133 words every grade 11 speller should know, each with a kid-friendly definition. Hear them read aloud and practice for free with the Spellaroo spelling quiz.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| aberration | departure from normal |
| abstruse | difficult to understand |
| acumen | ability to make quick decisions |
| alacrity | eager willingness |
| ameliorate | to make better |
| anachronism | something out of its time |
| antipathy | strong dislike |
| archaic | very old or outdated |
| arduous | requiring great effort |
| articulate | to express clearly |
| ascetic | practicing self-denial |
| astute | having sharp judgment |
| audacious | showing willingness to take risks |
| austere | severe or strict in manner |
| avarice | extreme greed for wealth |
| benevolent | kind and generous |
| capricious | given to sudden changes |
| circumvent | find way around obstacle |
| cogent | clear and logical |
| colloquial | used in ordinary conversation |
| complacent | showing smug satisfaction |
| connoisseur | expert judge in matters of taste |
| cumbersome | large and heavy |
| cursory | hasty and superficial |
| dearth | scarcity or lack |
| deleterious | causing harm or damage |
| derivative | imitative of another's work |
| didactic | intended to teach |
| dispassionate | not influenced by emotion |
| dogmatic | inclined to lay down principles |
| dubious | hesitating or doubting |
| eccentric | unconventional and strange |
| efficacious | successful in producing result |
| eloquent | fluent and persuasive |
| endemic | native to particular area |
| ephemeral | lasting very short time |
| erudite | having great knowledge |
| esoteric | understood by few people |
| exemplary | serving as desirable model |
| extant | still in existence |
| facetious | treating serious issues lightly |
| fastidious | very attentive to detail |
| fervent | having passionate intensity |
| fortuitous | happening by chance |
| gregarious | fond of company of others |
| hackneyed | lacking originality |
| hegemony | leadership or dominance |
| iconoclast | person who attacks beliefs |
| immutable | unchanging over time |
| impeccable | in accordance with standards |
| jeopardize | put at risk of being harmed |
| jubilant | feeling or expressing great happiness |
| judicious | having good judgment or sense |
| laborious | requiring considerable effort |
| lament | express passionate grief about |
| laudable | deserving praise and commendation |
| lethargic | affected by lethargy; sluggish |
| lucid | expressed clearly; easy to understand |
| magnanimous | generous in forgiving |
| malevolent | having or showing wish to do evil |
| misanthrope | person who dislikes humankind |
| mundane | lacking interest or excitement |
| nefarious | extremely wicked |
| nonchalant | feeling or appearing casually calm |
| notorious | famous for some bad quality |
| obsequious | obedient to an excessive degree |
| obsolete | no longer produced or used |
| omnipotent | having unlimited power |
| opulent | ostentatiously rich and luxurious |
| ostentatious | characterized by vulgar display |
| paramount | of the highest importance |
| parsimonious | extremely frugal; unwilling to spend |
| pedantic | excessively concerned with details |
| pensive | engaged in deep or serious thought |
| perfunctory | carried out with minimum effort |
| pernicious | having harmful effect |
| perspicacious | having keen insight |
| petulant | childishly sulky or bad-tempered |
| philanthropic | seeking to promote welfare of others |
| placid | not easily upset or excited |
| poignant | evoking keen sense of sadness |
| pompous | affectedly grand or solemn |
| ponderous | having great weight; unwieldy |
| pragmatic | dealing with things realistically |
| precocious | developed earlier than usual |
| pretentious | attempting to impress |
| provincial | unsophisticated or narrow |
| prudent | acting with care and thought |
| quandary | state of perplexity or uncertainty |
| querulous | complaining in petulant way |
| quixotic | extremely idealistic and unrealistic |
| rancorous | characterized by bitterness |
| recalcitrant | obstinately uncooperative |
| relinquish | voluntarily cease to keep |
| remorse | deep regret or guilt |
| reprehensible | deserving condemnation |
| reticent | not revealing thoughts or feelings |
| sagacious | having keen mental discernment |
| sanctimonious | making show of being moral |
| sanguine | optimistic in bad circumstances |
| sardonic | grimly mocking or cynical |
| scrupulous | diligent and careful |
| sedentary | tending to spend time seated |
| servile | having or showing excessive willingness |
| solicitous | characterized by care and concern |
| sporadic | occurring at irregular intervals |
| spurious | not genuine; false |
| stringent | strict, precise, and exacting |
| sublime | of high spiritual or aesthetic worth |
| superfluous | unnecessary; more than needed |
| surreptitious | kept secret especially because unauthorized |
| taciturn | reserved or uncommunicative in speech |
| tangible | perceptible by touch |
| tedious | too long, slow, or dull |
| tenacious | tending to keep firm hold |
| trepidation | feeling of fear about something |
| truculent | eager or quick to argue |
| ubiquitous | present everywhere |
| unctuous | excessively flattering or ingratiating |
| unscrupulous | having no moral principles |
| urbane | courteous and refined in manner |
| usurp | take unlawfully or by force |
| vacuous | having or showing lack of thought |
| vehement | showing strong feeling |
| venerable | accorded deep respect |
| verbose | using more words than needed |
| vicarious | experienced through another |
| vigilant | keeping careful watch |
| vindictive | having strong desire for revenge |
| vivacious | attractively lively and animated |
| wary | feeling or showing caution |
| whimsical | playfully quaint or fanciful |
| zealous | showing great energy or passion |