Askance (adv) With suspicion, distrust or disapproval Syn: distrustfully, suspiciously, skeptically **askew, a sideways glance

Attenuate (v) To make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value Syn: thin out, dilute, water down Ant: thicken, strengthen, bolster **thin out, she’s thin she’s a “ten”

Benign (adj) Gentle, kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant Syn: benevolent, salutary, harmless Ant: malevolent, deleterious ** benign is fine

Cavil (v) To find fault in a petty way, carp; (n) a trivial objection or criticism Syn: (v) nitpick, quibble **to cavil is evil

Charlatan (n) One who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, imposter, or quack Syn: fraud, mountebank **charlatan charms you into believing

Decimate (v) To kill or destroy a large part of Syn: ravage, devastate

Foible (n) A weak point, failing, minor flaw Syn: shortcoming, defect, quirk Ant: forte, virtue **flaw

Forgo (v) To do without, abstain from, give up Syn: refrain from, renounce Ant: indulge in, partake of **say “no”

Fraught (adj) Full of or loaded with; accompanied by Syn: charged with Ant: devoid of, lacking, deficient in **after they fought, he was fraught with guilt

Inure (v) To toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure Syn: accustom, acclimate **if you inure to something you show you’re sure how to handle it

Luminous (adj) Emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating Syn: radiant, bright, refulgent, lustrous Ant: dark, opaque, dim, murky **luminate

Obsequious (adj) Marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self interested reasons Syn: fawning, servile, sycophantic Ant: assertive, bumptious, overbearing, candid **obsessed with pleasing or serving

Obtuse (adj) Blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; measuring between 90-180 degrees; not causing a sharp impression Syn: stupid, dumb thick, mild Ant: acute, perceptive, quick-witted **obtuse angle has dull point

Oscillate (v) To swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver Syn: vibrate, vacillate **vacillate

Penitent (adj) Regretful for one’s sins or mistakes; (n) one who is sorry for wrongdoing Syn: remorseful, regretful, sorry Ant: unrepentant, remorseless **repent

Peremptory (adj) Don’t even ask! The answer is NO! Having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal; offensively self-assured, dictatorial; determined, resolute Syn: high-handed, unconditional Ant: irresolute, tentative, mild Don’t even ask! The answer is NO!

Rebuff (v) To snub; to repel, drive away (n) a curt rejection, a check Syn: spurn, repulse, reject (n)setback Ant: accept, welcome **reject

Reconnoiter (v) To engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection Syn: scout **reconnaissance

Shambles (n) A slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess **if you gamble, your life could end up in shambles

Sporadic (adj) Occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order Syn: intermittent, spasmodic Ant: constant, steady, continuous, uninterrupted **spasmodic