Grade 8
WORD
Updated: March 30, 2012
Sentence
1372
abalone
Many abalone shells are found on the beach.
abandon
The call rang out, "Abandon ship"!
abbreviate
He will abbreviate the words in a text message.
abdomen
I have a pain in my abdomen.
abduction
The abduction of the child stunned the community.
abetting
He was arrested for aiding and abetting a criminal.
abound
In the spring, the hills abound with wild flowers.
abrasion
After falling on the stones, he had an abrasion on his knee.
abrupt
Everything came to an abrupt halt.
absentee
She mailed in her absentee ballot.
absolve
I absolve you of all responsibilities.
absorber
Insulation is a very good sound absorber.
abstinence
His abstinence of liquor improved his health.
absurd
It's absurd to carry around a 25-pound camera.
abundant
I had an abundant crop of tomatoes.
abyss
The abyss seemed to go on forever.
accelerate
The car will accelerate to climb the hill.
accessory
He was an accessory to the crime.
acclaim
The book received considerable acclaim.
acclimate
The plant did not acclimate well to the room.
accommodate
The hotel can accommodate us for two days.
accord
We are still not in accord with each other.
accordion
He plays the accordion in the band.
accrue
The savings account will accrue interest.
accumulation
The accumulation of boxes rose higher and higher.
acknowledgement
I wrote an acknowledgement to Sam.
acoustical
The acoustical effects added to the drama of the movie.
acquaintance
He is an acquaintance of my brother.
acquiesce
The company will acquiesce to her demands.
acrimonious
His acrimonious tongue insulted many people.
actively
He actively participated in the games.
actually
She actually spoke Latin.
1
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
adage
The saying was taken from an old adage.
adamant
The teacher was adamant in his choice of words.
addict
He is a detective novel addict.
additional
May I please have an additional scoop of ice cream?
adept
She is very adept at making clothes.
adherent
We scraped the adherent barnacles off the boat.
adjunct
She served as an adjunct in the main office.
admonish
Mother will admonish the child for being naughty.
adroit
The chief is adroit at handling tough situations.
adulation
The adulation from the audience was splendid.
adulterated
Their drinks had been adulterated.
advancing
The advancing trucks became mired in the mud.
adversary
He didn't relish meeting his adversary in the hallway.
advise
I will do as you advise.
aerobatics
The aerobatics at the Air Show are fantastic.
aerodynamic
It's aerodynamic shape made it faster.
aesthetic
His design had aesthetic value.
affectionately
The family affectionately embraced each other.
affidavit
Will you sign the affidavit for our case?
affiliation
His affiliation with our club was not recommended.
aggravate
Walking seemed to aggravate the pain.
aggregate
The football team had a low goal aggregate last season.
aghast
Onlookers were aghast at the size of the whale.
agile
He was as agile as a monkey.
agnostic
He says he is an agnostic.
agony
The agony of his defeat was felt by many.
agronomist
The agronomist managed the university farm land.
aileron
The aileron helps the plane with lateral control.
alabaster
The flowers are in an alabaster vase.
alacrity
He performed with alacrity.
alarm
The alarm woke me up early this morning.
alcove
The house has a small alcove in the kitchen.
alibi
His alibi was ridiculous.
alien
He thought he saw an alien from another planet.
alienate
Don't alienate your loved ones.
2
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
alimentary
The stomach is part of the alimentary canal.
alkali
This soil contains too much alkali for that crop.
allay
The announcement should allay their fears.
alleged
He is the alleged murderer.
allegory
He used the allegory to get his message across.
allotted
All seats are allotted in advance by ticket.
allowance
The child wondered what his allowance would be for a week.
allude
He began to allude to his varied interests.
aloft
He flew the kite aloft.
aloofness
His aloofness to the problem was ridiculous.
alpine
He is a famous alpine skier.
altercation
An altercation flared up between the customers.
altitude
The plane flew at a high altitude.
altruistic
Your altruistic words alone won't get you elected.
aluminum
The school recycles aluminum cans.
alumnus
She is an alumnus of our school.
amalgamate
The two chemicals will amalgamate together.
amazing
The acrobat performed an amazing jump.
amber
The stone is a beautiful shade of amber.
ambition
That child totally lacks any ambition.
ambivalence
Their ambivalence toward the new law was obvious.
ambulance
The ambulance arrived just in time.
ameliorate
Can you ameliorate this sad situation?
amendment
We have an amendment to our constitution.
amnesty
The governor granted him amnesty.
amulet
He wore the inscribed amulet around his neck.
analogous
Your suggestion was analogous to one that was made earlier.
analogy
The teacher gave an analogy of the child's problem.
analyze
We will analyze the problem first, and then solve it.
anemometer
The anemometer indicated gusts of wind at 50 miles per hour.
anesthesia
The anesthesia allows temporary freedom from pain.
anguished
An anguished cry arose from the deep well.
angular
He has an angular jaw line.
anorexia
She had battled anorexia for 2 years.
antibiotic
The patient was given an antibiotic to cure his illness.
3
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
anticipating
They were anticipating a great victory.
antique
The antique shop has some wonderful old pieces of furniture.
antithesis
My opinion is a direct antithesis of yours.
anvil
The hammer strikes the anvil.
anyone
Can anyone go to the fair?
apathetic
It is rare for women to become apathetic toward a child.
apocalypse
Some say we are nearing the apocalypse.
apologetic
The man was apologetic about losing his temper.
appendage
The appendage stuck out too far on the statue.
appetite
The animal had a voracious appetite.
application
Send your application to the committee at once.
appointment
I have a dentist appointment today.
apportionment
The apportionment of taxes is done according to law.
apprehend
The police hope to apprehend the suspect soon.
apprehensive
They became apprehensive when they heard the bad news.
apron
Mom wears her apron when she cooks.
apt
I was apt to fidget during the long performance.
arbitrary
The court made an arbitrary decision.
archaeologist
He is studying to become an archaeologist.
archipelago
An archipelago is an expanse of water with many scattered islands.
ardent
She was an ardent music lover.
arduous
It was an arduous climb up the hill.
argue
I do not want to argue with you.
arid
This foreign country is excessively arid.
arrest
The police will arrest her for stealing.
articulate
He was the most articulate among them.
ascension
The blimp's ascension was slow.
aspire
I aspire to become a nurse.
assail
The army will assail their enemy.
assertion
His assertion was that his bowling team won 1st place.
assessment
The assessment on our property went up 1%.
assortment
The tray held an assortment of desserts.
astern
The tug boat came astern of the large ship.
attachment
The baby formed an attachment to his blanket.
attainable
Straight A grades are not attainable for me.
4
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
attendance
He has a perfect school attendance.
auburn
The color of her hair is auburn.
audacity
He had the audacity to blame Tim for their failure.
augment
The deluge of rain will augment the stream.
autocratic
Castro is an autocratic ruler of his country.
autopsy
The coroner did an autopsy on the body.
auxiliary
The navy auxiliary meets on Tuesday.
avarice
His avarice for possessions was insatiable.
avert
We avert our eyes from a bright light.
aviation
Pilots like to read the aviation magazine.
awe
They gazed in awe at the beautiful butterfly.
awestruck
They stood awestruck before their hero.
backdrop
The trees will make a good backdrop.
baffle
This puzzle will baffle a small child.
balconies
They build balconies now on many new homes.
balsa
The light weight raft will be made of balsa wood.
banished
The dictator was banished from the country.
banknote
A banknote is a piece of paper money.
barnacles
We scraped the barnacles from the bottom of the boat.
barricade
The police will place a barricade around the building.
batch
Let's bake a batch of cookies.
batik
It was a lovely fabric printed by batik.
bayonet
The bayonet is a steel blade attached to the end of a rifle.
beachcomber
Would you like to be a beachcomber?
bearings
The wheel bearings need to be replaced.
behavior
We are rewarded for good behavior.
belie
You cannot belie the truth.
bellows
Use the bellows to start the fire.
beverage
The beverage I like to drink is tea.
bewildered
The hiker became bewildered when he lost the trail.
bifocal
His mother wears bifocal glasses.
billow
A full skirt will billow out in a strong wind.
binoculars
He used his binoculars to watch the horse race.
bionic
They call her the bionic woman.
biophysics
I passed my biophysics course with a B.
