No apology could soothe the _____ librarian; even after we paid the fine and replaced the book, she remained furious with us.	implacable — impossible to calm or satisfy (Clue: Description: no apology or repayment could calm her, showing she cannot be appeased.)
The detectives were close to solving the mystery, but a sudden power outage would _____ their work by erasing key computer files.	stymie — to block or prevent progress (Clue: Cause and effect: the outage erases files, blocking their progress.)
Although new technology helps classrooms, Ms. Rivera warned that tablets are not a _____ that will magically solve every learning problem.	panacea — a cure for all problems (Clue: Description: something that magically solves every problem is a universal cure.)
The new employee was so _____ that he openly mocked the manager's ideas during meetings and rolled his eyes at every instruction.	impudent — boldly disrespectful; rude (Clue: Examples: mocking the manager and eye-rolling show bold disrespect.)
While others gave vague answers, Mei offered an _____ analysis that cut straight to the heart of why the experiment had failed.	incisive — sharply clear and insightful (Clue: Contrast: vague answers versus analysis that cuts to the heart, showing sharp insight.)
The historian argued that the ancient coin was Roman, but she needed lab tests to _____ her theory before the museum would display it.	substantiate — to support with proof or evidence (Clue: Description: needing lab tests to back up a theory means supporting it with evidence.)
Einstein's theories did not just add facts to physics; they replaced the old _____, completely changing how scientists thought about space and time.	paradigm — a typical model or pattern of thinking (Clue: Description: replacing the whole framework of how scientists thought describes a model of thinking.)
Even after hiking twenty miles, the _____ guide still had the energy to set up camp and cook dinner while everyone else collapsed.	indefatigable — never tiring; tireless (Clue: Contrast: everyone else collapses while the guide keeps going, showing he never tires.)
Many experts predict that electric cars will eventually _____ gasoline vehicles, pushing the older models off the road entirely.	supplant — to take the place of; replace (Clue: Description: pushing older models off the road entirely means replacing them.)
No matter how hard the villagers built walls, the _____ advance of the glacier continued year after year, slowly swallowing the valley.	inexorable — impossible to stop or prevent (Clue: Contrast: despite every wall, the glacier keeps advancing, showing it cannot be stopped.)
Unlike her suspicious older sister, the _____ Clara believed the stranger's tale of a talking parrot without asking a single question.	ingenuous — innocent and trusting; not sly (Clue: Contrast: a suspicious sister versus Clara, who trusts the tale innocently.)
Teachers often described Nadia as a _____ of honesty, since she never cheated, always admitted mistakes, and returned every lost wallet she found.	paragon — a perfect example of a quality (Clue: Examples: never cheating, admitting mistakes, returning wallets show a perfect model of honesty.)
Seeing crumbs on the counter and an empty cookie jar, Mom could only _____ that someone had raided the snacks, though she had no proof.	surmise — to guess based on limited evidence (Clue: Description: concluding from crumbs without proof is guessing from limited evidence.)
The small club grew so _____ that its members ignored outside opinions and refused to consider any idea that came from beyond their group.	insular — narrow-minded and isolated from outside ideas (Clue: Description: ignoring outsiders and their ideas shows a closed, isolated attitude.)
Mr. Chen believed that the joy of learning was _____ to reading itself, not something that came from grades, prizes, or outside rewards.	intrinsic — belonging to the basic nature of something (Clue: Contrast: joy coming from reading itself, not outside rewards, means it is inherent.)
The film's message was so universal that it seemed to _____ national borders, moving audiences in dozens of countries and languages alike.	transcend — to go beyond normal limits (Clue: Description: moving audiences beyond national borders shows going past limits.)
Once word spread that Owen had read his classmates' private diaries, he became a _____, shunned by friends who refused even to sit near him.	pariah — a person rejected by everyone; an outcast (Clue: Cause and effect: betraying classmates leads to being shunned by everyone.)
The virus can remain _____ in the body for years, causing no symptoms at all until a period of stress suddenly awakens it.	latent — present but hidden or not yet active (Clue: Contrast: no symptoms for years, then suddenly active, shows something present but dormant.)
Even though the team lost, the coach called their effort _____, praising how hard they had worked and how fairly they had played.	laudable — deserving praise (Clue: Cause and effect: hard work and fair play earn the coach's praise.)
Unable to decide between soccer and theater, Ravi continued to _____ all week, choosing one in the morning and the other by dinner.	vacillate — to switch back and forth between choices (Clue: Description: choosing one in the morning and the other by dinner shows wavering.)
The scientist could not reach a firm conclusion because of the _____ of data; she had only three measurements instead of the hundreds she needed.	paucity — a shortage or scarcity (Clue: Cause and effect: only three measurements instead of hundreds shows a shortage of data.)
While her teammates sprinted through drills, Bella took a _____ approach, strolling between cones and yawning as if practice did not matter.	lackadaisical — lacking energy or enthusiasm; lazy (Clue: Contrast: sprinting teammates versus strolling and yawning, showing lack of effort.)
Although the referee made only one bad call, angry fans began to _____ him online, calling him a cheat and the worst official ever.	vilify — to speak about someone in a cruelly insulting way (Clue: Examples: calling him a cheat and the worst ever is harsh, insulting criticism.)
Our _____ chemistry teacher started each class with a pun, and even students who disliked science looked forward to his playful jokes.	jocular — playful and fond of joking (Clue: Description: puns and playful jokes describe someone fond of joking.)
After two hours of crying over old photos and singing sad songs about lost youth, the reunion became so _____ that even nostalgic guests got bored.	maudlin — overly sentimental in a self-pitying way (Clue: Description: excessive crying and sad songs show tearful sentimentality.)
Liam has such a _____ for collecting old maps that he spends every weekend at flea markets searching for new ones.	penchant — a strong liking or habit (Clue: Cause and effect: spending every weekend searching shows a strong liking.)
The museum guard discovered that the thief had managed to _____ with the jeweled crown during the night, slipping away before anyone noticed.	abscond — to leave secretly, often with stolen items (Clue: Description: slipping away secretly with a stolen crown defines this kind of escape.)
The witness was proven _____ when cameras showed she had been at the mall, not at home as she had sworn.	mendacious — lying; not truthful (Clue: Cause and effect: cameras show her sworn story was false, proving she lied.)
The _____ businesswoman not only funded the new hospital wing but also paid the college tuition of every nurse who worked there.	munificent — very generous (Clue: Examples: funding a wing and paying tuition show extreme generosity.)
Instead of offering real advice, the speaker repeated tired sayings like "follow your dreams," a _____ the graduates had heard a thousand times.	platitude — an overused, unoriginal remark (Clue: Description: a tired saying heard a thousand times is an overused remark.)
As the actor left the theater, an eager fan rushed up to _____ him on the sidewalk, demanding an autograph before he could reach his car.	accost — to approach and speak to boldly (Clue: Description: rushing up boldly and demanding something describes approaching aggressively.)
Spending all the club's money on one party was a _____ choice, since nobody considered how they would pay for the trip next spring.	myopic — shortsighted; lacking foresight (Clue: Cause and effect: not considering future needs shows a lack of foresight.)
The robotics program was still _____, having started just a month ago with two members and a borrowed toolbox.	nascent — just beginning to exist or develop (Clue: Description: started a month ago with two members shows it is just beginning.)
To _____ the worried parents' fears, the camp director showed them the safety equipment and introduced the trained lifeguards.	allay — to calm or relieve fears or concerns (Clue: Cause and effect: showing safety measures to worried parents is meant to calm their fears.)
Faced with a _____ of choices, more than two hundred flavors in all, Zoe could not decide which ice cream to try first.	plethora — an excessive amount (Clue: Examples: more than two hundred flavors is an overwhelming amount.)
The new rule was so _____ that no one understood what counted as "proper behavior," and students argued about it for weeks.	nebulous — vague and unclear (Clue: Cause and effect: no one understood the rule, so it was unclear and ill-defined.)
The club charged only a _____ fee of fifty cents, an amount so small that almost every student could afford to join.	nominal — very small; existing in name only (Clue: Restatement: 'an amount so small' explains the tiny token fee.)
Jen's habit of mocking others began to _____ her friends, who slowly stopped inviting her anywhere and drifted away.	alienate — to make someone unfriendly or distant (Clue: Cause and effect: mocking causes friends to drift away, pushing them away.)
Despite many hints, Max was too _____ to realize that the surprise party was for him, even when he saw the banner with his name.	obtuse — slow to understand; dull (Clue: Description: missing obvious hints, even his own name, shows slowness to understand.)
