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adjective

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amok - to be out of control and act in a wild or dangerous manner

After Mendel saw the drunken peasants running amok destroying his little village, he knew it was time to leave Russia and go to America.

adjective

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touchy - Easily offended or sensitive to criticism or comments.

Be careful what you say—he’s really touchy about his artwork.

verb

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vacillate - To waver between different opinions or actions; to be indecisive.

He would vacillate between a career in business - that would be more secure - or in acting, something that he loved to do.

noun

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tenterhooks - Waiting nervously for something to happen.

After the weeklong trial, we were on tenterhooks waiting for the jury to give its verdict.

adjective

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temperamental - Liable to sudden changes in mood or behavior; unpredictable in temperament.

His temperamental nature and frequent outbursts made it hard for the team to rely on him during stressful situations.

noun

See verb

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shock - A jarring event that causes surprise, disbelief, or emotional disturbance.

The shock of the market crash left investors scrambling to adjust their portfolios.

adjective

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frenetic - Fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way

Every James Bond movie features a frenetic car chase that has the audience on the edge of their seats.

adjective

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frazzled - To feel completely exhausted and worn out, and unable to think straight, after a great deal of mental or physical effort

After being up two nights in a row writing a 60 page history paper, and drinking 60 cups of coffee, Simon's mind felt frazzled.

adjective

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perturbed - Feeling unsettled, anxious, or troubled due to confusion, concern, or disruption.

She was visibly perturbed when she found out her flight had been canceled at the last minute.

adjective

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insecure - Lacking confidence or self-assurance; feeling unsure about oneself.

When the disease caused blotches on her face, she felt insecure whenever she was with people.

verb

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gnaw - To cause continual distress or discomfort, often in a mental or emotional sense.

Doubts about her decision started to gnaw at her, making it hard to focus.

adjective

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stickler - Someone who is very particular or fussy about a specific thing.

She spends a lot of time cleaning the house, because she's a stickler for neatness and cleanliness.