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.

bad handwriting; poor penmanship

To atone for something is to make amends for it—that is, to do something good as a way of showing that you are sorry about, or have remorse for, a mistake, bad behavior, etc.

// The novel opens with an act of cruelty and then traces the thoughts and actions of those responsible as they try to atone for it.

Impetuous is a synonym of impulsive that describes a person who is acting without thought, or an action that is done without thought.

// That impetuous decision could've cost us everything we worked so hard for.

a miniature tree or shrub grown in a container and shaped through pruning

To obliterate something is to destroy it completely so that nothing is left, to destroy utterly all trace, indication, or significance of it. It can also mean "to remove utterly from recognition or memory."

// The wave completely obliterated our sandcastles.

// The October snowstorm obliterated our hopes for a mild autumn.

Gesundheit is an interjection used to wish good health to one who has just sneezed.

// I sneezed three times in a row, and my coworker called "gesundheit!" from the next cubicle.

a government official who investigates complaints from citizens about other officials or agencies

Anomaly is a somewhat formal word that refers to something that is remarkable in its deviation from what is usual or expected.

// Last summer’s storm was an anomaly for this area.

// We were unable to explain the anomalies in the test results.

To brandish something, such as a weapon, is to wave or swing it in a threatening or excited manner.

// Squeals of laughter erupted as three children brandishing squirt guns rounded the corner of the house.

1. all future generations

2. all of the offspring of a given ancestor

Lugubrious is a formal word used chiefly to describe something very sad, especially in an exaggerated or insincere way. The word can also describe something that shows or expresses gloom.

// The movie’s stunning cinematography could not make up for the lugubrious and plodding plot.

// The lugubrious mood of the room shifted when the voices of children playing erupted outside the window.

Enmity is a formal word that refers to a very deep unfriendly feeling, such as hatred or ill will, that is often felt mutually.

// Having to collaborate on the project only increased the bitter enmity between the two coworkers, who had never gotten along.

Rationale refers to an explanation or reason for something said or done. It is often used with for, behind, or of.

// City council members who oppose the zoning change should be ready to explain their rationale for voting against it.

// She’s explained the rationale behind her early retirement.

Jovial describes people as well as moods, attitudes, etc., that are cheerful and jolly. 

// The audience was in a jovial mood as the headlining comedian walked onto the stage.

a lively Polish dance with a moderately quick triple meter

Perpetuity refers to a state of continuing forever or for a very long time.

// The property will be passed on from generation to generation in perpetuity.  

To flummox someone is to confuse or perplex them. // The actor was easily flummoxed by last-minute changes to the script.

Zoomorphic describes things that have the form of an animal.

// The local bakery is famous for its wide variety of zoomorphic treats, from “hedgehog” dinner rolls to delicate, swan-shaped pastries.

The term griot refers to any of a class of musician-entertainers of western Africa whose performances include tribal histories and genealogies. The term is also used broadly to refer to a storyteller.

// Tracing her family lineage back to West African griots inspired the singer to focus on storytelling through her music.