Although she enjoyed all kinds of books, Amara had a special _____ for mysteries, always reaching for those first at the library.	predilection — a natural preference or liking (Clue: Description: always reaching for mysteries first shows a natural preference.)
To save money, the town decided to _____ its two small libraries into a single large one serving the whole community.	amalgamate — to combine into one whole (Clue: Description: turning two libraries into a single one means combining them.)
Hauling every heavy box up five flights of stairs proved an _____ task that left the movers exhausted and sore.	onerous — burdensome and difficult (Clue: Description: heavy boxes up five flights exhausting the movers shows a heavy burden.)
The _____ old man saved every rubber band and reused tea bags five times, refusing to spend money even on things he truly needed.	parsimonious — extremely unwilling to spend money (Clue: Examples: reusing tea bags and refusing needed purchases show extreme stinginess.)
Choosing the field trip destination is the senior class's _____, a special right they earn after three years at the school.	prerogative — a special right belonging to someone (Clue: Restatement: 'a special right they earn' defines the term.)
Officials decided to _____ the race results after discovering the timing system had failed, making every recorded time officially invalid.	annul — to declare officially invalid (Clue: Restatement: 'making every recorded time officially invalid' explains the action.)
The referee was accused of being _____ because every close call went to his hometown team.	partisan — strongly favoring one side (Clue: Cause and effect: every call favoring one team shows strong one-sided bias.)
The word "cheap" is often _____, implying stinginess, while "thrifty" describes the same habit in a positive way.	pejorative — expressing disapproval or contempt (Clue: Contrast: 'cheap' is negative while 'thrifty' is positive, showing a disapproving word.)
The nurse promised to _____ the family of any changes in their grandfather's condition, calling them as soon as she had news.	apprise — to inform or tell (Clue: Description: calling them with news means keeping them informed.)
Since childhood, Arjun has shown a _____ for taking things apart, so no one was surprised when he chose to study engineering.	proclivity — a natural tendency (Clue: Cause and effect: a lifelong habit of taking things apart leads naturally to engineering.)
Clearly _____ after breaking his sister's model ship, Sam apologized sincerely and spent his allowance buying her a new one.	penitent — feeling sorry for wrongdoing (Clue: Examples: sincere apology and paying for a replacement show genuine regret.)
Flooding is a _____ problem in the river town, returning every spring for as long as anyone can remember.	perennial — lasting a long time or returning yearly (Clue: Description: returning every spring for as long as anyone remembers shows recurring permanence.)
When the two neighbors could not agree about the fence, they asked a retired judge to _____ the dispute and promised to accept her decision.	arbitrate — to settle a dispute as a neutral judge (Clue: Description: a neutral judge settling a dispute and giving a binding decision.)
The main issue was the budget, so Coach Ellis asked everyone to skip _____ concerns like jersey colors until the important decisions were made.	peripheral — at the edge; not central (Clue: Contrast: the main issue versus side concerns like jersey colors, which are not central.)
Because of his _____ to exaggerate, nobody believed Felipe when he claimed he had caught a fish as big as a canoe.	propensity — a natural inclination or tendency (Clue: Cause and effect: his habitual tendency to exaggerate makes people doubt him.)
Ever since visiting the planetarium, Keisha has worked hard in math because she hopes to _____ to a career as an astronaut.	aspire — to strongly hope to achieve (Clue: Cause and effect: her hard work is driven by a strong goal of becoming an astronaut.)
The judge reminded the lawyer to ask only questions that were _____ to the case and to stop discussing the witness's vacation plans.	pertinent — relevant to the matter at hand (Clue: Contrast: questions connected to the case versus off-topic vacation plans.)
When his mom refused to buy the video game, the _____ boy stomped his feet, crossed his arms, and refused to speak for the rest of the day.	petulant — childishly sulky or bad-tempered (Clue: Examples: stomping, arm-crossing, and refusing to speak show childish sulking.)
The debate coach taught her students the art of _____, showing them how carefully chosen words and examples could persuade even a skeptical audience.	rhetoric — persuasive or showy language (Clue: Description: using carefully chosen words to persuade an audience is the art of persuasive speech.)
Every winter, Grandpa likes to _____ the loss of the old ice rink, sighing about how much better skating was when he was young.	bemoan — to express sorrow or complaint about (Clue: Description: sighing sadly about a loss is expressing sorrow.)
The sudden silence of the birds seemed _____ to the hikers, who took it as a warning that a storm was about to break.	portentous — warning of something important or bad to come (Clue: Cause and effect: the hikers take the silence as a warning of trouble ahead.)
After the factory closed, the town saw a _____ drop in population, losing half its residents in only two years.	precipitous — dangerously steep or sudden (Clue: Description: losing half its residents in two years shows a sudden, steep drop.)
Instead of calmly explaining the mistake, the manager chose to _____ the new waiter loudly in front of all the customers for ten minutes.	berate — to scold angrily and at length (Clue: Contrast: calmly explaining versus loud, lengthy scolding.)
It was pure _____ that Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin; he noticed mold killing bacteria on a dish he had accidentally left uncovered.	serendipity — a lucky, unexpected discovery (Clue: Description: an accidental, fortunate discovery defines a happy chance.)
Hugo's essay was so _____, stuffed with fancy words he did not understand, that his teacher asked him to simply write in his own voice.	pretentious — trying to seem more important than one is (Clue: Description: using fancy words to seem impressive shows a showy attempt at importance.)
Some scientists believe life first arose in a _____ soup of chemicals that covered Earth billions of years ago, long before any plants or animals.	primordial — existing from the very beginning of time (Clue: Description: billions of years ago before any life places it at the earliest beginning.)
In his will, the old sailor chose to _____ his entire collection of ship models to the town museum.	bequeath — to leave to someone in a will (Clue: Description: giving property through a will is bequeathing it.)
After losing the championship game, the players found _____ in the cheers of their loyal fans, which eased their disappointment.	solace — comfort in a time of sadness (Clue: Cause and effect: fans' cheers ease disappointment, providing comfort.)
With clear skies and steady wind, the weather was _____ for launching the model rocket, so the club began its countdown at once.	propitious — favorable; likely to bring success (Clue: Cause and effect: ideal conditions make it a good moment, so they launch at once.)
After losing the vote, the founder had to _____ control of the club to the new president, handing over the keys reluctantly.	cede — to give up control of, often unwillingly (Clue: Description: reluctantly handing over control describes giving it up.)
The high school seniors were embarrassed by their friend's _____ prank of filling the teacher's desk with rubber ducks, which seemed suited to a second grader.	puerile — childishly silly (Clue: Description: a prank suited to a second grader is childishly silly.)
Rather than helping students learn from their mistakes, the strict new detention policy was purely _____, designed only to make them suffer.	punitive — meant to punish (Clue: Contrast: helping students learn versus a policy designed only to punish.)
To sneak out of the surprise party planning meeting, Diego used a clever _____, pretending his phone had an urgent call.	subterfuge — a trick used to hide or escape something (Clue: Examples: faking an urgent call is a deceptive trick to escape.)
The school board voted to formally _____ the coach for breaking league rules, issuing an official statement of disapproval.	censure — to criticize strongly and officially (Clue: Restatement: 'an official statement of disapproval' explains the formal criticism.)
The _____ developer bought up every farm in the valley, never satisfied no matter how much land he already owned.	rapacious — greedy and grasping (Clue: Description: never satisfied no matter how much he owns shows grasping greed.)
Grandma's attic was _____ of cedar and old books, and the familiar smell brought back memories of every summer I spent there.	redolent — strongly suggestive or smelling of something (Clue: Description: a strong familiar smell that brings back memories describes something richly scented.)
The coach decided to _____ the players sharply for skipping practice, warning them that the next time would mean benching.	chastise — to scold or punish severely (Clue: Description: sharply scolding with a warning describes severe reprimand.)
Everyone knew Trevor was a _____, since he praised the principal's every idea and laughed at all her jokes hoping to become class president.	sycophant — a person who flatters powerful people to gain favor (Clue: Examples: praising every idea to gain favor describes a self-serving flatterer.)
The lifeguard was _____ in his duties, reading a novel instead of watching the swimmers.	remiss — careless in doing one's duty (Clue: Description: reading instead of watching swimmers is careless neglect of duty.)
