by Adams Media
fulminate
(FUL-mih-nayt)
VERB: To criticize harshly; to explode.
fume
(fyoom)
VERB: To seethe with extreme anger but not let all of it be known.
funereal
(fyoo-NIR-ee-uhl)
ADJECTIVE: Pertaining to a funeral; mournful or solemn.
furor
(FYOOR-ur)
NOUN: Intense anger or fury.
I had never witnessed such a FUROR as when he yelled and ran at you with the knife.
fury
(FYOOR-ee)
NOUN: Unrestrained or violent anger, rage, or passion; violence; vehemence. In classical mythology, the Furies pertain to minor female divinities who punished crimes at the instigation of the victims.
G
gadfly
(GAD-fly)
NOUN: Like a fly that attacks livestock, a gadfly is a person who constantly torments a person; pest.
gainsay
(GAYN-say)
VERB: To declare that something is false; oppose.
genocide
(JENN-uh-syd)
NOUN: The intentional destruction of an entire culture or nation.
glower
(GLOU-ur)
VERB: To glare at or give someone an annoyed, sullen look; scowl.
It was not unheard of for her to twist her face into a GLOWER when anyone offered helpful advice.
gnash
(nash)
VERB: To grind one’s teeth in anger or frustration.
Dangerous is wrath concealed. Hatred proclaimed doth lose its chance of wreaking vengeance.
—SENECA
goad
(gohd)
VERB: To annoy or provoke someone to take action.
grapple
(GRAP-ul)
VERB: To wrestle with an opponent or difficult situation; tackle.
You have to consider all of the consequences of each option while you GRAPPLE with this decision.
grimace
(GRIM-uss)
VERB: To scowl or show discomfort through one’s facial expression; as a noun, it refers to the frown that one makes while grimacing.
grisly
(GRIZ-lee)
ADJECTIVE: Gruesome or horrific.
grouse
(growss)
VERB: To complain or grumble; moan.
grudge
(gruhj)
NOUN: An ongoing feeling of animosity or ill will.
guile
(gyl)
NOUN: Cunning or deceit; deviousness.
If not for her GUILE, she would not have been able to persuade her kidnapper to let her leave her imprisonment.
H
harangue
(huh-RANG)
VERB: To berate or criticize in a forceful, angry way.
harrowing
(HAYR-roe-ing)
ADJECTIVE: Extremely disturbing or upsetting; distressing.
The details of his murder are especially HARROWING; what she did to his body required a great deal of strength and violence.
harry
(HAYR-ee)
VERB: To harass or bother someone excessively; pester.
hateful
(HAYT-ful)
ADJECTIVE: Full of hate or spite; malevolent.
hector
(HEK-ter)
VERB: To bully or intimidate someone.
Revenge is sweet
but not nourishing.
—MASON COOLEY
heinous
(HAY-nuss)
ADJECTIVE: Wicked or reprehensible; atrocious.
histrionic
(hiss-tree-ON-ihk)
ADJECTIVE: Can relate to the dramatic behavior of an actor on stage or, more generally, describe real-life behavior that is overly theatrical or dramatic. It is sometimes used as a noun in the plural form: histrionics.
hotspur
(HOT-spur)
NOUN: From Shakespeare’s Henry IV, a hotspur is an impetuous person; hothead.
hubbub
(HUB-ub)
NOUN: A commotion; an outburst.
With all the HUBBUB coming from the townspeople, it was no time at all before a mob was formed to kill him.
hubris
(HYOO-briss)
NOUN: Hubris, or excessive pride, was often the fatal flaw of many characters in Greek tragedies; narcissism.
huff
(huff)
NOUN: An instance or anger or resentment.
I
ignominious
(ig-no-MIN-ee-uss)
ADJECTIVE: Humiliating or disgraceful; dishonorable.
ill will
(ill will)
NOUN: Animosity or hostility toward a person.
illicit
(ih-LISS-it)
ADJECTIVE: Illegal or unlawful; immoral.
imbroglio
(im-BRO-lee-yo)
NOUN: A complicated or confusing situation that is marked by disagreement; mess.
immolation
(IM-uh-LAY-shun)
NOUN: To kill a person or animal as a sacrifice, particularly by fire.
immure
(i-MYOOR)
VERB: To imprison or confine someone.
