7th Grade Vocabulary Practice

rash

(adj) acting without thought: It's best to think things over calmly and thoroughly, rather than make __________ decisions.

melancholy

(adj) depression of spirits, gloomy, weary: The best word to describe Jim is__________; no matter the situation, he always walks around looking like he had just lost his best friend.

tentative

(adj.) Hesitant, uncertain; not final. Although Sarah's car was in the shop, she made tentative plans to drive to Sarah's on Friday, thinking she would have the car back by then. Although Sarah's car was in the shop, she made __________ plans to drive to Sarah's on Friday, thinking she would have the car back by then.

resilient

(adj.) able to recover quickly from harm, misfortune or illness: Children can be amazingly __________. Having faced sad and frightening experiences, they often bounce back to their normal cheerful selves.

lavish

(adj.) abundant or excessive: The__________ spending of the wealthy women ensured that her cats only ate from bowls of solid gold.

arbitrary

(adj.) based on random choice or personal whim rather than reason: We need something less __________ than a coin flip to decide this.

viable

(adj.) capable of being successful, workable: The little boy quickly learned that using plastic tape is not a __________ solution to mending a broken vase.

detrimental

(adj.) causing damage, harm, or disadvantage: Cigarettes are __________to your health.

concise

(adj.) clear and brief; saying much in a few clear words. Unlike many politicians, our mayor is __________; his speeches are short but say much.

bogus

(adj.) counterfeit or fake: We went to an Italian restaurant last night and I think our server's Italian accent was __________!

precarious

(adj.) dangerous or unstable position: It was a __________ moment; we were out of town, without any money and without any gas.

distraught

(adj.) deeply disturbed and highly troubled: Janice began to feel after the fourth hour of looking for her young daughter at the shopping center, but she felt euphoric when a security guard found her child in a toy store.

despondent

(adj.) deeply hopeless: Tina became increasingly __________ over the failure of her constant attempts to beat the school record.

poignant

(adj.) deeply moving: Our teacher actually cried after reading the__________ final chapter of the novel.

pretentious

(adj.) describes something or someone that claims to be very important or grand: The ___________ girl walked to the front of the line, cutting everyone, and told the man the she shouldn't have to wait in line to go on the roller coaster because her grandfather owned the amusement park.

benign

(adj.) describes something that is harmless: That snake puffs itself up to look dangerous as a defense mechanism, but it's actually __________.

desolate

(adj.) deserted; lonely; without signs of life: We drove on the __________ highway without seeing another car or passing a single gas station for two hours!

corrosive

(adj.) destroying something gradually: Just like acid is __________ to cloth, racism __________ our society.

tedious

(adj.) dull, boring: As time passed and the history professor continued to drone on and on, the lecture became increasingly __________.

avid

(adj.) eager or enthusiastic about something: The __________ dog jumped up and down when its owner grabbed its leash from the hook on the wall.

susceptible

(adj.) easily affected by; sensitive to: I am the only one who did not put on sunscreen, so I am the most __________ to sunburn.

candid

(adj.) expressed honestly and without holding back unpleasant truths: Jim asked his friends for their __________ opinions about his painting.

ornate

(adj.) extremely decorative: A snowflake under a microscope is__________; it has many tiny angular holes.

negligent

(adj.) failing to take proper care of or to give proper attention to: You were __________ in failing to lock the car doors.

dilapidated

(adj.) fallen into partial ruin or decay, as from age, wear, or neglect: The __________ house looked dangerous; the floor boards where broken and falling through to the foundation.

obstinate

(adj.) firmly staying with one's purpose or opinion: The old man was __________ about moving since he had live in his house since the 1920s.

contentious

(adj.) frequently engaging in and appearing to enjoy arguments and disputes: Howard is so __________ that he argues about everything; I think he just likes to argue.

lethargic

(adj.) greatly lacking energy often due to laziness: The huge Thanksgiving dinner made the entire family __________; even the dog refused to stand up after eating pounds of table scraps.

intermittent

(adj.) happening sometimes but not regularly or often: The weather was dull and cloudy with __________ rain.

elusive

(adj.) hard to catch or find: Chameleons are __________ creatures who have the ability to blend in with their backgrounds.

euphoric

(adj.) having an intense feeling of happiness; overjoyed: I was __________when I found my lost dog; I thought I would never see him again.

amiable

(adj.) having friendly, pleasant, kind and good-natured qualities: Elizabeth is an __________ person who always smiles and helps anyone in need.