Stealing money from the charity bake sale was such a _____ act that the whole school condemned the culprit.	reprehensible — deserving strong blame (Clue: Cause and effect: the act draws condemnation from everyone, showing it deserves blame.)
Coach Liu refused to _____ her swimmers; instead of letting them rest when tired, she pushed them to finish every lap.	coddle — to treat too gently; pamper (Clue: Contrast: refusing to go easy and pushing them shows the opposite of pampering.)
Critics called the movie a _____ of the beloved novel, since it changed the ending, cut the main characters, and missed the book's entire message.	travesty — a shocking or absurd imitation of something (Clue: Examples: changing the ending and cutting characters make it a distorted mockery of the original.)
The peacock spread its _____ tail, a shimmering fan of blue and gold feathers that glittered in the sunlight.	resplendent — dazzlingly bright and beautiful (Clue: Description: shimmering, glittering blue and gold shows dazzling splendor.)
After both failing their driving tests, Kwame and Sofia sat together to _____, sharing their disappointment and comforting one another.	commiserate — to share sympathy with someone (Clue: Description: sharing disappointment and comforting each other is shared sympathy.)
When the team lost by fifty points, Jordan made a _____ comment, "Well, that went perfectly," with a scornful smirk.	sardonic — mocking in a grimly scornful way (Clue: Examples: a scornful, mocking remark saying the opposite of the truth.)
The review was so _____ that it called the play "a total disaster" and urged readers never to buy a ticket.	scathing — harshly critical (Clue: Examples: calling it a disaster and urging people to avoid it is severe criticism.)
The tiny bones in a whale's body are a _____ of legs its ancestors once used to walk on land.	vestige — a trace of something that no longer exists (Clue: Description: tiny bones left from legs no longer used are a remaining trace.)
When Ms. Park suggested a field trip to the aquarium, the entire class was quick to _____, and no one raised a single objection.	concur — to agree (Clue: Description: no objections and quick acceptance mean everyone agrees.)
Far from being an independent thinker, the _____ assistant bowed to her boss and rushed to fulfill every whim without question.	servile — overly eager to obey or please others (Clue: Contrast: not independent; bowing and rushing to obey every whim shows excessive obedience.)
Emma's _____ habits shocked her neat roommate, who found dirty dishes, crumpled papers, and wet towels piled everywhere.	slovenly — messy and careless in appearance or work (Clue: Contrast: a neat roommate versus mess everywhere shows sloppy habits.)
The band reached the _____ of its fame in 1985, when every album sold millions; after that, its popularity slowly declined.	zenith — the highest point (Clue: Contrast: the highest point of fame before it slowly declined.)
The two cousins began to _____ in whispers, secretly planning how to sneak the last slices of pie without anyone noticing.	connive — to secretly plot something wrong (Clue: Description: secretly planning a sneaky trick in whispers describes plotting.)
The long, dull lecture after lunch left the students _____, with several of them yawning and struggling to keep their eyes open.	somnolent — sleepy; drowsy (Clue: Examples: yawning and struggling to stay awake show drowsiness.)
At first the advertisement's claim seemed convincing, but on closer inspection the reasoning proved _____, resting on numbers that were completely false.	specious — seeming true but actually false (Clue: Contrast: seemed convincing at first but false underneath shows deceptive plausibility.)
Lucas worried that his friends might _____ his quietness as rudeness, when in fact he was just shy around new people.	construe — to interpret in a particular way (Clue: Contrast: the friends' possible reading versus the real reason shows interpretation.)
The detective doubted the _____ of the witness's story, since several details clearly contradicted the security footage.	veracity — truthfulness or accuracy (Clue: Cause and effect: details contradicting the footage make the detective doubt its truthfulness.)
Inspectors closed the restaurant after finding _____ conditions, with rotting food, broken sinks, and rats running across the kitchen floor.	squalid — extremely dirty and unpleasant (Clue: Examples: rotting food and rats show extreme filth.)
Through every losing season, Mr. Alvarez remained a _____ fan of the team, attending every game no matter how badly it played.	stalwart — loyal, strong, and dependable (Clue: Description: attending every game through losing seasons shows steadfast loyalty.)
Stranded without tools, the campers had to _____ a way to boil water, eventually building a stove from rocks and an old soup can.	contrive — to cleverly invent or arrange (Clue: Examples: inventing a stove from rocks and a can shows clever improvising.)
While the crowd screamed with excitement, the _____ umpire stood still, his face showing no emotion at all.	stolid — calm and showing little emotion (Clue: Contrast: screaming crowd versus an umpire showing no emotion.)
Out of a sense of _____, the students lowered their voices in the museum and dressed neatly for the formal awards dinner.	propriety — correct, proper behavior (Clue: Examples: lowering voices and dressing neatly show proper behavior.)
Months of practice would _____ in the final performance, when the choir finally sang on the stage of the famous concert hall.	culminate — to reach a final high point (Clue: Description: months of work reaching their final high point in one performance.)
Since judging art is _____, two experts can look at the same painting and form completely different opinions about its quality.	subjective — based on personal feelings rather than facts (Clue: Cause and effect: experts disagree because judgment depends on personal feelings.)
Ayesha refused to be _____ to the older students who demanded she carry their bags; instead, she told them firmly to do it themselves.	subservient — too willing to obey others (Clue: Contrast: refusing to obey and standing up for herself shows the opposite of meek submission.)
Known for her athletic _____, Simone could flip, twist, and land moves that no other gymnast in the state could even attempt.	prowess — great skill or ability (Clue: Examples: moves no one else can attempt show exceptional skill.)
The long drought would _____ the farm animals, leaving them so weak that many could barely stand.	debilitate — to severely weaken (Clue: Cause and effect: the drought leaves them barely able to stand, severely weakening them.)
With a _____ raise of her eyebrows, the shop owner looked down at our muddy boots as if we were not good enough to enter her boutique.	supercilious — arrogantly looking down on others (Clue: Description: looking down on others as not good enough shows arrogant scorn.)
The siblings had a _____ understanding that whoever cooked would not wash dishes; no one had ever said it, but everyone followed it.	tacit — understood without being said (Clue: Description: never said but always followed describes an unspoken agreement.)
Scientists feared that the invasive beetles would _____ the forest, killing a huge share of its pine trees within a few years.	decimate — to destroy a large part of (Clue: Restatement: 'killing a huge share of its pine trees' explains large-scale destruction.)
In a twist of _____, the spelling bee champion misspelled her own name on the trophy form.	irony — a contrast between what is expected and what happens (Clue: Description: a champion speller misspelling her own name is the opposite of what's expected.)
The teacher asked Omar to stay on topic, since his story about his cat was only _____ to the discussion of the American Revolution.	tangential — only slightly related; off the main topic (Clue: Contrast: staying on topic versus a story only loosely connected to the discussion.)
The coach explained that skipping the team meeting without telling anyone was _____ to quitting, since it had the same effect on the team.	tantamount — equal in effect or value (Clue: Restatement: 'the same effect' explains being equivalent.)
The museum installed cameras after vandals tried to _____ a famous painting by scratching marks across its surface.	deface — to spoil the surface or appearance of (Clue: Description: scratching marks across a painting's surface damages its appearance.)
The composer had a _____ personality, swinging from wild joy to furious rage within minutes and often storming out of rehearsals.	tempestuous — stormy or full of strong emotion (Clue: Examples: wild swings of joy and rage show turbulent emotion.)
Failing three tests in one week was the _____ of Leo's school year; from then on, his grades steadily climbed.	nadir — the lowest point (Clue: Contrast: the lowest point before grades steadily climbed.)
The rival bakery spread false rumors that our cakes made people sick, trying to _____ our shop and ruin its good reputation.	defame — to damage someone's reputation with false statements (Clue: Description: false rumors that ruin reputation describe this harm.)
Once new fossils were found, the old theory was no longer _____, and scientists could not defend it against the evidence.	tenable — able to be defended or maintained (Clue: Cause and effect: new evidence makes the theory impossible to defend.)
Standing on stage for the first time, Nora spoke in a _____ voice, her words trembling as nervously as her hands.	tremulous — shaking slightly from nervousness or weakness (Clue: Description: trembling words from nervousness describe a shaky voice.)
A disagreement over the club's rules created a _____ that divided the members into two groups, each holding separate meetings.	schism — a split into opposing groups (Clue: Cause and effect: the disagreement divides the club into two separate groups.)
The proud champion would not even _____ to shake hands with the beginners, believing such a gesture was beneath someone of her rank.	deign — to do something one considers beneath oneself (Clue: Description: refusing something as beneath her rank describes this lowering of oneself.)
