimonies with elaborate, pleading gestures or, worse yet, broke into feigned bouts of sobbing.”
pretend
Bout
“The judge did not care one whit for histrionics and would angrily berate any who embellished their testimonies with elaborate, pleading gestures or, worse yet, broke into feigned bouts of sobbing.”
Short period intense activity
Pithy
“The philosopher avoided a contemporary style and instead liberally employed the use of aphorisms and pithy paragraphs.”
concise and forcefully expressive
Aphorism
“The philosopher avoided a contemporary style and instead liberally employed the use of aphorisms and pithy paragraphs.”
short sayings
Ignominy
disgrace
Tantamount
the same as
Heresy
Not following tradition in a strong way
Reversion
going back to
Lionize
hold someone as a hero
Soporific
drowsiness
Impertinent
rude
Obdurate
Stubborn (in a aggravating way)
Munificent
Generous
Verisimilitude
appearance of being true/real
Curmudeon
Grumpy
Unseemly
Inappropriate
Enumerate
List
Polemic
Strong verbal/written attack on something
Desultory
Rambling, lacking a plan
Augury
sign about the future
Trope
Overused chiche or idea
Anodynes
Provide relief
timorous
fearful
vigorous
energetic
bellicose
aggressive
exaltation
feeling extreme happiness
notoriety
fame for a bad quality
stopgap
measure, gap
churlish
mean spirited, surly
hapless
unfortunate
preeminent
foremost, at the top
syncophantic
fawning, kissing up
Harried
“Harried by a swarm of tabloid reporters, their camera flashes creating an incessant whir, the celebrity made a quick escape into a limousine with tinted windows.”
annoyed; troubled
Besieged
“Besieged by a swarm of tabloid reporters, their camera flashes creating an incessant whir, the celebrity made a quick escape into a limousine with tinted windows.”
Harrassed
Feted
Celebrated
Mollify
make less angry, placate
Ingratiate
calculated to please
Fawn
brown nose
habitual
happens over and over again
derelict
not doing his duties
inveterate
habitual, constant
untiring
not changing
dithering
tremble, uncertain
obstinacy
resistance
fecklelessness
lazy; lacking intiative
chasten
punishment
congenial
friendly
disenfranchised
deprived of the right to vote
tactless
does not behave the proper way in social settings
admonitory
warn or caution beforehand
openhanded
generous; magnanomous
garrulous
talkative
tantamount
equivalent in seriousness
shiftless
lack of ambition
plastic
changing; adaptable
consummate
highly accomplished
fledgling
inexperienced
repudiate
refuse to accept; deny; reject
amalgam
mixture
superfluity
excess
remission
cancel; go away (healed or recovered)
profligate
spending resources wastefully or recklessly
capacious
comprehensive
defame
slander; libel
revelry
festive
merriment
gaiety; fun
carousing
activity of drinking and having fun
wallow
indulge in unrestrained way
despoil
steal or violently remove value
furtive
stealthy - unnoticed
obsequious
servile
Synonym: Toady
caustic
mean
draconian
limiting in an unkind way
truculent
taking a fighting stance
capitulate
surrender
calumny
making a statement to injure someones reputation
dispensation
exemption from a rule
tenacious
unchanging stubborn
logorrhea
outpour of words
bracing
invigorating
derivative
imitative; based upon something else
cursory
superficial
rigorous
thorough
sanguine
optimistic
beguile
attractive
gleen
gather
spartan
hard training
martial
warlike
salutary
producing good effects
dysphoric
feeling distress
despondent
sad
taciturn
uncommunicative
unflappable
composure
forlorn
hopeless
inimical
hostile
apotheosis
noun: exaltation to divine status; the highest point of development
vicissitude
noun – Regular change or succession of one thing to another; alternation.
modicum
small amount
contentious
constantly arguing
subvert
undermine; go against
jingoism
excessive patriotism
cupidity
greed for money
restiveness
agitation **
want
lack **
assuage
make something intense less severe
stultified
hold back (hamper)
hamper
hold back (stultified)
spur
reject
protracted
make longer
penurious
careless
plodding
slow; laborious
exacting
demanding accuracy
drivel
does not make sense
recondite
obscure; esoteric
pious
devotely religious
sartorial
relating to fashion/clothes
assiduity
attention to detail; slow to change
maladroit
clumsy
enervate
drained of energy; weaken
mollify
appease anger or anxiety
Protean
ability to change quickly
Synonym: versatile
unassailable
unable to be attacked, deleted, questioned
ill beehove
not suitable
abrogate
appeal, overturn
promulgate
annouce
decrepit
old
unscrupulous
without principles; unethical
pernicious
harmful
caviling
raising suspicions
carping
persistently petty
groveling
to lie down
temerity
fearless daring
retiring
reserved; shy
hautiness
pride
mulled over
to muddle, mix up
punctillious
punctual
steel
mentally prepare for something difficult
