To elucidate something is to make it clear or easy to understand.

// The writer elucidates complex medical findings for a general audience.

Derelict is a formal word that describes something that is no longer cared for or used by anyone. It can also describe someone who is negligent or who fails to do what needs to be done.

// The kids made sure to stay away from the spooky derelict houses in the neighborhood on Halloween.

// The officers were charged with being derelict in their duty.

Something described as flippant, such as behavior or a comment, is lacking in proper respect or seriousness.

// The celebrity made a flippant remark when questioned about the scandal.

A hobbit is a member of a fictitious peaceful and friendly race of small humanlike creatures that dwell underground.

// The story was filled with all sorts of imaginary people, including hobbits.

To garble something, such as a word, name, message, etc., is to cause it to be unclear or distorted. This type of garbling can be the result of an accident, ignorance, or a transmission error. Garble can also mean "to so alter or distort as to create a wrong impression or change the meaning."

// I was so nervous I garbled their names.

To permeate is to pass or spread through something.

// The scent of lilacs permeated the room.

// A feeling of anxiety permeated the office as everyone rushed to meet the deadline.

Vernal is a formal adjective that describes something that relates to or occurs in the spring.

// It is such a relief after a long, cold winter to see the trees and flowers in their glorious vernal bloom.

A juggernaut is something (such as a force, campaign, or movement) that is extremely large and powerful and cannot be stopped.

// The team is a juggernaut this year, winning more games than any team before it has.

To admonish someone is to express warning or disapproval towards them, or to urge them to do something.

// We were admonished for arriving late to the meeting.

// They were admonished to take advantage of the opportunity.

A limerick is a humorous rhyming poem of five lines.

// My limerick received a prize for the funniest poem at the open mic night.

To bamboozle someone is to deceive, trick, or confuse them.

// The salesperson bamboozled us into getting a more expensive item than we had planned to buy.

Curfew refers to a law or order that requires people to be indoors after a certain time at night, as well as to the period of time when such an order or law is in effect. Chiefly in the United States, curfew is also used to refer to the time set by a parent or caregiver at which a child has to be back home after going out.

// No one is allowed on the streets during the curfew.

// Lana has a 10 o’clock curfew, so we need to bring her home right after the movie.

Something described as multifarious has great diversity or variety, or is made up of many and various kinds of things. Multifarious is a formal word and a synonym of diverse.

// He participated in multifarious activities throughout college.

Quark is a word used in physics to refer to any one of several types of very small particles that make up matter.

// Quarks, which combine together to form protons and neutrons, come in six types, or flavors: up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom.

Imperturbable describes someone or something marked by extreme calm; such a person or thing is very hard to disturb or upset.

// The imperturbable captain did not panic when the boat sailed into the path of a violent storm.

// Nothing disrupted the contestant's imperturbable focus.

An emollient is something, such as a lotion, that softens or soothes.

// She keeps a number of oils in the bathroom—argan, almond, and coconut—to use as emollients.

Draconian describes something (often a law, policy, restriction, etc.) that is very severe or cruel.

// The editorial criticizes the draconian measures being taken by city hall to rein in spending.

Transpire is a formal verb that means “to happen,” or in other words “to take place or occur.” It can also mean “to come to light” or “to become known,” as in “It transpired that they had met previously.” In botany, to transpire is to give off or exude watery vapor especially from the surfaces of leaves.

// The monument will ensure that posterity will not soon forget the historic events that transpired on that day.

A factoid is a brief and usually unimportant or trivial fact. Factoid may also refer to an invented fact believed to be true because it appears in print.

// The book is really just a collection of interesting factoids.

To doff a hat or other piece of clothing is to take it off.

// They doffed their coats when they came inside the house.

An ignoramus is an utterly ignorant or stupid person.

// I can't believe they let an ignoramus like that run the company.

Quip can refer to a clever, usually taunting remark, or to a witty or funny observation or response usually made on the spur of the moment.

To tousle something is to dishevel it—that is, to make it untidy or unkempt. Tousle is usually, though not always, used specifically when a person’s hair is being so treated.

// Vic stood in front of the mirror and tousled his hair, trying to get a cool, disheveled look.

certainly

Jabberwocky refers to meaningless speech or writing.

// When the character gets angry or flustered, she talks in a sort of agitated jabberwocky that is really quite comical.

To flounder is to struggle, whether that struggle is about moving or obtaining footing (as in “horses floundering through deep snow”) or about knowing what to do or say.

// Caught off-guard by the reporter’s question, the mayor floundered for a few moments before remembering the talking points he had rehearsed.

To pertain to someone or something is to relate, refer, or have a connection to that person or thing.

// That law pertains only to people who live in this state.

migratory

Someone or something described as gallant is very courageous and brave. Gallant is also sometimes used to mean “large and impressive” (as in “a gallant ship”), or to describe someone who has or shows politeness and respect for women.

// Though they failed to reach the summit, the mountaineering team made a gallant attempt.

 a massive inexorable force that seems to crush, have power over or influence everything in its way

To ruminate is to think carefully and deeply about something.

// We ruminated over the implications of our decision.

Canard refers to a false report or story, or to a belief or rumor that isn't true. It can also refer to a kind of airplane as well as to a kind of small airfoil.

// The book unfortunately repeats some of history's oldest canards.

Sarcophagus refers to a coffin, and specifically a stone coffin.

// The crypt under the abbey church contains the sarcophagus of the monastery's founding abbot.

To presage something is to give or be a sign that it will happen in the future. Presage is a formal synonym for foreshadowing, foretelling, and prediction.

// The sudden gloom and ominous dark clouds clearly presaged a nasty storm.

Disputatious is a formal word used to describe someone who often disagrees and argues with other people (in other words, someone inclined to dispute). It can also describe something marked or characterized by arguments or controversies, or something that provokes debate or controversy.

// The podcast is hosted by a disputatious pair whose sparring has drawn legions of listeners.

To encroach is to gradually move or go into an area that is beyond the usual or desired limits, or to gradually take or begin to use or affect something that belongs to, or is being used by, someone else. Encroach is often followed by on or upon.

// Conflicts between people and bears increase as humans continue to encroach on bear territory.

// They argue that the law would encroach on states' authority.

An audition is a short performance to show the talents of someone (such as an actor or a musician) who is being considered for a role in a play, a position in an orchestra, etc.

// Auditions will be held next week for the spring musical.

// She had an audition for a small part but ended up landing a starring role.

Sward is a literary word that refers to an area of land covered with grass.

// The hikers emerged from the forest to find a green sward dotted with yellow and purple flowers stretching out before them.