Austere

adj.

severe in manner or appearance; uncompromising; strict; forbidding

ex: The austere glances that Maddie gives me is a sure sign that she doesn't like me very much

Adroit

adj.

cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious

ex: Her adroit thinking is the reason she obtains such high ranking jobs

Credulous

adj.

willing to believe or trust too readily, esp. without proper or adequate evidence; gulliable

ex: Rosey's credulous thinking causes her much heartache when it comes to boys

Prosaic

adj.

commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative

ex: John is such a prosaic person which is why people dont enjoy trying to make conversation with him

Indigent

adj.

lacking food, clothes, and other necessities of life because of poverty; needy; poor; impoverished

ex: the indigent boy walking the streets in december wearing a tattered shirt made my heart break

Forlorn

adj.

desolate or dreary; unhappy or miserable, as in feeling, condition or appearance

ex: My old friends that i betrayed looked at me with forlorn long faces

Furtive

adj.

sly; shifty

ex: the furtive burglar was able to rob the house and never got caught

Fathom

v

to penetrate to the truth of; comprehend; understand

ex: The idea that her husband had just died in Iraq was too much for Elise to fathom

Bereft

adj.

deprived

ex: The bereft family tried to scavange money to help get them through the week

Tenacity

n

the act of being tenacious (holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold on)

ex: Jake's tenacity to finish the race even after he sprained his ankle was inspiring