Social Issues Vocabulary

noun the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice

• The medical community recognizes addiction as a serious health condition that requires treatment.
• My friend's addiction to video games is really affecting his grades.
• I can't believe how addicted I am to this new TV show.
• Her addiction to shopping is like a black hole that never seems to be filled.

verb to have an influence on or cause a change in someone or something

adjective influenced or changed by something

• The company's decision to downsize has affected many employees.
• The rain affected our plans for a picnic.
• The breakup really affected him, man.
• The negative comments affected her like a sharp knife.

adjective in a poor or unfavorable situation

adverb in a poor or unsatisfactory condition

• The family was badly off after losing their main source of income.
• They were really badly off after the company went bankrupt.
• Man, they were so badly off, they couldn't even afford groceries.
• Emotionally, she felt badly off after the breakup.

noun a person who lives by asking for money or food

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• The beggar sat quietly on the sidewalk, holding out a cup for donations.
• I saw a beggar asking for money outside the grocery store.
• That beggar is always hustling for spare change.
• His constant requests for help made him seem like a beggar for attention.

verb past tense of the verb 'break'; to separate into parts with suddenness or violence

adjective having been fractured or damaged; having little or no money

• The company went bankrupt and broke due to mismanagement.
• I accidentally broke my phone when I dropped it.
• I can't believe I broke my diet and ate that whole pizza.
• After the breakup, she felt like her heart was broke in two.

noun a person who abstains from marriage and sexual relations

adjective refraining from marriage and sexual relations

• The monk took a vow of celibacy and remained celibate for his entire life.
• My friend has been celibate for a year now, focusing on personal growth.
• I heard he's on a celibate streak, trying to clear his mind.
• The artist remained celibate from mainstream trends, creating her own unique style.

noun Cruelty is a noun that refers to the quality or state of being cruel; the disposition to inflict suffering or harm on others.

• The documentary shed light on the widespread cruelty towards animals in factory farms.
• I can't stand people who show cruelty towards others, it's just wrong.
• That guy is a real jerk, always dishing out cruelty to those around him.
• The cruelty of time never stops, constantly reminding us of our mortality.

verb past tense of disenchant

adjective feeling disappointed or disillusioned

• After years of working in the company, she became disenchanted with the lack of opportunities for growth.
• He was disenchanted with the new movie because it didn't live up to the hype.
• I'm feeling pretty disenchanted with my job right now, it's just not fulfilling anymore.
• The once vibrant town had become disenchanted, with boarded-up shops and empty streets.

noun a state of confusion or lack of order

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• The patient was diagnosed with a neurological disorder affecting their motor skills.
• She struggles with an eating disorder and is seeking help from a therapist.
• I can't believe he left his room in such a disorder!
• The political unrest in the country has created a disorder in the government's decision-making process.

adjective describing a state of being intoxicated from alcohol

• The drunken driver was arrested for driving under the influence.
• We had a great time at the party last night, everyone was a little drunken.
• I can't believe how drunken he got at the bar last night.
• Her words were like a drunken slur, barely coherent and full of mistakes.

adjective without a father; lacking a father

• The young girl grew up fatherless after her father passed away when she was just a baby.
• He's been living fatherless since his dad left the family when he was a teenager.
• She's part of the fatherless crew at school, but they stick together like a family.
• The abandoned building stood tall and fatherless, a reminder of better days long gone.

noun a person who takes advantage of others' generosity without giving anything in return

• The company had to deal with a freeloader who was taking advantage of the lunchroom without contributing.
• I can't believe that freeloader always asks to borrow money but never pays it back.
• That freeloader is always mooching off of everyone else.
• Her negative attitude made her feel like a freeloader in the group project.

noun dirt or filth ingrained on the surface, especially of a building or a vehicle

verb to cover or become covered with grime

• The cleaning crew had to work tirelessly to remove the grime from the old building's windows.
• I can't believe how much grime built up on the stove - it took forever to clean!
• That party was so wild, everyone came home covered in grime.
• The corruption in the government was like a thick layer of grime, impossible to ignore.

noun a person who is needy; a beggar

adjective feeling or showing the need for food

• After skipping breakfast, I was feeling quite hungry by mid-morning.
• I'm so hungry, let's grab some food before we head out.
• I could eat a horse, I'm so hungry right now.
• His hunger for success drove him to work tirelessly towards his goals.

noun lack of knowledge or information

adjective ignorant

• Ignorance of the law is not an excuse for breaking it.
• Don't let your ignorance get in the way of learning something new.
• Some people choose to stay ignorant about important issues.
• In the darkness of ignorance, knowledge is the light that guides us.

noun a person who lacks knowledge or awareness in general; an ignorant person

adjective lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated

• The ignorant decision to ignore expert advice led to disastrous consequences.
• She's so ignorant about current events, she didn't even know about the major news story.
• Don't be so ignorant about what's going on around you.
• His stubbornness made him willfully ignorant to the truth.

noun lack of effectiveness or the quality of being ineffective

• The ineffectuality of the new policy was evident in the lack of progress made towards the company's goals.
• His constant procrastination only added to the ineffectuality of his efforts to finish the project on time.
• The team's ineffectuality in the game was so frustrating to watch.
• The artist's use of blank canvases symbolized the ineffectuality of trying to erase the past.

