| abdicate |
to officially give up a position of power or a right. |
| cavil |
to make petty criticisms or objections; carp (usually followed by "at" or "about"). |
| dehumanize |
to deprive of individuality, spirit, or other human qualities; render routine or mechanical. |
| explicate |
to make clear or explain completely. |
| fraught |
accompanied by; full of, usually something bad or unpleasant. |
| garish |
marked by excessive or tasteless color or decoration; gaudy; flashy. |
| invertebrate |
without a backbone |
| perjury |
the crime of telling a lie in a court after promising under oath to tell the truth. |
| permeate |
to pass or diffuse through; penetrate. |
| propound |
to propose or set forth for consideration. |
| rebuff |
to reject, repel, block, or set back. |
| recession1 |
a period of reduced or declining economic activity. |
| sect |
any group, especially a religious group such as a denomination, that is united by a common belief, ritual, or the like. |
| stagnate |
to be or become motionless, fouled, or lacking in energy, originality, or development. |
| vignette |
a brief written or musical sketch, or brief film scene, that describes or characterizes a person, incident, situation, or the like. |