8th-9th Grade Spelling Bee Vocabulary

These flashcards encompass vocabulary terms from the 8th-9th grade spelling bee, providing definitions to aid students in mastering essential language concepts.

attorney

A lawyer.

auction

A public sale where items go to the highest bidder.

autopsy

A medical examination of a dead body.

cannoli

An Italian pastry filled with sweet cream.

casualty

A person killed or injured in a war or accident.

condemn

To express strong disapproval; to sentence to punishment.

croquet

A lawn game with mallets and wooden balls.

cliché

An overused phrase or idea that has lost its original meaning.

diameter

A straight line through the center of a circle.

duress

Threats or pressure.

expanse

A wide, open area.

explicit

Clearly stated.

eczema

A skin condition causing red, itchy, and sore patches.

elusive

Difficult to find, catch, or achieve.

embassy

The official office of an ambassador in a foreign country.

erudite

Having or showing great knowledge.

excerpt

A short passage taken from a book, film, or piece of music.

execute

To carry out a plan; also, to put someone to death as a punishment.

felony

A serious crime such as murder or arson.

fiasco

A complete and ridiculous failure.

finesse

Skillful and delicate handling of a situation.

flaccid

Soft and limp; lacking firmness.

foreclose

To take possession of a property because the owner failed to pay the mortgage.

forgery

The act of copying or faking a document or signature.

formidable

Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively powerful.

fortitude

Courage and strength in pain or difficulty.

fractious

Easily irritated; bad-tempered.

fugitive

A person who has escaped from captivity or is running away.

flabbergasted

Greatly surprised.

genesis

The origin or beginning.

grotesque

Repulsively ugly.

gnat

A small two-winged fly that bites.

goad

To provoke or annoy someone into action.

haphazard

Random; disorganized.

heinous

Wicked; evil.

heirloom

A family treasure.

homogeneous

Uniform; all the same.

hypocrite

Someone who pretends to be good.

immune

Resistant to disease.

impartial

Fair; not biased.

impending

About to happen.

incognito

With identity hidden.

indignant

Angry at unfair treatment.

infamous

Famous for something bad.

infinite

Endless.

ingenious

Clever; inventive.

ingenuous

Innocent; unsuspecting.

innovation

A new idea or method.

insolvent

Unable to pay debts.

intermediary

A go-between.

iota

A tiny amount.

irregular

Not regular.

irrelevant

Not important to the topic.

jocular

Funny; joking.

juxtapose

To place side by side.

lavish

Rich and luxurious.

legacy

Something handed down.

legitimate

Legal; valid.

lethal

Deadly.

litigate

To take legal action.

ludicrous

Ridiculous.

machete

A broad knife.

malice

Desire to harm.

mandate

An official order.

maniac

A crazy person.

mentor

An experienced advisor.

meticulous

Very careful.

nausea

Feeling sick.

neophyte

A beginner.

nuance

A subtle difference.

oblivion

The state of being forgotten.

opaque

Not see-through.

pandemic

A worldwide disease.

pariah

An outcast.

pauper

A very poor person.

peculiar

Strange.

peril

Danger.

relinquish

To give up.

remorse

Deep regret.

retaliate

To fight back.

satire

Humor that criticizes.

scarcity

Shortage.

scrutiny

Close examination.

sensory

Relating to the senses.

sequence

A following order.

shrewd

Clever; sharp.

solace

Comfort in sorrow.

tangible

Touchable; real.

temperament

A person's nature or mood.

tenacious

Persistent; holding firm.

terminology

Special words used in a field.

threshold

The entrance; the starting point.

transcend

To go beyond the limits.

transparent

Clear; easy to see through.

trauma

A deeply distressing experience.

tremor

A shaking movement.

turmoil

A state of confusion or disorder.

uncanny

Strange; mysterious.

unruly

Difficult to control.

variable

Likely to change.