Quick and graceful, the goalie was an _____ athlete who could dive to the left and spring back up in a flash.	agile — quick and graceful when moving (Clue: restatement: "quick and graceful"; "an" before blank)
Priya was not shy; she simply chose to stay _____ at the party, standing coolly apart and barely nodding when anyone said hello.	aloof — cool, distant, and not friendly (Clue: contrast with shy; restatement "coolly apart")
With less than an inch of rain all year, the Atacama Desert is an _____ region where crops cannot grow without help.	arid — very dry, with little rain (Clue: cause: almost no rain; "an" before blank)
The movie came to an _____ end, cutting off in the middle of a scene without any warning at all.	abrupt — sudden and unexpected (Clue: restatement: "cutting off... without any warning")
Unlike the rich garden soil out front, the sandy patch behind the shed was _____, and no seed Dad planted there would ever sprout.	barren — unable to grow plants; bare (Clue: contrast with rich soil; effect: nothing grows)
Kindergarten safety scissors have _____, rounded tips instead of sharp points, so no one can get poked.	blunt — not sharp; or very direct (Clue: contrast: rounded tips "instead of sharp points")
Instead of stiff, posed pictures, the yearbook used _____ snapshots that showed kids honestly, just as they really were.	candid — honest and direct (Clue: contrast with posed; restatement "honestly, just as they really were")
The cruise ship was so _____ that it was taller than a twenty-story building and longer than three soccer fields.	colossal — extremely large (Clue: examples showing extreme size)
Feeling the injured bird's pain as if it were her own, the _____ girl gently wrapped it in her scarf.	compassionate — caring about others' suffering (Clue: restatement: feeling another's suffering)
Omar is no champion, but he is _____ at the piano, playing most songs well and without many mistakes.	competent — able to do something well (Clue: restatement: "playing most songs well")
The _____ singer kept bragging about his own voice and admired himself in every mirror he passed.	conceited — too proud of yourself (Clue: examples of being too proud of oneself)
Thinking about his baby sister's needs, Ben was _____ enough to turn his music down so she could nap.	considerate — thoughtful of others' feelings (Clue: example of thinking of others' feelings)
The _____ raccoon pretended to be asleep until the campers left, then sneakily unzipped their cooler and stole the hot dogs.	crafty — clever in a sneaky way (Clue: example of sneaky cleverness)
The final penalty kick was a _____ moment, because the whole championship depended on whether it went in.	crucial — extremely important (Clue: cause: everything depended on it)
The fresh snow was so _____ in the noon sun that we had to squint and shield our eyes from its sparkle.	dazzling — very bright and impressive (Clue: effect: so bright we had to squint)
It was no accident: Leo's choice to skip the hard question was _____, since he planned to come back to it later.	deliberate — done on purpose (Clue: contrast with accident; reason shows it was planned)
The ghost town felt _____, its dusty streets empty and lonely, with no people, no shops, and no sound but the wind.	desolate — empty, lonely, and bare (Clue: restatement: "empty and lonely")
As a _____ student, Rosa worked hard every single night, carefully finishing her homework before even thinking about playing.	diligent — working hard and carefully (Clue: restatement: works hard and carefully)
After losing all twelve of its games in the rain, the team finally ended a _____ season that no player wanted to remember.	dismal — sad, dark, and dreary (Clue: examples of a sad, dreary, bad season)
All winter the tulip bulbs lie _____ underground, resting and not growing at all until spring wakes them up.	dormant — asleep or not active for now (Clue: restatement: "resting and not growing")
Unlike her bright, sparkly sneakers, the school uniform was _____, a plain brownish gray without a speck of color.	drab — dull and without color (Clue: contrast with bright; restatement "without color")
The _____ backpack lasted all through elementary school, still without a single rip after six years of heavy use.	durable — strong and long-lasting (Clue: example: lasted six years without wearing out)
Ethan let out an _____ whoop when the letter said he had made the all-star team; he had never felt so thrilled.	elated — extremely happy (Clue: Cause and effect: making the team and feeling thrilled show great joy.)
Ava was an _____ speaker whose clear and beautiful words made the whole audience nod, smile, and even cheer.	eloquent — speaking clearly, well, and beautifully (Clue: restatement: "clear and beautiful words")
Dr. Okafor is an _____ ocean scientist, so famous and respected that experts from around the world ask her for advice.	eminent — famous and respected (Clue: restatement: "famous and respected")
In the gusty wind, the kite took an _____ path, swooping, dipping, and darting in ways no one could predict.	erratic — not steady or regular (Clue: restatement: "in ways no one could predict")
Water is an _____ supply for any desert hike; without it, you simply cannot go at all.	essential — absolutely necessary (Clue: cause/effect: without it you cannot go)
The tiny glass hummingbird was an _____ treasure, with wings so delicate and beautiful that Grandma kept it safe under a dome.	exquisite — extremely beautiful and delicate (Clue: restatement: "delicate and beautiful")
Buying a hundred-dollar cake for the dog's birthday was an _____ choice, far too costly and fancy for a pet party.	extravagant — too costly or fancy (Clue: restatement: "far too costly and fancy")
Having skipped lunch to finish his art project, Diego felt _____ by dinner and wolfed down three plates of pasta.	famished — extremely hungry (Clue: cause/effect: skipped a meal, then ate a lot)
The _____ toddler wanted the red cup, then the blue one, then the red one again, changing her mind every minute.	fickle — changing your mind often (Clue: example of constantly changing one's mind)
Unlike a stiff wooden ruler, the rubbery plastic one was _____ enough to bend into a full circle without snapping.	flexible — able to bend easily (Clue: contrast with stiff; example: bends without snapping)
When Kai asked whether his science poster was any good, his sister was _____: she told him directly that it was too crowded.	frank — honest and direct (Clue: example of honest, direct feedback)
The mountain lake was so _____ that ice formed along the shore and our toes went numb in seconds.	frigid — extremely cold (Clue: effects of extreme cold: ice, numb toes)
Grandpa is so _____ that he eats a simple lunch, reuses every paper bag, and never wastes a single penny.	frugal — careful not to waste money (Clue: examples of not wasting money)
