English vocabulary Ups and Downs

frisson

/fɹiːsˈɔ̃/

noun

an almost pleasurable sensation of fright

Examples

galling

/ˈɡɔɫɪŋ/

adjective

causing irritation or annoyance

Examples

glare

/ˈɡɫɛɹ/

noun

an angry stare

Examples

to gnaw at

/nˈɔː æt/

verb

become ground down or deteriorate

Examples

greed

/ˈɡɹid/

noun

excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves

Click to see examples

Examples

It is a familiar tale of greed, stupidity, and self-destruction.

hot-blooded

/hˈɑːtblˈʌdᵻd/

adjective

prone to emotion

Examples

to hyperventilate

/hˌaɪpɚvˈɛntᵻlˌeɪt/

verb

breathe excessively hard and fast

Examples

hysteria

/hɪˈstɛɹiə/

noun

great excitement, anger, or fear that makes someone unable to control their emotions, and as a result, they start laughing, crying, etc.

Click to see examples

Examples

Was tulipomania an example of mass hysteria and human foolishness?

idolatrous

/aɪˈdɑɫətɹəs/

adjective

blindly or excessively devoted or adoring

Examples

ignominy

/ˈɪɡnoʊˌmɪni/

noun

a state of dishonor

Examples

inconsolable

/ɪnkˈɑːnsoʊləbəl/

adjective

sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled

Examples

indignation

/ˌɪndɪɡˈneɪʃən/

noun

a feeling of righteous anger

Click to see examples

Examples

Bounderby's great face turned purple with indignation.

inhibition

/ˌɪnəˈbɪʃən/, /ˌɪnhəˈbɪʃən/

noun

the quality of being inhibited

Examples

inquisitive

/ˌɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪv/

adjective

having a desire to learn many different things

Examples

irascibility

/ɪɹˌæsəbˈɪlɪɾi/

noun

a feeling of resentful anger

Examples

to loathe

/ˈɫoʊð/

verb

to dislike something or someone very much often with a sense of disgust

Examples

monotonous

/məˈnɑtənəs/

adjective

boring because of being the same thing all the time

Examples

moonstruck

/ˈmunˌstɹək/

adjective

insane and believed to be affected by the phases of the moon

Examples

overwrought

/ˌoʊvɝˈɹɔt/

adjective

deeply agitated especially from emotion

Examples

poignancy

/ˈpɔɪnjənsi/

noun

a quality that arouses emotions (especially pity or sorrow)

Examples

plaintive

/ˈpɫeɪnɪv/, /ˈpɫeɪntɪv/

adjective

expressing sorrow

Examples

querulous

/ˈkwɛɹəɫəs/

adjective

habitually complaining

Examples

ravenous

/ˈɹævənəs/

adjective

extremely hungry

Examples

revulsion

/ɹiˈvəɫʃən/, /ɹɪˈvəɫʃən/

noun

intense aversion

Examples

rueful

/ˈɹufəɫ/

adjective

feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses

Examples

to seethe

/ˈsið/

verb

be in an agitated emotional state

Examples

sepulchral

/sˈɛpʌlkɹəl/

adjective

gruesomely indicative of death or the dead

Examples

sombre

/sˈɑːmbɚ/

adjective

grave or even gloomy in character

Examples

soulful

/ˈsoʊɫfəɫ/

adjective

full of or expressing deep emotion

Examples

to stupefy

/stˈuːpɪfˌaɪ/

verb

be a mystery or bewildering to

Examples

subdued

/səbˈdud/

adjective

quieted and brought under control

Examples

tantrum

/ˈtæntɹəm/

noun

a display of bad temper

Click to see examples

Examples

If children throw tantrums, "then should we stop teaching them?"

I was having breakdowns, I was having temper tantrums, lots of anger management issues.

to sulk

/ˈsəɫk/

verb

be in a huff and display one's displeasure

Examples

temperamental

/ˌtɛmpɝˈmɛntəɫ/, /ˌtɛmpɹəˈmɛntəɫ/

adjective

subject to sharply varying moods

Examples

trepidation

/ˌtɹɛpɪˈdeɪʃən/

noun

a feeling of alarm or dread

Examples

tremulous

/ˈtɹɛmjəɫəs/

adjective

(of the voice) quivering as from weakness or fear

Examples

unrequited

/ˌənɹiˈkwaɪtɪd/

adjective

not returned in kind

Examples

woebegone

/ˈwoʊbɪˌɡɔn/

adjective

affected by or full of grief or woe

Examples

vexed

/ˈvɛkst/

adjective

troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances

Examples

rapt

/ˈɹæpt/

adjective

feeling great rapture or delight