Word of the Day Archive for December 2009

espy - to catch sight of
expunge - to strike out or erase; to obliterate
refulgent - radiant; brilliant; resplendent; shining; splendid
factitious - artificial; sham; not natural
bellwether - someone who assumes leadership of an activity or movement
pugnacious - inclined to fight; quarrelsome
innocuous - harmless; producing no ill effect; innocent
quisling - a traitor
vociferous - making a loud outcry; clamorous; noisy
ostracize - to expel or banish from a community or group
dilatory - marked by procrastination or delay; tardy; slow
politic - political; shrewdly tactful, unscrupulous, cunning
malaise - physical discomfort, as mild sickness or depression
implacable - not to be appeased; incapable of being pacified
harridan - a worn-out strumpet; a vixenish woman; a hag
pablum - something (as writing, speech or ideas) that is simplistic
choler - irritation of the passions; anger; wrath
irenic - conducive to peace; conciliatory
tendentious - marked by a strong tendency especially a controversial one
sedulous - diligent in application or pursuit
gainsay - to contradict; to oppose
pariah - an outcast; a person who is despised and avoided
farrago - a confused mixture; an assortment; a medley
martinet - a strict disciplinarian
captious - disposed to find fault
finical - unduly particular about details; finicky
mawkish - sickly sentimentality
desideratum - something desired as a necessity
egregious - conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
diffident - lacking self-confidence; bashful; timid
amatory - pertaining to love, especially sexual