Sweeping the sidewalk during the snowstorm was _____, since fresh snow covered it again the moment we finished.	futile — useless; having no chance of success (Clue: cause/effect: the effort had no chance of success)
Unlike the fake plastic pearls from the toy store, Grandma's necklace is made of _____ pearls from the sea.	genuine — real; not fake (Clue: contrast with fake)
When the rescued horse first arrived, it looked _____, with hollow cheeks and ribs showing, but good food soon filled it out.	gaunt — very thin and bony (Clue: restatement: hollow cheeks and showing ribs)
With a _____ giggle, Toby watched his snowball sail over the fence and land right on his big brother's hat.	gleeful — full of happy delight (Clue: example: delighted giggle at a playful moment)
Max is so _____ that he believed his sister when she said spaghetti grows on trees, and he falls for every prank.	gullible — easily tricked; believing anything (Clue: examples of being easily tricked)
Only _____ pine trees could survive the freezing winds and thin soil high on the rocky mountaintop.	hardy — strong enough to survive hard conditions (Clue: example: survives harsh conditions)
Bleach is _____ to breathe or swallow, so Mom keeps it on a high shelf with a bright danger label.	hazardous — dangerous; risky (Clue: cause/effect: danger label, kept out of reach)
The _____ princess looked down her nose at the servants, acting as if she were far better than everyone else.	haughty — proud and looking down on others (Clue: restatement: looking down on others)
In the _____ summer air, our hair frizzed and our shirts stuck to our backs, warm and damp with moisture.	humid — warm and damp, like sticky air (Clue: restatement: "warm and damp")
Mom keeps an _____ kitchen, so perfectly clean that not a single crumb or speck of dust can be found.	immaculate — perfectly clean (Clue: restatement: "perfectly clean")
To be fair to both teams, the league chose an _____ referee who would not take sides or favor anyone.	impartial — fair; not taking sides (Clue: restatement: "would not take sides")
Without thinking for even a second, Jay made an _____ leap into the pool with all his clothes still on.	impulsive — acting without thinking first (Clue: restatement: "without thinking for even a second")
The parrot's _____ chatter never stopped, not even for a moment, from sunrise until long after bedtime.	incessant — never stopping (Clue: restatement: "never stopped")
Sam was completely _____ about which movie we picked; he truly did not care one way or the other.	indifferent — not caring either way (Clue: restatement: "did not care one way or the other")
Like a busy beaver building its dam, Carla was an _____ worker who kept working hard from morning until night.	industrious — always working hard (Clue: comparison to a busy beaver; restatement "working hard")
Our homemade kite was _____ to the store-bought one, which flew higher, looked nicer, and lasted much longer.	inferior — lower in quality or rank (Clue: comparison: lower in quality than the other kite)
Liam felt an _____ wave of excitement, so strong and extreme that he could barely stand still in line.	intense — very strong or extreme (Clue: restatement: "so strong and extreme")
Our _____ bus driver laughs at every joke, waves to everyone on her route, and greets each rider with a cheerful grin.	jovial — cheerful and friendly (Clue: examples of cheerful friendliness)
With a high fever, our usually playful puppy was _____ all day, too tired and slow to even lift his head.	lethargic — tired, slow, and lacking energy (Clue: restatement: "too tired and slow")
Unlike strict Mr. Park, our _____ coach forgives late arrivals and lets small mistakes slide without any punishment.	lenient — not strict; forgiving (Clue: contrast with strict; examples of forgiving)
Deep in the dark ocean, the _____ jellyfish gave off its own soft light, glowing like a tiny lamp.	luminous — shining; giving off light (Clue: restatement: "gave off its own soft light")
Like a king upon his throne, the _____ lion sat high on the rock, looking grand and impressive.	majestic — grand and impressive, like royalty (Clue: comparison to royalty; restatement "grand and impressive")
The baby bird's dinner was a _____ portion, just one tiny worm, hardly enough to fill its belly.	meager — very small in amount (Clue: restatement: tiny amount, "hardly enough")
Checking every tiny detail twice, the _____ model builder made sure each little piece was glued exactly in place.	meticulous — extremely careful about details (Clue: restatement: extreme care about details)
The microscope revealed _____ creatures swimming in the pond water, far too tiny to see with the eye alone.	minute — extremely small (said my-NOOT) (Clue: restatement: "far too tiny to see")
The violin played a _____ tune, slow and full of sorrow, that made the whole audience want to cry.	mournful — full of sadness (Clue: restatement: "full of sorrow")
Having never camped before, Ella was _____ about the woods and packed no bug spray, no flashlight, and no rain jacket.	naive — innocent and lacking experience (Clue: cause: no experience; examples of what she didn't know)
The _____ pet sitter forgot to feed the goldfish for three days, failing to take proper care of them.	negligent — not taking proper care (Clue: restatement: "failing to take proper care")
The most _____ moment of our whale-watching trip, worth noticing above all, was seeing a humpback leap completely out of the water.	notable — worth noticing; important (Clue: restatement: "worth noticing above all")
Using drones to deliver library books was a _____ idea, new and unusual, that no town nearby had ever tried before.	novel — new and unusual (Clue: restatement: "new and unusual")
The trained puppy was an _____ student, sitting, staying, and rolling over exactly when she was told.	obedient — doing what you are told (Clue: example: doing exactly what she was told)
Mia loves an _____ band so little known that none of her friends has ever heard of it.	obscure — not well known; or hard to see (Clue: restatement: "so little known")
Like an _____ mule, my brother stubbornly refused to change his mind, no matter what anyone said to him.	obstinate — stubbornly refusing to change (Clue: comparison to a mule; restatement "stubbornly refused to change")
An _____ rumble of thunder warned us that a storm was on its way, so we quickly packed up our picnic.	ominous — seeming like something bad will happen (Clue: cause/effect: a warning sign that something bad is coming)
Even after losing three games in a row, Zoe stayed _____, sure that her team would win the next one.	optimistic — expecting good things to happen (Clue: contrast: despite losses, she expects good things)
Mr. Lee let out an _____ gasp, angry and shocked, when he saw someone had painted over the class mural.	outraged — extremely angry and shocked (Clue: restatement: "angry and shocked")
