Both words refer to the expression of approval and admiration for someone. Praise suggests admiring or approving words, usually for an accomplishment or virtue: a teacher generous with praise. Adulation suggests excessive praise or uncritical devotion, often by large numbers of people—the adulation of the masses kept her in power. Adulation often has the negative connotations, present in the original Latin word, of servile flattery or fawning—perhaps inspired by wealth, celebrity, or power, rather than a more deserving accomplishment: He basked in the sycophantic adulation of his fans. However, adulation can be used more sympathetically, as when it’s paired with love: touched by the love and adulation of her fans.

Can we improve on perfect? Here we’re taking perfect in its sense of “entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings,” which can apply to things (perfect teeth; a perfect apple; a perfect throw) and, to a lesser degree, people (because nobody’s perfect). For people who have approached perfection in a profession or other role, or for a skill or trait taken to its highest possible level, consummate fits the bill: a consummate actor; the consummate liar; consummate musicianship. This word is most frequently applied to artists, performers, and politicians, but can be used of anyone with a supreme aptitude for a particular role.

These words share the meaning of making known something previously unknown or secret. Reveal suggests uncovering something personal, secret, or unexpected that makes an impact and may involve some drama: He reveals the truth about his sister; The study revealed a gross discrepancy. Divulge suggests an often deliberate act of communicating, and making public, information that has been kept private, confidential, or secret. Things that are commonly divulged include details, facts, names, identities, and sources—information for which there may be legal, ethical, or professional reasons for divulging or not divulging: The police have not divulged the identity of the victim; Journalists refused to divulge their sources.