Word Meanings 20191013

indelible
/ɪnˈdɛlɪb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: indelible
(of ink or a pen) making marks that cannot be removed.
"an indelible marker pen"
Similar:
ineradicable
inerasable
ineffaceable
unexpungeable
indestructible
permanent
lasting
persisting
enduring
stubborn
ingrained
unfading
imperishable
unforgettable
haunting
memorable
not/never to be forgotten
Opposite:
erasable
not able to be forgotten.
"the story made an indelible impression on me"
Similar:
ineradicable
inerasable
ineffaceable
unexpungeable
indestructible
permanent
lasting
persisting
enduring
stubborn
ingrained
unfading
imperishable
unforgettable
haunting
memorable
not/never to be forgotten
Opposite:
erasable
Origin

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cortical
/ˈkɔːtɪk(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
ANATOMY
relating to the outer layer of the cerebrum.
"the imaging of the brain showed cortical atrophy"
2.
BOTANY
relating to or forming an outer layer of tissue immediately below the epidermis of a stem or root.
"a probe was inserted into cortical cells of cotton roots"

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dollop
/ˈdɒləp/
nouninformal
plural noun: dollops
a large, shapeless mass of something, especially soft food.
"great dollops of cream"
    
Similar:
blob
glob
gobbet
lump
clump
ball
mound
gob
wodge


verb
3rd person present: dollops
add (a large mass of something) casually and without measuring.
"she stopped him from dolloping cream into his coffee"

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hunch
[hən(t)SH]

VERB
raise (one's shoulders) and bend the top of one's body forward.
"he thrust his hands in his pockets, hunching his shoulders" · [more]
synonyms:
arch · curve · hump · bend · bow · curl · crook · crouch · huddle up · curl up · [more]
NOUN
a feeling or guess based on intuition rather than known facts.
"she was acting on a hunch"
synonyms:
feeling · guess · suspicion · sneaking suspicion · impression · inkling · idea · [more]
a humped position or thing.
"the hunch of his back"
synonyms:
protuberance · hump · lump · bump · knob · protrusion · prominence · [more]
dialect
a thick piece; a hunk.
"a hunch of bread"
synonyms:
piece · portion · wedge · chunk · hunk · lump · slab · segment · rasher · [more]

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huddle
/ˈhʌd(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
1.
crowd together; nestle closely.
"they huddled together for warmth"
Similar:
crowd
gather
throng
flock
herd
pile
bunch
cluster
collect
group
congregate
press
pack
squeeze
cram
jam
foregather
Opposite:
disperse
2.
BRITISH
heap together in a disorderly manner.
"a man with his clothes all huddled on anyhow"
noun
a close grouping of people or things.
"a huddle of huts"
Similar:
crowd
gathering
throng
flock
herd
swarm
press

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unfettered
/ʌnˈfɛtəd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: unfettered
not confined or restricted.
"his imagination is unfettered by the laws of logic"
Similar:
unrestrained
unrestricted
unconstrained
free
unbridled
untrammelled
unchecked
unconfined
unimpeded
unhampered
uncontrolled
unbound
untied
unchained
unshackled
loose
Opposite:
restricted
fettered
unfetter
/ʌnˈfɛtə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: unfettered; past participle: unfettered
release from restraint or inhibition.
"his imagination is unfettered by the laws of logic"

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waffle1
/ˈwɒf(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
INFORMAL
verb
1.
BRITISH
speak or write at length in a vague or trivial manner.
"he waffled on about his problems"
Similar:
prattle
chatter
babble
ramble
jabber
gibber
gabble
gab
burble
flannel
run on
mutter
mumble
prate
drivel
bleat
cackle
hum and haw
blather
rabbit
witter
natter
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
fail to make up one's mind.
"Joseph had been waffling over where to go"
noun
1.
BRITISH
lengthy but vague or trivial talk or writing.
"we've edited out some of the waffle"
Similar:
prattle
jabbering
verbiage
drivel
meaningless talk
nonsense
twaddle
gibberish
stuff and nonsense
bunkum
mumbo jumbo
padding
flannel
verbosity
prolixity
hot air
poppycock
tripe
bosh
bunk
blah
hogwash
eyewash
gobbledygook
rot
tommyrot
guff
wittering
logorrhoea
2.
US
a failure to make up one's mind.
"his waffle on abortion"

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cacophony
/kəˈkɒf(ə)ni/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: cacophony; plural noun: cacophonies
a harsh discordant mixture of sounds.
"a cacophony of deafening alarm bells"
Similar:
din
racket
noise
discord
dissonance
discordance
caterwauling
raucousness
screeching
jarring
stridency
grating
rasping
Origin

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crepitate
/ˈkrɛpɪteɪt/
verb
verb: crepitate; 3rd person present: crepitates; past tense: crepitated; past participle: crepitated; gerund or present participle: crepitating
make a crackling sound.
"the night crepitates with an airy whistling cacophony"

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fizzle
/ˈfɪz(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
verb
make a feeble hissing or spluttering sound.
"the strobe lights fizzled and flickered"
Similar:
crackle
sputter
buzz
hiss
crack
sibilate
crepitate
noun
a feeble hissing or spluttering sound.
Similar:
hiss
hissing
buzz
buzzing
crackle
crackling
sputter

