Wrath: A Dictionary for the Enraged

  WRATH

  A DICTIONARY FOR THE ENRAGED

  JENNIFER M. WOOD

  An Introduction to

  Wrath

  wrath

  (rath)

  NOUN: An intense anger; a vengeful punishment.

  Many sins sow the seeds for war, but the unmitigated rage responsible for its execution comes from wrath. The destruction, the loss, the pain—all are left in the wake of this particular sin. Whether it comes down from on high like the gods’ rage in Homer’s Odyssey or boils up from inside like the fuel of Ahab’s vengeful voyage, the vice’s choking grip has been felt throughout history and literature. Sometimes justified, oftentimes not, the results are always the same. While wrath is best defined in the gritted teeth and white-knuckled fist of the enraged, this short dictionary captures the spirit of the most combative sin.

  A

  abash

  (uh-BASH)

  VERB: To humiliate, shame, or embarrass someone.

  abhorrent

  (ab-HOR-ent)

  ADJECTIVE: Repulsive or reprehensible.

  abominate

  (uh-BOM-ih-nayt)

  VERB: To detest or hate intensely.

  Even though the divorce was finalized, it didn’t change the fact that Rachel still ABOMINATED her ex-husband for having an affair.

  acerbate

  (AS-er-bayt)

  VERB OR ADJECTIVE: As a verb, to exasperate. As an adjective, embittered.

  acrid

  (AK-rid)

  ADJECTIVE: Most often used to describe something that is bitter or harsh in smell or taste, the word can be applied in a more general sense to anything that is extremely angry and bitter.

  acrimonious

  (ak-ri-MO-nee-us)

  ADJECTIVE: Bitter or hostile; something that is acrimonious is filled with anger and animosity.

  adverse

  (AD-vers)

  ADJECTIVE: Acting in opposition to or in an antagonistic manner; unfavorable; hostile.

  affliction

  (uh-FLICK-shun)

  NOUN: A condition of physical or mental suffering; hardship.

  Sophie’s self-hatred became such an AFFLICTION that no one was surprised by her eventual suicide.

  aggravate

  (AG-ruh-vayt)

  VERB: to make worse; to intensify; to cause to become irritated or inflamed.

  alienate

  (AY-lee-uh-nayt)

  VERB: To isolate or make someone feel as if he or she no longer belongs somewhere; estrange.

  amerce

  (uh-MERSS)

  VERB: To punish, especially with a monetary fine.

  anathema

  (uh-NATH-eh-muh)

  NOUN: A person or thing that is shunned because it is extremely disliked or loathsome.

  anger

  (ANG-ger)

  NOUN OR VERB: As a noun, a strong feeling of displeasure. As a verb, to arouse wrath within.

  animadversion

  (an-uh-mad-VER-zhun)

  NOUN: An extremely critical and reproachful comment.

  animosity

  (an-ih-MOSS-ih-tee)

  NOUN: Extreme hostility or resentment.

  animus

  (AN-uh-muss)

  NOUN: Hostility or ill feeling.

  I was angry with my friend:

  I told my wrath,

  my wrath did end.

  I was angry with my foe:

  I told it not,

  my wrath did grow.

  —WILLIAM BLAKE

  antagonism

  (an-TAG-uh-niz-uhm)

  NOUN: An opposition between unfriendly or conflicting people or groups.

  antipathy

  (an-TIP-uh-thee)

  NOUN: A feeling of strong revulsion or hostility or the source of that hostility.

  If you feel such ANTIPATHY towards your job, why do you continue to go?

  apocalyptic

  (uh-pok-uh-LIP-tik)

  ADJECTIVE: As in the Bible’s book of Revelation, apocalyptic refers to an event involving widespread destruction or disaster.

  apoplectic

  (ap-uh-PLECK-tic)

  ADJECTIVE: An “apoplexy” is a stroke, so apoplectic can refer to the symptoms of a stroke, but it also refers to being in a state of extreme anger or rage.

  arson

  (AHR-suhn)

  NOUN: The intentional destruction of property by fire for malicious reasons.

  artifice

  (ART-ih-fuss)

  NOUN: Clever trickery or deceit.

  Through your well-rehearsed ARTIFICE you were able to embezzle over $40,000.

  askance

  (uh-SKANTS)

  ADVERB: Can refer to looking at something in a sideways manner or with suspicion or disapproval; doubtfully.

  asperity

  (a-SPAYR-ih-tee)

  NOUN: A manner that is harsh or severe; brusqueness.

  aspersion

  (uh-SPUR-zhun)

  NOUN: A slanderous or defamatory charge; false accusation. The word is often used in the plural.

  aversion

  (uh-VUR-zhun)

  NOUN: Extreme hatred or loathing; repugnance.

