Study the 20 vocabulary terms below. Then continue to the activities.
- Apologize
- Awkward
- Breach of contract
- Bullying
- Derogatory
- Harassment
- Inappropriate
- Keep one’s cool
- Mediate
- Misconduct
- Offensive
- Procrastinate
- Professional
- Put on the spot
- Report someone
- Reputation
- Stand up for
- Take credit for
- Take the high road
- Whistleblower
Verb (infinitive)
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.
Adjective
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.
Noun (concept)
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.
Noun (concept)
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.
Adjective
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.
Noun (concept)
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.
Adjective
unsuitable or unacceptable especially in a particular situation
Ed received a formal warning for making inappropriate comments about his co-workers' appearance.
Verb (infinitive)
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.
Verb (infinitive)
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.
Noun (concept)
wrongful, improper, or unacceptable behavior, often dangerous or illegal in nature
He was forced to resign for serious misconduct, including embezzlement and fraud.
Adjective
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.
Verb (infinitive)
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.
Adjective
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.
Adjective
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.
Verb (infinitive)
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.
Noun (concept)
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.
Verb (infinitive)
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.
Verb (infinitive)
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.
Verb (infinitive)
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.
Noun (concept)
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.