Kith is an old-fashioned term that refers to familiar friends, neighbors, or relatives. It is often used in the phrase “kith and kin,” which means “friends and relatives.”

// Spending time with kith and kin at the end of the summer is the highlight of our year.

Southpaw is an informal word for someone who is left-handed. It is especially used for a left-handed baseball pitcher or boxer.

// The team’s new pitcher is a southpaw with a wicked knuckleball.

To devolve is to gradually go from an advanced state to a less advanced state, or to pass something, such as responsibility or power, from one person or group to another at a lower level of authority.

// Somehow the debate devolved into a petty competition to see who could get more applause.

// Community leaders hope that the new government will devolve more power to the community itself.

Expeditious is a formal word that is used to describe someone acting in a quick and efficient way, or something done in such a manner.

// Both sides hoped for an expeditious resolution of the dispute.

Rigmarole refers to a long, complicated, and annoying process, description, etc.

// We went through the rigmarole of installing, registering, and activating the software before we found out it wouldn’t work.

To divulge something, especially secret or private information, is to make it known.

// Rather than divulge the baby name we’ve chosen, we’re waiting till the little one arrives to make introductions.

Balmy is an adjective that is often used to describe weather that is warm, calm, and pleasant. It can also be used to describe someone or something (such as an idea) that is foolish or irrational.

// After a long, eight-hour drive, we were rewarded with a mild, balmy evening at our vacation spot on the shores of Lake Erie.

// Despite being a devout Green Bay fan, she finds the idea of attending games in head-to-toe yellow and green body paint to be a bit balmy.

An oxymoron is a combination of words that have opposite or very different meanings, such as "cruel kindness" or "open secret." In broader usage, oxymoron can also refer to something (such as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements.

// Some of Shakespeare's most famous plays are filled with oxymorons such as "loving hate" and "tragical mirth."

Something or someone described as lackadaisical is lacking in interest, enthusiasm, or zest.

// Feeling particularly lackadaisical in the summer heat, they lazily tossed a ball back and forth.

To circumscribe something is to limit its range or activity.

// The president’s decision-making power was carefully circumscribed by the company’s board.

Vacuous is a formal word indicating a lack of thought, intelligence, or substance.

// Despite a lengthy advertising campaign pitching the film as a masterwork, critics ultimately assailed it as dull and filled with self-important characters spouting vacuous platitudes.

In military contexts, salvo refers to various actions involving discharge or release of bombs, rockets, artillery, etc., as well to the bombs or projectiles released in such an action. In general use, salvo is usually used to refer to a strong or sudden verbal attack, but it can also refer to a sudden occurrence of applause, laughter, etc., from many people.

// The troops were driven back by a salvo of cannon fire.

// The editorial's opening salvo was a list of grievances against the mayor's policies.

// The conclusion of her performance was answered with a salvo of cheers and applause.

Gnomic is a formal word that describes something cryptically said or written in few words.

// The painter is notorious for offering terse, gnomic responses to questions about her work that leave interviewers and critics scratching their heads.

Pedagogical is a formal word used to describe things that are of or related to teachers or education.

// The new professor is known for particularly engaging pedagogical methods.

Invidious is a formal word used to describe things that are unpleasant and likely to cause bad feelings in other people. Such bad feelings may include resentment, discontent, animosity, or envy.

// Psychologists caution against drawing invidious comparisons between other people’s lives as portrayed on social media and one’s own.

Torpor is a formal word for a state of inactivity and sluggishness. It can also be used, especially in the context of hibernating and estivating animals, to refer to a state of lowered physiological activity.

// The magazine offers lots of ideas for activities designed to shake off the torpor of a rainy day.

Colloquial is used with words like term and word and expression to describe language that is used in familiar and informal conversation.

// The author can switch from formal academic language to a charmingly colloquial style, depending on the audience and subject of her writing.

To mitigate something is to make it less severe, harmful, or painful.

// One way we can mitigate the impact the construction project will have on residents is to commit to completing it in the allotted time.

Spindrift refers to spray blown from waves during a gale or to fine wind-borne snow or sand.

// Our whale-watching cruise was a whirlwind of flukes, fins, and clinging to the handrails amid the waves and salty blasts of spindrift.

Comely is an adjective with an old-fashioned and literary feel that describes someone or something that has a pleasing appearance, or that is pretty or attractive.

