Ethical, Emotional & Social Vocabulary with Examples
Ethical, Emotional & Social Vocabulary with Examples
Clear definitions and example sentences for advanced English vocabulary related to morality, emotion, and society. Each entry shows the word, a concise definition, and an illustrative sentence.
Ambiguous
Definition: Unclear, having multiple meanings.
His answer was ambiguous, so nobody knew what he really meant.
Corruption
Definition: Dishonest or fraudulent conduct.
The politician was arrested for corruption and bribery.
Decadence
Definition: Moral or cultural decline or decay.
The empire’s decadence eventually led to its downfall.
Hypocrisy
Definition: Pretending to have beliefs one does not actually hold.
His hypocrisy was obvious when he criticized others for lying.
Superficial
Definition: Shallow; lacking depth.
Their friendship was superficial and based only on appearances.
Alienation
Definition: Feeling isolated or estranged.
He experienced alienation after moving to a new country.
Morality
Definition: Principles of right and wrong behavior.
Questions of morality are central to most religions.
Inevitable
Definition: Certain to happen; unavoidable.
Change is inevitable in life.
Contradiction
Definition: Statement or situation with opposing elements.
There is a contradiction between what he says and what he does.
Significance
Definition: Importance or meaning.
The significance of this discovery cannot be overstated.
Revelation
Definition: Surprising disclosure of information.
The revelation shocked everyone at the meeting.
Integrity
Definition: Honesty and moral principles.
He is known for his integrity and always does the right thing.
Elation
Definition: Extreme happiness.
She felt elation when she heard the good news.
Apprehension
Definition: Anxiety or fear about the future.
He felt apprehension before his first day at work.
Treachery
Definition: Betrayal of trust.
His treachery hurt her more than anything else.
Conceit
Definition: Excessive pride in oneself.
His conceit made him unbearable to work with.
Serenity
Definition: State of calm and peace.
The garden filled her with a sense of serenity.
Infatuation
Definition: Intense but short-lived attraction.
His infatuation with her lasted only a few weeks.
Lament
Definition: Expression of grief or regret.
The poem is a lament for lost youth.
Fortitude
Definition: Courage in facing pain or adversity.
She showed great fortitude during her illness.
Prominence
Definition: State of being important or famous.
He rose to prominence as a young scientist.
Enigma
Definition: Mysterious or puzzling person or thing.
The ancient text remains an enigma to scholars.
Opacity
Definition: Lack of transparency or clarity.
The opacity of the government’s decision frustrated citizens.
Tenacity
Definition: Persistent determination.
Her tenacity helped her succeed despite many obstacles.
Pretense
Definition: False display or claim.
He made no pretense of being interested.
Alien
Definition: Foreign, unfamiliar, or extraterrestrial.
The customs were alien to her.
Lamentation
Definition: Expression of sorrow or mourning.
The lamentation could be heard throughout the village.
Superficiality
Definition: Lack of depth or substance.
The superficiality of social media conversations bothered him.
Trepidation
Definition: Fear or anxiety about something.
She approached the interview with trepidation.
Implosion
Definition: Violent collapse inward.
The company’s implosion was sudden and unexpected.
Opulence
Definition: Great wealth and luxury.
The palace was decorated with incredible opulence.