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.

anything of immense size and power

To insinuate something (especially something bad or insulting) is to say it in a subtle or indirect way. Insinuate can also mean "to gradually make (oneself) a part of a group, a person's life, etc., often by behaving in a dishonest way."

// When the teacher questioned the students about their identical test answers, they knew she was insinuating that they had cheated.

// They have managed to insinuate themselves into the city's most influential social circles.

Behest can refer either to an authoritative order or an urgent prompting.

// The committee met again at the senator’s behest.

// At the behest of her friends, Marcie read the poem aloud.

To mollify someone is to make them less angry. Mollify can also mean "to reduce in intensity."

// The celebrity's statement was intended to mollify critics.

// Time mollified her anger.

Something described as trivial is of little worth or importance.

// Although her parents initially dismissed her love of pop music as a trivial matter, it became clear as she applied to colleges with strong popular music programs that much of her life was going to be dedicated to it.

Something described as trivial is of little worth or importance.

// Although her parents initially dismissed her love of pop music as a trivial matter, it became clear as she applied to colleges with strong popular music programs that much of her life was going to be dedicated to it.

Epitome means "a perfect example." It is usually used in the phrase "the epitome of," as in "the epitome of elegance."

// In his tailored suit and fashionable haircut, he was the very epitome of style.

Incisive means "impressively direct and decisive." It is generally applied to either something communicated in a way that is very clear and direct, or to a person who is able to explain difficult ideas clearly and confidently.

// The columnist is known for her incisive commentary on local politics.

Diminution is a formal word that refers to the act or process of becoming less.

// The company is committed to seeing that efforts to scale up production do not result in a diminution of quality.

Nebulous is a formal word used to describe something that is difficult to see, understand, or describe—in other words, something indistinct or vague.

// A lot of philosophical concepts can seem nebulous at first, but a good instructor can cut through the jargon and help students see how they apply to day-to-day life.

Undulant describes things that rise and fall in waves, or things that have a wavy form, outline, or surface.

// The exhibit featured a painting with beautiful green strokes that resembled undulant hills.

Something may be described as flagrant if it is conspicuously bad—that is, too bad to be ignored.

// In a flagrant violation of the family's code of ethics, someone finished the ice cream and left the empty container in the freezer.

To validate something is to show that it is real or correct. Validate can also mean “to state or show that something is legal or official,” “to put a mark on something to show that it has been checked and is official or accepted,” and “to show that someone’s feelings, opinions, etc., are fair and reasonable.”

// The company’s claims about its latest product are yet to be validated.

// You can get discounted parking by having your parking garage ticket validated at the museum's ticket desk.

// The decline in sales only validated our concerns about the menu changes.

Something described as salient is very important or noticeable.

// The assignment was to write down the most salient points made in the article.

// One salient feature of the band's music is the variety of different genres it incorporates into a singular sound.

A euphemism is a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive.

// The HR department advises using the euphemism “let go” instead of saying that someone was fired.

Ostentatious describes someone or something that displays wealth, knowledge, power, etc., in a way that is meant to attract attention, admiration, or envy. Things that are ostentatious tend to stand out as overly elaborate or conspicuous.

// The resort town is famous for its extravagantly expensive summer homes, which some tourists view as impressive and others merely ostentatious.