"Four Freedoms" by Franklin Roosevelt (1941): List 2

In January of 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt outlined the basic freedoms that, in his view, America represented. Almost a year before the attack on Pearl Harbor, FDR warned of the dangers from dictatorships and of the need for America to prepare to defend itself.

This list covers vocabulary in paragraphs 11-29 of the speech.
14 words 399 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. tyranny
    government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator
    We should remember that the peace of 1919 was far less unjust than the kind of pacification which began even before Munich, and which is being carried on under the new order of tyranny that seeks to spread over every continent today.
  2. realist
    a person who accepts the world as it literally is
    I suppose that every realist knows that the democratic way of life is at this moment being directly assailed in every part of the world assailed either by arms or by secret spreading of poisonous propaganda by those who seek to destroy unity and promote discord in nations that are still at peace.
  3. assail
    launch an attack or assault on
    I suppose that every realist knows that the democratic way of life is at this moment being directly assailed in every part of the world assailed either by arms or by secret spreading of poisonous propaganda by those who seek to destroy unity and promote discord in nations that are still at peace.
  4. propaganda
    information that is spread to promote some cause
    I suppose that every realist knows that the democratic way of life is at this moment being directly assailed in every part of the world assailed either by arms or by secret spreading of poisonous propaganda by those who seek to destroy unity and promote discord in nations that are still at peace.
  5. discord
    lack of agreement or harmony
    I suppose that every realist knows that the democratic way of life is at this moment being directly assailed in every part of the world assailed either by arms or by secret spreading of poisonous propaganda by those who seek to destroy unity and promote discord in nations that are still at peace.
  6. appalling
    causing shock, dismay, or horror
    During 16 long months this assault has blotted out the whole pattern of democratic life in an appalling number of independent nations, great and small.
  7. assailant
    someone who attacks
    And the assailants are still on the march, threatening other nations, great and small.
  8. gallantly
    in a heroic or brave manner
    Armed defense of democratic existence is now being gallantly waged in four continents.
  9. cymbal
    a percussion instrument consisting of a concave brass disk
    We must always be wary of those who with sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal preach the "ism" of appeasement.
  10. appeasement
    the act of acceding to demands
    We must always be wary of those who with sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal preach the "ism" of appeasement.
  11. treachery
    an act of deliberate betrayal
    But we learn much from the lessons of the past years in Europe particularly the lesson of Norway, whose essential seaports were captured by treachery and surprise built up over a series of years.
  12. dupe
    a person who is easily tricked or swindled
    The necessary strategic points would be occupied by secret agents and by their dupes and great numbers of them are already here and in Latin America.
  13. executive
    persons who administer the law
    That is why every member of the executive branch of the government and every member of the Congress face great responsibility, great accountability.
  14. accountability
    responsibility to someone or for some activity
    That is why every member of the executive branch of the government and every member of the Congress face great responsibility, great accountability.
Created on Wed Jun 04 11:58:54 EDT 2025 (updated Wed Jun 04 12:14:47 EDT 2025)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.