  B

  baleful

  (BAYL-ful)

  ADJECTIVE: Threatening misfortune to come; ominous.

  bane

  (bayn)

  NOUN: Something that causes harm or destruction; scourge.

  barbarism

  (BAR-ber-ism)

  NOUN: Uncivilized or brutal behavior or actions; savagery.

  bedlam

  (BED-lum)

  NOUN: A situation marked by confusion or chaos; mayhem.

  During the riots out in the streets, the BEDLAM was such that we were unable to get in or out of our flat.

  belabor

  (bih-LAY-burr)

  VERB: To attack or assault either physically or verbally.

  beleaguer

  (bee-LEEG-urr)

  VERB: To besiege or harass a person; bother.

  belligerent

  (buh-LIJ-er-ent)

  ADJECTIVE: From the Latin word for “war,” a belligerent person is someone who is argumentative or pugnacious.

  bemoan

  (bih-MOAN)

  VERB: To express regret or disappointment; lament.

  Never one to be content, Isabel was always the first to BEMOAN the restaurant choice.

  besiege

  (bih-SEEJ)

  VERB: To surround a person or group in an attempt to capture it; to harass or overwhelm.

  bestial

  (BESS-chul)

  ADJECTIVE: Beastly or inhuman; savage or brutal.

  Anger and jealousy can no more bear to lose sight of their objects than love.

  —GEORGE ELIOT

  bête noire

  (bett NWAHR)

  NOUN: French for “black beast,” bête noire is an extremely disliked or frightening person or thing.

  bilious

  (BILL-yes)

  ADJECTIVE: Related to the word “bile,” bilious refers to a thing or person that is unsettling or irritable; bad-tempered.

  blacklist

  (BLAK-list)

  VERB: To shun a person because his or her behavior goes against something that is considered right or moral.

  bludgeon

  (BLUD-jun)

  VERB: To beat someone repeatedly with an object. As a noun, a bludgeon is a club that can be used as a weapon.

  bluster

  (BLUS-ter)

  VERB: To behave in a loud, obnoxious way or in a manner that could threaten someone; harangue.

  Not normally one to BLUSTER, it was surprising when Timothy yelled offensive statements out of th
e window.

  boil

  (boyl)

  VERB: Most commonly used in reference to the point where a liquid becomes a gas, to boil also means to seethe with anger; fume.

  bombard

  (bom-BARD)

  VERB: To place under attack; assail.

  bout

  (bowt)

  NOUN: A short period of time spent doing something, like a bout with the flu, or a contest or fight.

  brandish

  (BRAN-dish)

  VERB: To show something in a menacing way; wield.

  Annabel will BRANDISH the knife to her husband, whether or not she intends to use it, if he threatens her again.

  brash

  (brash)

  ADJECTIVE: Impetuous or hasty; aggressive.

  brazen

  (BRAY-zun)

  ADJECTIVE: Bold or brash; shameless. The adverb form is brazenly.

  brouhaha

  (BROO-ha-ha)

  NOUN: An event marked by noise or conflict; a commotion or ruckus.

  brunt

  (brunt)

  NOUN: The primary force or impact of something, as in an attack.

  brusque

  (brusk)

  ADJECTIVE: An abrupt or short manner; curt.

  bugaboo

  (BUG-uh-boo)

  NOUN: A person or thing that causes obsessive fear or anxiety; a persistent problem.

  The dark figure on the corner of my street causes such a BUGABOO that the other neighbors and I have taken to walking the long way home.

  Control thy passions,

  lest they take vengeance

  on thee.

  —EPICTETUS

  bull

  (bull)

  VERB: To push or drive powerfully or violently.

  bumptious

  (BUMP-shuss)

  ADJECTIVE: Overbearing and self-important; pushy.

  I’m tired of Peter being so BUMPTIOUS toward his wife; she is never able to make any decisions or even speak without being interrupted.

  C

  calamity

  (kuh-LAMM-ih-tee)

  NOUN: An event causing great misfortune or disaster; misery that results from a disaster.

  callous

  (KAL-uss)

  ADJECTIVE: Unconcerned about others’ feelings; heartless.

  calumny

  (KAL-um-nee)

  NOUN: A false or slanderous statement made with malicious intent; defamation.

  canard

  (kuh-NARD)

  NOUN: A false accusation or fabrication; a rumor.

