Unbeknownst means “without being known about by (a specified person or group of people).”

// Unbeknownst to the students, the teacher had entered the room.

When used literally, lodestone refers to the mineral magnetite, a magnetic iron ore. Lodestone is also used figuratively to refer to something that, like a magnet, strongly attracts things.

// The city is a lodestone for aspiring musicians of all genres.

Efficacious is a formal word used to describe something—often a treatment, medicine, or remedy—that has the power to produce a desired result or effect.

// Companies like to tout the number of efficacious natural ingredients in their beauty products.

1. fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind

2. including markedly dissimilar elements

To foment something, such as hostility or opposition, is to cause it, or try to cause it, to grow or develop. Foment is used synonymously with incite.

// Rumors that the will was a fake fomented distrust between the two families.

Consternation is a formal word that refers to a strong feeling of surprise or sudden disappointment that causes confusion.

// The candidate caused consternation among his supporters by changing positions on a key issue.

When you go incognito, your true identity is kept secret (as through the use of a different name or a disguise). Incognito can be used either as an adverb or an adjective with the same meaning.

// The food critic made an incognito visit to the restaurant.

// The pop star travels incognito as much as possible, using a fake name and wearing a wig and heavy makeup to avoid the paparazzi.

To gossip is to talk about the personal lives of other people.

// The two siblings often gossip with each other about their neighbors via texting.

Moxie can refer to courage and determination (aka nerve), energy and pep (aka verve), or know-how (as, say, reflected in one’s oeuvre).

// They showed a lot of moxie in questioning their company’s policy.

// She clearly doesn’t need coffee to start her day full of moxie.

// The lead actor’s musical moxie inspired the addition of a serenade at the close of the play’s first act.

Someone described as affluent has a large amount of money and owns many expensive things. Something, such as a place or institution, described as affluent is similarly rich or wealthy.

// The affluent suburb sports some of the finest public schools in the county owing to its considerable tax base.

To deride someone or something is to subject them to usually harsh and bitter insults or criticism.

// Although derided by classmates for his insistence that he would be a millionaire by the age of 25, he achieved his goal when his Internet startup went public.

1. taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance

2. characterized by or performed with much energy or force

Foist, which is almost always used with on or upon, is used when someone forces another person to accept something, usually something that is not good or is not wanted. Foist can also mean “to pass off as genuine or worthy.”

// I don’t want to foist anything on you, but if you like this old quilt you’re welcome to have it.

// Faulty parts have been foisted on unwitting car owners.

Dynasty refers to a group (such as a team, family, etc.) that is very powerful or successful for a long period of time. It is also often used for a family of rulers who rule over a country for a long period of time, as well as the period of time when a particular dynasty is in power.

// The team’s draft picks reflected the ownership’s strategy of building a long-term football dynasty

In literal use, gadfly refers to any of various flies (such as a horsefly, botfly, or warble fly) that bite or annoy livestock. Gadfly is most popular in figurative use, however, where it refers to someone who provokes or annoys other people, especially by persistent criticism.

To glean is to gather or collect something bit by bit, or in a gradual way. Glean can also be used to mean “to search (something) carefully” and “to find out.”

// Neil has a collection of antique tools gleaned from flea markets and garage sales.

// They spent days gleaning the files for information.

// The police used old-fashioned detective work to glean his whereabouts.

To countermand an order is to revoke it, especially by giving a new order.

// Orders to blow up the bridge were countermanded by local officials.

If someone or something is appealingly lively and enthusiastic, they may also be described as ebullient.

// Akua's ebullient personality made her the life of the party.

To belie something is to give a false idea or impression of it. Belie can also mean "to show (something) to be false or wrong."

// Martin's easy banter and relaxed attitude belied his nervousness.

// Their actions belie their claim of innocence.

A neophyte is a person who has just started learning or doing something.

// As an acting neophyte, Femi took a while to adjust to his newfound Hollywood fame.

An effort, action, or emotion described as futile has no result or effect, and therefore serves no useful purpose.

// City officials attempted to stifle the scandal, but their efforts were futile.

Something described as lucrative produces money or wealth. //

The author parlayed the success of her books into a lucrative second career as a public speaker

To wane is to become smaller or less, or in other words, to decrease in size, extent, or degree.

// The national scandal caused her popularity to wane.

To instigate something is to cause it to happen or begin.

// The pair was accused of instigating a plot to oust the newly elected mayor.

To zhuzh something up is to improve its flavor or appearance by way of a small improvement, adjustment, or addition.

// He likes to zhuzh up his outfits with brightly-colored ties.

Grudging is an adjective used to describe something that is said, done, or given unwillingly or reluctantly. It can also describe someone who is unwilling or reluctant to do something.

// Her theories have begun to win grudging acceptance in the scientific community.

// A number of his former critics have become grudging admirers.

A reputation is the common opinion that people have about someone or something. Reputation can also refer to a positive position that someone or something has in public esteem or regard.

// She's earned a reputation as a first-class playwright.

// Investors feared that the scandal had damaged the company's reputation beyond repair.

To extemporize means to do something extemporaneously—in other words, to improvise.

// A good talk show host must be able to extemporize when interviews don’t go as planned.

Something described as agrarian has to do with farms and farming.

// Joan hopes to leave city life behind and move to a more agrarian region where she plans to raise lambs and grow heirloom vegetables.

Melee refers to a confused fight or struggle, especially one involving hand-to-hand combat.

// What started as a verbal disagreement at the football game soon turned into a general melee involving scores of spectators.

superior in weight, force, influence, numbers, etc.; prevailing.

(in Hawaii) a crown of fresh flowers.

A demagogue is a political leader who tries to get support by making use of popular prejudices, as well as by making false claims and promises and using arguments based on emotion rather than reason.

// His opponent called him a bigoted demagogue for demonizing those who don't intend to vote for him.

Inviolable is a formal term that is used to describe something too important to be ignored or treated with disrespect.

// She considers herself a person with inviolable moral standards

An homage is something that is done to honor someone or something. It is often used with the word pay (as in “pay homage”) to mean “to respect or honor.”

// Her latest book is an homage to her favorite city.

// The paintings in the new art gallery pay homage to women artists of the past.

To bourgeon is to grow or develop quickly—in other words to flourish, blossom or sprout.

// The trout population in the stream has burgeoned since the town implemented its laws against overfishing.

An exodus is a situation in which many people leave a place at the same time—in other words, a mass departure or emigration.

// The resort town eagerly anticipated the mass exodus from the cities to its beaches as summer approached.

Something described as palpable is obvious and notable. Palpable may also be used as a synonym of tangible to describe something that can be perceived by one's sense of touch.

// The tension in the courtroom was palpable as the jury foreman stood to announce the verdict.

An act or manner described as gingerly is very cautious or careful.

// It’s a delicate subject, and we need to approach it with gingerly care and tact.

// The antelope moved with a gingerly gait that suggested it was hurt.