Chapters 3-4 Vocabulary: Just Mercy

anomaly

deviation from what is normal

provocative

causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction, especially deliberately

adamant

impossible to persuade, or unwilling to change an opinion or decision

vehement

expressing strong feelings, or shown by strong feelings or great energy or force

embellishment

the act of adding or changing details of a story to make it more interesting or exciting

accomplice

a person who helps another commit a crime

alibi

a claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an act, especially a criminal one, is alleged to have taken place

recant

to announce in public that your past beliefs or statements were wrong and that you no longer agree with them

incriminating

making it seem that someone is guilty, especially of a crime

unprecedented

never having happened or existed in the past

punitive

intended as a punishment

peremptory

having the expectation to be obeyed without explanation; not open to appeal or challenge; final

vindication

the fact of proving that someone is not guilty, after other people have blamed them

condemned

someone who is going to be killed as a punishment for having committed a crime

affidavit

a written statement that someone makes after promising officially to tell the truth

incredulous

not wanting or not able to believe something, and usually showing this

botched

(of a task) carried out badly or carelessly

deposition

the process of giving sworn evidence

bureaucratic

overly concerned with procedure at the expense of efficiency or common sense

demurral

a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings

perilous

full of danger or risk

culpability

responsibility for a fault or wrong; blame

mitigating

having the effect of making something bad less severe, serious, or painful; lessening the gravity of an offense or mistake

imploring

making an honest or desperate appeal

contentious

causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial

stay of execution

a delay in carrying out a court order

vexed

problematic; annoyed, frustrated, or worried

systematically

according to a fixed plan or system; methodically

implicate

show (someone) to be involved in a crime

distraught

deeply upset and agitated