2015 Spelling Bee - Words from Round 2

Words from Round 2 of the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Full list is here.
250 words 2436 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. etymology
    a history of a word
  2. sayonara
    a farewell remark
  3. pinafore
    a sleeveless dress resembling an apron
  4. doctrinaire
    a stubborn person of arbitrary or arrogant opinions
  5. renegade
    someone who rebels and becomes an outlaw
  6. sputnik
    a Russian artificial satellite
  7. umlaut
    a diacritical mark (two dots) placed over a vowel in German
  8. salmonella
    bacteria that can cause typhoid fever and food poisoning
  9. benefactor
    a person who helps people or institutions
  10. marzipan
    confection made of sugar, almond paste, and egg whites
  11. egalitarian
    favoring social equality
  12. hedonism
    an ethical system that values the pursuit of pleasure
  13. picaresque
    (of fiction) involving clever rogues or adventurers
  14. notochord
    a flexible rodlike structure that forms the supporting axis of the body in the lowest chordates and lowest vertebrates and in embryos of higher vertebrates
  15. pumpernickel
    a dense, dark bread made from whole-grain rye flour
  16. triumvirate
    a group of three people responsible for civil authority
  17. libretto
    the words of an opera or musical play
  18. toboggan
    a long narrow sled without runners
  19. anomaly
    deviation from the normal or common order, form, or rule
  20. feldspar
    any of a group of hard crystalline minerals that consist of aluminum silicates of potassium or sodium or calcium or barium
  21. isinglass
    any of various minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium etc. that crystallize in forms that allow perfect cleavage into very thin leaves; used as dielectrics because of their resistance to electricity
  22. maladroit
    not quick or skillful in action or thought
  23. ampere
    the basic unit of electric current adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
  24. lederhosen
    leather shorts often worn with suspenders
  25. philanthropy
    the act of donating money or time to promote human welfare
  26. herpetology
    the branch of zoology concerned with reptiles and amphibians
  27. megalopolis
    a very large urban complex
  28. oratorio
    a musical composition for voices and orchestra
  29. synergy
    the working together of two or more things to produce an effect
  30. albatross
    a large web-footed bird noted for powerful gliding flight
  31. neologism
    a newly invented word or phrase
  32. wanderlust
    very strong or irresistible impulse to travel
  33. nightingale
    European songbird noted for its melodious nocturnal song
  34. periscope
    an instrument providing a view of an obstructed field
  35. sukiyaki
    a hot pot dish with beef, vegetables, tofu, and broth
  36. xylophone
    a bright-toned wooden bar instrument played with hard-headed mallets
  37. vendetta
    a blood feud between members of opposing parties
  38. catkin
    a cylindrical spikelike inflorescence
  39. buccaneer
    someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea
  40. flotilla
    a fleet of small craft
  41. paradox
    a statement that contradicts itself
  42. beleaguer
    annoy persistently
  43. zinnia
    any of various plants of the genus Zinnia cultivated for their variously and brightly colored flower heads
  44. hydraulic
    moved or operated or effected by liquid
  45. bureaucracy
    a government administered primarily by nonelective officials
  46. fidelity
    the quality of being faithful
  47. camouflage
    an outward semblance misrepresenting the nature of something
  48. tantalize
    harass with persistent teasing or baiting
  49. flamboyant
    tending to attract attention; marked by ostentatious display
  50. azure
    bright blue in color, like a clear sky
  51. mizzle
    very light rain; stronger than mist but less than a shower
  52. alderman
    a member of a city or town government
  53. llama
    a cud-chewing, South American animal related to the camel
  54. kudzu
    a type of fast-growing vine
  55. nemesis
    a personal foe or rival that cannot be easily defeated
  56. inferno
    a very intense and uncontrolled fire
  57. cedilla
    a diacritical mark (,) placed below the letter c to indicate that it is pronounced as an s
  58. nebbish
    (Yiddish) a timid unfortunate simpleton
  59. kitsch
