How to make hard choices | Ruth Chang

Important Vocabulary Words From The Video

wringing

To wring something out is to try to get it wet or dry by squeezing it. You might wring out a towel to get the water out or wring out a cloth to get the dirt and stains out.

  • He was trying to wring the water out of the towel, but it was impossible.
  • She was trying to wring the blood out of the towel, but it was too heavy.
agonize

To agonize is to suffer from intense pain or worry. When you agonize over a decision, you are really worried about what the best decision is.

  • She agonized over the decision for hours before she finally came to a decision.
  • He agonized over the decision for days before he finally made it.
uproot

To uproot something is to take it away from where it is and move it somewhere else. If you uproot a plant, you take it out of the ground and move it to a different location.

  • The farmer was uproot his crops and moving them to a new location.
  • The company is uproot its headquarters and moving them to a new city.
healthfulness

When you say that something is healthful, you mean that it is good for your health. Some things that are considered to be healthful include fruits and vegetables, whole grain bread, and lean meat.

  • The salad was healthful, because it had lots of fruits and vegetables.
  • The bread was not healthful, because it was dense and had a lot of calories.
frivolity

frivolity is a word that is often used to describe something that is not very important. It is often used to describe things that are not part of a person's true interests.

  • The party was full of frivolity, with no real purpose.
  • The book is full of trivial information, and it is not interesting at all.
lawyering

The practice of law is often called lawyering. Lawyers are people who help people solve their legal problems. They often work with clients to negotiate agreements and settle disputes.

  • He's going to be a lawyer, and he's going to help me with my legal problems.
  • She's a lawyer, and she's going to help me with my legal problems.
wooing

To woo someone is to try to charm or seduce them. You might woo them with your words or your actions.

  • He wooed her with flowers and a romantic dinner.
  • She wooed him with her beauty and her intelligence.
unreflective

Unreflective is a word that is used to describe someone who is not thinking or feeling very deeply. They might not be aware of their own emotions, or they might not be able to think about anything else.

  • He was unreflective in his decision, and he paid for it later.
  • She was unreflective in her reaction to the news, and it cost her the election.
enslave

To enslave someone is to take control of their life and make them work for you. This might mean forcing them to work in a factory, or it might mean controlling their every move.

  • The emperor enslaved all of the people in the city.
  • The dictator enslaves the people who live in his country.