| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| blatant |
completely obvious or undisguised, sometimes offensively so. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| derision |
mockery or ridicule. |
| deter |
to stop or discourage from some action by creating doubt or fear. |
| disingenuous |
not candid or sincere. |
| ersatz |
serving as a substitute, especially when of inferior quality. |
| highbrow |
one who has or pretends to have highly sophisticated intellectual and cultural interests and tastes (often used disparagingly). |
| hypocrisy |
the practice or an instance of stating or pretending to hold beliefs or principles that one does not actually live by; insincerity. |
| incumbent |
currently holding an office or position. |
| maladroit |
not skillful; clumsy; tactless. |
| pinchbeck |
false, sham, or counterfeit. |
| pusillanimous |
shamefully timid; cowardly. |
| raffish |
carelessly unconventional or disreputable, sometimes appealingly so. |
| sanguine |
having an optimistic temperament or outlook. |