5
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
blithe
They called her a blithe spirit.
blizzard
A blinding blizzard was the cause of many wrecks.
blunt
Let me ask a blunt question.
boisterous
Her boisterous antics got her in trouble.
bombardment
The bombardment of the bridge was complete.
bondage
They were held in bondage for many years.
bonus
You will receive a bonus at Christmas.
borne
The seeds of grass were borne by the wind.
botanical
We saw the botanical gardens at the park.
botany
A study of plant life is called botany.
boundary
The boundary lines have been drawn.
bounty
The bounty hunter caught his man.
bracelet
She wore a lovely silver bracelet.
braces
He gets his leg braces off in one week.
brackish
The water had a brackish taste.
breaker
We saw the breaker engulf the boat.
breeches
He wore his breeches to play golf.
broached
She broached the idea for a new pool.
broadcast
They will broadcast the time on the radio.
buckshot
The window was hit by buckshot.
bully
The kids will hide from the bully.
bungalow
They lived in a bungalow on the island.
buoyancy
The buoyancy of the tube makes it fun to ride.
burly
He is a big burly man.
bushel
I sold one bushel of corn.
bustle
It's great to be back in the bustle of the big city.
butte
The isolated mountain butte was seen in the distance.
cabinet
The dishes are in the cabinet.
cache
His cache was stashed under the floor.
cafeteria
This cafeteria won't serve you if you're barefoot.
cajole
He tried to cajole the crying child.
calamity
The rain has created a calamity in our county.
calculations
My calculation differs from yours.
calm
The air was calm before the storm.
camaraderie
The camaraderie among soldiers in battle is easily explained.
6
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
camphor
We use the bark of the camphor tree in medicine.
canister
The canister holds flour.
canopies
The canopies shade the tables from the sun.
capitulation
Their capitulation was a humiliating defeat.
capricious
Authoritarian rulers are typically capricious.
capsize
The small boat will capsize in the storm.
capsule
The space capsule was orbiting the earth.
captivity
Held in captivity, the lion began to roar.
captor
The captor held the fugitive until the police arrived.
carapace
An ancient carapace from a turtle was found near the sea.
caravan
We saw a caravan of army trucks.
carbon
He typed a carbon copy of the letter.
cardiac
He went into cardiac arrest quickly.
cardigan
She wore a cardigan sweater.
caretaker
He is the caretaker at Hearst Castle.
caring
The nurse is caring for the patient.
carpenter
The carpenter will help build a house.
carriage
The carriage was pulled by a horse.
cartilage
The cartilage was damaged; but the bone is O.K.
cartridge
The cartridge was jammed and wouldn't come out.
cascade
The cascade of water tumbled over the rocks.
cashew
The cashew chicken is delicious.
casserole
The potato casserole was delicious.
cataclysm
The cataclysm destroyed the neighborhood.
catapult
They will catapult him out of the cannon.
catastrophic
The catastrophic event ended their weekend together.
category
This category of questions should be answered first?
caution
The road sign warned, caution, men at work.
cavity
The dentist found a cavity in my tooth.
cease
Please cease making that noise.
cellophane
The cellophane tape will hold the pages together.
centrifugal
The centrifugal force pushed them outward.
ceramicist
The ceramicist sold her work at a show.
certificate
He received a certificate for a job well done.
chamber
We walked to the judge's chamber together.
7
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
chaparral
Ride carefully through the chaparral.
charm
A charm is missing from her bracelet.
chattel
He collected all his left over chattel.
chisel
The sculptor will chisel a face out of the stone.
chloroform
They did use chloroform as an anesthetic.
chromosomes
The chromosomes carry the genes that carry hereditary characteristics.
chronicle
His report gave a chronicle of the main events.
chute
The grain pours down the chute into the silo.
cinch
It's a cinch that our team will win.
circular
We have a circular driveway.
circulation
The circulation finally returned to his hands.
civilization
As we know it, civilization is coming to an end.
claim
The product's claim was hard to believe.
clairvoyant
She believes she is clairvoyant
clammy
His hands felt clammy.
clandestine
Their clandestine meeting was discovered.
clarity
The clarity of her explanation helped the situation.
classification
His army classification is 1A.
claustrophobia
His claustrophobia kept him from entering the cave.
cleaver
The butcher used a cleaver to chop the meat.
cleft
He has a cleft in his chin.
clenched
He clinched his money in his hand.
clog
He will fix the clog in the drain.
closing
The store will be closing at 9:00 p.m.
cloudburst
We were caught in a cloudburst without an umbrella.
cockpit
The pilot sits in the cockpit of the plane.
coddle
We will coddle the eggs in water slowly.
collection
I have a doll collection.
collide
The planes will collide on the same flight paths.
colloquial
A colloquial discussion ensued.
cologne
The man’s cologne had a pleasing smell.
colossus
The entry hall has a colossus statue.
comic
I read the comic strip.
commenced
The officer commenced duty early.
commendable
The citizen performed a commendable service.
8
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
commentary
The news commentary was about the war in Europe.
commit
Can you commit one hour a week as volunteer.
commodities
Prices on the commodities market were down.
communications
The President has excellent communications with all parts of the world.
communion
We had communion in church today.
community
We live in a small community.
compensation
For the damage done, compensation will be sent immediately.
competent
She is a competent swimmer.
comply
New vehicles must comply with certain standards.
component
The component elements of brass are copper and zinc.
compound
Let's not compound our problems.
comprehension
What is his level of comprehension?
compressor
The compressor on the refrigerator is not working.
compulsory
In most schools, sports are compulsory.
conceal
He can no longer conceal his true identity.
concede
The government was forced to concede defeat.
conception
Architecturally it's a bold conception.
concession
There was a question of fairness at the concession booth.
conch
I found a conch shell on the beach.
concussion
She suffered a concussion from the car wreck.
condense
They will condense the books into one story.
condolence
We sent a card of condolence to the bereaved family.
condone
We cannot condone their actions.
confabulated
The group confabulated well.
confer
We will confer on the project this morning.
confidence
They showed great confidence in their leader.
confirmation
His confirmation for the job arrived today.
confront
The police will confront the angry crowd.
conjecture
The exact figure is a matter for conjecture.
conjure
Can you conjure up a meaning for this word?
connotations
The word "good" sometimes has moral connotations.
conscientious
He did a conscientious job replacing the window.
conscious
Was that a conscious decision?
conservatively
He dresses conservatively.
consolidated
We consolidated our companies.
9
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
consolingly
He whispered consolingly into his son's ear.
conspirators
He joined the conspirators in their plan.
constable
He is the constable of a small town.
consultant
He is a consultant for a large research firm.
consumed
The parched land consumed the flood of water.
consummate
They will consummate their vows in church.
contemplate
He will contemplate on answering the question.
contemporary
He was a contemporary of mine.
contentment
A good life usually brings contentment.
continually
The child continually asked questions.
contour
I have contour sheets on my mattress.
contraption
What kind of contraption is that?
contrive
They will contrive a plan that will work smoothly.
controversy
The controversy between the two people was over money.
conventional
Boating on the lake is the conventional thing to do.
conveyance
The conveyance is here to take her home.
convulsion
Falling and hitting his head, the child had a convulsion.
cooperate
We will all cooperate and get the work done early.
copepod
The copepod is a crustacean.
copies
Make 20 copies of just one page.
copious
Her notes were copious.
cornea
He injured the cornea of his eye.
cornerstone
The cornerstone will be dedicated today.
correspond
I frequently correspond with my cousin
corrupt
He was a very corrupt official.
corset
A corset is an undergarment.
counteract
This will counteract the effects of the medicine.
courtesy
Opening the door for someone is a small courtesy.
coveted
The winner received a much coveted award.
cow
The cow is black and white.
cowardly
His cowardly behavior was noticed by everyone.
creditable
The victory was directly creditable to his efforts.
creed
He will follow his creed faithfully.
crimson
This shade of red is crimson.
crinoid
The tropical crinoid is quite colorful.
