| brusque |
impolitely abrupt in speech or actions; curt. |
| caustic |
bitingly critical. |
| circumstantial |
relevant but not essential; incidental. |
| disparity |
the condition or an instance of being unlike, unequal, or of different kinds; difference. |
| libel |
in law, written or printed matter that is false, damages a person's reputation or material well-being, and arises from malice or extreme negligence. |
| naturalistic |
exhibiting or pertaining to naturalism. |
| penitent |
feeling or showing sorrow or regret for having done wrong. |
| placate |
to calm down and make less angry, especially by appeasement; conciliate; pacify. |
| profane |
irreverent or irreligious; blasphemous. |
| spate |
a sudden rush, outpouring, or flood. |
| statute |
a law made by a legislature, as opposed to one established by the courts. |
| tensile |
of or relating to tension. |
| tentative |
not yet fully developed or definitely decided; provisional. |
| unregulated |
not subject to rules or constraints. |
| wayward |
difficult to control; willfully disobedient. |