noun the quality of being fair and reasonable; the administration of the law or authority in maintaining this quality

• The court system is responsible for upholding justice and ensuring fair trials for all individuals.
• I believe in karma - what goes around comes around, and justice will be served eventually.
• That guy got what was coming to him - justice was finally served.
• In the grand scheme of things, the universe has a way of balancing out and serving justice in its own time.

noun a beggar or someone who lives by asking for charity

adjective relating to or characteristic of a beggar

• The mendicant approached the wealthy merchant for alms.
• The beggar asked the kind stranger for some change.
• The hobo was wandering the streets looking for handouts.
• The mendicant of knowledge sought wisdom from the wise elder.

noun a person who is very poor, especially one dependent on public charity

• The pauper relied on charity to survive.
• The pauper had to beg for food on the streets.
• The pauper was broke and had no place to stay.
• In the world of technology, an outdated device is considered a pauper.

noun a judgment or opinion formed before the facts are known

• It is important to avoid making prejudgments about someone based on their appearance.
• Don't judge a book by its cover; try not to make prejudgments about people.
• Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions; stop with the prejudgments.
• Just because she's quiet doesn't mean she's boring; don't let prejudgment cloud your perception.

noun A person or group that is considered a threat or danger to society or a particular community.

• The criminal was considered a public enemy by the authorities.
• That guy is like a public enemy around here, always causing trouble.
• Watch out for that dude, he's a real public enemy.
• In the world of fashion, wearing fur can be seen as a public enemy act.

adjective relating to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred

• The government's policies are based on secular principles.
• My friend prefers secular music over religious music.
• I don't really vibe with the secular crowd.
• Her mind was a secular sanctuary, free from any religious influence.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'slummy' describes a place that is dirty, run-down, or unkempt.

• The government is working on improving the living conditions in the slummy areas of the city.
• I wouldn't want to live in that slummy neighborhood, it looks pretty run-down.
• That place is so slummy, I can't believe people actually live there.
• Her mind felt like a slummy neighborhood, cluttered with negative thoughts and memories.

noun The state or quality of being unchaste; lack of chastity or purity in conduct or character.

• The court viewed the evidence of unchastity as grounds for divorce.
• Gossip about unchastity can spread quickly in a small town.
• She was accused of unchastity but it was just a rumor.
• The unchastity of his actions tarnished his reputation.

noun a vulnerable or weak part of something

• The documentary explored the underbelly of the city's criminal underworld.
• We stumbled upon the underbelly of the internet while browsing late at night.
• I heard some shady stuff goes down in the underbelly of that neighborhood.
• The underbelly of society is often overlooked by those in positions of privilege.

noun a state of dissatisfaction, disturbance, and agitation in a group of people

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• The political unrest in the region has caused widespread concern among international organizations.
• There's been a lot of unrest in the city lately, with protests happening almost every day.
• Things are getting pretty tense around here, there's a lot of unrest brewing.
• The emotional unrest within her was like a storm waiting to unleash its fury.

noun a circle or cycle of events or situations where each one leads to or influences the next in a way that reinforces the original situation

• The country's economic downturn has created a vicious circle of unemployment and poverty.
• Skipping breakfast can start a vicious circle of low energy and cravings throughout the day.
• Getting caught up in social media drama can lead to a vicious circle of negativity and stress.
• Procrastination often leads to a vicious circle of missed deadlines and increased stress.

noun a reanimated corpse that has been brought back to life, typically by supernatural means

adjective relating to or characteristic of a zombie

• The scientist studied the behavior of the zombie in the controlled laboratory environment.
• I heard that there's a new zombie movie coming out next week.
• That party was so crazy, everyone looked like zombies the next morning.
• After pulling an all-nighter, I felt like a zombie at work the next day.

noun A conflict between different groups with differing beliefs, values, and practices, often related to social or political issues

• The ongoing culture war between traditionalists and progressives is causing division in society.
• Have you heard about the latest drama in the culture war on social media?
• The culture war between boomers and millennials is heating up on the internet.
• The culture war over political correctness is like a never-ending battle of words and ideologies.

noun a portmanteau of 'Scotland' and 'exit', referring to the potential departure of Scotland from the United Kingdom

• The potential Scexit referendum has sparked heated debates among politicians and citizens alike.
• Have you heard about the latest rumors surrounding Scexit? It's all anyone can talk about.
• I can't believe they're seriously considering Scexit, it's like a bad breakup waiting to happen.
• The idea of Scexit looms over the country like a dark cloud, threatening to disrupt the status quo.

noun a fictional name often used to describe a country known for corruption

• The government of Corruptistan has been accused of widespread corruption and embezzlement.
• I heard that Corruptistan is the most corrupt country in the region.
• Don't trust anyone from Corruptistan, they're all shady characters.
• The roots of corruption run deep in Corruptistan, infecting every aspect of society.

noun a situation or process that seems to have no end or resolution

• The political debate turned into a neverendum, with no resolution in sight.
• The meeting about the project became a neverendum, we couldn't seem to agree on anything.
• The argument between them was a total neverendum, they just kept going in circles.
• Their relationship felt like a neverendum, with the same issues coming up over and over again.