125 Words Every 8th Grader Should Know: List 3

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. belligerent
    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
    As soon as they let him out, he’d fight another soldier or get belligerent with an officer and they’d throw him back in. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
  2. benign
    kind in disposition or manner
    There was no benign smile upon Dumbledore’s face, no twinkle in the eyes behind the spectacles. Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
  3. ecstatic
    feeling great rapture or delight
    I was totally ecstatic about being a part of something that I’d heard so many wonderful things about. The Freedom Writers Diary
  4. emaciated
    very thin, especially from disease or hunger or cold
    She coughed a lot, and she was very thin, almost emaciated; but she still took pride in her appearance. The Handmaid's Tale
  5. exploit
    use or manipulate to one's advantage
    He watched the class like a hawk, suspicious, searching out cheaters or daydreamers, probing for weaknesses in the students and then exploiting those weaknesses. The Chocolate War
  6. formidable
    inspiring fear or dread
    She wasn’t much taller than I was, but she suddenly seemed formidable. Beyond the Bright Sea
  7. haughty
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    Even unconscious, he looked proud and haughty, but there was nothing to be afraid of. The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge
  8. initiative
    readiness to embark on bold new ventures
    We each took turns leading the training sessions in order to develop leadership, initiative, and self-confidence. Long Walk to Freedom
  9. monotonous
    tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
    The first stop was the south-east corner, where Foremole and his crew had a monotonous task: night and day they monitored the grounds for sounds of tunneling. Redwall
  10. pervasive
    spreading or spread throughout
    The acrid smoke and its pervasive smell made me sick to my stomach. Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution
  11. resent
    feel bitter or indignant about
    He muttered thanks but sarcastically, as if he resented our help. Adrift
  12. succumb
    give in, as to overwhelming force, influence, or pressure
    I only choked out one word before succumbing to my anger and slamming down the phone. Internment
  13. sully
    place under suspicion or cast doubt upon
    It puts innocent people at risk, sullies the reputation of others involved in the game, and undermines public respect and support for the NFL. Washington Post
  14. teem
    be full of or abuzz with
    Humans were scarce, and the swamps and woods teemed with wildlife—probably a pretty good time to be a burrowing owl, Roy mused. Hoot
  15. usurp
    seize and take control without authority
    In some ways, she thinks he usurps what should be her role. Drama High
Created on Thu Dec 02 08:59:51 EST 2021 (updated Tue Dec 07 09:59:16 EST 2021)

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