Professor Reyes was known for _____ criticism, cutting through weak arguments with sharp, clear points that left little room for debate.	trenchant — sharp, forceful, and clear (Clue: Description: cutting through weak arguments with sharp, clear points shows forceful incisiveness.)
After days of heavy rain, the _____ river swelled far beyond its banks, flooding fields and roads near the village.	turgid — swollen; also, too wordy and showy (Clue: Description: a river swelling beyond its banks after rain is swollen.)
Instead of praising his teammate's goal, Ryan chose to _____ it, claiming it was pure luck and not real skill.	denigrate — to unfairly criticize or belittle (Clue: Contrast: instead of praising, he belittles the goal as luck.)
Researchers ran a careful study to measure the _____ of the new medicine, checking whether it actually cured the infection as promised.	efficacy — the ability to produce the desired result (Clue: Description: checking whether it actually works as promised measures its effectiveness.)
Despite being the best player in the league, Kai remained _____, never bragging and always giving credit to his teammates.	unassuming — modest and not showing off (Clue: Contrast: despite being the best, he never brags, showing modesty.)
The talk show host asked such _____ questions, like "What's your favorite color?", that the brilliant scientist never got to discuss her research.	vapid — dull and lacking interest or ideas (Clue: Examples: shallow questions that prevented real discussion show empty dullness.)
Many early critics would _____ the new style of painting, dismissing it as messy and unworthy of serious attention.	deprecate — to express disapproval of (Clue: Description: dismissing a style as messy and unworthy expresses disapproval.)
The translator was praised for her _____ to the original poem, keeping every image and rhythm faithful to what the poet had written.	fidelity — loyalty or faithfulness; also accuracy (Clue: Description: staying faithful to every image and rhythm shows accuracy and faithfulness.)
The _____ referee secretly accepted cash from a team's owner in exchange for making calls that helped that team win.	venal — willing to do wrong for money (Clue: Description: accepting cash to make dishonest calls shows being bribable.)
When the prank went too far, the club's leaders rushed to _____ any involvement, insisting they had never approved the plan.	disavow — to deny any connection with or responsibility for (Clue: Description: insisting they never approved it means denying responsibility.)
After the spring rains, the once-brown valley became _____, covered with thick grass and young leaves as far as the eye could see.	verdant — green with lush plant growth (Clue: Contrast: once-brown versus covered with thick grass shows lush greenness.)
The plan to build a garden on the school roof was not _____, since the roof could not support the weight of the soil.	viable — capable of working or succeeding (Clue: Cause and effect: the roof can't hold the soil, so the plan cannot work.)
A generous _____ donated enough money to build a new library and fund scholarships for hundreds of local students.	philanthropist — a person who donates to help others (Clue: Examples: donating a library and scholarships shows charitable giving.)
Although Arturo was terrified of heights, he tried to _____ as he climbed, smiling broadly and joking so that no one would guess his true feelings.	dissemble — to hide one's true feelings or motives (Clue: Contrast: terrified but smiling to hide his true feelings shows disguising.)
Unable to travel herself, Grandma enjoyed _____ adventures by reading her grandson's emails from Peru, feeling as if she were there too.	vicarious — experienced through another person's actions (Clue: Description: enjoying adventures through someone else's experiences is vicarious living.)
Although most reviewers offered gentle suggestions, one wrote a _____ column that mocked every scene and called the director completely talentless.	vitriolic — full of bitter, harsh criticism (Clue: Contrast: unlike gentle suggestions, this review mocked and insulted, so it was bitterly harsh.)
Once the wind picked up off the lake, the thick smoke from the campfire began to _____, drifting apart until the air above the tents was clear again.	dissipate — to scatter or fade away gradually (Clue: Description: the smoke drifts apart until the air is clear, so it scattered and faded.)
The first _____ of the scientific method, Dr. Okafor reminded her class, is that every claim must be tested by evidence rather than accepted on authority.	tenet — a core belief or principle of a group (Clue: Description: the basic rule the whole method rests on is a core principle.)
Shy and quiet in class, Mateo became surprisingly _____ at the science fair, chatting eagerly with every visitor who paused at his volcano display.	voluble — talking a lot, quickly and easily (Clue: Contrast: shy and quiet in class versus chatting eagerly with everyone means very talkative.)
The vandals had no reason to scratch their initials into the cave paintings; it was _____ destruction of a treasure that had survived for ten thousand years.	wanton — deliberate and without any reason or excuse (Clue: Cause and effect: damage done on purpose for no reason at all is senseless.)
The email looked official, but Priya noticed the misspelled school name and realized that someone was trying to _____ students into sharing their passwords.	dupe — to trick or fool someone (Clue: Cause and effect: a fake email meant to steal passwords is an attempt to fool people.)
After three straight hours of rehearsing the difficult symphony, the exhausted orchestra welcomed a ten-minute _____ before tackling the final movement.	respite — a short break from something difficult (Clue: Description: a short pause after hours of hard work is a welcome rest.)
Unlike the neat rows of identical corn in the farm field, the meadow was wildly _____, packed with grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and dozens of insect species.	heterogeneous — made up of many different kinds (Clue: Contrast: unlike identical corn, the meadow holds many different kinds of life.)
Centuries of desert wind had begun to _____ the carvings on the temple wall, wearing them down until archaeologists could barely make out the hieroglyphs.	efface — to erase or wipe out (Clue: Cause and effect: wind wearing carvings until barely visible means it was gradually erasing them.)
Ms. Lindqvist told the chemistry class to keep stirring until the solution was completely _____, with no streaks, clumps, or layers of a different color.	homogeneous — the same kind all the way through (Clue: Description: no streaks, clumps, or layers means the mixture is the same throughout.)
While the other architects designed buildings that copied classical columns and domes, the young architect's _____ designs rejected tradition entirely, with swooping curves no one had dared before.	iconoclastic — attacking or rejecting traditional beliefs and customs (Clue: Contrast: others copied tradition while she rejected it, so her designs challenged convention.)
In Greek myth, Zeus sought _____ for Prometheus's theft of fire, making the Titan pay dearly for defying the gods' command.	retribution — punishment given in return for a wrong (Clue: Cause and effect: making someone pay for a theft is punishment in return for a wrong.)
When the class looked confused by the definition of photosynthesis, Mr. Haddad drew a simple diagram to _____ how sunlight becomes stored chemical energy.	elucidate — to explain clearly (Clue: Cause and effect: the class's confusion leads him to draw a diagram that makes the idea clear.)
The panel had hoped for thoughtful questions about the Mars mission, but one reporter asked only _____ ones, like whether astronauts got bored of the color red.	inane — silly and lacking sense (Clue: Contrast: instead of thoughtful questions, the reporter asked pointless, silly ones.)
Words failed the astronaut when reporters asked how Earth looked from orbit; the beauty of the glowing blue planet was simply _____.	ineffable — too great to be described in words (Clue: Cause and effect: words failed him, so the beauty could not be put into words.)
Long before smartphones, the bulky car phone of the 1980s served as a _____ to the devices that now fit in every student's pocket.	precursor — something that comes before and leads to another (Clue: Description: an earlier device that led to today's phones is a forerunner.)
Hikers knew they were close to the hot springs when warm steam began to _____ from cracks in the rocks along the trail.	emanate — to flow or come out from a source (Clue: Description: steam pouring out of cracks is something flowing out from a source.)
Although the cactus thrives in dry heat, constant rain and soggy soil are _____ to its health, quickly causing its roots to rot.	inimical — harmful or unfriendly (Clue: Contrast: it thrives in heat, but rain makes it rot, so wet conditions are harmful.)
Engineers had fixed every other flaw in the robot, but the overheating motor remained _____, resisting every solution the team tried for months.	intractable — hard to control, manage, or solve (Clue: Description: a problem that resists every solution for months is stubbornly hard to solve.)
Jalen tried to stay neutral, but his friends' argument over the group project threatened to _____ him in a dispute he had no part in starting.	embroil — to involve deeply in a conflict (Clue: Contrast: he wants to stay neutral, but the argument may drag him into the conflict.)
Claiming he needed a pencil was only a _____; Theo's real reason for visiting the front desk was to peek at the list of new team captains.	pretext — a false reason that hides the real one (Clue: Contrast: the stated reason hides his real reason, so it is a false excuse.)