Sitting by the rainy window in quiet thought, Kenji looked _____ as he wondered what middle school would be like.	pensive — deep in quiet thought (Clue: restatement: "in quiet thought")
The explorers began a _____ climb up the icy cliff, full of danger at every slippery step.	perilous — full of danger (Clue: restatement: "full of danger")
Even after her robot failed nine times, the _____ inventor kept fixing it until it finally worked on the tenth try.	persistent — continuing firmly despite problems (Clue: example: kept going despite repeated failure)
Since the dog was covered in mud, Ella's story that he had been digging in the garden seemed _____ to Mom.	plausible — seeming likely to be true (Clue: cause: the evidence makes the story believable)
The garlic was so _____ that a single clove made the whole pot of soup taste strong and powerful.	potent — very strong or powerful (Clue: cause/effect: a tiny amount has a powerful effect)
After the new train station opened, the sleepy town became a _____ place, where shop owners grew successful and wealthy.	prosperous — successful and wealthy (Clue: restatement: "successful and wealthy")
Before the long hike, it was _____ of Ava to pack extra water and a map, a careful and sensible choice.	prudent — careful and sensible (Clue: restatement: "a careful and sensible choice")
Mr. Diaz arrives at exactly 7:55 every morning, never even a minute late; he is the most _____ teacher at school.	punctual — on time (Clue: example: always exactly on time)
The _____ old bakery, with its painted wooden sign and lace curtains, looked charming in an old-fashioned way.	quaint — charming in an old-fashioned way (Clue: restatement: "charming in an old-fashioned way")
Quitting the team after a single bad practice was a _____ decision that Nina made without any careful thought.	rash — done without careful thought (Clue: restatement: "without any careful thought")
Racing his bike downhill with no helmet and no brakes, Jake was _____, paying no attention to the danger.	reckless — careless about danger (Clue: example and restatement: ignoring danger)
The research cabin is so _____ that scientists must hike for two days and then take a boat to reach it.	remote — far away and hard to reach (Clue: example: far away and hard to reach)
Like a rubber ball, the _____ team bounced right back after every loss, ready to try again the next week.	resilient — able to bounce back from trouble (Clue: comparison: bouncing back after trouble)
Grandpa is _____ for his age, strong and healthy enough to chop firewood and swim laps every morning.	robust — strong and healthy (Clue: restatement: "strong and healthy")
The _____ campers stayed up yelling, wrestling, and banging pots until the counselor came to quiet the noisy, rough crowd.	rowdy — noisy and rough (Clue: examples of noisy, rough behavior)
Unlike the fancy city hotel, the _____ farmhouse had plain wooden floors, a woodstove, and chickens clucking in the yard.	rustic — simple and countrylike (Clue: contrast with fancy city; examples of simple country life)
Angry about losing his video game time, Leo sat silently at dinner, _____ and scowling, refusing to say a word.	sullen — quietly angry and gloomy (Clue: restatement: quietly angry and gloomy)
The runt of the litter was a _____ little pup, all skinny legs and bony ribs, but she grew strong with care.	scrawny — thin and bony (Clue: restatement: "skinny legs and bony ribs")
Dad's favorite jacket looked _____, with elbows worn thin, frayed cuffs, and colors faded from years of use.	shabby — old and worn out (Clue: Description: worn thin, frayed and faded means old and worn out.)
Doubting the ad's claim that a cream could make hair grow overnight, Dad was _____ and did not buy it.	skeptical — doubting; not easily believing (Clue: restatement: "doubting the ad's claim")
On the cold morning, our old laptop was _____, taking forever to open even one program.	sluggish — moving slowly; lacking energy (Clue: restatement: "taking forever")
The usually noisy auditorium grew _____ and serious as everyone quietly said goodbye to the beloved retiring principal.	somber — dark, serious, and sad (Clue: restatement: "serious" and quietly sad)
The new tent is so _____ that all six of us can lie down inside with plenty of room to spare.	spacious — having lots of room (Clue: restatement: "plenty of room")
The old dog's tail had grown _____, with only a few thin hairs scattered here and there.	sparse — thinly spread; few and far apart (Clue: restatement: "only a few thin hairs scattered")
Without any planning at all, the family took a _____ trip to the beach when the sun suddenly came out.	spontaneous — done suddenly without planning (Clue: restatement: "without any planning")
With a _____ look and a serious, strict voice, the coach told the team that nobody would skip practice again.	stern — serious and strict (Clue: restatement: "serious, strict voice")
The _____ pirate refused to share even one gold coin with his loyal crew, hiding the whole treasure for himself.	stingy — unwilling to share or spend (Clue: example: refusing to share)
We packed a _____ supply of water for the hike, exactly as much as we would need and no more.	sufficient — as much as needed (Clue: restatement: "exactly as much as we would need")
The gymnast's _____ routine, extremely good from start to finish, earned a perfect score from every single judge.	superb — extremely good (Clue: restatement: "extremely good"; effect: perfect score)
Not wanting to hurt Grandma's feelings, Lily gave a _____ answer about the itchy sweater Grandma had knitted for her.	tactful — careful not to hurt feelings (Clue: cause: careful not to hurt feelings)
After years of hugs and adventures, the teddy bear was _____, its ears ripped and its fur torn in several spots.	tattered — old and torn (Clue: restatement: "ripped" and "torn")
Waiting for the spelling bee results, Mia was so _____ that her shoulders tightened and she could not relax at all.	tense — nervous and unable to relax (Clue: restatement: "could not relax")
The _____ shopper waited for the big sale, clipped coupons, and bought her son's winter boots at half price.	thrifty — careful with money (Clue: examples of being careful with money)
Being _____ of others' differences, Ana happily welcomed classmates of every background, language, and belief.	tolerant — accepting of others' differences (Clue: restatement: accepting differences)
The trail looked safe, but it was _____, with hidden patches of ice lying under the fresh snow.	treacherous — full of hidden dangers (Clue: contrast: looked safe, but hidden dangers)
Arguing over who got the blue cup was _____, a matter far too small and unimportant to ruin our picnic.	trivial — small and not important (Clue: restatement: "too small and unimportant")
