| acerbic |
sharp, sour, or harsh in manner, tone, or the like. |
| castigation |
the act of rebuking, severely criticizing, or punishing, especially in a public forum. |
| contend |
to struggle; fight against difficulties or opposition. |
| dross |
anything that is worthless or useless; rubbish. |
| embody |
to put in a form that can be seen; make real. |
| eulogize |
to speak or write high praise of, or make a formal tribute to (usually a dead person). |
| hew |
to follow or obey strictly. |
| inexcusable |
unable to be justified; unpardonable. |
| moderation |
the avoidance of excesses or extremes, especially in behavior. |
| parochial |
narrow or limited in scope or viewpoint; provincial. |
| pitfall |
an unexpected or hidden danger. |
| proletariat |
the working class, especially those who lack capital and must sell their usually unskilled labor in order to survive. |
| seamy |
disreputable; sordid. |
| spate |
a sudden rush, outpouring, or flood. |
| surmise |
to infer without certain knowledge; suppose; guess. |