Vocabulary List for 10th Grade English
Overview
Grade Level: 10th grade
Topic: English
Number of Words: 50
Vocabulary Words
Alleviate
Definition: To make something less severe or more bearable.
Example: The doctor prescribed medication to alleviate the patient's pain.
Pronunciation: uh-LEE-vee-ayt
Synonyms: reduce, ease, relieve
Aspire
Definition: To have a strong desire to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.
Example: She aspires to be a doctor and help those in need.
Pronunciation: uh-SPY-er
Synonyms: strive, yearn, aim
Colloquial
Definition: Used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.
Example: Colloquial expressions often vary greatly between different regions.
Pronunciation: kuh-LOH-kwee-uhl
Synonyms: informal, conversational, slang
Conundrum
Definition: A confusing and difficult problem or question.
Example: The team faced a conundrum when trying to find a solution to the issue.
Pronunciation: kuh-NUN-drum
Synonyms: puzzle, problem, difficulty
Cursory
Definition: Hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.
Example: The teacher gave a cursory glance at the essays before grading them.
Pronunciation: KER-suh-ree
Synonyms: superficial, quick, brief
Diligent
Definition: Showing care and effort in your work or duties.
Example: She was diligent in her studies, ensuring she understood every concept.
Pronunciation: DIL-i-juhnt
Synonyms: industrious, hardworking, assiduous
Empathy
Definition: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Example: Her empathy allowed her to connect with her friends on a deeper level.
Pronunciation: EM-puh-thee
Synonyms: compassion, understanding, sympathy
Fluctuate
Definition: To change or vary in level, degree, or value.
Example: The stock prices tend to fluctuate based on market conditions.
Pronunciation: FLUHK-choo-ayt
Synonyms: vary, alternate, oscillate
Galvanize
Definition: To stimulate or excite someone to action.
Example: The coach's speech was meant to galvanize the team before the big game.
Pronunciation: GAL-vuh-nize
Synonyms: inspire, motivate, stimulate
Imminent
Definition: About to happen; impending.
Example: A storm is imminent, so we should seek shelter.
Pronunciation: IM-uh-nuhnt
Synonyms: approaching, looming, impending
Keen
Definition: Having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm.
Example: She has a keen interest in learning new languages.
Pronunciation: keen
Synonyms: eager, enthusiastic, sharp
Longevity
Definition: Long life or existence; long duration.
Example: The longevity of the ancient tree amazed everyone who saw it.
Pronunciation: lon-JEV-i-tee
Synonyms: durability, endurance, lifespan
Meticulous
Definition: Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
Example: He was meticulous in his research, leaving no stone unturned.
Pronunciation: muh-TIK-yuh-luhs
Synonyms: careful, detailed, thorough
Nostalgia
Definition: A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past.
Example: Listening to that song brought a wave of nostalgia over her.
Pronunciation: nuh-STAL-juh
Synonyms: sentimentality, reminiscence, longing
Omnipotent
Definition: Having unlimited power; able to do anything.
Example: In the story, the king was portrayed as an omnipotent ruler.
Pronunciation: om-NIP-uh-tuhnt
Synonyms: all-powerful, almighty, supreme
Paradox
Definition: A statement that contradicts itself but may reveal a truth.
Example: It’s a paradox that sometimes doing less can achieve more.
Pronunciation: PAR-uh-doks
Synonyms: contradiction, inconsistency, anomaly
Quaint
Definition: Attractively unusual or old-fashioned.
Example: They visited a quaint little village with cobblestone streets.
Pronunciation: kweynt
Synonyms: charming, old-fashioned, picturesque
Reiterate
Definition: To say something again or a number of times for clarity or emphasis.
Example: The teacher had to reiterate the instructions for the project.
Pronunciation: ree-IT-uh-rayt
Synonyms: repeat, restate, recap
Synthesize
Definition: To combine a number of things into a coherent whole.
Example: The researchers aim to synthesize their findings into a comprehensive report.
Pronunciation: SIN-thuh-size
Synonyms: combine, integrate, merge
Tangible
Definition: Perceptible by touch; clear and definite; real.
Example: The improvements in his writing were tangible after the workshop.
Pronunciation: TAN-juh-buhl
Synonyms: touchable, real, substantial
Ubiquitous
Definition: Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Example: Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern society.
Pronunciation: yoo-BIK-wi-tuhs
Synonyms: omnipresent, ever-present, universal
Venerable
Definition: Having a great deal of respect due to age or wisdom.
Example: The venerable professor was admired by students and colleagues alike.
Pronunciation: VEN-er-uh-buhl
Synonyms: respected, esteemed, honored
Wary
Definition: Feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.
Example: She was wary of trusting strangers with her secrets.
Pronunciation: WEHR-ee
Synonyms: cautious, careful, suspicious
Zealous
Definition: Having or showing zeal; passionate.
