Gone Girl — Vocabulary
Gillian Flynn
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
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howeverdespite that (a transition word use to connect contrasting ideas) Most college application deadlines are in January and February. However, early admission deadlines are around November and some scholarships require even earlier deadlines.more Show sample from book Hannibal was a strange choice for Amy, however, as I don't remember us having a particularly good or bad time there, just a time.†p.107.42 more a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc. Show general definition for however (as in: However, complications may...) though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas) Show editor's word notes Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that, despite that, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrast and but.
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however#2in whatever way However we do it, someone is going to be unhappy.more Show sample from book They can interpret this however they want.p.269.22 more Show general definition for however (as in: However you do it, get it done!) in whatever way
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ominousthreatening I'm beginning to hear ominous rumblings of discontent.more Show sample from book This was wide-gaping-ominous open.†p.23.76 more threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come) Show general definition threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come)
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dotingdemonstrating love and uncritical affection She has doting parents.more Show sample from book "She dotes on him," Gilpin said, scribbling in a notebook.†p.47.17 more doting → dotes:demonstrates love and uncritical affection Show general definition demonstrating love and uncritical affection Show editor's word notes Doting may also imply that the doter tends to hover around the person they love to help attend to any needs.
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ludicrousabsurd in an amusing way Though she was serious, her suggestion was so ludicrous, I couldn't suppress a laugh.more Show sample from book It just seems so incredibly ludicrous: I am a battered wife.†p.196.57 more
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bondconnection They've had a close bond since childhood.more Show sample from book The knife I used on him, and on my bonds, will be nearby on the floor where I dropped it, dazed, and walked barefoot, carrying nothing out of the house but his keys—to the car, to the gate—and climbed, still slick with his blood, into his vintage Jaguar and returned like some long-lost faithful pet, straight back home to my husband.p.374.62 more bond → bonds:ropes Show general definition for bond (as in: a close bond) a close connection; or to form such a connection; or something that holds things together (creates a connection)
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obliviousunaware of She is oblivious to the dangers.more Show sample from book I wanted to smack her, right then, the obliviousness, the girliness, of her: trying to get an ego stroke from the husband of a missing woman.†p.96.96 more oblivious → obliviousness:lack of awareness
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nostalgianostalgia → nostalgic:with a longing for something past The music makes me feel nostalgic.more Show sample from book It is a line that is only a little funny, but it already has the feel of an inside joke, one that will get funnier with nostalgic repetition.†p.13.24 more Show general definition happiness that come with the memory of good times combined with a hint of sadness that those times are over
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indulgeindulge → indulges:allows them to get their way She indulges her children more than is good for them.more Show sample from book Rand asked, hopeful eyes, and Marybeth and I both indulged him.†p.106.14 more indulge → indulged:enjoyed to excess Show general definition to give in to a desire or allow someone to enjoy or experience something -- especially something pleasurable
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competentsufficiently capable She is a competent student and I have no doubt she will be a competent lawyer one day.more Show sample from book A simple story line: The cops are incompetent and out to get you, it's all circumstantial, if the glove doesn't fit, blah blah, blah.†p.314.54 more competent → incompetent:not sufficiently capable Show context notes The prefix "in-" in incompetent means not and reverses the meaning of competent. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure. Show general definition capable (able to do something in a generally satisfactory manner) -- sometimes specifically to have legal capability
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incriminatemake herself look guilty She refused to answer on the grounds that she might incriminate herself.more Show sample from book "What does she think I'll do when I find this, this incriminating evidence, on my sister's property," I said.†p.228.16 more incriminate → incriminating:making appear guilty Show general definition to make someone appear guilty
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pragmaticpractical She is a pragmatic problem solver.more Show sample from book I was raised by pragmatic parents who pictured their child as a future office worker of some sort, making a living of some sort.†p.36.83 more concerned with practical matters Show general definition concerned with practical matters -- especially where quick results and/or practical experience triumph over theory
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dubiousquestionable or unreliable The theory is based on dubious evidence that hasn’t been verified.more Show sample from book He looked dubiously at his pancakes, topped with strawberries and puffs of whipped cream.†p.126.63 more dubious → dubiously:doubtfully or suspiciously Show general definition doubtful, questionable, or suspicious -- especially in a way that makes something seem unreliable, improper, or uncertain doubtful in various senses, including: questionable or doubtful that something should be relied upon -- as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption." suspicious or doubtful that something is morally proper -- as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors." bad or of questionable value -- as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes." uncertain or doubtful -- as in "She is dubious about making the change."
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contextcontext → out of context:in a misleading manner (because the quote left out additional words that changed the meaning of what was quoted) She said she was quoted out of context and that anyone who read her full speech would know it.more Show context notes When someone is quoted "out of context" it means that selected words were quoted that misrepresent the meaning of all their words. For example, if you said "I admire their effort, but they are dead wrong if they think this will work," and someone implied that you supported their plan by quoting you as only saying, "I admire their effort," they would be quoting you out of context. Show sample from book I paused for that jarring moment when you try to process someone you've seen in only one setting, put them in a new context.†p.148.12 more the setting or situation in which something occurs Show general definition the setting or situation in which something occurs
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phobiaphobia → phobias:extreme and unreasonable fears of things One of the most common phobias is agoraphobia--the fear of being in public places.more Show sample from book She also had a deep phobia of blood, but I'd wait and let the brilliant detectives figure that out.p.177.64 more extreme and unreasonable fear Show general definition extreme and unreasonable fear of something Show editor's word notes Many words end with "phobia" to indicate "fear of" something. It is also common to turn the noun into an adjective with an "ic" suffix; e.g., "phobic" or "xenophobic."
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recessionperiod when the economy is doing poorly The economy entered a recession.more Show sample from book Then the recession hit, washed away the Riverway store by store until the whole mall finally went bust.p.72.34 more a period when the economy does poorly Show general definition for recession (as in: economic recession) a period when the economy does poorly Show editor's word notes Most people think of a recession as any period of two consecutive quarters of shrinking, real GDP. Officially, a nonprofit organization, the National Bureau of Economic Research, determines when the U.S. economy has had a recession. Their proclamation is often a year after the recession started and almost never fails to call a recession indicated by the 2-quarter rule-of-thumb.
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candidunposed A photographer will take traditional wedding pictures. I'm just going to get some candid shots.more Show sample from book "We should get them some candid photos too," I said.p.77.11 more Show general definition for candid (as in: a candid photograph) unposed -- typically said of a photograph
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pariahoutcast The scandal made her a political pariah.more Show sample from book I'm going to hide out long enough to watch Lance Nicholas Dunne become a worldwide pariah, to watch Nick be arrested, tried, marched off to prison, bewildered in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs.†p.246.93 more a social outcast Show general definition a social outcast
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preemptivepreventive The government launched a preemptive strike against the enemy to prevent an imminent attack.more Show sample from book The cheating, that had been preemptive, a subconscious reaction to five years yoked to a madwoman: Of course I'd find myself attracted to an uncomplicated, good-natured hometown girl.†p.271.62 more done before something undesired happens to prevent it from happening Show general definition done before something undesired happens to prevent it from happening
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shirkavoid She began to shirk her duties and turned to drinking to help deal with the pain.more Show sample from book A stalker determined to befriend Amy, and when Amy shirked her... "Do you have any information about Amy, Noelle?"†p.131.62 more shirk → shirked:avoided Show general definition to avoid something -- such as a duty or responsibility