Unit 14: Vocabulary

To express regret over a mistake or an inconvenience that one caused.

Martha apologized for falsely accusing Jared of stealing her food from the communal fridge.

Lacking in grace, causing embarrassment and discomfort.

Nobody wanted to take responsibility for the blunder, which led to an awkward silence before Ellen finally spoke up.

An act that violates or goes against the terms agreed on at a certain point, which were specified in a binding agreement.

When the farmer failed to deliver the agreed upon amount of grain, the brewery sued him for breach of contract.

Deliberately intimidating, hurting, or frightening someone in order to aggressively exert dominance over them.

The marketing manager was notorious for bullying his subordinates, always belittling them and shouting at them in front of other employees.

Belittling and hostile.

Some people question why it's not okay to say certain words anymore, including ethnic slurs, because they don't realize that they are derogatory and harmful in nature.

Uninvited and unwelcome behavior that causes someone to feel uncomfortable, intimidated, or violated.

Sexual harassment comes in many forms and can range from inappropriate verbal comments to physically touching somebody intimately without their consent.

Unsuitable or unacceptable especially in a particular situation.

Ed received a formal warning for making inappropriate comments about his co-workers' appearance.

To remain calm and even-tempered in a stressful situation.

I admire my colleague for his ability to keep his cool whenever he encounters a problem because I see that he is much more efficient at solving it.

To act as the middleman in a conflict or argument in order to help resolve it.

My co-workers are quite short-tempered, so I usually end up mediating for them.

Wrongful, improper, or unacceptable behavior, often dangerous or illegal in nature.

He was forced to resign for serious misconduct, including embezzlement and fraud.

Actively aggressive and disrespectful, causing somebody else to feel upset, hurt, or angry.

There are many terms that used to be considered socially acceptable but are now considered offensive, and should not be used.

To put off doing something until later.

I know that I have a tendency to procrastinate, so I set myself deadlines a week before the actual deadline so I won't miss it.

Being very good at one's job, with high standards, acting in a way not led by emotion but by rational.

When the clients she was negotiating with lost their temper and started shouting, Sarah remained professional and managed to de-escalate the situation through mediation.

To be forced to quickly make a difficult statement when one is not expecting it.

When Jolene was unexpectedly asked to present at the meeting, she felt like she was put on the spot and struggled to keep her cool.

To inform a higher authority about another person's misconduct.

When Peter wouldn't stop making inappropriate and offensive comments about Lana, she threatened to report him to their supervisor.

Public image, the collective idea, beliefs, or opinion that other people have of a specific person or entity.

An important reason why I'm applying to this company is that they have a great reputation.

To speak or act in order to defend someone.

I used to be very shy and let people push me around, but I have been working on standing up for myself.

To let others believe one was responsible for something worthy of praise and attention.

I worked really hard on this project, but my colleague took all the credit for it by presenting it as his own work.

To choose a noble and moral course of action when the actual temptation or desire is to behave badly, or rudely.

Even though he fired insults at her, she decided to take the high road and walked away gracefully.

A person who reveals secret information about an organization's illegal or immoral activity to the public.

Edward Snowden became one of the most infamous whistleblowers of this millennium when he leaked classified information about the NSA in 2013.