Vocabulary and Synonyms

Livid means pale or grayish in color, but also specifically means black-and-blue or bruised-colored. Defeatist means expecting failure, sectarian means related to a sect, and canvass means to solicit opinions.

Askance means with a sideways or disapproving look, directly matching the clue. Requite means to repay or make return, prototype is an original model, and indemnify means to compensate for damage.

Intimidation means the act of frightening or intimidating someone, directly matching 'fear'. Canter is a horse's gait, astral relates to stars, and unfaltering means steady - none related to fear.

Carping means characterized by excessive or petty criticism or fault-finding, perfectly matching the clue. Windfall is unexpected money, intangible means not tangible, and decimate means to destroy a large portion.

Jostle means to push, elbow, or bump against someone, matching both 'shove' and 'bump'. Apostate is someone who abandons religion, luster is shine, and catastrophe is disaster.

Pan as a verb means to criticize harshly, especially in a review of a performance or work. Dilemma is a difficult situation, viand is food, and incoherent means unclear - unrelated.

Invulnerable means incapable of being harmed or injured, which directly matches the definition provided. Paucity means scarcity or lack, diverge means to move in different directions, and vortex refers to a whirling mass of fluid or air.

Baleful means menacing, threatening, or deadly, often used to describe something that causes harm or misfortune. Archaic means very old or outdated, scuttle means to deliberately sink or abandon, and ostracize means to exclude from a society or group.

Distrait is a French-derived word meaning absentminded, distracted, or inattentive due to daydreaming or preoccupation. Imbalance refers to lack of equilibrium, exertion means physical or mental effort, and flair refers to a natural talent or distinctive style.

Plummet means to fall sharply or drop rapidly, typically used for prices, temperatures, or objects falling from heights. Scintillate means to sparkle or flash brilliantly, seismic relates to earthquakes, and inconsistency refers to lack of uniformity.

Astronomical means enormously large or extensive, originally referring to astronomical distances but now used for any huge scale. Shimmer means to shine with flickering light, sinewy means tough and muscular, and raucous describes harsh, discordant sounds.

An epic is a long narrative poem or novel celebrating heroic deeds, often telling the story of a legendary figure or event. Therapeutic means relating to healing, conducive means helpful or favorable, and deface means to spoil or damage the appearance of something.

Stigma refers to a mark of disgrace or shame associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person. Cabal means a secret political clique, celerity means speed or swiftness, and natty means neatly or smartly dressed.

Disingenuous means not naive or sincere; it describes someone who is insincere, calculating, or sophisticated in their manipulation. Seemly means proper or appropriate, mores refers to social customs, and carat is a unit for measuring gem weight.

'À la carte' is a French phrase meaning 'according to the menu' - you can choose individual items as desired rather than a fixed set meal. It literally translates to 'on the card' (menu). In dining, it means ordering specific dishes separately rather than a pre-determined meal package.