bleak -
(of an area of land) lacking vegetation and exposed to the elements
The bleak desert looked like nature's graveyard where not even a bush could be found.
noun
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quagmire -
A soft boggy area of land that gives way underfoot
After the thunderstorm, the troops had to watch their step to avoid sinking into the quagmire of mud underneath them.
noun
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stigma -
A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person
In "The Scarlet Letter," Hester Prynne must deal with the stigma of having an out-of-wedlock child in a Puritan setting.
adjective
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horrific -
Causing extreme fear, shock, or disgust.
The accident was so horrific that witnesses were left trembling.
adjective
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harsh -
Cruel or severe
In Catholic schools, nuns carry rulers to deliver harsh punishment to disobedient children.
noun
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louse -
A person or thing that causes trouble or harm; or a small, parasitic insect that feeds on the blood of animals, typically living in hair or fur.
He’s a real louse, never available when you need him, and always offering a stupid excuse.
adjective
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dreadful -
Very bad or unpleasant
Jimmy's mother shouted, 'Shut off that dreadful music or I think it will drive me crazy.'
adjective
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pathetic -
Arousing pity, especially through vulnerability or sadness
The condition of the homeless person sleeping by the river was so pathetic that Bill had to give him a dollar.
noun
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calamity -
An event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster.
Hurricane Katrina was one of America's worst calamities, causing widespread death and destruction.
adjective
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crummy -
Dirty, unpleasant, or of poor quality
With his minimum-wage job, all Jared could afford was a crummy studio apartment.
adjective
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dire -
(of a situation or event) extremely serious or urgent
Finding survivors under the earthquake's rubble was a dire situation.
noun
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travesty -
A false, absurd, or distorted representation of something
In our court system, a travesty of justice typically occurs when the little guy goes against powerful interests and loses.
