This week
a heavy blow with the hand or a hard object
Clout
tightly drawn; tense.
Taut
drive out or expel (someone) from a position or place.
Oust
relating to old people
Geriatric
cause to become smaller or less intense.
Abate
Support or strengthen; prop up.
Bolster
having mixed feelings about someone or something; being unable to choose between two (usually opposing) courses of action.
Ambivalence
to lower in rank or reputation; degrade.
Disparage
overcome
Surmount
deserving or causing public disgrace or shame.
Ignominious
(of a situation or event) extremely serious or urgent.
Dire
causing sadness or gloom.
Dreary
give or bequeath an income or property to (a person or institution).
Endow
raise doubts or objections
Demur
shock or excite.
Galvanizing
make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.
Exacerbate
to reject with disapproval or condemnation.
Repudiate
to place within or surround with a trench especially for defense; to place (oneself) in a strong defensive position.
Entrenched
childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
Petulant
bad-tempered and unfriendly.
Surly
concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.
Brevity
existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent.
Ubiquitous
the top or highest part of something, especially one forming a point.
Apex
the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.
Candor
outstandingly bad; shocking.
Egregious