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polemic
/pəˈlɛmɪk/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: polemics
a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
"his polemic against the cultural relativism of the Sixties"
Similar:
critical
hostile
bitter
polemical
virulent
vitriolic
venomous
waspish
corrosive
biting
caustic
trenchant
cutting
acerbic
sardonic
sarcastic
scathing
acid
sharp
keen
tart
pungent
stinging
astringent
incisive
devastating
piercing
acidulous
mordacious
diatribe
invective
denunciation
denouncement
rant
tirade
broadside
attack
harangue
verbal onslaught
condemnation
brickbats
criticism
admonishment
admonition
abuse
stream of abuse
stricture
tongue-lashing
castigation
reprimand
rebuke
reproof
reproval
upbraiding
knocking
blast
slating
philippic
argumentation
argument
debate
contention
dispute
disputation
discussion
controversy
altercation
faction
wrangling
contestation
the practice of engaging in controversial debate or dispute.
noun: polemics
"the history of science has become embroiled in religious polemics"
Origin

mid 17th century: via medieval Latin from Greek polemikos, from polemos ‘war’.

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rein
/reɪn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: reins
a long, narrow strap attached at one end to a horse's bit, typically used in pairs to guide or check a horse in riding or driving.
BRITISH
a pair of straps used to restrain a young child.
"some of the children wore leather baby reins"
the power to direct and control.
"a new chairperson will soon take over the reins"
verb
3rd person present: reins
check or guide (a horse) by pulling on its reins.
"he reined in his horse and waited"
keep under control; restrain.
"with an effort, she reined back her impatience"
Similar:
restrain
check
curb
constrain
hold back
keep in check
keep under control
hold in
regulate
restrict
control
bridle
put the brakes on
slow down
curtail
limit
stop
arrest
Origin

Middle English: from Old French rene, based on Latin retinere ‘retain’.

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brim
/brɪm/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: brimming
be full to the point of overflowing.
"my eyes brimmed with tears"
Similar:
be full
be filled up
be filled to the top
be full to capacity
be packed with
overflow
run/well over
fill something so completely that it almost overflows.
"large tears brimmed in her eyes"
Similar:
fill
fill up
fill to capacity
overflow
be full of a particular quality, feeling, etc.
"he is brimming with ideas"
Origin

Middle English (denoting the edge of the sea or other body of water): perhaps related to German Bräme ‘trimming’.

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heresy
/ˈhɛrɪsi/
Learn to pronounce
noun
belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine.
"Huss was burned for heresy"
Similar:
dissension
dissent
dissidence
blasphemy
nonconformity
unorthodoxy
heterodoxy
apostasy
freethinking
schism
faction
scepticism
agnosticism
atheism
non-theism
non-belief
unbelief
idolatry
paganism
separatism
sectarianism
revisionism
tergiversation
recreancy
recusancy
Opposite:
orthodoxy
opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted.
"the heresy of being uncommitted to the right political dogma"

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gusto
/ˈɡʌstəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
enjoyment and enthusiasm in doing something.
"Hawkins tucked into his breakfast with gusto"
Similar:
enthusiasm
relish
appetite
enjoyment
delight
glee
pleasure
satisfaction
gratification
appreciation
liking
fondness
zest
zeal
fervour
verve
keenness
avidity
delectation
Opposite:
apathy
distaste
2.
ARCHAIC
the style in which a work of art is executed.

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retribution
/rɛtrɪˈbjuːʃ(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: retribution
punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.
"employees asked not to be named, saying they feared retribution"
Similar:
punishment
penalty
nemesis
fate
doom
one's just deserts
due reward
just reward
wages
justice
retributive justice
poetic justice
judgement
reckoning
revenge
reprisal
requital
retaliation
payback
vengeance
tit for tat
measure for measure
redress
reparation
restitution
recompense
repayment
damages
satisfaction
remedy
comeback
atonement
amends
one's comeuppance
measure
Origin
late Middle English (also in the sense ‘recompense for merit or a service’): from late Latin retributio(n- ), from retribut- ‘assigned again’, from the verb retribuere, from re- ‘back’ + tribuere ‘assign’.

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felony
/ˈfɛləni/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: felony; plural noun: felonies
a crime regarded in the US and many other judicial systems as more serious than a misdemeanour.
"he pleaded guilty to six felonies"
Origin

Middle English: from Old French felonie, from felon (see felon1).
misprision1
/mɪsˈprɪʒ(ə)n/
nounHISTORICAL•LAW
noun: felony
the deliberate concealment of one's knowledge of a treasonable act or a felony.
Origin

late Middle English: from Old French mesprision ‘error’, from mesprendre, from mes- ‘wrongly’ + prendre ‘to take’.

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simmer
/ˈsɪmə/
Learn to pronounce
verb
(of water or food that is being heated) stay just below boiling point while bubbling gently.
"the goulash was simmering slowly in the oven"
Similar:
boil gently
not quite boil
cook gently
stew
poach
bubble
seethe
noun
a state or temperature just below boiling point.
"bring the water to a simmer"

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vilify
/ˈvɪlɪfʌɪ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: vilifying
speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner.
"he has been vilified in the press"
Similar:
disparage
denigrate
defame
run down
revile
berate
belittle
abuse
insult
slight
attack
speak ill of
speak evil of
pour scorn on
cast aspersions on
criticize
censure
condemn
decry
denounce
pillory
lambaste
fulminate against
rail against
inveigh against
malign
slander
libel
spread lies about
blacken the name/reputation of
sully the reputation of
give someone a bad name
bring someone into disrepute
discredit
stigmatize
traduce
calumniate
impugn
slur
do down
do a hatchet job on
take to pieces
pull apart
throw mud at
drag through the mud
slate
have a go at
hit out at
jump on
lay into
tear into
knock
slam
pan
bash
hammer
roast
skewer
bad-mouth
throw brickbats at
rubbish
slag off
monster
pummel
dump on
bag
contemn
derogate
vituperate
asperse
vilipend
Opposite:
commend
lionize
Origin

