To knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is, especially as a way of showing contempt or deprecation.
fulsome
[ˈfu̇l-səm]
Offensive to good taste, tactless, overzealous, excessive.
slander
[ˈslan-dər]
A false or unsupported, malicious statement (spoken, not written), especially one which is injurious to a person's reputation; the making of such a statement.
misdeed
[ˌmis-ˈdēd]
That which was done that should not have been, ranging from any sin or moral offense to various degrees of crime.
incalculable
[(ˌ)in-ˈkal-kyə-lə-bəl]
Too great or numerous to be computed.
utter
[ˈə-tər]
to say something or to make a sound with your voice.
pollster
[ˈpōl-stər]
A professional who conducts or analyzes opinion polls.
triumph
[ˈtrī-əm(p)f]
A conclusive success following an effort, conflict, or confrontation of obstacles; victory; conquest.
ballot
[ˈba-lət]
Originally, a small ball placed in a container to cast a vote; now, by extension, a piece of paper or card used for this purpose, or some other means used to signify a vote.
apologist
[ə-ˈpä-lə-jist]
a person who supports a particular belief or political system.
candidacy
[ˈkan-də-də-sē]
The state of being a candidate.
cushy
[ˈku̇-shē]
Easy, making few demands, comfortable.
fortune
[ˈfȯr-chən]
Destiny, especially favorable.
aspirant
[ˈa-sp(ə-)rənt]
someone who very much wants to achieve something.
provision
[prə-ˈvi-zhən]
a statement within an agreement or a law that a particular thing must happen or be done, especially before another can happen or be done.
sheer
[ˈshir]
used to emphasize how very great, important, or powerful a quality or feeling is; nothing except.
chiffon
[shi-ˈfän]
used to refer to food that is made light by adding the clear part of eggs that have been beaten.
airy
[ˈer-ē]
delicate, as if full of air.
flaky
[ˈflā-kē]
Consisting of flakes or of small, loose masses; lying, or cleaving off, in flakes or layers; flakelike.
crust
[ˈkrəst]
the outside layer of a loaf of bread.
gustatory
[ˈgə-stə-ˌtȯr-ē]
Of, or relating to, the sense of taste.
suspense
[sə-ˈspen(t)s]
the feeling of excitement or nervousness that you have when you are waiting for something to happen and are uncertain about what it is going to be.
ravenous
[ˈra-və-nəs]
Very hungry.
ingratiating
[in-ˈgrā-shē-ˌā-tiŋ]
To bring oneself into favour with someone by flattering or trying to please him or her.
servile
[ˈsər-vəl]
too eager to serve and please someone else in a way that shows you do not have much respect for yourself.
accentuate
[ik-ˈsen(t)-shə-ˌwāt]
to emphasize a particular feature of something or to make something more noticeable.
pastry
[ˈpā-strē]
A baked food item made from flour and fat pastes such as pie crust; also tarts, bear claws, napoleons, puff pastries, etc.
marshmallow
[ˈmärsh-ˌme-lō]
a soft, sweet, pink or white food.
morale
[mə-ˈral]
the mental and emotional condition (as of enthusiasm, confidence, or loyalty) of an individual or group with regard to the function or tasks at hand.
affirmative
[ə-ˈfər-mə-tiv]
Yes; an answer that shows agreement or acceptance.
disclosure
[dis-ˈklō-zhər]
The act of revealing something.
penetrating
[ˈpe-nə-ˌtrā-tiŋ]
used to describe a way of looking at someone in which you seem to know what they are thinking.
neurotic
[nu̇-ˈrä-tik]
A person who has a neurosis
insure
[in-ˈshu̇r]
To make a pledge to (someone); to promise, guarantee (someone of something); to assure.
court
[ˈkȯrt]
to try to gain.
closet
[ˈklä-zət]
used to refer to a belief, activity, or feeling that is kept secret from the public, usually because you are frightened of the results of it becoming known.
embezzle
[im-ˈbe-zəl]
To steal or misappropriate money that one has been trusted with, especially to steal money from the organisation for which one works.
notorious
[nō-ˈtȯr-ē-əs]
Widely known, especially for something negative; infamous.
philander
[fə-ˈlan-dər]
to have casual or illicit sex with a person or with many people.
cliché
[klē-ˈshā]
Something, most often a phrase or expression, that is overused or used outside its original context, so that its original impact and meaning are lost. A trite saying; a platitude.
transgression
[tran(t)s-ˈgre-shən]
A violation of a law, duty or commandment.
bitter
[ˈbi-tər]
Someone who is bitter is angry and unhappy because they cannot forget bad things that happened in the past.
grace
[ˈgrās]
Charming, pleasing qualities.
lavish
[ˈla-vish]
To give out extremely generously; to squander.
justifiably
[ˈjə-stə-ˌfī-ə-blē]
in a way for which there is a good reason.
devoid
[di-ˈvȯid]
to lack or be without something that is necessary or usual.
frailty
[ˈfrāl-tē]
The condition quality of being frail, physically, mentally, or morally; weakness of resolution; liability to be deceived or seduced.
helping
[ˈhel-piŋ]
an amount of food given to one person at one time.
carbohydrate
[ˌkär-bō-ˈhī-ˌdrāt]
(nutrition) A sugar, starch, or cellulose that is a food source of energy for an animal or plant.
smack
[ˈsmak]
to hit someone or something forcefully with the flat inside part of your hand.
provocation
[ˌprä-və-ˈkā-shən]
The act of provoking, inciting or annoying someone into doing something
callous
[ˈka-ləs]
Emotionally hardened; unfeeling and indifferent to the suffering/feelings of others.
centerfold
[ˈsen-tər-ˌfōld]
The single sheet of paper that forms the middle two pages of a magazine or other publication.