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334 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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abate
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subside or moderate
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aberrant
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abnormal or deviant
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abeyance
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suspended action
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abscond
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depart secretly and hide
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abstemious
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sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
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admonish
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warn; reprove
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adulterate
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make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances
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aesthetic
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artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful
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aggregate
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gather; accumulate
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alacrity
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cheerful promptness; eagerness
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alleviate
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relieve
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amalgamate
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combine; unite in one body
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ambiguous
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unclear or doubtful in meaning
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ambivalence
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the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes
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ameliorate
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improve
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anachronism
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something or someone misplaced in time
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analogous
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comparable
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anarchy
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absence of governing body; state of disorder
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anomalous
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abnormal; irregular
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antipathy
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aversion; dislike
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apathy
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lack of caring; indifference
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appease
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pacify or soothe; relieve
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apprise
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inform
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approbation
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approval
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appropriate
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acquire; take possession of for one's own use
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arduous
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hard; strenuous
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artless
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without guile; open and honest
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ascetic
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practicing self-denial; austere
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assiduous
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diligent
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assuage
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ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
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attenuate
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make thinner; weaken or lessen (in density
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audacious
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daring; bold
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austere
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forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented
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aver
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assert confidently or declare; as used in law
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banal
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hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality
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belie
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contradict; give a false impression
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beneficent
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kindly; doing good
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bolster
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support; reinforce
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bombastic
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pompous; using inflated language
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boorish
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rude; insensitive
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burgeon
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grow forth; send out buds
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burnish
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make shiny by rubbing; polish
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buttress
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support; prop up
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cacophonous
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discordant; inharmonious
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capricious
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unpredictable; fickle
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castigation
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punishment; severe criticism
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catalyst
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agent that stimulates or precipitates a reaction
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caustic
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burning; sarcastically biting
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chicanery
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trickery; deception
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coagulate
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thicken; congeal; clot
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coda
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concluding section of a musical or literary composition; something that summarizes
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cogent
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convincing
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commensurate
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corresponding in extent
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compendium
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1. a brief treatment or account of a subject, esp. an extensive subject; concise treatise: a compendium of medicine.
2. a summary, epitome, or abridgment. 3. a full list or inventory: a compendium of their complaints. |
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complaisant
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trying to please; overly polite; obliging
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compliant
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yielding; conforming to requirements
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condone
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overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
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confound
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confuse; puzzle
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connoisseur
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person competent to act as a judge of art
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contention
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claim; thesis
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contentious
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quarrelsome
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contrite
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penitent
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conundrum
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riddle; difficult problem
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converge
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approach; tend to meet; come together
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convoluted
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coiled around; involved; intricate
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craven
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cowardly
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daunt
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intimidate; frighten
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decorum
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propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners
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default
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failure to act
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deference
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courteous regard for another's wish
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delineate
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portray; depict; sketch
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denigrate
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to speak damagingly of; criticize in a derogatory manner; sully; defame: to denigrate someone's character.
2. to treat or represent as lacking in value or importance; belittle; disparage: to denigrate someone's contributions to a project. 3. to make black; blacken: rain clouds denigrating the sky. |
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deride
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ridicule; make fun of
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derivative
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unoriginal; obtained from another source
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desiccate
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dry up
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desultory
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aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
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deterrent
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something that discourages; hindrance
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diatribe
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bitter scolding; invective
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dichotomy
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split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)
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diffidence
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shyness
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diffuse
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wordy; rambling; spread out (like a gas)
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digression
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wandering away from the subject
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dirge
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lament with music
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disabuse
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correct a false impression; undeceive
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discerning
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mentally quick and observant; having insight
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discordant
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not harmonious; conflicting
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discredit
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defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve
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discrepancy
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lack of consistency; difference
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discrete
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separate; unconnected; consisting of distinct parts
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disingenuous
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lacking genuine candor; insincere
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disinterested
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unprejudiced
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disjointed
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lacking coherence
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dismiss
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eliminate from consideration; reject
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disparage
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belittle
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disparate
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basically different; unrelated
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dissemble
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disguise; pretend
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disseminate
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distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
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dissolution
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disintegration; looseness in morals
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dissonance
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discord; opposite of harmony
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distend
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expand; swell out
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distill
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purify; refine; concentrate
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diverge
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vary; go in different directions from the same point
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divest
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strip; deprive
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document
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provide written evidence
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dogmatic
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opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal
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dormant
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sleeping; lethargic; latent
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dupe
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someone easily fooled
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ebullient
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showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm
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eclectic
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selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources
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efficacy
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power to produce desired effect
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effrontery
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impudence; shameless boldness; sheer nerve; presumptuousness
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elegy
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poem or song expressing lamentation
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elicit
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draw out by discussion
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embellish
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adorn; ornament; enhance
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empirical
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base on experience
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emulate
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imitate; rival
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endemic
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prevailing among a specific group of people or an area
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enervate
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weaken
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engender
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cause; produce
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enhance
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increase; improve
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ephemeral
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short-lived; fleeting
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equanimity
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calmness of temperament; composure
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equivocate
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to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge: When asked directly for his position on disarmament, the candidate only equivocated.