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expedient
/ɪkˈspiːdɪənt,ɛkˈspiːdɪənt/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: expedient
(of an action) convenient and practical although possibly improper or immoral.
"either side could break the agreement if it were expedient to do so"
Similar:
convenient
advantageous
in one's own interests
to one's own advantage
useful
of use
of service
beneficial
of benefit
profitable
gainful
effective
helpful
practical
pragmatic
strategic
tactical
politic
prudent
wise
judicious
sensible
desirable
suitable
advisable
appropriate
apt
fit
timely
opportune
propitious
Opposite:
inexpedient
ill-advised
(of an action) suitable or appropriate.
"holding a public enquiry into the scheme was not expedient"
noun
noun: expedient; plural noun: expedients
a means of attaining an end, especially one that is convenient but possibly improper or immoral.
"the current policy is a political expedient"
Similar:
measure
means
method
stratagem
scheme
plan
course of action
solution
move
tactic
manoeuvre
recourse
resource
device
tool
contrivance
ploy
plot
machination
trick
ruse
artifice
invention
stopgap
dodge
lurk
shift
fetch
Origin

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sell-out
/ˈsɛlaʊt/
noun
plural noun: sellouts
1.
an event for which all tickets are sold.
"the game is sure to be a sell-out"
2.
a betrayal of one's principles for reasons of expedience.
"one of the biggest political sell-outs in decades"

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crib
/krɪb/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: crib; plural noun: cribs; noun: cribwork; plural noun: cribworks
1.
NORTH AMERICAN
a child's bed with barred or latticed sides; a cot.
"tiptoeing over to the crib, he looked down at the sleeping child"
Similar:
cot
cradle
bassinet
Moses basket
carrycot
a barred container or rack for animal fodder; a manger.
Similar:
manger
stall
trough
feeding trough
bin
box
rack
fodder rack
bunker
container
receptacle
BRITISH
a model of the Nativity of Christ, with a manger as a bed.
"a choir was singing carols by a crib"
2.
INFORMAL
a translation of a text for use by students, especially in a surreptitious way.
"an English crib of Caesar's Gallic Wars"
Similar:
translation
key
guide
a thing that has been plagiarized.
"is the song a crib from Mozart's ‘Don Giovanni’?"
Similar:
copy
plagiarism
plagiarization
reproduction
replica
duplication
imitation
pirate
rip-off
knock-off
dupe
3.
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
a person's apartment or house.
"there's a chance you might not get back to your crib tonight"
Similar:
house
flat
apartment
penthouse
cottage
bungalow
living quarters
quarters
accommodation
home
residence
abode
place
home unit
pad
cot
4.
short for cribbage.
"he would play crib with zest"
the cards discarded by the players at cribbage, counting to the dealer.
5.
a heavy timber framework used in foundations for a building or to line a mineshaft.
6.
AUSTRALIAN/NZ
a light meal; a snack.
"I was carrying my crib in a paper bag"
verb
verb: crib; 3rd person present: cribs; past tense: cribbed; past participle: cribbed; gerund or present participle: cribbing
1.
INFORMAL•BRITISH
copy (another person's work) illicitly or without acknowledgement.
"he was doing an exam and didn't want anybody to crib the answers from him"
Similar:
copy
reproduce
duplicate
appropriate
plagiarize
poach
steal
bootleg
pirate
rip off
lift
nick
pinch
monkey
ARCHAIC
steal.
"a brace of birds and hare, that I cribbed this morning out of a basket of game"
2.
ARCHAIC
restrain.
"he had been so cabined, cribbed, and confined by office"
3.
DATED•BRITISH
grumble.
"those guys have nothing to crib about"

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morsel
/ˈmɔːs(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: morsel; plural noun: morsels
a small piece or amount of food; a mouthful.
"Juliet pushed a morsel of toast into her mouth"
Similar:
mouthful
bite
nibble
bit
small piece
soupçon
taste
sample
spoonful
forkful
crumb
grain
particle
fragment
fraction
scrap
sliver
shred
pinch
drop
dollop
whit
atom
granule
segment
spot
modicum
gobbet
titbit
bonne bouche
smidgen
smidge
skerrick
a small piece or amount.
"there was a morsel of consolation for the British team"
Origin

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telltale
/ˈtɛlteɪl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: telltale; adjective: tell-tale
revealing, indicating, or betraying something.
"the telltale bulge of a concealed weapon"
Similar:
revealing
revelatory
suggestive
meaningful
significant
meaning
indicative
unmistakable
giveaway
noun
noun: telltale; plural noun: telltales; noun: tell-tale; plural noun: tell-tales
1.
BRITISH
a person, especially a child, who reports others' wrongdoings or reveals their secrets.
Similar:
tattletale
blabbermouth
blabber
loud mouth
snitch
squealer
sneak
clype
pimp
talebearer
2.
a device or object that automatically gives a visual indication of the state or presence of something.

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screech
/skriːtʃ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: screeching
(of a person or animal) give a loud, harsh, piercing cry.
"she hit her brother, causing him to screech with pain"
Similar:
shriek
squeal
squawk
howl
shout
yell
bellow
bawl
cry out
call out
yawp
yelp
wail
squall
caterwaul
whoop
holler
Opposite:
whisper
make a loud, harsh, squealing noise.
"the car drove off at speed, its tyres screeching"
move rapidly with a loud, harsh, squealing noise.
"the van screeched round a bend at speed"

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veto
/ˈviːtəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: vetoing
exercise a veto against (a decision or proposal).
"the president vetoed the bill"
Similar:
reject
turn down
throw out
dismiss
say ‘no’ to
rule against
overrule
rule out
quash
prohibit
forbid
interdict
proscribe
disallow
outlaw
embargo
place an embargo on
ban
bar
block
preclude
put a stop to
put an end to
stop
nullify
declare null and void
kill
squash
put the kibosh on
give the thumbs down to
give the red light to
Opposite:
approve
authorize
refuse to accept or allow.
"I vetoed the idea of a holiday"
Origin

early 17th century: from Latin, literally ‘I forbid’, used by Roman tribunes of the people when opposing measures of the Senate.

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perennial
/pəˈrɛnɪəl/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring.
"his perennial distrust of the media"
Similar:
everlasting
perpetual
eternal
continuing
unending
never-ending
endless
undying
ceaseless
abiding
enduring
lasting
persisting
permanent
constant
continual
unfailing
unchanging
never-changing
2.
(of a plant) living for several years.
"cow parsley is perennial"
noun
a perennial plant.
"perennials will transform the garden in summer"

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olfactory
/ɒlˈfakt(ə)ri/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
relating to the sense of smell.
"the olfactory organs"

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impunity
/ɪmˈpjuːnɪti/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: impunity
exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action.
"the impunity enjoyed by military officers implicated in civilian killings"
Similar:
immunity
indemnity
exemption from punishment
freedom from punishment
exemption
non-liability
licence
amnesty
dispensation
pardon
reprieve
stay of execution
exoneration
privilege
special treatment
favouritism
carte blanche
unpunished
with no ill consequences
with no ill effects
without being punished
without punishment
scot-free
Opposite:
liability
responsibility
Origin

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underling
/ˈʌndəlɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
nounDEROGATORY
noun: underling; plural noun: underlings
a person lower in status or rank.
"she was shouting orders at underlings between gulps of coffee"
Similar:
subordinate
inferior
deputy
junior
assistant
adjutant
aide

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denigrate
/ˈdɛnɪɡreɪt/
Learn to pronounce
verb
gerund or present participle: denigrating
criticize unfairly; disparage.
"doom and gloom merchants who denigrate their own country"
Similar:
disparage
belittle
diminish
deprecate
cast aspersions on
decry
criticize unfairly
attack
speak ill of
speak badly of
blacken the character of
blacken the name of
give someone a bad name
sully the reputation of
spread lies about
defame
slander
libel
calumniate
besmirch
run down
abuse
insult
slight
revile
malign
vilify
slur
bad-mouth
slate
do a hatchet job on
pull to pieces
pull apart
sling mud at
throw mud at
drag through the mud
rubbish
slag off
have a go at
asperse
derogate
vilipend
vituperate
Opposite:
extol
Origin

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lampoon
/lamˈpuːn/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: lampooned; past participle: lampooned
publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm.
"the actor was lampooned by the press"
Similar:
satirize
mock
ridicule
make fun of
poke fun at
caricature
burlesque
parody
take off
guy
make a fool of
rag
tease
send up
pasquinade
Origin

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forbearance
/fɔːˈbɛːr(ə)ns/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: forbearance
patient self-control; restraint and tolerance.
"his unfailing courtesy and forbearance under great provocation"
Similar:
tolerance
toleration
patience
resignation
endurance
fortitude
stoicism
long-sufferingness
leniency
lenity
clemency
indulgence
restraint
self-restraint
self-control
moderation
temperance
mildness
LAW
the action of refraining from exercising a legal right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt.

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gored
/ɡɔːd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: gored
shaped with a gore or gores.
"a gored skirt"
gore2
/ɡɔː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: gored; past participle: gored
(of an animal such as a bull) pierce or stab (a person or other animal) with a horn or tusk.
"he was gored to death by a charging bull"
Similar:
pierce
stab
stick
impale
puncture
penetrate
spear
spit
horn
Origin
late Middle English (in the sense ‘stab, pierce’): of unknown origin.
gore3
/ɡɔː/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: gored; past participle: gored
shape with a gore or gores.
"for a larger figure it would be necessary to slightly gore the skirt"
Origin

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fresco
/ˈfrɛskəʊ/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: frescoes
a painting done rapidly in watercolour on wet plaster on a wall or ceiling, so that the colours penetrate the plaster and become fixed as it dries.
the method of painting frescoes, used in Roman times and by the great masters of the Italian Renaissance including Giotto, Raphael, and Michelangelo.
Origin

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milieu
/ˈmiːljəː,mɪˈljəː/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: milieu; plural noun: milieux; plural noun: milieus
a person's social environment.
"Gregory came from the same aristocratic milieu as Sidonius"
Similar:
environment
background
backdrop
setting
context
atmosphere
scene
location
locale
conditions
surroundings
habitat
environs
sphere
world
territory
home
domain
preserve
province
circle
element
Origin

mid 19th century: French, from mi ‘mid’ + lieu ‘place’.

---

charlatan
/ˈʃɑːlət(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: charlatans
a person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill.
"a self-confessed con artist and charlatan"
Similar:
quack
mountebank
sham
fraud
fake
humbug
impostor

---

emotional intelligence
noun
the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.
"emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success"

Emotional intelligence (EI), emotional leadership (EL), emotional quotient (EQ) and emotional intelligence quotient (EIQ), is the capability of individuals to recognize their own emotions and those of others, discern between different feelings and label them appropriately, use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, and manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt to environments or achieve one's goal(s).

---

suffice (it) to say
phrase of suffice
used to indicate that one is saying enough to make one's meaning clear while withholding something for reasons of discretion or brevity.
"suffice it to say that they were not considered suitable for this project"

---

epitome
/ɪˈpɪtəmi,ɛˈpɪtəmi/
Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type.
"she looked the epitome of elegance and good taste"
Similar:
personification
embodiment
incarnation
paragon
essence
quintessence
archetype
paradigm
typification
type
exemplar
definitive example
prototype
representation
model
soul
example
byword
classic example/case
acme
ultimate
zenith
height
avatar
2.
a summary of a written work; an abstract.
Similar:
summary
abstract
synopsis
precis
résumé
outline

---

To plead the fifth means to refuse to answer a question, especially in a criminal trial, on the grounds that you might incriminate yourself.
Constitution: United States Constitution

What does the 5th Amendment mean in simple terms?
The Fifth Amendment, or Amendment V of the United States Constitution is the section of the Bill of Rights that protects you from being held for committing a crime unless you have been indicted correctly by the police.

---

patronizing
/ˈpatrənʌɪzɪŋ/
adjective
gerund or present participle: patronizing; gerund or present participle: patronising
apparently kind or helpful but betraying a feeling of superiority; condescending.
"we both occasionally experienced patronizing attitudes from staff"
patronize
/ˈpatrənʌɪz/
verb
gerund or present participle: patronizing
1.
treat in a way that is apparently kind or helpful but that betrays a feeling of superiority.
"she was determined not to be put down or patronized"
Similar:
treat condescendingly
treat with condescension
condescend to
look down on
talk down to
put down
humiliate
treat like a child
treat as inferior
treat with disdain
be snobbish to
look down one's nose at
condescending
supercilious
superior
imperious
haughty
lofty
lordly
magisterial
disdainful
scornful
contemptuous
cavalier
snobbish
pompous
uppity
high and mighty
snooty
stuck-up
fancy-pants
toffee-nosed
Opposite:
friendly
humble
2.
frequent (a shop, restaurant, or other establishment) as a customer.
"restaurants and bars regularly patronized by the stars were often crowded with paparazzi"
Similar:
do business with
buy from
shop at
be a customer of
be a client of
bring trade/custom to
deal with
trade with
frequent
haunt
attend
visit
subscribe to
join
become a member of
support
hang out at
give financial or other support to (a person, organization, or cause).
"she patronizes worthy causes"
Similar:
sponsor
back
fund
finance
be a patron of
promote

---

condescending
/kɒndɪˈsɛndɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
having or showing an attitude of patronizing superiority.
"she thought the teachers were arrogant and condescending"
Similar:
patronizing
supercilious
superior
snobbish
snobby
scornful


---

carping
/ˈkɑːpɪŋ/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
difficult to please; critical.
"she has silenced the carping critics with a successful debut tour"

---

delimit
[dēˈlimit]

VERB
determine the limits or boundaries of.
"agreements delimiting fishing zones"
synonyms:
determine · establish · set · fix · mark (out/off) · demarcate · bound · define · delineate

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wallow
/ˈwɒləʊ/
Learn to pronounce
verb
1.
(chiefly of large mammals) roll about or lie in mud or water, especially to keep cool or avoid biting insects.
"there were watering places where buffalo liked to wallow"
Similar:
loll about/around
lie about/around
tumble about/around
splash about/around
slosh
wade
paddle
slop
squelch
welter
splosh
2.
(of a person) indulge in an unrestrained way in (something that one finds pleasurable).
"I was wallowing in the luxury of the hotel"
Similar:
luxuriate
bask
take pleasure
take satisfaction
indulge (oneself)
delight
revel
glory
give oneself up to
take to
enjoy
like
love
relish
savour
rejoice in
exult in
get a kick/buzz out of
get a kick/buzz from
get a bang from
get a charge out of
Opposite:
eschew
noun
1.
an act of wallowing.
"a wallow in nostalgia"
2.
a depression containing mud or shallow water, formed by the wallowing of large mammals.

---

Gushy: 

How are the words Gushy and Soft related? Gushy and Soft are synonymous, and they have mutual synonyms.

---

DEFINITION of Blanket Appropriation
A blanket appropriation authorizes expenditures on a blanket basis without the individual using the funds having to specify individual projects the funds are being allocated towards. Blanket appropriation is often used in connection with government-level finances.