If we did not IMMURE him in a cell all night, he would surely kill again.
impale
(im-PAYL)
VERB: To pierce or stab a person or thing with a sharp object.
impede
(im-PEED)
VERB: To obstruct or interfere with one’s progress; hinder.
impertinent
(im-PURR-tih-nent)
ADJECTIVE: Rude or disrespectful; insolent.
impetuous
(im-PETCH-you-us)
ADJECTIVE: Behaving in an impulsive or rash manner; hotheaded.
It was IMPETUOUS of her to run off without warning and join the circus.
impetus
(IHM-puh-tuss)
NOUN: Something that provides motivation; momentum.
implacable
(im-PLACK-uh-bull)
ADJECTIVE: Unable to be pacified; merciless.
impregnable
(im-PREG-nuh-bull)
ADJECTIVE: Something that is too strong to be captured or penetrated; unconquerable.
impropriety
(im-pro-PRY-ih-tee)
NOUN: Something that is contrary to normally accepted behavior; bad taste.
impugn
(im-PYOON)
VERB: To challenge the honesty or genuineness of a person or claim; censure.
Based on Eloise’s outrageous and unbelievable account, it was necessary for the lawyer to IMPUGN her testimony for credibility.
incarcerate
(in-KAHR-suh-rayt)
VERB: To imprison somebody.
incense
(in-SENS)
VERB: To enrage or infuriate someone.
inculpate
(in-KUL-payt)
VERB: To incriminate or blame somebody for something.
Even though the lie would INCULPATE her brother in her father’s murder, she felt it was necessary to protect herself.
indict
(in-DYT)
VERB: To formally accuse or charge someone with a crime.
indignant
(in-DIG-nunt)
ADJECTIVE: Angry or offended by unfair behavior; resentful.
inexorable
(in-EK-sur-uh-bul)
ADJECTIVE: Unable to be persuaded or moved; unstoppable.
Not by wrath, but by laughter do we kill.
Come, let us kill
the spirit of gravity!
—FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
infamous
(IN-fun-muhs)
ADJECTIVE: Well-known because of a bad reputation; notorious.
infernal
(in-FER-nul)
ADJECTIVE: Literally translated, something that is infernal is “of or pertaining to hell.” It is used to describe something wicked or devil
ish.
infuriate
(in-FYOOR-ee-ayt)
VERB: To make extremely angry; enrage.
inimical
(in-IM-ih-kul)
ADJECTIVE: Injurious or harmful; detrimental.
iniquity
(ih-NIK-wih-tee)
NOUN: From the Latin phrase for “unfair,” iniquity refers to an unjust or immoral act.
insensate
(in-SENS-ayt)
ADJECTIVE: Lacking feeling or common sense; anesthetized.
Because the killings were so gruesome and heartless, the killer was most likely INSENSATE.
insidious
(in-SID-ee-uss)
ADJECTIVE: Subtly menacing; dangerous.
insubordinate
(in-suh-BOR-din-it)
ADJECTIVE: Disobedient to authority or the accepted rules; defiant.
insular
(IN-suh-ler)
ADJECTIVE: Detached; self-centered or egocentric. An insult used to refer to a person who stands alone in his or her attitudes toward politics, religion, or moral ideas.
insuperable
(in-SOO-pur-uh-bul)
ADJECTIVE: Unable to be overcome; insurmountable.
The evidence against her is INSUPERABLE; there’s no way to disprove her guilt.
insurgence
(in-SUR-junce)
NOUN: An uprising against authority; revolt.
intractable
(in-TRACK-tuh-bull)
ADJECTIVE: Stubborn; inflexible; difficult to manage.
intransigent
(in-TRAN-si-junt)
ADJECTIVE: Unwilling to compromise or relent; inflexible.
If you weren’t so INTRANSIGENT, you might be more open-minded to my arguments on the matter.
inure
(in-YOOR)
VERB: To habituate someone to an unpleasant thing to make it less unpleasant.
invective
(in-VEK-tiv)
NOUN: Insulting or abusive language; diatribe.
