The Hate U Give — Vocabulary
Angie Thomas
(Edited)

Book sample Uses ACT/SAT
2 top 10
relevantimportant or meaningful
Pac said Thug Life stood for 'The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody.' ... T-H-U-G  L-I-F-E. ... See? Told you he was relevant.p.21.41 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Shannon tells an interesting story, but it's not relevant to the decision we have to make.more
important (related in a meaningful way)
Show general definition relating in a meaningful way to the issue in question
7 top 500
pettyattempting to make someone suffer for an unimportant wrong
Petty would be saying, "New number, who dis?"p.426.86 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
I'm disgusted with their small-minded pettiness.more
petty → pettiness:unpleasant focus on unimportant negative things
Show general definition for petty (as in: don't be petty) unpleasantly focusing on an unimportant flaw; or attempting to make someone suffer for an unimportant wrong
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oppressoppress → oppressed:people treated harshly and unfairly
"Us who?" he asks.
"Black people, minorities, poor people. Everybody at the bottom in society."
"The oppressed," says Daddy.p.167.45 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
The regime oppresses its people.more
oppress → oppresses:treats harshly and unfairly
Show general definition for oppress (as in: oppressive government) to dominate harshly and unfairly; or to make suffer
The meaning of oppress depends upon its context. For example:
  • "The authorities oppress political activists," or "The new nation oppressed Native Americans." -- to dominate harshly and unfairly
  • "She is oppressed by excessive debt." - made to suffer
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perspectiveway of seeing and thinking about things
Starr offers a unique perspective in this, one you don't get a lot with these cases,p.135.41 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
A child who was abused with have a different perspective of family life than one raised in a nurturing home.more
way of seeing or thinking about things
Show general definition for perspective (as in: Look at it from her perspective) a particular way of seeing or thinking about things
4 top 2000
ironyirony → ironically:when what happens is very different than what might be expected
"What happened?" Momma asks.
"Keep your damn voice down!" Ironically, she's not keeping hers down.p.157.93 more
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She didn't see the irony in acting like the mother she detested.more
Show general definition for irony (as in: situational irony) when what happens is very different than what might be expected; or when things are together that seem like they don't belong together -- especially when amusing or an entertaining coincidence
Show editor's word notes This is sometimes referred to as "situational irony."  The term is especially appropriate when actions have consequences opposite to those intended.

The expression ironic smile, generally references someone smiling at situational irony.

All forms of irony involve the perception that things are not what they might seem.
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harassharass → harassing:disturbing with excessive demands
He felt that the cop was harassing him.p.100.93 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
This man harasses his female co-workersmore
harass → harasses:persistently bothers
Show general definition to repeatedly bother or attack
3
indictofficially charge with a crime
Ofrah said they would be leading protests around the city if the grand jury didn't indict.p.387.22 more
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The grand jury indicted her.more
indict → indicted:formally charged with a crime
Show general definition for indict (as in: indicted by the grand jury) formally charge with a crime
3
empowerempower → empowered:gave knowledge or confidence that helps others to take more control of their lives
Nat Turner empowered and educated other slaves, and it led to one of the biggest slave revolts in history.p.167.82 more
Show context notes Nat Turner was the leader of 1831 U.S. slave rebellion in Virginia in which slave owners and their families were killed and slaves freed. About 60 whites were killed and then about 175 African Americans in sometimes indiscriminate reprisals.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
The Constitution empowers the Vice President to cast tie-breaking votes in the Senate.more
empower → empowers:gives power or authority to
Show general definition give or delegate authority or power to

or:

give knowledge or confidence to someone that permits doing something
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gendercategory of male or female
It's that whole 'play like a girl' mind-set the male gender uses to belittle women, when we have as much athleticism as they do.p.109.2
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Gender roles were more defined when my grandmother was growing up.more
male/female/trans
Show general definition for gender (as in: gender discrimination) male or female

