U.S.

Embassy Spelling Bee 2024

Teachers: Thank you for participating in the 2024 Spelling Bee!

SCHOOL LEVEL COMPETITION RULES AND INSTRUCITONS

How to conduct a classroom spelling bee:

- English language teacher is the host of the classroom spelling bee. Your job is to provide the
words and act as the judge. Please make sure that all students have turned off cell
phones/electronic devices to prevent distractions.

- To start, all students stand. You may select the first student based on where they sit (front row-
to- back row) or select the order based on the spelling of their family name (A before B, etc.). Keep
the same order throughout the competition.

- A separate word is given to each student. Thus, if one student fails to correctly spell a word, the
next student receives a new word. If the student cannot correctly spell the word, he or she is
eliminated from the competition.

- Each word is read aloud by the teacher three times: the first time the word is alone, the second
time in context, and the third time alone.

o Example

Teacher says to the first student: “Cat.”

Teacher then says: “Cat: A pet that catches mice. Cat.”

- The student may ask for the word to be repeated, but only one time.

- The student attempts to spell the word, then says the word to show that he or she has finished:
“C-A-T, CAT.”

- If the student provides the wrong letter, then he or she is out of the competition. However, the
student has one opportunity to correct him or herself during the spelling of the word, BEFORE
pronouncing it. Incorrect, for example, would be “C-E-T, CAT” or “K-A-T, CAT.” However, if the
student says “K, A, T, I mean C,A,T” before pronouncing CAT, the student is still eligible. The student
should give the answer in one minute or less.

- Because students have an opportunity to correct themselves, everyone present in the room
must be absolutely silent and must control any facial expressions, words, or sounds that would
indicate to a student that he or she has spelled a word correctly or incorrectly.
- The final judge is the teacher.

- Students at the regional competitions will have to surrender their cell phones before the spelling
bee begins.

END-OF-BEE PROCEDURE

If all spellers in a round misspell:

If none of the spellers remaining in the spelling bee at the start of a round spells a word correctly
during that round, all remain in the competition and a new round begins.

If only one speller in a round spells correctly:

If only one speller spells correctly in a round, they are the winner.

To choose a second place winner:

If only two students were competing in the final round: The second place winner will be the speller
who is not the champion.

If more than two students competed during the final round: After the champion is declared, all
other spellers who reached the final round will start a new round. The same rules apply for this
round as the championship.

NEXT STEPS:

The final student standing is the winner. This student, plus the second place winner will be eligible
to compete in the regional spelling bee in April. This spelling bee will take place at the nearest
American Corner or other venue, which are located in Bihac, Brcko, Mostar, Sarajevo, Trebinje,
Tuzla, and Zenica.

Once you have identified the top two students from your school, please send their names, e-mail
addresses, cell phone number, their winning words to the U.S. Embassy (BusicI@state.gov) by
Monday, March 11, 2024 and soon we will send the exact date and time of the regional
competitions in April. Winners from the regional spelling bees will participate in the Final Spelling
Bee in Sarajevo in May.

If a word has a valid alternate British spelling, that spelling is acceptable.

Please note:

Schools that have more than 25 participants may choose to divide participants into multiple groups
in different classrooms to determine finalists, and then bring all the finalists together for the
conclusion of the contest using words from the remaining rounds.

The contest leader (teacher or other school supervisor) may create additional words for tie-breakers
if you exhaust the words on this list.
 It is up to the teacher or other school contest supervisor to use this list to create a fair competition.

Word List

Round 1

1. Gap: A space between two objects. The man tripped on the gap in the sidewalk.

2. Kid: an informal word for child; a boy or girl. A young kid from the neighborhood showed us how
to get to the school.

3. Bad: opposite of good. It rained all afternoon, so we decided it was a bad day to have a picnic.

4. Hug: an embrace between two or more people. After a long day at school, Kelly wanted a hug.

5. Lap: the flat area between the waist and knees of a seated person. The dog likes to be petted
while sitting on Megan’s lap.

