acquisitive

[uh-KWIZ-i-tiv]

adj.

able to get and retain ideas or information; concerned with acquiring wealth or property

syn: greedy, grasping, avaricious, retentive

arrogate

[AR-uh-geyt]

v.

to claim or take without right

syn: expropriate, usurp, commandeer

banal

[buh-NAL, -NAHL]

adj.

hackneyed, trite, commonplace

syn: stale, insipid

belabor

[bi-LEY-ber]

v.

to work on excessively; to trash soundly

syn: overwork

carping

[KAHR-ping]

adj. and n.

(adj.) tending to find fault, especially in a petty, nasty, or hairsplitting way;

(n.) petty, nagging criticism

syn: (adj.) nit-picking, caviling

coherent

[koh-HEER-uhnt]

adj.

holding or sticking together; making a logical whole; comprehensible, meaningful

syn: connected, unified, consistent, cohesive

congeal

[kuhn-JEEL]

v.

to change from liquid to solid, thicken; to make inflexible or rigid

syn: harden, jell, coagulate, solidify

emulate

[EM-yuh-leyt]

v.

to imitate with the intent of equaling or surpassing the model

syn: copy, mimic, rival, match, measure up to

encomium

[en-KOH-mee-uhm]

n.

a formal expression of praise, a lavish tribute

syn: panegyric, eulogy, commendation

eschew

[es-CHOO]

v.

to avoid, shun, keep away from

syn: abstain from, steer clear of, forgo

germane

[jer-MEYN]

adj.

relevant, appropriate, apropos, fitting

syn: pertinent

insatiable

[in-SEY-shuh-buhl]

adj.

so great or demanding as not to be satisfied

syn: unquenchable, ravenous, voracious

intransigent

[in-TRAN-si-juhnt]

adj.

refusing to compromise, irreconcilable

syn: uncompromising, unyielding, obdurate

invidious

[in-VID-ee-uhs]

adj.

offensive, hateful; tending to cause bitterness and resentment

syn: malicious, spiteful, prejudicial, pejorative

largesse

[lahr-JES]

n.

generosity in giving; lavish or bountiful contributions

syn: liberality, munificence, bounty

reconnaissance

[ri-KON-uh-suhns]

n.

a survey made for military purposes; any kind of preliminary inspection or examination

syn: scouting expedition

substantiate

[suhb-STAN-shee-eyt]

v.

to establish by evidence, prove; to give concrete or substantial form to

syn: verify, confirm, validate, authenticate

taciturn

[TAS-i-turn]

adj.

habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little

syn: tight-lipped, uncommunicative, laconic

temporize

[TEM-puh-rahyz]

v.

to stall or act evasively in order to gain time, avoid a confrontation, or postpone a decision

syn: hedge, dillydally, procrastinate

tenable

[TEN-uh-buhl]

adj.

capable or being held or defended

syn: defensible, justifiable, maintainable