October Word Lit Vocab list

Ameliorate

To make a bad or tolerable situation better, improved, or more bearable

Apalled

Affected by strong feelings of shock and dismay, often when faced with something extremely unpleasant or wrong

Botched

Unsuccessful because of being poorly done; spoiled by mistakes

Cackle

to laugh especially in a harsh or sharp manner

Desolate

Empty of inhabitants and visitors

Enigmatic

Someone or something that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand

Ghoulish

Someone or something morbidly obsessed with death, decay or gruesome object, often implying a fascination with shocking or repulsive things

Incentive

A thing that motivates or encourages one to do something

Macabre

Disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or deception of death and injury

Ominous

Giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen

Pensive

Engaged in, involving or reflecting deep or serious thought

Resentful

Feeling or expressing bitterness or indignation at having been treated unfairly

Sentimental

Of or prompted by feelings of tenderness, sadness or nostalgia

Sinister

Giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen

Uncanny

Strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way