6. Cat: a small furry feline animal, often kept as a pet. I like the cat better than the dog.

7. Mad: angry; furious; upset. I got mad at my friend for pushing me off the swing.

8. Lip: flesh on the opening of a mouth. He ate so quickly that he bit his tongue.

9. Bed: place where someone sleeps. The boy was sleeping in his bed.

10. Jog: to run, often for exercise. He went for a jog yesterday afternoon.

11. Top: the highest or uppermost point, part, or surface of something. They walked all day until
they finally reached the top of the mountain.

12. Bug: an insect. He got a lot of bug bites while walking in the forest.

13. Hat: a covering for the head. The man I saw was wearing a black coat and a green hat.

14. Map: a picture representation of a geographic area. We used the map of the city to figure out
how to get to the theater.

15. Car: motor vehicle; automobile. The red car was going very fast.

16. New: Not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time. I
got a new bike.

17. Dot: a small round spot or circle. There is a large dot on his shirt pocket.

18. Bat: a blind flying animal that only comes out at night. A bat lives in a cave and eats insects.

19. Sun: the star around which the Earth revolves. Today we finally had blue skies and sun!

20. Pet: a domestic or tame animal that someone owns. I have a pet cat named Frank.
21. Fit: to put something into place. We managed to fit one more book on the shelf.

22. Run: to move faster than walking. He will run five kilometers today for exercise.

23. Mud: soft, sticky matter made from mixing dirt and water. The pig liked to roll in the mud.

24. Wet: covered in liquid. It is important to have an umbrella when it rains, otherwise you will get
wet.

25. Dog: an animal with fur that likes to bark and is commonly kept as a pet. I saw a dog playing in
the river today.

Round 2

1. Make: Form (something) by putting parts together or combining substances; construct; create.
Tonight I will make pasta.

2. Nest: a structure or place a bird makes for laying eggs and sheltering its young. I can’t wait to
see the baby birds hatch in the nest in our backyard.

3. Born: existing as a result of birth. My grandfather was born almost 80 years ago.

4. Size: the measurement of width, height, or length. My old winter coat is a size too small for me
to fit in.

5. Lunch: the meal between breakfast and dinner. After cleaning the trash from the banks of the
river, our class ate lunch under the trees.

6. Harsh: severe or cruel. We were glad when the cold, harsh winter weather finally ended.

7. Bell: a hollow metal object that sounds a musical tone when struck. The teacher rang a bell to
call her students back to the classroom.

8. Stock: goods or merchandise kept for a business or warehouse and available for sale. The
grocery store had a large stock of canned goods, but not much fresh fruit.

9. Part: A piece or segment of something such as an object. I am part of the student council at my
school.

10. Rose: a flower with sharp thorns. I love to sit outside in the rose garden and smell the beautiful
flowers.

11. Once: On one occasion or for one time only. They deliver once a week.

12. Usual: found in ordinary practice; common. He took his usual route to work.

13. Level: having a flat, even surface. Since the playground was not level, the ball kept rolling
downhill.
14. Sorry: feeling regret or sympathy. I am very sorry that I hurt your feelings.

15. React: to act or behave in response. I don’t know how Henry will react to the news that our
team lost.

16. Grow: increase in size. These plants won’t grow unless you water them.

17. Worm: long creeping crawling animal with a soft body and no limbs. A long worm wiggled out of
the ground after the rainstorm.

18. Beyond: on the farther side. Just beyond that hill, you'll find a small stream.

19. Count: to determine the total number. Please count to ten while I find a place to hide.

20. Foggy: a lot of fog. It was so foggy outside that it was hard to see the school bus coming down
the road.

21. Park: a large public area with grass and trees. After school, my friends and I are going to run in
the park.

22. Trust: the ability to rely on something or someone. Students should trust their teachers.

23. Tulip: a cup-shaped flower that grows from a bulb. My aunt's favorite spring flower is the yellow
tulip.

24. Puppy: a young dog. We are very excited about getting a new puppy.

25. Shark: a large marine animal that eats other fish and has a frightening reputation. We should
not swim in the sea today because there was a shark here this morning.

Round 3

1. Shovel: a tool used for moving earth, snow or other material. We used a shovel to dig holes to
plant new trees around our school.