The prince in the play is wonderfully _____, smugly announcing that the moon follows him around because it admires his fine clothes.	fatuous — silly and foolish in a smug way (Clue: Examples: a smug, ridiculous claim about the moon shows empty-headed foolishness.)
The team's _____ manager forgot to book the bus, lost the uniforms, and never returned calls, so the players finally organized the trip themselves.	feckless — weak, careless, and ineffective (Clue: Examples: forgetting, losing things, and ignoring calls show someone careless and ineffective.)
As the town built new houses farther into the hills each year, they began to _____ on land where mountain lions and deer had roamed freely.	encroach — to gradually intrude on another's space (Clue: Description: houses steadily spreading into wildlife land are intruding step by step.)
When the team finally opened the locker that had been shut all summer, a _____ smell of rotten bananas and moldy socks made everyone gag.	fetid — smelling very bad (Clue: Examples: rotten bananas and moldy socks that make people gag produce a foul smell.)
Before the hike, Ana had an uneasy _____ that the weather would turn, and sure enough, a storm rolled in just as the group reached the summit.	premonition — a feeling that something is about to happen (Clue: Cause and effect: her uneasy feeling came before the storm and then came true.)
The storyteller's tale of sunken pirate treasure seemed to _____ the kindergartners, who sat perfectly still, eyes wide, for the entire half hour.	enthrall — to hold someone's complete attention (Clue: Cause and effect: sitting perfectly still with wide eyes shows the children were captivated.)
The editor asked Wen to cut the _____ descriptions from her essay, replacing phrases like 'the resplendent golden orb of day' with simply 'the sun.'	florid — overly fancy or decorated in style (Clue: Examples: swapping an overly fancy phrase for a plain one shows the style was flowery.)
Termite damage is especially _____ because the insects eat away at wooden beams from the inside for years before homeowners notice a single sign.	insidious — harmful in a slow, hidden way (Clue: Cause and effect: harm done quietly for years before anyone notices is gradual and hidden.)
The student newspaper's fake article praising the broken vending machine as 'the school's most exciting game of chance' was a clever _____ aimed at the slow repairs.	satire — humor that mocks foolishness or flaws (Clue: Description: fake praise that pokes fun at a real problem is mocking humor.)
Desperate to keep the library open on weekends, the students wrote letters to _____ the principal, pleading with her to reconsider the new schedule.	entreat — to ask earnestly; to beg (Clue: Restatement: 'pleading with her' restates the earnest begging the blank requires.)
Even after the coach showed him slow-motion video of the play, the referee remained _____, refusing to reconsider his call no matter what anyone said.	obdurate — stubbornly refusing to change one's mind (Clue: Description: refusing to reconsider despite clear evidence shows stubborn firmness.)
Usually calm, the old goose became _____ during nesting season, hissing and charging at anyone who wandered too close to the pond.	truculent — eager to argue or fight (Clue: Examples: hissing and charging at people show a fight-ready attitude.)
To keep the cave's ecosystem undisturbed, the scientists chose to _____ bright flashlights, relying instead on dim red lamps that bats can barely detect.	eschew — to deliberately avoid (Clue: Contrast: they use dim lamps instead, so they deliberately avoid bright lights.)
Winning first prize at the state robotics competition was the highest _____ the team had ever received, and the principal announced it proudly over the loudspeaker.	accolade — an award or expression of high praise (Clue: Description: a first prize announced with pride is an award or honor.)
The _____ deer froze at the edge of the clearing, then bolted into the woods the instant a twig snapped beneath the photographer's boot.	timorous — shy and easily frightened (Clue: Cause and effect: fleeing at the snap of a twig shows an easily frightened animal.)
On cold mornings the garden snakes are _____, barely moving at all, but once the sun warms the rocks they become quick and alert.	torpid — slow and inactive (Clue: Contrast: barely moving in the cold versus quick and alert later means sluggish.)
After watching a documentary on ocean plastic, Kenji began to _____ zero-waste living, giving speeches about it and urging classmates to carry reusable bottles.	espouse — to adopt and support a cause or belief (Clue: Examples: giving speeches and urging others show he adopted and championed the cause.)
Viewers laughed when they spotted a plastic water bottle on the table in the medieval banquet scene, an _____ detail the filmmakers had overlooked.	anachronistic — out of place in time (Clue: Description: a modern bottle in a medieval scene belongs to the wrong time period.)
From the time she could walk, Amara showed a natural _____ for water, swimming before she could read and joining the swim team at age seven.	affinity — a natural liking or connection (Clue: Examples: swimming early and joining the team show a natural liking for water.)
Though Diego said nothing, his trembling hands seemed to _____ how nervous he felt as he waited to deliver his speech.	evince — to show or reveal clearly (Clue: Description: trembling hands reveal his nerves without words, so they clearly show his feeling.)
The new club had an _____ structure: there was no president, every member had one vote, and chores rotated so that no one did more than anyone else.	egalitarian — believing all people deserve equal treatment (Clue: Examples: no leader, equal votes, and shared chores show belief in equality for all.)
Researchers found that staying up late to cram had _____ effects on test scores, since students who slept less actually remembered less than those who rested.	deleterious — causing harm or damage (Clue: Cause and effect: losing sleep led to worse memory, so the effects were harmful.)
Even after moving across the country, Marcus kept his _____ to his hometown baseball team, wearing its cap daily and watching every game online.	allegiance — loyalty to a person, group, or cause (Clue: Examples: wearing the cap and watching every game show lasting loyalty.)
Rather than question the famous inventors, the museum exhibit seemed to _____ them, displaying their portraits in gold frames beneath banners celebrating their genius.	exalt — to praise highly; to raise in rank (Clue: Contrast: rather than question them, gold frames and celebratory banners praise them highly.)
No matter how many detentions he received, Felix remained an _____ prankster, already planning his next joke before the last one had been cleaned up.	incorrigible — unable to be corrected or reformed (Clue: Description: punishment never changes his behavior, so he cannot be reformed.)
Instead of targeting only the invasive weeds, the gardener's _____ spraying killed the tomatoes, the roses, and the herbs along with them.	indiscriminate — done without careful choice or judgment (Clue: Contrast: instead of targeting weeds, spraying everything shows no careful selection.)
With two minutes left and the team trailing by a point, Coach Rivera shouted from the sideline to _____ her tired players to keep running hard.	exhort — to strongly urge someone to act (Clue: Description: a coach shouting to push tired players onward is strongly urging them.)
During the library's fine-free week, students could return long-overdue books without penalty; the _____ brought back over three hundred missing volumes.	amnesty — an official pardon for past offenses (Clue: Description: letting overdue books come back without penalty is an official pardon.)
A ten-run deficit in the final inning seemed _____, yet the Tigers rallied hit by hit and somehow won the championship game.	insurmountable — too great to be overcome (Clue: Contrast: 'yet ... won' shows the deficit only seemed impossible to overcome.)
The chess champion's face stayed _____ throughout the match, giving her opponent no hint whether she was worried, confident, or planning a trap.	inscrutable — impossible to understand or read (Clue: Description: a face that gives no hint of feelings is impossible to read.)
Asked a simple question about black holes, the astronomer went on to _____ for forty minutes, describing gravity, light, and time in rich detail.	expound — to explain in great detail (Clue: Description: talking for forty minutes in rich detail is explaining at length.)
The quiet, tidy library was the _____ of the noisy cafeteria next door, where trays clattered and hundreds of students shouted over one another.	antithesis — the exact opposite (Clue: Contrast: quiet and tidy versus noisy chaos shows the library is the direct opposite.)
While her teammates paced nervously before the final, Keiko seemed completely _____, humming to herself and casually tying her shoes as if it were practice.	insouciant — relaxed, carefree, and unconcerned (Clue: Contrast: teammates pacing nervously versus her casual humming shows she was unconcerned.)
Once the error was discovered, the editors moved quickly to _____ the false statistic from every online copy of the article, leaving no trace of it.	expunge — to erase or remove completely (Clue: Description: removing something so that no trace remains means wiping it out completely.)
The debate judge warned Sophie that her _____ remarks, shouted angrily at her opponent, would cost points, since calm, measured argument was part of the score.	intemperate — lacking self-control; excessive (Clue: Contrast: angry shouting versus calm, measured argument shows a lack of self-control.)
Before signing, Ravi read the contract carefully, because once the deposit was paid the decision would be _____, with no chance to get his money back.	irrevocable — impossible to undo or change (Clue: Description: no chance of getting the money back means the choice cannot be undone.)
