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362 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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abridge
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condense or shorten
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abstemious
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sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
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abstract
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theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational
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abstruse
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obscure; profound; difficult to understand
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accessible
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easy to approach; obtainable
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acclaim
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applaud; announce with great approval
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acknowledge
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recognize; admit
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adulation
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flattery; admiration
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adversary
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opponent
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adversity
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unfavorable fortune; hardship; a calamitous event
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advocate
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urge; plead for
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aesthetic
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artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciation of the beautiful
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affable
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easily approachable; warmly friendly
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affirmation
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positive assertion; confirmation; solemn pledge by one who refuses to take an oath
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alleviate
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relieve
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aloof
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apart; reserved
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altruistic
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unselfishly generous; concerned for others
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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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analogous
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comparable
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anarchist
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person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
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anecdote
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short account of an amusing or interesting event
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animosity
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active enmity
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antagonism
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hostility; active resistance
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antidote
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medicine to counteract a poison or disease
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antiquated
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old-fashioned; obsolete
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apathy
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lack of caring; indifference
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appease
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pacify or sooth; relieve
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apprehension
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fear
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arbitrary
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capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical
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archaic
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antiquated
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arrogance
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pride; haughtiness
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articulate
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effective; distinct
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artifact
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object made by human beings, either handmade or mass-produced
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artisan
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manually skilled worker; craftsman, as opposed to artist
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ascendancy
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controlling influence; domination
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ascetic
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practicing self-denial; austere
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aspire
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seek to attain; long for
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astute
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wise; shrewd; keen
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attribute
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ascribe; explain
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augment
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increase; add to
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austere
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forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented
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authoritarian
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subordinating the individual to the state; completely dominating another's will
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autonomous
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self-governing
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aversion
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firm dislike
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belie
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contradict; give a false impression
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benevolent
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generous; charitable
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bolster
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support; reinforce
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braggart
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boaster
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brevity
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conciseness
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cajole
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coax; wheedle
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calculated
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deliberately planned; likely
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candor
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frankness; open honesty
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capricious
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unpredictable; fickle; fanciful
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censorious
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critical
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censure
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blame; criticize
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coercion
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use of force to get someone to obey
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commemorate
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honor the memory of
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compile
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assemble; gather; accumulate
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complacency
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self-satisfaction; smugness
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compliance
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readiness to yield, conformity in fulfilling requirements
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composure
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mental calmness
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comprehensive
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thorough; inclusive
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concede
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admit; yield
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conciliatory
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reconciling; soothing
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concise
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brief and compact
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concur
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agree
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condone
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overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
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conflagration
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great fire
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confound
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confuse; puzzle
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consensus
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general agreement
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constraint
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compulsion; repression of feelings
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contend
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struggle; compete; assert earnestly
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contentious
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quarrelsome
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contract
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compress or shrink; make a pledge; catch a disease
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conviction
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judgement that someone is guilty of a crime; strongly held belief
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cordial
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gracious; heartfelt
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corroborate
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confirm; support
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credulity
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belief on slight evidence; gullibility; naivete
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criterion
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standard used in judging
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cryptic
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mysterious; hidden; secret
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cursory
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casual; hastily done
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curtail
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shorten; reduce
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decorum
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propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners
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deference
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courteous regard for another's wish
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degradation
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humiliation; debasement; degeneration
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delineate
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portray; depict; sketch
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denounce
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condemn; criticize
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deplore
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regret; disapprove of
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depravity
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extreme corruption; wickedness
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deprecate
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express disapproval of; protest against; belittle
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deride
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ridicule; make fun of
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derivative
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unoriginal; derived from another source
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despondent
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depressed; gloomy
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detached
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emotionally removed; calm and objective; physically unconnected
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deterrent
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something that discourages; hindrance
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detrimental
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harmful; damaging
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devious
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roundabout; erratic; not straightforward
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devise
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think up; invent; plan
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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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diligence
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steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
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diminution
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lessening; reduction in size
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discerning
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mentally quick and observant; having insight
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disclose
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reveal
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discordant
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not harmonious; conflicting
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discount
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disregard; dismiss
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discrepancy
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lack of consistency; difference
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discriminating
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able to see differences; prejudiced
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disdain
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view with scorn or contempt
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disinclination
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unwillingness
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dismiss
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put away from consideration; reject
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disparage
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belittle
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disparity
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difference; condition of inequality
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disperse
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scatter
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disputatious
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argumentative; fond of arguing