or (especially regarding self-identification): the state of being male, female, or in any of many trans categories
Show editor's word notes While the word sex can almost always be substituted for this meaning of gender, gender is typically used in reference to cultural or social differences, while sex is typically used for biological differences.
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notoriouswell known for something bad
"A majority of those years have been spent serving in Garden Heights," the voice-over continues, "a neighborhood notorious for gangs and drug dealers."p.242.1
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
He was a notorious drug dealer.more
1 top 1000
remorseremorse → remorseful:full of regret for doing something that was wrong
We're at least three hours too late... Make sure y'all sound remorseful, all right?p.413.7
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
There was no sign of remorse until the police caught her.more
regret for doing something wrong
Show general definition a feeling of deep regret for doing something that was wrong
Show editor's word notes Synonym comparison (if you're into word choice):

Many consider the word remorse stronger than the word regret. Also, it is more personal. One might regret that their team lost the game, but feel remorse that they missed the bus and weren't there to help the team.
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suburbansuburban → suburbs:residential areas located near the outer edge of a city where it isn't as crowded
Momma yells, "And I love how you insist on getting somebody else's child out of Garden Heights, but you want ours to stay in that hellhole!"
"You want them in the suburbs with all this fake shit?"p.229.54 more
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I want a suburban home with a white picket fence and a big yard.more
in an area located near the outer edge of a city where it isn't so crowded
Show general definition relating to a residential area located near the outer edge of a city where it isn't as crowded
23
grand jurya group of citizens who decide if there is enough evidence to formally accuse someone of a crime
She explains the grand jury proceedings.p.263.322 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
During his testimony before the grand jury, she repeatedly said she had no memory of such a conversation.more
a group of citizens who decide whether or not there is enough evidence to formally accuse someone of a crime
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advocateadvocate → advocates:publicly supports
We are a small organization here in Garden Heights that advocates for police accountability.p.129.41 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She advocates stricter gun control.more
Show general definition for advocate (as in: to advocate) to recommend or publicly support (someone or something)
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advocate#2a person who publicly supports and works to advance a cause
Besides being an advocate, I'm also an attorney.p.135.71 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She is a passionate advocate for children's welfare.more
Show general definition for advocate (as in: an advocate supporting) a person who publicly supports and works to advance a cause

or more rarely:

someone acting in the role of a defense lawyer in England's past and in some jurisdictions today
3
pawn shoppawn shop → pawnshop:a shop that offers loans to individuals who use their personal property as collateral
Daddy almost lost his wedding ring to that pawnshop once.p.392.32 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She put up her wedding ring at the pawn shop to get a 1-week loan so she could fix her car.more
a shop that offers loans to people who use their personal property as collateral
Show general definition a shop that either offers loans to individuals who use their personal property as collateral, or that purchases the personal property outright
Show editor's word notes At a pawn shop, collateral refers to personal property of the borrower that that is left at the pawn shop. If the loan isn't repaid with interest, the pawn shop keeps (the property an sells it to someone else. Otherwise, the property is returned to the borrower.
1
belittlemake seem less important
It's that whole 'play like a girl' mind-set the male gender uses to belittle women, when we have as much athleticism as they do.p.109.2
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
He needs to learn to disagree without belittling his opponent.more
belittle → belittling:treating as unimportant
Show general definition to make someone or something seem unimportant
5
Malcolm Xmilitant civil rights leader (1925-1965)
Black Jesus hangs from the cross in a painting on the hallway wall, and Malcolm X holds a shotgun in a photograph next to him.p.34.14 more
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Members of the Nation of Islam were convicted for assassinating Malcolm X.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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assumeassume → assumed:believed (without knowing)
This all happened because he ... assumed that we were up to no good. Because we're black and because of where we live.p.285.612 more
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I assume she was at school today, but I don't remember actually seeing her.more
believe (without knowing for sure)
Show general definition for assume (as in: I assume it's true) to accept something as true without proof
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chaosextreme confusion and disorder
We screech off, leaving chaos in the rearview mirror.p.19.81 more
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The country entered a period of civil war and chaos.more
Show general definition a state of extreme confusion and disorder