aberration - the fact or an instance or deviating or being aberrant especially from a moral standard or normal state
People wondered if Vogelsong's struggles were an aberration or a harbinger of things to come.
ad hoc - "for this", concerned with a particular end or purpose; improvised from whatever is available
The ad hoc investigation committee was committed to rooting out corruption in Wall Street.
bane - a person or thing that ruins or spoils
Bane attempted to be the bane of Gotham City.
bathos - the sudden appearance of the commonplace in otherwise elevated manner or style; overdone pathos
The author attempted to appeal to our emotions, but instead what we got was bathos.
cantankerous - difficult or irritating to deal with
Mr. Fredrickson became a cantankerous old man after the death of Ellie.
casuistry - a resolving of specific cases of conscience, duty, or conduct through interpretation of ethical principles or religious doctrine
A past master of casuistry, Matt would rarely provide a straight answer to our questions.
de facto - "concerning fact", in practice but not necessarily ordained by law or government
Chipotle is the de facto fast food restaurant for teenagers.
depredation - to lay waste; to engage in plunder
The Vikings were known for their acts of depredation.
empathy - the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner
Empathy is one thing sorely lacking in this day and age.
harbinger - one that presages or foreshadows what is to come; one that initiates change
The arrival of Harbinger was a harbinger of the Reaper invasion.
hedonism - the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life
"YOLO" seems to be the catchphrase of hedonism.
lackluster - lacking in sheen, brilliance or vitality
The 49ers performance against the Vikings was lackluster, to say the least.
malcontent - one who bears a grudge from a sense of grievance or thwarted ambition; discontent
Terrell Owen is known for being a malcontent in the clubhouse.
mellifluous - having a smooth rich flow; filled with something that sweetens
The river was mellifluous with honey and milk.
nepotism - favoritism based on kinship
Companies known for nepotism tend not to last long.
pander - to provide gratification for others' desires
Some people complain that today's action movies pander to the lowest common denominator.
peccadillo - a slight offense
People go ballistic over a peccadillo.
piece de resistance - the chief dish of a meal; an outstanding item or event
It's pretty sad when a side dish outperforms the piece de resistance.
remand - to order back; to send back to another court or agency for further action
The Court remanded the appeal.
syndrome - a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular abnormality or condition
Over time, some kidnapped civilians adopt Stockholm Syndrome.
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