Diction

Gavage — the administration of food or drugs by force, especially to an animal
Brouhaha — a noisy and overexcited reaction or response to something
Donnybrook — a scene of uproar and disorder; a heated argument
Hegemony — leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others
Lindy — the idea that the future life expectancy of a technology or idea is proportional to its current age
Nut graf — a paragraph that explains the significance or context of a story
Asymptote — a line that a curve approaches but never quite reaches
Asymptotic — approaching a limit increasingly closely without ever fully reaching it
Athwart — from side to side; in opposition to. "Pearl Jam stood athwart popularity."
Milquetoast — a timid, meek, unassertive person
Kitsch — art or design in poor taste due to excessive garishness or sentimentality
Ennui — a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or excitement
Bacchanal — a wild, drunken celebration or revelry
Atavistic — relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancestral or primitive
Rigmarole — a lengthy, complicated, and seemingly pointless procedure
Interlocutor — a person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation
Locution — a word, phrase, or particular way of speaking
Disparate — fundamentally different or distinct in kind; unable to be compared
Confabulation — the production of fabricated or distorted memories without intent to deceive; in AI, when a model generates plausible but false information
Sanguine — optimistic, especially in a difficult situation; also blood-red in color
Cogent — clear, logical, and convincing
Cull — to select and remove for rejection or disposal; to reduce by selective slaughter
Digression — a temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing
Nihilistic — rejecting all religious and moral principles in the belief that life is meaningless
Reprobate — an unprincipled or immoral person
Shtick — a gimmick, comic routine, or style associated with a particular person
Shoddy — badly made or done; of poor quality
Acrimonious — angry and bitter, especially in speech or debate
Alacrity — brisk and cheerful readiness
Apotheosis — the highest point in the development of something; a perfect example
Blather — to talk at length in a foolish way
Cavalcade — a formal procession of people walking, riding, or driving
Collimate — to make rays of light or particles accurately parallel
Detritus — waste or debris of any kind; organic matter produced by decomposition
Dialectic — the art of investigating the truth of opinions; inquiry through dialogue
Dilettante — a person who cultivates an area of interest without real commitment or knowledge
Doldrums — a state of inactivity or stagnation; a belt of calm near the equator
Halcyon — denoting a period of time that was idyllically happy and peaceful
Incongruous — not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings
Indelible — making marks that cannot be removed; not able to be forgotten
Insipid — lacking flavor or interest; dull
Insouciance — casual lack of concern; indifference
Karoshi — death caused by overwork or work-related stress (Japanese)
Kerfuffle — a commotion or fuss, especially caused by conflicting views
Kludge — an ill-assorted collection of parts assembled to fulfill a particular purpose; an inelegant solution
Languid — displaying a disinclination for physical exertion or effort
Maelstrom — a powerful whirlpool; a situation of confused and turbulent movement
Obstreperous — noisy and difficult to control
Oeuvre — the complete works of a writer, artist, or composer
Orthogonal — independent, unrelated, or statistically uncorrelated; at right angles in geometry
Opprobrium — harsh criticism or censure; public disgrace
Palimpsest — a manuscript on which earlier writing has been effaced to make room for later writing; something bearing visible traces of its earlier form
Paltry — small or meager; petty or trivial
Parochial — having a limited or narrow outlook; relating to a parish
Parsimonious — unwilling to spend money or use resources; stingy
Patois — the dialect of a particular region, especially one with low prestige
Pathological — relating to disease; extreme, obsessive, or compulsive in a way considered unhealthy
Pejorative — expressing contempt or disapproval
Penultimate — second to last
Perfidy — deceitfulness; untrustworthiness; treachery
Phantasmagoric — having a dreamlike quality; surreal and constantly shifting
Picayune — of little value or importance; petty
Piddling — pathetically trivial; trifling
Polemic — a strong verbal or written attack; a controversial argument
Posterity — all future generations; the descendants of a person
Prevaricate — to speak or act in an evasive way; to avoid giving a direct answer
Prole — a member of the working class (short for proletarian)
Prosaic — lacking poetic beauty; commonplace; dull
Prudence — the quality of acting with care and forethought; cautiousness
Quandary — a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do
Quixotic — exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
Quotidian — of or occurring every day; ordinary; commonplace
Recalcitrant — having an obstinately uncooperative attitude
Redolent — strongly reminiscent or suggestive of; fragrant
Rote — mechanical or habitual repetition as a means of learning
Roughshod — (ride roughshod over) carrying out one's own plans without regard for others
Sanctimonious — making a show of being morally superior to others
Sardonic — grimly mocking or cynical
Shokunin — a Japanese term for an artisan devoted to mastering their craft
Sibilance — a hissing sound; the quality of being sibilant
Sinecure — a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit
Sophomoric — pretentious or immature
Sordid — involving ignoble actions and motives; morally degraded
Splurge — an act of spending money freely or extravagantly
Subterfuge — deceit used to achieve one's goal
Tawdry — showy but cheap and of poor quality
Temerity — excessive confidence or boldness; audacity
Toff — a rich upper-class person (British slang)
Traipse — to walk or trudge wearily or reluctantly
Triumvirate — a group of three powerful or notable people or things
Troika — a group of three people working together, especially in an administrative capacity; a Russian vehicle drawn by three horses
Tsundoku — the practice of acquiring books and letting them pile up without reading them (Japanese)
Umbrage — offense or annoyance (take umbrage)
Vicissitude — a change of circumstances, typically unwelcome; the uncertainty of outcomes
Vituperative — bitter and abusive in language or criticism
Wanton — deliberate and unprovoked; reckless
Accretion — growth or increase by the gradual accumulation of layers or additions
Analogous — comparable in certain respects; similar in function but not in origin
Apostasy — the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief
Avarice — extreme greed for wealth or material gain
Bedlam — a scene of uproar and confusion
Blandishments — flattering or pleasing statements used to persuade someone
Cabal — a secret political clique or faction
Capitulate — to cease to resist; to surrender
Codswallop — nonsense (British slang)
Copacetic — in excellent order; perfectly satisfactory
Cornpone — unsophisticated or countrified; lacking subtlety
Crass — showing no sensitivity or finesse; grossly insensitive
Demonym — a word identifying residents of a particular place (e.g. "Parisian")
Drivel — silly nonsense; to talk in a foolish or meaningless way
Ecumenical — promoting unity among different religions or groups
Edification — moral or intellectual instruction or improvement
Edify — to instruct or improve someone morally or intellectually
Epistolary — relating to or conducted through letters or correspondence
Equanimity — mental calmness and composure, especially in a difficult situation
Espouse — to adopt or support a cause, belief, or way of life
Exuberant — filled with lively energy and excitement
Garish — obtrusively bright and showy; lurid
Garret — a top-floor or attic room, especially a small dismal one
Gestalt — an organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts
Hiraeth — a Welsh word for a deep longing for home or a place you can never return to
Inchoate — just begun and not fully formed or developed; rudimentary
Incongruent — not in agreement or harmony; incompatible
Incredulous — unwilling or unable to believe something