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125 Words Every 8th Grader Should Know: List 2

Learn these essential words that you'll encounter in literature, textbooks, class discussions, and more.
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Full list of words from this list:

  1. adamant
    impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason
    In the face of such adamant refusal, there was no agreed plan within the administration on how to proceed. The Guardian (May 24, 2020)
  2. audacious
    disposed to venture or take risks
    Harry’s was an age that spawned bold dreams and audacious dreamers. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
  3. concise
    expressing much in few words
    A man of few words, Mendel was even more concise in his writing: he had distilled nearly a decade’s work into forty-four spectacularly dreary pages. The Gene
  4. elusive
    skillful at evading capture
    New beekeepers are told that the way to find the elusive queen is by first locating her circle of attendants. The Secret Life of Bees
  5. exasperate
    make furious
    It exasperated him that Clara never seemed truly grateful for anything and never seemed to need anything that he could give her. The House of the Spirits: A Novel
  6. foolhardy
    marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
    My plan was simple and foolhardy: steal a rowboat, cross the river to Jersey, and walk to Charleston. Chains
  7. gnarled
    old and twisted and covered in lines
    There they sat under an old gnarled oak that sent its roots twisting like snakes down a steep crumbling bank. The Two Towers
  8. implore
    beg or request earnestly and urgently
    He spoke first and implored her to be kind to him. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes
  9. impudent
    marked by casual disrespect
    That cup had its place and it was an act of impudent rebellion to place it anywhere else. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
  10. mandatory
    required by rule
    It is customary, but not mandatory, to give rings to all players who appeared for a team in a championship season, though it wasn’t always that way. New York Times (Nov 3, 2021)
  11. pensive
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
    He looked kind of pensive for a minute and said he would think about it and get back to us. How I Live Now
  12. reprieve
    a relief from harm or discomfort
    Their brief reprieve was over, however; people were coming at them from all directions. The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)
  13. shrewd
    marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
    Cleopatra was a shrewd, capable, and experienced leader. Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen
  14. succinct
    briefly giving the gist of something
    “An admirably succinct and accurate summary, yes,” said Dumbledore, bowing his head. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  15. tedious
    so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
    Rufus said I didn’t have to, but as tedious as the work was, I could stand it easier than I could stand more long hours of boredom. Kindred
Created on Thu Dec 02 08:59:21 EST 2021 (updated Tue Dec 07 09:59:27 EST 2021)

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