Hot Words #5Hot Words #5

1. Cajole (v.)1. Cajole (v.) To persuade by To persuade by

pleasant words or pleasant words or false promises.false promises.

It was Blanche’s It was Blanche’s plan to plan to cajole cajole Archer into buying Archer into buying a bungalow at the a bungalow at the seashore.seashore.

2. Callous (adj.)2. Callous (adj.) Unfeeling; insensitive.Unfeeling; insensitive.

Nurse Blatt was falsely accused of Nurse Blatt was falsely accused of being being callous callous toward her terminal toward her terminal patients.patients.

3. Capitulate (v.)3. Capitulate (v.) To surrender; to cease resisting.To surrender; to cease resisting.

Since the proposed terms were so Since the proposed terms were so ambiguous, we vowed not to ambiguous, we vowed not to capitulate capitulate until they were clarified.until they were clarified.

4. Capricious (adj.)4. Capricious (adj.) Changeable; fickle.Changeable; fickle.

Our weather is so Our weather is so capricious capricious that it’s that it’s difficult to make weekend plans.difficult to make weekend plans.

5. Carping (adj.)5. Carping (adj.) Complaining.Complaining.

We were disgusted with Hillary’s We were disgusted with Hillary’s carping carping remarks about the food.remarks about the food.

6. Catalyst (n.)6. Catalyst (n.) Someone or something that brings Someone or something that brings

about a change.about a change.

Our articulate new principal was the Our articulate new principal was the catalystcatalyst for school reform. for school reform.

7. Catharsis (n.)7. Catharsis (n.) An emotional purification or relief.An emotional purification or relief.

Ancient Greeks felt that after a Ancient Greeks felt that after a catharsis catharsis an individual is better able an individual is better able to cope with setbacks.to cope with setbacks.

8. Caustic (adj.)8. Caustic (adj.) Stinging; biting.Stinging; biting.

George’s George’s caustic caustic remarks were the remarks were the antithesis of what we expected from antithesis of what we expected from such a mild-mannered gentleman.such a mild-mannered gentleman.

9. Celestial (adj.)9. Celestial (adj.) Having to do with the heavens; Having to do with the heavens;

divine.divine.

Miss America was lavishly praised for Miss America was lavishly praised for her her celestial celestial grace.grace.

10. Censure (v.)10. Censure (v.) To blame; to criticize adversely.To blame; to criticize adversely.

Congress agreed to Congress agreed to censure censure the the outspoken senator.outspoken senator.