English 9 Vocabulary 8 - Puzzles

Ambiguous

1. Adjective

2. Having two or more possible meanings or interpretations

3. Unclear, Vague

4. Example: George’s ambiguous answer caused his friends to question what he really meant.

Baffle

1. Verb

2. To cause uncertainty in

3. To puzzle

4. Example: The geometry proof baffled the students who missed class yesterday.

Convoluted

1. Adjective

2. Coiled or twisted

3. Complicated or intricate

4. Example: My little sister’s story was so convoluted that I couldn’t understand what had really happened.

Dilemma

1. Noun

2. A situation forcing a choice between two alternatives that are often difficult or unpleasant

3. Example: Many immigrants were faced with the dilemma of living in extreme poverty or starting a life in an unfamiliar country.

Enigma

1. Noun

2. Someone or something that is hard to figure out

3. A puzzle

4. Example: The cause of the rare disease was an enigma to the puzzled scientists from the Centers for Disease Control.

Intricate

1. Adjective

2. Having a complicated structure or patter; complex

3. Hard to understand

4. Example: The spider spun its Web in intricate patterns.

Labyrinth

1. Noun

2. A network of winding, connected passages through which it is difficult to find one’s way without help; a maze

3. Example: The corn maze formed a confusing labyrinth that reminded me of a scene from a horror movie.

Quandary

1. Noun

2. A state of uncertainty or doubt

3. Joshua was in a quandary about which new phone to purchase

Soluble

1. Adjective

2. Capable of being easily dissolved

3. Example: In the face of overwhelming evidence, the witness’ lies were extremely soluble in the eyes of the jury.

Tactic

1. Noun

2. A method of achieving a goal; a strategy

3. Example: The teacher’s tactic of using food to movitate the students was quite successful.