The Girl on the Train — Vocabulary
Paula Hawkins
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	12	top 500
motivereason (for doing something) She believes the profit motive encourages people to satisfy other people's needs.more Show sample from book That's what they're saying: Megan killed her baby, which would give someone—the father of the child, presumably-a motive to kill her.†p.252.111 more Show general definition for motive (as in: What is her motive?) a reason for doing something
	7	top 1000
colleaguefellow worker -- especially in a respected profession such as teaching, medicine, or law My colleague suggested a different approach.more Show sample from book Like that time we went to a party thrown by a colleague of Tom's, and I was very drunk, but we'd had a good night.†p.332.86 more fellow worker
	8	top 2000
harassharass → harasses:persistently bothers This man harasses his female co-workersmore Show sample from book She said that you have harassed both her and her husband, that you continue to call the house repeatedly.†p.103.47 more harass → harassed:to repeatedly bother or attack Show general definition to repeatedly bother or attack
	4	top 100
sufficientadequate (enough) We have sufficient supplies.more Show sample from book I went out to get another bottle, but I was thwarted by the ATM, which gave me the much-anticipated riposte: There are insufficient funds in your account.†p.186.93 more sufficient → insufficient:not adequate (not enough) Show context notes The prefix "in-" in insufficient means not and reverses the meaning of sufficient. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure. Show general definition adequate (enough -- often without being more than is needed)
	1	top 500
reconcilereconcile → reconciled:made peace or restored friendship After months of not speaking, the two friends finally reconciled over coffee.more Show sample from book Both her parents died a few years ago, without ever being reconciled with their daughter.p.108.51 more reconcile → reconciled:restored to a good relationship after a period of estrangement or conflict Show general definition for reconcile (as in: reconciled their differences) to make peace between people or bring different ideas into agreement
	1	top 500
reconcile#2come to terms with After the accident, she had to reconcile herself to life without loving parents.more Show sample from book And the thing with the golf club, that hole in the plaster, grey and blank like a blinded eye trained on me every time I passed it, and I couldn't reconcile the violence that he talked about with the fear that I remembered.p.322.81 more make compatible Show general definition for reconcile (as in: reconciled herself to) to accept something difficult or unwanted -- especially when it can’t be changed
	7	top 2000
adrenalineadrenaline → adrenaline junkie:“fight or flight” stimulating hormone She's an adrenaline junkie. She loves the rush that comes from roller coasters, skydiving, and big waves.more Show sample from book I could feel the blood pulsing in my neck, sweat at the base of my spine, the sickening rush of adrenaline.†p.149.16 more Show general definition “fight or flight” stimulating hormone secreted by the adrenal gland in response to stress (making the body feel excited and ready for action) Show editor's word notes Doctors are more likely to use the term epinephrine (possibly shortened to epi or EP). Adrenalin as a proper noun without the ending "e" is a trademark name for the same chemical.
	5	top 1000
vulnerablevulnerable → vulnerable to:easily hurt by The computers are vulnerable to cyberattacks.more Show sample from book I realize it's ridiculous, but I feel so horribly vulnerable now that I've seen what he is; now that there are no secrets between us.†p.314.24 more 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
	6	top 2000
wretchedmiserable The children were taken into protective custody due to their wretched living conditions.more Show sample from book He hangs his head, wretched.†p.195.25 more miserable or very bad Show general definition very bad in various senses, including: unfortunate or miserable -- as in "wretched prisoners sleeping on the cold floor" of poor quality -- as in "wretched roads" morally bad -- as in "The wretched woman stole his wallet."
	4	top 500
presumepresume → presumed:assumed I presumed she was an expert since she spoke so confidently.more Show sample from book That's what they're saying: Megan killed her baby, which would give someone—the father of the child, presumably-a motive to kill her.p.252.13 more presume → presumably:probably Show context notes The suffix "-ably" is a combination of the suffixes "-able" and "-ly". It means in a manner that is capable of being. This is the same pattern you see in words like agreeably, favorably, and comfortably. Show general definition for presume (as in: presumption of innocence) to think of something as true or likely, even though it is not known with certainty Show editor's word notes Something can be presumed because it seems reasonable or because there is a rule or law demanding such an assumption. For example, in the United States someone charged with a crime is presumed by law to be innocent unless they are proven guilty at a trial.
