The Archive
- Diaphanous
Transparent or translucent, allowing light to pass through.
- Cavil
To criticise for petty or frivolous reasons.
- Bilious
Affected by or associated with nausea or a vomiting bug.
- Anachronism
A thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned.
- Aberration
A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome.
- Wanton
Undisciplined, unruly; not able to be controlled.
- Vociferous
Making or characterized by a noisy outcry; clamorous.
- Utilitarian
Designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive or comfortable.
- Trenchant
Vigorous, sharp, and to the point; expressing keen insight or forceful criticism.
- surreptitious
Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
- Rancour
Deep-seated and persistent bitterness or resentment.
- Quotidian
Recurring every twenty-four hours or more generally daily.
- Platitude
An often-quoted saying that is supposed to be meaningful but has become unoriginal or hackneyed through overuse; a cliché.
- Opprobrium
Disgrace arising from exceedingly shameful conduct; ignominy.
- Noxious
Harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant.
- Modicum
A modest, small, or trifling amount.
- Lurid
Shocking, horrifying, or sensational, especially in the details of a crime or accident.
- Iniquity
Immoral or grossly unfair behaviour; wickedness.
- Idiosyncrasy
A behaviour or way of thinking that is characteristic of a person.
- Grandiloquent
Pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner, especially in a way that is intended to impress.
- Florid
Having a rosy or pale red colour; ruddy.
- ennui
A feeling of listless dissatisfaction resulting from a lack of occupation or excitement.
- Demur
To raise doubts or objections or show reluctance.
- Cadence
A modulation or inflection of the voice.
- blandishment
A flattering statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something.
- abeyance
A state of temporary disuse or suspension.
- wizen
To become dry, shrivelled, or wrinkled, typically as a result of age or lack of moisture.
- Veracity
The quality of being truthful, accurate, or in accordance with fact.
- umbrage
Offence or annoyance, typically used with the verbs 'take' or 'give'.
- tenuous
Very weak or slight.
- salubrious
Health-giving, healthy, or pleasant and beneficial to living conditions.
- reprove
To reprimand or censure someone softly or gently for a fault or misdemeanour.
- paucity
The presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities; scarcity.
- malaise
A general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease whose exact cause is difficult to identify.
- lassitude
A state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy.
- juggernaut
A huge, powerful, and overwhelming force or institution that is unstoppable.
- Inculcate
To instil an attitude, idea, or habit by persistent instruction.
- hegemony
Leadership or dominance, especially by one state or social group over others.
- Gainsay
To deny or contradict a fact or statement; to speak against or oppose someone.
- Foment
To instigate or stir up undesirable or violent sentiments or courses of action.
- efficacy
The ability to produce a desired or intended result.
- desiccated
Thoroughly dried out, preserved by removing moisture, or lacking vitality and energy.
- complaisant
Willing to please others; obliging, agreeable, and inclined to acquiesce to the wishes of others.
- boorish
Rough and bad-mannered; lacking sensitivity, refinement, or courtesy.
- acquiesce
To accept, agree, or give consent tacitly and without overt protest, often despite initial reluctance.
- zenith
The time at which something is most powerful or successful.
- yield
To give way to arguments, demands, or pressure.
- xenophobia
Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.
- wheedle
To use endearments or flattery to persuade someone to do something or give one something.
- vacuous
Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless.
- Urbane
Suave, courteous, and refined in manner.
- Supercilious
Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.
- reticent
Unwilling to communicate one's thoughts or feelings freely; reserved.
- quell
To suppress, pacify, or put an end to a disorder or feeling.
- perfidious
Deceitful and untrustworthy; deliberately breaching faith or allegiance.
- onerous
Involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome.
- nascent
Just beginning to exist or develop and displaying potential for future prominence or success.
- munificent
Characterised by or displaying great generosity.
- loquacious
Tending to talk a great deal; talkative.
- knell
The sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral.
- jocose
Characterised by humour, jocularity, and a playful disposition.
- Inane
Lacking sense, substance, or ideas; utterly foolish or silly.