Winning the Olympic gold medal marked the _____ of her career; she would never again swim so fast or receive such worldwide attention.	apex — the highest point (Clue: Description: never again reaching that level shows it was the very highest point.)
Using rainfall records from the past fifty years, the students tried to _____ how much rain the region might receive in the decade ahead.	extrapolate — to predict by extending known information (Clue: Description: stretching past data to estimate the future is predicting beyond what is known.)
The comedian played the clown as comically _____, dragging his feet, sighing loudly, and wearing a long, droopy frown even as balloons floated around him.	lugubrious — sad and gloomy, often in an exaggerated way (Clue: Examples: dragging feet, loud sighs, and a droopy frown show exaggerated gloom.)
Professor Adeyemi's _____ history of the Silk Road, covering two thousand years with total command of the sources, quickly became the standard book on the subject.	magisterial — showing great authority and expert command (Clue: Description: total command that makes it the standard book shows expert authority.)
Although the sign clearly said 'No Swimming,' a few tourists chose to _____ the rule openly, splashing in the lake right in front of the ranger station.	flout — to openly ignore or disobey a rule (Clue: Contrast: despite a clear sign, swimming in plain view means openly defying the rule.)
Sana's _____ grew as the date of her piano recital approached, and she lay awake at night picturing herself forgetting every note.	apprehension — anxious fear about what might happen (Clue: Examples: lying awake picturing failure shows anxious worry about what is coming.)
The substitute teacher struggled with the _____ class, which shouted, banged on desks, and ignored every request to settle down.	obstreperous — noisy and hard to control (Clue: Examples: shouting, banging, and ignoring requests show noisy, uncontrollable behavior.)
Waiting until her dad had finished a big, happy dinner, Lucia chose that _____ moment to ask whether she could go to science camp in July.	opportune — well-timed; convenient (Clue: Description: waiting for a good mood shows she picked a well-timed moment.)
By reading old ship logs and letters, the historian managed to _____ small details about daily life aboard the whaling vessel, piece by piece.	glean — to gather information bit by bit (Clue: Description: collecting details piece by piece from sources is gathering them slowly.)
With his wise advice, long white beard, and mysterious powers, Gandalf fits the _____ of the old mentor that appears in countless fantasy stories.	archetype — a perfect or typical example of something (Clue: Description: a classic pattern repeated in countless stories is the original model.)
Unlike his sister's subtle hints about wanting a puppy, Omar's campaign was completely _____: he taped dog photos to the fridge and wrote it atop every list.	overt — done openly; not hidden (Clue: Contrast: subtle hints versus taping photos everywhere means open and obvious.)
Even though Hana didn't want to enter the eating contest, her cousins kept teasing and daring her, trying to _____ her into signing up.	goad — to provoke or push someone into action (Clue: Description: teasing and daring someone into doing something is provoking them to act.)
After spending the entire winter indoors studying for exams, Eli's skin looked _____, so his grandmother insisted he go outside for some sunlight.	pallid — unusually pale (Clue: Cause and effect: months indoors without sunlight leave skin unhealthily pale.)
The best advice Ms. Chen ever gave her students was _____: 'Read every question twice,' just four words that saved them countless points on tests.	pithy — short but full of meaning (Clue: Examples: four words with great value show advice that is brief yet meaningful.)
Liam has such an _____ to mushrooms that he picks every tiny piece out of his pasta and refuses pizza if one has even touched it.	aversion — a strong dislike (Clue: Examples: picking out every piece and refusing touched pizza show a strong dislike.)
Each summer, Gabriela attended a writing workshop to _____ her storytelling skills, practicing dialogue and description until her stories won regional contests.	hone — to sharpen or improve a skill (Clue: Description: practicing skills until they win contests means sharpening and refining them.)
The snobbish food critic dismissed the hot dog stand as _____, but the crowds lining up every day clearly preferred its simple, everyday fare to fancy restaurants.	plebeian — common or ordinary; not refined (Clue: Contrast: the snob looks down on simple, everyday food, while the crowds love it.)
Rather than make a _____ decision about which college to attend, Noor visited every campus, talked to students, and took a full month to decide.	precipitate — done suddenly and without careful thought (Clue: Contrast: a careful month-long decision is the opposite of a hasty, rash one.)
The new bike lanes proved a real _____ for the neighborhood, cutting commute times, reducing traffic, and giving kids a safe way to ride to school.	boon — a helpful benefit or blessing (Clue: Examples: shorter commutes, less traffic, and safe rides show a great benefit.)
Mr. Okoro's lively stories about ancient Egypt seemed to _____ his students with a lasting curiosity about history that many carried into college.	imbue — to fill deeply with a quality or feeling (Clue: Cause and effect: stories that create lasting curiosity fill students with that feeling.)
It seemed _____ of the new student to start rearranging the classroom furniture on his very first day, before anyone had even asked his opinion.	presumptuous — too bold; acting without permission or right (Clue: Description: taking charge uninvited on day one shows overstepping boldness.)
Her essay was far too _____, spending three pages on a point that could have been made in a single clear paragraph.	prolix — using too many words; long-winded (Clue: Description: three pages for a one-paragraph point means wordy and long-winded.)
News that the town planned to cut down the hundred-year-old oak in the park was sure to _____ residents, who had picnicked beneath it for generations.	incense — to make very angry (Clue: Cause and effect: losing a beloved old tree would make residents furious.)
The teacher agreed to let the class watch a movie on Friday, with one _____: anyone who hadn't finished the essay would spend that time writing instead.	caveat — a warning or condition to keep in mind (Clue: Description: a limiting condition attached to an agreement works as a warning.)
The artist painted _____ objects rather than grand landscapes or royal portraits: a coffee mug, a pair of worn sneakers, a crumpled bus ticket.	quotidian — ordinary and everyday (Clue: Examples: mugs and sneakers rather than grand scenes are ordinary, everyday things.)
Dr. Varga's lecture on _____ details of ancient Sumerian grammar left even the graduate students lost, though a few experts in the front row nodded along.	recondite — little known and hard to understand (Clue: Description: a topic only a few experts can follow is deep and obscure.)
After investigators proved that the 'ancient' vases were modern fakes, a grand jury voted to _____ the art dealer for fraud.	indict — to formally accuse of a crime (Clue: Cause and effect: proof of fakes leads a grand jury to formally accuse the dealer.)
In the Okafor household, Friday movie night was _____; no homework, practice, or party invitation was ever allowed to interfere with it.	sacrosanct — too important to be changed or questioned (Clue: Description: nothing being allowed to interfere shows it was treated as untouchable.)
The writing teacher circled 'at the end of the day' in red, explaining that the tired _____ had been used so often it no longer meant anything.	cliche — an overused phrase or idea (Clue: Description: a phrase used so often it lost its meaning is an overused expression.)
Hoping to _____ some humor into her serious talk about ocean science, Dr. Patel opened with a cartoon of a penguin wearing sunscreen.	infuse — to fill or soak with a quality (Clue: Description: opening with a funny cartoon adds humor into a serious talk.)
Doctors in the 1800s sent patients to seaside towns because the fresh air and sunshine were thought to be _____, helping people recover from illness.	salubrious — good for health (Clue: Cause and effect: air believed to help people recover is considered good for health.)
After the wild excitement of the birthday party, the family enjoyed a _____ evening at home, reading quietly by the fireplace.	sedate — calm, quiet, and unhurried (Clue: Contrast: wild excitement versus quiet reading shows a calm, unhurried evening.)
Without any fossils to examine, the scientists admitted that their claim about the dinosaur's color was only _____, not a conclusion supported by evidence.	conjecture — a guess based on little evidence (Clue: Contrast: 'not a conclusion supported by evidence' means it was merely a guess.)
During the debate, Aiko waited politely for her opponent to finish rather than _____ her own points, even when she strongly disagreed with him.	interject — to break in with a remark (Clue: Contrast: waiting politely for him to finish is the opposite of breaking in with remarks.)
Readers grew tired of the novel's _____ narrator, who paused every few pages to lecture them about kindness, hard work, and the dangers of laziness.	sententious — preachy and fond of moral sayings (Clue: Description: constantly lecturing readers about morals shows a preachy, moralizing style.)
The violinist's performance was so _____ that the usually reserved audience leaped to its feet, and critics called it the finest concert of the decade.	superlative — of the very highest quality (Clue: Cause and effect: a standing ovation and 'finest of the decade' show supreme quality.)
