contentious -- quarrelsome, belligerent or pugnacious
unrequited -- not returned or reciprocated
allusion -- the act of alluding or hinting at something
consternation -- bewilderment, dismay or amazement
necromancy -- black magic
nefarious -- very wicked
nemesis -- someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin
nettle -- irritate, annoy, vex
niggardly -- meanly, stingy, parsimonious
niggle -- spend too much time on minor points..niggle over details
nihilist -- one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and
existencemeaningless; absolute skeptic;revolutionary terrorist
ninnyhammer -- a fool, simpleton
nonchalance -- indifference, lack of concern
nodescript -- ordinary looking
nugatory -- worthless, futile, unimportant
nonpareil -- 1. (adj.) not having any equal
2. (n.) someone or something that has no equal
nincompoop -- a person who is silly and weak-minded, a simpleton, a ninnyhammer
nosegay -- a small bunch of flowers
obdurate -- stubborn, obstinate
obeisance -- bow to show respect....The nobles gave obeisance to the new king
obliterate -- destroy completely; wipe out
obloquy -- slander; disgrace; infamy; reproach; revilement
obsequy -- funeral ceremony
oblivious -- unmindful, unconscious, unaware....She was oblivious of his
admiration.
forgetful ...oblivious of my former failure.
oblivion -- the state of being completely forgotten or unknown...a former movie
star now in oblivion.
obsequious -- obedient; dutiful; slavishly attentive; servile ...obsequious
servants.
obtuse -- blunt; not sharp; stupid; slow in understanding
obstreperous -- noisy, clamorous, or boisterous....obstreperous children
obviate -- to anticipate and prevent or eliminate by effective measures; render
unnecessary: .......to obviate the risk of serious injury.
occlude -- shut, close, obstruct
occult -- mysterious; secret;
odious -- arousing strong dislike; hateful(causing hatred); vile
abominable, objectionable, despicable, execrable, loathsome,
repellent, repulsive, detestable, abhorrent, repugnant
odium -- intense hatred or dislike
ogle -- look at amorously
ominous -- threatening; of an evil omen
onus -- burden; responsibility
opalescent -- iridescent; lustrous; like an opal;
opprobrium -- infamy; disgrace arising from shameful conduct; vili?cation(slander);
scorn; contempt
opulence -- extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance;
ostensible -- outwardly appearing as such; professed; pretended: .....an ostensible
cheerfulness concealing sadness.
ostentatious -- showy
oust -- expel; drive out; force out; banish; evict
outmoded -- no longer in fashion or use; no longer stylish
outstrip -- outrun; surpass; outdo
overweening -- arrogant; presumptuous
overbearing -- bossy; domineering and arrogant;
overt -- plain, open, public...overt hostility towards women hints him being a
misogynist..
covert -- concealed, secret, disguised
overwrought -- nervous or excited; extremely agitated; extremely fatigued or over-
worked
waffle -- speak equivocally about an issue
waft -- move gently (in air or in seas) by wind or waves
waggish -- humorous, mischievous, tricky, jocund, jocose
waif -- homeless child or animal...waifs and strays
waive -- give up temporarily, yield
wallow -- 1. roll in mud, water, snow
2. to live self-indulgently, luxuriate, revel...to wallow in luxury
3. to flounder about...boat wallowed toward port
wanderlust -- a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about
wangle -- 1. achieve by cleverness or trick, wiggle out
2. to falsify or manipulate for dishonest ends...to wangle business
records
wanton -- unrestrained, gratuitously cruel, willfully malicious, unchaste, sexually
improper, promiscuous...wanton spending/killing
warp -- twist out of shape...Prejudice warps the mind
wax -- increase gradually
wane -- decrease in size or strength
waylay -- to intercept or attack from ambush, as in order to rob, seize, or slay
ambush -- 1.(N) an act or instance of lying concealed so as to attack by
surprise...The highwaymen waited in ambush...They fired from ambush
2.(V) to attack from ambush
wean -- 1. to accustom (a child or young animal) to food other than its mother's
milk
2. to withdraw (a person, the affections, one's dependency, etc.) from
some object, habit, form of enjoyment...wean oneself from cigarettes
3. wean on -- to accustom to...brilliant student weaned on the classics
weather -- 1. to expose to the weather...weather lumber before marketing it
2. to discolor, disintegrate, or affect injuriously, as by the
effects of weather
3. to bear up against and come safely through...to weather a severe
illness
welt -- 1.(V) to beat soundly, as with a stick or whip
2.(N) a ridge or wale on the surface of the body, as from a blow of a
stick or whip
3.(N) a blow producing such a ridge or wale
welter -- 1.(N) confusion, turmoil, confused mass, bewildering jumble...welter of
data...the welter that followed the surprise attack
2.(V) to roll, writhe, or tumble about, wallow...victims weltered in
their blood
whet -- 1. to sharpen (a knife, tool, etc.) by grinding or friction
2. to make keen or eager, stimulate...to whet the appetite...to whet
the curiosity
whit -- small amount, smallest speck...not a whit of wisdom..
whittle -- pare
wheedle -- deceive
wince -- move back suddenly, shrink back, flinch
wispy -- nebulous, slender, slight, frail, barely discernible
wistful -- characterized by melancholy, longing, yearning
musing -- 1.(adj) absorbed in thought...the musing saints..
2.(N) contemplation, reflection...blog for our latest musings
muse -- (V) to think or meditate in silence, cogitate, ruminate, ponder,
contemplate
wizened -- shriveled, withered
wrangle -- quarrel noisily
wreak -- inflict...wreak one's vengeance on...wreak devastation in such a fragile
environment
wry -- produced by a distortion or lopsidedness of the facial features...a wry grin
yen -- strong desire, longing, urge...yen for travel
yoke -- join together, unite
yore -- time long past...in the days of yore
zany -- 1.(V) comic, crazy
2.(N) clown, comical person
zealot -- one who is zealous, fanatic
zephyr -- gentle breeze