The plane bounced and shook as it flew through _____ air, rough and stormy all the way to Denver.	turbulent — wild, rough, and stormy (Clue: restatement: "rough and stormy")
Every single student in the class voted yes, so the decision to adopt a class hamster was _____.	unanimous — agreed on by everyone (Clue: cause: everyone agreed)
Walking into her brand-new school, Ivy had an _____ feeling in her stomach, worried and not quite comfortable.	uneasy — worried and not comfortable (Clue: restatement: "worried and not quite comfortable")
The _____ firefighter ran back into the barn to rescue the frightened calf, showing great bravery.	valiant — very brave (Clue: example of great bravery)
Our _____ puppy can fetch, swim, herd ducks, and do tricks; there seems to be nothing she cannot learn.	versatile — able to do many different things (Clue: examples of many different skills)
The _____ meerkat stood guard on the rock, always watching carefully for hawks while the others ate.	vigilant — always watching carefully for danger (Clue: restatement: "always watching carefully")
Without its hard shell, the hermit crab is _____, easily harmed by any hungry bird that spots it.	vulnerable — easily hurt or harmed (Clue: cause/effect: no protection, so easily harmed)
Instead of candy, Mom packed a _____ snack of apples, carrots, and yogurt that was good for our bodies.	wholesome — good for your health or character (Clue: restatement: "good for our bodies")
After the rainstorm ruined the bake sale, the cookie table was a _____ sight, soggy and very sad to see.	woeful — very sad, or very bad (Clue: restatement: "very sad"; very bad condition)
The _____ fan arrived at the stadium five hours early, wearing face paint and cheering louder than anyone else.	zealous — extremely eager and enthusiastic (Clue: examples of extreme eagerness)
Wearing a snowsuit and mittens to the beach in July is an _____ idea that makes no sense at all.	absurd — silly and making no sense (Clue: restatement: "makes no sense at all")
Jon's poster was not great, but it was _____, just good enough to earn a passing grade.	adequate — good enough; enough (Clue: restatement: "just good enough")
The family lived in an _____ neighborhood, where huge houses had swimming pools and three fancy cars in each driveway.	affluent — having lots of money (Clue: examples of wealth)
The _____ new librarian smiled at everyone and chatted pleasantly with each student who came to her desk.	amiable — friendly and pleasant (Clue: restatement: friendly and pleasant)
An _____ letter arrived praising our class garden, but nobody ever learned who had written it.	anonymous — with a name not known (Clue: restatement: name never known)
From the mud on his shoes and his wet hair, it was _____ to everyone that Sam had been playing outside.	apparent — clear; easy to see (Clue: cause: clear evidence easy to see)
The _____ baker gave free bread to every hungry family in town, always wanting to help others.	benevolent — kind and wanting to help others (Clue: restatement: "wanting to help others")
The dry autumn leaves were so _____ that they snapped and crumbled into pieces when we stepped on them.	brittle — hard but easily snapped (Clue: effect: snapped into pieces)
Even at age four, my little sister was _____ of tying her own shoes and pouring her own cereal.	capable — having the skill to do something (Clue: example of having the skill; "of" after the blank)
The innkeeper gave us a _____ welcome, greeting us warmly with hot cocoa and a friendly smile.	cordial — warm and friendly (Clue: restatement: "warmly" and "friendly")
The _____ boy held the door, said "please" and "thank you," and let the older woman go first.	courteous — polite and respectful (Clue: examples of politeness and respect)
The _____ fox tricked the crow into singing so that the cheese fell from its beak right into the fox's mouth.	cunning — clever at tricking others (Clue: example of clever trickery)
When told to go to bed, the _____ toddler crossed her arms, stamped her foot, and boldly shouted, "No!"	defiant — boldly refusing to obey (Clue: examples of boldly refusing to obey)
After missing the winning shot, Marcus felt _____, slumping on the bench, sad and discouraged.	dejected — sad and discouraged (Clue: restatement: "sad and discouraged")
After the flood washed away their farm, the family was _____, left with no money and nothing at all.	destitute — extremely poor; without money (Clue: restatement: "no money and nothing at all")
Even in the noisy gym, Nora's voice was _____, clearly heard above everyone else's shouting.	distinct — clearly seen, heard, or noticed (Clue: restatement: "clearly heard")
Unlike the wild, kicking colt, the old mare was _____, calm enough for even small children to lead and brush.	docile — calm and easy to handle (Clue: contrast with wild; restatement "calm")
With a serious, sincere look, Ravi made an _____ promise to take good care of the class rabbit all summer.	earnest — sincere and serious (Clue: restatement: "serious, sincere")
Maya was _____ when she won tickets to meet her favorite author; she jumped and screamed with happiness.	ecstatic — extremely happy (Clue: effect: extreme happiness at great news)
The pet store sold an _____ parrot from a faraway rain forest, with feathers unlike any bird we had ever seen.	exotic — from a faraway place; unusual (Clue: restatement: "from a faraway rain forest"; unusual)
The _____ knight bowed politely to the queen, then bravely rode off to rescue the lost lamb from the mountain.	gallant — brave and noble (Clue: examples of being polite and brave (noble))
The troll in our school play wore a _____ mask, so ugly that the youngest kids in the audience covered their eyes.	hideous — very ugly (Clue: restatement: "so ugly")
The morning was _____, with everyone rushing to find shoes, pack lunches, and catch the bus all at once.	hectic — very busy and rushed (Clue: examples of busy rushing)
Dr. Patel's handwriting was so _____ that the pharmacist could not read a single word on the note.	illegible — too messy to read (Clue: effect: could not read it)
Growing older is _____; no matter what we do, nobody can avoid having another birthday.	inevitable — sure to happen; unavoidable (Clue: restatement: "nobody can avoid")
The _____ fans danced in the streets and waved flags, celebrating the team's first championship in fifty years.	jubilant — joyful and celebrating (Clue: example: joyful celebrating)
Unlike the dry desert, the rain forest was _____, thick with healthy green plants and tangled vines.	lush — thick with healthy green plants (Clue: contrast with dry desert; restatement "thick with healthy green plants")
The _____ glow of the campfire, soft and warm, made everyone feel calm and sleepy.	mellow — soft, warm, and gentle (Clue: restatement: "soft and warm")
After hiking all afternoon without any water, I was _____ and gulped down three full bottles at the trailhead.	parched — very dry or thirsty (Clue: cause/effect: no water, then gulping)
