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Wonder vocabulary words from R.J. Palacio's novel

Wonder by R.J. Palacio follows Auggie Pullman through a school year defined by kindness, cruelty, and everything in between, and its themes bring up meaningful vocabulary along the way. This list focuses on words tied to empathy, courage, and how people treat one another. It suits classroom discussions, book clubs, or independent readers working through the novel.

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Wonder vocabulary words from R.J. Palacio's novel

30 words
WordMeaningIn a sentenceSave
preceptnounA general rule intended to guide behavior or thought, especially concerning morality.The scout troop lives by the precept that you should leave a campsite cleaner than you found it.
empathynounThe ability to understand or share another person's feelings and perspective.Listening without interrupting helped her show empathy for her frustrated friend.
compassionnounA deep feeling of sympathy for someone's suffering, combined with a desire to help.The nurse treated every patient with remarkable compassion and gentle patience.
ordinaryadjectiveNormal or usual, without anything special, unusual, or noteworthy about it.It was an ordinary Tuesday until the fire alarm went off during lunch.
extraordinaryadjectiveVery unusual, remarkable, or exceptional; far beyond what is ordinary or expected.The rescue team showed extraordinary courage while pulling survivors from the flooded building.
bullyingnounThe use of intimidation, force, or repeated aggressive behavior to dominate or harm someone seen as weaker.The school introduced a new policy to stop bullying in the hallways.
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.
acceptancenounThe action of agreeing to receive, believe, or take on something, or a favorable reception of a person or idea.Her acceptance of the job offer surprised everyone on the team.
couragenounThe 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.
resiliencenounThe ability to recover quickly from difficulties, setbacks, or hardship.Her resilience after the accident inspired everyone who watched her recovery.
crueltynounDeliberate behavior that causes pain or suffering to others without concern for their feelings.The new law increased penalties for cruelty toward animals.
self-consciousadjectiveUncomfortably aware of oneself as being watched or judged by others.She felt self-conscious about her accent when she first started the new job.
tolerancenounThe willingness to accept or endure beliefs, behavior, or conditions different from one's own without objecting.The workshop encouraged greater tolerance of different cultural traditions among employees.
perspectivenounA way of thinking about or viewing a situation.Reading the diary gave us a different perspective on the journey.
sympathynounA feeling of pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune or suffering.Friends offered their sympathy after hearing about the terrible accident.
loyaltynounFirm and steady support for or faithfulness to a person, group, cause, or country.Her loyalty to the company never wavered, even during difficult years.
vulnerableadjectiveOpen to physical or emotional harm, attack, or damage because of weak or exposed conditions.Elderly residents were especially vulnerable during the heat wave without air conditioning.
insecureadjectiveLacking confidence or feeling uncertain and anxious about oneself, or not firmly fixed and safe.She felt insecure about her singing voice before the important audition.
outcastnounA person who has been rejected or excluded from a group or society.After the scandal broke, he became an outcast among his former colleagues.
inclusionnounThe act or practice of including someone or something as part of a group, or ensuring everyone can participate fairly.The school introduced new programs to improve inclusion for students with disabilities.
braverynounThe quality of showing courage in the face of danger, pain, or difficulty.The firefighter's bravery saved three children trapped on the building's top floor.
empatheticadjectiveAble to sense and share another person's feelings, showing understanding of their emotional experience.The counselor was empathetic, listening closely before offering any advice.
precociousadjectiveShowing mature abilities or understanding at an unusually early age.The precocious child was reading novels well before she started elementary school.
earnestadjectiveShowing sincere and serious intention or feeling, without irony or insincerity.He made an earnest apology to his sister after realizing how much he had hurt her.
dignitynounThe state or quality of being worthy of honor and respect, often shown through a calm, composed manner.She accepted the difficult diagnosis with remarkable dignity.
humiliateverbTo make someone feel ashamed or foolish, especially in front of other people.The coach's harsh comments humiliated the young player in front of the whole team.
gawkverbTo stare at someone or something openly and rudely, often out of surprise or curiosity.Tourists gawked at the towering skyscrapers when they first arrived in the city.
flinchverbTo make a sudden, involuntary movement away from something painful, frightening, or unpleasant.He flinched when the nurse mentioned the size of the needle.
solidaritynounUnity and mutual support among people who share the same goals, interests, or struggles.Workers across the city marched together in solidarity with the striking factory employees.
forgivenessnounThe act of ceasing to feel resentment toward someone who has wronged you.It took years, but she finally found the forgiveness to reconcile with her sister.

Why Wonder's vocabulary centers on kindness

Wonder tells its story through several narrators, and its vocabulary reflects the emotional weight of being seen, judged, or accepted by others. Words like empathy, compassion, and tolerance describe the kindness the novel encourages, while bullying, humiliate, and outcast name the pain Auggie and other characters experience. Studying these words together highlights the novel's central message about choosing kindness.

Frequently asked questions

Does this list include page numbers for each word?

No, because page numbers differ between print and digital editions of Wonder, so this list focuses on the words themselves rather than specific page references.