Answer:
Nepotism: bias, discrimination
Stagnant: dormant, idle, inactive
Braggart: brag, know-it-all
Charlatan: con artist
Uniformity: constancy, sameness
Bombastic: grandiose, histrionic
Colloquial: conversational
Whimsical: amusing, odd, unusual, weird, mischievous
Allegory: fable, symbolism
Perfunctory: cursory, sketchy, offhand
Petulantly: cranky, whiny, sullen, impatient
Paraphernalia: gear, machinery
Connotation: meaning, overtone, significance, undertone
Denotation: definition, indication, meaning, signification
Ominous: dangerous, dark, prophetic, sinister, grim, haunting, gloomy, dismal
Rouse: arouse, awaken, awake, get up, stir, wake up
Brandished: flash, wield, trot out
Cryptic: mysterious, vague, strange, veiled
