1. Repeat
   Explain
2. Confuse
   Paraphrase

Elucidate is a verb. It comes from the Latin word "lucidus," which means lucid. Other descendants of "ludius" include lucid, translucent and lucent. Synonyms for elucidate are explicate, explain and expound.

1. Ignoring it
   Repeating it
2. Obscuring the meaning
   Making it clearer

Obfuscate is a verb. It can mean to make obscure or to confuse. The word is a combination of -ob, which means completely and "fuscus," which means dark brown. The first known usage of obfuscate was in 1536.

1. Fascinating
   Boring
2. Educational
   Fluff

In a verb form, scintillate means to sparkle. Scintillating means lively, stimulating or witty. It is an adjective. Scintillating was first used in the late 1700s. A few synonyms are brilliant, animated and ebullient.

1. It means enjoyment.
   It means offense.
2. It means shock.
   It means boredom.

While umbrage is now used as a reaction to an insult, it originally meant shadow and shares an origin with "umbrella." Both words come from the Latin word "umbra." Umbrage gained its present meaning in the 17th century.

1. Nice
   Evil
2. Positive
   Enjoyable

Nefarious is an adjective that means wicked, but as nefariously it can be used as an adverb. The word can trace its roots back to the Latin word nefas, which meant crime. Nefarious entered English in the early 1600s.

1. Smart
   Impressed
2. Confident
   Confused

In 1832, flummoxed was used for the first known time. The word means completely confused or perplexed. If you want to use another word with a similar meaning, you can use bewildered, discombobulated, baffled or disconcerted.

1. They're fun.
   They're sociable.
2. They're trouble.
   They're talkative.

In the 1600s, gregarious entered English as a way to describe herd animals. In the following century, gregarious started being applied to social human beings. The word has its origins in the Latin noun "grex," which means herd.

1. Incalculably small
   Incredibly large
2. Normal
   Imaginary

In plain English, infinitesimal means immeasurably small or minute. Its mathematical meaning is a variable that gets extremely close to zero but remains greater than zero. Similar words are imperceptible, minuscule and microscopic.

1. It's perfect.
   It's descriptive.
2. It's an inappropriate name.
   It's important.

Misnomer simply means to misname. For example, about 80 percent of Greenland's land is icy, which is why the name is considered a misnomer. Another frequently cited example is the Holy Roman Empire, which wasn't holy, Roman or an empire.

1. Yelling
   Approaching
2. Ignoring
   Staring

Ogle is a verb that means to stare. However, it usually refers to someone glaring intently at the object of the desire, usually another person. Ogle is derived from "oegeln," a Low German word meaning eye.

1. They annoy you.
   They relax you.
2. They anger you.
   They disgust you.

Peeve can be used as a noun or a verb. As a verb, it describes the person doing the annoying. As a noun, it refers to the state of being annoyed or the person who is the source of that irritation.

1. It's surprise.
   It's disinterest.
2. It's jealousy.
   It's satisfaction.

Revel is a noun and a verb. As a noun, it is a wild party. In verb form, revel can be to take part in a celebration or to take pleasure in something. In the 1500s, revel obtained both meanings.

1. Normal
   Abnormality
2. A mistake
   Bad

Anomaly's synonyms include irregularity, abnormality, peculiarity, aberration, atypicality and oddity. As a variation of anomalous, it comes from the Greek word anōmalos, which means uneven.

1. Narcissistic
   Friendly
2. Rude
   Reclusive

Solipsistic was first used in 1885. It is an adjective that describes a person or thing that is extremely egocentric. Solipsism is a theory that says the self is the only thing that exists.

1. Disagreeable
   Irrelevant
2. Stubborn
   Lazy

Perfunctory is used as an adjective to describe someone who lacks interest or is apathetic. It can also mean something that shows signs of being superficial. The first recorded use is from 1593.

1. It'll bore you.
   It'll excite you.
2. It'll make you feel stronger.
   It'll calm you.

In the early 17th century, equanimity entered English from the Latin "aequanimitas," which roughly means even mind. Modern synonyms for equanimity include calmness, serenity, tranquility and composure.

1. Aggressive
   Stingy
2. Obnoxious
   Impatient

Parsimonious is the adjective form of parsimony. Parsimony originated in Latin as parsimōnia, which combines "parcere" with "-mōnia." Parcere meant to be thrifty, while -mōnia is a suffix that was added to abstract nouns at the time.

