exacerbate= make a problem worse augment = increase protract= prolong truncate=SHORTEN

caustic=sarcastic

scrupulous
adjective 1 scrupulous attention to detail: careful, meticulous, painstaking, thorough,a scrupulous man: honest

impassive
adjective Woodgate sat with his arms folded and remained impassive: expressionless, unexpressive, inexpressive, inscrutable, unreadable, blank,

pedantic
adjective a pedantic interpretation of the rules: overscrupulous , scrupulous, precise, exact, perfectionist, punctilious, meticulous, fussy

permeable |prm bl|

adjective (of a material or membrane) allowing liquids or gases to pass through it : a frog's skin is permeable to water.

viscous |visks|
adjective having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid; having a high viscosity : viscous lava.

immutable |imyotbl|
adjective unchanging over time or unable to be changed : an immutable fact.

ephemeral |fem()rl|
adjective lasting for a very short time : fashions are ephemeral. See note at temporary . (chiefly of plants) having a very short life cycle.

tenacious |tn sh s|
adjective not readily letting go of, giving up, or separated from an object that one holds, a position, or a principle : a tenacious grip | he was the most tenacious politician in South Korea.

tenuous |tenyos|
adjective very weak or slight : the tenuous link between interest rates and investment.

very slender or fine; insubstantial : a tenuous cloud.