10th Grade Words for Clovis, CA, USA

Words for 10th Grade students of Clovis Unified School District.

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Search Quotes from Classic Book
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

10th Grade Vocabulary List

10th Grade Words for Clovis Unified School District

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Vocabulary/Definition Spelling Quiz Printable Worksheet

aberration
n. a departure from the norm or what is considered right, natural, or normal; a flaw or defect

abominate
v. to hate or loathe intensely

abridge
v. to shorten in duration or extent; to diminish

accolade
n. an expression of approval or respect for special merit; a award

accost
v. to approach and speak to in an aggressive or challenging way

acoustic
adj. relating to sound or hearing

acrimony
n. bitterness or sharpness of temper, manner, or speech; hostility

adamant
adj. not yielding; firm

adjacent
adj. near or next to; adjoining

adjudicate
v. to hear and decide judicially; to judge

adjunct
n. something or someone joined or added to something else but not essentially a part of it

adulate
v. to flatter or admire excessively; to idolize

affinity
n. attraction for someone or something with which one feels a closeness or kinship

aftermath
n. a consequence or result, often a negative one

aggregate
n. a group of things gathered into a whole; sum total

agrarian
adj. having to do with farming or agriculture

allocate
v. to set aside for a specific purpose; to allot

altercation
n. a loud and determined dispute; a noisy quarrel

ambivalent
adj. having mixed, often opposing, feeling about something or someone; indecisive

ameliorate
v. to make better; to become better; to improve

amenable
adj. responsive; willing to be controlled or to take advice

animosity
n. intense ill will

annals
n. a historical record of events, often arranged in a yearly sequence

antiquated
adj. grown old; out-of-date

aphorism
n. a short of truth or principle; an adage

ascribe
v. to attribute to a source or a cause

asperity
n. sharpness or harshness of manner

assemblage
n. a collection or gathering of people or things

assiduous
adj. diligent and persistent

attest
v. to declare or be evidence of something as true, genuine, or accurate

augur
v. to predict future events, especially from omens

august
adj. inspiring great respect or admiration; noble

aura
n. a distinctive atmosphere or feeling that seems to surround someone or something; a distinctive appearance or impression

auspices
n. protection, support, or guidance; patronage

auspicious
adj. favorable, promising

avarice
n. greed for wealth

axiom
n. a statement or principle that requires no proof because ints truth is obvious

baleful
adj. expressing hatred or evil; harmful, ominous

banal
adj. lacking freshness; trite

bane
n. a person or thing that destroys or causes harm

bastion
n. a fortified area or position; a person, place, or thing that is a source of strength

beleaguer
v. to surround with troubles; to harass

belie
v. to give a false impression of; to contradict

bemuse
v. to confuse or bewilder

berate
v. to criticize vigorously; to scold vehemently

beset
v. to surround or attack repeatedly

bilk
v. to cheat our of what is due

buffoon
n. a person who often makes attempts to be funny; a clown; a fool

burgeon
v. to grow and expand rapidly; to flourish

carnage
n. great destruction of life; slaughter

castigate
v. to punish by criticizing sharply; to berate

cataclysm
n. a sudden and violent change; a catastrophe

catharsis
n. a releasing of the emotions, often through the arts, that brings about spiritual renewal or a relieving of tension

cautionary
adj. offering or serving as a warning

cavil
n. a minor criticism

cede
v. to give up or transfer, especially by treaty or formal agreement

celestial
adj. of or relating to the skies or heavens

centennial
n. a one-hundredth anniversary or its celebration

certitude
n. the state of being certain of the truth or rightness of something

cessation
n. a stopping, either final or temporary

charisma
n. a special quality in a person that inspires devotion or fascination in others

chary
adj. exercising caution; hesitant

churlish
adj. lacking good manners; rude, impolite

circuitous
adj. roundabout; indirect

circumvent
v. to avoid through craftiness

clique
n. a small, exclusive group; a group held together by like interests or purpose

cognizant
adj. fully aware; taking notice

cohort
n. one who assists another, especially in a dubious or criminal activity; an accomplice

colloquial
adj. characterized by informal language

compunction
n. a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety caused by guilt