10
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
criteria
Please give me a copy of the grading criteria.
critical
He was very critical of her work.
crook
The crook ran out the back door.
croon
Mother will croon a tune to her baby.
crouch
We will crouch and hide behind the sofa.
crowbar
It will take a crowbar to get that door off!
crucible
This crucible is used to melt gold.
cruelty
We will not tolerate cruelty to animals.
crustacean
Various crustacean creatures roamed the sandy bottom.
crystal
The crystal glassware was very fragile.
cubicle
She works in a small cubicle in the back of the store.
cucumbers
My sister grows delicious cucumbers.
cuisine
This restaurant is known for its fine cuisine.
culprit
They caught the culprit before he could leave the store.
cultivate
You must cultivate new friendship.
cup
Pour the coffee into a cup.
curator
He is the curator for the museum.
currant
The farmer grows currant grapes.
curvature
My dog has a case of curvature of his spine.
cutter
The cutter blade was dull.
dam
The dam separates the river from the lake.
dangle
She let her foot dangle in the water.
data
The data is kept in a computer.
debt
The final debt on his home will be paid this month.
decency
He did have the decency to call me.
decimate
The disease will decimate the feline population.
decipher
They used a special code to decipher the message.
decisive
I aim to be decisive.
decompression
The diver was put in a decompression chamber.
decorate
We will decorate the cake for Easter.
decree
The judge will decree the punishment.
dedicate
We will dedicate this poem to Mothers.
deduction
His deduction in pay was for insurance.
defect
There is a defect in the material.
defendant
I was supportive of the defendant in the courtroom.
11
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
defiance
He went to work in defiance of the doctor's orders.
definitely
I will definitely need a new suit.
deformity
A facial deformity kept him from venturing into public view.
deft
She is very deft with her fingers.
dejection
He hung his head in dejection after failing the test.
delaying
Your delaying tactics will not aid your situation.
delegate
You will be an alternate delegate to the convention.
deliberation
The jury was in deliberation for 18 hours.
delirious
With a high fever, the patient became delirious.
deluge
The cloudburst sent a deluge of rain down the dry gully.
demeanor
His demeanor was sullen.
demoralized
I was demoralized by his story.
denizen
The shark is a saltwater denizen.
density
The density of the fog made driving hazardous.
department
Which department do you work in?
depletion
The depletion of the flour meant there would be no more bread.
deploy
The army will deploy its troops in battle.
depressed
After the Holidays, they felt depressed.
deprivation
He suffered from oxygen deprivation when he was young.
deputize
The sheriff will deputize his posse.
deranged
They sent the deranged patient to the mental ward.
derision
They speak with derision of amateurs.
descend
He began to descend the stairs slowly.
desirous
Children are desirous of many toys.
desolation
The flood left desolation in its wake.
desperation
In desperation he ran from the building.
despondent
His illness made him very despondent.
destiny
She felt it was her destiny to be famous.
detachment
The detachment of troops was small in number.
deter
Such discrimination may deter women from seeking work.
determination
With determination he finished the job.
developing
The photographer is developing our pictures.
diabetic
The lab tests confirmed he was a diabetic.
diagnosis
The doctor gave the patient a good diagnosis.
dictate
The boss will dictate a letter to his secretary.
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Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
diffused
The light was diffused by leaves.
dig
The tractor will dig a large hole.
digestive
My digestive system is upset.
digital
I lost my digital watch.
dignify
His achievements will dignify his position.
dilated
Her eyes dilated with terror.
diligent
She is a steady diligent worker.
dim
The light was dim.
dimension
The dimension of the home was vast.
diminutive
She is a petite and diminutive young lady.
dingy
Bleach will take the dingy color out of your clothes.
diorama
The students arranged the diorama figures.
directive
The mayor gave a strong directive.
dirge
The dirge was 5 minutes long.
disarm
The policeman will disarm the suspect.
disassociate
You must disassociate yourself from bad company.
disaster
The flooding of the town was a disaster.
disbar
They will disbar him from practice.
discourse
They listened to his discourse on human relations.
discussed
Mom and Dad discussed the problem thoroughly.
disease
The dreaded disease was eradicated.
disenfranchise
Don't disenfranchise the whole generation.
disgustedly
He left the noisy party disgustedly.
disintegrate
Everything consumed by the fire began to disintegrate.
dislocate
Be careful not to dislocate that shoulder again.
dismal
It was a long dismal day.
dismantle
The mechanic will dismantle the worn out engine.
dismay
He looked in dismay at his wrecked car.
dismount
You dismount on the left side of the horse.
displaying
They are displaying his art tomorrow.
disposal
The garbage disposal is broken.
disposition
She has a happy disposition.
disregard
Do not disregard the warning sign.
disruptive
His behavior proved disruptive in class.
dissymmetry
The dissymmetry was hardly noticeable.
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Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
distilling
The bootleggers were caught distilling whiskey.
diversified
His portfolio revealed diversified investments.
divulge
We cannot divulge our source of information.
docile
The older dog or cat is a docile animal.
dock
The small boat was tied to the dock.
doff
A gentleman will doff his hat to a lady.
dollar
One hundred pennies equal a dollar.
domain
This land is public domain.
dominant
Brown eyes are usually dominant.
doom
She heard the news with a feeling of doom.
dormant
This tree is dormant in the winter.
dorsal
He held onto the dolphin's dorsal fin.
dowry
The brides’ dowry was substantial.
drab
Grey is a drab color.
dramatic
There was a dramatic finale to the play.
drastically
The workforce was drastically cut back.
drawn
It was a long drawn out program.
dray
The horse will pull the dray.
dredge
Mother will dredge the chicken with flour before frying.
dregs
They were considered the dregs of society.
drippings
We fry our eggs in bacon drippings.
drowse
Sitting in the sun, the man began to drowse.
drumstick
We call the chicken leg a drumstick.
dry
The desert air was dry and clear.
dude
We lived on a dude ranch this summer.
duel
They had a duel with swords.
dugout
A baseball field contains a dugout.
dumbfounded
He stood there, dumbfounded by the news.
dwell
Don't dwell to long on one subject.
easel
He took his paints and easel to the beach.
ebullience
Her ebullience was inspiring to her coworkers.
eclipse
With excitement we saw the solar eclipse.
ecology
The eighth graders have a special ecology project.
economically
She cooks very economically.
ecstasy
He was in ecstasy over his latest trophy.
14
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
eddy
The water in the area of the eddy looked darker.
edict
The edict of the Governor was stern.
effigy
They hung an effigy of the killer.
ego
He has an overbearing ego.
egocentric
She has many egocentric mannerisms.
elder
The elder son will come with us.
eliminate
Don't eliminate the losing team.
elude
That word seems to elude my mind.
embellish
Don't embellish the truth.
embezzle
Did he embezzle the money?
emblazon
His kind words emblazon the bosses accomplishments.
embrace
She will embrace her son tenderly.
embroidery
The embroidery on the dress was beautiful.
embryo
The picture showed the fish embryo in the early stage of life.
emerald
She wore a beautiful emerald ring.
emerge
We will emerge the victor.
emeritus
The gray-haired professor emeritus delivered his address.
eminence
His eminence, Cardinal Ross, visited Brazil.
emotional
Leaving friends is an emotional time for all.
emphatic
I am emphatic on that topic.
emulate
We like to emulate our peers.
enact
Congress will enact a bill to lower taxes.
enamel
The enamel was chipped from the edge of the counter.
enclosure
The huge enclosure held many animals.
endeavor
His endeavor to fulfill his obligation was appreciated.
energetic
Fran is an energetic person.
engross
His hobby will engross him.
engulf
The water will engulf the land.
enjoying
They were enjoying a boat ride on the lake.
enlarge
He will enlarge the picture.
enmity
Total disregard for property had earned him the enmity of the farmers.
enthusiasm
The group's enthusiasm was exciting.
entitle
This ticket will entitle you to a free show.
entrance
The building’s entrance was blocked.
enunciated
I enunciated a general principle.
