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Romeo and Juliet vocabulary words

This list draws on vocabulary from Romeo and Juliet, including words for the play's feuding families, secret romance, and tragic ending, like banished, apothecary, and star-crossed. It suits students reading the play in class who want to build vocabulary alongside their reading.

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Romeo and Juliet vocabulary words

30 words
WordMeaningIn a sentenceSave
banishedadjectiveSent away from a place permanently, especially as a punishment, or forcibly removed and forbidden to return.The banished prince lived for years in a distant, unfamiliar land.
apothecarynounA person who historically prepared and sold medicines and drugs, similar to today's pharmacist.The apothecary mixed herbs and tinctures behind the counter of his small shop.
feudnounA prolonged and bitter quarrel or dispute, especially one between families, groups, or individuals.The two neighboring families had been locked in a feud over the property line for decades.
vialnounA small glass or plastic container, usually for holding liquid medicine, samples, or chemicals.The nurse drew the vaccine from a small vial before filling the syringe.
woenounGreat sorrow, distress, or misfortune.She poured out her woes to her best friend over a cup of tea.
strifenounAngry or bitter conflict or disagreement, especially prolonged and between groups or nations.Decades of political strife left the country's infrastructure in ruins.
betrothedadjectiveFormally promised or engaged to be married to someone.The princess was betrothed to a prince from a neighboring kingdom when she was only twelve.
kinsmannounA male relative or someone of the same family, clan, or ethnic group.The old letter was addressed to a distant kinsman living overseas.
duelnounA formal fight between two people, using agreed weapons, typically to settle a matter of honor.The two officers nearly fought a duel over the insult at dinner.
masquenounA festive entertainment popular among European nobility in the 16th and 17th centuries, combining music, dance, elaborate costume, and drama.The royal court staged an elaborate masque to celebrate the wedding.
sonnetnounA poem of fourteen lines, traditionally written in a fixed rhyme scheme and meter.Shakespeare wrote over a hundred sonnets, many exploring themes of love and time.
potionnounA liquid mixture, especially one believed to have magical, medicinal, or poisonous effects.In the story, the witch brewed a potion to grant eternal youth.
melancholynounA deep, thoughtful sadness, often without an obvious cause.A gentle melancholy settled over her as she packed up her childhood home.
villainnounA character or person who acts wickedly or is the main antagonist of a story or situation.In the film, the villain plots to flood the city to punish its mayor.
rapiernounA long, slender sword with a sharp point, designed mainly for thrusting rather than cutting.The duelists faced each other with rapiers drawn in the moonlit courtyard.
banishmentnounThe act of being officially sent away from a place, especially as a punishment.The traitor's punishment was banishment from his homeland rather than imprisonment or death.
propheticadjectiveAccurately predicting or foreshadowing future events, as if by supernatural insight.Her warning about the market crash turned out to be eerily prophetic.
star-crossedadjectiveDoomed to fail or suffer misfortune because of fate, especially in romantic relationships.Romeo and Juliet remain literature's most famous star-crossed lovers.
rashadjectiveActing or done too quickly, without careful thought about the possible consequences.Quitting his job without any savings was a rash decision he later regretted.
hastenounExcessive speed or urgency in doing something, often at the cost of care or accuracy.In his haste to catch the train, he left his laptop on the kitchen table.
lamentverbTo express deep sorrow, grief, or regret about something, often openly or in words.She lamented the loss of the old cinema where she had spent her childhood weekends.
cursenounA 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.
reconciliationnounThe restoring of friendly relations between people or groups after a disagreement, or the process of making two things consistent with each other.Years after the war, the two nations finally began a slow process of reconciliation.
tragicadjectiveCausing or characterized by extreme sadness, suffering, or a disastrous outcome.The tragic accident on the highway left the whole town in mourning.
forbiddenadjectiveNot allowed, especially by a rule, law, or authority.Smoking is strictly forbidden anywhere inside the hospital building or its courtyards.
infatuationnounAn intense but usually short-lived feeling of passion or admiration for someone.Her infatuation with the actor faded once she learned more about his personality.
impetuousadjectiveActing quickly on a strong feeling without thinking through the result.In an impetuous moment, Leo volunteered to lead the event before checking his schedule.
fickleadjectiveChanging frequently in loyalty, opinion, or affection, without good reason.The fickle crowd cheered for whichever team happened to be winning.
valiantadjectiveShowing great courage, especially in the face of danger or difficulty.The firefighters made a valiant effort to save the burning building.
discordnounDisagreement or lack of harmony between people, groups, or ideas.Years of discord between the neighboring families finally began to ease.

Words tied to the play's plot and themes

Many of these words connect directly to the story: feud and strife describe the family conflict, betrothed and infatuation describe young romance, and vial, potion, and tragic point toward the play's ending. Learning the words in context, rather than as a random list, can help you remember both their meaning and where they matter in the plot.

Frequently asked questions

What does star-crossed mean in Romeo and Juliet?

Star-crossed describes lovers whose relationship is doomed by fate, as if the stars themselves were working against them.