Sensibility is a formal word often used in its plural form to refer someone’s personal or cultural approach to what they encounter, as in “the speaker made sure to tailor his speech to the sensibilities of his audience.” Sensibility can also be used for the kind of feelings a person tends to have in general, as well as for the ability to feel and understand emotions.

// Many older cartoons feel out of line with modern sensibilities.

prosperity \ prɑˈspɛrədi \ noun

1. the condition of having good fortune

2. a state of growth with rising profits and full employment

Something described as frowsy has a messy or dirty appearance.

// The lamp, discovered in a neglected corner of a frowsy antique store, turned out to be quite valuable.

Alchemy refers to a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way.

// They practiced their alchemy in the kitchen, turning a pile of vegetables and legumes into an extravagant meal.

// The shopkeepers hoped for some sort of economic alchemy that would improve business.

To cajole someone is to use flattery or gentle urging to persuade them to do something or to give you something. Cajole can also mean “to deceive with soothing words or false promises.” It is often used with the word into.

// She cajoled her partner into going to the party with her.

// They hoped to cajole him into cooperating with local officials.

A pseudonym is a name that someone (such as a writer) uses instead of their real name.

// Bell Hooks is the pseudonym of the American writer Gloria Jean Watkins.

Something described as exculpatory serves to prove that someone is not guilty of doing something wrong.

// Their lawyer presented insurmountable exculpatory evidence at the trial.

Someone who is unabashed is not embarrassed or ashamed about openly expressing strong feelings or opinions.

// Unabashed by their booing and hissing, the artist continued with the musical performance.

Perdition refers to hell, or to the state of being in hell forever as punishment after death—in other words, damnation. It is usually used figuratively.

// Dante’s Inferno details the main character’s journey through perdition.

// It’s this kind of selfishness that leads down the road to perdition.

Amalgamate is a formal verb meaning "to unite (two or more things) into one thing."

// The school district has proposed amalgamating the two high schools.

Metonymy refers to a figure of speech in which a word that is associated with something is used to refer to the thing itself, as when crown is used to mean “king” or “queen.”

// Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and Hollywood are common examples of metonymy.

To bloviate is to speak or write in an arrogant tone and with more words than are necessary.

// The podcaster tends to bloviate endlessly on topics about which he is not particularly knowledgeable.

Gauche describes someone or something having or showing a lack of awareness about the proper way to behave. When describing a person or a behavior, gauche can mean “socially awkward” or “tactless”; when describing an object (such as a product with a vulgar image or slogan on it) it can mean “crudely made or done.”

// Some people view giving cash in lieu of a wrapped present to be terribly gauche, but I like knowing that my friends and family will be able to pick out something they truly want.

Eccentric usually describes people and things that deviate from conventional or accepted usage or behavior, especially in odd or whimsical ways.

It is also used technically to mean "deviating from a circular path" and "located elsewhere than at the geometric center."

// He's an endearingly eccentric scientist whose methods are quite inventive.

// The dwarf planet Pluto has an eccentric orbit.

A crucible, in the word’s literal use, is a pot in which metals or other substances are heated to a very high temperature or melted. But crucible is more often encountered in figurative use referring to a difficult test or challenge, or to a place or situation that forces people to change or make difficult decisions.

// The bronze was heated to 2,100 degrees in the crucible and then poured into molds designed by the artist.

// Her latest novel follows two best friends in a fantastical, battle-ravaged kingdom who

Radial describes things that are arranged or have parts arranged in straight lines coming out from the center of a circle.

// Her mosaics echo radial patterns observed in nature, from succulents to sea urchins.

Heyday refers to the period of one's greatest popularity, vigor, or prosperity. It is usually used in the singular.

// In its heyday, the circus was a major form of entertainment for the small town.

Peremptory is a formal word used especially in legal contexts to describe an order, command, etc., that requires immediate compliance with no opportunity to show why one should not comply. It is also used disapprovingly to describe someone with an arrogant attitude, or something indicative of such an attitude.

// The soldiers were given a peremptory order to abandon the mission.

// The company’s president tends to adopt a peremptory manner especially at the negotiating table.

If someone cannot abide someone or something bad, unpleasant, etc., they cannot tolerate or accept that person or thing. Abide can also mean "to accept without objection" and "to remain or continue."

// I just can't abide such blatant dishonesty.

// Residents agree to abide by the dorm's rules.

A bromide is a statement intended to make someone feel happier or calmer, but too dull and unoriginal to be effective.

// Their speech had nothing more to offer than the usual bromides about how everyone needs to work together.

Vamoose is an informal word that means "to depart quickly."

// With the sheriff hot on their tails, the bank robbers knew they had better vamoose.

Something described as conciliatory is intended to reduce hostility or to gain favor or goodwill.

// As the customer’s voice rose, the manager adopted a soothing, conciliatory tone and promised that the situation would be remedied.

A lout is an awkward brutish person.

// It was difficult for us to focus on the movie due to the noise coming from the group of louts seated in front of us.

Spontaneous describes something that is done or said in a natural and often sudden way and without a lot of thought or planning. It can describe a person who does things that have not been planned but that seem enjoyable and worth doing at a particular time.

