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.