// The newlyweds make quite a comely couple.

To inveigle someone is to persuade them in a clever or deceptive way to do something. Inveigle can also mean “to get something in a clever or deceptive way.”

// According to rumors, the company inveigled employees into signing the agreement.

// Their attempts to inveigle the information from her were, eventually, fruitful.

A kludge is a haphazard or makeshift solution to a problem and especially to a computer or programming problem. // Andy knocked out a hasty kludge to circumvent the glitch until a more robust solution could be developed.

Parochial is a formal word that is usually used in a disapproving way to describe something that is limited in range or scope, as to a narrow region or area.

// For some, college can be an expansive experience that lifts them out of a parochial mindset.

To vituperate someone is to criticize or censure them severely or abusively. Vituperate can also mean "to use harsh condemnatory language."

// They were vituperated for betraying their friends.

Itinerant describes someone who travels from place to place or only stays in a place for a short amount of time. It is used especially for people who travel in a circuit for their profession.

// Being an itinerant musician gave her the opportunity to see the wonders of the world with her own eyes.

Maverick refers to a person who refuses to follow the customs or rules of a group; in other words, a nonconformist.

// Ayo has always been a bit of a maverick in the fashion world, inventing new trends rather than following them.

Stalwart is a formal word used to describe someone or something that is very loyal and dedicated or that is physically or mentally strong.

// He was a stalwart civil rights supporter throughout his political career.

// The football team's stalwart defense only gave up a single field goal in the second half.

Dog days is a plural noun that refers to the hottest time of the year, which in the northern hemisphere is usually between early July and early September. Dog days can also refer to a period of stagnation or inactivity suggestive of hot, sultry weather when it can be difficult to summon the energy required for hard work.

// Spending the day at a swimming hole has always been the perfect relief for the dog days of summer.

Raffish describes people and things that show a careless but usually attractive unconventionality.

// She didn't expect to like him but his raffish charm quickly won her over.

(soccer) a center forward who drops into midfield to draw defenders out of position

Obdurate is a formal word that means "resistant to persuasion." It is usually used to describe someone who is not willing to change their methods or opinions, or something that is not easily altered.

// Though obdurate problems loom, the organization under its new leadership is poised to make real and effective changes.

A bibelot is a small household ornament or decorative object.

// His grandfather set up a table every week at the flea market where he sold all sorts of bibelots and bric-a-brac, from ceramic figurines to tiny blown glass sculptures.

Loquacious means “liking to talk and talking smoothly and easily.

” Someone described as loquacious might also be called wordy (prone to using more words than necessary) or garrulous (tending to talk a lot).

// We were entertained all afternoon by our host’s loquacious parrot and its nonstop script of favored phrases.

The verb yaw when used for the action of a ship, aircraft, spacecraft, or projectile means "to move to the left or right especially in an uncontrolled manner." More broadly, yaw is used as a synonym of alternate to mean "to change from one to another repeatedly."

 // The rogue wave hit the vessel, and the ship yawed hard to the right.

// The album yaws from soulful ballad to up-tempo pop hit and back again.

Someone or something described as implacable is not capable of being appeased or changed.

// The project faced implacable resistance from community members, and is now off the table.

Xeric means "characterized by, relating to, or requiring only a small amount of moisture."

// She is a botanist who primarily studies xeric plants.

Effulgence means “radiant splendor” or “brilliance.”

// Guests oohed and aahed at the sudden effulgence of the pagoda, as the last of its hundreds of candles were finally lit.

Tacit is a formal adjective used to describe something that is expressed or understood without being directly stated.

// As roommates, we had a tacit agreement that we would never pry into each other’s affairs.

Gambol means "to run or jump in a lively way." It is used as a synonym of frolic.

// There are few sights more charming than that of lambs gamboling about in a meadow in full flower.

Perfunctory is a formal word used to describe something that is done without energy or enthusiasm because of habit or because it is expected.

// By the time my favorite band got to the last stop of the tour, their performance felt perfunctory.

truth in speech or statement; truthfulness 

Someone or something described as sagacious has or shows an ability to understand difficult ideas and situations and to make good decisions. Sagacious may be considered a formal synonym of wise and discerning.

// Student reviews paint the writing professor as a sagacious mentor and a compassionate teacher.