| abstruse |
difficult to comprehend or understand; esoteric; arcane. |
| acclivity |
a rising slope. |
| canard |
a deliberately false story or rumor, usually defamatory to someone. |
| duress |
intimidation or coercion. |
| extort |
to extract or obtain (money or the like) by force, threats, or abuse of authority. |
| gambit |
a tactic or maneuver designed to gain an advantage, especially one that involves some sacrifice on one's part. |
| guru |
in a cult or religious movement, a spiritual guide or leader, sometimes believed to be divine. |
| liminal |
of or at the threshold of a physiological or psychological response or change of state. |
| macrocosm |
a large unit or entity that represents on a large scale one of its smaller components. |
| neologism |
a new word, phrase, or usage. |
| obfuscate |
to make (something) seem or be difficult to understand; obscure or darken. |
| paroxysm |
a sudden strong outburst of feelings or actions. |
| perquisite |
a payment or benefit in addition to the wages or salary associated with a position. |
| profligate |
totally given over to immoral and shameful pursuits; dissolute. |
| pungent |
sharp and strong in taste or smell. |