8th Grade
Name: ___________________________________________________
Class Period: _____________
Unit 9 Spelling/Vocabulary
1. apt – (adj) suitable, fitting, likely, quick to learn
2. awry – (adj) in a turned or twisted position or direction; wrong, out of
the right or hoped-for course
3. bludgeon – (n) a short club used as a weapon; (v) to strike with a heavy
club; to use force or strong arguments to gain some point
4. capitulate – (v) to end resistance, give up, surrender
5. chafe – (v) to warm by rubbing; to wear sore by rubbing; to feel
annoyance or dissatisfaction, annoy, irk; to strain or press against; (n)
sore or injury caused by rubbing
6. defile – (v) to make unclean or dirty, destroy the purity of; to march in a
single line or in columns; (n) a narrow passage
7. dire – (adj) dreadful, causing fear or suffering; warning of trouble to
come; demanding immediate action to avoid disaster
8. disarming – (adj) charming, tending to get rid of unfriendliness or
suspicion
9. disgruntled – (adj) in bad humor, discontented, annoyed
10.
encroach – (v) to advance beyond the usual or proper limits,
trespass
11.
endow- (v) to furnish, equip, provide with funds or some other
desirable thing or quality
12.
fend - (v) to ward off , resist; to get along, manage
13.
impunity – (n) freedom from punishment
14.
mien – (n) air; manner; appearance, expression
15.
penal – (adj) having to do with punishment
16.
pertinent – (adj) related to the matter at hand, to the point
17.
predominant – (adj) the greatest in strength or power
18.
prodigy – (n) something wonderful or marvelous; something
monstrous or abnormal; an unusual feat; a child or young person with
extraordinary ability or talent
19.
recluse – (n) a person who leads a life shut up or withdrawn from
the world
20.
renown – (n) fame, glory
8th Grade
Directions: Write each spelling/vocabulary word 3 times each on the lines provided.
21.
apt - _____________________________________________________________
22.
awry - ___________________________________________________________
23.
bludgeon - ________________________________________________________
24.
capitulate - _______________________________________________________
25.
chafe - ____________________________________________________________
26.
defile - ____________________________________________________________
27.
dire - _____________________________________________________________
28.
disarming - _______________________________________________________
29.
disgruntled - ______________________________________________________
30.
encroach - ________________________________________________________
31.
endow - __________________________________________________________
32.
fend - ____________________________________________________________
33.
impunity - ________________________________________________________
34.
mien - ___________________________________________________________
35.
penal - ___________________________________________________________
36.
pertinent - ________________________________________________________
37.
predominant - ____________________________________________________
38.
prodigy - _________________________________________________________
39.
40.
recluse - __________________________________________________________
renown - __________________________________________________________
8th Grade
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary word from this unit. Use each word
only once.
41.
The Saints will never _________________________ to the Falcons no
matter how many points behind they are in the final minutes of the game.
42.
Nature is kind to us in many ways, but we have to learn that we cannot
violate her laws with ______________________.
43.
The Constitution of the United States guarantees us certain rights, but
it does not permit us to ____________________ on the rights of others.
44.
“Men are ______________________ by their Creator certain unalienable
rights” according to the Declaration of Independence.
45.
During the winter the wind usually blows from the north in that area,
but during the summer southerly currents are __________________________.
46.
A man who served years in prison and has now devoted his life to
bringing reform to the ____________________ system will be the main speaker
at our conference.
47.
Southeastern Louisiana University used to be considered a small
school, but it has won a great deal of _________________________ for the
quality of education.
48.
The _______________________ fans demanded their money back when
the featured singer failed to appear.
49.
The way in which she asked for a loan was so _____________________
that, to my surprise, I found myself giving her money.
50.
I had to __________________ of the unwanted attention without being
openly insulting.
8th Grade
51.
Charles claims to be a patriot, but his appeals to racism are
_______________________ the great ideals our nation was built upon.
52.
Her quiet ____________________ and modest dress were not what we
anticipated when we met a Kardashian.
53.
Some students at Ponchatoula Junior High have shown an amazing
________________________ for art at a very young age.
54.
I don’t understand how someone could live as a ___________________ in
the midst of this vibrant city.
55.
The joke Chuck told in class was quite amusing, but I don’t see how it
was _____________________ to our class discussion.
56.
Though we are still friends, something has gone ____________________
in our relationship, and we are not as close as we once were.
57.
As we use up the earth’s fossil fuels, we are faced with an increasingly
_____________________ need to develop new sources of energy.
58.
I dislike people who ____________________ their way into my
conversations and interrupt me.
59.
Drew Brees _____________________ at sitting on the bench after his
shoulder injury, especially when his team was playing so poorly.
60.
Alvin York performed such _________________________ on the
battlefields of France that he was awarded the nation’s highest honors.
8th Grade
Directions: Write 2-3 synonyms for each vocabulary word on the lines provided.
61.
apt - _____________________________________________________________
62.
awry - ___________________________________________________________
63.
bludgeon - ________________________________________________________
64.
capitulate - _______________________________________________________
65.
chafe - ____________________________________________________________
66.
defile - ____________________________________________________________
67.
dire - _____________________________________________________________
68.
disarming - _______________________________________________________
69.
disgruntled - ______________________________________________________
70.
encroach - ________________________________________________________
71.
endow - __________________________________________________________
72.
fend - ____________________________________________________________
73.
impunity - ________________________________________________________
74.
mien - ___________________________________________________________
75.
penal - ___________________________________________________________
76.
pertinent - ________________________________________________________
77.
predominant - ____________________________________________________
78.
prodigy - _________________________________________________________
79.
recluse - __________________________________________________________
80.
renown - __________________________________________________________
8th Grade
Write 1-2 antonyms for each vocabulary word on the lines provided.
81.
apt - _____________________________________________________________
82.
awry - ___________________________________________________________
83.
bludgeon - ________________________________________________________
84.
capitulate - _______________________________________________________
85.
chafe - ____________________________________________________________
86.
defile - ____________________________________________________________
87.
dire - _____________________________________________________________
88.
disarming - _______________________________________________________
89.
disgruntled - ______________________________________________________
90.
encroach - ________________________________________________________
91.
endow - __________________________________________________________
92.
fend - ____________________________________________________________
93.
impunity - ________________________________________________________
94.
mien - ___________________________________________________________
95.
penal - ___________________________________________________________
96.
pertinent - ________________________________________________________
97.
predominant - ____________________________________________________
98.
prodigy - _________________________________________________________
99.
recluse - __________________________________________________________
100.
renown - __________________________________________________________
8th Grade
Directions: Write a complex sentence with any 10 vocabulary words.
101.
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102.
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103.
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104.
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105.
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106.
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107.
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108.
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109.
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110.
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