Cacophony

(n.) a harsh, inharmonious collection of sounds; dissonance

1. The beautiful harmony of the symphony was well enjoyed after the cacophony coming from the stage as the orchestra warmed up.
2. The amateur band created more cacophony than beautiful sound.

Cajole

(v.) to coax with insincere talk

1. To cajole the disgruntled employee, the manager coaxed him with lies and sweet talk.
2. The salesman will cajole the couple into buying the stereo.

Calamity

(n.) disaster

1. The fire in the apartment building was a great calamity.

Caliber

(n.) quality

1. The caliber of talent at the show was excellent.

Callow

(adj.) being young or immature

1. With the callow remark the young man demonstrated his age.
2. Although the girl could be considered an adult, the action was very callow.

Calumny

(n.) slander

1. I felt it necessary to speak against the calumny of the man's good reputation.

Canard

(n.) a false statement or rumor

1. The canard was reported in a scandalous tabloid.

Candid

(adj.) honest; truthful; sincere

1. People trust her because she's so candid.

Cant

(n.) insincere or hypocritical statements of high ideals; the jargon of a particular group or occupations

1. The theater majors had difficulty understanding the cant of the computer scientists.
2. The remarks by the doctor were cant and meant only for his associates.

Caprice

(n.) a sudden, unpredictable or whimsical change

1. The caprice with which the couple approached the change of plans was evidence to their young age.
2. The king ruled by caprice as much as law.

Capricious

(adj.) changeable; fickle

1. The capricious bride-to-be has a different church in mind for her wedding every few days.

Captious

(adj.) disposed to find fault

1. A captious attitude often causes difficulties in a relationship.

Carte blanche

Cascade

(n; v.) waterfall; pour; rush; fall

1. The hikers stopped along the path to take in the beauty of the rushing cascade.
2. The water cascaded down the rocks into the pool.
3. He took a photograph of the lovely cascade.
4. The drapes formed a cascade down the window.

Castigate

(v.) to punish through public criticism

1. The mayor castigated the police chief for the rash of robberies.

Cataclysm

(n.) an extreme natural force

1. The earthquake has been the first cataclysm in five years.

Cataclysm

(n.) an extreme natural force

1. The earthquake has been the first cataclysm in five years.

Catalyst

(n.) anything which creates a situation in which change can occur

1. The low pressure system was the catalyst for the nor'easter.

Catharsis

(n.) a purging or relieving of the body or soul

1. He experienced a total catharsis after the priest absolved his sins.
2. Admitting his guilt served as a catharsis for the man.

Caustic

(adj.) eating away at; sarcastic words

1. The caustic chemicals are dangerous.
2. The girl harmed her mother with her caustic remarks.
3. His caustic sense of humor doesn't go over so well when people don't know what they're in for.

Cavil

(v.) to bicker

1. The children are constantly caviling.

Censor

(v.) to examine and delete objectionable material

1. The children were allowed to watch the adult movie only after it had been censored.

Censure

(n.; v.) a disapproval; an expression of disapproval; to criticize or disapprove of

1. His remarks drew the censure of his employers.
2. A censure of the new show upset the directors.
3. Her parents censured her idea of dropping out of school.

Ceremonious

(adj.) very formal or proper

1. The black-tie dinner was highly ceremonious.

Cessation

(n.)ceasing; a stopping

1. The cessation of a bad habit is often difficult to sustain.

Chafe

(v.) to annoy, to irritate; to wear away or make sore by rubbing

1. His constant teasing chafed her.
2. He doesn't wear pure wool sweaters because they usually chafe his skin.

Chaffing

(n.) banter; teasing

1. The king was used to his jesters good-natured chaffing.

Chagrin

(n.) a feeling of embarrassment due to failure or disappointment

1. To the chagrin of the inventor, the machine did not work.
2. She turned red-faced with chagrin when she learned that her son had been caught shoplifting.

Charisma

(n.) appeal; magnetism; presence

1. She has such charisma that everyone likes her the first time they meet her.

Charlatan

(n.) a person who pretends to have knowledge; an impostor; fake

1. The charlatan deceived the townspeople.
2. It was finally discovered that the charlatan sitting on the throne was not the real king.