Slam! — Vocabulary
Walter Dean Myers
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
2 top 1000
prejudiceunreasonable and unfair belief or feeling
The group works to eliminate racial prejudice.more
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I'm not prejudiced or anything like that.†p.43.91 more
prejudice → prejudiced:bias that prevents objective consideration
Show general definition bias that prevents objective consideration -- especially an unreasonable belief that is unfair to members of a race, religion, or other group
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nonchalantcalm and unconcerned
I could tell she was nervous, but she was trying to look nonchalant.more
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The ref gave him the ball and he looked like he was nonchalanting the shot.†p.115.6
nonchalant → nonchalanting:treating something with unconcerned calm
Show general definition calm in manner -- appearing unconcerned
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waverwaver → wavered:faltered (stopped being strong)
Through good times and bad her love for him has never wavered.more
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She wavered on the edge of the roof and I thought she might fall, or even jump.†p.256.7
waver → wavered:was unsure or weak; or moved back and forth
Show general definition to move back and forth (shake or quiver)

or:

to change, be unsure, or weak
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techniqueway of doing something
She developed a new surgical technique that shortens recovery time.more
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"Nice technique," he said.†p.230.4
Show general definition a way of doing something; or the methods used to do it well
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naivenaive → naïve:lacking the understanding or sophistication that comes from experience
She criticized America's naïve foreign policy.more
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How come a kid as streetwise as you seem to be is so naive when it comes to real life?†p.204.5
lacking experience or sophistication, and the understanding that comes from them
Show general definition lacking experience or sophistication, and the understanding that comes from them -- often too trusting or optimistic
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immunenot in danger (from something)
People are immune if they've had the virus previously or been vaccinated.more
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You need to have your emotional immune system checked out.†p.130.8
not in danger of suffering from something  OR  relating to disease resistance
Show general definition not in danger of being affected by something -- especially a disease

or:

relating to disease resistance
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beckonbeckon → beckoned:called
With a nod of her head, she beckoned me to join them.more
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Brothers beckoned me to him.p.161.5
beckon → beckoned:called (to come nearer by using a hand gesture or a nod)
Show general definition to call -- typically to ask or tell someone to come nearer by using a hand gesture or a nod of the head
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poisecomposure (calm confidence -- even when under pressure)
She has great charm and great poise.more
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He would be coming down the right side and move a half-step faster or a half-step slower and you would think, or drop a hand, or move a knee, and then Ice would be in the air, the ball poised on his fingertips, the wrist bent back, and whatever you did would be too late.†p.194.5
poise → poised:calm, confident, and in control
Show general definition calm, confident, and in control—especially in movement, behavior, or when ready to act
1 top 2000
providenceluck; or God's plan
On the eve of battle, he prayed that providence was in our favor.more
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Up in Providence.†p.152.5
resulting from God's intervention or plan; or lucky
Show general definition for providence (as in: divine providence) resulting from God's intervention or plan; or lucky -- especially with regard to when something happened
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republicrepublic → republics:governmental systems in which a majority of citizens elect representatives to make laws
The United States and each of its states are republics.more
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You going to be a Republican or a Democrat?p.66.6
republic → republican:of a system of government in which a majority of citizens elect representatives …
Show general definition for republic (as in: the country is a republic) of a system of government in which a majority of citizens elect representatives to make laws; or someone in favor of such a form of government
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influenzainfluenza → the flu:a highly contagious respiratory disease commonly called the flu
Influenza is caused by RNA viruses that mutate and spread around the world in seasonal epidemics -- which is why the flu vaccine is changed each year.more
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"I'm a little light-headed but I think it's a touch of the flu," she said.†p.254.2
influenza → the flu:influenza -- a highly contagious respiratory disease
Show general definition highly contagious respiratory disease commonly called the flu
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asthmaa common lung disorder characterized by wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and sometimes coughing
Asthma is the leading cause of hospitalization in children.more
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"No, because the owner got asthma," the waitress said.†p.67.6
Show general definition a common lung disorder characterized by wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and sometimes coughing
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sedativea drug that calms or puts to sleep
She gave him a sedative to help him sleep.more
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So we gave her a sedative.†p.83.7
a drug that calms or puts to sleep; or describing something as calming
Show general definition a drug that calms or puts to sleep; or describing something as calming
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Shakespeareauthor widely regarded as the greatest in the English language and whose works include Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet
As Shakespeare said, "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose."more
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It was supposed to be a three-page paper showing how something that happened in one of Shakespeare's plays also happened in our own community.†p.224.4
Show general definition for Shakespeare (as in: William Shakespeare) English dramatist and poet frequently cited as the greatest writer in the English language and who wrote such works as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet (1564-1616)
Show editor's word notes Shakespeare is the most quoted person in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (5th ed. 1999). Commonly quoted passages include:

This above all: to thine own self be true;
And it must follow, as the night the day;
Thou canst not then be false to any man.

