courageous; brave

To truncate something—such as a discussion or essay—is to make it shorter.

// The interview was truncated and edited for clarity.

Inchoate is a formal adjective and synonym of vague that describes something that is not completely formed or developed yet.

// In the podcast, the author described the process by which she took a series of inchoate vignettes and shaped them into her best-selling novel.

To feign something (such as surprise, ignorance, or sleep) is to pretend to feel or be affected by it.

// I would never feign illness just to get out of a test.

Dedication refers to devotion, loyalty, or commitment to a person or cause. It can also refer to a message at the beginning of a book, song, etc., that expresses affection or gratitude for someone, or to a ceremony to mark the official completion or opening of something, such as a building.

// It took a lot of hard work and dedication, but we managed to finish the project on time.

// Her novel includes a brief dedication to her family.

a direct vote of the qualified voters of a state in regard to some important public question

Psephology is the scientific study of elections.

// Brianna was excited to learn that a course on psephology on the schedule for next semester will coincide with local and state elections.

Amalgamate is a formal verb meaning "to unite (two or more things) into one thing."

// The band became famous for amalgamating different musical styles into a unique, signature sound.

To extricate someone or something is to free or remove that person or thing from an entanglement or difficulty, such as a trap or a difficult conversation.

// She hasn't been able to extricate herself from her legal problems.

// It took all afternoon to extricate the tractor from the mud.

Hatching refers to the drawing or engraving of lines close together as a method of shading, or to a pattern so created.

// The artist uses hatching to breathe life into her comics.

// The hatching adds depth to the illustration.

Omniscient describes someone or something with unlimited knowledge or understanding.

// "You'll need to tell me when you don't understand something I've explained," Maria said. "I'm not omniscient, you know."

A disbursement is a payout of money from a fund that has been created for a special purpose. Disbursement can also refer to the money that is paid out.

// The company has made large disbursements for research.

Categorical is a synonym of absolute and definite that describes something that is said in a very strong and clear way. It can also mean "of, relating to, or constituting a category" or "involving, according with, or considered with respect to specific categories."

// The organization has issued a categorical denial about its involvement in the deal.

// The library relies on a categorical system for classifying books.

To garnish food or drink is to add decorative and tasty touches to it, such as a spiral of lemon peel.

// Aditi likes to garnish her mashed potatoes with chives and a dollop of sour cream.

// Slivers of dark chocolate garnished the cake.

in a persistent or tenacious manner

Palaver is an informal word that usually refers to unimportant or meaningless talk. It can also refer to misleading or deceptive speech, or to a conference or discussion. In British English the word is sometimes used as a synonym of fuss to refer to unnecessary excitement about something.

// Enough of this palaver. We have more important things to discuss.

to change from a fluid into a thickened mass; curdle; congeal

Intransigent is a formal word that describes a person who refuses to compromise or abandon an often extreme position or attitude. It can also describe a thing, such as a system or point of view, that shows the same kind of stubbornness.

// Despite the mediator's best efforts, the opposing sides in the dispute remained intransigent.

Zest refers to an enjoyably exciting quality, or to keen enjoyment itself. In culinary use, zest refers to small pieces of the peel of a lemon, lime, orange, or other citrus fruit used as flavoring.

// His humor added zest to the presentation's admittedly dry material.

// The couple has a zest for travel and adventure.

// Lime zest adds a burst of brightness to the dessert's rich flavor.

Fugacious is a formal word that describes something that lasts only a short time.

// The rock band’s early success proved fugacious; within two years its members had moved on to other careers.

// Savor the enduring pleasures of life as intensely as the fugacious ones.

A rendition, simply put, is the act or result of rendering something. That thing may be a performance or interpretation, a depiction, or a translation. In US law, rendition refers to the surrender by a state of a fugitive to another state that is charging the fugitive with a crime.

// Their signature meatloaf is a fine rendition of a classic recipe.

// Theatergoers have been eager for an English rendition of the acclaimed French play.

Taciturn is a formal word that describes someone who tends to be quiet or who tends to speak infrequently.

// One of the twins was taciturn and shy, while the other one was more outgoing.

