1. TENACIOUS   falsehood   cautious   holding fast   mocking   Hint Half-n-half Clue   2. STOIC   harsh and loud   excessive   stolid   trivial   Half-n-half Clue   3. WHIMSICAL   muddy or cloudy   of lesser rank   equivalent   capricious   Half-n-half Clue   4. TACTFUL   occurring irregularly   conscientious   diplomatic   unswerving   Half-n-half Clue   5. SUBORDINATE   talkative and fluent   causing sleep   of lesser rank   holding fast   Half-n-half Clue   6. SPURIOUSNESS   talkative and fluent   thin and tattered with age   falsehood   bitterly hostile   Half-n-half Clue   7. STRIDENT   holding fast   capricious   terse   harsh and loud   Half-n-half Clue