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strut
/strʌt/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: strut; plural noun: struts
1.
a rod or bar forming part of a framework and designed to resist compression.
"a supporting strut"
2.
a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait.
"that old confident strut and swagger has returned"
verb
verb: strut; 3rd person present: struts; past tense: strutted; past participle: strutted; gerund or present participle: strutting
1.
walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait.
"peacocks strut through the grounds"
Similar:
swagger
swank
parade
prance
flounce
stride
sweep
walk confidently
walk arrogantly
sashay
peacock
2.
brace (something) with a strut or struts.
"the holes were close-boarded and strutted"
Phrases
strut one's stuff — dance or behave in a confident and expressive way.
"tonight you'll be strutting your funky stuff on the dance floor"

---

drivel
/ˈdrɪv(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
noun
nonsense.
"don't talk such drivel!"
Similar:
nonsense
twaddle
claptrap
balderdash
gibberish
rubbish
mumbo jumbo
rot
tommyrot
poppycock
phooey
hot air
eyewash
piffle
garbage
tripe
waffle
bosh
bull
bunk
blah
hogwash
baloney
cobblers
codswallop
cock
stuff and nonsense
tosh
double Dutch
flapdoodle
blathers
wack
bushwa
applesauce
bunkum
vulgar slangcrap
bullshit
bollocks
balls
crapola
bulldust
Opposite:
sense
verb
1.
talk nonsense.
"he was drivelling on about the glory days"
Similar:
talk nonsense
talk rubbish
babble
ramble
gibber
burble
blather
blether
prate
prattle
gabble
chatter
twitter
maunder
waffle
witter on
gab
talk through one's hat
vulgar slangbullshit
2.
ARCHAIC
let saliva or mucus flow from the mouth or nose.
"the nurse leaves you to drivel, and never wipes your nose"

---

stupor
/ˈstjuːpə/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: stupor; plural noun: stupors
a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility.
"a drunken stupor"
Similar:
daze
state of stupefaction
state of senselessness
state of unconsciousness
inertia
torpor
insensibility
numbness
blankness
oblivion
coma
blackout
dwam
sopor
Origin

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crotchety
/ˈkrɒtʃɪti/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: crotchety
irritable.
"he was tired and crotchety"
Similar:
bad-tempered
ill-tempered
ill-natured
ill-humoured
peevish
cross
as cross as two sticks
irritable
irascible
short-tempered
hot-tempered
quick-tempered
touchy
testy
prickly
peppery
fractious
crusty
moody
cantankerous
curmudgeonly
crabbed
crabby
waspish
shrewish
grumpy
grouchy
disagreeable
churlish
surly
awkward
difficult
uncooperative
contrary
perverse
argumentative
quarrelsome
in a mood
in a bad mood
out of sorts
out of temper
snappish
snappy
chippy
on a short fuse
shirty
stroppy
narky
ratty
eggy
like a bear with a sore head
cranky
ornery
peckish
soreheaded
snaky
waxy
miffy
iracund
iracundulous
Opposite:
good-humoured
sweet-natured
Origin

---

rill
/rɪl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: rill; plural noun: rills
a small stream.
a shallow channel cut in the surface of soil or rocks by running water.
variant spelling of rille.
Origin

mid 16th century: probably of Low German origin.
rille
/rɪl/
nounASTRONOMY
noun: rill
a fissure or narrow channel on the moon's surface.
Origin

mid 19th century: from German (see rill).

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horrendous
/hɒˈrɛndəs/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: horrendous
extremely unpleasant, horrifying, or terrible.
"she suffered horrendous injuries"
Similar:
horrible
dreadful
horrifying
horrific
frightful
fearful
awful
terrible
shocking
appalling
hideous
grim
grisly
ghastly
harrowing
gruesome
heinous
vile
nightmarish
macabre
unspeakable
hair-raising
spine-chilling
loathsome
monstrous
abhorrent
detestable
hateful
execrable
abominable
atrocious
sickening
nauseating
Origin

---

gnarly
/ˈnɑːli/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
gnarled.
2.
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
difficult, dangerous, or challenging.
"he'd taken a fall during a particularly gnarly practice session"

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highfalutin
/ˌhʌɪfəˈluːtɪn/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL
(especially of speech, writing, or ideas) pompous or pretentious.
"you don't want any highfalutin jargon"
Similar:
pretentious
affected
high-sounding
high-flown
lofty
grandiose
magniloquent 
grandiloquent
ornate
florid
flowery, overblown, overdone, overripe, overwrought, verbose, inflated, rhetorical, oratorical, turgid, pompous, bombastic, declamatory, sonorous, portentous, pedantic, boastful, boasting, bragging, windy, purple, la-di-da, fancy-pants, hoity-toity, poncey, posh, fustian, euphuistic, orotund, tumid

Opposite: unpretentious

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lo and behold
phrase of lo
used to present a new scene, situation, or turn of events, often with the suggestion that, though surprising, it could in fact have been predicted.
"you took me out and, lo and behold, I got home to find my house had been ransacked"

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maxim
/ˈmaksɪm/
noun
noun: maxim; plural noun: maxims
a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct.
"the maxim that actions speak louder than words"
synonyms: saying, adage, aphorism, proverb, motto, saw, axiom, dictum, precept, epigram; More
Origin

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ramen
/ˈrɑːmɛn/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: ramen
(in Japanese cuisine) quick-cooking noodles, typically served in a broth with meat and vegetables.
Origin
Japanese, from Chinese lā ‘to pull’ + miàn ‘noodles’.
---

flip side
nounINFORMAL
noun: flipside
the less important side of a pop single; the B-side.
another aspect or version of something, especially its reverse or its unwanted concomitant.
"our recent pessimism is the flip side of an exaggerated optimism"
synonyms: other side, reverse side, back, rear, underside, wrong side, B-side, verso More

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ho-hum
/həʊˈhʌm/
exclamation
exclamation: ho-hum
used to express boredom or resignation.
adjective
adjective: ho-hum
boring.
"a ho-hum script"
Origin
1920s: imitative of a yawn.

