A portion of mind-teasing words for you…

Umbrage

noun UM-brij

Umbrage is a formal word that usually refers to a feeling of being offended by what someone has said or done. It is often used in the phrase "take umbrage."

// It can be difficult to converse with someone who is ready to take umbrage at the most innocent remarks.

Grandiose

adjective gran-dee-OHSS

Grandiose is most often used disapprovingly to describe something that seems impressive or is intended to be impressive, but is either not possible or practical.

// The committee eventually scaled back the most outlandish parts of its plans for the festival, including a grandiose scheme to bring in live peacocks for the event.

Adjure

verb uh-JOOR

To adjure is to urge or advise earnestly, or to solemnly command someone as if they are under oath or the penalty of a curse.

// The church has strong ties to the community and has long adjured its congregants to devote time to the aid of those less fortunate than themselves.

Demeanor

noun dih-MEE-ner

Demeanor refers to a person's behavior toward other people. It is usually used in the singular.

// The teacher’s quiet demeanor had a calming effect on the children.

Assiduous

adjective uh-SIJ-uh-wus

Assiduous is a formal word that means “showing great care, attention, and effort.”

// Thanks to the assiduous efforts of the local land trust over many years, a substantial amount of whip-poor-will habitat is now protected from economic development.

Panache

noun puh-NAHSH

Today, when we say that someone has panache, we are saying that they have energy, spirit, and style. Originally, the word referred to an ornamental tuft or plume of feathers, and especially one affixed to a helmet.

// Ever the showman, he not only caught the ball, he made a diving catch and caught it with panache.

Conciliate

verb kun-SILL-ee-ayt

Conciliate is a formal word applied in situations in which anger or disagreement presents a need for resolution. It can mean "to make compatible; to reconcile," "to appease or win over," or "to become or try to become friendly or agreeable."

// The company's attempts to conciliate the workers without meeting their core demands has not been a successful strategy.

Mawkish

adjective MAW-kish

Mawkish means “exaggeratedly or childishly emotional,” and is often used to describe works of art, music, or literature that a critic finds cloying.

// Although Olivia was embarrassed by the mawkish poetry that filled her old high school diaries, she couldn’t bring herself to throw them away.

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