Evanescent is a formal and literary word that describes something that only lasts a very short time.

// Our acting coach always reminded us that fame is evanescent, and that we should pursue a life in the theater purely for the love of the art.

A boondoggle is an expensive and wasteful project usually paid for with public money. Boondoggle is also a word for a braided cord worn by Boy Scouts as a neckerchief slide, hatband, or ornament.

// Critics say the dam is a complete boondoggle—over budget, behind schedule, and unnecessary.

To juxtapose things is to place them together in order to create an interesting effect or to show how they are the same or different.

// The local museum’s new exhibit juxtaposes modern art with classical art.

Fortitude is a formal word that refers to the strength of mind that enables someone to encounter danger or to bear pain or adversity with courage. Less formal words with similar meanings include grit, fiber, and pluck. // To reach the summit of the mountain requires not only great physical strength and training but the fortitude to persevere no matter the challenge.

intense desire; strong natural craving

Something may be described as tantamount to something else if it is equal in value, meaning, or effect.

// The pop star’s fans see any criticism of her music as tantamount to a crime.

Orthography refers to the way in which the words of a language are spelled, or to the art of writing words with the proper letters according to standard usage.

// As the winner of several spelling bees, she impressed her teachers with her exceptional grasp of orthography.

To indoctrinate someone is to teach them to fully accept the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of a particular group while categorically rejecting other ideas, opinions, and beliefs.

// The video series attempts to indoctrinate younger audiences with ahistorical and unscientific ideas.

loosely made or held together; rickety; shaky.

ex - a ramshackle house.

Brazen describes someone who is acting, or something that is done, in a very open and shocking way without shame or embarrassment.

// The opposition party’s campaign has not been shy in assailing the brazen corruption of the incumbent for funneling public funds into private coffers.

1. having the same border or covering the same area.

2. being the same in extent; coextensive in range or scope.

Mayhem refers to needless or willful damage or violence, and especially to a scene or situation that involves a lot of violence. In figurative use, it may refer to any instance of excited activity.

// The director's newest thriller is brimming with murder and mayhem.

 incapable of being retracted or revoked; cannot be undone or taken back

A kibitzer is someone who watches other people and makes unwanted comments about what they are doing.

// It wasn't long after they bought their house that the couple heard from neighborhood kibitzers offering tips on landscaping and remodeling.

Subterfuge is a formal word that refers to the use of tricks to hide, avoid, or get something.

// They obtained the documents by subterfuge.

Glaucous as a color word can describe things of two rather different shades: a light bluish-gray or bluish-white color, or a pale yellow-green. It can also mean "having a powdery or waxy coating that gives a frosted appearance and tends to rub off."

// His glaucous eyes grew wide with curiosity.

// The tree's glaucous leaves help prevent sun damage.

A scientist who specializes in studying life in the universe is an astrobiologist. Many astrobiologists focus on searching for evidence of life beyond the earth.

In simplest terms, panache refers to lively grace and style; it appears in contexts in which words like verve and flair are also applied.

// The cast of the play was excellent—even those playing supporting characters acted with great panache. 

Laudable is a somewhat formal word used to describe something as worthy of praise. It is a synonym of commendable. // Thanks to the laudable efforts of dozens of volunteers, the town's Spring Festival was an enjoyable event for everyone.

The verb cotton is used with on or on to to mean “to begin to understand something; to catch on.” Cotton used with to alone means “to begin to like someone or something.”

// It took a while, but they are finally starting to cotton on.

// She quickly cottoned on to why her friend was nudging her, and stopped talking just before their teacher entered the room.

// We cottoned to our new neighbors right away.

Adroit describes someone or something that has or shows skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations.

// We marveled at how adroit the puppeteers were, the marionettes responding to each precise shift of their hands, each flick of their wrists.

To fawn over or on someone (usually someone important or powerful) is to try to get their approval through praise, special attention, or flattery. Fawn is also sometimes used—especially but not exclusively of dogs—to mean “to show affection.”