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erudite
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learned; scholarly
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esoteric
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hard to understand; known only to the chosen few
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eulogy
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expression of praise
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euphemism
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mild expression in place of an unpleasant one
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exacerbate
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worsen; embitter
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exculpate
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clear from blame
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exigency
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urgent situation; pressing needs or demands; state of requiring immediate attention
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extrapolation
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projection; conjecture
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facetious
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joking (often inappropriately); humorous
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facilitate
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help bring about; make less difficult
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fallacious
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false; misleading
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fatuous
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brainless; inane; foolish
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fawning
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trying to please by behaving obsequiously
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felicitous
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apt; suitably expressed; well chosen
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fervor
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glowing ardor; intensity of feeling
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flag
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droop; grow feeble
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fledgling
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inexperienced
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flout
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reject; mock; show contempt for
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foment
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stir up; instigate
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forestall
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prevent by taking action in advance
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frugality
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thrift; economy
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futile
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useless; hopeless; ineffectual
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gainsay
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deny
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garrulous
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loquacious; wordy; talkative
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goad
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urge on
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gouge
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overcharge
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grandiloquent
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pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding language
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gregarious
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sociable
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guileless
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without deceit
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gullible
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easily deceived
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harangue
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1. a scolding or a long or intense verbal attack; diatribe.
2. a long, passionate, and vehement speech, esp. one delivered before a public gathering. 3. any long, pompous speech or writing of a tediously hortatory or didactic nature; sermonizing lecture or discourse. |
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homogenous
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of the same kind
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hyperbole
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exaggeration; overstatement
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iconoclast
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attacking cherished traditions
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idolatry
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worship of idols; excessive admiration
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immutable
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unchangeable
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impair
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injure; hurt; make worse
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impassive
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without feeling; imperturbable; stoical
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impede
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hinder
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impermeable
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impervious; not permitting passage through its substance
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imperturbable
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calm; placid
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impervious
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impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed
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implacable
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incapable of being pacified
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implicit
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understood but not stated
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implode
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burst inward
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inadvertently
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unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly
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inchoate
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recently begun; rudimentary; elementary
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incongruity
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lack of harmony; absurdity
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inconsequential
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insignificant; unimportant
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incorporate
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introduce something into a larger whole; combine; unite
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indeterminate
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uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
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indigence
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poverty
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indolent
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lazy
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inert
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inactive; lacking power to move
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ingenuous
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naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated
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inherent
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firmly established by nature or habit
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innocuous
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harmless
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insensible
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unconscious; unresponsive
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insinuate
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hint; imply; creep in
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insipid
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lacking in flavor; dull
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insularity
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narrow-mindedness; isolation
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intractable
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unruly; stubborn; unyielding
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intransigence
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refusal of any compromise; stubbornness
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inundate
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overwhelm; flood; submerge
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inured
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accustomed; hardened
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invective
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abuse
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irascible
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irritable; easily angered
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irresolute
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uncertain how to act; weak
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itinerary
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plan of a trip
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laconic
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brief and to the point
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lassitude
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languor; weariness
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latent
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potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden
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laud
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praise
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lethargic
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drowsy; dull
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levee
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earthen or stone embankment to prevent flooding
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levity
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lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity
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log
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record of a voyage or flight; record of day-to-day activities
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loquacious
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talkative
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lucid
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easily understood; clear; intelligible
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luminous
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shining; issuing light
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magnanimity
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generosity
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malingerer
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one who feigns illness to escape duty
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malleable
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capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionable
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maverick
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rebel; nonconformist
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mendacious
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lying; habitually dishonest
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metamorphosis
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change of form
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meticulous
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excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulous
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misanthrope
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one who hates mankind
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mitigate
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lessen in intensity; moderate; appease
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mollify
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soothe
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morose
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ill-humored; sullen; melancholy
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mundane
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worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday
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negate
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cancel out; nullify; deny
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neophyte
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recent convert; beginner
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obdurate
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stubborn
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obsequious
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slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic
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obviate
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make unnecessary; get rid of
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occlude
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shut; close
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officious
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meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services
