top of page

TIER II WORDS

The words listed below are considered universal, NEED TO KNOW words...which is why we learn them during WORD STUDY in class.  I try to play a really awesome game called "who heard our words."  Basically, once learning our words, students are encouraged to listen for and use our TIER II words.  If they share the words they heard and the context in which they heard them in class, I sign off on their "word list."  Students can earn a cool, delicious jolly rancher when they share five or more times.  PARENTS:  please review the list below (7th or 8th grade) and work the words into your vernacular.  You will start seeing some pretty aweome reactions!!!

 

 

study using
Study Sets for all of these words can be found at on Quizlet!
Quizlet
@ELAPizzoStyle
7th Grade
 

  1. considerate: showing concern for another's feelings
     

  2. inspired: to be influenced or encouraged to do something 
     

  3. anxious: nervous or uneasy 
     

  4. antithesis: direct opposite, contrast 
     

  5. cynical: distrusting the motives and actions of others 
     

  6. obstacle: something real or imagined that gets in the way of progress 
     

  7. sympathetic: to showing support for others 
     

  8. candid: honest and sincere expression; free from bias 
     

  9. malicious: having or showing desire to cause harm to someone/something 
     

  10. emulate: to copy or imitate someone or something 
     

  11. genuine: honest or sincere 
     

  12. plethora: a lot of something 
     

  13. egotistical: an exaggerated sense of self-importance
     

  14. ingenious: cleverly inventive or resourceful 
     

  15. rapport: a relationship built on trust and understanding 
     

  16. laborious: something that requires a lot of work 
     

  17. dispute: an argument or debate 
     

  18. perception: knowledge based on observation 
     

  19. eloquent: speech/actions that are powerful, expressive, moving 
     

  20. speculate: to think or reflect on something
     

  21. deceive: to lie or trick someone 
     

  22. identity: a person's individuality
     

  23. rational: to make sense 
     

  24. irrational: to not make sense 
     

  25. verbatim: word for word 
     

  26. loathe: to hate 
     

  27. perplex: to be confused or puzzled 
     

  28. flagrant: obvious or clear 
     

  29. utmost: to the maximum 
     

  30. corrupt: to be dishonest 
     

  31. authentic: real; not fake or copied 
     

  32. menacing: to be threatening 
     

  33. chronological: order of events according to time 
     

  34. sequence: pattern or order 
     

  35. exuberant: full of enthusiasm or joy 
     

  36. conviction: a strong belief 
     

  37. vile: disgusting 
     

  38. ferocity: extreme intensity 
     

  39. elite: socially superior 
     

  40. nonchalant: in an unconcerned manner 
     

  41. sullen: gloomy or depressed 
     

  42. reckless: without care for consequences or danger 
     

  43. premonition:  a feeling that something is going to happen 
     

  44. gallant:  brave; noble 
     

  45. reluctant:  unwilling to do something 
     

  46.  vacant:  empty 
     

  47. contempt:  feeling of dislike or lack of respect for someone 
     

  48. indignant:  angry because something is unfair 
     

  49. jovial:  a feeling of joy or cheer 
     

  50. divulge: to make known; to tell 
     

  51. fallacy:  a false belief 
     

  52. virtuoso:  a person with a skill or talent 
     

  53. unanimous:  everyone is in agreement 
     

  54.  quandary:  a problem or a time when one feels uncertain 
     

  55.  aptitude:  a natural ability or talent that someone has 
     

  56. jargon:  vocabulary that is used for a particular trade or profession 
     

  57. restitution:  to pay back for what has been lost, damaged, etc. 
     

  58. ominous:  threatening; bad omen 
     

  59. furtive: being sneaky or sly 
     

  60.  adversary:  a person who is against another; an enemy

 

  
8th Grade​



  1. abrasive: very unpleasant or irritating
     

  2. enigma: something that is hard to understand
     

  3. perilous: involving potential loss or injury 
     

  4. billow: to rise up and make big 
     

  5. despondent: feeling or showing no hope 
     

  6. pragmatic: willing to see things as they really are and deal with them rationally 
     

  7. speculate: to form an opinion from little or no evidence 
     

  8. erratic: lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern 
     

  9. intuitive: the power of knowing immediately and without conscious reasoning 
     

  10. fickle: likely to change; unstable 
     

  11. immoral: against what is right; not good or decent 
     

  12. assiduous: involved in constant activity 
     

  13. camaraderie : the feeling of closeness and friendship 
     

  14. mundane: the practical details of regular life 
     

  15. obsolete: having passed its time of usefulness 
     

  16. guru: a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field 
     

  17. eccentric: different from the ordinary 
     

  18. insinuate: to convey an idea indirectly 
     

  19. callous: having or showing a lack of sympathy 
     

  20. trepidation: to have anxiety; alarmed 
     

  21. eclectic: selecting or choosing from a variety of sources 
     

  22. accolade: recognition of achievement 
     

  23. capricious: likely to change frequently or unexpectedly 
     

  24. finite: having a limit 
     

  25. laconic: using few words; expressing much in few words 
     

  26. reprehensible: very bad; deserving strong criticism 
     

  27. adversity: a state of serious or continued difficulty
     

  28. misnomer: a wrong or unsuitable name 
     

  29. tenacious: persistent  or stubborn; not letting go
     

  30. pretentious: appearing/trying to appear better than one is 
     

  31. ludicrous: very foolish; obviously absurd 
     

  32. resonance: strongly affecting someone or something 
     

  33. proverbial: commonly spoken of; widely known
     

  34. bigot: a person who is intolerant of any differing belief or opinion 
     

  35. deduce: to make an inference (draw conclusion) 
     

  36. elicit: to draw or bring out or forth 
     

  37. tedious: something that is tiresome because of length or dullness 
     

  38. notorious: widely known, talked about (in a bad way) 
     

  39. aspire: strive toward a high goal 
     

  40. daunting: tending to overwhelm or intimidate
     

  41. hypocrite: a person who acts opposite to his/her stated beliefs 
     

  42. vindicate: to set free 
     

  43. spiteful:  showing a desire to harm, anger or defeat someone 
     

  44. ambiguous:  capable of being understood in two or more ways 
     

  45. tact:  knowing what to say or do in order to maintain good relations with others 
     

  46. formidable:  intimidating because of fear or awe 
     

  47. reclusive:  shut off from the world; secluded 
     

  48. decorum:  the state of being proper/properly behaved 
     

  49. vernacular:  plain, ordinary language 
     

  50. ethical: knowing right or wrong and following moral principles 
     

  51. gullible:  easily deceived or cheated 
     

  52. analogy:  a comparison made to show a similarity 
     

  53. incredulous:  a feeling of disbelief 
     

  54.  skeptical:  to show doubt or uncertainty 
     

  55.  modest:  not too proud or openly confident
     

  56. loyal:  to be faithful 
     

  57. assertive:  confidently aggressive or self-assure 
     

  58. inevitable:  unable to be avoided 
     

  59. compulsory: something that is required or mandatory 
     

  60.  juxtapose:  place side by side

 

bottom of page