| brusque |
impolitely abrupt in speech or actions; curt. |
| cordon |
a chain of guards or military stations forming a defense or containment line around an area. |
| disperse |
to drive away in all directions; scatter. |
| extricate |
to free or release from difficulty, entanglement, or involvement; disengage. |
| gouge |
a cut or hole made with something sharp. |
| ineffectual |
incapable of acting effectively. |
| miff |
to cause (someone) to become annoyed; offend. |
| natty |
(informal) neat, well-groomed, and smartly dressed; dapper. |
| nonentity |
someone or something that is insignificant, dull, undistinguished, or unimportant, especially a person. |
| parameter |
any of a set of specifications or limits, the value or variations of which determine the form or behavior of something. |
| pessimistic |
feeling in a negative way about things; expecting the worst to happen. |
| portend |
to serve as a sign or warning of; bode. |
| repudiate |
to reject completely as invalid or untrue. |
| supercilious |
showing an arrogant disregard, as a look, manner, or person. |
| temperamental |
changeable as to mood, nature, operability, or the like; unpredictable. |