A fiasco is a complete failure or disaster.

// The entire fiasco could have been avoided if they'd simply followed the instructions.

Interminable describes things that have or seem to have no end, especially because they continue for a very long time.

// The family played games to pass the time during the interminable wait for their delayed flight.

Something, such as a plaque, statue, or parade, is said to commemorate an event, person, etc. when it serves as a memorial; it exists or is done in order to recall the event or person. A person or group commemorates an event, person, etc. by doing something special in order to remember and honor that event or person.

// The plaque commemorates the battle that took place here 200 years ago.

// Each year on this date we commemorate our ancestors with a special ceremony.

A bastion is a place or system in which something (such as an idea) is protected and continues to survive.

// The restaurant is a bastion of the region’s ancient culinary traditions.

Someone may be described as voluble if they are talking a lot in a rapid, energetic way.

// Bri knew something was bothering her normally voluble friend when he was reluctant to talk about his day.

Chagrin refers to a feeling of frustration or annoyance caused by failure or disappointment.

// I decided to take a gap year to the chagrin of my parents.

Antithetical typically describes something that is in direct and unambiguous opposition to another thing. It is often used with to.

// The district's new policy is fundamentally antithetical to the school's values.

a person who is extremely neat about their surroundings or appearance

Junket refers to a trip that is paid for by someone else, such as a promotional trip made at another's expense, or an official's trip made at public expense.

// The cast of the widely-acclaimed movie is making press junkets to major cities.

Impervious describes that which does not allow something (such as water or light) to enter or pass through. It is also used formally to mean “not bothered or affected by something.” Both senses of impervious are usually used with to.

// The material is impervious to water.

// The mayor seems impervious to criticism.

Something described as apotropaic is designed or intended to avert evil.

// The etchings are believed to be associated with ancient apotropaic rituals.

Uncanny is typically used to describe something that is strange or unusual in a way that is surprising or difficult to understand. It can also describe something that seems to have a supernatural character or origin.

// The child has an uncanny ability to recognize streets and locations she's seen only once or twice before.

// The lights suddenly flickered, and we were both overcome with an eerie, uncanny feeling.

Modicum is a formal word that means “a small amount.” It is almost always used with of.

// The band enjoyed a modicum of success in the early 2010s before becoming an international sensation.

Bumptious describes people who are rudely and often noisily confident or over-assertive. It can also be applied to actions or behaviors that show this same attitude.

// Our host apologized for the bumptious party guest who caused a scene before being asked to leave.

Risible is a formal word used disapprovingly to describe things that deserve to be mocked or laughed at because they are absurd or unreasonable.

// Although the teachers derided the students’ slang as risible nonsense, the same had been said about their own generation’s lingo.

A ziggurat is an ancient Mesopotamian temple consisting of a pyramidal structure built in successive stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top. The word ziggurat is also sometimes used for a similarly shaped structure.

// Ancient ziggurats were always built with a core of mud brick and an exterior covered with baked brick. They had no internal chambers and were usually square or rectangular.

Something described as convoluted is very complicated and difficult to understand, or has many curves and turns.

// The speaker’s argument was so convoluted that most of the audience had trouble determining whether they were for or against the new policy.

// The route from the airport to the village was long and convoluted.

Argot is language particular to a specific group. It can mean a kind of slang, a technical language or a code. In high school, only those who spend their time studying computer manuals could understand the argot of the computer lab kids.

Alacrity refers to a quick and cheerful readiness to do something.

// She accepted the invitation to go on the trip with an alacrity that surprised her parents, who had assumed she wouldn’t be interested.

Decimate can mean both “to destroy a large number of (plants, animals, people, etc.)” or “to severely damage or destroy a large part of (something).”

// The bay’s lobsters have been decimated by disease.

// Budget cuts have decimated public services throughout the state.

Travail is a formal word, usually used in the plural, that refers to a difficult experience or situation.

// The book describes the political travails of the governor during her first year in office.

