| credulous |
disposed to believe, especially on scanty evidence; gullible. |
| discountenance |
to embarrass or disconcert. |
| élan |
enthusiasm or vigor. |
| equipoise |
a state of balance or equal weight, importance, or the like; equilibrium. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| flak |
(informal) irritating opposition, criticism, or dissent. |
| impute |
to ascribe or attribute to a source or cause. |
| indemnity |
insurance against damage, loss, or liability. |
| interdict |
to deter or impede by the steady use of firepower. |
| intersperse |
to place or scatter among other things. |
| minatory |
presenting a threat; menacing. |
| ontogeny |
the process of biological growth and development of a particular living organism. |
| pretentious |
assuming or marked by an air of importance or superiority that is unwarranted. |
| unabashed |
not feeling or showing embarrassment, uneasiness, or shame. |
| woebegone |
displaying or full of distress. |