Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
venerable adjective
puerile adjective
levity noun lack of proper seriousness; improper gaiety
frugal adjective thrifty; not wasteful
antipathy noun feeling of intense dislike
worthy of respect because of advanced age, dignity, etc.
foolish for a grown person to say or do; childish
List 1Sample Sentence
At family reunions our venerable grandmother, now past eighty, is accorded great respect.
Some seniors think it's fun to throw objects at passing cars, but I consider it puerile.
During the assembly George kept giggling; levity for which his teacher later scolded him.
Her frugal attitude allowed her to save a good deal of money at the supermarket.
Because of his bigoted remarks, the speaker provoked the antipathy of the audience.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularyavocation noun a hobby; supplementary occupation
charlatan noun
doughty adjective brave; strong and able
elucidate verb to make clear; explain
indolent adjective lazy
one who poses as an expert in a skill or profession for which he is not qualified
The doughty naval commander fought against very heavy odds.
You may elucidate what happened after you relax for a while.
Bird watching was an avocation that gave him many hours of pleasure.
The Great Imposter is a movie about a charlatan who posed successfully as a surgeon.
He was indolent by nature but still blamed the heat wave for his inability to do work.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
ludicrous adjective
callow adjective young and inexperienced; immature
blithe adjective merry; cheerful; happy
nepotism noun
malign verb to speak evil of; to slander
causing laughter because absurd or ridiculous; laughably absurd
favoritism shown to relatives, especially in securing jobs
List 2Sample Sentence
Our neighbor is a blithe fellow who tells amusing stories.
I cannot bear to hear you malign such a good man.
His answer to the question was so ludicrous that everyone burst out laughing.
He was surprised when his company hired a callow youth just out of college for the important new position.
Whenever a President appoints a relative to a government position, the cry of nepotism is raised by the opposing party.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularyposthumous adjective
heinous adjective outrageously evil or wicked
clandestine adjective
refute verb
cursory adjective hasty, hurried or not thorough
occurring after death; published after the author's death
kept secret or hidden especially for some illegal purpose; secretive
to disprove or demonstrate the falsity of something
The convict was severely punished for his heinous crime.
Only two of Emily Dickinson\s poems were published before she died; the rest were posthumous.
The clandestine activities of the terrorist group were never discovered by the police.
The district attorney summoned many witnesses to refute the testimony of the defendant.
His cursory studying of the material could not give him a full understanding of the subject.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
reticent adjective quiet, reserved, or uncommunicative
travail noun hard work; exhausting labor; agony
opulence noun wealth, luxury, or abundance.
arduous adjective difficult, strenuous, or hard to achieve
paltry adjective practically worthless; petty; trifling
List 3Sample Sentence
Because she was so reticent, very few people got to know her well.
She was amazed at the opulence of her neighbors.
His family found that the travail of serving ten years in a prison camp had changed him greatly.
Climbing the tree proved to be an arduous task but not a particularly dangerous one.
I complained not because of the paltry three cents that I was overcharged but because of the principle of the thing.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularyabduct verb to carry off by force
tractable adjective easily managed, taught, or controlled
obliterate verb
prodigious adjective extraordinary in size or amount; enormous
haughty adjective
to do away with or destroy; to blot out completely
having or showing great pride in oneself and disdain, contempt, or scorn for others
The kidnappers abducted the child from her home.
Anyone who has orbited the Earth has performed a prodigious task.
The horse was tractable as long as he was going in the direction of the barn; otherwise he was unmanageable.
He tried to obliterate from his memory any trace of that horrible day.
He seemed at first to be rather cold and haughty, but we came to realize that this was due mainly to his shyness.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
equanimity noun
exacerbate verb
gratuity noun
incredulous adjective
loquacious adjective Talkative; chatty
Evenness of mind or temper; calmness; composure
To irritate or make bitter; to make more violent
A tip; payment for service for which no bill is offered
Skeptical; doubtful; too extraordinary to be believed
List 4Sample Sentence
The teacher was incredulous when he heard the amazing excuse.
