Name _______________________
Language Arts
Date ______________
Period _____________
VOCABULARY WORDS
Week One: Feelings-Part I
1. impulsive – (adjective) – Greek/Latin root – pul/pel = drive, push
Definition – driven to act quickly
Sample Definition Context Clue Sentence – Tony was quite impulsive, or hasty, in making his
decision.
Notes:
Synonyms – rash, quick, hasty
Antonyms – calm, planned
2. somber – (adjective)
Definition – extremely serious; to feel gloomy or depressed; to be gloomily dark
Sample Definition Context Clue Sentence – After Pat’s family pet died, he was somber,
which means gloomy and depressed, for weeks.
Notes:
Synonym: bleak, grim, gloomy
Antonym: cheerful, happy, joyful
3. serenity – (noun)
Definition – to be in a calm, tranquil, peaceful place or state of mind
Sample Definition Context Clue Sentence – The serenity, or tranquil, peace and quiet, of the
beach helps to relax my mother.
Notes:
Synonym: peace, tranquility
Antonym: chaos, disturbance
4. exhilarated – (adjective)
Definition – to feel cheerful or merry, to feel happily refreshed & energetic, elated, invigorated
Sample Definition Context Clue Sentence – I felt exhilarated as I went downhill on my bike
and felt the cool breeze against my hot face; in other words, I was completely overjoyed and
happy at that moment.
Notes:
Synonym: exciting, elated
Antonym: depressing, boring
5. irritated – (adjective) to excite to impatience or anger, to feel provoked, or annoyed.
(verb) to provoke to impatience or anger
Sample Definition Context Clue Sentence – (adjective) I am irritated, or angrily annoyed, by
her shrill, nasal voice.
(verb) I irritated, or tried to provoke and anger, my brother by flicking small pieces of my napkin
at him at the dinner table which made him stand up and scream in protest.
Notes:
Synonym: angry, bothered. disturbed
Antonym: calm, untroubled
6. guffaw: (noun)
Definition: a loud unrestrained burst of laughter (because you are rolling with laughter)
Sample Definition Context Clue Sentence - The guffaws in the movies could be heard
outside; in other words the huge bursts of laughter were could be heard by everyone.
Notes:
Synonym: laughter
Antonym: NONE
7. compel – (verb) – Greek/Latin root – pul/pel = drive, push
Definition: to force or drive, especially to a course of action
Sample Definition Context Clue Sentence – When I broke my mom’s expensive vase, I
thought about lying, but then I was compelled; in other words I was driven to tell the truth
because it was the right thing to do.
Notes:
Synonym: urge, encourage
Antonym: discourage, dissuade