Juniors' Spelling Bee - Hard

Louise V. (Australia)
This is for Years 8, 9 and 10 in our school competition. Everyone is welcome to practise these challenging words.
190 words 19 learners

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Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abseil
    a descent down a cliff using a fixed rope wrapped around the body
  2. acacia
    any of various spiny trees or shrubs
  3. accompaniment
    a musical part that supports other musical parts
  4. accompany
    go or travel along with
  5. acolyte
    a devoted follower or assistant
  6. acquisition
    something gained
  7. agrarian
    relating to rural matters
  8. algorithm
    a precise rule specifying how to solve some problem
  9. alias
    a name that has been assumed temporarily
  10. anarchy
    a state of lawlessness and disorder
  11. anathema
    a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication
  12. annihilate
    kill in large numbers
  13. anniversary
    the date on which an event occurred in some previous year
  14. anodyne
    capable of relieving pain
  15. antediluvian
    of or relating to the period before the biblical flood
  16. anthracite
    a hard natural coal that burns slowly and gives intense heat
  17. apocryphal
    being of questionable authenticity
  18. apropos
    of a suitable, fitting, or pertinent nature
  19. archipelago
    a group of many islands in a large body of water
  20. aristocracy
    a privileged class holding hereditary titles
  21. asbestos
    a fibrous substance that does not burn
  22. beneficial
    promoting or enhancing well-being
  23. bivouac
    temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
  24. bourgeois
    being of the property-owning class
  25. budgerigar
    small Australian parakeet usually light green with black and yellow markings in the wild but bred in many colors
  26. calumny
    a false accusation of an offense
  27. catechism
    an elementary book summarizing the principles of a religion
  28. centenarian
    being at least 100 years old
  29. centrifugal
    tending to move away from the middle
  30. centripetal
    tending to move toward an area in the middle
  31. cessation
    a stopping
  32. chauffeur
    drive someone in a vehicle
  33. chrysalis
    pupa of a moth or butterfly enclosed in a cocoon
  34. cochineal
    Mexican red scale insect that feeds on cacti
  35. coerce
    cause to do through pressure or necessity
  36. confederation
    the state of being allied
  37. congregation
    the act of assembling
  38. conspicuous
    obvious to the eye or mind
  39. constabulary
    a force of police officers
  40. constituency
    the body of voters who elect a representative for their area
  41. consultancy
    the practice of giving expert advice within a field
  42. contemporary
    occurring in the same period of time
  43. cornucopia
    a horn filled with fruit and grain symbolizing prosperity
  44. cortege
    the group following and attending to some important person
  45. counterfeit
    not genuine; imitating something superior
  46. crescendo
    a gradual increase in loudness
  47. curriculum
    an integrated course of academic studies
  48. dahlia
    any of several plants of or developed from the species Dahlia pinnata having tuberous roots and showy rayed variously colored flower heads; native to the mountains of Mexico and Central America and Colombia
  49. dalmatian
    a medium to large dog with a smooth, white coat and black or brown spots
  50. delirious
    experiencing hallucinations
  51. demur
    politely refuse or take exception to
  52. demure
    shy or modest, often in a playful or provocative way
  53. denunciation
    a public act of condemnation
  54. devolution
    the process of declining from a higher to a lower level
  55. dilettante
    an amateur engaging in an activity without serious intention
  56. dissertation
    a treatise advancing a point of view resulting from research
  57. ecclesiastical
    of or associated with a church
  58. eczema
    an inflammatory condition of the skin
  59. enthusiastic
    having or showing great excitement and interest
  60. epitomise
    embody the essential characteristics of or be a typical example of
  61. erroneous
    containing or characterized by mistakes
  62. exchequer
    the funds of a government or institution or individual
  63. existentialism
    a philosophy that assumes that people are entirely free
  64. expatriate
    a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country
  65. exposition
    a collection of things for public display
  66. extraordinary
    highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
  67. fortuitous
    lucky; occurring by happy chance
  68. gastropod
    a class of mollusks typically having a one-piece coiled shell and flattened muscular foot with a head bearing stalked eyes
  69. gauche
    lacking social poise or refinement
  70. genealogy
    the study or investigation of ancestry and family history
  71. generation
    group of genetically related organisms in a line of descent
  72. gestation
    the period during which an embryo develops
  73. guillotine
    instrument of execution used for beheading people
  74. haiku
    an epigrammatic Japanese verse form of three short lines
  75. harbinger
    something indicating the approach of something or someone
  76. haughty
    having or showing arrogant superiority
  77. heterodox
    characterized by departure from accepted standards
  78. hypocrisy
    pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not have
  79. ideology
    an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group
  80. imaginary
    not based on fact; unreal
  81. immaterial
    lacking importance; not mattering one way or the other
  82. impeccable
    without error or flaw
  83. inappropriate
    not suitable for a particular occasion or use
  84. incipient
    only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
  85. incompatible
    not in harmonious or agreeable combination
  86. indigenous
    originating where it is found
  87. indomitable
    impossible to subdue
  88. inexorable
    impossible to prevent, resist, or stop
  89. infinitesimal
    immeasurably small
  90. ingenuity
    the power of creative imagination
  91. intermediary
    a negotiator who acts as a link between parties
  92. inveterate
    habitual
  93. judiciary
    the system of law courts that administer justice
  94. liaise
    act as or form a connection or alliance between groups
