IB English Useful Vocabulary for Paper 1 and 2
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hollow
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Empty, void Without significance or value- meaningless
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allusive
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having reference to something implied or inferred; containing, abounding in, or characterized by allusions.
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restrained
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controlled, restricted
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poignant
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Deeply moving; strongly affecting the emotions- touching, moving, sad
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detached
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Impartial, disinterested; unconcerned, distant, aloof
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audacious
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(adj.) bold, adventurous, recklessly daring
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somber
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(adj.) dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spiri
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giddy
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(adj.) dizzy; light-headed; lacking seriousness
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sentimental
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of or prompted by feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia emotional, nostalgic
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fanciful
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Over-imaginative and unrealistic highly ornamental or imaginative in design.
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complimentary
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expressing a compliment; praising or approving flattering, appreciative
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condescending
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patronizing, supercilious, superior, snobbish, snobby, scornful, disdainful, lofty, lordly, haughty, imperious;
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contemptuous
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scornful, disdainful, disrespectful, insulting, insolent, full of contempt; derisory, derisive, mocking, sneering, jeering, scoffing, taunting, withering, scathing, snide; condescending, supercilious, arrogant
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nostalgic
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Longing for the past-wistful, evocative, longing/yearning/pining for the past, romantic, sentimental, emotional about the past, regretful, dewy-eyed, maudlin, homesick
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zealous
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Extremely active, eager, devoted
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irreverent
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(adj.) disrespectful
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candid
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(adj.) frank, sincere; impartial; unpose
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satiric
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(adj.) mocking
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whimsical
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lightly acting in a fanciful or capricious manner; unpredictable
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learned
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having acquired much knowledge through study- scholarly, erudite, well educated, knowledgeable, well read, intellectual, intelligent, clever, academic, literary, bookish, highbrow, studious, sage, wise, sagacious, discerning, donnish, cerebral, enlightened, illuminated, sophisticated, pedantic;
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mock-heroic
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A purposefully done over-imitation of something heroic
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objective
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Based on real facts and not influenced by personal beliefs or feelings
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diffident
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(adj.) shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved
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petty
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(informal terms) small and of little importance
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elegiac
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Expressing sorrow or lamentation
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disdainful
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Full of bitter scorn and pride; aloof
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lugubrious
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sorrowful; mournful; dismal
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pedantic
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excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overscrupulous
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indignant
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(adj.) filled with resentment or anger over something unjust, unworthy, or mean
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flippant
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Humorous in a disrespectful, casual way; rudely witty
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patronizing
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Condescending, humilating
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facetious
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Humorous; playfully joking, flippant, jocular
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clinical
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very efficient and without feeling; coldly detached.
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mock-serious
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jokingly serious
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inflammatory
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(adj.) causing excitement or anger; leading to violence or disorder
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benevolent
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(adj.) kindly, charitable
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burlesque
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a ludicrous, mocking, lewd imitation
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incisive
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(adj.) sharp, keen, penetrating (with a suggestion of decisiveness and effectiveness)
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scornful
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Feeling or expressing contempt or derision
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effusive
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Emotionally excessive; overly demonstrative
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colloquial
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Characteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing
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compassionate
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Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.
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impartial
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unbiased; neutral
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insipid
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Dull
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pretentious
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(adj.) done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one's skill or abilities, ambitious
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vibrant
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Lively; full of vitality
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moralistic
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characterized by or displaying a concern with morality; didactic, overly instructive
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taunting
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reproaching in scornful or sarcastic language; jeering; mocking
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turgid
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Pompous;
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sardonic
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cynical; scornfully mocking
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contentious
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argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement
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insolent
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Boldly disrespectful
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jargon
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(noun) specialized technical terminology; a characteristic language of a particular group
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vulgar
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Crude; indecent
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scholarly
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Intellectual, academic
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esoteric
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known or understood only by a few
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connotative
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The ideas or concepts a word suggests in addition to its literal definition
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literal
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Exactly true, rather than figurative or metaphorical
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artificial
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insincere or affected
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euphemistic
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substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive.
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sensuous
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Appealing to the senses
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figurative
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departing from a literal use of words; metaphorical
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bombastic
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pompous in speech and manner
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abstruse
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Difficult to understand
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grotesque
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(adj.) unnatural, distorted; bizarre
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concrete
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existing in a material or physical form; not abstract- tangible, tactile
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idiomatic
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characteristic of a particular language
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cultured
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Educated, polished, and refined
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picturesque
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1. visually very appealing or impressive, often by virtue of quaintness or unusualness or through seeming fit for a painting or photograph
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homespun
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Simple and unsophisticated
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provincial
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unsophisticated, narrow-minded, parochial, small-town, suburban, insular, parish-pump, inward-looking, limited, restricted, localist, conservative, narrow; small-minded, petty, blinkered, illiberal, inflexible, bigoted, prejudiced, intolerant;
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trite
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(adj) commonplace; overused, stale
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obscure
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Difficult to see, vague
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awe
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A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder
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veneration
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Profound Respect
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solemn
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Not cheerful or smiling; serious; gloomy
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reverence
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A feeling or attitude of deep respect
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sanguine
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ruddy; cheerfully optimistic
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mirth
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Gladness and gaiety; great merriment.