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flaccid
/ˈflasɪd,ˈflaksɪd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
(of part of the body) soft and hanging loosely or limply, especially so as to look or feel unpleasant.
"she took his flaccid hand in hers"
synonyms: soft, loose, flabby, unfirm, yielding, slack, lax, out of tone, toneless; More
(of plant tissue) drooping or inelastic through lack of water.
lacking vigour or effectiveness.
"the flaccid leadership campaign was causing concern"
synonyms: lacklustre, ineffective, ineffectual, lifeless, listless, muted, spiritless, lustreless, uninspiring, apathetic, unanimated, tame; More

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rut1
/rʌt/
noun
plural noun: ruts
1.
a long deep track made by the repeated passage of the wheels of vehicles.
"a stretch of road made impassable by ruts, holes, or waterlogging"
synonyms: wheel track, furrow, groove, track, trough, ditch, trench, gutter, gouge, crack, hollow, hole, pothole, cavity, crater
"the Land Rover bumped across the ruts"
2.
a habit or pattern of behaviour that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change.
"the EC was stuck in a rut and was losing its direction"
synonyms: boring routine, humdrum existence, routine job, same old round, groove, grind, daily grind, treadmill, dead end, assembly line
"Julian felt he was stuck in a rut"

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dime
/dʌɪm/
Learn to pronounce
nounNORTH AMERICAN
a ten-cent coin.
INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
a small amount of money.
"he didn't have a dime"

What is a dime girl?
A dime is a ten-cent coin and to say a girl is a dime, or a dime piece, seems to mean that she scores a "ten", she's an attractive girl in all sorts of ways.

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contrived
/kənˈtrʌɪvd/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: contrived
deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously.
created or arranged in a way that seems artificial and unrealistic.
"the ending of the novel is too pat and contrived"
synonyms: forced, strained, studied, artificial, affected, put-on, pretended, false, feigned, manufactured, unnatural; More
antonyms: natural, spontaneous
contrive
/kənˈtrʌɪv/
Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: contrived; past participle: contrived
create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice.
"his opponents contrived a cabinet crisis"
synonyms: bring about, engineer, cause to happen, manufacture, orchestrate, stage-manage, create; More
manage to do something foolish or create an undesirable situation.
"he contrived to flood the flat three times"
synonyms: manage, find a way, engineer a way, arrange; More
Origin

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hokey
/ˈhəʊki/
Learn to pronounce
adjectiveINFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
adjective: hokey; comparative adjective: hokier; superlative adjective: hokiest
mawkishly sentimental.
"a hokey tear-jerker"
noticeably contrived.
"a hokey country-western accent"
Origin

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dovetail
/ˈdʌvteɪl/
Learn to pronounce
noun
plural noun: dovetails
a joint formed by one or more tapered projections (tenons) on one piece which interlock with corresponding notches or recesses (mortises) in another.
verb
3rd person present: dovetails
1.
join together by means of a dovetail.
synonyms: joint, join, fit together, link, interlock, splice, mortise, tenon
"the ends of the logs were cut and dovetailed"
2.
fit or cause to fit together easily and conveniently.
"plan to enable parents to dovetail their career and family commitments"
synonyms: fit in, go together, be consistent, agree, accord, concur, coincide, match, fit, be in agreement, conform, equate, harmonize, fall in, be in tune, correlate, correspond, tally; More

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stymie
/ˈstʌɪmi/
Learn to pronounce
verbINFORMAL
gerund or present participle: stymieing
prevent or hinder the progress of.
"the changes must not be allowed to stymie new medical treatments"
synonyms: impede, interfere with, hamper, hinder, obstruct, inhibit, frustrate, thwart, foil, spoil, stall, shackle, fetter, stop, check, block, cripple, handicap, scotch; More
antonyms: assist, help
Origin
mid 19th century (originally a golfing term, denoting a situation on the green where a ball obstructs the shot of another player): of unknown origin.

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intercede
/ˌɪntəˈsiːd/
Learn to pronounce
verb
3rd person present: intercedes
intervene on behalf of another.
"I prayed that she would intercede for us"
synonyms: mediate, act as an intermediary, intermediate, negotiate, arbitrate, moderate, conciliate, act as honest broker, intervene, interpose, step in, become/get involved, act, take action, take measures, take a hand; More

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egalitarian
/ɪˌɡalɪˈtɛːrɪən/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
believing in or based on the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.
"a fairer, more egalitarian society"
noun
a person who advocates or supports the principle of equality for all people.
"he was a social and political egalitarian"

---

irreconcilable
/ɪˌrɛk(ə)nˈsʌɪləb(ə)l,ɪˈrɛk(ə)nsʌɪləb(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
(of ideas or statements) so different from each other that they cannot be made compatible.
"these two views of the economy are irreconcilable"
synonyms: incompatible, at odds, at variance, incongruous, conflicting, clashing, discordant, antagonistic, mutually exclusive; More
noun
any of two or more ideas or statements that cannot be made compatible.

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Bill Gates/Quotes
1. Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.
2. Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.
3. Life is not fair; get used to it.
4. It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.
5. As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.
6. If you can't make it good, at least make it look good.
7. The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.
8. Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.
9. Television is not real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
10. Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There's a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning.

