show
image

If something is in abeyance, it has been put on hold and is not proceeding or being used at the present time.

Something that is arduous is extremely difficult; hence, it involves a lot of effort.

An audacious person acts with great daring and sometimes reckless bravery—despite risks and warnings from other people—in order to achieve something.

If you describe a person’s behavior as brazen, you mean that they are not embarrassed by anything they do—they simply don’t care what other people think about them.

Someone who has a bristling personality is easily offended, annoyed, or angered.

When you cavort, you jump and dance around in a playful, excited, or physically lively way.

Complacent persons are too confident and relaxed because they think that they can deal with a situation easily; however, in many circumstances, that is not the case.

Consternation is the feeling of anxiety or fear, sometimes paralyzing in its effect, and often caused by something unexpected that has happened.

When you are in a state of disarray, you are disorganized, disordered, and in a state of confusion.

If something discomfits you, it makes you feel embarrassed, confused, uncomfortable, or frustrated.

When someone feels disquiet about a situation, they feel very worried or nervous.

When something is dormant, it is in a state of sleep or temporarily not active.

Someone who is ebullient is filled with enthusiasm, very happy, and extremely excited about something.

An effervescent individual is lively, very happy, and enthusiastic.

To foment is to encourage people to protest, fight, or cause trouble and violent opposition to something that is viewed by some as undesirable.

A fusillade is a sudden, rapid, and often sustained outburst or barrage of things, such as words, questions, or fired projectiles.

If someone gambols, they run, jump, and play like a young child or animal.

A halcyon time is calm, peaceful, and undisturbed.

If someone is impassive, they are not showing any emotion.

An impending event is approaching fast or is about to occur; this word usually has a negative implication, referring to something threatening or harmful coming.

When something is inert, it has no power of movement or is inactive.

Something kinetic is moving, active, and using energy.

A laborious job or process takes a long time, requires a lot of effort, and is often boring.

Something that is latent, such as an undiscovered talent or undiagnosed disease, exists but is not active or has not developed at the moment—it may develop or become active in the future.

A maelstrom is either a large whirlpool in the sea or a violent or agitated state of affairs.

When you meander, you either wander about with no particular goal or follow a path that twists and turns a great deal.

If you mollify someone, you say or do something to make that person feel less angry or upset.

An ominous sign predicts or shows that something bad will happen in the near future.

A paroxysm is a sudden uncontrolled expression of emotion or a short attack of pain, coughing, or shaking.

A peregrination is a long journey or act of traveling from place to place, especially by foot.

A placid scene or person is calm, quiet, and undisturbed.

To quaver is to shake or tremble, especially when speaking.

If you are in a state of repose, your mind is at peace or your body is at rest.

If you are sedate, you are calm, unhurried, and unlikely to be disturbed by anything.

Someone who has a sedentary habit, job, or lifestyle spends a lot of time sitting down without moving or exercising often.

A serene place or situation is peaceful and calm.

Skittish persons or animals are made easily nervous or alarmed; they are likely to change behavior quickly and unpredictably.

If you are somnolent, you are sleepy.

A spate of things is a sudden series, significant quantity, or outpouring of them.

Stasis is a state of little change over a long period of time or a condition of inactivity caused by an equal balance of opposing forces.

If you are steadfast, you have a firm belief in your actions or opinions and refuse to give up or change them because you are certain that you are doing the right thing.

A stoic person does not show their emotions and does not complain when bad things happen to them.

Stupor is a state in which someone’s mind and senses are dulled; consequently, they are unable to think clearly or act normally.

If you are suffering from tedium, you are bored.

If your body is affected by torpor, you are severely lacking in energy; therefore, you are idle—and can even be numb.

A torrential downpour of rain is very heavy and intense.

If something is tranquil, it is peaceful, calm, and quiet.

Someone is tremulous when they are shaking slightly from nervousness or fear; they may also simply be afraid of something.

Trepidation is fear or uneasiness about something that is going to happen.

A tumultuous event or period of time is filled with great excitement, confusion, or violence; a tumultuous reaction to something is likewise very loud and noisy because people are happy and excited.

Turbulence describes a state of extreme disorder or confusion; it can also refer to unpredictable and wild wind currents.

When you experience turmoil, there is great confusion, disturbance, instability, and disorder in your life.

Someone who is zealous spends a lot of time, energy, and effort to support something—notably that of a political or religious nature—because they believe in it very strongly.