Flowers for Algernon: Vocabulary

Adroit

Skillful; adept

begrudge

To envy a possession or one’s enjoyment

blasphemous

profane

blunder

To make a mistake as a result of stupidity or carelessness

Coalesce

To merge, to fuse

Complex

complicated

Contaminant

Something that pollutes

Crumple

To wrinkle or rumple

Cynical

Exhibiting mocking disbelief

Degeneration

A state of decline

Deleterious

Harmful; dangerous

Dilettante

An aimless and superficial follower of the arts

Docile

Easily managed; obedient

Euphemism

Substitution of an inoffensive term

Exigent

Urgent

Grotto

cave

Humility

Being humble in spirit

Juxtaposed

To place close together

Labrinth

Like a maze

Lethargic

Sluggish

Morbidity

Gloominess

Obscure

Difficult to see

Paradoxical

Something that appears false but is actually correct

Patronizing

Having a condescending attitude

Platitude

Trite remark

Pompous

Exaggerated show of self importance

Potent

Having a strong effect

Purse

To pucker or tighten one’s lips

Quack

Fake doctor

Repress

To restrain

Scurry

To hurry about

Trivial

Insignificant matters

Usurp

To take possession without right

Vacuous

Lacking content

Waver

To show indecision