Cavil Charlatan Oscillate Askance

Inured Decimate Reconnoiter Forgo

Shambles Benign Fraught Foibles

Rebuff Peremptory Luminous Attenuate

Penitent Obtuse Obsequious Sporadic

Commanding nature that

allows for no opportunity

for debate, denial, or

refusal

- Dictatorial, resolute

- High-handed, determined

PEREMPTORY

To swing back and forth

with a steady rhythm; to

fluctuate or waver

- Vacillate or turn

OSCILLATE

To find fault in a petty way,

carp; a trivial objection or

criticism

- nitpick, quibble

CAVIL

A weak point, failing, or

minor flaw

- shortcoming, defect, quirk

FOIBLE

To toughen, harden, or

render used to something

by long subjection or

exposure

- accustom, acclimate

INURE

Blunt, not coming to a

point; slow or dull in

understanding

Not causing a sharp

impression; 90-180°

- stupid, dumb, dull-

wittedOBTUSE

Full of or loaded with;

accompanied by

- Charged with; abundant

FRAUGHT

Marked by slavish

attentiveness; excessively

submissive, often for purely

self-interested reasons

- fawning, servile, sycophant

OBSEQUIOUS

To do without, abstain

from; give up

- Refrain from, renounce

FORGO

To snub, to repel, to drive

away; a curt rejection

- spurn, repulse, reject

REBUFF

With suspicion, distrust, or

disapproval

- skeptically, suspiciously

ASKANCE

Gentle, kind; forgiving,

understanding; having a

favorable or beneficial

effect

- Not malignant

- Benevolent, harmless

BENIGN

A slaughterhouse; a place

of mass bloodshed; a

state of complete disorder

and confusion

- mess

SHAMBLES

One who feigns knowledge

or ability; a pretender,

imposter, or quack; to

dissemble

- fraud, mountebank

CHARLATAN

Occurring at irregular

intervals, having no set

plan or order

- intermittent, spasmodic

SPORADIC

Emitting or reflecting light,

glowing, illuminating

- radiant, bright, refulgent

LUMINOUS

To kill or destroy a large

part of

- ravage, devastate

DECIMATE

To engage in

reconnaissance; to make

a preliminary inspection

- scout

RECONNOITER

Regretful for one’s

mistakes; one who is very

sorry for wrongdoing

- remorseful, rueful, sorry

PENITENT

To make thin or slender; to

weaken or lessen in force,

intensity, or value

- Thin out, dilute, water

down

ATTENUATE