The seaside village was so _____ that artists came from all over to paint its pretty harbor and colorful boats.	picturesque — pretty as a picture (Clue: effect: artists come to paint it)
After a long winter's sleep, the _____ bear gobbled up every berry and fish it could find.	ravenous — extremely hungry (Clue: cause/effect: no eating all winter, then devouring food)
The _____ puppies yapped, tumbled, and chased each other around the yard, full of noisy energy.	boisterous — noisy, energetic, and rowdy (Clue: restatement: "full of noisy energy")
Cold, soaked, and shivering after missing the bus in the pouring rain, Owen felt _____, as unhappy as he had ever been.	wretched — very unhappy, or very poor in quality (Clue: restatement: "as unhappy as he had ever been")
Students asked the school board to _____ the old rule against hats, and after a vote it was ended for good.	abolish — to end a law or practice (Clue: restatement: a rule 'ended for good')
At first Omar hated olives, but after a summer in Greece he began to _____ a taste for them.	acquire — to get or gain (Clue: idiom 'gain a taste for' something over time)
When the family moved from sunny Florida to snowy Maine, the kids needed a few months to _____ to the cold.	adapt — to change to fit new conditions (Clue: cause/effect: new conditions require changing to fit)
Expecting a busy day, the librarian tried to _____ every question visitors might ask and prepared answers ahead of time.	anticipate — to expect or look forward to (Clue: 'expecting' and 'prepared ahead of time')
To _____ her whining little brother, Ava finally gave in and handed him the last cookie he kept demanding.	appease — to calm someone by giving what they want (Clue: calming someone by giving what they demand)
The hikers began to _____ the steep mountain trail, climbing higher until the town below looked tiny.	ascend — to go up (Clue: restatement: 'climbing higher')
Shy at first, Nora learned to _____ herself in group projects, speaking up firmly so her ideas were heard.	assert — to state firmly (Clue: 'speaking up firmly')
The kids were told to _____ their eyes, or turn them away, while Dad wrapped their birthday presents.	avert — to prevent; or to turn away (Clue: restatement: 'turn them away')
The tricky riddle continued to _____ the whole class; not one student could figure out the answer all week.	baffle — to confuse completely (Clue: effect: nobody could figure it out)
From across the playground, Grandpa gave a little wave of his hand to _____ us over for lunch.	beckon — to signal someone to come (Clue: hand gesture signaling someone to come)
At the ceremony, the mayor will _____ a special award upon the girl who rescued the stranded puppy.	bestow — to give as a gift or honor (Clue: giving an honor 'upon' someone)
The twins always _____ over silly things, like who gets the window seat or the bigger slice of pizza.	bicker — to argue about small things (Clue: examples: arguing over small, silly things)
Speaking softly and patiently, Ella tried to _____ her nervous little sister out from behind the curtain before the play.	coax — to gently persuade (Clue: gentle, patient persuading)
At the assembly, the principal stood up to _____ the students publicly for picking up litter around the park.	commend — to praise (Clue: public praise for a good deed)
The flooded field will _____ the team to cancel practice, since nobody can play in ankle-deep water.	compel — to force (Clue: cause/effect: circumstances force a choice)
All visitors must _____ with the zoo's rules, so Jamal obeyed the sign and kept his hands out of the tank.	comply — to follow a rule or request (Clue: 'with the rules' plus 'obeyed')
When Rosa's goldfish died, her friends tried to _____ her by drawing pictures and sharing happy memories of it.	console — to comfort someone who is sad (Clue: comforting someone who is sad about a loss)
Lying on the grass at night, Mateo liked to _____ the stars for hours, thinking deeply about how far away they were.	contemplate — to think deeply about (Clue: restatement: 'thinking deeply' for hours)
Without saying a single word, the actor used only his face to _____ how sad his character felt.	convey — to carry or communicate (Clue: communicating a feeling without words)
During thunderstorms, our puppy would _____ under the kitchen table, crouching low with its tail tucked between its legs.	cower — to crouch down in fear (Clue: restatement: 'crouching low' in fear)
Mom warned Theo not to _____ on the walk to school, moving at a snail's pace and poking at every bug.	dawdle — to be slow; to waste time (Clue: example of wasting time; warning about being late)
Farmers plant prickly hedges to _____ hungry deer from wandering into their vegetable gardens.	deter — to discourage from doing something (Clue: purpose: discouraging animals from entering)
Stuck inside on a rainy day, the cousins worked together to _____ a clever plan for building the best blanket fort ever.	devise — to plan or invent (Clue: inventing 'a clever plan')
Closing the thick curtains will _____ the bright afternoon sunlight so the baby can nap.	diminish — to make or become smaller (Clue: effect: making the light less)
When the final bell rang, the crowd of students began to _____ in every direction toward their buses.	disperse — to spread out in different directions (Clue: spreading out 'in every direction')
The funhouse mirror would _____ Kai's reflection, stretching his face long and making his legs look tiny.	distort — to twist out of its true shape (Clue: example: stretching a reflection out of its true shape)
The answer to the riddle continued to _____ Sam; no matter how hard he thought, it slipped out of his reach.	elude — to cleverly escape or avoid (Clue: an answer cleverly escaping someone's understanding)
A pinch of cinnamon will _____ the flavor of the apple pie, making it taste even better than before.	enhance — to make better (Clue: restatement: 'making it taste even better')
When Mom asked who ate the cake, Leo tried to _____ the question by quickly changing the subject to the weather.	evade — to escape or avoid (Clue: dodging a question by changing the subject)
Grandpa likes to _____ his fishing stories, claiming that the little trout he caught was as big as a canoe.	exaggerate — to make something seem bigger than it is (Clue: example: making a small fish seem huge)
Opening the box to find a puppy inside, Lily could not help but _____ "Wow!" at the top of her lungs.	exclaim — to cry out suddenly (Clue: crying out suddenly and loudly)
Running laps in the hot sun for an hour seemed to _____ the players, who flopped onto the grass, completely worn out.	exhaust — to use up completely; or to tire out (Clue: effect: players 'completely worn out')