When one becomes engaged in an argument it is best to retain one\s equanimity in order to keep the dispute from exploding into something bigger.
The line of questions so exacerbated the witness that he refused to answer.
A gratuity of 10 to 15 percent of the check is customary in many restaurants.
The lawyer\s loquacious summation annoyed his client, who could see that the jury was losing attention.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularyreprehensible adjective Deserving blame; wrong
stringent adjective Strict; rigid; exacting
taciturn adjective Habitually silent; not given to conversation
ubiquitous adjective Present everywhere
vapid adjective Having lost its spirit or zest; spiritless
John Wayne often portrays taciturn characters in his movies.
The ubiquitous pizza parlors seem to be feeding America.
The man did not find the action of his enemy as reprehensible as he thought he would.
The Dean imposed a curfew of 7:00, the most stringent one in the history of the school.
The guest speaker made one of the most vapid speeches the audience had ever heard.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
meticulous adjective
altruism (altruist) noun
ameliorate verb To improve or make better
rustic adjective
deride verb To make fun of; to scorn
Overly or unduly careful about small details; extremely careful
Unselfish concern for the welfare of others; selflessness
Characteristic of the country and country people; simple and unsophisticated
List 5Sample Sentence
Altruism is a virtue that very few people possess.
She was extremely meticulous about her clothes and spent hours dressing for a party.
Despite the Mayor's best efforts, he could not ameliorate the situation in the ghetto.
His rustic manners seemed out of place in the elegant setting of the hotel dining room.
The teacher told the obnoxious student not to deride his fellow classmates.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularydiffident adjective Lacking self confidence; timid; shy
ostracize verb
truculent adjective Savage; cruel; fierce; warlike
vindicate verb
pugnacious adjective Eager and ready to fight; quarrelsome
To exclude someone from a social group by general consent
To clear of suspicion, as of a charge of wrongdoing
We discovered that beneath his diffident Personality there was an active and inquiring mind.
Although he was found innocent of treason, Aaron Burr was ostracized by society and left this country to live in England.
The debate, which might have been very interesting, was marred by a truculent exchange of personal abuse.
Since he has been fully vindicated by the investigation, he will resume his old position in the government.
He became much less pugnacious after he picked fights with boys who gave him sound beatings.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
forbidding adjective
inane adjective foolish, silly, lacking sense or meaning
inure verb
anarchy noun
enmity noun
looking dangerous, threatening, disagreeable, repellent
to become accustomed to something, difficult, painful, etc.
the complete absence of government, political disorder or violence, disorder in any activity
hostility, antagonism, hatred; the bitter feelings of an enemy
List 6Sample Sentence
I never became inured to running in the early morning.
The glow from the distant lighthouse cast a forbidding hue over the ocean.
We were trying not to sound inane as we spoke to the art historian, but we really knew nothing about the subject.
"If he gets up, we\ll all get up. It\ll be anarchy," is a famous line from The Breakfast Club.
Many Americans cannot help but feel enmity toward Osama Bin Laden and his terrorist network.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularysinecure noun
tacit adjective
inveigle verb
anachronism noun
avarice noun
any office or position that brings profit or advantage without involving much work or responsibility
not expressed or declared openly, but implied or understood
to trick into doing something, to lead on with deception
anything that is or seems to be out of its proper time in history
too great a desire to have wealth; greed for riches
No one would ever need to retire from a job that is a sinecure.
Her nod was enough tacit approval for me to understand her message.
The salesman had a reputation for inveigling his customers into buying things they did not intend to buy.
For a girl to call her boyfriend her "beau" is anachronistic in 2011.
His avarice increased with age, until it became an uncontrollable obsession for wealth.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
condone verb
hackneyed adjective
imperative adjective required; absolutely necessary; compulsory
mundane adjective
placid adjective calm; peaceful; undisturbed
to excuse, forgive, or pardon; to overlook an offense
made trite and commonplace by overuse; stale
worldly, (as distinguished from heavenly); commonplace
List 7Sample Sentence
His writing style is weakened by repeated use of hackneyed phrases.