    excessively gaudy or sentimental art
  60. vulcanize
    undergo treatment with sulfur and heat to make stronger
  61. paprika
    a plant bearing sweet, mild red peppers
  62. barrio
    a district in a Spanish-speaking country
  63. mirage
    optical illusion in which hot air distorts distant objects
  64. dungaree
    a coarse durable cotton fabric used to make jeans
  65. plateau
    a relatively flat raised area of land
  66. saffron
    crocus with pungent orange stigmas used in flavoring food
  67. perfidy
    an act of deliberate betrayal
  68. hygiene
    a condition promoting sanitary practices
  69. alleviate
    provide physical relief, as from pain
  70. omnivorous
    feeding on both plants and animals
  71. petunia
    any of numerous tropical herbs having fluted funnel-shaped flowers
  72. confetti
    small bits of colored paper thrown for festive occasions
  73. quinine
    a bitter extract from cinchona bark, used to treat malaria
  74. pistachio
    small tree of southern Europe and Asia Minor bearing small hard-shelled nuts
  75. samurai
    feudal Japanese military aristocracy
  76. polygon
    a closed plane figure bounded by straight sides
  77. regatta
    a series of boat races
  78. subterfuge
    something intended to misrepresent the nature of an activity
  79. daffodil
    any of numerous varieties of Narcissus plants having showy often yellow flowers with a trumpet-shaped central crown
  80. capitulation
    the act of surrendering, usually under agreed conditions
  81. eulogy
    a formal expression of praise for someone who has died
  82. fennel
    any of several aromatic herbs having edible seeds and leaves and stems
  83. homonym
    a word pronounced or spelled the same with another meaning
  84. muumuu
    a woman's loose unbelted dress
  85. orthodox
    adhering to what is commonly accepted
  86. koan
    a paradoxical anecdote or a riddle that has no solution
  87. aggregate
    a sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together
  88. borax
    a white mineral used in cleaning, glassmaking, and cosmetics
  89. kishke
    (Judaism) roasted fowl intestines with a seasoned filling of matzo meal and suet
  90. cockatoo
    a white or light-colored crested parrot often kept as a pet
  91. diesel
    an internal-combustion engine that burns heavy oil
  92. chagrin
    strong feelings of embarrassment
  93. typhoon
    a tropical cyclone in the western Pacific or Indian oceans
  94. piccolo
    a small flute; pitched an octave above the standard flute
  95. monotonous
    sounded or spoken in a tone unvarying in pitch
  96. prerogative
    a right reserved exclusively by a person or group
  97. gazelle
    a small antelope native to Africa and Asia
  98. implement
    a piece of equipment or a tool used for a specific purpose
  99. guilder
    the basic unit of money in Suriname; equal to 100 cents
  100. cynical
    believing the worst of human nature and motives
  101. igneous
    produced by the action of fire or intense heat
  102. bayou
    a swampy arm or slow-moving outlet of a lake
  103. lithe
    moving and bending with ease
  104. commensurate
    corresponding in size or degree or extent
  105. amphibious
    relating to vertebrates that live on land but breed in water
  106. incorruptible
    incapable of being morally corrupted
  107. terrapin
    any of various edible North American web-footed turtles living in fresh or brackish water
  108. didactic
    instructive, especially excessively
  109. tariff
    a government tax on imports or exports
  110. cobalt
    a hard ferromagnetic silver-white bivalent or trivalent metallic element; a trace element in plant and animal nutrition
  111. malaria
    a disease caused by parasites transmitted by mosquito bite
  112. oolong
    Chinese tea leaves that have been partially fermented before being dried
  113. pacifism
    the doctrine that all violence is unjustifiable
  114. aristocracy
    a privileged class holding hereditary titles
  115. bravura
    brilliant and showy technical skill
  116. foliate
    grow leaves
  117. magnanimous
    noble and generous in spirit
  118. henna
    a reddish brown dye used especially on hair
  119. pampas
    the vast grassy plains of northern Argentina
  120. zenith
    the highest point of something
  121. prosaic
    lacking wit or imagination
  122. protagonist
    the principal character in a work of fiction
  123. clementine
    a mandarin orange of a deep reddish orange color and few seeds
