Unit 14: Negative feelings

Question 1

antipathy

Antipathy towards the government increased during the economic crisis.

Answer 1

a feeling of strong, often active, dislike or opposition towards sth or sb.

Question 2

aversion

Arrogance has always been my pet aversion.

I felt an instant aversion to the new manager.

Answer 2

a feeling of intense dislike or an unwillingness to do sth

Question 3

= detest

loathe

He loathed hypocrisy.

(n): loathing; (adj): loathesome

Answer 3

dislike sb/sth very much

Question 4

abhor

She abhors any form of cruelty towards animals.

(n): abhorrence; (adj): abhorrent

Answer 4

hate something, for example a way of behaving or thinking, especially for moral reasons

Question 5

= dismiss

scorn

Such methods are scorned by reputable practitioners.

(n): scorn; (adj): scornful

Answer 5

feel or show that you think somebody/something is stupid and you do not respect them or it

Question 6

irritation

Her comments gave me an intense feeling of irritation.

(v): irritate; (adj): irritating/irritated

Answer 6

a feeling of being annoyed

Question 7

distress

It was clear that the letter had deeply distressed her.

(n): distress; (adj): distressed/distressing

Answer 7

make somebody feel very worried or unhappy

Question 8

offhand

She was very offhand with everyone.

Answer 8

showed a rude lack of interest in others

Question 9

officious

The Director’s personal assistant can be very officious.

(n): officiousness = self-importance

Answer 9

too eager to tell others what to do

Question 10

= pretentious

pompous

She’s become pompous since she was elected to Parliament.

(n): pomposity

Answer 10

too formal and showing that you think that you are more important than other people

Question 11

ostentatious

He makes very ostentious displays of his wealth.

(n): ostention

Answer 11

displaying wealth or possessions in a vulgar way

Question 12

pretentious

She boasts about reading philosophy books-she’s so pretentious.

(n): pretentiousness

Answer 12

tries to appear more serious or important than she is

Question 13

puerile

What puerile behaviour! Grow up!

(n): puerility

Answer 13

silly and childish

Question 14

sloppy

Because I rushed it, my essay was a bit sloppy.

(n): sloppiness

Answer 14

not taking care in the way you work

Question 15

fickle

Such is life in the fickle world of fashion.

(n): fickleness

Answer 15

change your feeling suddenly without reason

Question 16

nit-picking

nitpicking corrections

(n): nitpicking

Answer 16

too concerned about unimportant details

Question 17

obnoxious

When she’s in a bad mood she’s obnoxious to everyone.

(n): obnoxiousness

Answer 17

unpleasant and rude

Question 18

= despondent

dejected

I felt utterly dejected when I didn’t get the job.

(n): dejection

Answer 18

unhappy and disappointed

Question 19

forlorn

She looked forlorn, gazing into the distance.

Answer 19

sad, alone and not cared for

Question 20

devastated

(n): devastation; (adj): devastating

I was devastated when I heard of the death of a good friend of mine.

Answer 20

very shocked and upset

Question 21

distraught

The missing child’s parents were distraught.

Answer 21

extremely worried and upset