| academicism |
in the arts, rigid adherence to accepted and traditional forms. |
| belabor |
to continue excessive efforts on or excessive discussion of. |
| bellicose |
easily incited to quarrel or fight; belligerent. |
| disingenuous |
not candid or sincere. |
| effrontery |
shameless impudence; insolence. |
| emote |
to express or simulate feelings, especially in an exaggerated or theatrical manner. |
| expiation |
the act or the means of making amends, as for a sin or crime. |
| flak |
(informal) irritating opposition, criticism, or dissent. |
| garble |
to mix up, distort, or confuse (a message, translation, or the like); cause to be disordered or unintelligible. |
| internecine |
of or pertaining to conflict, discord, or struggle within a group. |
| peroration |
the concluding part of a speech in which there is a summing up of the principal points. |
| pleonasm |
a redundant word, phrase, or expression. |
| reprisal |
injury inflicted in retaliation for injury received, as in war; revenge. |
| stickler |
one who must observe or conform to something (usually followed by "for"). |
| untoward |
unexpected and unfortunate. |