
Explanation of recondite (adjective) hard to understand; concealed; deep; obscure; profound
Sample of recondite The students were dumbfounded by the recondite topic. Many scientific theories are recondite, and therefore not known at all by the general public.
|

Explanation of bestial (adjective) having the qualities of a beast; brutal; barbaric
Sample of bestial The bestial employer made his employees work in an unheated room.
|

Explanation of hoary (adjective) whitened by age; old; ancient
Sample of hoary The paint had a hoary appearance, as if it were applied decades ago.
|

Explanation of lecherous (adjective) impure in thought and act; lustful
Sample of lecherous The lecherous Humbert Humbert is Nabokov's protagonist in Lolita, a novel that sparked great controversy because of Humbert's romantic attachment to a young girl. The lecherous man lurked on the corner.
|

Explanation of detached (adjective) separated; not interested; standing alone; impartial; aloof
Sample of detached Detached from modern conveniences, the islanders live a simple, unhurried life.
|

Explanation of ominous (adjective) threatening; foreboding
Sample of ominous Seeing ominous clouds on the horizon, the street fair organizers decided to fold up their tent and go home.
|

Explanation of gregarious (adjective) fond of the company of others; sociable
Sample of gregarious Gregarious people may find those jobs with human contact more enjoyable than jobs that isolate them from the public.
|

Explanation of mercenary (adjective) working or done for payment only; hired for service
Sample of mercenary Lila was suspicious that Joe had jumped at the chance only for mercenary reasons.
|

Explanation of orthodox (adjective) traditional; accepted; conservative
Sample of orthodox The gifted child's parents concluded that orthodox methods of education would not do their son any good, so they decided to teach him at home.
|

Explanation of precarious (adjective) depending upon another; risky; uncertain; unstable; unsteady
Sample of precarious The precarious plans fell through when the second couple changed their minds. My position in the negotiations was precarious at best.
|
|