Example: He was a zealous supporter of environmental causes.
Pronunciation: ZEL-uhs
Synonyms: enthusiastic, fervent, passionate
Affluent
Definition: Having a great deal of money; wealthy.
Example: The affluent neighborhood boasted large houses and manicured lawns.
Pronunciation: AF-loo-uhnt
Synonyms: wealthy, rich, prosperous
Benevolent
Definition: Well-meaning and kindly; charitable.
Example: The benevolent woman volunteered at the animal shelter.
Pronunciation: buh-NEV-uh-luhnt
Synonyms: kind, generous, compassionate
Candid
Definition: Truthful and straightforward; frank.
Example: The interview was surprisingly candid, revealing many personal insights.
Pronunciation: KAN-did
Synonyms: honest, open, frank
Dichotomy
Definition: A division or contrast between two things that are represented as being opposed or entirely different.
Example: There is a noticeable dichotomy between theory and practice in that field.
Pronunciation: dahy-KOT-uh-mee
Synonyms: contrast, division, split
Erudite
Definition: Having or showing great knowledge or learning.
Example: The lecture was delivered by an erudite scholar in the field of history.
Pronunciation: ER-yoo-dahyt
Synonyms: learned, scholarly, knowledgeable
Fortitude
Definition: Courage in pain or adversity.
Example: She showed great fortitude in dealing with her illness.
Pronunciation: FOR-ti-tood
Synonyms: courage, bravery, strength
Garrulous
Definition: Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.
Example: The garrulous neighbor would talk for hours about her garden.
Pronunciation: GAR-uh-luhs
Synonyms: talkative, chatty, loquacious
Heinous
Definition: Utterly odious or wicked; shockingly evil.
Example: The heinous crime shocked the entire community.
Pronunciation: HAY-nuhs
Synonyms: evil, wicked, atrocious
Impassive
Definition: Not feeling or showing emotion; calm.
Example: His impassive demeanor made it hard to tell what he was thinking.
Pronunciation: im-PAS-iv
Synonyms: stoic, unemotional, calm
Juxtapose
Definition: To place or deal with close together for contrasting effect.
Example: The artist decided to juxtapose dark and light colors in her painting.
Pronunciation: JUK-stuh-pohz
Synonyms: compare, contrast, position
Kinetic
Definition: Relating to or resulting from motion.
Example: Kinetic energy is energy that an object possesses due to its motion.
Pronunciation: ki-NET-ik
Synonyms: dynamic, active, in motion
Lucid
Definition: Clear and easy to understand; showing ability to think clearly.
Example: Her explanation was lucid, making the complex concept easier to grasp.
Pronunciation: LOO-sid
Synonyms: clear, intelligible, coherent
Mitigate
Definition: To make less severe, serious, or painful; to alleviate.
Example: They are trying to mitigate the damage caused by the storm.
Pronunciation: MIT-i-gate
Synonyms: lessen, reduce, alleviate
Nuance
Definition: A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.
Example: The artist's use of color conveys various nuances of emotion.
Pronunciation: NOO-ahns
Synonyms: subtlety, shade, distinction
Obfuscate
Definition: To deliberately make something difficult to understand; to confuse.
Example: The politician tried to obfuscate the truth with complicated language.
Pronunciation: OB-fuh-skayt
Synonyms: confuse, cloud, cloud
Prolific
Definition: Producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring; highly fruitful.
Example: The prolific author published three novels within a year.
Pronunciation: pruh-LIF-ik
Synonyms: productive, abundant, fertile
Quintessential
Definition: Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
Example: She is the quintessential student, always striving for excellence.
Pronunciation: kwin-tuh-SEN-shuhl
Synonyms: typical, ideal, perfect
Resilient
Definition: Able to recover quickly from difficult conditions; tough.
Example: Children are often more resilient than we give them credit for.
Pronunciation: ri-ZIL-yuhnt
Synonyms: strong, tough, flexible
Succinct
Definition: Briefly and clearly expressed; concise.
Example: Her succinct summary of the article was very helpful.
Pronunciation: suhk-SINKT
Synonyms: concise, brief, to the point
Tenacious
Definition: Holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold; persistent.
Example: Her tenacious pursuit of her goals inspired those around her.
Pronunciation: teh-NAY-shus
Synonyms: persistent, determined, stubborn
Utopian
Definition: Modeling an ideal society; impractically idealistic.
Example: The author's vision for a utopian future was both inspiring and unattainable.
Pronunciation: yoo-TOH-pee-uhn
Synonyms: idealistic, perfect, noble
Vicarious
Definition: Experienced or felt by watching, hearing, or reading about someone else's actions rather than doing it oneself.
Example: She took vicarious pleasure in her friend's travels through her photographs.
Pronunciation: vi-KAIR-ee-uhs
Synonyms: indirect, secondhand, substitute