sybarite
noun: a person who indulges in luxury
Despite the fact that he’d maxed out fifteen credit cards, Max was still a sybarite at heart: when the police found him, he was at a $1,000 an hour spa in Manhattan, getting a facial treatment.
picayune
adjective: trifling or petty (a person)
English teachers are notorious for being picayune; however, the English language is so nuanced and sophisticated that often such teachers are not being contrary but are only adhering to the rules.
venial
adjective: easily excused or forgiven; pardonable
His traffic violations ran the gamut from the venial to the egregious—on one occasion he simply did not come to a complete stop; another time he tried to escape across state lines at speeds in excess of 140 mph.
limpid
adjective: having clarity in terms of expression
Her limpid prose made even the most recondite subjects accessible to all.
pyrrhic
adjective: describing a victory that comes at such a great cost that the victory is not worthwhile
George W. Bush’s win in the 2000 election was in many ways a pyrrhic victory: the circumstances of his win alienated half of the U.S. population.
curmudgeon
noun: a grouchy, surly person
Since Uncle Mike was the family curmudgeon, each Thanksgiving he was plied with copious amounts of wine, in the hope that he would become less grouchy.
jejune
adjective: dull; lacking flavor
Although many top chefs have secured culinary foam's popularity in haute cuisine, Waters criticizes it for being jejune and unfilling.
adjective: immature; childish
Her boss further cemented his reputation for being jejune after throwing a fit when the water cooler wasn't refilled.
hedge
verb: to limit or qualify a statement; to avoid making a direct statement
When asked why he had decided to buy millions of shares at the very moment the tech company's stock soared, the CEO hedged, mentioning something vague about gut instinct.
quisling
noun: a traitor
History looks unfavorably upon quislings; indeed they are accorded about the same fondness as Nero—who watched his city burn down while playing the violin.
sartorial
adjective: related to fashion or clothes
Monte was astute at navigating the world of finance; sartorially, however, he was found wanting—he typically would attempt to complement his beige tie with a gray suit and white pants.
