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Of Mice and Men vocabulary words

This list draws on vocabulary from Of Mice and Men, including words that describe ranch life, like itinerant and bindle, and words that describe the novella's themes of loneliness and prejudice, like isolation, companionship, and brutality. It suits students reading the book in class.

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Of Mice and Men vocabulary words

30 words
WordMeaningIn a sentenceSave
itinerantadjectiveTraveling from place to place, especially to find work, rather than staying in one location.The itinerant preacher traveled from village to village, never staying anywhere for long.
bindlenounA bundle of belongings tied up in a cloth, traditionally carried on a stick over the shoulder.The wandering character in the old film carried nothing but a bindle over his shoulder.
solitairenounA card game designed to be played alone, or a single gemstone set by itself in jewelry.She passed the long flight playing solitaire on her tablet.
brusqueadjectiveAbrupt or blunt in speech or manner, to the point of seeming rude.The manager's brusque reply left the new employee feeling unwelcome.
mollifyverbTo calm or soothe someone's anger, or to make a harsh situation less severe.The manager tried to mollify the angry customer by offering a full refund.
derogatoryadjectiveExpressing a low opinion of someone or something in a scornful or insulting way.The coach was fined for making derogatory remarks about the referee.
aloofadjectiveDistant and not friendly or forthcoming, keeping oneself apart from others physically or emotionally.The new manager seemed aloof at first, but he warmed up after the first project ended.
moroseadjectiveSullen, gloomy, and unwilling to talk, especially in a withdrawn or bad-tempered way.He grew morose after losing the championship match.
subduedadjectiveQuiet, restrained, or lacking in intensity, energy, or brightness.The room fell subdued after the sudden announcement of the layoffs.
anguishnounSevere mental or physical suffering caused by grief, pain, or worry.She felt a wave of anguish when she heard the news of the accident.
contemplateverbTo think about something deeply and for a long time, often while considering a decision.He sat by the lake, contemplating whether to accept the job offer.
pantomimenounA British theatrical entertainment for children, based on a fairy tale and featuring music, comedy, and audience participation.The family went to see a Christmas pantomime featuring a talking cow and a wicked stepmother.
apprehensionnounAnxiety or fear about something that may happen.She felt a growing apprehension as the exam date approached.
genialadjectiveFriendly, warm, and pleasant in manner, especially toward other people.The genial host greeted every guest personally as they arrived at the party.
disarmingadjectiveRemoving hostility or suspicion, especially through charm or friendliness.His disarming smile put even the most nervous clients at ease.
plaintiveadjectiveSounding sad or mournful, especially in a way that expresses longing.A plaintive melody drifted from the violin as the film's hero said goodbye.
sullenadjectiveSilently bad-tempered, gloomy, or resentful in manner or expression.The teenager gave a sullen shrug and refused to explain his absence.
cronynounA close friend or companion, often one favored unfairly in business or politics.The mayor was accused of giving contracts to his cronies instead of qualified bidders.
mottledadjectiveMarked with irregular spots or patches of different colors or shades.The lizard's mottled skin helped it blend into the dappled shade beneath the leaves.
maliciousadjectiveIntending or showing a desire to harm someone, often through deliberate and spiteful actions.Someone spread malicious rumors about her just before the election.
complacentadjectiveShowing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements, often leading to a lack of effort.After years of success, the company grew complacent and stopped innovating.
ominousadjectiveSuggesting that something bad or threatening is likely to happen soon.Dark, ominous clouds gathered on the horizon just before the storm hit the coast.
tremulousadjectiveShaking or quivering slightly, especially from fear, weakness, or strong emotion.Her tremulous voice betrayed how nervous she was before the interview.
vagrantnounA person who wanders from place to place without a permanent home or steady employment.The old law allowed police to arrest a vagrant simply for sleeping in the park.
laborernounA person who does physical work, often unskilled, especially for wages.The construction site hired several laborers to help clear the ground.
isolationnounThe state of being separate or apart from other people, places, or things.Months of isolation during the harsh winter left the villagers eager for spring visitors.
companionshipnounA feeling of friendship or fellowship that comes from spending time with another person or animal.The elderly widow found great comfort in the companionship of her dog.
prejudicenounAn unfair, preconceived opinion about a person or group, usually not based on actual experience or reason.The training program aims to help employees recognize their own unconscious prejudice.
brutalitynounExtreme and cruel violence or harshness in behavior or treatment.The documentary exposed the brutality faced by prisoners in the camp.
innocencenounThe state of not being guilty of a crime or wrongdoing.The new evidence finally proved his innocence after ten years in prison.

Words tied to the novella's setting and themes

Some words describe the world of migrant ranch workers, such as itinerant, bindle, and solitaire, while others capture the novella's mood and characters, like morose, sullen, plaintive, and ominous. A third group, including isolation, companionship, and prejudice, points toward the book's larger themes. Grouping the words this way can make discussion questions easier to answer.

Frequently asked questions

What does itinerant mean in Of Mice and Men?

Itinerant describes someone who travels from place to place for work, which describes George and Lennie as ranch laborers.