His attempts to aggrandize himself were undermined by his complete lack of tact and sensitivity to others.

We tried to understand their plans, but they were so amorphous that we found it impossible to follow along with their intentions.

Even though she is soft-spoken, she exudes an aura of confidence and determination that impresses everyone around her.

The smugglers were arrested at the border while trying to sneak a variety of contraband into the country.

Her years of reading and study in the field of philosophy made her one of the most erudite people we had ever known.

The gossamer curtains did little to keep the bright morning sun out of the room, causing us to wake up at sunrise every day.

The meaning of the poem wasn’t explicitly stated; instead, we had to infer the poet’s intent through careful reading and analysis.

The inscrutable look he wore on his face made it impossible to determine what he was really thinking as we auditioned for the parts.

Their insular childhood had left them totally unprepared for the many shocks that would await them when they ventured out into the great, big world.

Even if I wanted to change my mind, the decision is irrevocable and must be lived with.

Her propensity for caring for animals made veterinary medicine a natural career choice.

The child’s querulous tone made it clear that naptime was approaching.

We remonstrated with them not to drive until the roads were cleared until they finally saw the sense in our argument.

While Bob once supported the candidate’s positions on many issues, the congresswoman's actions and speeches of late have now led him to repudiate that support.

Trampolines are made of an especially resilient material; they wouldn’t be much fun if they weren’t.

The sounds of the blasting at the rock quarry reverberated throughout the community.

I was shocked to hear such scurrilous language issuing from the mouth of someone supposed to be so refined.

Through sedulous work rather than “connections,” she quickly rose to a top position at her law firm.

I don’t like shows like “The Voice” or “American Idol.” I’m a firm believer that aspiring musicians need to pay their dues by playing lots of sleazy bars before advancing to a larger audience.