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Macbeth vocabulary word list

This list gathers vocabulary and key thematic terms from Shakespeare's Macbeth, useful for students studying the play in class. Review each word's meaning, then connect it to a moment in the plot, such as a prophecy, a murder, or a character's guilt, to help the meaning stick.

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Macbeth vocabulary word list

Word	Meaning	In a sentence
ambitionnoun	A strong desire to achieve success, power, or a particular goal.	Her ambition was to open her own bakery before turning thirty.
apparitionnoun	A ghostly or unexpected figure that appears suddenly, often seeming supernatural.	Guests at the old inn swore they saw an apparition drifting through the hallway at midnight.
betrayalnoun	The act of being disloyal to someone who trusted you, especially by breaking a promise or revealing a secret.	Sharing her private diary with classmates felt like the ultimate betrayal to her.
bloodshednoun	The killing or wounding of people, especially during violent conflict or war.	World leaders called for an immediate ceasefire to stop the bloodshed in the region.
consciencenoun	An inner sense that helps a person judge the moral rightness or wrongness of their own actions.	His conscience wouldn't let him keep the extra change the cashier had mistakenly given him.
couragenoun	The ability to face fear, danger, or difficulty without being overcome by it.	It took real courage for her to speak up in front of the whole board.
crueltynoun	Deliberate behavior that causes pain or suffering to others without concern for their feelings.	The new law increased penalties for cruelty toward animals.
cursenoun	A spoken wish for harm to befall someone, or a supposed magical spell believed to bring misfortune.	According to legend, the pharaoh's tomb carries a curse that dooms anyone who disturbs it.
daggernoun	A short knife with a pointed, double-edged blade, used as a weapon for stabbing.	The assassin hid a dagger beneath his cloak before entering the palace.
deceitnoun	The act of deliberately making someone believe something false, or a general tendency toward dishonesty.	Years of deceit finally caught up with him when the truth came out.
fatenoun	A power believed to control future events beyond human control, or the outcome that eventually happens to someone.	She believed fate had brought them together on that crowded train platform.
ghostnoun	The spirit of a dead person, believed by some to appear to or haunt the living.	The children swore they saw a ghost drifting through the halls of the abandoned house.
guiltnoun	A feeling of responsibility or remorse for having done something wrong.	Guilt kept him awake after he realized he had blamed his coworker unfairly.
hallucinationnoun	A perception of something, such as a sight or sound, that seems real but is not actually present.	The fever caused him to have a hallucination of insects crawling on the wall.
madnessnoun	The state of severe mental illness, or extremely foolish or wildly irrational behavior.	The character's descent into madness is the central theme of the play.
murdernoun	The unlawful and deliberate killing of one person by another.	The detective spent months investigating the murder before making an arrest.
noblemannoun	A man who belongs to the aristocracy or holds a title of nobility.	The nobleman inherited vast estates and a seat in the House of Lords from his father.
omennoun	A sign or event believed to indicate that something, often something significant, will happen in the future.	The crows gathering on the roof struck her as a bad omen before the exam.
prophecynoun	A statement that predicts what will happen in the future, often claimed to come from divine or supernatural insight.	The ancient prophecy warned that the kingdom would fall if the sacred sword were ever lost.
regicidenoun	The killing of a king or queen, or a person who commits this act.	The play dramatizes the regicide that plunges the kingdom into civil war.
remorsenoun	Deep regret and guilt for something wrong or harmful that one has done.	He expressed sincere remorse for the pain his mistake had caused.
sovereigntynoun	The full authority of a state or nation to govern itself without outside interference.	The treaty formally recognized the island nation's sovereignty for the first time.
supernaturaladjective	Relating to forces or events beyond what science or the laws of nature can explain.	The old mansion was rumored to be haunted by supernatural spirits.
thanenoun	In medieval Scotland or England, a nobleman who held land from the king in exchange for military service.	In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the title character is granted the title of Thane of Cawdor early in the play.
treacherynoun	Betrayal of trust or loyalty, especially through deceitful or disloyal action.	The general's treachery handed the enemy a victory the army should never have lost.
tyrantnoun	A ruler who exercises power cruelly, unjustly, and without regard for the rights of others.	The people finally rose up against the tyrant who had ruled for thirty years.
usurpernoun	A person who seizes a position of power or authority without legal right.	The soldiers proclaimed the general a usurper after he forced the king from his throne.
valornoun	Great courage shown especially in facing danger, such as in battle.	The soldiers received medals for their valor during the rescue mission.
vengeancenoun	Harm inflicted on someone as punishment or retaliation for a wrong they committed.	He swore vengeance against the men who had burned down his farm.
witchcraftnoun	The practice of magic, especially spells and rituals believed to influence people or events supernaturally.	The villagers accused the old woman of witchcraft after their crops mysteriously failed.

Frequently asked questions

Why is ambition an important word for studying Macbeth?

Ambition drives much of the plot, since Macbeth's desire for power motivates the murders and downfall that follow.