hysteria noun Exaggerated, uncontrollable emotion or excitement, often spreading quickly through a group of people. Media coverage of the shortage triggered hysteria, and shelves emptied within hours. + accusation noun A claim that someone has done something wrong, illegal, or unethical. She denied the accusation and demanded to see the evidence against her. + witchcraft noun 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. + tyranny noun Cruel, unjust, and arbitrary rule or control by a person or group holding power. The rebels fought for decades to free their country from tyranny. + integrity noun The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that one follows consistently. The auditor was known for her integrity, refusing to overlook even minor discrepancies. + reputation noun The general opinion that people hold about someone's character, abilities, or reliability. The restaurant built a strong reputation for fresh ingredients and attentive, friendly service. + guilt noun A feeling of responsibility or remorse for having done something wrong. Guilt kept him awake after he realized he had blamed his coworker unfairly. + paranoia noun An irrational or excessive suspicion or fear that others intend harm, often without real evidence. His paranoia grew until he was convinced his coworkers were plotting against him. + deceit noun 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. + vengeance noun 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. + condemn verb To express strong disapproval of something, usually publicly, or to sentence someone to a punishment. World leaders quickly condemned the deadly attack on the foreign embassy. + testify verb To give evidence or make a formal statement, especially as a witness under oath in court. The witness agreed to testify about what she saw on the night of the robbery. + confess verb To admit that one has done something wrong or to reveal a private feeling. He finally confessed to breaking the window while playing baseball in the yard. + redemption noun The act of being saved from sin, error, or a bad situation, or of making up for a past fault. After years of hard work, he finally found redemption in the eyes of his community. + injustice noun Unfair treatment or a lack of fairness within a system or society. The documentary exposed a long history of injustice in the local courts. + fanaticism noun Extreme, uncritical enthusiasm or devotion to a cause, belief, or activity. His fanaticism for the team led him to travel across the country for every game. + scapegoat noun A person unfairly blamed for the mistakes or wrongdoing of others. The manager made the new employee a scapegoat for the team's missed deadline. + conscience noun 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. + authority noun The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience within a given area. The manager had the authority to approve refunds without asking her supervisor. + trial noun A formal examination of evidence in a court of law, or a test used to check the quality or performance of something. The trial lasted three weeks before the jury reached a unanimous verdict. + sin noun An act that breaks a religious or moral law, especially one committed deliberately. In the sermon, the priest spoke about forgiveness for even the gravest sin. + righteous adjective Morally right and justifiable, or acting in accordance with strong moral or religious principles. The activist felt a righteous anger at the injustice she witnessed. + hypocrisy noun The act of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs that one's own behavior does not match. Critics accused the senator of hypocrisy after he broke the very law he had championed. + allegory noun A story, poem, or image in which characters and events represent a deeper moral or political meaning. Animal Farm is often read as an allegory for the Russian Revolution. + tension noun A feeling of mental or emotional strain, or a state of unease between people or groups. There was visible tension in the room as the two candidates avoided eye contact. + suspicion noun A feeling or belief that something is wrong or that someone has done something dishonest, without firm proof. Her sudden nervousness only deepened his suspicion that she was hiding something. + betrayal noun 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. + morality noun Principles and beliefs concerning what is right and wrong behavior, and the degree to which actions conform to those standards. The novel raises difficult questions about morality during a brutal war. + defiance noun Open resistance or bold refusal to obey a person, rule, or authority. In an act of defiance, the workers refused to leave the factory floor. + court noun A body of people, presided over by a judge, that decides legal cases and disputes. The case will go to court next month after months of negotiation failed. +