15
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
envelope
The letter was in the envelope.
environmentalist
Pat is a dedicated environmentalist.
epitaph
His epitaph was chiseled on the marble tombstone.
epoch
The epoch movie production was a great success.
equal
One and one will equal two.
equatorial
While traveling we experienced a week of equatorial heat.
equipped
They are equipped to record the service.
escalate
The price of gold will escalate in the next month.
essential
It is essential that we start the project today.
eternity
It seemed an eternity to the small boy waiting for his mom.
evading
He had found a way of evading responsibility.
everyday
It's her everyday hat.
evoke
The picture began to evoke strong memories.
evolve
The group could evolve into something bigger.
exasperated
They became exasperated when the television wouldn't work.
excavate
They will excavate the buried treasure.
excel
He will excel at anything he does.
except
Everyone got to go except me.
excess
She lives in excess of her means.
excite
The music seemed to excite the crowd.
exclusive
She had an exclusive showing of designer clothes.
exemption
He has one exemption on his tax form.
exert
Do not exert yourself in the heat.
exiled
The prisoner was exiled to another country.
exodus
The exodus from work was fast and furious.
expectancy
Life expectancy now is much longer than thirty years ago.
expensively
She was expensively dressed in furs and diamonds.
expertise
His expertise is spelling.
explosion
The explosion rocked the house.
exposure
Long exposure to the cold is dangerous.
expressionistic
Her expressionistic style interested the critics.
extensive
The cord was worn out, due to extensive use.
extenuating
They had to consider the other extenuating facts.
external
The external wound was healing fast.
extraordinary
Her extraordinary efforts got the job done quickly.
16
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
extravagant
This extravagant lifestyle cannot continue.
extricate
We tried to extricate his foot from the hole.
faceplate
The faceplate was made of aluminum.
facet
I appreciate that facet of his life.
falcon
The falcon preys on small animals.
falsetto
The young boy sang in a high, clear falsetto voice.
famine
As the old saying goes, It's either feast or famine.
fashionable
It is now fashionable to wear low heeled shoes.
fast
He ran very fast in the race.
fastidiously
The process was fastidiously checked.
fateful
Yesterday was a fateful day.
fathom
The pool is a fathom deep at one end.
favorable
It was a favorable idea.
fermented
The bacteria fermented the milk.
fertilize
The farmer will fertilize his fields.
fidget
The child will fidget with impatience.
filament
He wound the filament around his finger.
filly
A newborn female horse is called a filly.
finale
They all took their bow in the grand finale.
financially
The man worked hard to become financially secure.
fire
Never play with fire.
flagon
In medieval days men drank from a flagon.
flank
They hit the enemy from the left flank.
flexible
We keep very flexible hours.
flora
The flora around the lake is sparse now.
floriculture
She took a floriculture class.
florid
The man had a florid complexion.
flotsam
The sea around them was filled with flotsam.
fluted
The bowl has a fluted rim.
fodder
We fed the fodder to the cattle.
foliage
The heavy green foliage covered the side of the house.
folly
Robert Fulton's first steamboat was called a folly.
foolscap
The kings’ jester wore foolscap.
forbidding
The dark street was a forbidding sight.
foreground
The foreground of the picture was painted white.
17
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
foreman
My nephew is the foreman for PPG.
foremost
This idea is foremost in my mind.
forfeit
The guilty man had to forfeit his pay.
forgiveness
Your forgiveness is easily accepted.
forked
The electrical storm produced forked lightning.
forlorn
The little lost boy looked so forlorn.
formidable
The doctor is a formidable looking man.
fortitude
With perseverance and fortitude we will survive the ordeal.
foster
The foster parents love their child.
founder
Thomas Kemp is the founder of Kemp Town.
fragmented
The speech was fragmented and confusing.
frantic
There was a frantic search to find the child.
fraud
He was convicted of fraud.
fret
Don't fret over small problems.
frigate
The frigate is a small light boat using oars or sails.
fringe
The vest has fringe on the front of it.
frostbitten
Her fingers were frostbitten from long exposure to cold.
frugal
She is a frugal planner.
fruitless
That tree is called a fruitless mulberry.
function
The function of the heater is to keep you warm.
furiously
He furiously fought off the wounded animal.
furlong
The horse will practice running one furlong.
fusillade
The fusillade of bullets was scary.
gabardine
He wore gabardine slacks and a white shirt.
gabbing
The kids were gabbing instead of listening.
galleon
Debris from the galleon was discovered off the Florida coast.
galley
They will cook in the ships galley.
galore
There are bargains galore in the store.
galvanized
The lecture galvanized others into action.
gangling
He was a gangling youth.
garb
He went to the party in the garb of a Roman Soldier.
gardening
Let's do the gardening early in the morning.
gazette
This is a hand printed gazette.
gene
A gene determines the color of your eyes.
generate
The story will generate a lot of discussion.
18
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
generic
She used the generic name for the plant.
genre
The artist did a genre painting.
geothermal
The geothermal energy is being researched.
germinate
The seeds that we planted will germinate in one week.
giddy
The girls were giddy with excitement.
gigantic
We saw a gigantic hot air balloon.
gimmick
He used a gimmick to fool the people.
gingerly
The old man gingerly held the small child’s hand.
girth
The girth of her waist is 27 inches.
glade
We found a small glade in the woods.
glib
He gave a glib reply.
glimpse
We just saw a glimpse of the sun before it went down.
globule
A single globule of the liquid found its way into his cup.
glockenspiel
I played the glockenspiel in band.
gossamer
On gossamer wings, the craft floated gently down river.
grandstand
We sat in the grandstand at the game.
grateful
They were grateful for all the help offered.
gravitational
The gravitational pull was strong.
greenhorn
Give the greenhorn the gentle horse to ride.
grindstone
The blacksmith pumped the treadle of the grindstone.
grotesque
The mask was grotesque.
grounding
Because of the fog, there will be a grounding of all planes.
guardian
Her guardian can sign the papers.
gulch
They rode horses up the dry gulch.
guru
He is the religious guru of the group.
guy
The guy wore cowboy boots.
gymnasium
Many sports are played in the gymnasium.
haggle
The merchant likes to haggle with his customers.
hallucination
He saw dragons in his hallucination.
haphazardly
The work was done haphazardly.
harmonize
The singers will harmonize in a song.
harpsichord
The harpsichord is a musical instrument.
haunting
They sang a haunting melody.
hectic
It has been a very hectic day.
heedless
He ran heedless of the policeman's warning.
19
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
heifer
The heifer is a young cow.
heirloom
Mother has a beautiful heirloom quilt.
helm
He stood at the helm of the boat.
heretofore
Heretofore, we hadn't thought about going.
hesitate
Don't hesitate to call if you need help.
hierarchy
The party hierarchy will never accept him as leader.
hilarious
He gave a hilarious imitation of the boss.
historic
A historic moment was seen on television.
hitherto
Hitherto, she'll be known by another name.
hoax
A hoax was played on the family at Halloween.
holocaust
The personal pain of the holocaust is great.
homage
The soldiers gathered to pay homage to the heroes.
homesteader
The early homesteader had a hard life.
hopeful
I am hopeful we will win the game.
horde
They saw the horde of Indians come over the hill.
horoscope
What is your sign in the horoscope?
hostage
The terrorists took two people hostage.
hostile
Suddenly the army came upon the hostile enemy.
humble
It's hard to eat humble pie.
humiliating
It was a humiliating scene to view.
humor
He has an odd sense of humor.
hypnotic
The music had a hypnotic effect.
hypothesis
Greg proved the hypothesis.
identical
The boys were identical twins.
identification
Your photo can be used for identification.
illustrate
The teacher will illustrate the use of the atlas.
immensely
We are immensely proud of our college graduate.
impact
Many modern bullets explode upon impact.
impair
A dim light can impair your vision.
impassioned
He gave a very impassioned speech.
impatient
I get impatient with her.
impelled
I feel impelled to express my doubts about the project.
impenetrable
This new material is impenetrable.
imperious
Your imperious attitude will not win you friends.
impetuously
She impetuously grabbed the flower.
