Literary Words: English Vocabulary List

a group of people organized together because they share similar interests or goals

"It is a secret order."

"The clandestine order operated in the shadows, pursuing its agenda through subtle influence and manipulation."

yarn or fabric with mixed colors that create muted greyish shades, often with flecks of other colors

"A heather colored sweater."

"She knitted a cozy scarf using heather yarn, giving it a soft, mottled appearance."

to manage or take care of a situation, task, or responsibility successfully

"Can you attend this?"

"She managed to attend all her professional obligations while also caring for her ailing parent."

a feeling of long-lasting sadness that often cannot be explained

"A deep melancholy filled the empty house after the funeral."

"A quiet melancholy settled over him as he watched the rain fall outside."

deviating from what is considered conventional or expected

"He gave a queer look."

"The queer feeling in her stomach told her that something was wrong but she could not figure out what it was until she saw the note."

lacking freshness or excitement due to overuse, age, or repetition

"The bread is stale."

"His constant complaining made the entire conversation feel stale and unproductive."

a person's chest

"She held the child to her bosom."

"She held the precious locket close to her bosom, a constant reminder of her loved one."

to move clumsily or struggle while walking

"The duck will flounder."

"Lost in the deep snow, the hiker began to flounder, his progress agonizingly slow."

to fail to be successful or make any progress

"The prisoner languished in jail for years."

"The talented actor continued to languish in obscurity for many years before finally getting his big break in Hollywood."

(of a person) displaying a childish behavior due to being treated very well or having been given everything they desired in the past

"The spoiled child cried."

"The spoiled child threw a tantrum when he didn't get the toy he wanted immediately."

reckless and willing to do dangerous things

"A daredevil stunt."

"The daredevil motorcyclist jumped over ten cars in a row and the crowd cheered as he landed safely on the other side."

to isolate or separate something or someone from outside influence or contact

"The jury was sequestered during the trial."

"The jury was sequestered in a hotel during the trial to prevent them from being influenced by outside news or opinions."

permission or authorization to do something

"She requested leave for next Monday"

"He requested annual leave for two weeks to travel to Japan with his family."

the leftover plant material, like seed coverings and bits of stem or leaves, remaining after crops are harvested

"The field had stubble."

"After the harvest, the field was covered in stubble, waiting for the next planting season."

a condition or situation that is similar or only appears to be similar to something

"It has a semblance of truth."

"Despite the chaos, the room maintained a semblance of order, which was quite surprising."