Near the end of the long race, Jada's tired legs began to _____, but she found new strength and pushed on.	falter — to hesitate or lose strength (Clue: contrast: losing strength vs. 'found new strength')
With plenty of sunshine, rich soil, and daily watering, the tomato plants began to _____ and grow tall and healthy.	flourish — to grow well and healthily (Clue: cause/effect: good care leads to healthy growth)
Because only four players showed up, the team had to _____ the game and give the win to the other side as a penalty.	forfeit — to give up or lose as a penalty (Clue: losing something as a penalty)
Hikers who _____ the ranger's warning and stay on the marked trail never get lost in the forest.	heed — to pay attention to and follow (Clue: paying attention to and following a warning)
Deep snow on the roads will _____ the mail carrier, slowing her down so the letters arrive late.	hinder — to slow down or get in the way (Clue: restatement: 'slowing her down')
My little brother likes to _____ his Halloween candy, collecting huge piles and stashing them under his bed instead of sharing.	hoard — to collect and hide away (Clue: collecting a big supply and hiding it away)
At night, hundreds of tiny paper lanterns _____ the garden, lighting up every path and flower bed.	illuminate — to light up (Clue: restatement: 'lighting up')
The puppy's big, sad eyes seemed to _____ us to share a bite of our sandwiches.	implore — to beg desperately (Clue: desperate begging look)
Colorful fish and sea turtles _____ the coral reef, which they have made their home for many years.	inhabit — to live in (Clue: restatement: 'made their home')
The bigger team tried to _____ us by shouting loudly during warm-ups, hoping we would be too nervous to play well.	intimidate — to scare someone into acting (Clue: purpose: scaring the other team into nervousness)
Good sports never _____ at the other team, even when a player misses an easy shot.	jeer — to make fun of rudely (Clue: rude mocking 'at' a team)
Every Monday morning, Jamie would _____ that summer vacation was over, sighing about how much he missed the beach.	lament — to express sadness about (Clue: expressing sadness out loud ('sighing about'))
Ari is not afraid of mushrooms; he simply happens to _____ their slimy taste more than any other food.	loathe — to hate very much (Clue: contrast: not fear, but strong hatred)
Fishermen drop shiny, wiggly bait into the lake to _____ hungry fish toward their waiting hooks.	lure — to attract or tempt (Clue: attracting with bait)
The lazy river seemed to _____ through the valley, curving slowly back and forth like a ribbon.	meander — to wind or wander slowly (Clue: winding slowly 'back and forth')
Instead of building a brand-new treehouse, the kids decided to _____ the old one a little by adding a rope ladder.	modify — to change a little (Clue: contrast: small change vs. brand-new)
The whole family gathered in the backyard to _____ their beloved old dog, Biscuit, who had died peacefully that week.	mourn — to feel sad over a loss (Clue: feeling sad over a loss (a pet's death))
The two sisters sat down to _____ a deal: Ana would wash the dishes if Bea walked the dog.	negotiate — to discuss to reach an agreement (Clue: discussing to reach an agreement)
Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains _____ your body, giving it the food it needs to grow strong.	nourish — to feed for healthy growth (Clue: restatement: 'giving it the food it needs')
The mother bird will _____ her chicks, keeping them warm, fed, and safe until they are ready to fly.	nurture — to care for as it grows (Clue: caring for young as they grow)
Please do not _____ anyone's name from the class list, or that student will feel left out.	omit — to leave out (Clue: 'leave out' a name 'from' a list)
Most students _____ the plan to shorten recess, so they signed a letter against it.	oppose — to be against (Clue: restatement: being 'against' the plan)
Even after falling off her bike again and again, Hana chose to _____, and by Sunday she was riding on her own.	persevere — to keep trying despite difficulty (Clue: keep trying despite repeated failure)
With a strong speech full of facts, Liam managed to _____ the class to vote for a museum field trip.	persuade — to talk someone into something (Clue: convincing with a strong, fact-filled speech)
Instead of starting his science project early, Diego chose to _____, waiting until the night before it was due.	procrastinate — to put off doing something (Clue: restatement: 'waiting until the night before')
Stop trying to _____ your sister by making silly faces on purpose until she gets angry!	provoke — to annoy or stir up on purpose (Clue: annoying someone on purpose until angry)
Our playful puppy loves to _____ butterflies across the yard, racing after them wherever they fly.	pursue — to follow or chase (Clue: restatement: 'racing after them')
After the long soccer game, only a big glass of ice-cold water could _____ Malik's thirst.	quench — to satisfy thirst (Clue: satisfying 'thirst')
The coach had to _____ the players sharply for goofing off during practice, telling them firmly it must stop.	rebuke — to sharply criticize (Clue: sharp, firm criticism)
As the tide began to _____, moving back from the shore, the children found starfish in the wet sand.	recede — to move back or away (Clue: restatement: 'moving back from the shore')
The library sign asked everyone to _____ from talking loudly so that other readers could concentrate.	refrain — to hold back from doing (Clue: holding back 'from' doing something)
Workers added steel beams to _____ the old bridge so it could safely hold heavier trucks.	reinforce — to make stronger (Clue: making a structure stronger)
Eating slowly, Ruby seemed to _____ every bite of her grandmother's famous apple pie, smiling after each forkful.	relish — to enjoy greatly (Clue: enjoying greatly; slow, happy eating)
A little water seemed to _____ the drooping sunflower, and within an hour it was standing tall again.	revive — to bring back to life or strength (Clue: bringing back to strength)
Although the cake had burned on top, Dad managed to _____ the bottom half, so the party still had dessert.	salvage — to save from being lost or ruined (Clue: saving part of something from ruin)
Quick and light on their tiny feet, the chipmunks would _____ across the path before disappearing under a log.	scamper — to run quickly and lightly (Clue: running 'quick and light')
Detectives _____ every tiny clue, studying fingerprints under a magnifying glass so nothing is missed.	scrutinize — to look at very carefully (Clue: looking very carefully with a magnifying glass)
After Ben cheated at tag, the other kids began to _____ him on purpose, refusing to let him join their games.	shun — to keep away from on purpose (Clue: keeping away from someone on purpose)
