| affront |
something that is said or done on purpose to be rude or mean. |
| captivate |
to charm or fascinate, as by beauty or wit; enthrall. |
| decimation |
the act of destroying a large part or number of something. |
| disconcert |
to upset the calm or self-assurance of; ruffle. |
| graphic |
of or related to pictures or writing such as photography, painting, and printing. |
| impeach |
to accuse a person in public office of wrong or improper conduct. |
| invective |
strongly abusive or denunciatory speech or language. |
| lucid |
easy to understand; articulate; clear. |
| monologue |
a long speech or reading given by a single speaker. |
| mortify |
to subject (someone) to extreme embarrassment, shame, or humiliation. |
| motif |
a distinct formal unit such as a design, theme, or musical phrase that may repeat in, dominate, characterize, or be a prominent feature of an aesthetic or decorative work. |
| pitfall |
an unexpected or hidden danger. |
| prowess |
great skill or talent; superior ability. |
| recalcitrant |
stubbornly disobedient; refractory. |
| touchstone |
a test or standard by which to evaluate the worth of something. |