(noun) the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval

commendation, sanction

disapproval, condemnation, censure

(verb) to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy

mitigate, alleviate, slake, allay

intensify, aggravate, exacerbate

(noun) a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose

alliance, league, federation, combine

splinter groups

Decadence

(noun) decline, decay or deterioration, a period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence

degeneration, corruption

rise, growth,development, maturation

(verb) to draw forth, bring out from some source

call forth, evoke, extract, educe

repress, quash, squelch, stifle

Expostulate

(verb) to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning

protest, remonstrate, complain

(adjective) used so often as to lack freshness or originality

banal, trite, commonplace, corny

new, fresh, novel, original

(noun) gap, opening, break

pause, lacuna

continuity, continuation

Innuendo

(noun) a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense)

insinuation, intimation

direct statement

(verb) to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party of a disagreement

intervene, mediate

(adjective) wearied, worn-out, dulled

sated, surfeited, cloyed

unspoiled, uncloyed

(adjective) causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; passionate in intensity or lack of restraint

gruesome, gory, grisly, ghastly, baleful

pleasant, attractive, appealing, wholesome

Meritorious

(adjective) worthy, deserving recognition and praise

praiseworthy, laudable, commendable

blameworthy, reprehensible, discreditable

(adjective) peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset

irritable, testy, waspish

even-tempered, placid, serene, amiable

(adjective) pertaining to an outlying area, local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside

(noun) a person with provincial qualities

narrow minded, parochial, insular, naive

cosmopolitan, catholic, broad-minded

a special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence

perquisite, perk

to make a pretense of, imitate; to show outer signs of

feign, pretend, affect

to rise above or beyond, exceed

surpass, outstrip

(noun) shade cast by trees; an overshadowing influence or power; offense resentment; a vague suspicion 

irritation, pique, annoyance

pleasure, delight, satisfaction

(adjective) excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity or piety; fatty or oily; pliable

mealymouthed, servile, fawning, greasy

gruff, blunt