2. Noise: an audible sound. I heard a noise outside.

3. Forbid: To prohibit an action. The law forbids stealing.

4. Memory: the power or process of recalling what has been learned. They really enjoyed their trip
to the coast and will cherish the memory of the sunshine and the sea all winter long.

5. Dental: of or relating to teeth. You can preserve your dental health by brushing your teeth
every day.

6. Scream: To shout loudly. The child in the movie screamed when she saw the monster.

7. Sailor: a person who works on a boat or a ship. The sailor cleaned the deck of the ship.
8. Infant: a very young child or baby. He was completely bald as an infant, until he was about two
years old.

9. Shelf: a flat piece of wood or metal used to hold objects. Please put the books on the top shelf.

10. Ocean: a very large expanse of sea. The Pacific Ocean has a large variety of whales, dolphins,
and other sea life.

11. Layer: a sheet, quantity, or thickness of material covering a surface. The storm left a thick layer
of snow over all of the trees.

12. Damage: To harm something. The lightening will damage the roof.

13. Breath: the air taken into or expelled from the lungs. She took a deep breath and then jumped
into the sea.

14. Plains: a large area of flat land with few trees. The castle was surrounded by grassy plains.

15. Active: engaging or ready to engage in physically energetic pursuits. We encouraged the
students to become more active in sports.

16. Design: purpose, plan, or intention. Every year, there is a competition for students to design and
build a house that uses recycled material and saves on energy.

17. Aware: having knowledge or understanding. Before learning about protecting the environment,
I was not aware of the things I could do to save energy.

18. Easily: without difficulty. We can easily prevent litter in the city by providing garbage bins.

19. Limited: restricted. The restaurant offered a limited number of options for vegetarians.

20. Promise: a statement that something will or will not be done. Henry made a promise to tell no
one where his sister kept her diary.

21. Rely: depend on with full trust or confidence. You should not rely on the government to restore
the park; instead, why don’t you and your friends go there and clean it?

22. Desert: a dry area of land covered with sand. The desert is surprisingly cold at night.

23. Galaxy: a system of millions or billions of stars. Did you know that our solar system is 25,000
light years away from the center of the galaxy?

24. Coast: the part of the land near the sea. After the oil spill, many people traveled to the coast to
help the marine animals.

25. Dairy: made from milk. My favorite dairy products are cheese and ice cream.
Round 4

1. Review: a formal assessment or examination of something with the possibility or intention of

instituting change if necessary. A comprehensive review of defense policy.

2. Furious: very angry. Mike was furious when he learned someone had broken into his home.

3. Balance: to keep or put something in a position so that it does not fall. It is important to keep a
balance of nature.

4. Heavier: having greater weight than something else. It’s cold out today – you should wear a
heavier coat!

5. Cruel: to cause pain or distress to others. The man was so cruel that he had no friends.

6. Example: a thing characteristic of its kind or illustrating a general rule. It’s a good example of
how European action can produce results.

7. Quest: search for something. Dave traveled to schools on a quest to teach students the
importance of helping your neighbors.

8. Flicker: to shine or burn unsteadily. The lights in the house began to flicker as the thunderstorm
moved closer.

9. Official: relating to an authority or public body and its duties, actions, and responsibilities. the
governor's official engagements.

10. Truly: genuinely, sincerely. I truly believe that you are going to succeed in this project.

11. Scarecrow: an object that looks like a person, set up to scare birds away from crops. The
scarecrow was attached to a pole in the corn field.

12. Rustle: to make low crunching noises. I love to hear the leaves rustle in the wind.

13. Satchel: a small bag that usually has a shoulder strap. She carried a few coins, tissues, and a
snack in her satchel.

14. Defiance: a refusal to obey something or someone. He was jailed for his defiance of the law.

15. Postpone: to put off until a later time. We had to postpone the baseball game because of the
thunder storm.

16. Skillet: a frying pan. Tom fried eight eggs at one time in the large skillet.

17. Lettuce: a common garden vegetable, especially used to make salads. Jenny made a salad with
lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

18. Merge: to become combined. The two lanes of traffic will soon merge into one lane.
19. Hazard: a danger or risk. It is a hazard to pick up shattered glass without gloves.

