1. Irrevocable

We tend to think of court verdicts as irrevocable, but they are often overturned by higher courts.

1. Irrevocable

(adj.) incapable of being changed or called back

Synonyms: irreversible, unalterable

The commitment you have made is irrevocable without the consent of the other party to the agreement.

2. Propensity

Queen Elizabeth I showed a strong propensity for putting off decisions in the hopes that they would resolve themselves.

2. Propensity

(n.) natural inclination toward

Synonyms: natural bent, proclivity

Because of his propensity for gossiping, we tried not to let him learn anything about our personal affairs.

3. Querulous Some flight attendants dread a querulous airline passenger more than they do rough weather.

3. Querulous

(adj.) peevish, complaining, fretful

Synonyms: touchy, cranky, irritable

He is really insufferable when he gets into one of those querulous moods in which nothing in the world pleases him.

4. Remonstrate

Slowly, carefully, keeping his voice down, he argued with the caller as one might remonstrate with a child.

4. Remonstrate

(v.) to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to

Synonyms: reason against, expostulate

Since our efforts to remonstrate with the factory managers about pollution of the lake have been ineffective, we are now considering legal action.

5. RepudiateHe was forced to repudiate a statement he had made before he had all the information.

5. Repudiate

(v.) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of

Synonym: renounce

I am not going to repudiate the ideas and standards by which I have guided my life just because they have become unpopular.

6. Resilient

The development of lightweight, resilient plastics revolutionized the design of many durable goods.

6. Resilient

(adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly

Synonyms: springy, elastic, bouncy

This jacket is made out of material so resilient that it sheds wrinkles and keeps its shape even when one has worn it for days.

7. Reverberate

From the construction site, the noise of the bulldozers and dump trucks reverberated across the valley.

7. Reverberate

(v.) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly

Synonyms: rumble, thunder, boom, echo

The sharp crack of the rifle shot reverberated through the hills.

8. Scurrilous

Days passed and unrest grew, and soon the rebels began a scurrilous attack on their absent leader.

8. Scurrilous

(adj.) coarsely abusive, vulgar or low, foul-mouthed

Synonyms: obscene, filthy, abusive

His attempts to discredit her by belittling her ability and character were nothing more than scurrilous abuse.

9. Sedulous

No one could say that he was lazy, for he was a careful, sedulous copier of other people’s work.

9. Sedulous

(adj.) persistent, showing industry and determination

Synonym: tireless

Perhaps she had less naïve ability than some of her classmates, but her powers of concentration and sedulous study program enabled her to finish first in the class.

10. Sleazy

The old lady made her clothes at home in order to avoid the sleazy goods sold in the general store.

10. Sleazy

(adj.) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean or disreputable

Synonyms: inferior, cheesy,

Sleazy dives full of disreputable and dangerous-looking characters have given the waterfront areas of many cities a bad reputation.