1. A cruel dictator
   Marked by lies and deception
2. A strong wind
   Someone who is offensively loud

This word refers to a leader who practices an autocratic style of leadership. He/she has supreme power that is often exercised in a harsh manner. "Despot" is a word derived from a type of governance known as despotism.

1. To speak in a violent way
   A very skilled individual
2. A bitter, cutting tone
   A lack of attention and/or concern

A negligent person fails to exercise responsibility that is expected or required in a specific situation. Someone who is negligent may also be seen as irresponsible or careless. In some circumstances, the negligent person can be tried in court.

1. A very wide variety
   An unwillingness to be dishonest
2. To indulge or satisfy
   To slyly influence

To "beguile" is to mislead someone or to manipulate a situation in your favor by being very pleasant and charismatic. Beguile can also mean to engage in enjoyable activities to help pass the time.

1. To be overly abundant
   Marked by lies and deception
2. Extremely harmful
   Not sensible or practical

Something "pernicious" is defined as something or someone that inflicts harm slowly, over a period of time. An example of a pernicious substance would be a poison that does not take immediate effect, but instead leads to death after a few years.

1. Bad or severe
   A strong wind
2. Someone who is offensively loud
   A bitter, cutting tone

"Abject" is used to describe circumstances that are extremely bad or severe. For example: "She lives in abject poverty" would mean that the person is extremely poor. Abject can also refer to a person's behavior when it is considered to be extremely repulsive.

1. Filled with concern and anxiety
   Having a natural inclination to
2. A corrupt practice
   To cancel

"Proclivity" refers to one's inclination to often exhibit a certain behavior or favor something in particular - especially something considered to be wrong or bad. Someone may have a proclivity to gambling or delinquent behavior.

1. To speak in a violent way
   An unwillingness to be dishonest
2. A very wide variety
   Appearing everywhere

Ubiquitous refers to something that appears to be omnipresent and occurring simultaneously. If someone's presence is described as ubiquitous, this means that they seem to be at every location.

1. Unnecessary
   Atrophy
2. Dispel
   Foil

"Gratuitous" has two main definitions. A gratuitous act is one that is performed for no fee, whereas gratuitous behavior is distasteful and considered to be unnecessary or unjustified.

1. A very skilled individual
   A bitter, cutting tone
2. A strong wind
   Barely sufficient

"Scant" refers to something that barely meets the basic requirements or is barely able to serve its intended purpose. For example: "Her scant recollection of the incident did not provide the authorities with enough information to move forward with the case."

1. Partisan
   Old-fashioned
2. Candor
   Maudlin

Something quaint is charming or sweet in an old-fashioned manner. For example, a house may be described as quiant.

1. Travesty
   Scurrilous
2. Vestige
   Influence

To "cajole" means to coax or entice someone into doing something, usually by flattering them or making promises when they appear hesitant. For example, someone may be cajoled by a sales agent into purchasing a product they may not actually need.

1. Someone who is offensively loud
   Marked by lies and deception
2. A small amount
   To indulge or satisfy

A "modicum" is a small portion or limited quantity of something that is highly valued or held in great esteem. "You must have at least a modicum of experience to gain entry into this field."

1. To speak in a violent way
   To spread bad information about
2. A corrupt practice
   An unwillingness to be dishonest

To "vilify" something or someone is to speak about them in a harsh, degrading manner. This may cause others to regard the situation or the individual in a distasteful or patronizing manner.

1. Bolt
   Foil
2. Impinge
   Ostracism

To "abscond" is to scurry away or escape in order to avoid detection, punishment or persecution. A prisoner may abscond from jail and a teenager may abscond with money from her mother's purse.

1. Lacking or missing enthusiasm
   Filled with concern and anxiety
2. To be overly abundant
   A very wide variety

To be "listless" is to lack energy or enthusiasm. Without proper sleep and a good breakfast, a student may be listless in class.

1. Atrophy
   Dispel
2. Candor
   Alienating

"Divisive" refers to someone or something that divides or causes disagreement between two or more people. Politics and religion are highly charged and can be divisive topics during a discussion.

1. A very skilled individual
   A strong wind
2. The chance occurrence of good luck
   A bitter, cutting tone

"Serendipity" is when something incredible or valuable unexpectedly comes your way and brings you great joy. Such chance encounters are seen as "unexpected good luck," such as when you discover money on the ground when you are in dire need of cash.