  124. topography
    the configuration of a surface and its features
  125. cravat
    a scarf or band of cloth worn around the neck
  126. leotard
    a tight, stretchy garment worn by gymnasts and dancers
  127. juggernaut
    a massive inexorable force
  128. thesaurus
    a book containing a classified list of synonyms
  129. affinity
    a natural attraction or feeling of kinship
  130. precocious
    characterized by exceptionally early development
  131. magnolia
    any shrub or tree of the genus Magnolia
  132. harpsichord
    a musical instrument with strings plucked by plectra
  133. contiguous
    having a common boundary or edge
  134. furlong
    a unit of length equal to 220 yards
  135. persimmon
    any of several tropical trees of the genus Diospyros
  136. babushka
    a headscarf folded into a triangle and tied under the chin
  137. excise
    remove by cutting
  138. hypothesis
    a tentative insight that is not yet verified or tested
  139. amicable
    characterized by friendship and good will
  140. cruller
    a small cake formed into twisted strips and fried
  141. diorama
    a three-dimensional representation of a scene
  142. anvil
    a heavy block on which hot metals are shaped by hammering
  143. syntax
    the study of the rules for forming admissible sentences
  144. camphor
    a resin obtained from the camphor tree
  145. jovial
    full of or showing high-spirited merriment
  146. patina
    a fine coating of oxide on the surface of a metal
  147. satori
    (Zen Buddhism) a state of sudden spiritual enlightenment
  148. altruism
    the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
  149. kasha
    boiled or baked buckwheat
  150. wiseacre
    an irritating person who is or pretends to be smart
  151. praline
    cookie-sized candy made of brown sugar and butter and pecans
  152. luau
    an elaborate Hawaiian feast or party
  153. entourage
    the group following and attending to some important person
  154. agnostic
    a person who claims the existence of God is unknowable
  155. ubiquitous
    being present everywhere at once
  156. accommodate
    have room for; hold without crowding
  157. erudite
    having or showing profound knowledge
  158. pentathlon
    an athletic contest consisting of five different events
  159. eclectic
    selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
  160. credible
    capable of being believed
  161. mohair
    fabric made with yarn made from the silky hair of the Angora goat
  162. indigenous
    originating where it is found
  163. trajectory
    the path followed by an object moving through space
  164. animosity
    a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
  165. ergonomic
    designed to maximize workers' comfort and efficiency
  166. mercurial
    liable to sudden unpredictable change
  167. hibachi
    a portable heater that burns charcoal and has a grill for cooking
  168. curriculum
    an integrated course of academic studies
  169. gregarious
    temperamentally seeking and enjoying the company of others
  170. abdicate
    give up power, duties, or obligations
  171. threshold
    the starting point for a new state or experience
  172. flamenco
    a style of dancing characteristic of the Andalusian Gypsies
  173. amnesia
    partial or total loss of memory
  174. rhetoric
    study of the technique for using language effectively
  175. autopsy
    an examination and dissection of a dead body
  176. howitzer
    a muzzle-loading high-angle gun with a short barrel that fires shells at high elevations for a short range
  177. oregano
    aromatic Eurasian perennial
  178. antibiotic
    a substance used to kill microorganisms and cure infections
  179. angst
    an acute but unspecific feeling of anxiety
  180. phenomenon
    any state or process known through the senses
  181. knish
    a baked or fried turnover filled with potato or meat
  182. adamant
    very hard native crystalline carbon valued as a gem
  183. roughhewn
    (of stone or timber) shaped or cut crudely
  184. periphery
    the outside boundary or surface of something
  185. melancholy
    a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed
  186. gulag
    a Russian prison camp for political prisoners
  187. manicure
    professional care for the hands and fingernails
  188. contrapuntal
    having independent but harmonically related melodic parts
  189. bellicose
    having or showing a ready disposition to fight
