| A | B |
|---|
| blatant | adj: Without attempt to hide; offensively loud; obvious Some smokers display _blatant_ defiance of no-smoking signs by lighting up within sight of them. |
| bombastic | adj: Grandiloquent and pompous in words; high-sounding; inflated The union official's _bombastic_ speech on the benefits of membership impressed few workers. |
| contentious | adj: Given to argument; causing or involving argument or controversy When couples go through the process of divorce, their relationship becomes so _contentious_ that it is advisable for them not to communicate directly. |
| cynical | adj: Distrusting or skeptical of the motives of others Johanna was upset by her boyfriend's _cynical_ statement that she was only dating him for his money. |
| despondent | adj: Without or nearly without hope; dejected A person with bipolar disorder alternately displays either highly excited or deeply _despondent_ behavior. |
| didactic | adj: Intended for instruction; inclined to teach or lecture too much Webster thought his corrections were helpful, but his coworkers avoided him because of his _didactic_ manner. |
| earnest | adj: Serious in intention; showing depth of sincerity Ming spent hours studying for his exam to demonstrate how _earnest_ he was about improving his grades. |
| ebullient | adj: Boiling; bubbling; overflowing with enthusiasm Earlene's _ebullient_ response to an invitation to the party was evident in the way she started dancing around the room. |
| facetious | adj: Not meant seriously; humorous; tongue in cheek Monica joked that she'd join us to see the horror film, but she was just being _facetious_; she hated scary movies. |
| impartial | adj: Fair, unprejudiced, showing lack of favoritism Although it is hard to be completely _impartial_ as a critic, one should try to put aside obvious bias. |
| incredulous | adj: Indicating disbelief; skeptical Many of us were _incredulous_ when former Governor McGreevy announced his intention to become a priest. |
| indignant | adj: Expressing strong feeling about something considered offensive, unjust, or insulting Simone left the arbitration with an _indignant_ expression on her face, signaling that she wasn't awarded the money she thought she deserved. |
| ironic | adj: Contrary to what was expected; containing irony It's _ironic_ that some things mentioned in Alanis Morissette's "Isn't It Ironic" are actually not ironic. |
| moderate | adj: Not extreme or excessive; within reasonable limits Throughout the debate, Sandy took a _moderate_ position on every major issue, avoiding extreme points of view so as not to alienate undecided voters. |
| poignant | adj: Moving the emotions; touching Andrea's _poignant_ speech inspired the alumni to empty their pockets for the school. |
| resolute | adj: Firm; unwavering; unshakeable Jacob desperately wanted sleep, but he stayed _resolute_ and studied for the chemistry final until dawn. |
| sentimental | adj: swayed by emotion, not reason She loved him not for his money or good looks, but for _sentimental_ reasons that were difficult to explain. |
| serene | adj: Calm, tranquil, clear; undisturbed and unruffled Meditation has been touted as a way to enjoy a _serene_ state of mind on a daily basis. |
| strident | adj: Loud, harsh, or shrill; vociferous; discordant Officer Bill Fleming has become a _strident_ voice for reform in the home health care industry, championing greater supervision and extensive criminal background checks of workers. |
| wistful | adj: Pensive, melancholy, longing The dieter took a _wistful_ look into the bakery window as she jogged past. |
