- privilegedadjectiveChapter 1 →
Having special advantages, wealth, and social status that most people do not have, often without earning them.
“We are liars. We are beautiful and privileged and we tell ourselves stories about who we are.”
- old moneyphraseChapter 2 →
Wealth that has been in a family for generations, as opposed to money recently earned; associated with inherited social status and understated manners.
“The Sinclairs are athletic, tall, and handsome. We are old money, no pretense.”
- pretensenounChapter 2 →
A false show or display meant to impress others; putting on an act to appear better or different than one really is.
“The Sinclairs are athletic, tall, and handsome. We are old money, no pretense.”
- Norman RockwellnounChapter 3 →
A reference to the American illustrator whose paintings depicted idealized, wholesome American family life; used here to mean a picture-perfect, too-good-to-be-true existence.
“We live, at least in summer, as if we are lucky enough to be in a Norman Rockwell painting.”
- contemplationnounChapter 3 →
Deep, quiet thinking or reflection; a state of thoughtful, serious consideration rather than action or noise.
“Gat was contemplation and strong coffee and the smell of fallen leaves.”
- contemplativeadjectiveChapter 5 →
Given to deep, quiet thought; describing a person who tends to reflect seriously rather than act impulsively or talk loudly.
“He was contemplative. He read. He was not like the rest of us.”
- unconsciousadjectiveChapter 6 →
In a state of having lost awareness and responsiveness, as after a serious injury or accident, not simply asleep.
“I was found on the rocks, unconscious, in the early morning. I don't remember what happened.”
- damagedadjectiveChapter 7 →
Emotionally or psychologically harmed in a lasting way, carrying wounds that affect how a person thinks and behaves.
“We are liars. We are beautiful and privileged and damaged.”
- DemocratsnounChapter 7 →
Members or supporters of the U.S. Democratic Party; used here as a social marker suggesting the family presents itself as liberal and progressive despite its great wealth.
“The Sinclairs are athletic, tall, and handsome. We are old-money Democrats.”
- miragenounChapter 11 →
Something that seems real or reachable but vanishes when you get closer; here used to describe memories that feel vivid but dissolve when examined.
“My memory is a mirage. It shimmers and disappears when I walk toward it.”
- shimmersverbChapter 11 →
Glows or flickers with an unsteady, wavering light; here describes how a memory appears tantalizingly real but unstable and elusive.
“My memory is a mirage. It shimmers and disappears when I walk toward it.”
- ridiculousadjectiveChapter 12 →
So extreme or overwhelming as to seem almost unreal; used here not as an insult but to express that the stars were breathtakingly, almost absurdly beautiful.
“Gat told me to look up, and I did. The stars were ridiculous.”
- demisenounChapter 12 →
The end or death of something; here used figuratively to mean the collapse or abandonment of his own good sense and self-restraint.
“He was contemplating the demise of his own better judgment.”
- better judgmentphraseChapter 12 →
One's own inner sense of what is wise or sensible; acting against your better judgment means doing something you know is probably unwise.
“He was contemplating the demise of his own better judgment.”
- intermittentlyadverbChapter 13 →
Happening only sometimes, not continuously; stopping and starting at irregular intervals rather than being constant.
“The Littles are loud and grabby and intermittently adorable.”
- grabbyadjectiveChapter 13 →
Tending to reach out and take things without asking; used here to describe young children who snatch at whatever catches their attention.
“The Littles are loud and grabby and intermittently adorable.”
- estatenounChapter 10 →
A large property with land and buildings belonging to a wealthy family; also refers to all the money and property a person owns, especially what is passed on after death.
- summerverbChapter 10 →
To spend the summer season in a particular place; used by wealthy families to describe their seasonal retreat to a vacation property as a routine, privileged habit.
“We summer on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts.”
- inheritancenounChapter 10 →
Money, property, or other assets passed down from a relative, especially after that person dies; here it is the source of rivalry among the sisters.
- fairy talenounChapter 4 →
A story involving magical or idealized elements that are too perfect to be real; used here to describe the Sinclairs' carefully constructed image of a charmed, flawless life.
“We are the Liars. We are beautiful, privileged, and live inside a fairy tale.”
- goldnounChapter 9 →
Used figuratively to represent wealth, power, and the family fortune that the grandfather hoards and refuses to share or give away.
“The king had three beautiful daughters and he loved them, but he could not give away his gold.”
- goldenadjectiveChapter 8 →
Favored, blessed, and seemingly perfect; describes people who appear to have everything go right for them due to wealth and privilege.
“We are the Sinclairs. We are beautiful and we are golden and we do not fall apart.”
- fall apartphraseChapter 8 →
To break down emotionally or lose control; to stop functioning as a composed, capable person, especially in public.
“We are the Sinclairs. We are beautiful and we are golden and we do not fall apart.”
- diseasenounChapter 14 →
Used figuratively to mean something harmful that spreads and corrupts; here Gat compares the family's obsession with money to a sickness that infects everyone it touches.
“Gat said the Sinclair money was a disease, and none of us argued.”
- postcardnounChapter 6 →
A small card sent by mail, often with a picture on one side; here it represents the father's minimal, impersonal effort to acknowledge his daughter after her accident instead of coming in person.
“Dad sent a postcard of the Seattle skyline. He did not come.”
We Were LiarsNovel by E. Lockhart