- haughty
Conceitedly proud, arrogant, and disdainful of others.
- fatuous
Silly and pointless, typically combined with a smug lack of awareness.
- Egregious
Outstandingly bad; shocking.
- diffident
Modest or shy resulting from a lack of self-confidence.
- Capricious
Impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim
- bellicose
Demonstrating aggressiveness and a willingness to fight.
- Abstemious
Refraining from freely consuming food or strong drink; sparing in diet; abstinent, temperate.
- zealot
A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.
- winsome
Attractive or appealing in a fresh, innocent, or charming way.
- Venerate
To treat with great respect and deference.
- Taciturn
Characterised by reserve or a lack of communicative zeal; temperamentally untalkative and disinclined to speak.
- Recalcitrant
Marked by a stubborn unwillingness to obey authority.
- Querulous
Often complaining; suggesting a complaint in expression; fretful, whining.
- Parsimonious
Unwilling to spend money or use resources; frugal and sparing to excess.
- Obviate
To anticipate and prevent or bypass something which would otherwise have been necessary or required.
- Nadir
The lowest point or the point of greatest adversity or despair.
- Mendacious
Not telling the truth; lying or dishonest.
- Lethargic
Sluggish and lacking energy or vitality
- Jejune
Naive, simplistic, and superficial.
- Iconoclast
A person who attacks cherished beliefs, traditional institutions, or established values.
- Harangue
To give a forceful and lengthy lecture or criticism to someone.
- Gregarious
Describing someone who enjoys being in crowds and socialising.
- Ebullient
Enthusiastic; high-spirited.
- Deleterious
Harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way.
- Cogent
Reasonable and convincing; based on evidence.
- Castigate
To punish or reprimand someone severely.
- Banal
Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.
- Alacrity
Eagerness; liveliness; enthusiasm.
- Pernicious
Causing much harm in a subtle way.
- Laconic
Using as few words as possible; pithy and concise.
- Elucidate
To make clear; to clarify; to shed light upon.
- Petulant
Childishly irritable or sulky
- Magnanimous
Noble and generous in spirit, especially towards a rival or someone less powerful.
- Inexorable
Impossible to prevent or stop; inevitable.
- Vicissitude
A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
- Galvanise
To shock or excite someone into taking action.
- Nefarious
Sinful, villainous, criminal, or wicked, especially when noteworthy or notorious for such characteristics.
- Calligraphic
Relating to or characteristic of beautiful handwriting or calligraphy.
- Obsequious
Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.
- Scrutinise
To examine something with great care.
- Churlish
Rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.
- Enervate
To reduce strength or energy; debilitate.
- Sanguine
Optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
- tergiversation
The use of equivocal language; evasion of straightforward action or clear-cut commitment.
- Ostracise
To ban a person from a city for five or ten years through the procedure of ostracism.
- Palaver
A village council meeting.
- Ameliorate
To make better, or improve, something perceived to be in a negative condition.
- Garrulous
Excessively or tiresomely talkative.
- Pusillanimous
Showing ignoble cowardice, or contemptible timidity.
- Quixotic
Possessing or acting with the desire to do noble and romantic deeds, without thought of realism and practicality; exceedingly idealistic.
- Organise
To arrange in working order.
- Mellifluous
Flowing like honey.
- Assiduous
Hard-working, diligent or regular (in attendance or work); industrious.
- cacophony
A mix of discordant sounds; dissonance.
- ubiquitous
Being everywhere at once: omnipresent.
- ephemeral
Something which lasts for a short period of time.
- fastidious
Excessively particular, demanding, or fussy about details, especially about tidiness and cleanliness.
- sycophant
One who uses obsequious compliments to gain self-serving favor or advantage from another; a servile flatterer.
- mellifluous
Flowing like honey.
- obfuscate
To make dark; overshadow
- defenestrate
To eject or throw (someone or something) from a window; compare transfenestrate.
- perspicacious
Of acute discernment; having keen insight; mentally perceptive.
- susurration
A low, indistinct continuous whispering sound; a murmur.