8th Grade Vocab (General)

Ascertain

figure out

Tedious

boring

Superfluous

unnecessary

Disperse

scatter

Boisterous

rowdy

Morsel

a tiny bit of food

Pertain

have to do with

Nonchalant

unconcerned

Punctual

on time

Bestow

give

Green

lacking training or knowledge

Transaction

negotiation

Discern

to detect

Glib

insincere

Covert

secret

Deficient

lacking

Foster

promote development or growth

Prestigious

respect

Adverse

bad or harmful

Destitute

extremely poor

Abhor

hate very much

Pristine

completely pure and fresh

Gaunt

extremely thin or bony

Dissent

differ in opinion

Converge

come together (con\=with)

Gaudy

extravagantly bright or showy; typically so as to be tasteless

Confidential

private or secret

Perturb

to bother or upset

Obscure

not well known

Confound

bewilder or confuse

Materialize

become present or take shape

Strenuous

requiring great effort

Tarnish

become less shiny

Arid

dry

Abate

lessen or reduce

Potent

powerful (influence)

Pithy

witty

Confidant

a person you’re close with that you share secrets with (ally)

Preliminary

introductory

Matrix

something from which another thing originates

Quirky

peculiar or unexpected traits

Wistful

regretful

Amateur

lacking experience

Intent

purposeful

Pestilential

contagious

Flog

to beat someone

Copious

abundant

Perspiration

the process of sweating (think: precipitation (when the rain falls))

Avarice

greed and wealth

Improvident

wasteful; not thrifty

Aggravate

to make a problem worse

Brute

beast

Transmissible

contagious

Integrity

true to your word

Prudent

Cautious

Precede

trailblazers; make a path for

Chagrined

mortified; annoyed

Cavalier

horseman; aid for a king

Disgruntled

not satisfied

Pariah

outcast

Recluse

loner

Locale

a location or place

Sterile

not able to have children

Pristine

perfect

Superfluous

more than is needed

Ample

enough or more than enough

Conscientiousness

diligent personality trait; hard worker

Dearth

lack of something

Fecal

having to do with feces

Absconded

ran away

Divergent

slip apart (Div\=divide)

Memorandum

a written business letter

Temperament

a person or thing’s permanent nature

Calamity

catastrophe

Tentative

unconfirmed

Audacity

boldness, bravery, courage

Ostracized

people made outcasts

Elated

ecstatically happy

Tantalize

desirable, interesting

(Re)scour

(re)clean

Supersedes

sets aside

Competent

having the necessary skill to do something successfully

Defer

push for later

Insurgent

rebel or revolutionary

Allegiant

loyalty (“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America”)

Superficial

existing on the surface

Validate

(usually including a person) proving

Cohort

a group of people who have something in common

Squander

lose the chance; not take advantage of

Snared

hook or capture

Oppression

putting others under you

Reprimand

discipline

Rebuke

criticize or point out mistakes

Restraint

to hold back

Haste

quickly speaking; speaking before thinking

Pamper

spoil, treat well

Insolent

not listen to directions

Dissension

rebel, conflict

Accomplice

help

Jut

to stick out