To take revenge halfheartedly is to court disaster: Either condemn or crown your hatred.
—PIERRE CORNEILLE
inveigh
(in-VAY)
VERB: To speak against something strongly; condemn (usually followed by against).
invidious
(in-VID-ee-uss)
ADJECTIVE: Resulting in resentment or hatred; odious.
irascible
(ih-RASS-uh-bul)
ADJECTIVE: Prone to anger or petulance; irritable.
irate
(aye-RAYT)
ADJECTIVE: Furious; incredibly angry.
ire
(ayer)
NOUN: Extreme anger or rage.
It was his untamable IRE that caused the situation to elevate quickly and disproportionately.
J and K
jail
(jayl)
NOUN: A prison intended for the detention of criminals, including murderers.
jealous
(JEL-uhs)
ADJECTIVE: Feeling anger or resentment against someone because of that person’s advantages.
jeapordize
(JEP-ur-dyz)
VERB: To put someone in danger or in harm’s way; endanger.
jinx
(jingks)
NOUN OR VERB: As a noun, a person, thing, or power meant to bring bad luck. As a verb, to bring bad luck to; to place a jinx on; to destroy the purpose of.
juggernaut
(JUG-ur-not)
NOUN: A powerful force that destroys everything in its path.
Beware the fury
of a patient man.
—JOHN DRYDEN
L
laceration
(LASS-uh-RAY-shun)
NOUN: A cut or tear.
The whip left a LACERATION across his back that required stitches.
lachrymose
(LAK-rih-mohs)
ADJECTIVE: Characterized by weeping or tending to cause tears; mournful.
lambaste
(lam-BAYST)
VERB: To severely criticize someone; deride.
libel
(LY-bull)
NOUN: A false written or published statement made about someone that serves to damage his or her reputation—perhaps irreparably.
He lost his job at the paper for the LIBEL he allowed to go to press, proclaiming the governor was a fraud.
litigious
(lih-TIJ-us)
ADJECTIVE: A person or organization that frequently files and engages in lawsuits.
Detestable flatterers!
The most deadly gift that divine wrath may give a king!
—JEAN RACINE
livid
(LIH-vid)
ADJECTIVE: Furious.
loathe
(loath)
VERB: To detest or dislike a person or thing vehemently; hate.
louche
(loosh)
ADJECTIVE: Of questionable taste or morality; decadent.
He was LOUCHE in that he allowed the food to be served on the backs of the servants themselves rather than plates.
lour
(LOW-er)
VERB: To frown or scowl.
M
machination
(mak-uh-NAY-shun)
NOUN: A scheme or plot, especially one devised to achieve an illicit goal.
The MACHINATION for this bank heist is becoming more and more complicated, and each person plays a vital role in order for us to succeed.
madden
(MAD-den)
VERB: To make angry; enrage.
maelstrom
(MAYL-strum)
NOUN: A violent, confused situation that often results in destruction.
malcontent
(MAL-kuhn-tent)
NOUN: One who is not content with the current status of his or her life; can also be used as an adjective to describe someone who is dissatisfied.
maleficence
(muh-LEF-ih-sence)
NOUN: The act of doing harm or creating evil.
Your MALFEASANCE has not gone unnoticed; you will be punished accordingly when your father gets home.
malevolent
(muh-LEV-uh-lent)
ADJECTIVE: Characterized by a desire to do harm to others; malicious.
malfeasance
(mal-FEE-zunce)
NOUN: Behavior that is marked by illegality or wrongdoing; misconduct.
malice
(MAL-iss)
NOUN: The intention or desire to do harm to others; spite.
malicious
(muh-LISH-uss)
ADJECTIVE: Spitefully mean; evil; bad in intent.
malign
(muh-LYN)
VERB: To sully the reputation of a person or thing, particularly by claiming information that is not true.
malignant
(muh-LIG-nunt)
ADJECTIVE: Liable to cause harm; hateful.
Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
—WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
mar
(mar)
VERB: To damage or spoil something; blight.
matricide
(MAT-ruh-side)
NOUN: The act of killing one’s mother.
melee
(MAY-lay)
NOUN: A noisy confrontation between several people, most often in a public place; skirmish.