  95. liaison
    a means of communication between groups
  96. masquerade
    a party of guests wearing costumes and disguises
  97. megalomania
    a psychological state characterized by delusions of grandeur
  98. ministerial
    of or relating to a government department
  99. nadir
    the lowest point of anything
  100. necessary
    absolutely essential
  101. notorious
    known widely and usually unfavorably
  102. obligatory
    required by compulsion or convention
  103. opportunity
    a possibility from a favorable combination of circumstances
  104. opprobrium
    a state of extreme dishonor
  105. oxymoron
    conjoined contradictory terms
  106. perfunctory
    hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
  107. permeable
    allowing fluids or gases to pass or diffuse through
  108. permutation
    a complete change in character or condition
  109. perspiration
    salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
  110. pessimism
    a general disposition to expect the worst in all things
  111. physical
    involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
  112. pianissimo
    a direction in music; to be played very softly
  113. picturesque
    suggesting or suitable for an artistic composition
  114. plateau
    a relatively flat raised area of land
  115. pneumonia
    a serious illness of the lungs that makes it difficult to breathe
  116. poignant
    keenly distressing to the mind or feelings
  117. posthumous
    occurring or coming into existence after a person's death
  118. preliminary
    preceding or in preparation for something more important
  119. preposition
    a word before a noun or pronoun connecting to another word
  120. prerogative
    a right reserved exclusively by a person or group
  121. pseudonym
    a fake name used to engage in some activity
  122. quinine
    a bitter extract from cinchona bark, used to treat malaria
  123. quixotic
    not sensible about practical matters
  124. quota
    a prescribed number
  125. responsibility
    the social force that binds you to a course of action
  126. revolutionary
    markedly new or introducing radical change
  127. rhetoric
    study of the technique for using language effectively
  128. rheumatism
    any painful disorder of the joints or muscles
  129. rostrum
    a platform raised above the surrounding level
  130. roux
    a mixture of fat and flour heated and used as a basis for sauces
  131. sabbatical
    a leave usually taken every seventh year
  132. sapphire
    a precious transparent stone that is typically a rich blue
  133. sarcophagus
    a stone coffin, usually bearing sculpture or inscriptions
  134. scythe
    an edge tool for cutting grass
  135. sociology
    the study and classification of human societies
  136. specification
    the act of naming explicitly
  137. stertorous
    having a heavy snoring sound
  138. subsidiary
    functioning in a supporting capacity
  139. supplementary
    functioning in a supporting capacity
  140. susceptible
    yielding readily to or capable of undergoing a process
  141. syllabus
    a summary or outline of what will be covered in an academic course
  142. symmetrical
    exhibiting equivalence or correspondence among constituents
  143. sympathise
    share the feelings of; understand the sentiments of
  144. symposium
    a meeting for the public discussion of some topic
  145. tarot
    any of a set of (usually 72) cards that include 22 cards representing virtues and vices and death and fortune etc.; used by fortunetellers
  146. territory
    a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
  147. testimonial
    praise of a person or thing as worthy or desirable
  148. thicket
    a dense growth of bushes
  149. tobacco
    aromatic annual or perennial herbs and shrubs
  150. ubiquitous
    being present everywhere at once
  151. ulterior
    lying beyond what is openly revealed or avowed
  152. unanimous
    in complete agreement
  153. unpredictable
    unknown in advance
  154. unwitting
    not aware or knowing
  155. uvula
    a small pendant fleshy lobe at the back of the soft palate
  156. vignette
    a brief literary description
  157. xenophobia
    a fear of foreigners or strangers
  158. zebu
    a domesticated ox with a humped back and long horns
  159. administration
    the act of governing or exercising authority
  160. aggressor
    someone who attacks
  161. ameliorate
    make better
  162. apprehend
    anticipate with dread or anxiety
  163. argot
    a characteristic language of a particular group
  164. austere
    of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
  165. blaspheme
    speak of in an irreverent or impious manner
  166. cassava
    any of several plants of the genus Manihot having fleshy roots yielding a nutritious starch
  167. chateau
    an impressive country house (or castle) in France
  168. commission
    the act of granting authority to undertake certain functions
  169. contentious
    showing an inclination to disagree
  170. ennui
    the feeling of being bored by something tedious
  171. expedient
    appropriate to a purpose
  172. fraught
    filled with or attended with
  173. gyrate
    revolve quickly and repeatedly around an axis
  174. hegemony
    the dominance or leadership of one social group over others
  175. hereditary
    occurring among members of a family usually by heredity
  176. inconceivable
    totally unlikely
  177. inconvenience
    the quality of not being useful
  178. insidious
    working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
  179. insignificant
    conveying nothing
  180. medicine
    the profession devoted to alleviating diseases and injuries
  181. nonchalant
    marked by casual unconcern or indifference
  182. persevere
    be persistent, refuse to stop
  183. portmanteau
    a large travelling bag made of stiff leather
  184. proletariat
    a social class comprising those who do manual labor
  185. punctuation
    the use of marks to clarify meaning of written material
  186. pyromaniac
    a person with a mania for setting things on fire
  187. symbolise
    represent or identify by using a symbol; use symbols
  188. venerable
    profoundly honored
  189. vivisection
    the act of operating on living animals
  190. vulnerable
    capable of being wounded or hurt
Created on Tue May 03 00:55:43 EDT 2011 (updated Tue May 03 01:34:01 EDT 2011)

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