It is imperative that you submit your application before May 1.
His behavior was so outrageous that I cannot see how anyone could even try to condone it.
Now that we have discussed all those profound philosophical problems, let's get down to the mundane job of preparing dinner.
Although the scene was still placid, I knew that before long we were in for some wild excitement.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularyspurious adjective
stealthy adjective
urbane adjective
pariah noun a social outcast; one despised by society
desecrate verb
not genuine or true; lacking in authenticity; fake
marked by secrecy or concealment; furtive; sly
refined; polite and courteous in a smooth, polished way; suave
to violate the sacredness of something; to profane; to treat as if not sacred
The document on which we had intended to base our case turned out to be spurious--a crude counterfeit.
Creeping stealthily, through the underbrush, the soldiers approached their enemies.
I admired the urbane ease with which he handled the difficult situation.
In Lord of the Flies, Piggy quickly became the pariah of the small society that formed on the island.
Vandals had desecrated the church by carving their initials on the large wooden doors.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
vociferous adjective
euphemism noun
dearth noun
harbinger noun
irate adjective angry, wrathful, incensed
loud, noisy, or vehement in making one's feelings known
a mild or pleasant expression substituted for one that is harsh or blunt
a scarcity or lack; too small a supply or shortage
a person or thing that comes before to announce or give an indication of what is to follow
List 8Sample Sentence
The judge ordered the vociferous spectator to be thrown out of the courtroom
Instead of calling Meredith "fat," he tactfully employed the euphemism "pleasingly plump."
When the crops failed, there was a dearth of grain for flour, and bread prices skyrocketed.
The first robin is a well-known harbinger of spring. The first vulture circling is a harbinger of something else.
He is usually even-tempered, but he becomes irate when he encounters rudeness.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularypinnacle noun the highest point, peak; culmination
recalcitrant adjective
squalid adjective dirty from neglect; wretched
nebulous adjective unclear; vague; cloudy, misty
decry verb
stubbornly disobedient or rebellious; hard to handle; unruly
to speak out against strongly and openly; to denounce
At the very pinnacle of success, he enjoyed wealth, admiration from others, and widespread affection.
We cannot allow one recalcitrant student to disrupt the work of the entire class.
Jakob Riis photographed the awful living conditions in the squalid tenements of New York.
His ideas were so nebulous that no one could agree or disagree with him.
The graduation speaker decried the tendency of too many Americans to seek wealth before all else.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
extol verb to praise highly; to laud
innate adjective
enigma noun
rancor noun
invective noun
that which seems to be with someone from birth; existing naturally rather than acquired
a perplexing or seemingly unexplainable matter or person
a continuing and bitter hate or ill will; deep spite and malice.
a violent verbal attack; strong criticism, insult curses, etc.
List 9Sample Sentence
The speaker extolled the doctor for his great contributions to mankind.
His good taste and courtesy are not the result of training but rather are innate.
The many aspects of his changing personality make Tom an enigma to me.
Unfortunately, the debate between them was marked by personal rancor rather than honest discussion of the issues.
It is possible to wage a hard-hitting political campaign without resorting to the use of invectives.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularyacumen noun
obdurate adjective
pragmatic adjective
audacious adjective fearlessly daring; bold; arrogantly insolent
banal adjective common, unoriginal, drearily predictable
keenness and quickness in understanding and dealing with a situation; shrewdness
not easily moved to pity or sympathy; hard- hearted, stubborn or obstinate
practical; concerned with actual, everyday things rather than with theory or speculation
In spite of all our efforts to persuade him, he remained obdurate.
The lecturer\s banal comments bored the audience to tears.
In the 19th century, many fortunes were made by men with great business acumen.
Rather than listening to the politicians explain the theories of poverty, he had the pragmatic problem of getting food on the table.
