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.

Something described as chockablock is very full or tightly packed.

// Their mantel is chockablock with knickknacks collected from their travels to all fifty states.

Someone described as ambivalent has or displays very different feelings (such as love and hate) about someone or something at the same time.

// Aya was ambivalent about starting her first year away at college—excited for the new opportunities that awaited but sad to leave her friends and family back home.

Memento is a synonym of souvenir; it refers to something that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or thing.

// The box on the shelf in her closet is filled with mementos of her basketball career—awards, newspaper clippings, team photographs, and her old uniform.

close in time; about to occur

A gridiron is a football field. The word gridiron is also sometimes used to refer to a grate for broiling food (as in “put the steaks on the gridiron”) or something consisting of or covered with a network (as in “a gridiron of streets and avenues”).

// The book recounts the quarterback’s most glorious moments on the gridiron.

Someone or something ensconced is firmly placed or hidden. Ensconce can be a synonym of shelter and conceal, or of establish and settle.

// The sculpture is safely ensconced behind glass.

// He ensconced himself in the library's back room for the afternoon.

Cronyism is the unfair practice by a powerful person (such as a politician) of giving jobs and other favors to friends without regard for their qualifications.

// City residents are pushing back against cronyism and corruption in their local government.

Something described as Byzantine (or Byzantine) is very complicated, secret, and hard to understand. In its most literal (and always capitalized) sense, Byzantine describes that which is "of, relating to, or characteristic of the ancient city of Byzantium."

// The company's byzantine accounting practices have gotten it into trouble with the government.

// Works of Byzantine art filled the gallery's walls.

Clement is a formal word used to describe weather that is mild, or in other words, neither too hot nor too cold. Clement is also sometimes used to describe someone who is inclined to be merciful or lenient, as in “a clement judge.”

// Although she loves visiting the northeast, Sue prefers to live in places with a more clement climate, without heavy snows or high heating bills.

To lollygag is to spend time doing things that are not useful or serious, or in other words, to fool around and waste time.

// Stop lollygagging and get to work!

// The player was kicked off the team for lollygagging during practice.

Propinquity is a formal word that typically refers to nearness in place or time, making it a synonym of proximity. It can also be used as a synonym of kinship to refer to the state of being related to others by blood.

// The geographical propinquity of these ancient cultures explains many of the architectural similarities.

Fallacious is a formal word that typically describes something, such as an argument or assumption, that is false or inaccurate and that tends to mislead or deceive others. // The notion that disease is caused by malign spirits was known to be fallacious long before the advent of germ theory.

Jeremiad refers to a long cautionary or angry rant about something. It can also refer to a similarly prolonged lamentation, or expression of great sorrow or deep sadness.

// His jeremiad about trivial problems with the campsite didn’t go over well with his friends.

In general contexts, something that ossifies becomes hardened or conventional and opposed to change. In medical contexts, something that ossifies (such as cartilage) forms or is transformed into bone.

// I asked if she'd reconsider her position, but her opinions on the matter have clearly ossified.

A propensity is a strong natural tendency to do something.

// As a child, she had a strong propensity for mischief.

Copious is a synonym of abundant and plentiful. It is always used before a noun to describe something very large in amount or number.

// The pie was served with a copious amount of ice cream.

// Jacqueline took copious notes during the long lecture and shared them with the rest of her study group.

A gadabout is a person who flits about in social activity, as by going to many places and social events for pleasure.

// She was a gadabout who was rarely home, and her tiny apartment was cluttered with playbills and other souvenirs of her adventures.

Sentient is a formal term that typically describes beings conscious of or responsive to the sensations of seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, or smelling.

// An avid gardener, Dorothy has recently been absorbed in books that examine the question of whether, and to what degree, plants are sentient.

Durable describes people or things that last, or remain strong and in good condition over a long period of time. It is often used figuratively, as in "a durable athlete."

// The fabric was durable enough to withstand chewing from the family dog.

// She is one of Hollywood's most durable stars.

Acumen refers to keenness and depth of perception, discernment, or discrimination—in other words, the ability to think clearly and make good decisions, especially in practical matters.

// The fictional detective possesses a superior acumen that enables her to solve the most bizarre and puzzling of mysteries.

Reifying is about considering or representing something abstract as a material or concrete thing. If you reify a concept or idea you somehow give it definite content and form.

// The tense personal dynamic between the two musicians was reified by the dissonant yet captivating music they made together.

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.