WORD OFF!

this week's battle:

titivate:

to make smart or spruce

vs.

polemic:

1 a : an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another b : the art or practice of disputation or controversy —usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction
2 : an aggressive controversialist

last week's word winner:

gaucherie


pabulum never really had a chance on this one.