concoct
v. to make up, prepare, or invent

condone
v. to overlook or accept without punishment; to pardon or excuse

confidant
n. a person to whom secrets are told

constituent
n. one of the parts that make up a whole

constrain
v. to confine, inhibit, or hold back by force or necessity

consummate
adj. extremely skilled; complete or perfect

conundrum
n. a riddle whose answer is a play on words

conversant
adj. having knowledge or experience; well-informed

countenance
n. a person’s face; the expression on a person’s face

credulous
adj. willing to believe things with only slight or no evidence; easily conviced

culinary
adj. having to do with cooking

culpable
adj. deserving blame or censure

curator
n. a person in charge of an exhibition; an overseer of a museum or library collection

curtail
v. to cut short or reduce

dearth
n. scarcity; a shortage

decorum
n. suitable, proper behavior or speech

decrepit
adj. worn-out with use; broken-down

defunct
adj. no longer existing or functioning

demoralize
v. to destroy the morals or morale of someone; to weaken the spirit or courage of someone

denigrate
v. to attack the reputation of; to criticize in a derogatory manner

derivative
n. something that grows out of or results from an earlier form or condition

desultory
adj. proceeding or carried out in an aimless or random way

diabolical
adj. devilish; wicked or evil

differentiate
v. to see the difference; to distinguish

dilemma
n. a problem that seems to have no satisfactory solution; a difficult choice

diminutive
adj. very small; tiny

disarray
n. a lack or order; confusion

discriminate
v. the act of making a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of the group or category rather tan according to actual merit

disgruntle
v. to make dissatisfied; to put in a bad mood

disparage
v. to criticize in a negative, disrespectful manner

dissipate
v. to break up and spread out so thinly as to disappear; to scatter or be scattered

diverse
adj. differing from one another; having various or distinct parts

doleful
adj. mournful or full of sorrow; causing grief

ebullient
adj. bubbling with enthusiasm or high spirits

emaciated
adj. very thin or wasted away, especially from lack of nourishment; scrawny

enclave
n. a distinct region or community enclosed within a larger territory

endow
v. to provide with a quality, a thing, or a gift or money

engender
v. to bring into being, to produce

enormity
n. the state or quality of being monstrous or outrageous

entrepreneur
n. an individual who manages and takes the risk of a business

ephemeral
adj. lasting a very short time

epitaph
n. the words carved on a tombstone in memory of the deceased

equilibrium
n. a state of balance

eradicate
v. to get rid of; to uproot

esoteric
adj. not generally known or understood; familiar to only a relatively small number of people

espionage
n. the act of spying, especially a government spy obtaining secrets of another government

euphemism
n. a polite term used to avoid directly naming something considered offensive or unpleasant

evanescent
adj. short-lived; staying temporarily

exacerbate
v. to make more severe, bitter, or violent

exodus
n. a mass departure

expedite
v. to speed up a process; to facilitate

expendable
adj. able to be used up and then discarded or replaced

extant
adj. still existing; not lost or destroyed

extrovert
n. a person whose attention is focused on others and on what is going on around her or him, rather than on her or his own feels

factotum
n. a helper or assistant with a wide range of duties and responsibilities

fatuous
adj. foolish; silly; stupid

flotilla
n. a fleet of boats or small ships

flout
v. to ignore in a disrespectful or scornful way

foment
v. to stir up, to rouse; to instigate

fortuitous
adj. happening by lucky chance; accidental

galaxy
n. a vast cluster of stars and other matter, billions of which make up the known universe

galvanize
v. to excite or arouse action

gamut
n. the entire range of something

garish
adj. excessively bright and flashy; tastelessly glaring

gibe
v. to utter taunting, sarcastic words

gird
v. to encircle, bind, or surround

gossamer
n. thin, sheer fabric resembling gauze

gourmet
n. a person who likes fine food an is a good judge of its quality

grandiloquent
adj. using lofty or pompous speech or expression

grandiose
adj. impressive because of large size or scope

gratuitous
adj. no called for; unnecessary

halcyon
adj. calm, peaceful, and happy; prosperous

harbinger
n. a person or thing that is a symbol of what is to come

heresy
n. the expression of shocking or unacceptable views

hierarchy
n. a group or system in which potions of power are ranked, usually from lowest to highest

