Umami refers to the taste sensation that is produced by several amino acids and nucleotides and that has a rich or meaty flavor characteristic of cheese, cooked meat, mushrooms, soy, and ripe tomatoes.

// The chef’s secret ingredient added the perfect burst of umami to the signature dish.

Oracular is a formal word that can describe something used to forecast or prophesize, or something that resembles or relates to something used for such purposes. Oracular can also describe something that resembles an oracle—a person (such as a priestess of ancient Greece) through whom a deity is believed to speak; in this sense, an oracular statement, voice, etc. conveys wisdom or solemnity.

// A few recordings of the famous speaker still exist, and though his language is formal to the point of sounding almost foreign to the modern listener, the oracular quality of his speech remains effective.

Symbiosis is a formal word that refers to a relationship between two people or groups that work with and depend on each other. In biology, symbiosis refers to the relationship between two different kinds of living things that live together and depend on each other.

// The new playground is the result of symbiosis between multiple stakeholders, including residents, donors, and town officials.

// The bacteria exist in symbiosis with the plant’s roots.

Jaundiced means “showing or influenced by feelings of distrust, distaste, or hostility.” Someone described as jaundiced, or as possessing jaundiced opinions or views, is typically understood to feel that way because of negative past experiences.

// She developed a jaundiced view of politics after years of chairing her local school board committee and witnessing all kinds of petty shenanigans.

Pantheon usually refers to a group of famous or notable people or things. It also refers to the officially recognized gods of a particular people, as well as to the Roman Pantheon, the domed temple begun in 27 B.C. and rebuilt circa 118-128 A.D.

// With her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the distinguished bassist and songwriter joined a pantheon of musical legends.

// His research is primarily dedicated to the Greek and Roman pantheons.

Pantheon usually refers to a group of famous or notable people or things. It also refers to the officially recognized gods of a particular people, as well as to the Roman Pantheon, the domed temple begun in 27 B.C. and rebuilt circa 118-128 A.D.

// With her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the distinguished bassist and songwriter joined a pantheon of musical legends.

// His research is primarily dedicated to the Greek and Roman pantheons.

To quail is to feel afraid and often to show your fear in a way that can be clearly seen.

// Although giving a 5-minute speech was a requirement for passing the class, a few students quailed at the thought of public speaking, seeming to shrink behind their desks.

Cavalcade most often refers to a series of related things. An older meaning, still in use, is “a procession of riders or carriages”; vehicles or ships in a procession can be referred to as a cavalcade too.

// Since the high-powered console’s debut late last year, video game companies have steadily unveiled a cavalcade of new games that showcase its groundbreaking graphics.

Longueur refers to a boring part of something (such as a book or play). It is usually used in the plural form.

// Though not without its longueurs, the opera came to life in the last act.

Indomitable is a formal word used to describe something that is impossible to defeat or discourage.

// Juneteenth celebrates the abolition of slavery in the United States, and honors the indomitable spirit of African Americans past and present fighting for justice, liberation, and the fulfillment of this nation’s ideals.

To acquiesce to something is to accept it, agree with it, or allow it to happen by staying silent or by not arguing. Acquiesce is somewhat formal, and is often used with in or to.

// Eventually, the professor acquiesced to the students’ request to have the seminar’s final class be a potluck lunch.

Wifty, a synonym of ditzy, describes something or someone eccentrically silly or scatterbrained.

// The play features a wifty character who starts out blissfully unaware of the conflict driving the plot but ultimately pulls it together to save the day.

A gamut is a range or series of related things. When we say that something “runs the gamut,” we are saying that it encompasses an entire range of related things.

// The flea market offerings run the gamut with a wide array of vendors each offering something unique.

Something described as tenuous is flimsy, weak, or uncertain.

// The theater had a tenuous existence for years, but today is on much more solid financial footing

Someone described as hale is in good and often exceptional health. Hale is commonly used in the phrase "hale and hearty."

// Their mother remains hale and hearty in her old age.

1. a back door or gate.

2. a private entrance or any entrance other than the main one.

Saturnine is a literary word that typically describes people who are glum and grumpy, or things that suggest or express gloom. It can also mean “slow to act or change.”

// A walk in the sunshine can improve your mood significantly, raising the spirits of even the most saturnine among us.

Foibles are minor flaws or shortcomings in someone's character or behavior. In fencing, foible refers to the weakest part of a sword's blade, between the middle and point.

// You have to be able to laugh at your own foibles.

Deleterious is a word used in formal speech and writing to describe something that is damaging or harmful, usually in a subtle or unexpected way.

// Though effective at keeping pests away from plants, the spray is no longer used because of its deleterious effects on the respiratory system.

An accoutrement is a piece of clothing or equipment that is used in a particular place or for a particular activity. In military contexts, accoutrement refers specifically to a soldier's outfit. The word can also refer to an identifying and often superficial characteristic or device. Accoutrement in any of its uses is often pluralized.

// They have all the accoutrements that a baker could ever want, including a robust collection of cookie cutters and a veritable wardrobe of vintage aprons.

Valedictory describes something expressing or containing a farewell.

// The valedictory speech given by the department chair moved several faculty members to tears.

An interloper is a person who intrudes in a place or sphere of activity; they are not wanted or welcome by the other people present.

// Summer residents were regarded as interlopers who lacked a commitment to the town's welfare.

