ambiguous = adj. of unclear meaning, something that can be understood in more than one way
syn. vague
adv. ambiguously
n. ambiguity

The economic indicators for last quarter were rather ambiguous.

The consultant's report was full of ambiguities, so it was rejected by the firm.

apparent = adj. to be easy to see or clear in meaning, easily understood
syn. obvious, visible, evident
adv. apparently

The signature on the painting said "Picasso", but it was an apparent forgery.

The researchers had apparently overlooked one of the most basic elements of the experiment.

arbitrary = adj. an action or decision based on impulse or whim
syn. discretionary, dictatorial
adv. arbitrarily
n. arbitrariness

The manager was fired because too many of his decisions appeared arbitrary.

A major business decision can’t be made arbitrarily. Economic factors have to be taken into consideration.

assert = v. to express or defend something strongly, to state positively
syn. declare, affirm
n. assertion
n. assertiveness
adv. assertively
adj. assertive

The accused man asserted his right to remain silent.

Many corporate executives, both female and male, have assertive personalities.

astounding = adj. very surprising
syn. astonishing, amazing
v. astound
adv. astoundingly

The scientists made an astounding discovery.

The sudden drop in the gross national product astounded the economists.

astute = adj. very intelligent, shrewd
syn. clever, perceptive
adv. astutely
n. astuteness

The journalist who recently died was an astute observer of the political scene.

The student astutely determined that the professor had made a mistake in his calculation.

authorize = v. to give permission or power to do something
syn. empower
n. authority
n. authorization
adj. authorized

The physician authorized the nurse to give the injection.

The dean has the authority to try to resolve students’ academic problems.

deceive = to make someone believe something that is not true, to delude
syn. mislead
n. deceit
n. deception
adj. deceptive
adj. deceptively

I believe the government is deceiving us about the economic situation.

The police recognized the criminal’s deception and arrested him.

determine = v. to reach a decision after observing facts, to limit in scope
syn. decide, resolve, delimit
n. determination
adj. determined
adj. determinable
adj. determining
adv. determinably

Despite the inspector’s report, they were not able to determine the cause of the accident.

The quality of the company’s service was the determining factor in our decision to buy its products.

elicit = v. to bring out (e.g., facts), to draw forth
syn. extract
n. elicitation

The lawyer elicited all the facts necessary to prove her case.

To torture a prisoner for the elicitation of information is a violation of the Geneva Convention.

forbid = v. to order someone not to do something
syn. ban, prohibit
adj. forbidden
adj. forbidding = to look dangerous (a place)
adv. forbiddingly

It is forbidden to smoke in most public buildings and restaurants in the U.S.

The desert looks forbidding to many people, but the Arabian bedouins have lived in the harsh environment for centuries.

petition = n. a written request
syn. appeal
v. petition

The group collected 100,000 signatures on its petition to stop the building of the nuclear energy plant.

Iraq has petitioned the United Nations to lift the sanctions imposed against it.

relinquish = v. to give up control
syn. surrender, renounce, yield
n. relinquishment

Despite its economic difficulties, the company would not relinquish control of the unprofitable subsidiary.

The owner’s relinquishment of the Chief Executive Officer’s position of the company to his daughter came as no surprise to the Board of Directors.

resilience = n. the ability to recover from a change or a misfortune
syn. durability, tenacity
n. resiliency
adj. resilient
adv. resiliently

The resilience of the tires made them perfect for the Formula 1 vehicle.

She is an extremely tough negotiator, and apparently resilient to all types of criticism.

tempt = v. to make it attractive to do something wrong
syn. entice
n. temptation
adj. tempting
adv. temptingly

The prospects of getting rich quickly tempted many people in Albania to invest their life’s savings in dubious pyramid investment schemes. The loss of their savings helped cause the current crisis in the country.

Temptation is one of the basic motifs of modern advertising.