People who work at a nursing home often wear uniforms that make them look alike. That’s what “uniform” means, after all: the same, without variation.

Example:  “Those coffee shops do well because they train their servers to make the coffee drinks to a uniform level of quality, no matter where the store is located.”

“Unconscionable” means, literally, “without a conscience,” is lacking in a moral sense.

Example:  “The thief showed an unconscionable lack of feeling when he took not only jewelry but also old family photographs from the people at the nursing home.”

If you read a lot of cooking magazines, you might find a food described as having an “unctuous mouth feel” or “unctuous texture.” It means that the food coats the tongue with a smooth, almost oily layer of flavor. When the word applies to food, it’s a good thing. It’s not a good thing when applied to a person. Someone with a smooth, oily manner is usually not to be trusted. To speak in an unctuous fashion means to be overly but insincerely polite and flattering or ingratiating. You might call a person who speaks like that “smarmy.”

Example:  “The shop clerk tried to make more sales with his unctuous treatment of the customers, but all except the most fatuous saw right through him.”

“Catharsis” – a release of emotions that is triggered by a vicarious experience of something that someone else is going through, but that touches you in some way as well.

Example:  “The therapist would show the ex-soldiers movies like “Platoon” and “In Country,” hoping to bring on a catharsis that would help them work through their experiences in combat.”

To “transcend” means to rise above or go beyond. You might have heard of “transcendental meditation,” where people try to go outside of their earthbound minds and become a part of a larger consciousness.

Example:  “Yo-Yo Ma’s ‘Silk Road’ project transcends cultural boundaries by unifying people through their shared musical history.”

A “panacea” is a solution or remedy, something that cures all problems.

Example:  “Some people say that gene therapy and designer drugs are the panacea that will solve the problem of AIDS and other diseases.”

“Pragmatic” means realistic or practical. Someone who is pragmatic is down-to-earth, and focuses on the essentials of a problem without getting bogged down in unnecessary detail.

Example:  “Realizing that not all of the library’s books could be moved to the new facility, the libraries took the pragmatic approach of first moving only the books that had been checked out in the last five years.”

“Accord” means agreement or harmony. This noun can refer to specific agreement on an issue, or a general like-mindedness.

Example:  “Faced with a potentially devastating flood risk, the city officials quickly reached an accord on which riverbanks needed the most reinforcement.”

“Plethora” means “more than enough.” It refers to a large number in general, but specifically means an amount in excess of what is necessary.

Example:  “There was a plethora of choices at the dessert table; there were sixteen different pies, and too many tarts and confections to count.”

Some people are only comfortable around people who are very similar, while others prefer a more eclectic group of friends. “Eclectic” means “from a variety of sources.” If you’re at a nightclub with a very creative DJ, you’ll hear an eclectic blend of music.

Example:  “Her wardrobe was an eclectic mix of vintage lace and 70’s polyester, and a different pair of shoes for every day of the year.”