20
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
implicate
The crook will implicate his friend in the crime.
implore
We implore you to be more considerate.
imply
I did not imply that you were wrong.
impression
I have the impression you don't like me.
improbable
That crime is improbable.
improving
She will keep improving on her math as the year progresses.
impulsively
I ate the candy impulsively.
impurity
The impurity of the water was caused by the flood.
inadequate
The living area was inadequate for six people.
inappropriate
It was an inappropriate time to call.
inaudible
The whistle had an inaudible sound to the human ear.
incapable
They are incapable of good judgment.
incessantly
She drank tea incessantly.
incomprehensible
The story was incomprehensible.
inconceivable
He found it inconceivable that Tim was insane.
inconsistencies
His life was full of inconsistencies.
inconvenience
I hope the delay didn't inconvenience you.
incorrigible
Both men are incorrigible criminals.
incredulity
Your look of incredulity tells me you have doubts.
incubation
The incubation time for chicks is one week.
indefinite
The schedule is indefinite on arrival time for the train.
indestructible
It was made of indestructible material.
indict
The judge will indict him for the crime.
indigo
He harvested the indigo from the hillside.
indirect
The electrician installed indirect lighting in the room.
indomitable
His attitude was indomitable.
inducement
The inducement was a trip to Hawaii.
indulge
I think I will indulge and order an ice cream sundae.
inert
He carried her, still inert, up the stairs.
infatuation
Your infatuation with sweets is unhealthy.
infectious
She has an infectious laugh.
inferno
The men worked near the roaring inferno of the blast furnace.
infinity
The stars seem to hang from infinity.
informality
She appreciated the informality of the party.
ingenious
The plan was ingenious for the simplicity.
21
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
ingestion
His ingestion of too much candy made him sick.
inherit
The daughter will inherit her mother's piano.
initial
Would you please initial the bottom of the page?
injurious
Drugs are injurious to your health.
inoperative
Due to the storm, the telephone is inoperative.
inordinately
It's an achievement of which I was inordinately proud.
insatiable
She has insatiable curiosity
inscrutable
Her attitude was inscrutable.
insignificant
It was an insignificant detail to remember.
insolence
I was punished for my insolence.
instigated
Further prosecutions were instigated privately.
instinctively
Before entering, he instinctively listened at the door.
institutions
Universities are institutions of learning.
insulin
He needs daily injections of insulin.
integrate
We will integrate the girls with the boys.
intensity
The intensity of the heat was overwhelming.
intently
It was an intently focused look.
interact
The players interact with the Director.
intercession
Through the intercession of my friend, my request was granted.
interchange
There was an interchange of information.
interior
The interior of the room was painted blue.
interloper
I suspect the intruder is an interloper.
interminable
I had interminable problems with my last car.
intermittent
The intermittent rain caused the delay of the tennis game.
internal
He works in the internal affairs department.
interspersed
The tulips were interspersed among the daffodils.
intimidate
The bully will intimidate the small boy.
intramural
Students may compete only in intramural sports.
intricately
His work was intricately designed.
intriguing
Your idea was intriguing enough to try.
introspective
The boy was downcast and introspective.
intruder
The intruder got away.
intuition
My intuition tells me you are honest.
inventory
The store had a large inventory of toys.
involuntary
The baby gave an involuntary cry.
22
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
involvement
Her involvement in the show was a big improvement.
irascible
The irascible curmudgeon was not well liked.
ire
The news got his ire.
ironically
We made the trip ironically, without a mishap.
irregularly
His heart is beating irregularly.
irresolute
His irresolute lifestyle bothers me.
irritable
He became very irritable from lack of sleep.
itemize
We will itemize each article by size.
joke
She told a funny joke.
joshed
His friends joshed him about his wish to become mayor.
journeyman
He is a journeyman for the electrician.
judiciously
You presented your case most judiciously.
juniper
There are many juniper bushes in our yard.
jurisprudence
The science or knowledge of law is called jurisprudence.
justification
The computer will do perfect type justification.
keen
The professor has a keen mind.
kimono
The Japanese woman wears a kimono.
kindergarten
My child will go to kindergarten next year.
label
The label on the jar is torn.
laborious
They laughed at his laborious attempts at communication.
languid
He stretched a languid hand to the guest.
lapsed
He lapsed into a coma.
lark
I saw a lark outside my window.
laundress
The laundress will be done with your clothes soon.
legislate
You can't legislate morality.
leisure
In my leisure time I like to read.
lethargy
His lethargy worried his parents.
levee
The levee began to crumble under the rising water.
liable
You will be held liable for any damage done to the car.
liberal
Mom was very liberal with the syrup for my pancakes.
lieutenant
The lieutenant reported to the captain.
lightweight
She wore a lightweight sweater to the game.
likeness
She is an exact likeness of her mom.
liter
It will take one liter of water to fill this jug.
litigation
I am involved in litigation with a neighbor.
23
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
location
They will film this scene on location.
locomotion
Most animals have locomotion.
lolled
The dog's tongue lolled out from thirst.
longshoreman
The longshoreman works on the docks.
lorry
They loaded the lorry with furniture to be moved.
lowering
The men were lowering the boat into the water.
lozenge
I have taken a throat lozenge.
lugubrious
We rolled our eyes at his lugubrious expression.
luminescence
The luminescence after the bomb fell was awesome.
macabre
They made a movie from the macabre crime.
maintain
You must always maintain good grades.
majestic
The majestic mountain range was seen through the cloud.
maladjusted
The old man seems to be maladjusted.
malfunction
My car has a malfunction in the engine.
mallet
The mallet was heavy.
marine
There are many different kinds of marine life in the ocean.
martyrdom
Joan of Arc's martyrdom is still remembered.
masonry
My brother did all of the masonry work on the new home.
masthead
The masthead of this paper is printed on the first page.
materially
This family is not materially oriented.
measuring
He is measuring the medicine dosage carefully.
mechanism
The machine's mechanism broke down.
meek
He has a meek personality.
melancholy
Her melancholy manner irritated her boyfriend.
meld
To declare a card or combination of cards as a meld.
melodrama
The funny play was called a melodrama.
memorandum
The memorandum was sent throughout the office.
merchandise
The stores merchandise was left on the dock.
mercury
The mercury climbs in the hot summer.
merit
The boy scout won his first merit badge.
mesa
The mesa stood alone on the horizon.
metabolism
Her metabolism was very low.
method
Which method of scoring do you use?
metric
Please use your metric ruler to measure.
mica
Mica is often used as insulation for electrical equipment.
