Resistance — Vocabulary
Jennifer A. Nielsen
(Auto-generated)

Word Set

Samples

Sort By

Further limit words

by chapter of first use

to Show all

by difficulty

to (9 is most difficult)

by interest

underline any show only

Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	11	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 But if a family kept his body in hiding, they could use his ration card to get an extra share of food.†p.27.210 more 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
	6	top 500
acquireobtain (get) Children acquire language at an amazing rate.more Show sample from book Acquiring weapons and ammunition were the top priority, but medical supplies, money, and food would also be valuable.†p.39.95 more acquire → acquiring:obtaining (coming into possession of) Show general definition obtain (come into the possession of something)
	5	top 500
estimateroughly calculate or guess What do you estimate this will cost?more Show sample from book Estimates of our dead now numbered into the hundreds, far more than the number of Germans we'd killed.†p.346.74 more estimate → estimates:rough calculations or guesses of values, quantities, or extents Show general definition rough calculation or judgment
	4	top 100
genuinegenuine → genuinely:sincerely I am genuinely sorry for what I did.more Show sample from book I looked into his eyes and felt myself genuinely smile, one of the few times I'd done that in weeks.†p.238.43 more genuine → genuinely:really Show general definition real (as when a person is sincere or an object is not a replica or fake)
	4	top 200
inevitablecertain to happen It is as inevitable as death and taxes.more Show sample from book The only thing masking the sound of our feet upon the metal was the one thing I wished it wasn't: gunfire on the streets, followed inevitably by wails of pain and suffering.†p.144.43 more inevitable → inevitably:with certainty that it will happen Show general definition certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
	5	top 1000
naivenaive → naïve:lacking the understanding or sophistication that comes from experience She criticized America's naïve foreign policy.more Show sample from book I knew the question sounded naive, especially given all I'd seen as a courier, but I wanted to understand.†p.257.44 more 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
	5	top 1000
debrispieces of something that has been destroyed; or trash that is lying around She swept up the debris.more Show sample from book We passed whole buildings that had been leveled to the ground during the Blitzkrieg, some of the back streets still impassable with debris.†p.245.34 more Show general definition pieces of something that has been destroyed; or trash that is lying around
	3	top 100
distinctdifferent Martinez and his colleagues identified 21 distinct emotions made by the human face.more Show sample from book I turned to see a square-built man in his early thirties with a distinct scar on the side of his face.†p.259.52 more clear, easily noticed, and/or identifiable as different or separate Show general definition clear, easily noticed, and/or identifiable as different or separate
	4	top 1000
commotiondisturbance I looked up to see what caused the commotion.more Show sample from book We were supposed to meet Papa at the corner outside his shoe repair shop, but then we heard a commotion nearby.†p.12.33 more noisy disturbance Show general definition a disturbance -- typically noisy
	2	top 200
comprehendcomprehend → comprehends:fully understands I don't think she comprehends how dangerous this has become.more Show sample from book They refuse to believe it, or can't comprehend such horrors.†p.21.21 more understand -- especially to understand it completely Show general definition to understand something -- especially to understand it completely
	2	top 500
earnestearnest → in earnest:in a serious manner I began training in earnest the summer before high school.more Show sample from book She looked at Esther again, too long, too earnestly.†p.167.91 more earnest → earnestly:sincerely or seriously Show general definition characterized by sincere belief or: intensely or excessively serious or determined
	4	top 2000
harassharass → harasses:persistently bothers This man harasses his female co-workersmore Show sample from book Now that we were easily identified, we became easy marks for Poles or Germans who considered harassment a cheap form of entertainment.†p.12.23 more harass → harassment:to repeatedly bother or attack Show general definition to repeatedly bother or attack
	4	top 2000
reciterecite → recited:said aloud She recited a poem.more Show sample from book I'll bet I'm the only courier in Poland who can recite whole passages of the Torah and the Catholic Catechism.†p.107.33 more to say or read something aloud Show general definition to say or read something aloud -- especially something previously memorized such as a poem or: to say in detail -- especially a list of things
	2	top 500
warydistrustful She was taught to be wary of strangers.more Show sample from book My first thought was a question, wondering why these two should be wary of each other, as strangers.†p.248.21 more careful, nervous, or distrustful Show general definition careful or nervous about something
	5
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 felt him staring at it, wondering what he might get in exchange for a blanket on the black market.†p.77.94 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
	3	top 2000
atrocityact that is exceptionally bad or cruel The bombing of the hospital was condemned worldwide as an atrocity.more Show sample from book I'm afraid there's nothing any of us can do, for her or for any of the people caught up in these atrocities.†p.210.12 more atrocity → atrocities:actions that are exceptionally bad or cruel Show general definition an action that is exceptionally bad or cruel
	2	top 1000
quellsuppress or stop The government declared a state of emergency in an attempt to quell political unrest.more Show sample from book Before it came to that, I'd try to quell his suspicions.†p.174.71 more suppress or stop completely Show general definition suppress or stop completely
	2	top 1000
marginalsmall The new version of the app offers only a marginal improvement in speed, hardly noticeable to most users.more Show sample from book Her tone was marginally friendly, though her eye was almost constantly on Esther.p.167.51 more marginal → marginally:slightly Show general definition small, limited, barely sufficient, or at the edge or border
	2
synagoguesynagogue → synagogues:Jewish houses of worship They were arrested for planning to bomb a series of synagogues.more Show sample from book Our national monuments were looted, synagogues were burned, and the bronze statue of our national poet, Adam Mickiewicz, was taken for scrap metal.†p.11.11 more synagogue → synagogues:places where members of the Jewish faith worship Show general definition a place of worship for a people of the Jewish faith
	1	top 200
complacentunworried and satisfied She had become complacent after years of success.more Show sample from book There will come a time when everyone must account for their actions during this war. Some will be judged as evil, others as complacent. But I suspect the greatest number of us will fall to our knees and weep when we discover the full extent of the crimes being committed here.p.175.3 passively accepting of wrong Show general definition contented (unworried and satisfied) -- often to a fault