homily
n. a lecture usually long, on how to behave morally

homogeneous
adj. of a similar kind or nature; uniform throughout

hybrid
n. the offspring of two animals or plants of different species or varieties

hyperbole
n. extravagant exaggeration

hypothetical
adj. based on something that is not actual but assumed or supposed

ignominious
adj. marked by, deserving, or causing shame or disgrace

illicit
adj. not allowed, improper, or unlawful

illusory
adj. unreal or imagined; deceiving

imbue
v. to fill completely with a feeling or idea; to inspire

implacable
adj. incapable of being placated, soothed, or significantly changed; relentless

implement
v. to carry out

importune
v. to plead for persistently

inalienable
adj. not able to be taken or given away

incarcerate
v. to confine or to put in prison

incoherent
adj. not connected; confused; rambling

inconsequential
adj. lacking importance or worth; unable to make an impact; trivial

incumbent
n. one who occupies an office or position

incur
v. to bring upon oneself something undesirable, such as a debt

indigenous
adj. naturally living or growing in a certain area; native

indignity
n. an insult to one’s ride; offensive or humiliating treatment

indiscriminate
adj. not marked by careful distinctions; haphazard

induce
v. to influence or persuade

ineffable
adj. incapable of being expressed in words

inexorable
adj. not to be persuaded, stopped, or moved by entreaty or plea; relentless

infamous
adj. having a very mad reputation; notorious

infatuated
adj. filled with excessive, shallow, or foolish love or desire

infirmity
n. physical or mental weakness or defect

ingratiate
v. to work to gain the favor of someone

iniquitous
adj. unjust; wicked

innocuous
adj. harmless; unlikely to offend

insatiable
adj. never satisfied; greedy

instigate
v. to stir up or urge on; to provoke

insurrection
n. an open revolt against legal authority; a rebellion

inter
v. to put in a grave; to bury

intercede
v. to act or plead on another’s behalf; to try to smooth the differences between two parties

intractable
adj. hard to manage, tame, or control; stubborn; not easily cured

intransigent
adj. refusing to compromise or change one’s position on an issue

inure
v. to adjust to and accept unpleasant or undesirable conditions

inveigh
v. to complain or protest strongly

juncture
n. a joining or coming together; the place where such a connection occurs

jurisdiction
n. legal authority to govern of control

juxtapose
v. to place side by side

lacerate
v. to tear or cut roughly

largesse
n. the act of giving generously; gifts

laudatory
adj. full of praise

liquidate
v. to settle the affairs of a business; to convert into cash

luminary
n. a source of light, especially from the sky, such as the sun or moon

maelstrom
n. a large and violent whirlpool or something resembling a whirlpool

magnate
n. an important, often wealthy, person prominent in a large industry or business

magnitude
n. greatness of size, power, or influence

malign
v. to say negative and unfair things about; slander

mandatory
adj. ordered by an authority; required

manifesto
n. a public statement explaining the intentions, motives, or views of an individual or group

manifold
adj. having many different kinds, forms, or parts

materialize
v. to appear in physical form, especially suddenly

matriarchy
n. a society that is headed by a female

mellifluous
adj. sweetly flowing; pleasant to the ear

mesmerize
v. to fascinate or hypnotize

mien
n. a person’s manner, appearance, or expression; bearing

minuscule
adj. very small in size or importance

misnomer
n. a name that does not fit

mitigate
v. to make or become less serious or severe; to ameliorate

muster
v. to summon or call forth; to gather

necessitate
v. to require; to make necessary

neophyte
n. a beginner; a novice

nonpareil
n. a person or thing without an equal

obituary
n. a notice of someone’s death, such as in a newspaper, usually with a brief summary of that person’s life

odyssey
n. a long, adventurous journey

olfactory
adj. relating to the sense of small

omnivorous
adj. eating all kinds of food, including both animal and vegetable food

onerous
adj. burdensome; oppressive

optimum
adj. best or most favorable

palatable
adj. acceptable or pleasing, especially to the sense of taste

panacea
n. something that is supposed to cure all ills or difficulties; a cure-all