---

snob
/snɒb/
    Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: snob; plural noun: snobs
a person with an exaggerated respect for high social position or wealth who seeks to associate with social superiors and looks down on those regarded as socially inferior.
"her mother was a snob and wanted a lawyer as a son-in-law"
a person who believes that their tastes in a particular area are superior to those of other people.
"a musical snob"
Origin

late 18th century (originally dialect in the sense ‘cobbler’): of unknown origin; early senses conveyed a notion of ‘lower status or rank’, later denoting a person seeking to imitate those of superior social standing or wealth. Folk etymology connects the word with Latin sine nobilitate ‘without nobility’ but the first recorded sense has no connection with this.

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snub
/snʌb/
    Learn to pronounce
verb
1.
rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully.
"he snubbed faculty members and students alike"
synonyms: insult, slight, affront, humiliate, treat disrespectfully; More
2.
check the movement of (a horse or boat), especially by a rope wound round a post.
"a horse snubbed to a tree"
noun
an act of rebuffing or ignoring someone or something.
"the move was a snub to the government"
synonyms: rebuff, insult, repulse, slight, affront, slap in the face, humiliation; More
adjective
(of a person's nose) short and turned up at the end.
"snub-nosed"
Tip
Similar-sounding words
snub is sometimes confused with snob

---

offset
noun
/ˈɒfsɛt/
1.
a consideration or amount that diminishes or balances the effect of an opposite one.
"widow's bereavement allowance is an offset against income"
2.
the amount or distance by which something is out of line.
"these wheels have an offset of four inches"
verb
/ˈɒfsɛt,ɒfˈsɛt/
1.
counteract (something) by having an equal and opposite force or effect.
"donations to charities can be offset against tax"
synonyms: counterbalance, balance, balance out, cancel, cancel out, even out/up, counteract, counterpoise, countervail, equalize, neutralize, nullify, compensate for, make up for, make good, redeem, indemnify; More
2.
place out of line.
"several places where the ridge was offset at right angles to its length"

---

nerve-racking
/ˈnəːvrakɪŋ/
adjective
adjective: nerve-wracking
causing stress or anxiety.
"his driving test was a nerve-racking ordeal"
synonyms: stressful, anxious, worrying, fraught, nail-biting, tense, difficult, trying, worrisome, disquieting, daunting, alarming, frightening; More

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deflated
/dɪˈfleɪtɪd/
    Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: deflated
1.
having been emptied of air or gas.
"a deflated balloon"
2.
having suddenly lost confidence or optimism.
"the news left him feeling utterly deflated"
deflate
/dɪˈfleɪt/
    Learn to pronounce
verb
past tense: deflated; past participle: deflated
1.
let air or gas out of (a tyre, balloon, or similar object).
"he deflated one of the tyres"
synonyms: let down, empty the air out of, collapse, flatten, void; puncture
"he deflated one of the tyres"
antonyms: inflate, blow up
be emptied of air or gas.
"the balloon deflated"
synonyms: go down, collapse, shrink, contract, flatten
"the balloon deflated"
antonyms: inflate, expand
2.
make (someone) suddenly lose confidence or feel dispirited.
"his response deflated me"
synonyms: subdue, humble, cow, humiliate, mortify, chasten, chagrin, dispirit, dismay, discourage, dishearten; More
antonyms: aggrandize
reduce the level of (an emotion or feeling).
"her anger was deflated"
3.
ECONOMICS
bring about a general reduction of price levels in (an economy).
"the budget deflated the economy"
synonyms: reduce, slow down, make less active, diminish, lessen, lower; More
antonyms: inflate
Origin

late 19th century: from de- (expressing reversal) + -flate (as in inflate ).

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huckster
/ˈhʌkstə/
    Learn to pronounce
noun
1.
a person who sells small items door-to-door or from a stall.
"a door-to-door huckster"
synonyms: trader, dealer, seller, purveyor, vendor, barrow boy, salesman, door-to-door salesman, pedlar, hawker; More
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
a publicity agent or advertising copywriter.
verbNORTH AMERICAN
bargain; haggle.
"they were clearly embarrassed at having to huckster for cash"

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surreal
/səˈrɪəl/
    Learn to pronounce
adjective
adjective: surreal
having the qualities of surrealism; bizarre.
"a surreal mix of fact and fantasy"
synonyms: unreal, bizarre, unusual, weird, strange, freakish, unearthly, uncanny, dreamlike, phantasmagorical
"a backdrop of surreal images"
Origin

1930s: back-formation from surrealism.

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swizz
/swɪz/
    Learn to pronounce
nounINFORMAL•BRITISH
noun: swizz; plural noun: swizzes; noun: swiz; plural noun: swizes
a thing that is disappointing or represents a mild swindle.
"what a swizz!"
Origin

early 20th century: abbreviation of swizzle2.

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swizzle
/ˈswɪz(ə)l/
    Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: swizzle; plural noun: swizzles
a mixed alcoholic drink, especially a frothy one of rum or gin and bitters.
"a rum swizzle"
verb
verb: swizzle; 3rd person present: swizzles; past tense: swizzled; past participle: swizzled; gerund or present participle: swizzling
stir (a drink) with a swizzle stick.
"he would swizzle it into a froth and pour it out for us"
Origin
early 19th century: of unknown origin.

swizzle (2)
/ˈswɪz(ə)l/
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nounINFORMAL•BRITISH
noun: swizzle; plural noun: swizzles
another term for swizz.
Origin

early 20th century: probably an alteration of swindle.

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raucous
/ˈrɔːkəs/
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adjective
making or constituting a disturbingly harsh and loud noise.
"raucous youths"
synonyms: harsh, strident, screeching, squawky, squawking, sharp, grating, discordant, dissonant, inharmonious, unmelodious, jarring, brassy; More

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