20. Preen: to groom with a bill. As I sat on the park bench, I watched the bird preen its feathers.

21. Linen: fabric woven from yarn. The tablecloth was made of fine white linen.

22. Ripple: to cause small waves. It’s fun to watch the water ripple after you throw a stone into the
pond.

23. Plunge: to leap or dive into water. Sometimes the best way to get into a cold swimming pool is
to plunge right into the deep end.

24. Steady: even or regular in movement. John pedaled at a steady pace all through the long bike
race.

25. Poultry: domestic fowl, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese. While I prefer to eat beef,
poultry meat is much more affordable.

Round 5

1. Gracious: being polite and showing hospitality. It was very gracious for him to offer me a place
to stay.

2. Sacred: having a special and revered purpose. These sacred garments are worn during prayers.

3. Tongue: the fleshy muscular organ in the mouth, used for tasting. It is impolite to stick out your
tongue.

4. Choir: an organized group of singers. Dad is a great singer, so he joined the local choir.

5. Penguin: a large bird that cannot fly and typically lives in cold climates. Last night, I watched a
great documentary on the life of penguins in Antarctica.

6. Villain: an evil character. The villain in the book was so scary that I had nightmares.

7. Reference: the action of mentioning or alluding to something. He made reference to the

enormous power of the mass media.

8. Fatigue: the state of being very tired. We were overcome by fatigue after the spelling bee.

9. Trophy: A prize received to recognize a victory or accomplishment. Melanie won a trophy for
finishing in first place in the spelling bee.

10. Haunts: to visit frequently. She haunts all the local cafes, hoping to get a job at one of them.

11. Mustache: facial hair that grows above the upper lip. The old man had a big mustache.

12. Freckle: a small brownish spot on the skin. Elena was proud of one big freckle on her chin.
13. Posture: the position of one part of the body in relation to other parts. He always slouches when
he sits at his desk – his posture is terrible!

14. Smother: to cover something to prevent it from spreading. We smothered our campfire in the
morning by throwing water on it.

15. Grieve: to feel or express great grief or sorrow. We grieve the loss of our dear neighbor, Mr.
Brown.

16. Ketchup: a sauce made from tomatoes and vinegar. I love putting ketchup on my hamburger.

17. Reindeer: a deer with large antlers that lives in the tundra. According to legend, Santa Claus's
reindeer pull a sleigh through the night sky to help him deliver gifts on Christmas Eve.

18. Savvy: clever in practical knowledge, especially in politics or business. Since Kelly is business
savvy, the company hired her.

19. Freckle: a small brownish spot on the skin. Elena was proud of one big freckle on her chin.

20. Vertical: going straight up or down. The remote control helicopter only flew in a vertical
direction.

21. Wedge: something shaped like a triangle. He stuck a rubber wedge under the door to hold it
open.

22. Axle: the bar on which a wheel or pair of wheels rotates. The front axle of the tractor got stuck
in the deep mud.

23. Command: to give formal orders to. The army captain knew how to command his troops with
authority.

24. Snatch: to grasp suddenly or hastily. Tommy tried to snatch his mother's hat before it blew into
the lake.

25. Goofy: ridiculous; silly. I felt pretty goofy wearing a clown costume to school but then I realized
that I was only dreaming!

Round 6

1. Precocious: having or showing the qualities or abilities of an adult at an unusually early age. She
was a precocious child who could read before she went to school.

2. Embarrass: to cause someone to feel awkward or uncomfortable. Their dad liked to embarrass
them in front of their friends.

3. Cuisine: a style or method of cooking, especially as characteristic of a particular country or

region. Many foreigners enjoy the cuisine of Bosnia and Herzegovina when they visit.

4. Blizzard: a severe snowstorm with high winds and low visibility. I was stuck in the blizzard.
5. Parallel: lines that are side by side with the same distance between them always. In math class
today, I learned how parallel lines never meet, even if they go on forever.

6. Vinyl: plastic, used especially for covering materials and old records. Dad loves jazz music and
treasures his huge collection of vinyl records.

7. Canoe: a small, narrow boat that can be moved by paddling through water. In our history book,
we saw a picture of a canoe made out of a wooden log.

