Someone who is inquisitive asks a lot of questions. An inquisitive nature in many cases reflects intellectual curiosity—a generally desirable trait! However, inquisitive is sometimes used to suggest a degree of intrusiveness and inappropriateness. That said, be careful not to confuse inquisitive with inquisitorial, which, in pointing to inquisitions and inquisitors, calls to mind excessive cruelty.

The verb laud is a more celebratory way to say praise. If you laud the accomplishments, efforts, or achievements of another person, then you’re singing their praises. While we don’t mean singing literally (though who doesn’t love an impromptu serenade?), the suggestion of song is rooted in the history of this word: in its earliest uses, the verb laud suggested an act of worship, as the singing of a hymn, and a laud (noun) is a song or hymn of praise.

A spectacle is an elaborate or impressive show or display, such as the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. The term can also refer, more generally, to a visually striking scene, such as a starry sky on a cloudless night. The key idea behind the word spectacle is that of being seen, which doesn’t always work to one’s favor! Indeed, a show or display that is remarkable for all the wrong reasons might be called a spectacle. Additionally, to make a spectacle of oneself is to behave foolishly or badly in public.

Someone who is sanguine about an outcome is cheerfully optimistic or confident that things will work out favorably—even if the odds are stacked against them. This term on its own is positive, but sanguine is often used to describe people who have an exceedingly rosy outlook in situations that would seem to call for the opposite. In those cases, sanguine may suggest a degree of naiveté.

The noun skill is a general term for the ability, rooted in one’s knowledge or practice, to do something well. The noun dexterity is more specific: it refers to one’s skill or adroitness in using the hands or body. A person who displays great dexterity is highly coordinated and able to perform a challenging physical activity with precision and ease. Dexterity is also used to refer to cleverness or agility of the mind.

To shun something is to take pains to avoid it. To eschew something is to abstain from it or keep away from it. They are very close in meaning, but eschew is more often used to talk about the avoidance of a course of action that is perceived as unwise or detrimental to a specific outcome. The verb shun is more likely to be used to convey aversion or loathing.

The informal noun druthers means “one’s own way, choice, or preference,” and it is overwhelmingly used in the conditional, like this: “If I had my druthers, I’d read Synonym of the Day all day long! But alas, I must get back to work.” Fun fact: druthers is the plural of druther, which is an alteration of the phrase would rather.