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relish
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(n.) enjoyment or satisfaction; something that adds a pleasing flavor; (v.) to enjoy greatly
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bliss
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Extreme happiness
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despondent
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Downhearted; hopeless; overwhelmed with sadness
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dismal
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Causing gloom or depression
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funereal
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sad; solemn; suitable for a funeral
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saturnine
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gloomy, dark, sullen, morose
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dejection
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Lowness in spirits; sadness; depression
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morose
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(adj) having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable
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bleak
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Depressing, discouraging, harsh, cold, barren, raw
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remorse
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Deep and painful regret for wrongdoing guilt
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agony
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Great pain of mind or body; suffering
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anguish
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(n.) great mental suffering, distress, or pain; (v.) to be deeply tormented by pain or sorrow
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barren
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too poor to produce much or any vegetation. showing no results or achievements; unproductive. bleak and lifeless
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affection
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A fond or tender feeling
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cherish
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be fond of, love, adore
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fondness
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affinity
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romantic
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conducive to or characterized by the expression of love
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platonic
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intimate and affectionate but not sexual
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adoration
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(noun) admiration
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passion
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Fervor, ardor
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lust
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have a strong desire for something
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rapture
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A state of great joy, delight, or love
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ecstasy
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Extreme happiness
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infatuated
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Filled with excessive, shallow, or foolish love or desire.
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enamor
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Fond of; feeling love towards
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compassion
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(n.) sympathy for another's suffering; pity
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exaltation
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Great joy
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zeal
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Extremely active, eager, devoted
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fervor
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feelings of great warmth and intensity
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ardor
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Enthusiasm or passion
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elation
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A feeling of great joy or pride
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jubilant
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Joyful, happy
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buoyancy
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Lightness or resilience of spirit; cheerfulness.
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serene
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tranquil, placid
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tranquil
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calm, peaceful, serene, placid
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placid
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Calm, peaceful, tranquil
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anticipate
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expect
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vehement
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(adj.) intense, forceful, powerful, showing strong feeling (anger)
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outrage
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an extremely strong reaction of anger, shock, or indignation.
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antipathy
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extreme dislike
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petulant
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(adj) peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset
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incensed
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angry
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irascible
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(adj) easily angered, irritable
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riled
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angry
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acrimony
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Bitterness or sharpness of temper, manner, or speech; hostility.
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irate
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(adj.) angry
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wrath
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(n.) intense anger
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rancor
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A deep, long-held feeling of hatred or bitterness.
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hostility
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A strong hatred or dislike
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miffed
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offended, annoyed
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choleric
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Extremely irritable or easily angered; irascible
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aggravation
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an exasperated feeling of annoyance
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futility
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feeling of being ineffective; uselessness, hopelessness
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umbrage
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A feeling of anger caused by being offended
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bristle
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to show irritation
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exasperation
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Irritation, frustration
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witty
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showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humour humorous
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cynical
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believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity. contemptuous; mocking.
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biting
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sharp; sarcastic
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vengeance
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(n.) punishment in return for an injury or a wrong; unusual force or violence
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abhorrence
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Hate coupled with disgust
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animosity
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(n.) strong dislike; bitter hostility
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enmity
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(n.) hatred, ill-will
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malice
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Desire to harm others
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pique
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a feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, especially to one's pride. feel irritated or resentful arouse
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aversion
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A strong dislike
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loathe
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Hate
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despise
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Look down on; scorn; feel contempt for; abhor; disdain
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scorn
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lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
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disdain
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Intense dislike
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repugnance
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Extreme dislike; disgust
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resentment
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s, a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
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spite
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a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone.
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timidity
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lack of self-confidence or courage
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apprehension
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Anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen.
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anxiety
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A state of over worry
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dismay
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To discourage; make fearful or uneasy
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agitation
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(n.) a violent stirring or movement; noisy confusion, excitment; a stirring up of public enthusiasm
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sinister
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(adj.) appearing evil or dangerous; threatening evil or harm
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startle
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To scare or surprise
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uneasy
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not comfortable; worried or nervous
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qualms
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misgivings, reservations, causes for hesitancy
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angst
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a feeling of deep anxiety or dread
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trepidation
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Fear, nervous apprehension
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intimidation
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Fear, restraint or discouragement caused by threat; the act of causing such
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appalled
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horrified, shocked
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dreadful
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causing fear or dread or terror
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Words to comment on the EFFECTIVENESS
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depicts, evokes, portrays, conveys, paints, describes
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Words used to SUPPORT A POINT
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demonstrates, exemplifies, clarifies, delineate, illustrates, shows, denotes, therefore
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words used for EMPHASIS
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reiterates, stresses, emphasizes, reinforces, echoes, highlights, underlines, underpins, focuses, furthermore, underscores, thus
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words used to comment on the EFFECT OF DICTION
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connotes/connotations, suggests, parallels, alludes, infers, implies,
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words used to COMPARE/ CONTRAST
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contrasts, juxtaposes, conversely, difference, dichotomy, however, in spite of, nevertheless, similarly,
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critical
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censorious, condemnatory, condemning, castigatory, reproving, denunciatory, deprecatory, disparaging, disapproving, scathing, criticizing, fault-finding, judgemental, negative, unfavourable, unsympathetic;
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criticize
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censure, denounce, condemn,attack, disapprove of, carp at, disparage, denigrate, deprecate, malign, vilify, besmirch, pan, slam, hammer, blast, savage, crucify;
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dangerous
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hazardous, perilous, risky, high-risk, fraught with danger, unsafe, uncertain, unpredictable, precarious, insecure, exposed, vulnerable,
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important
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main, chief, principal, key, major, salient, prime, dominant, foremost, supreme, predominant, paramount, overriding, cardinal, crucial, vital, indispensable, critical, essential, significant, urgent; central, fundamental, basic;
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influential
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powerful, authoritative, dominant, controlling, strong; important, prominent, predominant, leading, prestigious, distinguished, noteworthy
