| Abattoir: A building where animals are butchered |
| Abattoirs are not places where kids should be taken. |
| Abject: Most unfortunate or miserable |
| The beggars lived in abject poverty. |
| Ablution: A washing or cleansing of the body, especially as part of a religious rite. |
| A lot of devotees take an ablution in the Ganges. |
| Acclivity: An upward slope or grade (as in a road) |
| The acclivity of the mountain made it impossible to climb. |
| Audacity: Fearless daring |
| He had the audacity to look at his watch while I was talking. |
| Babble: Utter meaningless sounds |
| The old man is only babbling--don't pay attention. |
| Barefaced: Without disguise; unconcealed. |
| Eve-teasers are barefaced individuals who should be put behind bars. |
| Chicanery: The use of tricks to deceive someone |
| The trial revealed a world of crime, corruption and chicanery. |
| Cubbyhole: A small compartment |
| Pigeons reside in cubbyholes on the side of buildings. |
| Declivity: A downward slope or bend |
| He slipped down the mountain as the declivity was too hard to manage. |
| Decrepit: Worn and broken down by hard use |
| The film was shot in a decrepit police station. |
| Dissident: Disagreeing, especially with a majority |
| Dissidents are found all too often in politics. |
| Docile: Easily handled or managed |
| They were docile, obedient children. |
| Domineering: Exercise power over someone in cruel manner. |
| Domineering characters can be hard to bear. |
| Foist: To force onto another |
| He foisted his work on me. |
| Gavel: A small mallet used by a presiding officer or a judge |
| The judge pounded his gavel to bring order to the proceedings. |
| Immure: Imprison |
| The con-man was immured for life. |
| Impasse: A situation in which no progress can be made |
| The government finds itself in a state of impasse with respect of the Lokpal issue. |
| Imperturbable: marked by extreme calm and composure |
| He was cool, aloof and imperturbable in all circumstances. |
| Maculate: Spotted or blotched |
| Cheetahs are maculates with black spots on their skin. |
| Procrastinate: Postpone or delay needlessly |
| He procrastinated the matter until it was almost too late to help anyone. |
| Retort: Answer back |
| His sharp retort made an impact. |
| Scrawny: Being very thin |
| She has a long scrawny neck. |
| Tantalize: Harass with persistent criticism or carping |
| He would tantalize the dog with food. |
| Vacillate: Move or sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern |
| She is vacillating over whether or not to marry him. |