Ostensible is used to describe something that seems or is said to be true or real, but is possibly not true or real. In other words, it is plausible rather than demonstrably true or real.

// The ostensible purpose of a filibuster is to extend debate, but in reality, it is used to delay or prevent action.

Slough is a formal verb used for the action of getting rid of something unwanted. It is usually used with off. Slough can also mean "to lose a dead layer of (skin)" or "to become shed or cast off."

// The editorial urges the mayor not to slough off responsibility for the errors in the report.

// The exfoliating cleanser promises to gently slough away dead skin cells.

Bodacious is used as an informal synonym of remarkable and noteworthy, as well as sexy and voluptuous. In some dialects of the Southern and Midland US, bodacious is used in its oldest meaning: "outright, unmistakable."

// The bodacious decor of the boutique hotel is intended to appeal to the young and the hip.

In Christian theology, Resurrection (typically capitalized in this use) refers to the event in which Jesus Christ returned to life after his death. In general contexts, resurrection refers to the act of causing something that had ended or been forgotten or lost to exist again, to be used again, etc.

// Church members look forward to celebrating the Resurrection every Easter.

// The community applauded the resurrection of the commuter rail system.

To collaborate is to work with another person or group in order to do or achieve something. Collaborate can also be used disapprovingly to mean "to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country and especially an enemy who occupies it during a war."

// Several research teams from various countries collaborated closely on the project.

// They were suspected of collaborating with enemy forces.

Adversity refers to a difficult situation or condition, or to a state of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune.

// The soldiers were honored for acting with courage in the face of adversity.

// The team overcame many adversities on their way to summiting the mountain.

Druthers is an informal word that refers to the power or opportunity to choose—in other words, free choice. It is used especially in the phrase if one had one's druthers.

// If I had my druthers, I would travel all the time.

Gustatory describes things that are related to or associated with eating or the sense of taste.

// The deli has been widely praised for its astonishing variety of gustatory delights.

Kitsch refers to something that appeals to popular or lowbrow taste and is often cheap or tacky. Kitsch also refers to a tacky or lowbrow quality or condition.

// The restaurant is decorated with 1950s furniture and kitsch from old TV shows.

// The critic opined that the movie, despite its lofty ambitions, at times descended into kitsch.

Vouchsafe is a formal and old-fashioned word meaning "to give (something) to someone as a promise or a privilege."

// He vouchsafed the secret to only a few of his closest allies.

1. make strong or stronger

2. add nutrients to

3. add alcohol to (beverages)

4. enclose by or as if by walls around a stronghold

5. prepare oneself for a military confrontation

Something described as malleable is capable of being stretched or bent into different shapes, or capable of being easily changed or influenced.

// Let the cookie dough thaw until it becomes malleable enough to thinly roll.

// Students' minds are malleable and they need positive influences and guidance.

Hew is commonly used with to to mean "to conform to or adhere to (something)." Hew on its own has several meanings having to do with cutting or shaping with a sharp tool, such as an ax. Both hewed and hewn are past participles of hew. // The senator has always hewed closely to the party line.

// The explorers hewed logs for building cabins.

an ancient Mesopotamian temple tower consisting of a lofty pyramidal structure built in successive stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top

Snark is an informal word that refers to an attitude or expression of mocking irreverence and sarcasm.

// The stand-up comedian’s set was full of snark about current events, which had the audience rolling in the aisles.

A cynosure is a person or thing that attracts a lot of attention or interest. As a proper noun, Cynosure may refer to the North Star or its constellation Ursa Minor.

// He was the cynosure of all eyes as he walked into the room.

Penchant refers to a strong liking for something, or a strong tendency to behave in a certain way. It is usually used with for.

// My penchant for mathematics helped me become an engineer.

Untoward is a formal word that describes something that is improper or inappropriate, or that is adverse or unfavorable.

// The medication is safe and effective, with no known untoward side effects.

// The investigation found that nothing untoward had happened at the event.