1. Remiss
   Maudlin
2. Confuse
   Travesty

To obfuscate means to be vague, unclear or confusing; to darken or throw into the shadow. The salesman's obfuscations bewildered the potential buyer.

1. Stubbornly rebellious
   Someone who is offensively loud
2. To cancel
   Marked by lies and deception

A recalcitrant person has an inflexible and uncooperative attitude. The recalcitrant student spent a great deal of time in the principal's office.

1. To speak in a violent way
   To scold
2. An unwillingness to be dishonest
   A corrupt practice

To "admonish" means to warn or scold someone firmly; to express criticism or disapproval in a gentle, honest or concerning manner; to indicate responsibilities and obligations.

1. Ostracism
   Cliche
2. Impinge
   Foil

A "platitude" is defined as an overused statement, remark, or phrase which has become dull or no longer holds interest; a cliché or banal remark, opinion or saying. During the debate, one candidate uttered only platitudes.

1. To indulge or satisfy
   A very wide variety
2. A very skilled individual
   Something deserving of pity

To be "hapless" means to be unfortunate or to have no luck. Synonyms for hapless include unlucky, jinxed, ill-fated, doomed, cursed, luckless, hexed, woeful and ill-starred.

1. A bitter, cutting tone
   A strong wind
2. Sourced from a variety of styles
   Filled with concern and anxiety

"Eclectic" is defined as a person who draws inspiration from a variety of sources; ideas, styles and elements. A person can also have eclectic tastes.

1. Candor
   Surrender
2. Atrophy
   Partisan

To "capitulate" means to surrender or cease to resist, usually after negotiation of terms. Synonyms for capitulate are yield, concede defeat, submit, cave or give in, succumb and buckle under.

1. Scurrilous
   Book
2. Dispel
   Maudlin

A tome is a large, heavy book, specifically a scholarly one. It also means a volume or segment which forms part of a larger body of work.

1. To treat with vaccines
   An unwillingness to be dishonest
2. To be overly abundant
   Someone who is offensively loud

To inoculate means to inject a person or animal with a vaccine so that they may develop immunity to a disease. Also, a mind may be inoculated with an idea.

1. Marked by lies and deception
   To postpone or cancel one's punishment
2. A corrupt practice
   A very skilled individual

"Reprieve" is defined as the formal cancellation or suspension of sentencing, specifically someone on death row; to give relief to for a short period of time; to put off the punishment of. The word may be used as either a verb or a noun.

1. A bitter, cutting tone
   A very wide variety
2. Immodest
   To indulge or satisfy

"Wanton" refers to a promiscuous or sexually immodest woman, a pampered or frolicsome person or pet; malicious, deliberate and unprovoked (action); being without boundaries or check. Not to be confused with "wonton."

1. Remiss
   Ostracism
2. Impinge
   Equivocal

"Ambivalent" is defined as having or showing simultaneous mixed feelings and contradictory ideas about something or someone. She has ambivalent feelings about taking the SAT.

1. To speak in a violent way
   A strong wind
2. Ill-tempered
   Someone who is offensively loud

To be "morose" means to have a gloomy or depressed temperament or mood. Synonyms for morose include ill-tempered, broody, irritable, surly, snappish, grumpy, crabby and grouchy.

1. Someone who isn't accepted
   Filled with concern and anxiety
2. An unwillingness to be dishonest
   To be overly abundant

A pariah is an outcast or someone who is rejected from their group. It can also describe someone of a low caste in southern India.

1. A powerful, circular force of water
   A very skilled individual
2. A corrupt practice
   Marked by lies and deception

A maelstrom is a powerful and often violent whirlpool located in the sea or river. The word can also be used to describe a situation involving confusion and disarray.

1. Foil
   Injury
2. Candor
   Dispel

"Contusion" refers to an area of injured skin or tissue in which blood capillaries have been broken; a bruise, discoloration, swelling or injury.

1. A very wide variety
   A bitter, cutting tone
2. Someone who is offensively loud
   Making a show of or being superior to others, morally

"Sanctimonious" is defined as the hypocritical showing of moral or religious superiority to others. Synonyms include holier-than-thou, self-righteous, pious, smug, deceiving, bigoted, preachy.

1. A strong wind
   To speak in a violent way
2. To placate or appease
   Marked by lies and deception

To "pacify" means to alleviate or soothe the anger or agitation of someone; to bring about peace through compromising. Synonyms include placate, appease and conciliate.