accolade

  An expression of approval; praise.

 acerbity

  Sourness or acidness of taste, character, or tone.

 attrition

 A rubbing away or wearing down by friction.

 bromide

A commonplace remark or notion; a platitude.

 chauvinist

A blindly devoted patriot.

 chronic

Of long duration; continuing

 expound

To give a detailed statement of; set forth

 factionalism

A group of persons forming a cohesive, usually contentious minority within a larger group

 immaculate

Free from stain or blemish

 imprecation

  A curse

 ineluctable

Not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable

 mercurial

Having the characteristics of eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, and thievishness

 palliate

To make (an offense or crime) seem less serious

 protocol

A code of correct conduct

 resplendent

Splendid or dazzling in appearance; brilliant.

 stigmatize

To mark with a stigma, or brand

 sub rosa

In secret; privately or confidentially

 vainglory

Boastful, unwarranted pride in one's accomplishments or qualities

 vestige

A visible trace, evidence, or sign of something that once existed but exists or appears no more

 volition

  The act or an instance of making a conscious choice or decision

 accouterments

An accessory item of equipment or dress

 apogee

The farthest or highest point

 apropos

At an appropriate time; opportunely

 bicker

  To engage in a petty, bad-tempered quarrel; squabble

 coalesce

To grow together; fuse.

contretemps

An unforeseen event that disrupts the normal course of things; an inopportune occurrence.

 convolution

  A form or part that is folded or coiled.

 cull

  To pick out from others; select.

 disparate

Fundamentally distinct or different in kind; entirely dissimilar

 dogmatic

Characterized by an authoritative, arrogant assertion of unproved or unprovable principles.

 licentious

  Lacking moral discipline or ignoring legal restraint, especially in sexual conduct.

 mete

To distribute by or as if by measure; allot

 noxious

  Harmful to living things; injurious to health

 polemic

A controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine.

 populous

  Containing many people or inhabitants; having a large population.

 probity

  Complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness

 repartee

Conversation marked by the exchange of witty retorts

 supervene

  To come or occur as something extraneous, additional, or unexpected

 truncate

To shorten by or as if by cutting off

 unimpeachable

Beyond reproach; blameless

 adumbrate

To give a sketchy outline of.

 apotheosis

Exaltation to divine rank or stature; deification.

 ascetic

 A person who renounces material comforts and leads a life of austere self-discipline, especially as an act of religious devotion.

 bauble

A small, showy ornament of little value; a trinket.

 beguile

To deceive by guile; delude.

 burgeon

  To put forth new buds, leaves, or greenery; sprout.

 complement

Something that completes, makes up a whole, or brings to perfection.

 contumacious

Obstinately disobedient or rebellious; insubordinate.

 curmudgeon

An ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions.

 didactic

Intended to instruct.

 disingenuous

Not straightforward or candid; insincere or calculating

exculpate 

To clear of guilt or blame.

 faux pas

A social blunder.

 fulminate

  To issue a thunderous verbal attack or denunciation

 fustian

Pretentious speech or writing; pompous language.

Haughtiness in bearing and attitude; arrogance.

 inhibit

To hold back; restrain.

 jeremiad

A literary work or speech expressing a bitter lament or a righteous prophecy of doom.

 opportunist

One who takes advantage of any opportunity to achieve an end, often with no regard for principles or consequences.

 unconscionable

Not restrained by conscience; unscrupulous