8. Chasm: a deep gorge in earth, rock, or another substance. The chasm is very deep and has a
river running through it.

9. Perishable: things, especially foodstuffs, likely to decay or go bad quickly. They donated
perishable food.

10. Pigeon: a gray bird with a small head, short legs, and typically finds food by eating off sidewalks.
When the pigeon flew at her head, she shrieked and ducked to avoid it.

11. Ointment: a greasy lotion, usually for the skin. The doctor gave me an ointment to treat my
poison ivy rash.

12. Screech: harsh, shrill sound. When Dad stopped the car suddenly, the brakes made a loud
screech.

13. Odyssey: an epic journey. Their road trip across Asia sounded like a real odyssey!

14. Hygiene: maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness. The teacher
had to work hard to teach her young students that hygiene is important.

15. Scour: to remove by rubbing hard. Dad decided to scour the rust off the swing set before
painting it.

16. Complement: something that completes or makes up a whole. The lemon pudding was the
perfect complement to a wonderful meal.

17. Boutique: a small fashionable shop or specialty department. At Julia's boutique, customers can
find the latest styles in women's hats and scarves

18. Generosity: the quality of being kind and generous. The family we stayed with welcomed us
warmly with food and flowers and we will always remember their generosity.

19. Aerial: existing, happening, or operating in the air. On Saturday, we are going to the circus to
watch dancers perform aerial acrobatics.

20. Nausea: a feeling of sickness with the inclination to vomit. I think nausea is the worst part of the
flu.

21. Depot: a railroad or bus station. Since all of the trains were running late, the depot was filled
with passengers.
22. Amateur: nonprofessional. Although she was an amateur photographer, her pictures looked
professional.

23. Lustrous: shining or glimmering. She has such beautiful hair, always shining and lustrous.

24. Necessary: required to be done or achieved; essential. Homework isn’t much fun, but it’s
definitely necessary!

25. Feasibility: being easily or conveniently done. Given the short amount of time available, the
feasibility of the project was questionable.

Round 7

1. Pompous: having an overly high opinion of one's importance. The pompous politician boasted
that he'd eaten dinner at the White House every night for a week.

2. Ruminate: to turn a matter over and over in the mind; reflect on again and again. The play was
so intriguing that I will probably ruminate on it for hours.

3. Machete: a large heavy knife used for cutting sugarcane. Each worker swung his machete in
rhythm as he walked across the field of sugarcane.

4. Asphalt: black concrete, used for surfacing roads. In summer, the asphalt roads become very
hot.

5. Embarrassment: a feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness. I turned red with

embarrassment.

6. Quadruple: become four times bigger in value or number. The town's population is expected to
quadruple in the next 50 years.

7. Alliance: a formal agreement or pact between two or more groups for specific purposes. After
World War II, several nations formed an alliance to rebuild Europe.

8. Relinquish: to voluntarily give up. It was difficult to relinquish the puppies to their new owners.

9. Appalled: overcome with horror. The gourmet chef was appalled to see a customer cover one of
his restaurant’s finest steaks in ketchup.

10. Congregate: come together in a group or assembly. Police officers asked people not to
congregate near the scene of the accident.

11. Genealogy: the study and tracing of lines, especially family history and ancestors. My grandpa
likes to talk about the genealogy of our family.

12. Porcelain: a white, fragile ceramic. I bought this porcelain vase in China.
13. Ricochet: a shot or hit that rebounds one or more times off a surface. I warned the children that
the ball might ricochet off the wall and break a window if they threw it so hard.

14. Mediocre: of only moderate quality, average. John loved the book, but I thought it was only
mediocre.

15. Aggressive: showing a readiness to attack; contentious. The basketball player was so aggressive
on the court that he got thrown out of nearly every game.

16. Thorough: marked by full detail or careful about detail. The investigator will have to be
thorough.

17. Trapezoid: in geometry, a quadrilateral with two parallel and two nonparallel sides. I used a
ruler to divide the trapezoid into a rectangle and two triangles.

18. Gourmet: of or involving fancy or exotic foods. We knew we were in a gourmet restaurant when
we saw caviar and truffles served as appetizers.

