Read Online Wrath: A Dictionary for the Enraged by Adams Media - Free Book Online Page B

something; criticize. As a noun, the word refers to extreme criticism.
chafe
    (chayf)
    VERB: To rub or cause friction; to irritate or annoy.
chagrin
    (shuh-GRIN)
    NOUN: Feeling humiliated or mortified as a result of an embarrassing situation.
    Though it gave her much CHAGRIN, Petra held her head high and walked through the crowd with half of her dress missing.
    He enter’d,
but he enter’d full of wrath.
    —J OHN K EATS
chide
    (chyd)
    VERB: To scold or reprimand someone; reproach.
choler
    (KAHL-er)
    NOUN: Anger or irritability.
clamor
    (KLAM-uhr)
    NOUN: A loud uproar or disturbance; upheaval.
clout
    (klowt)
    NOUN: The influence or importance a person or thing holds; as a verb, it means to hit somebody with one’s hand.
collude
    (kuh-LOOD)
    VERB: To conspire or scheme with someone for the purpose of doing something illegal.
    Tonight we will COLLUDE with the other thieves in preparation for tomorrow’s heist.
complicit
    (kum-PLIS-it)
    ADJECTIVE: To be involved in something illicit.
contemptuous
    (kun-TEMP-choo-us)
    ADJECTIVE: Expressing disdain or disapproval; scornful.
contentious
    (kuhn-TEN-chuss)
    ADJECTIVE: Having a tendency to disagree or fight; argumentative.
    Our marriage has become increasingly CONTENTIOUS; it seems we can no longer go a day without an argument.
contravene
    (kon-truh-VEEN)
    VERB: To disobey or break a rule.
contrive
    (kun-TRYV)
    VERB: To plot or scheme; to accomplish something by being clever.
controvert
    (KON-truh-VERT)
    VERB: To strongly oppose something; refute.
    In battling evil, excess is good; for he who is moderate in announcing the truth is presenting half-truth. He conceals the other half out of fear of other people’s wrath.
    —K AHLIL G IBRAN
contumely
    (kon-TYOO-muh-lee)
    NOUN: Insulting or contemptuous behavior or language arising from arrogance.
coup de grâce
    (koo duh GRAHS)
    NOUN: The final event or stroke that brings a situation to a conclusion; a death blow.
    Most believe it was the suspicion of sorcery that was the COUP DE GRÂCE for Mary’s beheading, but others feel it was long in coming.
culpability
    (kul-puh-BILL-ih-tee)
    NOUN: Accountability or responsibility for some sort of wrongdoing.

D
dander
    (DAN-der)
    NOUN: Anger or bad humor.
dauntless
    (DAWNT-luss)
    ADJECTIVE: Unable to be frightened or intimidated; fearless.
    Years of crime and abuse made him DAUNTLESS; even backed into a corner and outnumbered, he was not afraid.
deadlock
    (DED-lok)
    NOUN: A standstill that occurs when two opposing forces can no longer progress any further in a dispute; impasse.
debacle
    (dih-BA-kull)
    NOUN: A disaster or catastrophe; an absolute fiasco.
debase
    (dih-BAYS)
    VERB: To reduce in value or status.
decry
    (dih-CRY)
    VERB: To criticize or condemn; belittle.
deface
    (dih-FAYS)
    VERB: To ruin or damage the appearance of something; soil.
defamation
    (def-uh-MAY-shun)
    NOUN: An unfounded attack on someone’s reputation; slander.
    You must apologize to Irene for announcing her misdeeds to the public; such DEFAMATION was not warranted.
defenestration
    (dee-FEN-uh-STRAY-shun)
    NOUN: The act of throwing an object or person out of a window.
deign
    (dayn)
    VERB: To condescend or demean oneself; to stoop.
deleterious
    (del-ih-TEER-ee-us)
    ADJECTIVE: An effect that is harmful or damaging.
delusion
    (de-LOO-zhun)
    NOUN: A false illusion or belief; fallacy.
    Even with your success as a model, your extreme self-loathing has you under the DELUSION that you are not beautiful.
denigrate
    (DEN-ih-grayt)
    VERB: To disparage one’s character or reputation; defame.
denounce
    (dih-NOWNTS)
    VERB: To criticize harshly; condemn.
deplorable
    (de-PLOHR-uh-bull)
    ADJECTIVE: Wretched or dreadful.
depose
    (dih-POHZ)
    VERB: To remove someone from a position of authority. In a legal sense, it means to record the testimony of someone who is under oath.
depraved
    (duh-PRAYVD)
    ADJECTIVE: Immoral or wicked; degenerate.
depravity
    (dih-PRAV-ih-tee)
    NOUN: A state of corruption or immorality;