2 April 2025

 Cravenly: In an extremely cowardly (not brave) way. 

• Six days later, she had convened an emergency meeting with 75 faculty memebrs after the university had cravenly surrendred to the demands of the Trump administration in the hopes of recovering $400m in the federal grants and contracts. (Guardian)

30 March 2025

Titillating: Pleasantly stimulating or exciting; pleasantly and superficially exciting 

• Hint: That's how to destroy your brand, with titillating stunts, because what you want first is for people to trust and respect you.  (Umair Haque)

Stolid: Calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation. 

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29 March 2025

Brandish: Wave or flourish (something, especially a weapon as a threat or in anger or exceitement. 

• We know from his exchanges with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that he has been quick to brandish his "bigger (nuclear) button" that has the unilateral power to kill all of us. (Melvin Goodman)

4 November 2024

Charade: An absurd pretence intended to create a pleasant or respectable appearance. 

• Such "peace talks" led by a biased interluctor are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade for public consumption.  (Dawn)

21 August 2024

 Admonition: A firm warning or reprimand.

• Each of us needs to take to heart Viktor Frankl's admonition that each of us must be responsible for our own lives, and for the life of our community and our world. (Learning to Lead by Warren Bennis and Joan Goldsmith)

15 April 2024

Conundrum: A confusing and difficult problem or question, a problem that is difficult to deal with. 

• This creates a classic conundrum where economic development and conservation pull in opposite directions. (Sylvia PM) 
• A serious conundrum has arisen for the economy. It cannot afford to grow, and at the same time, it cannot lie in the doldrums for very long either. There is no clear answer about how to get out of this situation.  Hence, the choice of the word "conundrum". (Khurram Husain) 

3 October 2023

Wistful: Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing. 

• Near the end of the book, Baron strikes a more wistful and beleaguered note. (James Fellow)