24
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
microchip
A microchip must be replaced in my computer.
microsecond
A microsecond is one millionth of a second in time.
millennium
A millennium is a thousand years.
milligram
I have a milligram of pure gold.
mince
To mince the onion you need a sharp knife.
mingle
We will mingle with friends at the party.
miniature
I collect miniature dolls.
minimal
It took a minimal amount of time to complete the job.
mischance
By mischance, the driver lost the race.
miserly
He was an untrusting miserly old man.
misgiving
He looked with misgiving at the strange food on his plate.
misinterpret
Don't misinterpret my words.
mockery
Don't make a mockery of all your training.
modify
He will modify his stereo system.
molecular
I want to study molecular biology.
molt
Birds will molt their feathers periodically.
monarchy
The reigning monarchy will marry soon.
monopolize
A child can monopolize all of his mothers time.
monsoon
The monsoon season occurs in Asia.
moonstone
I have a moonstone ring.
morality
There is a decline in traditional morality.
morose
He is morose over losing his job.
mortal
All living things are mortal.
mosaic
The mosaic was pieced together carefully.
mote
There was a mote of dirt on the window.
movement
There was no movement by the enemy.
multiply
Guppies multiply quickly.
multitude
A multitude of heavenly hosts appeared to the angels.
mundane
Do not mention the mundane tasks to me.
mutilate
Somebody tried to mutilate his work of art.
myriad
She had a myriad of papers on her desk.
myrtle
The myrtle bush smells sweet.
mystification
I don't believe in the mystification of the occult.
mythology
In mythology we studied Greek gods.
namely
He namely wanted to be first in line.
25
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
narrative
His narrative on the subject was in-lightning.
national
The national pastime in Europe is soccer.
nauseating
It was a nauseating scene to watch.
navigation
It was tricky navigation on the swollen river.
nebulous
I had a nebulous notion of life after death.
negative
The man gave a negative response.
neglected
He neglected to feed the cat.
niche
He found his niche in life.
nondescript
The women were dressed in nondescript clothes.
nonentity
After she left office, she became a nonentity.
nook
She looked in every nook and cranny.
notorious
The old west is known for notorious bandits.
novice
He was a novice at his trade.
nowadays
Nearly everyone nowadays has a car.
noxious
The substance was noxious.
numb
My fingers became numb from the cold.
oasis
An oasis is found in the desert.
obelisk
I like the obelisk by the door.
object
The object of this lesson is to have fun.
obligation
You are under no obligation to buy the book.
obliterate
The thick fog will obliterate my view.
oblivious
The man was oblivious to the noise around him.
obnoxious
The garbage dump has an obnoxious odor.
obscurity
After his one big hit, the singer sank into obscurity.
obsessed
He's obsessed with football and talks about nothing else.
obsidian
I have a black obsidian stone from New Mexico.
obsolete
The Falcon missile was now obsolete.
obstacle
No obstacle will prevent us from taking our objective.
officious
The mayor has an officious stance.
ogling
He was ogling the pretty girl sitting across the room.
ointment
The ointment felt creamy on my skin.
olive
We saw a large grove of olive trees.
omen
It was a bad omen.
operate
Can you operate the machine by yourself?
ophthalmologist
The ophthalmologist studied my eyes carefully.
26
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
opportune
Vacation is an opportune time to relax.
oppressive
The room became oppressive with heat.
optimism
Don't lose your optimism about finding your wallet.
option
You have but one option left.
orator
The orator spoke with great eloquence.
ordeal
It is an ordeal to get a lazy person to work.
organism
Use the microscope to see the organism.
organizing
The kids began organizing the party.
originate
The show will originate from Dallas.
orthography
The writing system of a language is called orthography.
ostensible
Her ostensible motives were obvious.
ostracized
She was ostracized from the family.
outlet
I have a wall outlet in my room.
ovation
The singer was given a standing ovation.
overhaul
My car needs an overhaul.
owing
We will be an hour late, owing to the traffic jam.
oxidation
The saltwater has caused oxidation of the car paint.
oxygenate
We will oxygenate the plant-filled sack.
pageant
The beauty pageant is held in the spring.
painstaking
It was a painstaking ordeal.
palate
All that junk food must have ruined my palate.
pallor
Her face had a sickly pallor.
pamphlet
You may use this pamphlet to write on.
papyrus
The written scroll was made of papyrus.
paralytic
The patient had a paralytic stroke
paraphernalia
I keep all of my photographic paraphernalia in that room.
parchment
The diploma was written on parchment paper.
pare
I will pare the apple.
parenthesis
Please place the word in parenthesis.
partition
A partition has been placed between the beds.
patent
He was granted a patent for his invention.
pathetic
The bedraggled looking man was a pathetic sight.
patriarch
Grandpa is the patriarch of the family.
patronize
Many people patronize this well known shop.
pavilion
The show was presented in the outside pavilion.
27
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
payload
The ship carried a payload of precious metal.
peculiarities
She has many peculiarities.
pelt
Her fur hat was made from an animal pelt.
percentage
What is the percentage rate today?
perforate
They could not perforate the surface.
perilous
The journey is a perilous trip across the ocean.
periodic
I do a periodic revision of each test.
periphery
The cost of land on the periphery of Calcutta went up.
permitting
Are you permitting me to leave now?
perpendicular
The pole was perpendicular to the horizon.
persecute
Don't persecute the sick dog.
persevere
Confidence is needed both to start and to persevere.
persistent
The child was persistent in his attempts to gain attention.
pert
She has a pert little nose.
petition
The fire petition was signed by five hundred people.
pewter
The ornaments were made of pewter.
phenomenal
A phenomenal occurrence surprised them all.
phony
He was carrying a phony passport.
phosphorescence
The creature displayed natural phosphorescence.
physics
We study physics at the university.
physiology
I took one physiology course in college.
piecework
Some laborers do piecework in the fields.
pigeons
All of his pigeons came home to roost.
pigment
The pigment of his skin is brown.
pious
He was a pious character.
pitch
You can pitch the ball to me.
placid
He has a placid disposition.
plaudit
A plaudit from that critic meant a great deal.
plausible
That explanation is not very plausible.
play
Children love to play in the sand.
plebeian
His plebeian tastes were looked down on.
plied
Dolly plied me with sweets.
pluck
She had to pluck the banjo strings fast.
plumage
The peacock has colorful plumage.
pogrom
The old Russian Jew had survived the pogrom.
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Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
poignant
His cry of protest is still poignant today.
policy
It is the stores policy that the customer is always right.
politician
The politician talked and talked.
polka
They danced the polka.
polychrome
The polychrome design was attractive.
polyglot
This book is a polyglot comprised of 6 languages.
poplin
Poplin is a strong fabric of plain weave.
portability
The portability of this object is its best attribute.
portent
Is this a portent of coming events?
positively
I will positively be there at noon.
posse
The sheriff's posse rode in the parade.
posterity
This building should be preserved for posterity.
potpourri
I was given a beautiful potpourri jar.
practicing
They were practicing the play on the stage.
prance
The circus ponies prance around the ring.
precariously
He walked precariously close to the edge of the cliff.
precept
He believed in the precept of truthfulness.
precise
At that precise moment, the bell rang.
predicament
She got herself into a sticky predicament.
predominant
The predominant male animal rules the herd.
preen
The ducks will preen their feathers.
preference
Do you have a preference in where we dine?
preliminaries
The preliminaries to the meeting were important.
premonition
He had a premonition that he would win the game.
presage
His coming will presage the end of the hostilities.
presentation
The travel log presentation of Europe was given at club.
pressurized
This airplane is pressurized.
previously
We previously lived across town.
primitive
The primitive man lived in a cave.
principle
He is a man of devote principle.
prior
Have you any prior experience.
privation
The privation on the small island was evident.
probability
The probability of it raining is remote.
procedures
We will follow company procedures.
procrastination
He had a problem with procrastination.