adept

(adj.) highly skilled: Olympian Michael Phelps is__________ at swimming.

futile

(adj.) incapable of producing a useful result, pointless: Brianna's attempt to catch a plane was __________ because the plane had already taken off.

sedentary

(adj.) involving a lot of sitting and little exercise: People in__________ occupations, such as bus drivers and writers, need to make a special effort to exercise.

erratic

(adj.) irregular; not consistent: The driver ahead of me was __________; he kept changing his speed and his lane.

apathetic

(adj.) lacking concern or emotion: Uninterested in politics, Susan was __________ about who would win the election so she decided not to vote.

meager

(adj.) lacking in quantity or quality: Every morning he eats a __________ breakfast of toast and coffee.

eclectic

(adj.) made up of parts from various sources: Tim has an __________ music collection that ranges from heavy metal to country.

unintelligible

(adj.) not capable of being understood: My dad says the lyrics of the music I listen to are __________, but my sister and I understand every word!

infallible

(adj.) not capable of error; unable to make a mistake; perfect: Computers aren't __________. If you put the wrong data into a computer, you'll get the wrong answers.

trivial

(adj.) not important, having little value: Do not bother me with __________ questions; wait until you want to know something that truly matters.

facetious

(adj.) not meant to be taken seriously or literally: "Do you really want me to dress up like a clown for the formal dinner or are you being __________?"

ambiguous

(adj.) open to several interpretations; unclear: The end of that movie was __________; I think the hero was killed, but my sister thinks there's no proof that he died and that there will be a sequel.

pedantic

(adj.) overly concerned with academic learning; bookish: Although I like cars, I was so bored by John's __________ speech about how the engine works; he was just trying to show off.

prolific

(adj.) producing many works, ideas, results or offspring: Rabbits deserve their reputation for being __________. A female can produce three families each summer.

lucrative

(adj.) producing wealth or profit: Jessica knew that setting up a lemonade stand during a hot day was a __________ idea in her neighborhood, since so many people liked to play outside.

volatile

(adj.) prone to become suddenly __________ or dangerous; explosive: The peaceful protest became volatile and the police had to monitor it.

arduous

(adj.) requiring hard work and difficult to endure: Swimming three miles was the most __________ exercise Jenny ever had.

curt

(adj.) rudely brief when speaking to someone: The fast-food manager trained workers to give polite, full answers to customers, not __________ responses.

flagrant

(adj.) shockingly obvious a negative manner: John told Tim not to take any cookies and Tim __________ defied John by taking three cookies as John was watching.

meticulous

(adj.) showing extreme care about tiny details: Karen was __________ about straightening her room, ensuring that every book on her shelf was alphabetized.

diplomatic

(adj.) skillful in dealing with people in a sensitive and effective way (so that no one is upset): Tim had to be __________ about solving a problem between his two best friends; he did not want either of them to think he was favoring the other.

prestigious

(adj.) someone or something that is highly respected or esteemed: Albert Einstein started his career as a high school math teacher and ended it as one of the world's most __________ scientists.

inevitable

(adj.) sure to happen; unavoidable: We try so hard to look and stay young, but aging is__________.

tenuous

(adj.) thin and weak; insignificant: She gave a __________account of what happened before she fainted because she could not remember the details.

emaciated

(adj.) thin, starved and wasted away: The poor dog was __________ from living in the streets on its own.

oblivious

(adj.) unaware of or paying no attention to somebody or something: Patrick quickly walked through the room, __________ to the fact that he just knocked over the trash can.

tacit

(adj.) understood without being stated openly; unspoken: There was __________ agreement among his fans that even though he had a bad game, he was still the best player in the NBA.

apprehensive

(adj.) uneasy or fearful about something that might happen: Ginny was __________ as she approached the cow, not knowing if it would try to bite or kick her.

imperative

(adj.) urgent or pressing, absolutely necessary: It is __________ that we find your little sister before we leave the amusement park.

indignant

(adj.)angry or annoyed at the apparent unfairness or unreasonableness of something: Derek felt __________ once he realized another kid cut in line.

incessant

(adj.)continuing without interruption: I couldn't sleep because the faucet drip was __________.

obsolete

(adj.)no longer used, out of date: With the invention of CDs, which have better sound and are easier to use, records are now entirely __________.

diatribe

(noun) a bitter verbal or written attack or criticism: The angry employee's speech was nothing more than a __________ against the company's new president.

impasse

(noun) a situation with no way out; dead end: If you think you've reached an __________ when trying to solve a problem, take a break. The solution may come to mind while you're doing something else.