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disseminate
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distribute; spread; scatter
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dissent
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disagree
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divergent
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differing; deviating
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doctrine
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teachings, in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.) taught
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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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dubious
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questionable; filled with doubt
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duplicity
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double-dealing; hypocrisy
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eclectic
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composed of elements drawn from disparate sources
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egoism
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excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others
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elated
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overjoyed; in high spirits
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eloquence
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expressiveness; persuasive speech
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elusive
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evasive; baffling; hard to grasp
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embellish
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adorn; ornament
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emulate
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imitate; rival
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endorse
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approve; support
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enhance
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increase; improve
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enigma
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puzzle; mystery
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enmity
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ill will; hatred
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ephemeral
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short-lived; fleeting
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equivocal
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ambiguous; intentionally misleading
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erroneous
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mistaken; wrong
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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, often on the occasion of someone's death
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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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exalt
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raise in rank or dignity; praise
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execute
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put into effect; carry out
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exemplary
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serving as a model; outstanding
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exemplify
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serve as an example of; embody
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exhaustive
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thorough; comprehensive
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exhilarating
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invigorating and refreshing; cheering
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exonerate
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acquit; exculpate
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expedient
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suitable; practical; politic
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expedite
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hasten
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explicit
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totally clear; definite; outspoken
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exploit
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make use of, sometimes unjustly
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extol
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praise; glorify
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extraneous
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not essential; superfluous
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extricate
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free; disentangle
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exuberance
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overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness
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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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fanaticism
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excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or cause
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fastidious
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difficult to please; squeamish
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feasible
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practical
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fervor
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glowing ardor; intensity of feeling
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flagrant
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conspicuously wicked; blatant
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frivolous
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lacking in seriousness; self-indulgently carefree; relatively unimportant
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frugality
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thrift; economy
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furtive
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stealthy; sneaky
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garrulous
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loquacious; wordy; talkative
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glutton
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someone who eats too much
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gratify
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please
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gratuitous
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given freely; unwarranted; uncalled for
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gravity
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seriousness
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gregarious
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sociable
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guile
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deceit; duplicity
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gullible
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easily deceived
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hamper
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obstruct
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hardy
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sturdy; robust; able to stand inclement weather
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haughtiness
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pride; arrogance
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hedonist
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one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life
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heresy
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opinion contrary to popular belief; opinion contrary to accepted religion
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hierarchy
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arrangements by rank or standing; authoritarian body divided into ranks
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homogeneous
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of the same kind
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hypocritical
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pretending to be virtuous; deceiving
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hypothetical
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based on assumptions or hypotheses; supposed
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idiosyncrasy
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individual trait, usually odd in nature; eccentricity
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illusory
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deceptive; not real
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immutable
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unchangeable
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impair
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injure; hurt
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impeccable
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faultless
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impede
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hinder; block; delay
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implausible
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unlikely; unbelievable
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implement
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put into effect; supply with tools
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impudence
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impertinence; insolence
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inadvertent
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unintentional; by oversight; careless
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inane
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silly; senseless
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incisive
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cutting; sharp
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incite
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arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist
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inclusive
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tending to include all
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incongruous
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not fitting; absurd
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inconsequential
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insignificant; unimportant
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incorrigible
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not correctable
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indict
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charge
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indifferent
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unmoved or unconcerned by; mediocre
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indiscriminate
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choosing at random; confused
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induce
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persuade; bring about
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inert
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inactive; lacking power to move
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ingenious
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clever; resourceful
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inherent
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firmly established by nature or habit
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innate
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inborn
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innocuous
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harmless
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innovation
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change; introduction of something new
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insipid
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lacking in flavor; dull
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instigate
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urge; start; provoke
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insularity
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narrow-mindedness; isolation
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integrity
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uprightness; wholeness
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intervene
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come between
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intimidate
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frighten
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intrepid
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fearless
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inundate
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overwhelm; flood; submerge
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invert
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turn upside down or inside out
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ironic
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resulting in an unexpected and contrary outcome
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lament
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grieve; express sorrow
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laud
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praise
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lavish
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generous; openhanded; extravagant; wasteful
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lethargic
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drowsy; dull
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levity
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lack of seriousness; lightness
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linger
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loiter or dawdle; continue or persist
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listless
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lacking in spirit or energy
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lofty
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very high
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malicious
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hateful; spiteful
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marred
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damaged; disfigured
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materialism
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preoccupation with physical comforts and things
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methodical
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systematic
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meticulous
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excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulous
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miserly
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stingy; mean
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mitigate
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appease; moderate
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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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nonchalance