  It was cruel of Colette to invent such a CANARD about her sister, especially considering how many others she told.

  cantankerous

  (kan-TANG-ker-us)

  ADJECTIVE: Argumentative or irritable.

  captious

  (KAP-shuss)

  ADJECTIVE: Describes a person who is extremely critical and often finds fault with others for trivial matters.

  carp

  (karp)

  VERB: To complain loudly and excessively, particularly about trivial matters.

  There is no need to continue to CARP about your dislike for tonight’s dinner; tomorrow night you can prepare your own.

  castigate

  (KASS-tuh-gate)

  VERB: To reprimand or punish severely; criticize.

  cataclysm

  (kat-uh-KLIZZ-uhm)

  NOUN: A sudden and destructive change or upheaval; a catastrophe.

  caustic

  (KOSS-tick)

  ADJECTIVE: Biting or particularly sarcastic; scathing.

  cavil

  (KAV-ihl)

  VERB: To complain or split hairs regarding trivial matters.

  censorious

  (sen-SOR-ee-us)

  ADJECTIVE: Extremely disapproving or critical; stern.

  censure

  (SEN-sher)

  VERB: To fault or disapprove of something; criticize. As a noun, the word refers to extreme criticism.

  chafe

  (chayf)

  VERB: To rub or cause friction; to irritate or annoy.

  chagrin

  (shuh-GRIN)

  NOUN: Feeling humiliated or mortified as a result of an embarrassing situation.

  Though it gave her much CHAGRIN, Petra held her head high and walked through the crowd with half of her dress missing.

  He enter’d,

  but he enter’d full of wrath.

  —JOHN KEATS

  chide

  (chyd)

  VERB: To scold or reprimand someone; reproach.

  choler

  (KAHL-er)

  NOUN: Anger or irritability.

  clamor

  (KLAM-uhr)

  NOUN: A loud uproar or disturbance; upheaval.

  clout

  (klowt)

  NOUN: The influence or importance a person or thing holds; as a verb, it means to hit somebody with one’s hand.

  collude

  (kuh-LOOD)

  VERB: To conspire or scheme with someone for the purpose of doing something illegal.

  Tonight we will COLLUDE with the other thieves in preparation for tomorrow’s heist.

  complicit

  (kum-PLIS-it)

  ADJECTIVE: To be involved in something illicit.

  contemptuous

  (kun-TEMP-choo-us)

  ADJECTIVE: Expressing disdain or disapproval; scornful.

  contentious

  (kuhn-TEN-chuss)

  ADJECTIVE: Having a tendency to disagree or fight; argumentative.

  Our marriage has become increasingly CONTENTIOUS; it seems we can no longer go a day without an argument.

  contravene

  (kon-truh-VEEN)

  VERB: To disobey or break a rule.

  contrive

  (kun-TRYV)

  VERB: To plot or scheme; to accomplish something by being clever.

  controvert

  (KON-truh-VERT)

  VERB: To strongly oppose something; refute.

  In battling evil, excess is good; for he who is moderate in announcing the truth is presenting half-truth. He conceals the other half out of fear of other people’s wrath.

  —KAHLIL GIBRAN

  contumely

  (kon-TYOO-muh-lee)

  NOUN: Insulting or contemptuous behavior or language arising from arrogance.

  coup de grâce

  (koo duh GRAHS)

  NOUN: The final event or stroke that brings a situation to a conclusion; a death blow.

  Most believe it was the suspicion of sorcery that was the COUP DE GRCE for Mary’s beheading, but others feel it was long in coming.

  culpability

  (kul-puh-BILL-ih-tee)

  NOUN: Accountability or responsibility for some sort of wrongdoing.

  D

  dander

  (DAN-der)

  NOUN: Anger or bad humor.

  dauntless

  (DAWNT-luss)

  ADJECTIVE: Unable to be frightened or intimidated; fearless.

  Years of crime and abuse made him DAUNTLESS; even backed into a corner and outnumbered, he was not afraid.

  deadlock

  (DED-lok)

  NOUN: A standstill that occurs when two opposing forces can no longer progress any further in a dispute; impasse.

  debacle

  (dih-BA-kull)

  NOUN: A disaster or catastrophe; an absolute fiasco.

  debase

  (dih-BAYS)

  VERB: To reduce in value or status.

  decry

  (dih-CRY)

  VERB: To criticize or condemn; belittle.