67 Words for 2017

I'm a lover of words. I've been collecting some of my favorites in a google doc for some time now. Lover as I am, I still usually need to hear a definition several times before it really sticks, so I record them. Below are 67 that I believe will be useful to know for the year 2017 in one way or another. I predict we will be hearing many of these in the days to come or using them ourselves to better enunciate our feelings. The top 3 describe the thoughts in my cynical mind the best. Perhaps this is a bit too niche (as though my blog wasn't already), but fellow logophiles I assume would greatly appreciate it. Dichotomous - Divided or dividing into two parts or classifications.

Insular - ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's own experience.

Internecine - destructive to both sides in a conflict.

Equivocate - use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself.

Supercilious - behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others

Sordid - involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt.; dirty or squalid

Intransigent - unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something.

Meretricious - apparently attractive but having in reality no value or integrity.

Pernicious - having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way:

Ostentatious - characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice.: "books that people buy and display ostentatiously but never actually finish".

Precipitous - dangerously high or steep; (of an action) done suddenly and without careful consideration.

Apocryphal - (of a story or statement) of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true.

Sycophant - a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.

Avarice - extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

Affectation - behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress.

Recalcitrant - having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline.

Stymied - prevent or hinder the progress of.

Indubitable - impossible to doubt; unquestionable.

Insouciance - casual lack of concern; indifference.

Pragmatic - dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.

Quixotic - exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical:

Shibboleths - a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important.

Untenable - (especially of a position or view) not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection.

Insidious - proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects:

Belie - (of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict.:; fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray.: "the notebooks belie Darwin's later recollection".justify (a claim or expectation); betray.: "the notebooks belie Darwin's later recollection".

Nonplussed - (of a person) surprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react.

Diatribe - a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something

Irreverent - showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously.

Perfunctory - (of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection.

Pontificating - express one's opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic.

Verisimilitude - the appearance of being true or real.

Gauche - lacking ease or grace; unsophisticated and socially awkward.

Punitive - inflicting or intended as punishment.; (of a tax or other charge) extremely high.

Predilection - a preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something.

Anodyne - not likely to provoke dissent or offense; inoffensive, often deliberately so. a painkilling drug or medicine.

Tenets - a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy.

Blithe - showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.

Adroit - clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.: "he was adroit at tax avoidance".

Asinine - extremely stupid or foolish:

Misanthropes - a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society.

Epoch - a period of time in history or a person's life, typically one marked by notable events or particular characteristics:

Antithetical - directly opposed or contrasted; mutually incompatible.: "people whose religious beliefs are antithetical to mine"

Tempestuous - characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion.

Sardonic - grimly mocking or cynical

Loquacious - tending to talk a great deal; talkative..

Recuse - challenge (a judge, prosecutor, or juror) as unqualified to perform legal duties because of a possible conflict of interest or lack of impartiality:

Dilettante - a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge:

Obloquy - strong public criticism or verbal abuse:

Inure - accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant:

Oligarchy - a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution:

Cyclical - occurring in cycles; recurrent:

Draconian - (of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe.

Abhorrent - inspiring disgust and loathing; repugnant:

Anathema - someone or something that is very strongly disliked

Pejorative - a word or grammatical form expressing a negative connotation or a low opinion of someone or something, or showing a lack of respect for someone or something. A term can be regarded as pejorative in some social or cultural groups but not in others. I.e.: ‘Jock’

Perspicacious - having a ready insight into and understanding of things:

Neophyte - Someone who is new to a thing, skill, or belief.

Ascribe - attribute something to (a cause)

Capitulate - cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender:

Elucidate - make (something) clear; explain.

Nadir - the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization: "they had reached the nadir of their sufferings"; (astronomy) the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer. The opposite of zenith.

Donnybrook - a scene of uproar and disorder; a heated argument.

Castigating - reprimand (someone) severely.

Erudite - having or showing great knowledge or learning.

Mutable - liable to change.

Excoriate - censure or criticize severely.; MEDICINE damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin).

Anomalously - inconsistent with or deviating from what is usual, normal, or expected : irregular, unusual.: of uncertain nature or classification

#words #definitions #logophile