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indifference; lack of concern; composure
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notoriety
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disrepute; ill fame
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novelty
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something new; newness
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nurture
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nourish; educate; foster
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obliterate
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destroy completely
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oblivion
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obscurity; forgetfulness
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obscure
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darken; make unclear
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obstinate
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stubborn; hard to control or treat
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ominous
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threatening
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opaque
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dark; not transparent
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opportunist
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individual who sacrifices principles for expediency by taking advantage of circumstances
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optimist
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person who looks on the good side
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opulence
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extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance
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orator
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public speaker
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ostentatious
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showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention
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pacifist
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one opposed to force; anti-militarist
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partisan
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one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party
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peripheral
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marginal; outer
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perpetuate
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make something last; preserve from extinction
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pervasive
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pervading; spread throughout every part
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pessimism
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belief that life is basically bad or evil; gloominess
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phenomena
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observable facts; subjects of scientific investigation
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philanthropist
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lover of mankind; doer of good
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piety
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religious devotion; godliness
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placate
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pacify; conciliate
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ponderous
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weighty; unwieldy
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pragmatic
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practical (as opposed to idealistic); concerned with the practical worth or impact of something
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preclude
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make impossible; eliminate
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precocious
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advanced in development
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predator
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creature that seizes and devours another animal; person who robs or exploits others
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predecessor
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former occupant of a post
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presumptuous
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overconfident; impertinently bold; taking liberties
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pretentious
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ostentatious; pompous; making unjustified claims; overly ambitious
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prevalent
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widespread; generally accepted
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prodigal
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wasteful; reckless with money
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profane
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violate; desecrate; treat unworthily
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profound
|
deep; not superficial; complete
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profusion
|
overabundance; lavish expenditure; excess
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proliferation
|
rapid growth; spread; multiplication
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prolific
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abundantly fruitful
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provincial
|
pertaining to a province; limited in outlook; unsophisticated
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proximity
|
nearness
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prudent
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cautious; careful
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qualified
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limited; restricted
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quandary
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dilemma
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ramble
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wander aimlessly (physically or mentally)
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rancor
|
bitterness; hatred
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ratify
|
approve formally; confirm; verify
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rebuttal
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refutation; response with contrary evidence
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recluse
|
hermit; loner
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recount
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narrate or tell; count over again
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rectify
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set right; correct
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redundant
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superfluous; repetitious; excessively wordy
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refute
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disprove
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relegate
|
banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign
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remorse
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guilt; self-reproach
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renounce
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abandon; disown; repudiate
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repel
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drive away; disgust
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reprehensible
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deserving blame
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reprimand
|
reprove severely; rebuke
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reprove
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censure; rebuke
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repudiate
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disown; disavow
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reserve
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self-control; formal but distant manner
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resigned
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accepting one's fate; unresisting; patiently submissive
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resolution
|
determination; resolve
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resolve
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determination; firmness of purpose
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restraint
|
moderation of self-control; controlling force; restriction
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reticence
|
reserve; uncommunicativeness; inclination to silence
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retract
|
withdraw; take back
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reverent
|
respectful; worshipful
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rhetorical
|
pertaining to effective communication; insincere in language
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rigor
|
severity
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robust
|
vigorous; strong
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sage
|
person celebrated for wisdom
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sanction
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approve; ratify
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satirical
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mocking
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scanty
|
meager; insufficient
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scrupulous
|
conscientious; extremely thorough
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scrutinize
|
examine closely and critically
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seclusion
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isolation; solitude
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servile
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slavish; cringing
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skeptic
|
doubter; person who suspends judgment until the evidence supporting a point of view has been examined
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sluggish
|
slow; lazy; lethargic
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somber
|
gloomy; depressing; dark; drab
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sporadic
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occurring irregularly
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squander
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waste
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stagnant
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motionless; stale; dull
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static
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unchanging; lacking development
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submissive
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yielding; timid
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subordinate
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occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive
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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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succinct
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brief; tense; compact
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superficial
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trivial; shallow
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superfluous
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unnecessary; excessive; overabundant
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susceptible
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impressionable; easily influenced; having little resistance, as to a disease; receptive to
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sustain
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experience; support; nourish
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sycophant
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servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man
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taciturn
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habitually silent; talking little
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temper
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moderate; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel)
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tentative
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hesitant; not fully worked out or developed; experimental; not definite or positive
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terse
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concise; abrupt; pithy
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thrive
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prosper; flourish
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tranquility
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calmness; peace
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transient
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momentary; temporary; staying for a short time
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trite
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hackneyed; commonplace
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turbulence
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state of violent agitation
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turmoil
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great commotion and confusion
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undermine
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weaken; sap
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uniformity
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sameness; monotony
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unwarranted
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unjustified; groundless; undeserved
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usurp
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seize another power or rank
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vacillate
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waver; fluctuate
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venerate
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revere
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verbose
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wordy
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vigor
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active strength
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vilify
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slander
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vindicate
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clear from blame; exonerate; justify or support
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virtuoso
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highly skilled artist
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volatile
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changeable; explosive; evaporating rapidly
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whimsical
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capricious; fanciful
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zealot
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fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal
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