1. Extravagant
   Large
2. Interesting
   Exciting

In 1518, opulent was used in English for the first time. The adjective can describe items that are ostentatious or abundant. Words with similar meanings are rich, affluent, and wealthy.

1. Ennui
   Axiomatic
2. Fastidious
   Malaise

Axiomatic means self-evident or obvious and is used as an adjective. Its origins are traced back to the Middle Greek "axiōmatikos," which meant honorable. English adopted the word in the late 18th century.

1. They're vivid.
   They're interesting.
2. They're boring.
   They're bland.

Lurid is an adjective. Usually, it is not a positive quality. Lurid is a synonym for atrocious, awful, ghastly, horrifying, macabre, shocking, appalling and grisly. Its second meaning is a fiery yellow or red that can be used to describe flames or a sunset.

1. Lying
   Lecturing
2. Enjoying
   Shoehorning it into a conversation

Bloviate is a verb used to describe someone who speaks long-windedly. Even though he didn't coin it, President Warren G. Harding is associated with the word because he was an earlier adopter. However, he used bloviate to mean "to spend time idly."

1. They're nice.
   They're inspirational.
2. They're honest.
   They're suck-ups.

Sycophant is a noun that refers to a person in a low position who fawns over someone in order to receive some benefit. Synonyms include flunky, leech, parasite, toady, flatterer and yes man.

1. An amateur
   An idiot
2. A free-spirit
   Impatient

Neophyte is a noun. It describes someone who is a beginner or a novice. While neophyte was used in a 16th century Bible translation, the word didn't become popular at the time because people dismissed it as pretentious Latin.

1. An object
   A person
2. A pattern
   A place

In the 1600s, paradigm was used as a synonym for example or pattern. However, the word is also used for a commonly accepted assumption or methodology held by members of a scientific community.

1. It's a complicated solution.
   It's a universal solution.
2. It's a perfect solution.
   It's a creative solution.

A panacea is a cure-all, which is appropriate because it comes from a Greek word meaning "all-healing." The Greek panacea derives from Panacea, who was the goddess of healing. The first known usage of panacea in English is from 1548.

1. To sign
   To disagree
2. To accept
   To dismiss

Acquiesce is a verb that means to consent. More specifically, it means "to comply quietly." Acquiesce comes from "quiescere," a Latin word that means "to be quiet." Similar words are accede, concur, subscribe and assent.

1. It means surrender.
   It means reject.
2. It means change.
   It means break.

If you capitulate, you cease resisting. The word is a verb with synonyms like submit, yield and succumb. Capitulate entered English in the late 1500s and is derived from the Medieval Latin "capitulatus."

1. It's humorous.
   It's complimentary.
2. It's nonsense.
   It's strange.

Facetious is an adjective with two different, but related meanings. While a facetious comment is always intended to be funny, sometimes it can be inappropriate. Synonyms include humorous, jocular and witty.

1. A clone
   Something similar
2. A poor copy
   The opposite

The antithesis of something is its direct opposite or something that provides a contrast. The word and its concepts are used in philosophy. English acquired the word in the 16th century from the Greek word for opposition.

1. It's high.
   It's deep.
2. It's melodic.
   It's attractive.

Mellifluous originates from the Latin words "mel" and "fluere." The former means honey, while the latter means to flow. Mellifluous can still be used to refer to honey or another sweetener. However, it usually refers to sound.

1. Softness
   Educational value
2. Shininess
   Playfulness

A lustrous object reflects light or is radiant. While lustrous is an adjective, the word has adverbial and noun forms as well, which are lustrously and lustrousness respectively. Similar words include bright, dazzling and lucent.

1. Optimistic
   Angry
2. Happy
   Bored

Sanguine is an adjective with many meanings. It is a shade of red, can describe someone who is bloodthirsty, and someone who has blood as the predominating bodily humor according to the Ancient Greeks.

1. They're enjoyable.
   They're interesting.
2. They're unique.
   They're favorable.

Auspicious is an adjective that can mean prosperous or fortunate. Its first known usage was in 1593. If you're looking for similar words, try bright, hopeful, optimistic or encouraging.

1. Enjoyable
   Unique
2. Authentic
   Useful

Proficuous is rarely used because it is considered obsolete. However, it can still be used to describe something as beneficial or profitable. Robert Callis, a lawyer, is the first known person to use it.

1. Agreeable
   Stable
2. Trusting
   Fun

The adjective amicable was adopted from Latin in the 1600s. It is derived from "amicabilis," which means friendly. Synonyms for amicable include neighborly, friendly, cordial, congenial and harmonious.