In this time of crisis, we need imaginative, bold and even audacious leadership.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
culpable adjective
ignominious adjective
ostentatious adjective showing off boastfully; boastful
vicissitudes noun
alacrity noun cheerful willingness or eagerness
Responsible for doing something wrong; deserving blame; guilty
Deserving disgrace or shame; dishonorable; despicable
changes in fortune; ups and downs in circumstances
List 10Sample Sentence
The traitor spent the last years of his life in ignominious exile.
You must learn to face the many vicissitudes of life.
Anyone who took any part in the conspiracy was considered equally culpable.
The man displayed his expensive new suit in a very ostentatious manner.
Since Bob needed a job to pay for his college expenses, he accepted with alacrity the offer.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularydecadent adjective in a state of decline or decay; deteriorating
garrulous adjective Talkative
temerity noun
eclectic adjective
anathema noun
Reckless, boldness; foolish disregard for danger
composed of materials gained from many sources, systems, etc.
a thing or person accursed or damned; a thing or person greatly detested; a formal curse
The garrulous cab driver kept up a steady stream of chatter.
When people lose interest in literature, it's a sign that the society is becoming decadent.
In 1941, Japanese militarists had the temerity to risk the future of their country on the wild gamble of a knockout blow on Pearl Harbor.
The statesman did no believe in only one political philosophy, but rather took a more eclectic view of world affairs.
After almost 200 years, the name of Benedict Arnold is still anathema to Americans.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
magnanimous adjective
misanthrope noun a person who hates or mistrusts all people
parsimonious adjective unreasonably cheap or stingy
pundit noun
officious adjective
noble in mind; high-souled; generous in overlooking injury or insult; rising above pettiness or meanness
a person who has or professes to have great learning; actual or self- professed authority
offering unnecessary or unwanted advice or services; meddlesome, especially in an
List 11Sample Sentence
Churchill emphasized that we should be firm in war, defiant in defeat, and magnanimous in victory.
Because of his hateful stares and habitual silence, the man had the reputation of being a misanthrope.
He had become so accustomed to a parsimonious way of living that he denied himself even the simplest comforts.
During the week of the Super Bowl, many so-called pundits are always telling you in advance which team will win the game.
To disguise the fact that he was performing no useful function, he developed an officious manner of intruding into everyone else\s work
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularyoverbearing way
intrepid adjective bold; fearless; dauntless; very brave
lugubrious adjective
esoteric adjective
imperious adjective
poignant adjective
very sad or mournful, especially in a way that seems exaggerated or ridiculous
intended for or understood by only a chosen few beyond the knowledge and understanding of most people
arrogant; haughty; seeking to dominate; overbearing
distressing to the feelings; touching; appealing to the emotions; affecting
All honors should go to the intrepid and highly trained men who are exploring outer space.
His lugubrious expression was intended to suggest that he, more than anyone else, understood the sadness of the occasion.
The lecture was too esoteric to be appreciated by most people in the audience.
He is so inflated with the sense of his own importance that he adopts an imperious manner toward his subordinates.
Who can remain unmoved by the poignant scene in which Sidney Carton sacrifices his life for the woman he loves.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
repugnant adjective distasteful; offensive; repulsive
tacit adjective implied but not expressed
vicarious adjective
prevaricate verb
involving sympathetic participation by a person in the experiences of another; experienced or endured or enjoyed through imaginative participation in the experiences of another
to evade or conceal the truth; to deviate from the truth; to lie
List 12Sample Sentence
I find his horrible manners utterly repugnant.
Since mother raised no objection to my idea, I assumed that I had her tacit consent to go ahead with the plan.
Having been too frail to participate in competitive sports, he took vicarious pleasure in his younger brother's football heroics.
Although you may be tempted to prevaricate, in the long run it will be better off if you own up to what you did.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularysupercilious adjective contemptuously proud; haughty; disdainful
enervate verb to weaken; to deprive of force
plethora noun an excess; an overabundance
prototype noun
askew adverb to one side; crookedly
abrogate verb to cancel or repeal by authority; to annul
an original that serves as a model on which later stages are based or judged; an early and typical example
The long stretch of hot, humid weather enervated all of us.
