Someone who is dishonest cannot be trusted; they may be disposed to lie, cheat, or steal. This descriptor is commonly applied to people or to their misleading words. The synonym underhanded emphasizes secrecy and dishonor in one’s actions. If a politician uses underhanded tactics to discredit an opponent in a campaign, they did unscrupulous, unethical, or possibly even illegal things in secret to sully their opponent’s reputation. Slyness, or the crafty covering of one's tracks, is a key component of this term; wherever there are underhanded dealings, tactics, or tricks being employed, you can be sure there’s a fair amount of sneaky maneuvering afoot.

To impede is to make difficult the movement or progress of something, such as an investigation, by interfering with its proper functioning. To stymie is to hinder, block, or thwart something or someone. The vexing nature of the word comes into greater focus when we look at its origins: Before people and projects were being stymied in boardrooms and halls of government, golfers were being stymied on the putting green. A stymie, used as a noun, is an instance of a ball’s lying on a direct line between the cup and the ball of an opponent about to putt. It didn’t take long before English speakers were using the term as a verb to talk about this irksome scenario, and the figurative extension (how the word is most commonly used today) emerged shortly after.

Someone who is fashionable is observant or conforming to the prevailing custom of dress. This adjective is generally positive, though it may not be a glowing compliment to be called fashionable if the person using the term finds the fashion of the day unappealing. The adjective chic also means “stylish,” but it skews more complimentary, suggesting attractiveness and sophistication. Chic is used of individuals and their dress, but also of places, such as restaurants, hotels, and boutiques, that exude sophistication and style with their décor. The descriptor shabby chic is used of a cottage-inspired interior design style that is marked by a worn-in, vintage look, even if most of the décor is brand new.