  190. scenario
    a postulated sequence of possible events
  191. homogeneous
    all of the same or similar kind or nature
  192. barrage
    the heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area
  193. epiphany
    a usually sudden insight, perception, or understanding of something
  194. linden
    any of various deciduous trees of the genus Tilia with heart-shaped leaves and drooping cymose clusters of yellowish often fragrant flowers; several yield valuable timber
  195. mahatma
    (Hinduism) term of respect for a brahmin sage
  196. protocol
    forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by officials
  197. obsequious
    attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
  198. strudel
    thin sheet of filled dough rolled and baked
  199. mystique
    an aura of heightened interest surrounding a person or thing
  200. formidable
    extremely impressive in strength or excellence
  201. bowery
    like a bower; leafy and shady
  202. retrospective
    concerned with or related to the past
  203. vigilante
    a person who takes the law into his or her own hands
  204. elixir
    a substance believed to cure all ills
  205. diagnosis
    identifying the nature or cause of some phenomenon
  206. chronology
    an arrangement of events in time
  207. nirvana
    the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation
  208. apostrophe
    a mark used to indicate the omission of one or more letters
  209. tsunami
    a cataclysm resulting from a destructive sea wave
  210. chinchilla
    small rodent with soft pearly grey fur
  211. wanton
    a lewd or immoral person
  212. mahimahi
    large slender food and game fish widely distributed in warm seas (especially around Hawaii)
  213. filibuster
    a tactic for delaying legislation by making long speeches
  214. spherical
    relating to a round, three-dimensional closed surface
  215. antipasto
    an appetizer or course of appetizers in an Italian meal
  216. postmortem
    occurring or done after death
  217. matinee
    a theatrical performance held during the daytime
  218. meticulous
    marked by precise accordance with details
  219. simile
    a figure of speech expressing a resemblance between things
  220. haiku
    an epigrammatic Japanese verse form of three short lines
  221. herbivore
    any animal that feeds chiefly on grass and other plants
  222. souvenir
    something of sentimental value
  223. hassock
    a cushion for kneeling on
  224. pangolin
    a toothless mammal with horny scales and a long snout
  225. gardenia
    any of various shrubs and small trees of the genus Gardenia having large fragrant white or yellow flowers
  226. croquet
    a game in which players hit a ball through a series of hoops
  227. azimuth
    the azimuth of a celestial body is the angle between the vertical plane containing it and the plane of the meridian
  228. ambivalent
    uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
  229. hacienda
    the main house on a ranch or large estate
  230. matriarch
    a female head of a family or tribe
  231. geothermal
    of or relating to the heat in the interior of the earth
  232. ingenious
    showing inventiveness and skill
  233. credenza
    a flat-topped piece of furniture for storage
  234. temporal
    of or relating to or limited by time
  235. consensus
    agreement in the judgment reached by a group as a whole
  236. mayonnaise
    egg yolks and oil and vinegar
  237. caribou
    Arctic deer with large antlers in both sexes
  238. polymer
    a naturally occurring or synthetic compound
  239. banzai
    a Japanese cheer of enthusiasm or triumph
  240. parfait
    sweet dish made of layered ice cream or yogurt, fruit, etc.
  241. endemic
    native to or confined to a certain region
  242. castanets
    pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone made to click together
  243. autobahn
    an expressway in a German-speaking country
  244. analysis
    abstract separation of something into its various parts
  245. dyslexia
    impaired ability to learn to read
  246. omnipotent
    having unlimited power
  247. percolate
    cause to pass through a permeable substance
  248. chary
    characterized by great caution
  249. regime
    the governing authority of a political unit
  250. synopsis
    a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument
Created on Wed May 27 23:04:23 EDT 2015

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.