| abrade |
to rub away by friction; erode. |
| censorious |
highly critical or disapproving. |
| compatriot |
a fellow citizen. |
| contentious |
inclined to argue; quarrelsome; belligerent. |
| credulity |
an inclination to believe or trust, especially without sufficient basis or evidence; gullibility. |
| farce |
anything improbable, absurd, or empty of meaning; mockery; sham. |
| languid |
lacking or not showing strength, energy, or spirit; weak, slow, or listless. |
| machination |
(usually plural) elaborate or devious schemes. |
| parsimony |
excessive unwillingness to spend money or use resources; stinginess. |
| permissive |
allowing much, often excessive, freedom of behavior; lenient. |
| rote |
unthinking or mechanical routine or habit. |
| schematic |
of, pertaining to, or formed like an outline or diagram. |
| schism |
a division into factions with opposing beliefs, especially in a Christian church. |
| self-determination |
the ability or freedom of a people to decide their own form of government. |
| ultimatum |
a final statement of demands, especially when issued with a threat of action if rejected, as in a diplomatic discussion. |