allege

al lege

(verb)

Def: To assert without proof or confirmation

Syn: claim, contend

Ant: prove, deny

Sentence:

The newspaper tabloid alleged that the movie star and the director were having creative differences

arrant

ar rant

(adjective)

Def: Throughgoing, out-and-out; shameless, blantant

Syn: egregious, unmitigated

Sentence:

Iago is an arrant scoundrel, but Othello is blind to his treachery.

badinage

bad i nage

(noun)

Def: light and playful conversation

Syn: banter, persiflage, repartee

Ant: sermon

Sentence:

I enjoy the delightful badinage between stars like Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn in 1940s movies.

concillate

con cil li ate

(verb)

Def: to overcome the distrust of, win over; to appease, pacify; to reconcile, make consistent.

Syn: placate, mollify, propitate

Ant: antagonize, alienate, estrange

Sentences:

Because of the weakness of our army, we had to try to concillate the enemy.

countermand

coun ter mand

verb

Def: to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first

Syn: recall, revoke

Ant: reaffirm, reassert

Sentence:

Today's directive clearly countermand all previous instructions on how to exit the building in case of fire.

echelon

ech e lon

(noun)

Def: one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a steplike formation or arrangement

Syn: level, rank

Sentence:

Although the civil servant began in the lower echelon of government service, he rose quickly through the ranks.

exacerbate

fatuous

fat u ous

(adjective)