| colloquialism |
a word or phrase typically used in conversational, informal, or regional speech or writing, hence sometimes considered inappropriate in formal writing. |
| dearth |
a shortage or scarcity of something; lack. |
| diatribe |
a bitter, abusive attack in speech or writing. |
| doggerel |
trivial, crudely constructed verse. |
| equipoise |
a state of balance or equal weight, importance, or the like; equilibrium. |
| equivocal |
having at least two plausible alternative meanings, often intentionally so in order to deceive or avoid commitment; ambiguous. |
| extempore |
without plan or preparation; impromptu or improvised. |
| gullible |
believing almost anything; easily tricked. |
| inflection |
change that occurs in the form of words to show a grammatical characteristic such as the tense of a verb, the number of a noun, or the degree of an adjective or adverb. |
| laconic |
using very few words; succinct; terse. |
| lapidary |
an expert on or dealer in gemstones. |
| occlude |
to close or obstruct (a passage or opening, one's vision, or the like). |
| pungent |
sharp and strong in taste or smell. |
| reconnoiter |
to go through or over (an area) so as to gain information about it, as for military or engineering purposes. |
| recrudesce |
to become active again or break out anew, as a disease or harmful condition. |