A warm bath helped _____ Lucy's sore, aching muscles after the long, rocky hike.	soothe — to make calm or comfortable (Clue: making sore muscles feel comfortable)
Instead of saving his birthday money, Jake chose to _____ it all on candy he did not even want.	squander — to waste foolishly (Clue: contrast: saving vs. foolish waste)
On warm evenings, my grandparents like to _____ hand in hand through the park, walking slowly and in no hurry at all.	stroll — to walk slowly and relaxed (Clue: relaxed, slow walking)
Once the strong winds began to _____ and grow gentle, the sailors raised their sails again.	subside — to become less strong (Clue: restatement: becoming 'gentle,' less strong)
The principal used the loudspeaker to _____ Kevin to the office to pick up the lunch he had forgotten.	summon — to call someone to come (Clue: calling someone to come)
With her new personal record, Kira was finally able to _____ her older sister's best time in the 100-meter dash.	surpass — to do better than (Clue: doing better than someone's best)
Some kids _____ on challenges, growing stronger and happier every time they face a hard new problem.	thrive — to grow strong and healthy (Clue: 'on challenges'; growing stronger)
In one weekend, the volunteers will completely _____ the empty, weedy lot into a colorful garden full of flowers.	transform — to change completely (Clue: changing 'completely' 'into' something new)
Tired after school, the kids had to _____ home through the deep, wet snow, their heavy boots dragging with each step.	trudge — to walk slowly and heavily (Clue: heavy, slow walking)
Before adding the fact to her report, Ava checked an encyclopedia to _____ that it was actually true.	verify — to check that something is true (Clue: checking that something is true)
Standing at the ice-cream counter, Sam began to _____ between chocolate and vanilla, unable to make up his mind.	waver — to be unsure or unsteady (Clue: being unsure 'between' two choices)
Drivers must _____ to people in the crosswalk, stopping and giving way so they can cross safely.	yield — to give up or give way (Clue: restatement: 'giving way')
Mom will _____ the class on the field trip, riding the bus with the students and staying by their side all day.	accompany — to go along with (Clue: going along with a group)
Because the game's directions were confusing, Mr. Park took a moment to _____ them so everyone understood.	clarify — to make clear (Clue: making confusing directions clear)
Farmers in the valley _____ corn and pumpkins, plowing and planting their fields every spring.	cultivate — to grow crops; or to develop (Clue: growing crops: plowing and planting)
All week our supply of snacks continued to _____ down, little by little, until only one cracker was left.	dwindle — to get smaller little by little (Clue: 'little by little' getting smaller)
On summer nights, fireflies _____ a soft yellow glow that blinks on and off above the grass.	emit — to give off or send out (Clue: giving off a glow)
Jordan liked to _____ his shiny new sneakers, strutting up and down the hallway so everyone would notice them.	flaunt — to show off proudly (Clue: showing off proudly so others notice)
After the morning rain, the wet leaves seemed to _____ in the sunlight like tiny jewels.	glisten — to shine, especially when wet (Clue: shining when wet)
The campers struck a match to _____ the dry twigs and finally start their campfire.	ignite — to set on fire; to start (Clue: setting something on fire)
Grandpa jokingly welcomed us to his humble _____, which was really just a tiny cabin he called home.	abode — a home (Clue: 'humble ___' meaning a home)
In the cartoon, the clever mouse always outsmarts his longtime _____, a grumpy cat who has been his enemy for years.	adversary — an enemy or rival (Clue: restatement: 'his enemy')
Grandma's only _____ is a sore knee, a minor sickness that slows her walks but never stops them.	ailment — a sickness (Clue: restatement: 'a minor sickness')
Sofia's greatest _____ is to become an astronaut, and she works hard in science class to reach that goal.	ambition — a strong wish to succeed (Clue: strong wish to succeed; goal)
Because Marco speaks three languages, he is an _____ to our travel club, helping everyone talk with locals.	asset — something useful or valuable (Clue: 'an ___ to' a group; something valuable)
The awards _____ was held in a grand hall, with fancy tablecloths, speeches, and a formal three-course dinner.	banquet — a large formal meal (Clue: large formal meal with speeches)
After a sunny summer, the farmers celebrated the rich _____ of their harvest, with more apples than they could count.	bounty — a generous amount; plenty (Clue: generous amount; plenty)
The mudslide that buried the town's only road was a true _____, the worst disaster in the village's history.	catastrophe — a terrible event (Clue: restatement: 'the worst disaster')
The messy closet was in total _____, with shoes, toys, coats, and games all jumbled together with no order at all.	chaos — total confusion (Clue: total confusion, 'no order at all')
The runaway goat caused quite a _____ at the county fair, with people shouting and chasing it between the booths.	commotion — noisy confusion (Clue: noisy confusion caused by one event)
One _____ of staying up too late is feeling tired and grumpy the next morning at school.	consequence — what happens because of an action (Clue: what happens because of an action)
The tiny lizard squeezed into a narrow _____ between two rocks to stay cool in the shade.	crevice — a narrow crack (Clue: 'narrow' crack between rocks)
Jo faced a _____: should she go to her best friend's party or her brother's big game, both on Saturday?	dilemma — a hard choice between options (Clue: hard choice between two options)
Getting caught cheating on the test brought _____ to Tim, and he felt ashamed in front of the whole class.	disgrace — loss of respect; shame (Clue: effect: feeling 'ashamed')
Building a robot for the science fair was an _____ that took the team months of serious effort.	endeavor — a serious attempt (Clue: 'an' + serious attempt)
Our class went on an _____ to the aquarium, a short trip just for fun before winter break.	excursion — a short trip for fun (Clue: 'an' + short trip for fun)
When the rains failed for three years in a row, a _____ spread across the land and families had too little food.	famine — a severe lack of food (Clue: cause/effect: drought leads to food shortage)
The school play was a total _____: the curtain fell, the lights went out, and everyone forgot their lines.	fiasco — a complete failure (Clue: examples of everything going wrong)
To show her _____, Lena wrote a thank-you card to the firefighters who had rescued her cat from a tree.	gratitude — thankfulness (Clue: 'thank-you card' shows thankfulness)
The pioneers faced every kind of _____ on their long journey west, from hunger to freezing winters.	hardship — a hard, painful situation (Clue: examples of painful, difficult situations)
