The noun ascendancy means a position of power, strength, or domination.

Synonyms are authority, dominance, influence, or reign.

The word origins in 1712. It is derived from ascendant plus –cy meaning “dominant power or influence, state of being in the ascendant”.

They are in menace of losing their political ascendancy.

Winter is swiftly in full ascendancy.

Their contestant is currently in ascendancy over their opponents.

The adjective cryptic means something hard to understand and mysterious in some way.

Synonyms are ambiguous, strange, secret, or vague.

The word origins from Late Latin (1630s) crypticus meaning “hidden, occult, mystical”. It also comes from Greek kryptikos meaning “fit for concealing”, from kryptos meaning “hidden”. The meaning “mysterious, enigmatic” is attested by 1920.

The response of the student was cryptic that made her hesitate.

Sam’s cryptic warning makes sense.

The short letter was too cryptic.

The noun artifact means an item, like a tool, that was built in the past.

Synonyms are antique, evidence, handicraft, or relic.

The word origins in 1821. It comes from artefact meaning “artificial production, anything made or modified by human art”, from Italian. It also comes from Latin arte meaning “by skill” plus factum “thing made”, from facere meaning “to make, do”.

The  grand prize for this contest is an exclusive artifact.

The artifact was created during the eighth century in Pakistan.

 An artifact dating back to prehistoric times is placed in the museum.

The noun arrogance means the quality of being awfully proud and act as if you are greater than, or know more than, other people.

Synonyms are aloofness, disdain, smugness, or vanity.

The word origins from Old French (13th century) arrogance meaning “a manifest feeling of superiority of one’s worth or importance, combined with contempt of others”. It also comes from Latin arrogantia meaning “presumption, pride, haughtiness”, abstract noun from arrogantem meaning “assuming, overbearing, insolent”, present participle of arrogare meaning “to claim for oneself, assume”. It is from ad meaning “to” (see ad-) plus rogare meaning “to ask, to propose (a law, a candidate); to ask a favor, entreat, request”.

The end of his arrogance surprised her.

Richard’s arrogance made him enter the plain without his men.

You haven’t let go of that arrogance.

The adjective articulate means being able to show thoughts and awareness easily and precisely.

Synonyms are eloquent, expressive, coherent, or fluent.

The word origins in 1580s. It comes from Latin articulatus “separated into joints”. The physical meaning “composed of segments united by joints” in English is from 16th century. The general sense of “speaking accurately” is short for articulate-speaking in 1829.

Interest Lilly was very articulate during her presentation, so she received a good grade.

The articulate speaker intrigued the audience with his message.

We need an articulate person to join our busy team.

The adjective culpable means worthy of being blamed or considered guilty for something immoral.

Synonyms are guilty, impeachable, liable, or responsible.

The word origins in late 13th century. It comes from Old French (12th century) coupable meaning “deserving censure, blameworthy”. It also comes from Latin culpabilis meaning “worthy of blame”, from culpare meaning “to blame”, from culpa meaning “crime, fault, blame, guilt, error”.

He’s culpable but we don’t have any hard evidence or proof.

I was found culpable of the crime and sentenced to life in prison.

He was held culpable for what happened yesterday.

The noun credulity means willingness to accept that something is real or true, particularly when this is unbelievable.

Synonyms are belief, conviction, faith, or hope.

The word origins from Old French (15th century) credulité meaning “faith, belief” and from Latin credulitatem meaning “easiness of belief, rash confidence,” noun of quality from credulus meaning “that easily believes, trustful”, from credere meaning “to believe”. The meaning “a weak or ignorant disregard of the importance of evidence, a disposition too ready to believe” especially absurd or impossible things, is from the 1540s.

Credulity of children will put them at risk.

For this reason it would seem to be simple credulity.

Interest and credulity are the nature of crude judgement.

The adjective corrugated means having similar rows of folds that look like a series of waves when seen from the end.

Synonyms are crumpled, grooved, or ridged.

The word origins from Latin (1620s) corrugatus meaning “bent into curves or folds” and past-participle adjective from corrugate meaning “wrinkled”.

 Among the ashes, corrugated roofs were found.

The ceiling is made from pieces of corrugated iron.

The cabin is made with corrugated iron and with sandy ground.

The verb corrode means to weaken or eradicate slowly.

Synonyms are deteriorate, erode, rot, or rust.

The word origins from Old French (14th century) corroder meaning “to eat away, diminish or disintegrate (something) by gradually separating small bits of it”,and directly from Latin corrodere meaning “to gnaw to bits, wear away”. It comes from assimilated form of com-, here probably an intensive prefix (see com-), plus rodere meaning “to gnaw”.

In a salty atmosphere, steel tends to corrode quickly.

Hard water can corrode metal, including the water pipes.

Silver tends to corrode when it makes contact with the sulfur in the body.

The noun conviction means a strong belief or a strong feeling of being certain about something. The noun conviction also means the case of officially being found to be guilty of a particular crime.

Synonyms are confidence, faith, feeling, or principle.

The word origins from Late Latin (mid 15th century) convictionem meaning “proof, refutation”, noun of action from past-participle stem of convincere meaning “to overcome decisively”. It comes from com-, here probably an intensive prefix (see com-), plus vincere meaning “to conquer”.

There was a conviction for slavery.

His conviction was clearly seen on his face.

Ronald’s statement lacked conviction.