Sula — Vocabulary
Toni Morrison
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	8	top 500
indifferentwithout interest About a third are in favor of the change, a third are opposed, and a third are indifferent.more Show sample from book The two black soldiers, who had been watching the scene with what appeared to be indifference, now looked stricken.†7 more Show general definition without interest in various senses, including: unconcerned -- as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat." unsympathetic -- as in "She is indifferent to his needs." not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) -- as in "an indifferent performance" impartial -- as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
	6	top 500
aestheticaesthetic → aesthetically:related to beauty or good taste It was not aesthetically pleasing.more Show context notes Aesthetically is the British spelling. Americans spell it esthetically. Show sample from book And since my sensibility was highly political and passionately aesthetic, it would unapologetically inform the work I did.†5 more beautiful, tasteful, or related to beauty or taste Show context notes This is the British spelling. Americans spell it esthetic. Show general definition related to beauty or good taste -- often referring to one's appreciation of beauty or one's sense of what is beautiful or: beautiful or tasteful
	4	top 200
scornscorn → scorned:rejected Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.more Show sample from book When Sula first visited the Wright house, Helene's curdled scorn turned to butter.†3 more disrespect or reject as not good enough Show general definition disrespect or reject as not good enough
	5	top 1000
compassionsympathy for another's suffering and wanting to help If I see one hungry child, I feel compassion, but when I hear of a million hungry children, I'm overwhelmed and turn my mind to other things.more Show sample from book She saw their closed faces, their locked eyes, and turned for compassion to the gray eyes of the conductor.†4 more Show general definition sympathy for another's suffering and wanting to help
	3	top 100
conventionconvention → conventional:normal It was once conventional wisdom that the earth is flat.more Show sample from book Conventional wisdom agrees that political fiction is not art;2 more convention → conventional:typical Show general definition for convention (as in: conventional behavior) something regarded as normal or typical
	4	top 500
recollectremember I think I recollect that she was away at college that year.more Show sample from book He trotted quickly to it and left, at last, a haven of more than a year, only eight days of which he fully recollected.†3 more recollect → recollected:remembered Show general definition to remember -- especially experiences from long ago Show editor's word notes Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice): Relative to its synonyms, recollect brings to mind a leisurely piecing together of distant memories. It may be used in a less formal manner than remember and is almost always less formal than recall.
	4	top 500
profoundintense (of great emotional depth) Her apology was heartfelt--expressing profound sorrow and regret.more Show sample from book ...solitary little girls whose loneliness was so profound...3 more intense Show general definition for profound (as in: profound sadness) of greatest intensity or emotional depth
	5	top 1000
accustomaccustom → accustomed to:used to (have adapted to and have an expectation of) In the United States we're accustomed to forming our own opinion about the promises of advertisements and politicians.more Show sample from book She had grown quite accustomed to the clichés of other people's lives as well as her own increasing dissatisfaction with Medallion.†4 more accustom → accustomed to:used to (adapted to something, so it seems normal) Show general definition to make someone used to something (used to is an expression that means someone has adapted to something, so it does not seem unusual) Show editor's word notes In professional environments, you may make a better impression by saying one is accustomed to something rather than one is used to something.
	2	top 100
evaluateevaluate → evaluating:thinking carefully and making a judgment about I'm evaluating colleges and deciding which I want to apply to.more Show sample from book The people either accepted his own evaluation of his life, or were indifferent to it.†1 more evaluate → evaluation:the process of thinking carefully and making a judgment about something Show general definition to think carefully and make a judgment about something
	3	top 1000
vulnerablevulnerable → vulnerable to:easily hurt by The computers are vulnerable to cyberattacks.more Show sample from book Except for a funny-shaped finger and that evil birthmark, she was free of any normal signs of vulnerability.†2 more vulnerable → vulnerability:easily hurt or in need of help; OR easily influenced or subject to temptation Show general definition easily hurt or in need of help; or easily influenced or subject to temptation
	3	top 1000
malevolentevil She tells vicious lies and spreads malevolent rumors.more Show sample from book Other mothers who had defended their children from Sula's malevolence...2 more malevolent → malevolence:the desire to do evil or to hurt others Show general definition evil of a person -- wishing or appearing to wish evil to others of a thing -- exerting an evil or harmful influence
	4	top 2000
conjuresummon into action or bring into existence She fears his black magic will conjure up evil spirits.more Show sample from book Sula acknowledged none of their attempts at counter-conjure or their gossip and seemed to need the services of nobody.†3 more Show general definition summon into action or bring into existence -- often as if by magic
	4	top 2000
obligationduty Although she had no legal obligation, she wanted to help him.more Show sample from book They would read the newspaper aloud to her and make observations on its content, and Eva would listen feeling no obligation to agree and, in fact, would take them to task about their interpretation of events.†3 more a duty Show general definition a duty
	2	top 500
trivialunimportant We're in agreement on the main issues. We just have some trivial details to work out.more Show sample from book Sula, like always, was incapable of making any but the most trivial decisions.†1 more Show general definition of little importance -- sometimes more specifically describing a challenge as easy and uninteresting
	3	top 1000
fastidiouscareful and attentive to detail She is fastidious in her work.more Show sample from book She liked the last place least, not because Sula slept in the room with her but because her love mate's tendency was always to fall asleep afterward and Hannah was fastidious about whom she slept with.†2 more giving careful attention to detail… Show general definition giving careful attention to detail or: excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
	2	top 500
annihilatecompletely defeat and destroy She reported that "ISIS needs to understand the Joint Force is on orders to annihilate them."more Show sample from book But they let it run its course, fulfill itself, and never invented ways either to alter it, to annihilate it or to prevent its happening again.†1 more to completely destroy or defeat Show general definition to completely destroy or defeat
	3
bushellarge amount After the event, we had a bushel of leftover food that we donated to a local shelter.more Show sample from book He say he got two bushels for me.†2 more bushel → bushels:a large amount; OR a unit of measure used for dry goods Show general definition a large amount or: a unit of measure used for dry goods (filling an 8 gallon container)
	2	top 2000
anarchythe complete absence of political authority It's not the government I want, but it's better than anarchy.more Show sample from book It is a more inviting embrace than Shadrack's organized public madness—it helps to unify the neighborhood until Sula's anarchy challenges it.†1 more the complete absence of political authority… Show general definition the complete absence of political authority; or more generally, complete absence of order
	2	top 2000
bequeathpass down It is our duty to bequeath a better world to our grandchildren.more Show sample from book It was manlove that Eva bequeathed to her daughters.†1 more bequeath → bequeathed:give or pass down Show general definition give or pass down -- often upon death in a will
	2	top 2000
compulsionurge, desire, or need She has a deep compulsion to make herself the center of attention.more Show sample from book For that reason she felt no compulsion to verify herself—be consistent with herself.†1 more an urge, force, or requirement to do something Show general definition a strong (possibly uncontrollable) urge to do something; or a force or a requirement that forces an action