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onerous
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burdensome
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opprobium
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infamy; vilification
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oscillate
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vibrate pendulumlike; waver
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ostentatious
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showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention
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paragon
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model of perfection
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partisan
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one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party
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pathological
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pertaining to disease
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paucity
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scarcity
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pedantic
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showing off learning; bookish
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penchant
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strong inclination; liking
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penury
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severe poverty; stinginess
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perennial
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something long-lasting
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perfidious
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treacherous; disloyal
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perfunctory
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superficial; not thorough; lacking interest
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permeable
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penetrable; porous; allowing liquids or gas to pass through
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pervasive
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spread throughout
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phlegmatic
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calm; not easily disturbed
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piety
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devoutness; reverence for God
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placate
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pacify; conciliate
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plasticity
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ability to be molded
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platitude
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trite remark; commonplace statement
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plethora
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excess; overabundance
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plummet
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fall sharply
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porous
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full of pores; like a sieve
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pragmatic
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practical (as opposed to idealistic)
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preamble
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introductory statement
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precarious
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uncertain; risky
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precipitate
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rash; premature; hasty; sudden
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precursor
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forerunner; harbinger
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presumptuous
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arrogant; taking liberties
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prevaricate
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lie
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pristine
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characteristic of earlier times; primitive; unspoiled
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probity
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uprightness; incorruptibility
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problematic
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doubtful; unsettled; questionable; perplexing
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prodigal
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wasteful; reckless with money
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profound
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deep; not superficial; complete
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prohibitive
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inclined to prevent or forbid
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proliferate
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grow rapidly; spread; multiply
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propensity
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natural inclination
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propitiate
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appease
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propriety
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fitness; correct conduct
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proscribe
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ostracize; banish; outlaw
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pungent
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stinging; sharp in taste or smell; caustic
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qualified
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limited; restricted
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quibble
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minor objection or complaint
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quiescent
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at rest; dormant; temporarily inactive
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rarefied
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made less dense (of a gas)
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recalcitrant
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obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly
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recant
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disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error
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recluse
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hermit; loner
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recondite
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abstruse; profound; secret
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refractory
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stubborn; unmanageable
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refute
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disprove
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relegate
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banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign
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reproach
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express disapproval or disappointment
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reprobate
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person hardened by sin
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repudiate
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disown; disavow
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rescind
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cancel
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resolution
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determination
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resolve
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determination; firmness of purpose
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reticent
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reserved; uncommunicative; inclined to silence
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reverent
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respectful; worshipful
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sage
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person celebrated for wisdom
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salubrious
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healthful
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sanction
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approve; ratify
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satiate
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satisfy fully
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saturate
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soak thoroughly
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savor
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enjoy; have a distinctive flavor
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secrete
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hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism
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shard
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fragment; generally of pottery
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skeptic
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doubter; person who suspends judgment until having examined the evidence supporting a point of view
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solicious
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worried
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soporific
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sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness
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specious
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seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentional)
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spectrum
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colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism
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sporadic
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occurring irregularly
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stigma
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token of disgrace; brand
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stint
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be thrifty; set limits
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stipulate
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make express conditions
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stolid
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dull; impassive
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striated
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marked with parallel bands; grooved
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strut
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pompous walk
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strut
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supporting bar
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subpoena
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writ summoning a witness to appear
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subside
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settle down; descend; grow quiet
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substantiate
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establish by evidence; verify; support
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supersede
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cause to be set aside; replace; make obsolete
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supposition
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hypothesis; surmise
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tacit
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understood; not put into words
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tangential
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peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing
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tenuous
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thin; rare; slim
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tirade
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extended scolding; denunciation; harangue
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torpor
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lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy
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tortuous
|
winding; full of curves
|
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tractable
|
docile; easily managed
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|
|
transgression
|
violation of a law; sin
|
|
|
truculence
|
aggressiveness; ferocity
|
|
|
vacillate
|
waver; fluctuate
|
|
|
venerate
|
revere
|
|
|
veracious
|
truthful
|
|
|
verbose
|
wordy
|
|
|
viable
|
practical or workable; capable of maintaining life
|
|
|
viscous
|
sticky
|
|
|
vituperative
|
abusive; scolding
|
|
|
volatile
|
changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidly
|
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warranted
|
justified; authorized
|
|
|
wary
|
very cautious
|
|
|
welter
|
turmoil; bewildering jumble
|
|
|
whimsical
|
capricious; fanciful
|
|
|
zealot
|
fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal
|
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conciliatory
|
reconciling; soothing
|
|
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autonomous
|
self-governing
|
