Chaff's Picks: Favorite Words

BY CHIEF STAFF

Words are like jelly beans: they come in so many shapes, sizes, and colors, and we are eternally grateful that a box of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans exploded in the universe. Seriously, where would we be if we had to rely on words like “sad” and “bad” to communicate? Anyways, here’s a comprehensive list of spicy words to make you word nerds and dictionary aficionados tingle with glee!

Thesis words: 
Unveil - “Reveal” but cooler. 
Veil - It’s like unveil, but you un-unveil! 
Undermine - A fantastic way to show how one factor may be more important in causation.
Overshadow - The opposite of undermine. See also: override, outweigh, etc.
Perpetuate - Would make English teachers cry with joy. 
Highlight - A stunning way to propose your argument: “[Author] highlights [concept]”
Accentuate - See “highlight.” But it’s prettier. 
Plague - “A PLAGUE ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES!” but such a good thesis word.

Transition Words:
Indeed - Stevens? Is that you? (No, it’s Rebecca Zhang.)
However - A staple to show contrast. We all adore it. 
While - Contrast in a clause. The more descriptive version of “however.”
Moreover - Far superior to “in addition,” “additionally,” or whatever other blasphemous synonyms for “and” people use. 
Further - When “furthermore” had a glow up.
Thus - Sometimes ugly (if it’s at the beginning of a sentence), sometimes beautiful (if it’s in the middle of a sentence)! 

Miscellaneous Yummies: 
Pulchritude - O, it’s so ugly yet so beautiful. 
Kerfuffle - Whenever I say “kerfuffle” (because yes, we should all say “kerfuffle” more!), I think of a distraught duck.
Translucent - Rolls off the tongue. Opaque is also pretty. 
Smush - Smush, schmush, crush, mush. 
Segue - For the spelling.
Wistful - Sounds like what it means! Also, perhaps it should be spelled with “wh”? 
Serendipity - Serendipity! Ser-en-DiP-iTY. Ah, so smooth. 
Discombobulated - Is “Bob” short for discombobulated? I think it should be. 
Lilting - Just. Beautiful.
Crisp - Isn’t “crisp” so crisp? 
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. - I send my condolences to anyone with this fear. 


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