elegant; refined; polished; high-quality goods; first-class article
round; circular; spherical; mellow (flavour, voice, etc.); mild; smooth
deterioration; getting worse; worsening; aggravation; degeneration; corruption
performance (of a play, opera, etc.); staging; presentation
to come to nothing; to be in vain; to lead nowhere
creation; production; creative work (novel, film, etc.); fabrication; fiction; invention
chemical reaction; generation of an unexpected result from combining things
real experience; actual observations
to make a lovely picture; to be perfect for a picture; picture-perfect; picturesque
newsworthiness; news hook; topicality; popularity (of a topic, issue, etc.)
desperate measure; last-ditch effort
to declare confidently; to declare proudly; to declare dramatically; to strike a pose (for dramatic effect)
to flatly refuse; to reject; to spurn
to be satisfied (with an explanation, apology, etc.); to be happy
with a snap; (break) cleanly; (reject) sternly; flatly; smartly (e.g. of dressing up well)
pouring one's energy into; focusing one's efforts on; concentrating on; committing oneself to
to repent; to regret; to be sorry; to rue
tickling; restlessly; hurriedly; kitchy-koo; goochie-goo
clean sweep; purging; doing away with; eradication
to light (a candle, lamp, etc.); to turn on (a light)
insincere smile; ingratiating smile; polite smile; forced smile
to rummage through; to ransack (e.g. a drawer); to throw into confusion; to disrupt; to upset
to render futile; to bring to naught; to waste; to not make good use of
to settle peacefully; to work out peacefully; to come to an amicable solution; to become reconciled
unhurt; uninjured; flawless (e.g. gem); unblemished; spotless (e.g. reputation); faultless (e.g. performance)
pot (esp. teapot, coffee pot); vacuum bottle; thermos flask
head; chief; merit; strong point; superiority; major
to pay back a debt; to have one's revenge; to settle a score; to get back at someone
favour; favor; obligation; kindness; benevolence
to contribute; to play a part in; to have a hand in; to finance
together; mutually; reciprocally; adds a nuance of solemnity or formality
age-appropriate (esp. of clothing, hairstyles)
wholly (due to); entirely; solely; earnestly; intently; sincerely
no matter for; without regard to; whatever the ...
heading; headline; index; headword
small point; knob; protuberance; aloneness; loneliness; solitude
talk; recital; narration; topic
to spell; to write; to compose; to bind (e.g. documents); to patch
explanation (e.g. for one's actions); excuse; justification; defense; defence
recompense; indemnity; atonement