Elementary, my dear Watson
arduous
adjective
Requiring significant effort
"Studying for the GRE is such an arduous affair."
approbation
noun
An expression of approval
"Half the time I feel like I'm just chasing approbation when I make these social media posts."
misanthrope
noun
Someone who a hates all other humans
"Don't mistake me for a misanthrope simply because I'm an introvert."
rhetoric
noun
The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing
"Despite the ridiculous logic underpinning his claims, the politician was able to garner public support through his appealing rhetoric."
austere
adjective
Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance
"Because of his professor's austere manner, he found it difficult to muster the courage to raise his hand in class."
cogent
adjective
Appealing to the mind of reason; convincing
"I love this professor because of how short and cogent his explanations are."
hegemony
noun
Influence or authority; dominance
"China is a rising threat against the economic hegemony of the United States."
fervent
adjective
Greatly emotional or zealous
"My fervent dislike for celery has ruined many a salad."
rescind
verb
To refuse to have anything to do with; to disown
"The author of the paper has since rescinded their claim that vaccines are causally related to autism."
pithy
adjective
Brief and to the point
"Her pithy summary of the situation was a lot more digestible than the essay provided by the news website."
ennui
noun
Dissatisfaction and restlessness resulting from a lack of occupation or excitement
"He found himself in a state of ennui after the excitement of finals season faded away."
castigation
noun
Severe criticism or punishment
"Russian politicians fear speaking out against the president for fear of castigation."
rancorous
adjective
Characterized by bitter, long-lasting resentment
"She was rancorous over her rejection from her top three schools for many years."
axiomatic
adjective
Taken to be self-evident
"1+1=2 does not have a proof because it is axiomatic."
auspicious
adjective
Conducive to success; favorable
"The position of the stars was considered an auspicious sign for the coming battle's victory."
equivocate
verb
Use of ambiguous language with deceptive intent
"I'm not equivocating here, I simply wasn't at the scene of the crime when it happened!"
verb
To loudly attack or denounce
"Protestors in Hong Kong fulminate against Chinese rule."
adjective
Easily angered
"He's particularly irascible when sleep-deprived."
dilettante
noun
Someone with an amateurish or superficial interest in a particular field
"I'm not surprised that a dilettante such as yourself has difficulty following the subtleties of this proof."
taciturn
adjective
Reserved or uncommunicative in speech
"The officer remained taciturn in his explanation of events despite the woman's clear distress."
grandiloquence
noun
Pompous speech or expression
"Grandiloquence is common among people who think they're more intelligent than they really are."
harangue
verb or noun
(The act of delivering) lengthy and aggressive speech/writing
"Obadiah Stane's amazing harangue against the lab technician in front of the arc reactor is one of the best moments in MCU history, and you can't change my mind."
truculent
adjective
Eager to argue or fight
"He was hot-headed and truculent, traits that he would regret in hindsight."
recondite
adjective
Little known; obscure
"This textbook is full of surprisingly recondite information for something so widely distributed."
pusillanimous
adjective
Showing a lack of courage or determination
"The pusillanimous soldier abandoned his post as soon as he heard the first of the artillery fire."