What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts...

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.

some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.

O, woe is me,
To have seen what I have seen, see what I see!

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.

To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep:

Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.

The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
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adulterateadulterate → adulterated:made impure by adding a foreign substance
Heroine is often adulterated with other chemicals that add to the overdose risk.more
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I wasn't just sweating the chick I was dripping pure unadulterated love.†p.142.1
adulterate → unadulterated:pure or complete
Show context notes The prefix "un-" in unadulterated means not and reverses the meaning of adulterated. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
Show general definition corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance
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cholesterola substance found in animal fat that when eaten or produced in large quantities increases the probability of getting heart disease
In addition to having low cholesterol, my ratio of good to bad cholesterol is high.more
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"You're going to make my cholesterol go up," Derek said.p.125.4
Show general definition a substance found in animal fat that when eaten or produced in large quantities increases the probability of getting heart disease
Show editor's word notes There are two main types of cholesterol:

HDL (good cholesterol) is thought to offer some protection from heart disease.

LDL (bad cholesterol) is thought to cause heart disease by encouraging plaque build-up on arteries (atherosclerosis).

HDL stands for "high-density lipoproteins" while LDL stands for "low-density lipoproteins".
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Malcolm Xmilitant civil rights leader (1925-1965)
Members of the Nation of Islam were convicted for assassinating Malcolm X.more
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I remembered something I had heard about Malcolm X. He had said that when he was preaching on the corners in Harlem he was fishing for the dead.p.262.11 more
Show general definition militant civil rights leader (1925-1965)
Show editor's word notes Malcolm X was one of the most influential African American leaders during the Civil Rights Movement. Born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, he experienced racism and violence from an early age—his father was killed when Malcolm was six, likely by white supremacists. After a difficult youth that included time in prison, he joined the Nation of Islam and became one of its most powerful speakers.

As a minister for the Nation of Islam in the 1950s and early 1960s, Malcolm X took a different approach than leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. While King emphasized nonviolence and integration, Malcolm X advocated for Black self-defense, self-determination, and separation from white society. His speeches were fiery and uncompromising, challenging Black Americans to stand up for themselves and stop patiently enduring injustice.

In 1964, Malcolm X broke with the Nation of Islam, and his views began to evolve. After traveling to Mecca and Africa, he softened some of his earlier positions and started to see possibilities for cooperation across racial lines, though he remained focused on Black empowerment. He was assassinated in February 1965 at age 39 by members of the Nation of Islam, which saw him as a traitor after he left and criticized the organization.

Malcolm X's legacy includes inspiring Black pride, self-reliance, and a more assertive approach to fighting injustice. His autobiography remains widely read, and his ideas continue to influence discussions about race and justice in America.
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LebanonMiddle Eastern country bordering Syria, Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea
The rich history of Lebanon is evident in its ancient Roman ruins and Crusader castles scattered throughout the country.more
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There was an explosion in the barracks, Lebanon or some place like that, and he was blinded.†p.106.6
Middle Eastern country known for it's beauty, religious diversity, turbulent his…
Show general definition Middle Eastern country known for it's beauty, religious diversity, turbulent history, and ancient Phoenician roots -- and borders Syria, Israel, and the Mediterranean
1
Michael Jordanretired U.S. basketball generally cited as the best of all time (b. 1963)
Michael Jordan interrupted his basketball career to play baseball for over a year.more
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When I come back to life I'm coming back as Michael Jordan and then I'll try a different theory.†p.218.9
Show general definition retired U.S. basketball generally cited as the best of all time; known for offense and defense; retired with career record of over 30 points per game in the regular season (b. 1963)
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point guardbasketball:  primary ballhandler who also sets up the offense
I think Magic Johnson was the greatest point guard of all time.more
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Their point guard was quick but he was skinny.†p.114.7
Show general definition basketball:  primary ballhandler who also sets up the offense
Show editor's word notes Also called the 2 position.