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Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
prodigy
She is a prodigy of the music teacher.
professional
The man is a professional at his trade.
profound
The surgery caused a profound improvement.
profusion
Daffodils grow in profusion under the tree.
progressive
Let’s play a progressive game of cards.
project
She just started the project today.
proliferation
The proliferation of flowers in the spring was amazing.
prone
They were prone to argue.
propagation
The sea turtle propagation project is going well.
property
The fence is our property line.
proprietor
The proprietor of the store is my friend.
prospective
A prospective client sat in the waiting room.
prostrate
He lay prostrate on the floor.
protocol
There is strict adherence to protocol in the military service.
prototype
That sports car is the manufacturer’s latest prototype.
protracted
Bad weather protracted his work.
protruding
The rock was protruding over the road.
proverb
That is an old Chinese proverb.
prow
He stood on the prow of the ship.
psychologist
Mr. Smith is a school psychologist.
publications
These magazines are monthly publications.
pullet
A young chicken is called a pullet.
pungent
Garlic has a pungent smell.
purify
They will boil the water to purify it for drinking.
quadruple
You can quadruple your investment in 10 years.
quantity
What quantity of flour did you put in the cake?
quarterly
I received my quarterly issue yesterday.
quizzical
A quizzical expression greeted my inquiry.
race
This is the last race of the track meet.
radical
The League had become too radical.
rallies
It is my job to plan the pep rallies.
rapt
My audience listened in rapt silence.
ravenous
The kids are ravenous when they come home from the beach.
ravine
There is a large ravine between the hills.
rebuke
He received a stern rebuke from his superiors.
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Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
rebuttal
He gave a stern rebuttal to the testimony given.
recidivism
His pattern of recidivism seems unchangeable.
recollection
His recollection of the story was hazy.
reconnoiter
The resistance volunteers would reconnoiter after dark.
recruit
The new army recruit was a little scared.
reestablish
We will reestablish control of the situation later.
reference
You will find it in the reference book section.
refinement
The refinement of the room gave it distinction.
reform
The group wants to reform student government.
refrain
Please refrain from speaking out of turn.
refrigeration
In our hot valley, good refrigeration is needed.
refused
I refused to be intimidated by the press.
regale
They will regale him with honors.
regard
I do not regard him as a close friend.
regretting
They are regretting the mistakes they have made.
regulation
At my school we have a regulation uniform.
rehabilitate
We hope to rehabilitate the criminal.
reincarnation
I suspect she believes in reincarnation.
relatively
In a relatively short time we can go home.
relentless
The lion’s relentless pursuit of the deer was successful.
reluctant
The naughty boy was reluctant to face his father.
remedial
The child was placed in a remedial program.
reminiscent
This hotel is reminiscent of the one we stayed at last year.
remittances
Send your remittances to the clerk in charge.
remonstrate
I will remonstrate with him about his behavior.
remote
They live in a remote area of the mountains.
render
He will render the lard soon.
rendezvous
A rendezvous was arranged for the couple.
repatriate
They need to repatriate the war refugees.
repertoire
It was wonderful to be able to extend my song repertoire.
replica
A replica of the statue was carved in ice.
replies
She replies to all her fan mail.
reputation
Her good reputation in the community was solid.
requiring
They are requiring a drug test be taken before employment.
requisitioned
Transport was being requisitioned by the army.
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Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
reserves
We have large coal reserves.
resides
Real power now resides in the workshop.
resignation
His resignation from office was requested.
resolve
I resolve to work harder.
resort
As a last resort he went to the British Library.
resounding
A resounding echo filled the auditorium.
resourceful
The resourceful person will always come out ahead.
respite
Let's take a respite from our work.
responsive
The child was not responsive to my questions.
retail
There are many retail stores in the mall.
retort
His blatant retort was uncalled for.
retreat
The defeated army began to retreat.
reverie
Her reverie was broken when the phone rang.
revival
The church revival was held in a tent.
revoke
The law can revoke your driver’s license.
revolutionize
Computers will revolutionize the world.
rheumatic
When she was young, she had rheumatic fever.
rickety
The rickety stairs were ready to fall down.
ridicule
It is not kind to ridicule someone's speech.
rigor
The traffic laws will be enforced with rigor.
rookery
Many birds nest in the rookery.
rosebushes
The rosebushes in the yard need pruning.
rostrum
He spoke standing behind the rostrum.
rouge
The pretty woman wore rouge on her cheeks.
rouse
The hunting dogs will rouse the birds from the field.
rubble
The streets were full of rubble after the riots.
rucksack
He carried a rucksack on his back.
ruddy
He has a ruddy complexion.
rueful
She was a rueful sight.
rupture
The small organ threatened to rupture from infection.
russet
The kitten had russet colored fur.
saddle
Put the saddle on the horse.
saga
The saga ended on a happy note.
sagacious
His sagacious opinion was appreciated.
salary
I've heard that a teacher makes a good salary.
32
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
salt
Please pass the salt.
salvage
They will salvage what they can.
sarcastic
His sarcastic demeanor alienates coworkers.
satire
The book was a satire on the lives of past presidents.
satisfy
Nothing seems to satisfy the crying baby.
saturated
The ground was saturated after the heavy rain.
savage
The animals were untamed savage beasts.
scandal
The office scandal spread quickly throughout the company.
scant
Just a scant amount of pepper please.
scarcity
Good tomatoes are a scarcity this season.
scholarship
He will apply for the scholarship at the college.
scientific
The lab has made a scientific discovery of a new drug.
scone
I will have a scone for breakfast.
scorch
Do not scorch your shirt when ironing.
scuba
His scuba gear was missing from the boat.
scullery
She was a scullery maid in the old castle.
secrete
The pine tree will secrete sap from its branches.
securing
After securing the boat, the boy went for a swim.
sediments
The sediments plugged the drain.
seethe
He began to seethe with anger at the very sight of the man.
seize
The coast guard will seize control of the hostile boat.
semaphore
He spied the semaphore signals through his binoculars.
sensibly
Bob sensibly wore shoes when mowing the lawn.
separating
She is separating the yolk from the white of the egg.
service
We stopped at the service station for gas.
settled
They settled their argument and became close friends.
severe
He has a severe head cold.
shale
The shale was very thick on the side of the mountain.
shaver
Dad uses an electric shaver on his beard.
sheer
The dress was made from a sheer fabric.
shipwright
The skilled shipwright repaired the damaged ship.
shrewd
He is a shrewd business man.
sickle
The farmer will cut the wheat with a sickle.
sidewalk
Do not ride your bike on the sidewalk.
signify
Please signify by raising your hand.
33
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
silicon
One nonmetallic element in nature is called silicon.
silos
The silos are full of grain.
simpleton
The simpleton thought he knew the answer.
simulate
I want you to simulate the accident.
simultaneously
The two events occurred simultaneously.
sincerely
He was sincerely grateful to his parents for their help.
singe
You will singe your fingers close to the fire.
sinkhole
There was a sinkhole in the rock.
skate
We like to skate down the sidewalk.
skeletal
The boys dug up the skeletal remains of an animal.
slalom
He skied down the hill, through the slalom course.
slaughter
They slaughter cows at this warehouse.
sleazy
The old cafe was a sleazy looking place.
sleuth
He acted the part of a sleuth in the school play.
slide
She went quickly down the slide.
slough
The slough has been dry for 7 years.
sluice
The passage of the sluice gets narrower here.
slyly
The fox slyly stole into the chicken pen.
smattering
They have just a smattering of friends.
smirk
The man had a smirk on his face.
snood
The woman wore a snood on her head.
socialize
We like to socialize with friends.
society
The society we live in is changing.
sociologist
The sociologist led the discussion.
solace
His loving spirit lends solace to the situation.
soldering
He was soldering the metal back together.
solicitation
Your solicitation has been heard and will be considered.
solitude
The harried man needed solitude.
somber
It was a very somber occasion.
sometimes
I like to take a nap, sometimes.
sonorous
The sonorous ringing bells made a cheerful sound.
sophomoric
Unfortunately sophomoric humor got them suspended.
soundly
The team was soundly beaten.
sparse
The grass is sparse under the tree.
specialty
Her specialty is making wedding cakes.
