Negative Emotions
Definitions and Samples
1. antipathy n. A strong, long-lasting negative feeling
My antipathy toward telemarketers is so strong that I am often rude
to them.
Usage tips Antipathy is often followed by a toward phrase.
2. arrogantly adv. In a way that shows a high opinion of oneself and a low
opinion of others
Jenny told us about her party only one day in advance, arrogantly
thinking we had nothing else to do.
Parts of speech arrogance n, arrogant adj
3. berate v. To say insulting and disrespectful things
The teacher lost his job because he cruelly berated students who
made mistakes.
Usage tips You can only berate someone directly—only when he or
she can hear you.
4. contemptuous n. Having no respect
Most scientists are contemptuous of reports that aliens from outer
space have landed on the Earth.
Usage tips A very common structure is be contemptuous of.
Parts of speech contempt n, contemptible adj, contemptuously adv
5. despise v. Hate very much
Tom grew to despise his greedy and unfriendly boss.
6. humiliation n. An event that causes someone to feel that she or he has
lost the respect of others
Losing the chess tournament was a great humiliation for Marie, and
she never played chess again.
Parts of speech humiliate v
7. obnoxious adj. Bothersome; doing small things that others don’t like
My obnoxious neighbor keeps talking to me while I’m trying to
read in my backyard.
Parts of speech obnoxiously adv
8. shame n. Dishonor because one has done something wrong
Feeling deep shame because of their son’s crimes, the Ford family
moved to a different town.
Usage tips Shame is often followed by an of or about phrase.
Parts of speech shame v, shameful adj, ashamed adj, shamefully adv
9. stigmatize v. To mark with a visible feature that makes other people
think, perhaps incorrectly, that someone or something is wrong
Cadbury’s beard and tattoos stigmatized him as a bad match for
Wall Street, so he couldn’t find work as a financial analyst.
Parts of speech stigma n
10. vitriolic adj. Showing an extreme, hateful anger
The mayor’s vitriolic attacks against the city council only made him
sound unreasonable.
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Social Rebels
Definitions and Samples
1. adolescent adj. Characteristic of a teenager; not fully grown up
In policy meetings, George refuses to reason with anyone and just
scowls in an adolescent way.
Parts of speech adolescent n, adolescence n
2. cause n. A political or social goal that one believes is right and works
to achieve
Our river cleanup effort would be more effective if someone famous
spoke out for the cause.
3. conflict v. To fit so poorly together that the differences cause a problem
A teenager’s need for security can conflict with his desire for independence
from his family.
Parts of speech conflict n
4. delinquency n. Serious misbehavior; not doing what one should do
Because of his laziness and delinquency, Lefty was an unreliable
friend.
Usage tips A common combination is juvenile delinquency, meaning
“criminal behavior by a teenager.”
Parts of speech delinquent n, delinquent adj
5. fringe n. Edge; in social contexts, parts of society that look or act very
different from most people
Punk music got its start at the fringe of London’s rock music culture.
Usage tips Fringe implies an edge that is uneven and not very solid.
Parts of speech fringy adj
6. hedonistic adj. Excessively interested in seeking pleasure
Suddenly wealthy, Allen fell into a hedonistic life of parties, expensive
dinners, and heavy drinking.
Usage tips Hedonistic usually implies that the pleasures are wrong.
Parts of speech hedonist n, hedonism n, hedonistically adv
7. hypocritically adv. In a way that accuses other people of weaknesses
that the speaker also possesses
Henry spent $2,500 on a new suit and then hypocritically accused
me of spending too much on clothes.
Parts of speech hypocrite n, hypocrisy n, hypocritical adj
8. manipulation n. Quietly moving or influencing people or things in
order to get what you want
Bob’s manipulation of the boss’s feelings led to his promotion.
Parts of speech manipulate v, manipulator n, manipulative adj
9. rebel v. To go against an established system or authority
The people of Ghurdia rebelled against the dictator and set up a
new government.
Usage tips Rebel works well in political contexts and in contexts of
personal relationships.
Parts of speech rebel n, rebellion n
10. status quo n. The systems and conditions that exist now
Let’s just maintain the status quo until we can think of a better way.