SADNESS TONE WORDSVocabulary List 4B

MOROSE (adjective) Gloomy, sullen, surly, despondent

Kim Kardashian felt morose after her 72 day marriage ended.

SOLEMNITY (noun) The state of being deeply

earnest, tending toward reflection

The cat was in a state of solemnity after narrowly escaping death yet again.

POIGNANT (adjective) Extremely moving

The poignant pictures of a little boy and his bulldog perfectly illustrate their close relationship.

BLEAK (adjective) Cold and piercing; raw; bare,

desolate

The landscape was decidedly bleak after the zombie apocalypse.

STIGMATIZE (verb) To brand with disgrace; to set a mark of disgrace upon

Child beauty pageants are often stigmatized in our culture, and Honey Boo Boo certainly isn’t helping reduce the stigma.

FATALISM (noun) The acceptance of all things and events

as inevitable; submission to fate

The fatalistic snowman resignedly awaited the coming of spring.

MACHINATION (noun) Scheming activity for an evil purpose

Walter’s machinations brought ruin upon his family.

VICISSITUDE (noun) Upheaval; natural change; change

in fortune

The unfortunate vicissitude of the glacier changing to an ice cube affected the polar bear greatly.

DISMAY (verb) To surprise in such a manner as

to disillusion

The parents dismayed Allen by telling him the Tooth Fairy wasn’t real.

TREPIDATION (noun) Fear, alarm, or agitation

John was overcome with trepidation when the horse tried to say goodbye.