Praxis is a formal word referring to the practical application of a theory—in other words, what one does to act on a theory (such as feminist theory) to which one is committed. Praxis is also used synonymously with action or practice to refer to the exercise of an art, science, or skill, or to customary conduct within a given sphere.

// Many gardeners promote composting as being good environmental praxis.

To lambaste something or someone is to criticize them very harshly. Lambaste is also sometimes used as a synonym of beat meaning “to assault.”

// The coach lambasted the team for its poor play.

Ethereal means "of or relating to the regions beyond the earth" or "of or resembling heaven." It can also mean "lacking material substance" and "relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical ether."

// The windows give the church an ethereal glow.

// The images of the underwater cave show a strange world of ethereal beauty.

Shambles refers to a place or state in which there is great confusion, disorder, or destruction.

// The house party they had over the weekend left the entire living room in shambles.

To flout something, such as a law or rule, is to treat it with contemptuous disregard. A teenager flouting a curfew, for example, will not hide the fact that they are out past the time they are required to be home.

// The court found that the company had continued to flout the law despite multiple warnings.

In general use, auxiliary describes someone or something available to provide extra help, power, etc., when it is needed. In linguistics, an auxiliary verb (also called a “helping verb”) is used with another verb to do things like show a verb’s tense or form a question. In nautical contexts, auxiliary can describe a sailboat equipped with a supplementary inboard engine, or a vessel that provides supplementary assistance to other ships.

// The auditorium has an auxiliary cooling system used only on particularly sweltering days.

// “Are” in “They are arriving soon” is an auxiliary verb.

To genuflect is to kneel, or nearly kneel, on one knee and then rise again in worship or as an act of respect. In figurative use, genuflect means "to be humbly obedient or respectful."

// Churchgoers genuflected before the altar.

// The politician was criticized for genuflecting to corporate interests.

Pedantic describes someone or something that exhibits the characteristics of a pedant—that is, a person who often annoys other people by correcting small errors and giving too much attention to minor details. Pedantic also means “narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned.”

// Their habit of reminding fellow birders that the bird is called a “Canada goose” and not a “Canadian goose” came across as pedantic rather than helpful. // Several attendees walked out of the lecture due to the pedantic nature of the presentation.

Knowledge is the eye of desire and can become the pilot of the soul.

When used with into, dragoon means "to force or convince someone to do something." Without into, dragoon means "to subjugate or persecute by harsh use of troops."

// Employees complained that they had been dragooned into working overtime without adequate compensation.