// Still new to celebrity, the musician blushed at the restaurant staff fawning over her during her recent hometown visit.

// I’d only been gone five minutes but the puppy fawned on me like I’d been away for hours.

Genteel means “of or relating to people who have high social status” and can be used as a somewhat old-fashioned synonym of aristocratic. It can also be used to describe something with a quietly appealing or polite quality, as in “genteel manners.”

// Their genteel upbringing shaped the way they viewed the world.

To cadge something is to persuade someone to give it to you for free. Cadge can also mean “to take, use, or borrow (something) without acknowledgment.”

// I don’t know how, but my brother always manages to cadge an extra scoop of ice cream on his sundaes.

// The last line of the poem is cadged from Shelley’s “Ozymandias.”

Zany describes people or things that are very strange and silly.

// The cartoon series centers around two zany characters, best friends who also happen to be space aliens, constantly amusing each other with outrageous antics.

Cadence is used to refer to various rhythmic or repeated motions, activities, or patterns of sound, or to the way a person's voice changes by gently rising and falling while they are speaking.

// Ivy relaxed at the beach, listening to the cadence of the surf.

// He speaks with a soft Southern cadence.

Something described as frenetic is filled with excitement, activity, or confusion. The word is a synonym of frantic.

// The event was noisy and frenetic, which prompted us to leave early.

To scrutinize something is to examine it carefully especially in a critical way.

// I closely scrutinized my opponent's moves before making my own.

As an interjection, eureka is used to express excitement when a discovery has been made. When used as an adjective, eureka describes something (typically a moment) that is characterized by a usually sudden triumphant discovery. 

// After years of trying to piece together a concrete business idea, I had a eureka moment and everything made sense.  

Jejune is a formal word that means "uninteresting" or "boring." It is also used as a synonym of juvenile to describe things (such as behaviors, attitudes, etc.) that are immature, childish, or simplistic.

// The movie adaptation employed surreal visual effects to tell the story, making the plot, jejune in the novel, archetypal rather than artless.

// The professor made rude and jejune remarks about the students' artwork.

Tranche refers to a division or portion of a whole.

// A tranche of leaked documents was delivered to the newspaper anonymously, with more promised to come.

Rash describes something done or made quickly and without thought about what will happen as a result. It can also describe someone who is doing something rash.

// I later regretted having made such a rash promise in a moment of chaos.

// Don't be rash about this decision. Take your time.

To immure something is to enclose it within or as if within walls. Immure is also sometimes used synonymously with imprison.

// Scientists at the research station in Antarctica are immured by the frozen wild that surrounds them.

A gambit is something done or said in order to gain an advantage or to produce a desired effect.

// The workers’ opening gambit in the negotiations was to demand a wage hike.

To hector someone is to criticize or question them in a threatening way.

// The judge ordered the attorney to stop hectoring the witness.

Vaunted describes someone or something that is often spoken of or described as very good or great.

// The team’s vaunted defense faltered in the second half of the game.

Deem is a somewhat formal word used when someone comes to think something or to have something as an opinion after some consideration.

// The covered bridge was closed to automobile traffic for the winter because town officials deemed it a hazard to motorists.

Exhilarate means "to cause (someone) to feel very happy and excited." It is usually used in the passive voice as (be) exhilarated.

// She was exhilarated by the prospect of attending her dream school.

Paean is a literary word that refers to a song of joy, praise, or victory. It can also be used as a synonym of tribute for a work that praises or honors its subject.

// Her retirement party featured many paeans for her long years of service to the company.

// Critics considered the movie both a thrilling Western and a paean to the natural beauty of the Rockies.

Something described as congruous is in agreement, harmony, or correspondence with something else. Congruous can also describe something that is appropriate for a particular circumstance or requirement, or a thing that is marked or enhanced by harmonious agreement among its constituent elements.

// Their professional achievements were congruous with their academic abilities.

// The low bookshelf forms a congruous barrier between the spaces.

// It is a congruous, plausible story, consistent in all its details.