Vocabulary and Synonyms

Bravely is the most appropriate adverb to describe the act of holding back tears, as it implies courage in the face of sadness.

Closely is the standard adverb to describe a strong physical or behavioral resemblance.

Casually is the appropriate adverb to describe a quick, non-serious look at something.

Cagey means cautious, secretive, or reluctant to give details. Someone being cagey about what happened is being careful or evasive. Cantankerous means bad-tempered, comparitively is misspelled, capably means competently, and crucially means critically.

Cantankerous means bad-tempered, irritable, or difficult to deal with. Illness can make someone increasingly irritable. Comparitively is misspelled, capably means competently, cagey means secretive, and crucially means critically.

A casual remark is one made without much thought or seriousness, which is the most likely type of comment to unintentionally cause offense or a grudge.

A chequered career refers to one marked by alternating periods of success and failure or ups and downs. This is a standard idiomatic expression in English.

Characteristic means typical of a particular person or thing. The sentence implies that the bluntness is a standard trait of the person being discussed.

Close analysis refers to a detailed, careful, and thorough examination of data. It is a standard collocation in academic and professional writing.

or comply tacitly

like an axe

(to calm / soothe) an attempt

to act as judge

[association] laws that - to commerce

Axiomatic means self-evident or unquestionable, often used to describe a statement that is taken to be true without proof.