epiphany

(noun) a sudden deep insight of meaning: Tom had an __________ when he accidently kicked a piece of concrete on the sidewalk and it shattered; he thought "Oh no! My house is made of this kind of rock!"

adversity

(noun) misfortunate; hardship: Many successful people had to face much __________ in order to achieve their success.

facet

(noun) one side or aspect of something that has many sides: Today, we talked about only one __________ that contributed to the fall of Rome.

levity

(noun) remarks or behavior intended to lighten a serious situation: Joe decided to add a little__________ to the situation.

collusion

(noun) secret agreement between people to do something dishonest or illegal: The three law students worked in __________ to steal the final exam.

anecdote

(noun) short, interesting story about an event: Dad told the children an __________ about getting his tie caught in a file cabinet at work just as the boss walked in.

novice

(noun) someone who is new to an activity; a beginner: The surfer who is a __________ must learn to swim quickly.

anomaly

(noun) something that does not fit into the normal order: That Rice Crispy is an __________; it's three times the size of the rest!

harbinger

(noun) something that indicates what is to come; an omen or sign: Frost is a __________ of winter

infrastructure

(noun) the basic facilities and systems serving an area, as roads, communication systems, power plants, and schools.

apex

(noun) the highest point, the tip: His election to the presidency was the __________ of his career.

ramifications

(noun) unintended consequences of an action that may complicate a situation: We don't know all of the __________ of cloning, so we should continue research.

audacity

(noun) willingness to challenge, disregard for danger: I couldn't believe that my friend Jonathan had the __________ to challenge NBA player Shaquille O'Neil to a one-on-one game of basketball!

patronize

(verb) definition 1: to visit a business regularly. Definition 2: to be kind an helpful to someone, treating them as an inferior person.

abate

(verb) lessen in amount, reduce: We waited for the wind to__________before we took out our sailboat.

interrogate

(verb) to ask questions of in a thorough or formal manner: The investigator officer __________ the suspect for an hour until the officer was satisfied that the subject did not commit the crime.

infer

(verb) to draw a conclusion: Tom __________ that Jessica was angry with him because she looked out the window every time Tom spoke to her.

accentuate

(verb) to draw attention to something; to make a feature more noticeable: Tim __________ his new Ipod by clipping it to his belt for everyone to see.

culminate

(verb) to end in or arrive at the final stage: The Fourth of July fireworks show __________ in a spectacular display of colorful explosions.

barter

(verb) to exchange goods or services without the use of money: The colonists __________ with the natives, because the natives had no use for the colonists' money.

ostracize

(verb) to exclude someone from a group: Sarah's school friends __________ her after they discovered that she was hanging out with people from a rival school.

empathize

(verb) to feel another person's pain as your own: The retired quarterback could __________ with the current quarterback because the retired quarterback lost the Super Bowl too.

circumvent

(verb) to get around: The school's dress code forbidding navel-baring jeans was __________ by the determined students, who were careful to cover up with long coats when administrators were nearby.

detract

(verb) to lessen what is admirable or worthwhile about something: All of the litter in the park certainly __________ from the beauty of the trees and flowers.

infuriate

(verb) to make very angry: The illegal killing of whales __________ me.

inundate

(verb) to overwhelm with more of something than can be handled: Fans __________ the radio station with phone calls when Justin Bieber came to sing live.

permeate

(verb) to pass through every part; soak: The rain quickly __________ my jacket and sweater and I was soaked.

compensate

(verb) to pay someone for performing a service or to make something equal for someone who experienced something unfair: Since you carried my backpack the whole way, I'll __________ you by letting you sit in the front seat all the way home.

thwart

(verb) to prevent from accomplishing a purpose or plan: Julie __________ Jessica's Andy's attempt to win class president by tearing down his campaign posters.

regress

(verb) to return to an earlier, generally worse, condition or behavior/ to go backward: Adolescents under stress sometimes __________ to childish ways: dependency, temper tantrums and silliness.

expedite

(verb) to speed up the progress of something: Phillip paid FedEx extra to __________ his package so that it would reach his mother by her birthday.

antagonize

(verb) to stir up anger or dislike, to make an enemy of: You will __________ your classmates if you continue to make noise while they are trying to concentrate.

digress

(verb) to stray from the main topic in speaking or writing: Professor Rubin never __________ during a lecture. Even his jokes relate to the day's topic.

imply

(verb) to suggest; to express indirectly: Jessica __________that she was angry with Tom by looking out the window every time Tom spoke to her.