Legend — Vocabulary
Marie Lu
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	26	top 1000
laboratorya workplace where people do scientific or medical research We've had success in the laboratory, but are a long way from treating patients.more Show sample from book Day broke into the laboratory for medicine as part of a desperate, last-minute, poorly thought-out plan.†p.47.225 more a workplace where people do scientific or medical research, or produce drugs or chemicals (also used figuratively) OR (as an adjective) related to such a place Show general definition a workplace where people do scientific or medical research, or produce drugs or chemicals or (as an adjective): related to such a place
	10	top 2000
chaosextreme confusion and disorder The country entered a period of civil war and chaos.more Show sample from book I can still hear the noise and chaos from the onlookers.†p.109.49 more a state of extreme confusion and disorder Show general definition a state of extreme confusion and disorder
	6	top 1000
commotiondisturbance I looked up to see what caused the commotion.more Show sample from book Finally, after what seems like an eternity, I hear a commotion out in the hall.†p.13.95 more noisy disturbance Show general definition a disturbance -- typically noisy
	7	top 2000
interrogateinterrogate → interrogation:the process of aggressively asking questions The CIA's controversial interrogation program lasted from 2002 to 2007.more Show sample from book He's dangling upside down in the interrogation room right now Commander Jameson has a pair of scissors in her hand.†p.90.56 more interrogate → interrogation:the process of asking a series of questions of someone Show general definition ask a series of questions of someone -- typically asked by law enforcement officials or by someone in an aggressive manner
	5	top 1000
distortalter in an unnatural or untrue way These sunglasses distort my vision.more Show sample from book I stare straight ahead at the reflective metal decorations lining the stairwell, at the distorted reflections of Ollie and me.†p.38.64 more distort → distorted:altered in an unnatural or untrue way Show general definition to alter something in an unnatural or untrue way
	6	top 2000
agileable to move well quickly and easily She is amazingly agile for someone so tall.more Show sample from book His agility is on par with the top students at Drake.†p.135.75 more agile → agility:ability to move well or think well quickly and easily Show general definition able to move well quickly and easily or: able to think well quickly and easily
	4	top 500
mentorsomeone who guides and advises another who is less experienced Each new employee is matched with a mentor.more Show sample from book Then I remember that Chian had mentored Metias before he joined Commander Jameson's squad.†p.63.23 more mentor → mentored:guided and advised Show general definition someone who guides and advises another who is less experienced; or the act of providing such guidance
	3	top 100
genuinegenuine → genuinely:sincerely I am genuinely sorry for what I did.more Show sample from book Somehow ...he sounds so genuine, so serious.†p.199.52 more real Show general definition real (as when a person is sincere or an object is not a replica or fake)
	5	top 1000
suppresssuppress → suppressed:kept from spreading She claimed that Facebook suppressed and promoted news that met a political agenda.more Show sample from book My eyes skim other shelves—they only have plague suppressants and various painkillers.p.30.44 more suppress → suppressants:medicine that keeps something from happening Show general definition trying to keep under control The exact meaning of suppress can depend upon its context. For example: "suppressed the revolution" -- to stop others from doing something by force "suppressed a smile" -- kept something from happening "suppressed the story" -- kept news from spreading "suppressed her fear" -- controlled an emotion "suppressed the memory" -- avoided thinking about (perhaps even removed from conscious memory) Show editor's word notes Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice): Suppress and repress can be interchanged; though in psychology something that is repressed is done unconsciously while something that is suppressed is done voluntarily.
	3	top 500
anxietynervousness She suffers from more than the usual pre-test anxiety.more Show sample from book The anxiety on his face unnerves me, because I always expect him to be the strongest of us.†p.140.22 more nervousness or worry Show general definition nervousness or worry
	3	top 500
adjacentside-x-side (very near) We stayed in adjacent hotel rooms.more Show sample from book He must be on an adjacent block with a good vantage point—a high floor.†p.78.12 more nearby Show general definition very near -- often directly beside
	2	top 100
irrelevantnot relevant The sentence should be deleted because it introduces information that is irrelevant to the passage.more Show sample from book I read through pages and pages of his old entries, all of them about irrelevant, mundane things.†p.238.51 more not relevant (not related to the subject being considered, or not important enough to want to consider) Show general definition not relevant (not related to the subject being considered, or not important enough to want to consider)
	4	top 1000
adornadorn → adorned:decorated The women adorned themselves with shell necklaces.more Show sample from book I remember the panel that questioned me—a group of six psychiatrists—and the official who'd led them, the man named Chian, who had a uniform adorned with medals.†p.195.53 more Show general definition to decorate -- especially a person
	4	top 1000
rationration → rationed:restricted in the amount each person could have Gasoline was rationed during the 1970s oil embargo.more Show sample from book In the morning, they'll start receiving small rations of food and water and simply wait to recover.†p.9.33 more ration → rations:a fixed share of something, especially scarce goods like food or fuel… Show general definition a fixed share of something, especially scarce goods like food or fuel; or to limit and distribute something in fixed shares
	2
diversiondistraction (from something more important) The attack on the capital was a diversion to draw troops away from the port city.more Show sample from book Even my test mission to track Day must've been a diversion to distract me while they tossed out any remaining evidence.p.249.21 more something that draws someone's attention so they don't notice something else Show general definition for diversion (as in: a diversion to draw troops away) a distraction -- something that draws someone's attention so they don't notice something else
	2
kiosksmall retail stand I bought the sunglasses at the kiosk in the mall.more Show sample from book Not even the kiosk's layers of paper bulletins move.†p.76.81 more a very small area used as a store or to dispense information… Show general definition a very small area used as a store or to dispense information; or an interactive computer-driven self-service machine
	2
pandemoniuma state of noisy confusion and disorder Pandemonium broke out after the announcement.more Show sample from book As night falls on the third to last day of my life, I hear more shouting and pandemonium coming from the monitors outside my cell.†p.252.11 more Show general definition a state of noisy confusion and disorder
	2	top 2000
dehydrateddried out (didn't have enough water in the body) I didn't drink enough water while hiking and became dehydrated.more Show sample from book I'm weak from dehydration, and the pain has made me sick to my stomach.p.189.11 more dehydrated → dehydration:not having enough water in the body Show general definition suffering from excessive loss of water from the body or: dried and/or preserved by removing natural moisture
	2
black marketthe coming together of people who buy and sell things illegally India's black market in kidneys arose in response to a combination of the shortage of the organs and extreme poverty amongst people who can survive with one of their two kidneys.more Show sample from book I bought myself a nice pair of boots with that money, and even shopped for an electro-bomb on the black market—a weapon that disables guns in its vicinity.†p.71.71 more Show general definition an illegal market that trades in illegal goods, stolen goods, or goods sold illegally to avoid tax payments, licensing requirements, or rationing
	1	top 500
subordinateless important or subservient At that time, women were thought subordinate to men in political matters.more Show sample from book Thomas might be several years younger than Metias and a subordinate on his patrol, but he's more disciplined than anyone I know.†p.17.2 less important or subservient; OR to rank as such Show general definition less important or subservient; or to rank as such