| astute |
keen in understanding and judgment; shrewd. |
| calumny |
a harmful statement, known by the maker to be false. |
| dissemble |
to disguise or hide behind a false semblance; conceal the true nature or state of. |
| emulous |
filled with the desire to equal or surpass. |
| fixation |
an obsession, especially one that interferes with normal functioning. |
| ingenuous |
having or showing simplicity and lack of sophistication; artless. |
| meretricious |
appealing or attracting in a cheap, showy, or shallow way. |
| modular |
designed with standardized units that may be arranged or connected in a variety of ways. |
| parlous |
full of dangers or risks; perilous. |
| pedantic |
making or characterized by an excessive display of learnedness, or overly insistent on scholarly details and formalities. |
| periphrasis |
an indirect or roundabout way of phrasing something; circumlocution. |
| perquisite |
a payment or benefit in addition to the wages or salary associated with a position. |
| pinchbeck |
false, sham, or counterfeit. |
| recondite |
involving profound concepts and complexities; not easily understood. |
| Saturnalia |
an occasion of unrestrained revelry. |