Abscond
To leave hurriedly and secretly to avoid detection or arrest.
- The thief managed to abscond with the jewels before the police arrived.
- She decided to abscond from the strict boarding school and live with her aunt.
Bellicose
Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.
- His bellicose attitude made him many enemies on the playground.
- The bellicose nation was quick to engage in conflicts with its neighbors.
Cacophony
A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
- The cacophony of horns and sirens filled the busy city street.
- At dawn, the birds’ cacophony could be heard through the open window.
Deciduous
Shedding its leaves annually (used for trees or shrubs).
- The forest was filled with deciduous trees, their leaves turning golden in autumn.
- As winter approached, the deciduous tree in our backyard began to lose its leaves.
Ebullient
Cheerful and full of energy.
- Her ebullient personality made her the life of the party.
- The children were ebullient as they raced to open their birthday presents.
Fatuous
Silly and pointless.
- His fatuous remarks during the meeting wasted everyone’s time.
- The movie was criticized for its fatuous plot and lack of substance.
Grandiloquent
Pompous or extravagant in language, style, or manner.
- The politician’s grandiloquent speech failed to impress the audience.
- Her grandiloquent writing style was more confusing than captivating.
Hapless
Unfortunate or unlucky.
- The hapless traveler lost his passport and missed his flight.
- Despite his hapless efforts, he could not secure a job.
Iconoclast
A person who attacks or criticizes cherished beliefs or institutions.
- As an iconoclast, she often challenged the traditional views of her community.
- The artist was considered an iconoclast for his unconventional works.
Juggernaut
A huge, powerful, and overwhelming force or institution.
- The company became a juggernaut in the tech industry.
- The new political movement quickly grew into a juggernaut, sweeping across the country.
Kaleidoscope
A constantly changing pattern or sequence of elements.
- Her emotions were a kaleidoscope, shifting rapidly from joy to sadness.
- The city’s lights at night created a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors.
Lugubrious
Looking or sounding sad and dismal.
- His lugubrious expression revealed his deep sorrow.
- The lugubrious music set the tone for the somber event.
Mellifluous
Sweet or musical; pleasant to hear.
- The singer’s mellifluous voice captivated the audience.
- The mellifluous sounds of the river were soothing to her ears.
Nefarious
Wicked or criminal.
- The villain’s nefarious plot was eventually foiled by the hero.
- He was known for his nefarious activities in the underworld.
Obfuscate
To render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
- The lawyer’s attempts to obfuscate the facts only made things worse.
- The complex jargon used in the document served to obfuscate its true meaning.
Pernicious
Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.
- The pernicious influence of social media on teens is a growing concern.
- Her pernicious habits eventually took a toll on her health.
Quixotic
Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.
- His quixotic quest to find the perfect utopia was never-ending.
- She embarked on a quixotic mission to change the world.
Recalcitrant
Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline.
- The recalcitrant student refused to follow the school’s rules.
- The manager had a difficult time dealing with the recalcitrant employee.
Sycophant
A person who acts obsequiously toward someone important to gain advantage.
- The office sycophant was always flattering the boss to get ahead.
- His reputation as a sycophant made him unpopular among his peers.
Truculent
Eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.
- His truculent behavior often got him into trouble.
- The truculent protestors clashed with the police.
Ubiquitous
Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
- Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society.
- The company’s logo was ubiquitous, appearing on billboards, commercials, and products.
Vicissitude
A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
- They remained friends through the vicissitudes of life.
- The company’s vicissitude from success to bankruptcy was swift and unexpected.
Weltschmerz
A feeling of melancholy and world-weariness.
- He often experienced weltschmerz when thinking about the state of the world.
- The novel captured the protagonist’s sense of weltschmerz.
Xenophobia
Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.
- The rise in xenophobia has led to increased tensions in the community.
- Efforts to combat xenophobia include promoting cultural understanding.
Yen
A longing or yearning.
- She had a yen for adventure and travel.
- Despite his yen for sweets, he maintained a strict diet.
Zephyr
A gentle, mild breeze.
- The zephyr brought relief from the summer heat.
- They enjoyed a picnic under the trees, cooled by a soft zephyr