	4	top 1000
rationalrational → rationally:in a reasonable manner It's hard to think rationally when I'm this upset.more Show sample from book I felt as though I could think more rationally.†p.155.63 more rational → rationally:reasonable, able to think clearly, or based on logic rather than emotion Show general definition for rational (as in: rational behavior) reasonable, able to think clearly, or based on logic rather than emotion
	5	top 2000
anguishpain I felt unbearable anguish when my 4-year-old child died from brain cancer.more Show sample from book At first she's repeating give her to me, give her to me, but then it's just an indistinguishable howl of fury and anguish.†p.367.74 more extreme pain, suffering, or distress Show general definition extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
	3	top 500
exasperatedgreatly annoyed She was exasperated by his teasing.more Show sample from book I dialled his number and listened to his voice when he picked up, at first soft with sleep, and then louder, wary, worried, exasperated.†p.57.52 more Show general definition greatly annoyed
	2	top 200
sinisterevil They created a sinister plan to recruit terrorists.more Show sample from book This is not necessarily sinister, I have had them before, usually from when I've fallen and someone has helped me up.p.51.61 more evil, harmful, or frightening Show general definition evil or harmful; or making an evil or frightening impression
	4
déjà vuthe strange feeling of having lived the current moment before As she walked through the old town, she had a strong sense of déjà vu, as if she had been there before.more Show sample from book Shame, but also the strongest sense of deja vu, because I've heard those words before, those exact words.†p.322.23 more déjà vu → deja vu:the strange feeling of having lived the current moment before… Show general definition the strange feeling of having lived the current moment before; or referring to something as similar to what has happened before
	2	top 1000
vindictiveinclined to seek revenge or desirous of hurting others Not being vindictive by nature, Grant did what he could to see that the Confederate prisoners were treated well.more Show sample from book If Anna is collecting evidence that I am vindictive and obsessive, this could be a key piece in her dossier.†p.129.21 more desirous of seeking revenge or wanting to hurt someone Show general definition desirous of seeking revenge or wanting to hurt someone
	3
antiseptica substance used to clean wounds because it prevents infection by killing harmful micro-organisms such as bacteria I washed the wound and then used alcohol as an antiseptic.more Show sample from book There was a sharp smell of antiseptic in the room, but Scott himself was a mess, a sweat patch on the back of his T-shirt, his jeans hanging loose on his hips as though they were too big for him.†p.144.12 more a substance that prevents infection by killing harmful micro-organisms;… Show general definition a substance that prevents infection by killing harmful micro-organisms; or (as an adjective) describing something very clean and free of germs
	3
information technologycomputer-related She has a high-paying information technology job.more Show sample from book There she meets Scott Hipwell, an independent IT contractor who is friendly with the restaurant manager, and the two of them hit it off.p.109.12 more information technology → IT:Information Technology (computer and telecommunications) Show general definition for information technology (as in: IT or Information Technology) the branch of engineering that deals with the use of computers and telecommunications to retrieve and store and transmit information
	2	top 1000
transgresstransgress → transgressed:violated Her actions transgressed the boundaries of acceptable behavior.more Show sample from book If I had to write down every transgression for which I should apologize to Tom, I could fill a book.†p.133.41 more transgress → transgression:an act that violates a rule, promise, or social norm Show general definition to violate a rule, promise, or social norm
	1	top 100
correlatecorrelate → correlation:a relationship between two things so that one can be predicted from the other My opponent is confusing correlation with causation. Just because kids who play violent video games are also more likely to behave violently, doesn't mean the video games cause the violence.more Show context notes Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.' For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math. Show sample from book Some don't correlate at all.p.329.3 have a relationship Show context notes Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.' For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math. Show general definition to find or have a connection or relationship between two things, such that a change in one helps predict a change in the other Show editor's word notes Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.' For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.