34
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
species
There are many species of birds in the world.
speculative
The stock market is a speculative adventure.
sphere
The sphere was hurtled at the stick with blinding speed.
sponsor
The sponsor is paying for his trip.
spontaneity
The spontaneity of the crowd was overwhelming.
spotter
He was an airplane spotter during the war.
spume
The bubbles spume from the top of the gadget.
spurn
She will spurn his advances.
squat
We played a game called squat tag.
stability
We question stability of the house after the earthquake.
staccato
The staccato rhythm moved the audience.
stage
The stage was set for the surprise.
stalemate
There was a stalemate in the chess game.
starboard
We walked to the starboard side of the boat.
stately
The courthouse is a stately looking building.
static
We could only hear static on the radio.
stationary
The temperature is stationary in this room.
statistics
The statistics are kept on all ball games.
steadfast
He stood steadfast on the deck.
steep
There's likely to be a steep increase in unemployment.
steer
The boy learned how to steer the car.
stickball
Kids love to play stickball.
stifle
Try to stifle your yawns.
stipulation
There is one stipulation; we will go if it doesn't rain tomorrow.
stodgy
He is a stodgy looking man.
stoic
He had a stoic expression.
stolid
The patient was in a stolid condition.
straighten
Can I help you straighten your cupboard shelves?
strategic
The General made a strategic decision.
stratosphere
The balloon soon pierced the upper stratosphere.
stratum
The stratum layers of rock were interesting.
strut
The band will strut down the street in the parade.
submarine
The submarine emerged from under the water.
subsequently
He subsequently decided to try a different route.
subsided
His voice subsided to a mutter.
35
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
substantial
The store has a substantial amount of supplies.
subtle
The perfume had a subtle fragrance.
successor
Who will your successor be?
suffocate
The plastic bag could suffocate someone.
suggestion
Her suggestion satisfied everyone.
summit
The climbers finally reached the summit of the mountain.
superfluous
The decorations were superfluous.
supernatural
What is a supernatural phenomenon?
supervise
He will supervise this crew.
supplement
This is a supplement to my book.
supplicate
I implore you to supplicate my humble feelings.
surgeon
The surgeon completed the operation in one hour.
surplus
We can store the surplus food in a box.
surrey
She drives a surrey with a fringe on top.
suspend
The referee will suspend play for fighting.
swagger
The self-confident man walked with a swagger.
switchback
We will switchback to standard time in the fall.
symmetry
Nature has its own symmetry.
systematic
There is a systematic way to go through the files.
talon
A small animal was held in the talon of the hawk.
tarpaulin
The tarpaulin was pulled tight over the pool.
tarry
Please don't tarry long.
technological
We live in a technological age.
telepathy
This group believes in mental telepathy.
telescoping
The camera was equipped with telescoping lens.
temporary
We were granted temporary use of the building.
tenacious
They kept a tenacious grip on their possessions.
tendon
The tendon in his leg is damaged.
tentatively
He smiled tentatively.
terrain
Our trip out west took us through some beautiful terrain.
territory
This territory once belonged to the Indians.
terse
The message was terse but helpful.
testimony
Three women backed up her testimony.
testy
She was feeling testy after her ordeal.
thesis
My thesis is already typed.
36
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
thrasher
A thrasher is one of Americas' long-tailed singing birds.
thrive
The plant will thrive in the direct sun.
thrust
She thrust the money into his hand.
thunderstruck
I was thunderstruck by his death.
tiller
The tiller is in the other field.
timbered
This is an old timbered cabin.
tinderbox
The dry forest was a tinderbox.
toboggan
They will slide in the snow on a toboggan.
toga
The toga is a loose outer garment worn by the ancient Romans.
top
He went to the top of the Empire State building.
tracheotomy
An emergency tracheotomy allowed him to breathe.
trademark
Most products will have a trademark.
transformed
Loving care transformed the child's behavior.
transition
There is a transition from boyhood to manhood.
transmit
He will transmit the message by phone.
trappings
The horse’s trappings were exquisite.
traverse
The traverse beams were stained darker.
treachery
Their treachery nearly got us captured.
tread
Don't tread on the flowers.
tremor
The earthquake tremor was felt by all.
tremulous
His tremulous handwriting was unreadable.
trespass
The sign on the fence warned people to not trespass.
trident
The trident is a three pronged spear.
trivial
The gossip now is so trivial.
tromp
The boys like to tromp through the woods.
troubling
Something is troubling the youngster.
trove
We collected a trove of old school photographs.
tuberculosis
The disease tuberculosis is far less common today than fifty years ago.
tuft
A tuft of grass grew through the cement.
tuition
I am thankful my mother paid my college tuition.
tumbler
Fill the glass tumbler with water.
turbulent
The turbulent waves washed over the pier.
turmoil
The child was in turmoil when her mom left.
tyrannical
The ruler's tyrannical behavior got him ousted from office.
ultimate
Our ultimate goal is the top of the mountain.
37
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
unbalance
Shifting the load will unbalance the craft.
uncanny
He has an uncanny sense of direction.
uncharitable
It is uncharitable to not help people in need.
undergraduate
She is an undergraduate at the college.
undertake
We will undertake the study of birds today.
underwriter
Please take the insurance policy to the underwriter.
undisputed
The facts are undisputed.
undoubtedly
She undoubtedly will return tomorrow.
undue
He took an undue amount of time.
undulate
The ocean waves undulate against the shore.
unexpected
The unexpected guests were greeted warmly.
unfathomable
The story remains an unfathomable mystery.
unfortunately
Your time, unfortunately, has run out.
uniformity
The apples have uniformity in color.
unimpressive
He gave an unimpressive speech.
unique
We stayed at a very unique Inn at the lake.
unlimited
We have an unlimited supply of books.
unobtrusive
Her quiet unobtrusive behavior did not go unnoticed.
unpleasant
The green fruit had an unpleasant taste.
unprecedented
The actress gave an unprecedented performance for charity.
unpredictable
He is a very unpredictable person.
unrelenting
Your unrelenting insistence won't get you what you want.
unscathed
The car was unscathed after the accident.
unwanted
The SPCA takes care of unwanted animals.
uranium
A silvery radioactive white metallic element is called uranium.
urban
The rapidly growing urban development is remarkable.
vagrant
The wandering vagrant slept in the street.
varsity
The varsity football team won their game.
vaudeville
It is a shame but vaudeville shows are a thing of the past.
vegetarian
A vegetarian will not eat meat.
vehemently
They were arguing vehemently.
velocity
The wind velocity was one hundred miles per hour.
vending
The store has a vending machine.
venerable
They ate their picnic lunch under venerable pines.
venturesome
They were a venturesome group of young people.
38
Grade 8
Updated: March 30, 2012
verge
The rock was on the verge of falling.
vexed
It vexed her to be ignored.
vibrant
The flowers in the garden were vibrant with color.
video
I will video tape the show.
vigilant
This evening, I had to be especially vigilant.
vigorous
He is a vigorous man for his age.
vindicate
The jury’s decision hopefully will vindicate me.
vineyard
Dad has a twenty acre vineyard of grapes.
visa
The visa may be granted by the embassy.
visage
The child's visage seemed perplexed.
visceral
The veterinarian examined the dogs visceral.
vista
The vista between the rows of trees was magnificent.
visualize
Can you visualize winning the jackpot?
vivacious
She was young and vivacious.
void
I will void this duplicate check.
voluminous
The voluminous library of reference work was noted.
wallow
Pigs love to wallow in the mud.
wane
The moon slowly began to wane.
warp
Water will warp the book cover.
warrant
There is a warrant out for his arrest.
welter
The book contained a bewildering welter of data.
wheedled
Ann wheedled a new dress from her mom.
wholesaler
The produce wholesaler is the middleman in our business.
wicker
We have a set of wicker chairs.
wingspan
The plane had an enormous wingspan.
wither
Unpicked grapes will wither on the vine.
wonderment
He gazed at the rainbow in wonderment.
writhe
The injury will make you writhe with pain.
yam
The yam weighed four pounds.
yardage
We bought too much yardage for one dress.
yearling
She's training the yearling to accept the bridle.
yodel
The cowboys will yodel a song.
zephyr
A zephyr blew in to thaw the ice.
zest
They have a zest for life.
Please report any mistakes found to Dee Fricks at dfricks@kingscoe.org
39