Balayage is a technique by which a colorist creates highlights or lowlights in a person's hair by painting freehand using long, sweeping strokes. Balayage may also refer to the highlights or lowlights produced by this technique.

// The stylist was lauded for his skill in balayage.

// The monotone dress perfectly complemented her ombré balayage.

Capricious is a formal word that describes someone or something governed or characterized by impulsivity or unpredictability.

// The employees were at the mercy of a capricious manager who always seemed to impose deadlines at the last minute.

A glade is a grassy open space in a forest.

// She felt the most at ease outdoors, often taking delight in the peaceful glades she came across on her hikes.

Extemporaneous describes something that is made up or done without special preparation. It is usually used to describe public speaking.

// Now a seasoned professional, Abby is no longer unnerved when asked to make the occasional extemporaneous speech.

Midriff refers to the area around a person’s middle, that is, the front of their body between the chest and the waist.

// Even the store’s winter line of clothing includes a number of midriff-baring tops, albeit paired with oversized cardigans or flannel shirts.

Intrepid is just a fancy word for describing a person or action that is bold and brave. Super heroes are intrepid in their struggle for truth and justice.

To purport is to claim to be or do a particular thing when this claim may not be true.

// The report purports to be objective, but its bias is clear.

To cast aspersion (or aspersions) on someone is to criticize them harshly or unfairly: aspersion is defined as "a false or misleading charge meant to harm someone's reputation, or the act of making such a charge." Aspersion may also refer to a sprinkling with water, especially in religious ceremonies.

// Melissa believed that Roger had unjustly cast aspersions on the quality of her research.

of or relating to or proceeding from the sense of touch

Herald is a verb meaning "to give notice of"; it is synonymous with announce, publicize, and foreshadow. Herald may also mean "to greet especially with enthusiasm."

// The appearance of robins heralded the advent of spring.

// She is being heralded as the year's best new author.

Fealty is an old-fashioned and somewhat literary word that refers to intense loyalty or fidelity to a person, group, etc. More narrowly, fealty refers to the fidelity of a vassal or feudal tenant to their lord.

// Authors who inspire such fealty can guarantee a publisher good sales, no matter the quality of the books they write.

// Kneeling before the entire court, the knight pledged his fealty to the king.

a variety show with topical sketches, songs, dancing and comedians

A catastrophe is never a good thing. Catastrophe can refer to a momentous tragic event, an utter failure, a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth, or a violent usually destructive natural event.

// Despite her careful planning, the party was a catastrophe.

Extenuate is a formal word that is most often used to mean “to lessen the strength or effect of something, such as a risk.” In legal use, to extenuate a crime, offense, etc., is to lessen or to try to lessen its seriousness or extent by making partial excuses.

// Developers are trying to extenuate the various risks associated with the product.

Someone or something described as amiable is friendly and agreeable.

// Both children have amiable dispositions, which makes them easy to travel with.

Tomfoolery is a word with an old-fashioned sound to it that refers to playful or silly behavior.

// The antics in the play itself apparently inspired tomfoolery behind the scenes as well, as cast members constantly played practical jokes on one another.

Otiose is a formal word typically used to describe either something that serves no useful purpose, or something that has no use or effect.

// I enjoyed the storyline, but was bothered by the otiose punctuation.

// The new zoning regulations rendered their proposal for the empty lot otiose.

to become vague, indistinct, or nebulous

Limpid describes things that are perfectly transparent or clear, or that are simple in style.

// Though the stream was deep, flecks and shimmers in the sand shone up through its limpid water.

// The author is known for her limpid, exacting prose.

Respite refers to a short period of time when someone is able to stop doing something that is difficult or unpleasant, or when something difficult or unpleasant stops or is delayed.

// The long weekend provided a nice respite from the pressures of her job.

// The station's meteorologist had predicted that the bad weather would continue through the week without respite.

any secluded place of residence or habitation; retreat; hideaway

Someone described as swole is extremely muscular. In other words, they have a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises.

// Her New Year’s resolution was to get swole, so she signed up with a personal trainer and committed to working out every day.

Castigate is a formal word that means "to criticize harshly."

// He was widely castigated for earning millions of dollars in bonuses as the company he was leading slid into insolvency.

Patriot refers to a person who loves and strongly supports or fights for their country.

// Addy enjoyed looking at old photographs of her grandmother, a patriot who served in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps during World War II, in uniform.

Something described as insuperable is impossible to gain control of, solve, or overcome.

// The book tells the inspiring story of a group of people who achieved a great deal despite nearly insuperable obstacles.

gourmet; a person who appreciates good food

Abhor is synonymous with loathe. Something or someone who is abhorred is regarded with extreme disgust or hatred.

// Mariah is an animal rights activist who abhors any and all mistreatment of animals.

Deference refers to respect and esteem that is appropriate to show to someone, such as a superior or elder. Something done in deference to, or out of deference to, someone or something is done in order to show respect for the opinions or influence of that person or thing.

// The children were taught to show proper deference to their elders.

// In deference to those who voted against the change, we'll be having another meeting to discuss how we can mitigate people's concerns.

Zero-sum describes something, such as a game, mentality, or situation, in which any gain corresponds directly with an equivalent loss.

// Dividing up the budget is a zero-sum game.

Clandestine describes something done secretly, or in a private place or way.

// The wedding was a clandestine affair in Las Vegas.

A polemic is a strong written or spoken attack against someone else’s opinions, beliefs, practices, etc.

// Her book is a fierce polemic against societal inequalities.

Hue and cry refers to a clamor of alarm or protest in response to something. It can also be used as a synonym of hubbub to refer to general noise or uproar.

// After the popular professor was fired by the college, there was such a hue and cry from students that the administration was forced to reconsider its decision.

Jubilee usually refers to a special anniversary or a celebration of such an anniversary. It can also refer generally to a season of celebration or act of rejoicing, or to a religious song of African Americans referring to a time of future happiness.

// My grandparents will be celebrating their golden jubilee this year—as Grandpa puts it, "50 years of wedded bliss and occasional blisters."

// The town is planning a year-long jubilee in celebration of its founding 200 years ago.

A brainiac is a very intelligent person.

// Her ability to solve almost any puzzle within minutes secured her place as the brainiac of the family

Paradigm is a formal word that refers to a pattern or example, and especially to an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype. It can also refer to a theory or group of ideas about how something should be done, made, or thought about.

// Her latest book provides us with a new paradigm for modern biography.

// Several speakers at the conference focused their presentations on challenging what has been a dominant educational paradigm.

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.