As the king's only child, the young prince was the _____ to the throne and would one day rule.	heir — someone who will inherit something (Clue: the one who will inherit)
Despite winning first prize, Aiden showed _____, thanking his teammates instead of bragging about himself.	humility — being humble; not proud (Clue: contrast: not bragging, not proud)
Maddie has a natural _____ for fixing things; she can repair almost any broken toy without reading directions.	knack — a natural skill (Clue: 'natural' skill)
The prank was just for fun; there was no _____ in it, since Jay never wanted to hurt anyone's feelings.	malice — a wish to harm others (Clue: restatement: wanting to hurt others)
The thin, cracking ice was a _____ to skaters, a real threat, so the town posted warning signs around the pond.	menace — a threat or danger (Clue: restatement: 'a real threat')
Each project will be judged on its _____, or real value, not on how fancy the poster looks.	merit — value or excellence (Clue: restatement: 'real value')
A _____ of stars filled the night sky, far more than anyone could ever hope to count.	multitude — a very large number (Clue: 'a ___ of' huge number)
Unlike his sister, a skilled figure skater, Owen was a _____ who had never even worn ice skates before.	novice — a beginner (Clue: contrast: skilled vs. beginner)
The buzzing fly was a real _____, annoying everyone at the picnic as it landed on their sandwiches.	nuisance — an annoying thing or person (Clue: restatement: 'annoying everyone')
Before the chess tournament began, Ravi politely shook hands with his _____, the player sitting across the board.	opponent — someone against you in a contest (Clue: person against you in a contest)
When the winning goal was scored, _____ broke out as fans screamed, jumped on seats, and hugged in a wild uproar.	pandemonium — wild uproar and confusion (Clue: 'wild uproar')
The _____ of the stranded sea turtles moved the students to raise money for the rescue center.	plight — a bad or difficult situation (Clue: 'the ___ of' those in a bad situation)
As a _____, Dad packed extra water and a first-aid kit in case anything went wrong on the hike.	precaution — a step taken to prevent harm (Clue: step taken 'in case anything went wrong')
After the new factory opened, the town enjoyed years of _____, with good jobs, busy shops, and plenty of money.	prosperity — success and wealth (Clue: success and wealth)
The glowing _____ of the full moon lit up the whole beach, making the sand shine silver.	radiance — bright, glowing light (Clue: bright, glowing light)
When the rain began to pour, the hikers took _____ under a rocky ledge until the storm passed.	refuge — a safe place; shelter (Clue: 'took ___' meaning shelter)
Mom used a small _____ of fabric left over from my dress to sew a tiny scarf for my doll.	remnant — a small leftover piece (Clue: 'left over' piece)
The visitors walked through the ancient temple with _____, speaking softly to show their deep respect.	reverence — deep respect (Clue: restatement: 'deep respect')
After the old brick factory was knocked down, only piles of broken bricks and _____ remained on the lot.	rubble — broken pieces of buildings or rock (Clue: broken pieces of a building)
The bird _____ by the lake protects herons and ducks, giving them a safe place where no one may hunt them.	sanctuary — a safe place, especially for animals (Clue: protected safe place for animals)
After a noisy day at camp, Ivy enjoyed an hour of _____, reading by herself under a quiet tree.	solitude — the state of being alone (Clue: contrast: noisy vs. being by herself)
The _____ of the palace, with golden ceilings and sparkling chandeliers, amazed every tourist who stepped inside.	splendor — great beauty and grandness (Clue: examples of great beauty and grandness)
Years of _____ between the two villages finally ended when their leaders agreed to share the river peacefully.	strife — angry conflict or fighting (Clue: contrast: conflict vs. 'peacefully')
Telling a friend her drawing needs work takes _____, so Leah found a kind way to say it without hurting her.	tact — skill at not upsetting people (Clue: skill at not upsetting people)
As a _____ of their thanks, the class gave their teacher a handmade card signed by every student.	token — a sign or symbol of something (Clue: 'a ___ of' thanks; symbol)
After the noisy city, the _____ of the still mountain lake, where only birds were singing, felt wonderful.	tranquility — calm and quiet (Clue: contrast: noisy city vs. calm and quiet)
The _____ of the cheering crowd, full of stomping and whistling, was so loud we could not hear the announcer.	tumult — loud noise and confusion (Clue: loud noise and confusion)
The firefighter received a medal for _____ after bravely climbing a tall ladder to rescue a frightened kitten.	valor — great courage (Clue: 'medal for ___'; bravery)
Opening a lemonade stand was Kai's first business _____, and he worried he might lose all his savings.	venture — a risky project or trip (Clue: 'business ___'; risky project)
After tasting all the pies, the judges announced their _____: Grandma's peach pie had won first place.	verdict — a final decision (Clue: final decision announced by judges)
Is there a library in the _____ of our school, or do we have to drive all the way across town?	vicinity — the nearby area (Clue: contrast: nearby vs. across town)
Noah's _____ for dinosaurs is so great that he eagerly reads about them every single night.	zeal — great eagerness and energy (Clue: great eagerness)
At dinner, Dad told an _____ about the time our dog stole a whole pizza, and everyone laughed.	anecdote — a short, true, funny story (Clue: 'an' + short, true, funny story)
The sweet _____ of blooming roses drifted through the open window and filled the whole room.	fragrance — a sweet smell (Clue: 'sweet' smell)
We caught only a quick _____ of the deer before it darted back into the woods.	glimpse — a quick look (Clue: 'caught a quick ___')
Jamie did not have an _____ that his friends were secretly planning a surprise party for him.	inkling — a slight idea or hint (Clue: 'an' + slight idea)
A hot tub is a _____, not a need; it is pleasant and costly, but people can live without one.	luxury — something costly and pleasant, not needed (Clue: contrast: costly treat vs. need)
Spilling a little juice on the rug was only a small _____, so Mom just laughed and grabbed a towel.	mishap — a small, unlucky accident (Clue: small, unlucky accident)
Feeling deep _____ for breaking her neighbor's window, Ella apologized and offered to pay for it with her allowance.	remorse — deep regret for doing wrong (Clue: deep regret for doing wrong)
The rocky, hilly _____ made the bike ride difficult, with steep slopes and loose stones everywhere.	terrain — land and its physical features (Clue: features of the land)
