Acme

A perfect game is the acme of any pitcher’s career in baseball.

attribute

The attribute I most admire in you is your willingness to give

everyone’s opinions a fair hearing.

belittle

Candidates for public office may resort to negative ads that belittle

their opponents’ records.

convey

Please convey our best wishes to your parents on their twenty-fifth

wedding anniversary.

doctrine

No two religions see eye to eye on every fine detail of doctrine.

excise

If you excise that irrelevant remark, you will improve your

essay.

exotic

A recipe may call for exotic herbs and spices that are difficult to find.

haggard

The haggard refugees were given food, clothing, and temporary

shelter.

jaunty

I bought a jaunty straw hat with bells hanging from the brim.

juncture

Our property ends at the juncture of the two stone walls.

Menial

During the Great Depression, people were thankful to have work of any kind, no matter how menial.

parry

An effective press secretary can parry almost any question a

reporter asks.

predatory

Owls and other predatory birds play an important role in

maintaining the balance of nature.

Ravage

Swarms of locusts ravaged the farmer’s fields and orchards.

stance

A fashion model’s stance is calculated to show off a designer’s

clothing to best advantage.

tawdry

An excess of gold braid and glittery beads gave the costume a

tawdry look.

turncoat

Strikers generally consider those workers who cross the picket lines

to be turncoats.

unassuming

Many celebrities remain unassuming despite their fame

and wealth.

wallow

After a strenuous hike, I was too tired to do anything but wallow

blissfully in a hot bath.

waver

The committee wavered for several days before choosing the

winner of the essay contest.