As a synonym of aromatic, the word redolent can describe something that has a noticeable smell without specifying the scent, but more often it is accompanied by of or with and means “full of a specified fragrance,” as in “redolent with incense.” Redolent can also describe something that causes thoughts or memories of something, as in “music redolent of the 1980s.”

// The late-spring meadow was redolent of wildflowers and petrichor.

Crux refers to the most important part of something (such as a problem, issue, or puzzle). It is often used in the phrase "the crux of."

// The crux of the problem is that the project's budget is totally inadequate.

Permutation is a formal word for any one of the many different ways or forms in which something exists or can be arranged. It can also refer to a major or fundamental change in something based primarily on rearrangement of its existing elements. Permutation is usually used in its plural form.

// Early permutations of the design look nothing like the final result.

// The system has gone through several permutations.

Cohort refers to a group or band of individuals, as in “a cohort of supporters.” It can also be used for a group of individuals who have a statistical factor (such as age) in common in a demographic study, as in “a cohort of people born in the 1980s.” Cohort can be used for individuals too, as for a friend, companion, or colleague, but it is almost always used in its plural form.

// I wouldn’t have made it through graduate school without the help of my supportive cohort.

. a favorite saying of a sect or political group

. a manner of speaking or acting that is distinctive of a particular group

. a widely held belief

To ingratiate yourself with others is to gain their favor or approval by deliberately doing or saying things they will like. Ingratiate is usually used with with, and is often (though not always) used disapprovingly.

// Scam artists often have an uncanny ability to ingratiate themselves with their victims using subtle flattery that only seems obvious in retrospect.

// Although she was nervous to be the new girl in school, Emma quickly ingratiated herself with her classmates through her effortless charm and kind demeanor.

a state of nervous excitement, haste, or anxiety; flutter.

I was in such a swivet that I could hardly speak.

Gordian knot refers to a complicated and difficult problem. It is often used in the phrase cut the Gordian knot, which means “to solve a difficult problem in a very direct way by doing something forceful or extreme.”

// The organization’s change in leadership is being widely applauded as a step toward stability, but many are less than optimistic about the new director’s ability to cut the Gordian knot at the center of its troubles.

Sacrosanct is a formal word that describes something too important and respected to be changed or criticized. It can also mean "most sacred or holy."

// While the family's new matriarch aimed to maintain the familiar traditions of the holidays, she did not consider the details of their celebration to be sacrosanct.

Lacuna is a formal word that refers to a gap or blank space in something—in other words, a missing part. When used with respect to biology, lacuna also refers to a small cavity, pit, or discontinuity in an anatomical structure.

// The absence of hemlock pollen from one stretch of the fossil record is a notable lacuna that suggests the tree may have once suffered from some type of blight that nearly wiped out the species.

// An osteocyte is a cell that is isolated in a lacuna of bone.

Cordial describes someone or something that is politely pleasant and friendly.

// All the guests were assembled and given a cordial greeting by the host.

To vindicate someone is to show that they are not guilty. Vindicate can also mean “to show that someone or something that has been criticized or doubted is correct, true, or reasonable.”

// A series of testimonies helped vindicate the defendant.

// Their much-maligned approach to the problem has now been vindicated by these positive results.

1. the solid earth; firm ground

Tortuous describes something that has many literal or figurative twists and turns.

// The tortuous mountain path rewards climbers with a stunning view of the town below.

// Getting approval for a project of this magnitude is a tortuous process.

Imbroglio is a formal word that refers to a complex dispute or argument.

// Much of the sisters’ text thread involves the the latest imbroglios on their favorite reality show—who’s mad at who for what, and why.

implicit \ ɪmˈplɪsɪt \ adjective

1. suggested though not directly expressed

2. being without doubt or reserve

Catercorner is used to describe two things that are located across from each other on opposite corners. It is a less common variant of kitty-corner.

// The store is catercorner from the park, making it the perfect location to grab snacks for our picnic.

Paragon is a formal word that refers to a person or thing that is perfect or excellent in some way and should be considered a model or example to be copied.

// In Arthurian legend, Sir Galahad is depicted as a paragon of virtue.

To gallivant is to go or travel to many different places for pleasure. Gallivant is a somewhat informal word that is often applied when the user of the word does not approve of such pleasurable traveling.

// They’ve been gallivanting all over town instead of studying for their finals.

Dudgeon is typically used in the phrase “in high dudgeon” to describe someone who is angry and offended by something they perceive to be unfair or wrong.

// The customer stormed out of the store in high dudgeon after the manager refused to give them a refund for their purchase.

1. provide evidence for

2. authenticate; affirm to be true, genuine or correct

3. establish or verify the usage of

4. give testimony in a court of law

at great speed; rapidly 

To augur is to show or suggest, especially from omens, that something might happen in the future. Used most often in formal speech or writing, augur is often followed by an adverb, such as well.

// The downturn augurs badly for the success of the business.

Scrupulous describes someone who is very careful about doing something correctly, or something marked by such carefulness. Scrupulous can also describe someone who is careful about doing what is honest and morally right.

// She was always scrupulous about her work.

// Being an editor requires scrupulous attention to detail.

// Less scrupulous companies find ways to evade the law.

To exasperate someone is to cause them irritation or annoyance, or to make them angry.

// We were all exasperated by the delays.

Beltane refers to the Celtic May Day festival.

// Beltane falls each year approximately halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.

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.