// The kitten captured our hearts, and we made the spontaneous decision to adopt.

// He's a fun and spontaneous guy, always ready for the next big adventure.

Fidelity is the quality or state of being faithful to a person, such as a partner or spouse, or a thing, such as one’s country. Fidelity can also refer to accuracy or exactness in details, or the degree to which an electronic device (such as a television) accurately reproduces its effect (such as sound or picture).

// After almost three decades on the job, no one can doubt their fidelity to the company.

// The movie’s director insisted on total fidelity to the book

To ostracize someone is to exclude them from a group by the agreement of the group's members.

// She was ostracized by her community after refusing to sign the petition.

A hobgoblin is a mischievous goblin that plays tricks in children’s stories. When used figuratively, hobgoblin refers to something that causes fear or worry.

// This Halloween we were greeted at our door by werewolves, mummies, and a wide assortment of sweet-toothed hobgoblins.

Deliquesce can mean "to dissolve or melt away" or, in reference to some fungal structures (such as mushroom gills), "to become soft or liquid with age or maturity."

// The mushrooms deliquesced into an inky fluid.

Menagerie refers to a collection of animals kept especially to be shown to the public, as well as a place where such animals are kept. It can also refer figuratively to any varied mixture of things.

// The aviary featured a menagerie of exotic birds.

// The space is eclectically furnished with a menagerie of flea market finds.

Menagerie refers to a collection of animals kept especially to be shown to the public, as well as a place where such animals are kept. It can also refer figuratively to any varied mixture of things.

// The aviary featured a menagerie of exotic birds.

// The space is eclectically furnished with a menagerie of flea market finds.

Something described as acerbic is sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone.

// The comedian draws crowds that appreciate his acerbic wit.

Wreak means “to cause something very harmful or damaging.” It is often used with on or upon.

// The virus wreaked havoc on my laptop.

Rancid usually describes something edible that has a strong and unpleasant smell or taste because it is no longer fresh. In figurative use, rancid describes things that are very distasteful or offensive.

// The corpse flower, which is the largest known individual flower of any plant species, stays open five to seven days and emits a rancid odor.

Something described as sedentary does or involves a lot of sitting. Sedentary can also mean "not physically active" (as in "a sedentary lifestyle") or "not migratory" (as in "sedentary birds" or "a sedentary civilization").

// Editing the dictionary is a sedentary job.

Veritable is a formal adjective that means “being in fact the thing named and not false, unreal, or imaginary.” It is often used to stress the aptness of a metaphorical description.

// The island is a veritable paradise.

// The sale attracted a veritable mob of people.

When muse is used to mean "to think about something carefully or thoroughly," it is usually followed by about, on, over, or upon. The word can also mean "to become absorbed in thought," or "to think or say something in a thoughtful way."

// He mused on the possibility of pursuing a master's degree.

// "I could sell the house," she mused aloud, "but then where would I go?"

Kibosh refers to something that serves as a check or stop. It is usually used in the phrase “put the kibosh on” to mean “to stop or end (something)” or “to prevent (something) from happening or continuing.”

// I downloaded an app to help me put the kibosh on my high screen time.

To coalesce is to come together to form one group or mass.

// The club’s community service projects provide students with a common goal to coalesce around.

// The movie is full of beautifully written scenes but they never coalesce into a whole.

Utopia refers to an imaginary place in which the government, laws, and social conditions are perfect; a utopia is a place of ideal perfection.

// It’s a nice place to live, but it’s no utopia.

Penultimate means "occurring immediately before the last one," or in other words, "next to last." A formal adjective, it is always used before the noun it modifies.

// The penultimate episode of the TV series features some shocking plot twists that set up what will surely be a thrilling series finale.

the beginning of evening; twilight; dusk

Duress, which is typically used with under, refers to force or threats meant to make someone do something. It is used especially of unlawful coercion.

// The defense asserts that the defendant’s confession was made under duress.

Finicky describes someone who is very hard to please, or something that requires a lot of care, precision, or attentive effort.

// Although she was a finicky eater as a child, she grew up to become a world-renowned chef famous for her encyclopedic knowledge of global ingredients.

// The latest game in the series boasts amazing graphics but the controls are a little finicky.

To embarrass someone is to make them feel confused and foolish in front of other people.

// Unexpected laughter embarrassed the speaker.

Sonorous is an adjective used in formal speech and writing to describe something that has a deep, loud, and pleasant sound. Sonorous can also mean “producing sound (when struck)” and “imposing or impressive in effect or style.”

// The baritone’s deep, sonorous voice cut through the din of the crowd, the voices immediately halting their conversations to listen more intently.

Repertoire typically refers to a list or supply of plays, songs, dances, etc. that a company or person is prepared to perform,. Repertoire may also refer to a supply of skills or devices, or more broadly to an amount or supply.

// The band's repertoire includes both classic and modern jazz.

// The couple enrolled in a cooking class to expand their culinary repertoire.

// His fashion repertoire includes a rotation of vibrant floral tops.