In spite of his supercilious attitude, I refuse to concede that he is our social superior.
The boy has a plethora of energy and inventiveness, which he sometimes directs into mischief.
Salinger's brilliant Catcher in the Rye has served as the prototype for many novels about confused teenagers.
In my efforts to straighten the picture, I knocked the lampshade askew.
Since the treaty had proved unworkable, the two nations decided to abrogate it.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
bequeath verb to leave to another in a will; to hand down
laud verb to praise highly
crass adjective grossly stupid or dull; coarse
complacent adjective smug; self satisfied; pleased with oneself
tribulation noun great misery or distress; great trouble
List 13Sample Sentence
My father bequeathed to his children a little money and the glorious example of a life well spent in the service of his country.
At the testimonial dinner, he was lauded by community leaders for his service to the school.
His attempts to argue about a subject far beyond his depth seemed only to reveal his crass ignorance and conceit.
He had the complacent attitude of a man who considers himself superior to the "common herd."
The tribulations which he suffered and overcame have made him a wiser, more compassionate person.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularycajole verb
chagrin noun
docile adjective easily taught; responsive; tractable
vacillate verb to waver in mind or opinion
sage adjective marked by wisdom and good judgment
to coax or persuade with insincere or false words; to wheedle
mental distress due to disappointment or humiliation
Using rather far-fetched promises, I finally cajoled her into accompanying us to the fair
When he did not receive an invitation, he tried unsuccessfully to conceal his deep-seated chagrin.
Since I expected him to be unruly, I was pleasantly surprised by his gentle, docile behavior.
When you have considered all the factors carefully and have decided what is right, act without vacillating.
His sage advice has helped thousands of people deal with their problems.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
dupe verb to deceive
acme noun highest point; pinnacle
deter verb
homily noun
epicure noun
to restrain or discourage from action through fear
a sermon; a discourse emphasizing moral principles
one who cultivates refined tastes, especially in eating and drinking
List 14Sample Sentence
Once he had decided where his duty lay, nothing could deter him.
Only an inexperienced and naive person could be duped into investing money in such a hairbrained scheme.
Election to the Presidency was the acme of his long and brilliant career.
Instead of those high-flown homilies, we need some good practical plans.
The store specializes in delicacies that will please even the most demanding epicures.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularysurfeit noun excessive amount
itinerant adjective traveling from place to place
cache noun a hiding place
incite verb to instigate; to spur on
appease verb to bring to a state of peace or quiet; to satisfy by making concessions or giving in to
I have had my surfeit of excuses and evasions; I want action!
The tyrant can be appeased only by absolute submission to his will.
Peter became an itinerant folk singer, traveling to college campuses all over the land.
The conspirators had set up a cache of firearms in the old farmhouse.
Only intolerable living conditions could have incited the peasants to rebellion.
Grade 9 VocabularyWord Part of Speech Definition
impetuous adjective impulsive; done hastily or rashly
perfidy noun treachery; breach of trust or faith
hovel noun a dirty, wretched dwelling place
advent noun coming into view or being; arrival
List 15Sample Sentence
The advent of winter brings thoughts of sleds, ice-skates, and skis.
Because he is impetuous by nature, John often has cause to regret his rash actions.
Because he betrayed our country, Benedict Arnold's name has become a symbol of perfidy in American history.
It is shocking that the families of the migratory workers had to live in such hovels.
Your sentence
Grade 9 Vocabularyindigent adjective needy; poor
effrontery noun impudence; shameless boldness
rectify verb to correct; to set right
amass verb to accumulate; to gather together
By saving systematically over the years, he amassed a large fortune.
The purpose of this new program is to help those indigent people who can't help themselves.
How does he have the effrontery to ask me for help when he ignored my requests during my time of need.
It is good to rectify a mistake; it is better not to make it in the first place.
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