| coterie |
a small, exclusive group of friends or associates with similar interest or activities; clique. |
| credulity |
an inclination to believe or trust, especially without sufficient basis or evidence; gullibility. |
| degenerate |
to decline from an original or former condition; change for the worse in nature or quality; deteriorate. |
| delimit |
to define or mark the boundaries of; demarcate. |
| escalation |
increase in amount, scope, or intensity. |
| ignominy |
the condition of being in disgrace or dishonor; humiliation. |
| impending |
about to occur or appear. |
| interpose |
to insert (a comment, question, criticism, or the like) in the course of a conversation or speech. |
| iterate |
to say or do again or repeatedly. |
| mainstay |
the main support of something. |
| nuptial |
of or relating to a wedding ceremony or to marriage. |
| preeminent |
surpassing others in importance and prominence; foremost. |
| proliferate |
to spread or increase quickly. |
| scrimmage |
a vigorous struggle; scuffle. |
| vindicate |
to free from an accusation, suspicion, or doubt by indisputable proof. |