Enhancing our vocabulary with new words is a great way to spice up our writing and keep readers engaged. When I’m feeling redundant, I’ll look for new words to express what I’m trying to say in a more interesting way, and thus, my vocabulary lists were born. This week, I’d like to share some of my favorite less-common words. There is no true theme except the fact that they all appealed to me. Feel free to incorporate them into your next written work, or try them out in a conversation with friends!
- Obfuscate, verb: to confuse
As long as Islamist groups continue to deny, minimize, or obfuscate the problem, and government and police officials accept their inaccurate versions of reality, women will continue to be killed for honor in the West.
Middle East Quarterly
- Viscous, adjective: having a thick, sticky consistency.
A new carbon-based material called forged composite is produced from a viscous slurry of carbon strands and resin that’s poured into molds.
Popular Mechanics
- Soporific, adjective: causing drowsiness or sleepiness.
Gregory plans on telling security guards and school resource officers to keep an eye out in case students come to class impaired by the soporific sweets.
Las Cruces Sun-News
- Kismet, noun: destiny.
Sneed says it’s kismet to have now hired Scott Schwartz, son of “Godspell” composer Stephen Schwartz, to direct “A Servant of Two Masters” for him, opening July 7.
Denver Post
A version of this article originally published on September 9, 2011.