panache
n. dash or flamboyance in style or action

pandemonium
n. a state or place of great confusion or uproar

pantheon
n. a group of people held in high esteem for their great achievements

partisan
n. a strong supporter or advocate

patina
n. a green film that forms on copper exposed to the elements

penchant
n. a strong attraction or leaning

permeate
v. to spread throughout; to pass through

perpetrate
v. to commit, as a crime or other antisocial act

perverse
adj. turned away form what is right; wicked

picayune
adj. petty or insignificant; concerned with trifling maters

pillory
v. to expose to public scorn or contempt

pleasantry
n. an agreeable, casual remark

plebeian
adj. of or pertaining to the common people; common; unrefined

plethora
n. too great a number; an excess

poignant
adj. painfully moving, affecting, or touching

posterity
n. a person’s descendants; future generations

precedent
n. the act of statement that may serve as an example or justification for a later one

predecessor
n. a person or thing that has held a position or office before another

predilection
n. an inclination; preference

premeditated
adj. fully planned beforehand; deliberate

prerogative
n. a special right limited to a person, group, or office; a privilege

pretext
n. an effort to conceal the real intention or state of affairs; an excuse

procrastinate
v. to put off until later

profane
v. disrespectful of sacred things

prohibitive
adj. serving to restrain action or discourage use of

proliferate
v. to grow, expand, or multiply at a rapid rate

promontory
n. a high point of land that juts out into water

proselytize
v. to convert someone to a faith, belief, or cause

qualm
n. a feeling of uneasiness as to whether what one id doing is right or wise; a misgiving

quixotic
adj. romantic and idealistic, but impractical

rambunctious
adj. behaving in a wild and unruly manner

rampant
adj. threateningly wild, without restraint or control; widespread

rancor
n. a deep, long-held feeling of hatred or bitterness

rapt
adj. fully absorbed; engrossed

recompense
v. to pay or compensate

refurbish
v. to make like new; to renovate

reminisce
v. to think or talk about one’s past

remiss
adj. negligent; careless; lax

rendition
n. an interpretation or translation; a performance

reparation
n. a mending or repair

repast
n. food and drink; a meal

repertoire
n. the list of pieces an actor, musician, etc., is ready to perform; the skills or accomplishments of a person or group

resurgence
n. a rising again to life. use. acceptance. or prominence; a revival

resuscitate
v. to revive from unconsciousness or apparent death; to revive or restore to health or vigor

rudiment
n. a basic principle or skill

ruminate
v. to think over again and again; to ponder

sabotage
n. acts that intentionally damage, hinder, or seek to discredit

sadistic
adj. taking pleasure in causing pain

scathing
adj. harshly critical

scourge
n. something that causes great pain and suffering; a social evil

scurrilous
adj. vulgar; coarsely abusive

secrete
v. to produce and give off

servitude
n. a lack of freedom forced labor

sibling
n. one of two or more people who have the same parents; brother or sister

singular
adj. extraordinary; exceptional

smattering
n. a small amount

somnolent
adj. tending to cause sleepiness

spurious
adj. not genuine; false

stalemate
n. a halt in a struggle because both sides are equally strong and neither side will give in; a deadlock

stalwart
adj. strong; sturdy

stereotype
n. a generalization that is used to characterize a person without acknowledging individual differences

stigma
n. a mark of shame or disgrace

stipend
n. a regular and fixed amount of pay for work done or to help cover living or work expenses

subservient
adj. serving or acting in a subordinate manner; servile

temerity
n. reckless boldness without regard to danger or opposition

temperate
adj. mild, moderate; restrained

tenacious
adj. holding fast; persistent in adhering to something valued or habitual

titanic
adj. marked by great strength, size, or influence

transpire
v. to become apparent; to come to light

tutelage
n. instruction, protection. or guardianship

undermine
v. to attack by indirect, secret, or underhanded means

unremitting
adj. not stopping or slowing down; constant

vagary
n. a departure from the normal, expected course; a whim or unpredictable action

vanguard
n. the leading or forwards position in a movement

vestige
n. a trace of something that once was present

visionary
adj. able to see what might be accomplished in the future

volatile
adj. evaporating quickly

winnow
v. to separate and remove what is undesirable and leave what is desirable; to blow away the chaff from again

zephyr
n. a light, gently breeze

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