| bolster |
to give support with a cushion or pillow. |
| caricature |
a depiction, in a drawing or verbal description, that deliberately exaggerates or distorts some features of the person or thing represented to produce a comic or grotesque appearance. |
| efficacy |
the ability to produce desired results; effectiveness. |
| excoriate |
to denounce or criticize severely. |
| feign |
to pretend or fake; put on a false show of. |
| hypocrite |
a person who pretends to be different or better than he or she really is. Someone who does not act according to his or her stated beliefs is a hypocrite. |
| implode |
to violently collapse or compress inward. |
| intonation |
the pattern of changes in pitch of the speaking or singing voice. |
| mores |
the behaviors and manners accepted and expected in a social group, embodying its fundamental moral standards. |
| onus |
an unwanted but necessary task; burden. |
| profiteer |
a person who gains excessive profits, especially by selling scarce commodities at very high prices. |
| sanctify |
to make sacred or holy; consecrate. |
| temerity |
reckless or foolish boldness; rash disregard of danger. |
| unconscionable |
not restrained or guided by a concern for what is right and just; unprincipled. |
| vanguard |
the leading or foremost position or part of a movement or force; forefront. |