Numinous is a formal, often literary, word that typically describes things that have a mysterious or spiritual quality. It can also describe something holy or something that appeals to one's aesthetic sense.

// We were overcome by the numinous atmosphere of the catacombs.

// The artist's sculptures dominate the space, their numinous presence welcoming museum-goers to a foreign world.

To coruscate is to give off or reflect light in bright beams or flashes. Coruscate is used as a synonym of sparkle and may also be used to mean "to be brilliant or showy in technique or style."

// She placed a bid on a classic car from the 1950s, replete with yards of coruscating chrome.

Exorbitant describes something that goes far beyond what is fair, reasonable, or expected (as by being too high, too expensive, etc.).

// The cost of our stay was so exorbitant you would have thought that we had bought the hotel and not just spent a few nights there.

to consider or include something as part of a more comprehensive one

impassable

Something described as gossamer—such as a butterfly wing or a thin fabric—is very light or delicate.

// Except for a few gossamer clouds, the sky was clear and blue.

To fret is to worry or be concerned.

// I was sure we wouldn’t get there in time, but they told me not to fret.

Chthonic means "of or relating to the underworld." It is used as a synonym of infernal.

// Cleo compared entering her brother's basement bedroom to a descent into chthonic regions: it was dark and odd-smelling, and she was a little frightened of what she might find there.

Feckless describes people or things that are weak or ineffective.

// The agency’s response to the dramatic increase in air pollution was well-intentioned but ultimately feckless.

If something written, spoken, or otherwise communicated is described as lucid, it is very clear and easy to understand. A person described as lucid is able to think clearly. Lucid is also used to describe things that are luminous, or that are visually transparent.

// The film conveyed a lucid message that was hard to misinterpret. // Brenna marveled at the sea stars and urchins she could see through the lucid water of the rock pool.

To deter someone is to discourage or prevent them from acting. To deter a thing is to stop or limit it.

// The heavy fines aim to deter people from dumping garbage here.

// The device is designed to deter automobile theft.

Jerkwater means “remote and unimportant.” It is often used to describe a small town, village, etc., that is out in the country far from cities. Jerkwater can also mean “trivial.”

// I grew up in a jerkwater town in the middle of nowhere.

To rue something is to feel penitence, remorse, or regret for it. Rue is often used in the phrase "rue the day."

// I rue the day I signed that infernal contract.

Heinous describes things—such as acts, deeds, or crimes—that are hatefully or shockingly evil, or in other words, deserving of hate or contempt.

// The former dictator will stand trial for the role he played in his government’s heinous treatment of political dissidents.

Approbation is a formal word that refers to praise or approval.

// Their plan to rewild portions of the city’s parks has won the approbation of the mayor.

By and large is another way of saying "in general" or "on the whole."

// By and large, I like the way things have gone.

The word dally has a number of meanings. To dally can be to physically linger or dawdle, or to waste time. Dally may also mean "to act playfully," especially in a romantic sense, or "to deal with something lightly or in a way that is not serious."

// Three members of the hiking group were dallying and didn't arrive at the overlook until others were already starting to head back to the trailhead.

// Alton has been dallying with the idea of starting a bakery.

A nebula is a large cloud of interstellar gas or dust. In nontechnical use, the word nebula also refers to a galaxy other than the Milky Way.

// We were eventually able to see the nebula through the telescope.

Liminal is a formal word most often used to describe an intermediate state, phase, or condition. It can also describe something that is barely perceptible or barely capable of eliciting a response.

// The essay presents an image of the border region as a liminal zone where one culture blends into another.

Callow is a synonym of immature used to describe someone, especially a young person, who does not have much experience and does not know how to behave like an adult. Like the word immature, callow is often used disapprovingly.

// The novel’s plot involves a callow youth who eventually learns the value of hard work and self-reliance.

To fraternize with someone is to be friendly with them or to spend time with them in a friendly way. Fraternize is often, though not always, used in situations where such friendly behavior is considered wrong or improper, as in “fraternizing with the enemy.”

// The boss warned that fraternizing with the junior employees could be a risky career move for a manager.