Terrified of heights, Kofi had to _____ every ounce of courage he had before stepping onto the swaying rope bridge.	muster — to gather or call up (Clue: Description: calling up every ounce of courage despite fear is summoning it.)
To the _____ of the astronomy club, thick clouds rolled in just minutes before the eclipse, hiding the sun completely after months of planning.	consternation — shock mixed with anxious worry (Clue: Cause and effect: clouds ruining months of planning would cause shock and dismay.)
Instead of the elegant decorations the planners had promised, the hall was filled with _____ ones: plastic gold streamers, flimsy foil stars, and peeling glitter signs.	tawdry — cheap and showy (Clue: Contrast: flimsy plastic and glitter instead of elegance are cheap and showy.)
Climbing the icy peak alone, without a rope or a weather report, was a _____ choice that even the most daring mountaineers would never have made.	temerarious — recklessly bold (Clue: Description: a risk that even daring climbers avoid shows reckless boldness.)
The referee's whistle came just before the buzzer, so the foul would _____ the spectacular last-second basket and send the game into overtime.	nullify — to cancel or make invalid (Clue: Cause and effect: the foul makes the basket not count, cancelling it.)
During the _____ summer in the Sahara, temperatures climbed above 120 degrees, and the camels rested in whatever shade the dunes could offer.	torrid — extremely hot and dry (Clue: Examples: temperatures above 120 degrees show extremely hot conditions.)
The arrival of digital cameras led to the _____ of many film companies, which closed their factories after decades of success.	demise — the end or death of something (Clue: Cause and effect: companies closing because of new technology shows their downfall.)
Installing a simple rain gauge on the school roof would _____ the need to guess the weekly rainfall, since students could measure it directly.	obviate — to remove the need for; to prevent (Clue: Cause and effect: measuring directly removes the need to guess.)
The magician's _____ assistant, introduced as a random audience member, was actually his brother, who had rehearsed the trick with him for weeks.	ostensible — seeming true on the surface, but perhaps not (Clue: Contrast: introduced as random but actually rehearsed shows the role was only apparent.)
The giant cardboard model of the solar system was so _____ that it took four students to carry it down the narrow hallway without knocking anything over.	unwieldy — hard to handle because of size or shape (Clue: Cause and effect: needing four people to move it shows it was bulky and awkward.)
Unlike the elected councils of neighboring cities, the ancient kingdom was ruled by a _____ who made every law alone and punished anyone who questioned him.	despot — a ruler with total, often cruel, power (Clue: Contrast: elected councils versus one ruler with total power describes a tyrant.)
Before signing up for classes, Aaliyah took time to _____ the entire course catalog, reading each description closely and making notes in the margins.	peruse — to read or examine carefully (Clue: Description: reading closely and taking notes means examining carefully.)
The twins had an _____ ability to finish each other's sentences, as if each could somehow hear the other's thoughts before they were spoken.	uncanny — strange in a way that is hard to explain (Clue: Description: seeming to hear each other's thoughts is strange and hard to explain.)
Even when the fire alarm blared in the middle of her speech, the _____ debate captain simply paused, smiled, and finished her point after everyone returned.	unflappable — staying calm under pressure (Clue: Description: pausing and smiling through a blaring alarm shows calm under pressure.)
Farmers believed that geese flying south unusually early would _____ a long, harsh winter, so they stored extra hay in their barns.	presage — to be a sign of a future event (Clue: Cause and effect: farmers prepare because early geese are a sign of a harsh winter.)
Though the new stadium's design won many fans, its loudest _____ complained that the giant glass roof was ugly, costly, and impractical in hot weather.	detractor — a person who criticizes something (Clue: Contrast: unlike the fans, this person complains, so he or she is a critic.)
After losing her sight, the climber showed an _____ will, training for years until she reached the summit of Everest despite every obstacle.	indomitable — impossible to defeat or discourage (Clue: Description: persisting for years despite every obstacle shows a will that cannot be defeated.)
The award-winning bakery hid inside a _____ gray building with no sign or window display, so most people walked right past without noticing it.	nondescript — plain and lacking any special features (Clue: Description: gray, unsigned, and unnoticed shows a building lacking special features.)
The museum's rules _____ flash photography in the painting galleries, since bright bursts of light can slowly fade centuries-old pigments.	proscribe — to officially forbid (Clue: Cause and effect: because flashes damage paintings, the rules forbid them.)
The beginning band's first rehearsal produced painful _____, with trumpets, flutes, and drums all playing in different keys at different speeds.	dissonance — a harsh lack of harmony (Clue: Cause and effect: instruments in different keys and speeds create a harsh clash of sound.)
The ancient board game had such _____ rules, passed down only among a few elderly monks, that historians spent decades trying to reconstruct how it was played.	arcane — known or understood by very few (Clue: Description: rules known only to a few monks are secret and obscure.)
The class wanted to choose a field-trip destination quickly, but endless arguments over tiny details threatened to _____ the vote for weeks.	protract — to drag out for a longer time (Clue: Contrast: they wanted to finish quickly, but arguing would drag it out longer.)
The chess player's _____ remarks before the tournament, boasting that he would 'crush and destroy' every rival, surprised fans used to polite, quiet competitors.	bellicose — eager to fight or argue (Clue: Contrast: combative boasts versus polite competitors show an eagerness to fight.)
Despite the gray skies and a forecast of heavy rain, Lucas set off on his bike ride in a _____ mood, whistling cheerfully and leaving his raincoat at home.	blithe — cheerfully carefree, sometimes carelessly so (Clue: Contrast: cheerful whistling despite clear warnings shows a happy, unconcerned mood.)
The eighth graders chose Imani as their _____ to the principal's office, sending her to present the class's request for a longer lunch period.	emissary — a person sent to represent others (Clue: Description: someone sent to present a group's request is its representative.)
The ads for the so-called miracle shampoo _____ to grow hair overnight, but scientists who tested it found no evidence that it worked at all.	purport — to claim, often falsely (Clue: Contrast: the ads make a promise that testing shows is false.)
Unlike the action-packed blockbuster, the new film was quiet and _____, asking viewers to puzzle through ideas about memory and time rather than enjoy explosions.	cerebral — intellectual rather than emotional or physical (Clue: Contrast: puzzling through ideas instead of explosions points to thoughtful, intellectual content.)
After her team lost, it would have been _____ for Rina to refuse to shake hands, so she congratulated each winner warmly despite her disappointment.	churlish — rude and ungracious (Clue: Contrast: warm congratulations are the opposite of rude, ungracious behavior.)
The principal sent an email to every family to _____ the rumor that school would be canceled, stating clearly that classes would meet as usual.	quash — to put a stop to; to suppress (Clue: Cause and effect: a clear statement is meant to put an end to the rumor.)
When wolves returned to the park, the elk population stopped exploding, and the ecosystem gradually settled into a healthy _____ between predators and prey.	equilibrium — a state of balance (Clue: Cause and effect: wolves keep elk numbers in check, producing a stable balance.)
The reunion was a _____ affair, full of laughter, shared stories, and second helpings, as old classmates lingered at the tables long after dessert.	convivial — friendly, lively, and fond of company (Clue: Examples: laughter, stories, and lingering at tables show a lively, friendly gathering.)
In the fable, the _____ lion hid behind a rock whenever a mouse squeaked, while the tiny rabbit bravely faced the fox.	craven — lacking courage (Clue: Contrast: hiding from a mouse versus a brave rabbit shows a lion without courage.)
Instead of discussing the big ideas in the novel, the book club members began to _____ over whether the hero's coat was described as blue or navy.	quibble — to argue over small, unimportant details (Clue: Contrast: instead of big ideas, they argue over a trivial detail.)
The company's _____ of openness showed in everything it did: no private offices, shared meeting notes, and a weekly forum where anyone could question the founders.	ethos — the guiding spirit or values of a group (Clue: Examples: no offices, shared notes, and open forums reveal the group's guiding values.)
The emperor's _____ banquets, with forty courses, fountains of honeyed drinks, and golden plates, shocked visitors from the simpler provinces.	decadent — marked by excessive pleasure and luxury (Clue: Examples: forty courses and golden plates show excessive self-indulgence.)
Farmers watched helplessly as swarms of locusts began to _____ the wheat fields, leaving bare stalks where golden grain had stood that morning.	ravage — to cause severe damage to (Clue: Cause and effect: only bare stalks remain, so the fields were severely damaged.)
