100 words every middle schooler should know

Adversary

noun

an opponent or enemy

aplomb

noun

self-confidence, especially in a difficult situation; poise; assurance

apprehensive

adjective

anxious or fearful; uneasy

aptitude

noun

the ability to learn or understand something quickly

attentive

adjective

1. giving attention to something

2. paying careful attention to the comfort or concerns of others; considerate

banish

verb

to force to leave a country or place; exile

barricade

noun

1. a usually temporary structure set up, as across a route of access, to block the passage of an enemy or opponent

2. something that serves as an obstacle, a barrier

verb

1. to block an opening or passage with an obstacle or a barrier

2. to enclose or exclude someone by constructing a barricade

bluff

verb

to engage in a false display of strength or confidence, especially in order to deceive someone

brackish

adjective

slightly salty

brandish

verb

to wave or exhibit something in a dramatic or threatening way

circumference

noun

the boundary of an area, an object, or a geometric figure, especially a circle

commotion

noun

noisy activity or confusion

concoction

noun

something that has been prepared by putting several things together; a mixture of ingredients

conspicuous

adjective

1. easily seen; obvious

2. attracting attention; striking; remarkable

contortion

noun

a sharp twist or bend in something

counter

verb

to do or say something in opposition to something else

cunning

adjective

sly, crafty, or clever

noun

the quality of being sly, crafty or clever

debris

the scattered remains of something broken, destroyed or discarded; rubble or wreckage

defiance

noun'

the act of defying; open resistance to an opposing force or authority

deft

adjective

quick and skillful; adroit

destination

noun

the place to which a person or thing is going or is sent

diminish

verb

to make or become smaller; reduce or decrease

disdain

noun

a feeling that someone or something is bad, worthless, or low; scorn or contempt

verb

to have or show this feeling about someone or something

dismal

adjective

1. causing gloom or depression; dreary

2. feeling gloomy; depressed, miserable

dispel

verb
to cause to disappear; drive away; disperse

eavesdrop

verb
To listen secretly to the private conversation of others

egregious

adjective
Well beyond the bounds of what is right or proper; outrageous

ember

noun
A glowing piece of burning wood or coal

emerge

verb
To become visible or known

engross

verb
To occupy the complete attention of someone; absorb

exasperation

noun
A state of anger, impatience, or great irritation

exhilarate

verb
To cause someone to feel very happy; elate

falter

verb
To proceed or continue in an unsteady or weakening manner

foresight

noun
The ability to imagine what is likely to happen in the future

fragrance

noun
A sweet or pleasant odor; a scent

furtive

adjective
1. Done or acting in a way that is intended not to be noticed; sneaky
2. Giving the appearance of not wanting to be noticed, especially in showing nervousness

grueling

adjective
Physically or mentally exhausting

gusto

noun
Great enjoyment; zest

habitation

noun
A place in which to live; a residence

hasten

verb
1. To move or act swiftly; hurry
2. To cause something to happen more quickly than it would otherwise

havoc

noun
Very great destruction or disorder

headway

noun
Progress toward a destination or goal

ignite

verb
1. To cause something to start burning
2. To begin to burn; catch fire

illuminate

verb
To provide with light or cast light on someone or something

impending

adjective
About to occur

imperious

adjective
Arrogant; overbearing; domineering

jabber

verb
To talk rapidly and in a senseless manner; chatter

jargon

noun
The specialized language of a trade, profession, or group of people

jostle

verb
To bump roughly against another person or thing

jut

verb
To extend sharply outward or upward; project

kindle

verb
1. To build and start a fire
2. To arouse or excite a feeling

knoll

noun
A small, rounded hill

luminous

adjective
Giving off light; shining

malleable

adjective
Capable of being shaped or formed by pressing, hammering, or another forceful action

materialize

verb
To appear out of nowhere

meander

verb
To follow a winding and turning course

meticulous

adjective
Showing great concern for details; extremely careful or precise

misgivings

plural noun
Feelings of doubt or concern

momentum

noun
A quantity used to measure the motion of a body, equal to the product or its mass and velocity. Any change in the speed or direction of a body changes its momentum.

monotonous

adjective
Dull because of being always the same

multitude

noun
A very large number

muster

verb
1. To bring a group of soldiers together; assemble
2. To bring forth a feeling or ability from within oneself

narrate

verb
1. To tell a story or describe a series of events
2. To provide or read the spoken comments for a documentary or other video

obscure

adjective
1. Difficult to understand; vague
2. Not widely known about

ominous

adjective
Being a sign or trouble, danger, or disaster; threatening

outlandish

adjective
Unconventional; strange

persistent

adjective
1. Refusing to give up or stop; continuing despite difficulties
2. Repeating or continuing without stopping

pertinent

adjective
Related to the matter at hand; relevant

potential

noun
The ability to grow, develop, or improve

precipice

noun
A very steep or overhanging mass of rock, such as the face of a cliff

pristine

adjective
Remaining in a pure or unspoiled state

quell

verb
To cause a feeling to become less intense; calm or settle

recluse

noun
A person who lives alone or has little to do with other people

recuperate

verb
To return to normal health or strength; recover

replenish

verb
To build up a supply of something again; fill again

repugnant

adjective
Causing disgust; offensive or repulsive

restitution

noun
The act of doing something or paying money to make up for some damage loss or injury that you have caused

sabotage

noun
A deliberate and usually secret act that causes damage or hinders an activity

verb
To commit sabotage against something

scarcity

noun
An insufficient amount or supply; a shortage

scurry

verb
To move with light running steps; scamper

serenity

noun
The quality of being calm, peaceful, or untroubled

sociable

adjective
Enjoying the company or others; friendly

somber

adjective
Very serious or sad

specimen

noun
Something that is studied by scientists as an example or an entire set of things, such as an entire species of living things

stamina

noun
The power to resist fatigue or illness while working hard; endurance

subside

verb
To become less active, intense, or agitated; abate

swagger

verb
To walk in a way that makes it look as if you think you are important or very confident; trut

swarm

noun
A large number of insects or other small creatures, especially when in motion

tactic

noun
An action that is planned to achieve a goal

terse

adjective
Brief and to the point; concise

translucent

adjective
Allowing light to pass through, but blurring it so that images cannot be seen clearly

uncanny

adjective
1. Arousing wonder and fear, as if supernatural; eerie
2. Mysterious or impossible to explain; strangely out of the ordinary

unsightly

adjective
Not pleasant to look at; unattractive

versatile

adjective
Having varied uses or functions

vigilant

adjective
Watching out for danger or something that might go wrong; watchful

vulnerable

adjective
Capable of being harmed, damaged, or injured

waft

verb
To float easily and gently on the air; drift

waver

verb
1. To move unsteadily back and forth
2. To hesitate or be unable to make a decision; vacillate

weather

verb
To wear away or change, as in color or surface texture, by exposure to the wind, rain, and other conditions of the atmosphere

zeal

noun
Great enthusiasm for or devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal