The Crucible Vocabulary
Vengeance Definition: (noun) punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense Synonym: Revenge Antonym: Forgiveness The vengeful young man sought to blacken the name of his girlfriend after she dumped him.
Heretics Definition: Contrary to the church or accepted standards. Synonyms: blasphemer Antonyms: Sacred Sentence: His heretical statements were offensive to many believers in the church.
Orthodox Definition: Conforming to establish standards. Synonyms: Conventional; conservative Antonyms: Unconventional, nonconformist. Sentence: The church was founded on a set of orthodox rules and did not stray too far from them.
Act II Vocabulary
Ameliorate verb Definition: to make better or more tolerable Synonyms: amend, improve Antonyms: worsen
Indignant adjective Definition: Feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or low Synonyms: Offensive Antonyms: Agreeable
Inept Adjective Definition: without skill or aptitude for a particular task or assignment Synonyms: unskillful, inappropriate Antonyms: suited, skillful
Calamity Noun Definition: great misfortune or disaster, as a flood or serious injury. Synonyms: catastrophe, cataclysm Antonyms: blessing, advantage
Blasphemy noun 1. Definitions: Unholy utterance or action concerning God or something sacred 2. The crime of assuming to oneself the rights or qualities of God. Synonyms: profanity, cursing, swearing; sacrilege Antonyms: Reverence, Godliness
Act III Vocabulary
Contempt Noun Definition: 1. the feeling with which someone regards anything considered mean, vile, or worthless; 2. disrespect to the court Synonyms: scorn, disdain Antonyms: approval, respect Other forms: contemptible (adj), contemptuous (adj)
Pretense Noun Definition: pretending; a false show Synonyms: charade, disguise Antonyms: truthful Other forms: pretenseless (adj)
Prodigious Adjective Definition: extraordinary in size, extent, degree, force Synonyms: monstrous Antonyms: minor Other forms: prodigiously (adv)
Perjury Noun Definition: willful giving of false testimony under oath Synonyms: lying Antonyms: telling the truth Other forms: perjure (v)
Callous Adjective Definition: insensitive, indifferent, unsympathetic Synonym: insensible Antonym: sensitive Other forms: callously (adv), callousness (n)
Act IV Vocabulary
Contention Noun Definition: a struggling together in opposition Synonyms: Strife, conflict Antonyms: Agreement Other Forms: contentious (adj)
Righteous Adjective Definition: morally right or justifiable Synonyms: good, fair, right Antonyms: evil Other forms: righteousness (n), righteously (adv)
Reprieve Noun Definition: a temporary relief from punishment Synonyms: postponement, delay Antonyms: doom, conviction Other forms: repriever (n), reprieve (v)
Statute Noun Definition: an established law or rule Synonyms: law Antonyms: request Other forms: n/a
Perplex Verb Definition: to confuse Synonyms: mystify Antonyms: enlighten Other forms: perplexed (adj), perplexingly (adv)