Bored and tired, Owen made a _____ attempt at his homework, flipping between pages, doodling, and answering a question here and there without any real plan.	desultory — lacking plan or purpose; halfhearted (Clue: Description: flipping around and answering at random without a plan is aimless.)
After decades of neglect, the old lighthouse was _____, with crumbling stairs, shattered windows, and a roof that let the rain pour straight in.	dilapidated — falling apart from age or neglect (Clue: Cause and effect: decades of neglect left it crumbling and falling apart.)
Everyone adored Professor Moreau despite one harmless _____: she could never remember where she had left her glasses, even when they sat atop her head.	foible — a minor flaw or odd habit (Clue: Description: forgetting glasses on her head is a small, harmless flaw.)
Rather than repair the crumbling warehouse, the city decided to _____ it completely and plant a community garden on the empty lot where it had stood.	raze — to completely tear down a building (Clue: Contrast: instead of repairing it, they remove it entirely, leaving an empty lot.)
It was _____ of Mia to claim she had never heard of the surprise party, since she had helped pick out the decorations herself.	disingenuous — insincere; pretending to know less than one does (Clue: Contrast: claiming ignorance after helping plan shows she was being insincere.)
Though the science fair finalists included her own students, Ms. Kowalski remained _____, scoring each project strictly by the rubric without letting personal feelings interfere.	dispassionate — not influenced by emotion; fair and impartial (Clue: Contrast: despite her own students competing, she judged without feelings.)
The babysitter showed remarkable _____ when the twins spilled juice for the third time, calmly wiping it up instead of scolding them.	forbearance — patient self-control; tolerance (Clue: Contrast: calmly cleaning up instead of scolding shows patient self-restraint.)
After a week of not speaking over the broken video game, the brothers finally agreed to _____, shaking hands and planning to save up for a new one together.	reconcile — to restore friendship after a disagreement (Clue: Cause and effect: after a week of silence, shaking hands shows they restored their friendship.)
The famously _____ shopkeeper never smiled or chatted, so the whole town was amazed when he laughed out loud at a child's joke.	dour — stern, serious, and gloomy (Clue: Contrast: his usual lack of smiles makes the laugh surprising, so he is normally stern.)
The old textbook stated that there were nine planets, an _____ claim that newer editions corrected after astronomers reclassified Pluto.	erroneous — wrong; containing mistakes (Clue: Cause and effect: later editions corrected the claim, so it was wrong.)
When the scoring error was discovered, tournament officials moved quickly to _____ the injustice, awarding the second-place team the trophy it had truly earned.	redress — to set right a wrong (Clue: Cause and effect: officials give the trophy to the rightful team, setting the wrong right.)
The announcement that the beloved art class would be eliminated caused a _____, with hundreds of students signing petitions and parents packing the next meeting.	furor — an outburst of public anger or excitement (Clue: Examples: petitions and packed meetings show a widespread outburst of anger.)
The ballet instructor was famously _____, insisting that every dancer's arm be raised to precisely the same height and repeating each step until it was perfect.	exacting — demanding great care and effort (Clue: Description: insisting on precision and perfection shows very high standards.)
Most of the playwright's works were lost in the fire; the two _____ scripts, now kept in a museum in Lisbon, are all that scholars have to study.	extant — still in existence (Clue: Contrast: most works were lost, so the two remaining scripts are the ones that still exist.)
The theater promised to _____ the student volunteers for their long hours building sets, offering each one fifty dollars and free tickets to opening night.	remunerate — to pay for work or service (Clue: Description: giving money and tickets in return for work is paying them.)
In the final hour before the robotics deadline, the lab was _____, with students racing between tables, soldering wires, and shouting instructions over the whir of drills.	frenetic — wild, fast, and frantic (Clue: Examples: racing, soldering, and shouting show a wildly hurried scene.)
For many in the north, the first tiny crocuses pushing through melting snow are a cheerful _____ of the warm months ahead.	harbinger — a sign of something to come (Clue: Description: early flowers announcing the warm months act as a sign of what is coming.)
When her brother teased that she couldn't cook, Lina was quick to _____ that at least she had never burned water, and the whole family burst out laughing.	retort — to reply sharply or quickly (Clue: Description: a quick, sharp comeback to teasing is a witty reply.)
The debate moderator cut off Jamal's story about his summer vacation, reminding him that only points _____ to the question of school uniforms were allowed.	germane — relevant to the subject (Clue: Contrast: an off-topic story is cut, so only on-topic points are allowed.)
Toby's _____ plan for the class picnic included a hot-air balloon, a celebrity chef, and fireworks, though the class budget was only two hundred dollars.	grandiose — far too ambitious or impressive; showy (Clue: Contrast: lavish ideas against a tiny budget show the plan was overly ambitious.)
Among the town's devoted pizza lovers, suggesting that pineapple belonged on a pie was considered _____, a betrayal of everything their famous pizzeria stood for.	heresy — an opinion that goes against accepted beliefs (Clue: Description: an opinion seen as betraying accepted beliefs is a shocking break from them.)
When the Impressionists first exhibited their blurry, colorful paintings, critics chose to _____ them, mocking the works as unfinished sketches, though today they are beloved.	revile — to criticize harshly and angrily (Clue: Contrast: mocked then but beloved now, so critics first attacked them harshly.)
When asked to empty the dishwasher, Ben gave a _____ performance, clutching his chest, groaning, and collapsing onto the couch as if asked to climb Everest.	histrionic — overly dramatic (Clue: Examples: clutching, groaning, and collapsing over a chore show exaggerated behavior.)
As a young, _____ student, the future inventor could not afford a lab, so he built his first experiments from scrap metal and borrowed tools.	impecunious — having little or no money (Clue: Cause and effect: being unable to afford a lab shows he had very little money.)
The club could not hold its overnight event at the school until the principal agreed to _____ it, signing the official permission form.	sanction — to officially approve or allow (Clue: Description: signing an official permission form means formally approving the event.)
After ten exhausting years of touring, the band announced a two-year _____ so its members could rest, travel, and write new music before performing again.	hiatus — a pause or break in activity (Clue: Description: stopping for two years before resuming is a temporary break.)
The student editor rejected the _____ article, worried that its insulting claims about the rival school would stir up anger and spark heated arguments in the halls.	incendiary — likely to stir up anger or conflict (Clue: Cause and effect: an article that would stir anger and arguments is inflammatory.)
Watching the space shuttle launch left an _____ impression on young Mae, who decades later could still describe every detail of that roaring morning.	indelible — impossible to erase or forget (Clue: Description: recalling every detail decades later shows an impression that never fades.)
The contest rules _____ that every entry must be original, so any photo found elsewhere online will be disqualified immediately.	stipulate — to state as a required condition (Clue: Cause and effect: disqualification follows from a condition the rules clearly require.)
The clinic offers free care to _____ families who cannot afford doctor visits, relying on donations to buy medicine and supplies.	indigent — very poor; needy (Clue: Description: families unable to afford doctor visits are poor and needy.)
The historical novel is packed with royal _____: courtiers whisper behind tapestries, forge secret letters, and quietly plot to win the queen's favor.	intrigue — secret scheming or plotting (Clue: Examples: whispering, forged letters, and plots show secret scheming.)
For centuries the ancient empire tried to _____ the mountain tribes, but the tribes' fierce independence and rugged terrain kept them free.	subjugate — to bring under complete control (Clue: Contrast: the tribes stayed free despite efforts to bring them under control.)
Some danger is _____ in rock climbing; no matter how good your rope and training, the sport always involves the possibility of a fall.	inherent — existing as a natural, basic part (Clue: Description: danger that is always present regardless of gear is a built-in part of the sport.)
An _____ reader since age five, Mrs. Abara had finished at least one book every week for sixty years and never left home without a novel.	inveterate — having a long-established habit (Clue: Description: a reading habit lasting sixty years is deeply established.)
Without a map, the new students wandered the old school's _____ of twisting hallways, hidden staircases, and dead ends for days before learning the way.	labyrinth — a complicated maze (Clue: Examples: twisting halls, hidden stairs, and dead ends describe a confusing maze.)
The film's surprise ending seemed designed to _____ the audience's expectations, revealing that the friendly narrator had been the mastermind all along.	subvert — to undermine or overturn (Clue: Description: an ending that overturns what viewers believed undermines their expectations.)
The _____ cat slipped gracefully through the narrow gap in the fence, twisting its body in a way no stiff, clumsy dog could manage.	lithe — flexible and graceful (Clue: Contrast: graceful twisting versus a stiff, clumsy dog shows flexibility.)
