Spelling Bee Words (Ages 12-16) Vocabulary List

Vocabulary definitions for a selection of spelling bee words for students aged 12-16.

Alleviate

To make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe.

Abbreviation

A shortened form of a word or phrase.

Abhorrence

A feeling of revulsion; disgusted loathing.

Abrasive

Showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh.

Abscond

To leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection or arrest.

Abundance

A very large quantity of something.

Acquaintance

A person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend.

Acquiesce

To accept something reluctantly but without protest.

Acrimonious

Angry and bitter, typically in speech or debate.

Adversary

One's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute.

Aesthetic

Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty.

Arbitrary

Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

Archetype

A very typical example of a certain person or thing; an original that has been imitated.

Arduous

Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.

Articulate

Having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently.

Ascertain

To find something out for certain; to make sure of.

Assiduous

Showing great care and perseverance.

Assimilate

To take in information, ideas, or culture and understand fully.

Astute

Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage.

Benevolent

Well meaning and kindly.

Cognizant

Having knowledge or being aware of.

Colloquial

Used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.

Commence

To begin or start.

Compatible

Able to exist or occur together without conflict.

Compendium

A collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject.

Complacent

Showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements.

Conscientious

Wishing to do what is right, especially to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly.

Conspicuous

Standing out so as to be clearly visible.

Contemplate

To look thoughtfully for a long time at; to think profoundly and at length.

Corroborate

To confirm or give support to a statement, theory, or finding.

Credible

Able to be believed; convincing.

Cumulative

Increasing or increased in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions.

Debilitate

To make someone weak and infirm.

Decipher

To succeed in understanding, interpreting, or identifying something obscure.

Deference

Humble submission and respect.

Deliberate

Done consciously and intentionally.

Emulate

To match or surpass a person or achievement, typically by imitation.

Enigma

A person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.

Ephemeral

Lasting for a very short time.

Equilibrium

A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.

Eradicate

To destroy completely; put an end to.

Escalate

To increase rapidly; to become or make more intense.

Esoteric

Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge.

Exacerbate

To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.

Ambiguous

Open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning.

Ameliorate

To make something bad or unsatisfactory better.

Anachronism

A thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists.

Analgesic

Acting to relieve pain.

Animosity

Strong hostility.

Annihilate

To destroy utterly; obliterate.

Anomaly

Something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.

Antagonist

A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary.

Antithesis

A person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.

Apathy

Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

Apothecary

A person who prepared and sold medicines and drugs.

Belligerent

Hostile and aggressive.

Cacophony

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

Camouflage

The use of materials or coloring to hide or disguise the presence of a person, animal, or object.

Capitulate

To cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender.

Catharsis

The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

Caustic

Sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way; able to burn or corrode organic tissue.

Cerebral

Of or relating to the brain or the intellect rather than feelings or instinct.

Chronological

Starting with the earliest and following the order in which they occurred.

Circumference

The enclosing boundary of a curved geometric figure, especially a circle.

Coalesce

To come together and form one mass or whole.

Demagogue

A political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people.

Denounce

To publicly declare to be wrong or evil.

Deplete

To use up the supply or resources of.

Derivative

Imitative of the work of another person, and usually disapproved of for that reason.

Desolate

(Of a place) deserted of people and in a state of bleak and dismal emptiness.

Deteriorate

To become progressively worse.

Diligent

Having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.

Discrepancy

A lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts.

Disdain

The feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect.

Disseminate

To spread or disperse information widely.

Divergent

Tending to be different or develop in different directions.

Eccentric

(Of a person or their behavior) unconventional and slightly strange.

Eclectic

Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

Effervescent

(Of a liquid) giving off bubbles; fizzy; vivacious and enthusiastic.

Elucidate

To make something clear; explain.

Fluctuate

To rise and fall irregularly in number or amount.

Fortuitous

Happening by accident or chance rather than design.

Frivolous

Not having any serious purpose or value.

Garrulous

Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.

Gregarious

Fond of company; sociable.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

Iconoclast

A person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions.

Idiosyncrasy

A mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual.