English Words for "Negative and Neutral Attitudes" | ACT Vocabulary

indignation

noun

i

ɪ

n

d

i

ɪ

g

n

a

eɪ

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

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a feeling of anger or annoyance aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean

Example

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Her voice trembled with indignation at the unfair accusation.

He couldn't hide his indignation over the biased treatment.

skepticism

noun

s

k

e

ɛ

p

t

i

ɪ

c

s

i

ɪ

s

z

ə

m

a doubting or questioning attitude towards ideas, beliefs, or claims that are generally accepted

cynicism

noun

c

s

y

ɪ

n

i

ɪ

c

s

i

ɪ

s

z

ə

m

a doubtful view toward others' honesty or intentions

complacency

noun

c

k

o

ə

m

p

l

a

eɪ

c

s

e

ə

n

c

s

y

i

a feeling of self-satisfaction or contentment, often accompanied by a lack of awareness of potential dangers

contempt

noun

c

k

o

ə

n

t

e

ɛ

m

p

t

the disregard and lack of respect for someone or something seen as insignificant or unworthy

mania

noun

m

a

eɪ

n

ia

iə

an intense enthusiasm or obsession for something, often to an excessive or uncontrollable degree

brazen

Adjective

b

r

a

eɪ

z

e

ə

n

behaving without shame or fear and refusing to follow traditional rules or manners

morose

Adjective

m

o

ɜ

r

o

oʊ

s

e

having a sullen, gloomy, or pessimistic disposition

sullen

Adjective

s

u

ə

ll

l

e

ə

n

bad-tempered, gloomy, and usually silent

mercurial

Adjective

m

e

ɜ

r

c

k

u

jʊ

r

ia

iə

l

prone to unpredicted and sudden changes

sheepish

Adjective

sh

ʃ

ee

i

p

i

ɪ

sh

ʃ

showing a lack of confidence or courage in an awkward way

resignedly

Adverb

r

e

ɪ

s

z

i

aɪ

g

n

e

ɪ

d

l

y

i

in a manner that shows acceptance of something undesirable or unavoidable without protest

withdrawn

Adjective

w

i

ɪ

th

ð

d

r

a

ɔ

w

n

(of a person) unwilling to talk to other people or participate in social events

prone

Adjective

p

r

o

oʊ

n

e

having a tendency or inclination toward something

apt

Adjective

a

æ

p

t

having a natural tendency toward something

apathy

noun

a

æ

p

a

ə

th

θ

y

i

the lack of interest, concern, emotions for things

reserve

noun

r

e

i

s

z

e

ɜ

r

v

e

a tendency to keep one's thoughts, feelings, and personal affairs to oneself

impassively

Adverb

i

ɪ

m

p

a

æ

ss

s

i

ɪ

v

e

l

y

i

in a manner that shows no emotion, feeling, or reaction

rampant

Adjective

r

a

æ

m

p

a

ə

n

t

behaving in an unrestrained or unchecked manner, often to the point of being reckless or aggressive

sarcastic

Adjective

s

a

ɑ

r

c

k

a

æ

s

t

i

ɪ

c

k

stating the opposite of what one means to criticize, insult, mock, or make a joke

unsarcastic

snobbish

Adjective

s

n

o

ɑ

bb

b

i

ɪ

sh

ʃ

displaying an attitude of superiority toward those perceived as inferior, often due to social status, wealth, or education

disgruntled

Adjective

d

i

ɪ

s

g

r

u

ə

n

ə

t

l

e

d

feeling dissatisfied, often due to a sense of unfair treatment or disappointment

pessimistic

Adjective

p

e

ɛ

ss

s

i

ə

m

i

ɪ

s

t

i

ɪ

c

k

having or showing a negative view of the future and always waiting for something bad to happen

optimistic

to mistrust

Verb

m

i

ɪ

s

t

r

u

ə

s

t

to have doubts, reservations, or uncertainties about relying on someone or something

trust

to belittle

Verb

b

e

ɪ

l

i

ɪ

tt

t

ə

l

e

to speak or express derogatory remarks about someone

flatter

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to patronize

Verb

p

a

æ

t

r

o

ə

n

i

aɪ

z

e

to speak or behave in a way that implies that one is more knowledgeable, experienced, or intelligent than the other person

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to snicker

Verb

s

n

i

ɪ

ck

k

e

ɜ

r

to laugh quietly in a sneaky or mocking way

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

to mock

Verb

m

o

ɑ

ck

k

to ridicule someone or something in a disrespectful manner

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to scoff

Verb

s

c

k

o

ɔ

ff

f

to express contempt or derision by mocking, ridiculing, and laughing at someone or something

haughtily

Adverb

h

au

ɔ

gh

t

i

ɪ

l

y

i

in a manner that shows arrogant superiority toward others

blatantly

Adverb

b

l

a

eɪ

t

a

ə

n

t

l

y

i

with a lack of sensitivity or consideration

pretentiously

Adverb

p

r

e

ɪ

t

e

ɛ

n

t

ʃ

iou

ə

s

l

y

i

in a manner that tries to impress by pretending to have more importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed

unpretentiously

hesitant

Adjective

h

e

ɛ

s

z

i

ɪ

t

a

ə

n

t

uncertain or reluctant to act or speak, often due to doubt or indecision

offhand

Adverb

o

ɔ

ff

f

h

a

æ

n

d

In a dismissive or indifferent manner

Grammatical Information:

interrogative adverb

outspoken

Adjective

o

a

u

ʊ

t

s

p

o

oʊ

k

e

ə

n

freely expressing one's opinions or ideas without holding back

forthright

Adjective

f

o

ɔ

r

th

θ

r

i

aɪ

gh

t

(of a person) straightforward in expressing thoughts or opinions

blunt

Adjective

b

l

u

ə

n

t

having a plain and sometimes harsh way of expressing thoughts or opinions

candid

Adjective

c

k

a

æ

n

d

i

ə

d

open and direct about one's true feelings or intentions

willful

Adjective

w

i

ɪ

ll

l

f

u

ə

l

stubbornly disregarding rules, advice, or the wishes of others

bashful

Adjective

b

a

æ

sh

ʃ

f

u

ə

l

shy or timid, especially in social situations, often accompanied by a reluctance to draw attention to oneself

solemn

Adjective

s

o

ɑ

l

e

ə

m

n

reflecting deep sincerity or a lack of humor

objective

Adjective

o

ə

b

j

ʤ

e

ɛ

c

k

t

i

ɪ

v

e

based only on facts and not influenced by personal feelings or judgments

subjective

matter-of-fact

Adjective

/mˈæɾɚɹʌvfˈækt/

presenting information in a straightforward, unemotional, and practical manner

timid

Adjective

t

i

ɪ

m

i

ɪ

d

lacking confidence or courage

bold

detached

Adjective

d

e

i

t

a

æ

ch

ʧ

e

d

t

lacking interest or emotional involvement

stern

Adjective

s

t

e

ɜ

r

n

serious and strict in manner or attitude, often showing disapproval or authority

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You learned 46 words from ACT Negative and Neutral Attitudes Vocabulary. To improve learning and review vocabulary, start practicing.

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