19. Trepidation: a state of dread, alarm or nervousness. Although the stranded man desperately
needed shelter, he approached the abandoned building with trepidation.

20. Contempt: the act of despising; scorn. It was sadly obvious that the wealthy woman felt only
contempt for those less fortunate than herself.

21. Malnourished: affected by improper nutrition or insufficient diet. Even though there was plenty
of food in the house, the children were clearly malnourished.

22. Palatable: acceptable or agreeable to the palate or taste. I know some people love oysters, but
to me, they aren’t even palatable.

23. Horrifying: causing feelings of horror in; terrifying. Losing control of my car on the icy highway
was one the most horrifying experiences of my life!

24. Radiology: the study of x-rays and other high-energy radiation, especially as used in medicine.
Stan went to the radiology department to have an x-ray taken of his knee.

25. Biographical: of or pertaining to a person's life. These old photo albums contain a lot of
biographical information about my grandparents.

Round 8

1. Chartreuse: a variable color averaging a brilliant yellow green. The booths are upholstered in a
chartreuse camouflage pattern, a useful fabric if the Army ever needs to hide in a green neon jungle.

2. Buffoon: a ridiculous but amusing person who likes to joke. I couldn’t believe he put a
lampshade on his head at the party – what a buffoon!
3. Disparage: to speak of or treat in a disrespectful way. Even when she disagrees, she manages to
do so in a respectful way that does not disparage her colleagues.

4. Ramification: a consequence. A possible ramification of not studying is failing a class.

5. Argumentative: someone prone to arguing. Because Peter is so argumentative, his family is

reluctant to discuss politics in front of him.

6. Erroneous: incorrect. Since the commission did not have all the facts, its members reached an
erroneous conclusion.

7. Rancid: a terrible odor. We knew the meat was rancid as soon as we opened the package and
smelled it.

8. Quarantine: an enforced isolation of any person or place infected with a contagious disease.
During the flu epidemic, they had to quarantine infected households to stop the spread of the disease.

9. Mediterranean: a characteristic of the Mediterranean Sea. The diet in Mediterranean countries

includes a lot of olives, oil, and fish.

10. Scoundrel: a dishonest person. The town scoundrel was a man who had stolen money from
nearly a dozen families.

11. Handkerchief: a small usually square piece of cloth used for usually personal purposes (such as
blowing the nose) or as a clothing accessory. She usually dries her hands on her handkerchief when
there are no towels available.

12. Tenacious: not easily stopped or pulled apart. The toddler had a tenacious grip on his toy.

13. Scrumptious: very pleasing, especially to the taste. We attended a scrumptious dessert buffet
for my cousin’s birthday.

14. Juxtapose: to place closely together for contrasting effect. Can you juxtapose the black and
white photos with the color photos to make the collage more visually interesting?

15. Mayonnaise: a thick, creamy dressing made from egg yolks, oil, and vinegar. Mayonnaise mixed
with potatoes and onions makes a delicious salad.

16. Synagogue: building that is used for Jewish religious services. Before He is learning to be a
cantor at the synagogue.

17. Silhouette: the dark shape of someone or something that is visible against a light background.
Her silhouette was used to create a beautiful portrait.

18. Miscellaneous: composed of things or elements of different kinds. The remaining options were a
group of miscellaneous items that did not fit into any other group.
19. Leprechaun: a mischievous elf of Irish folklore usually believed to reveal the hiding place of
treasure if caught. Many of the spectators also wore green for the celebration or donned Irish themed
attire, such as leprechaun hats and beards.

20. Bureaucracy: a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by
state officials. When a bureaucracy grows too large, it sometimes slows things down.

21. Gouge: to make a groove, hole, or indentation. Fast moving water is so powerful that it can
gouge a channel through solid rock.

22. Congenial: pleasantly sociable. Everyone looks forward to going to parties at the Fishers because
they are such congenial hosts.

23. Asbestos: minerals, once used as fireproof insulation, now believed to be the causes of certain
cancers. Special technicians were called in to remove the asbestos from the older parts of the building.

24. Tyrannical: characteristic of a tyrant or a tyranny; despotic. The rule of the tyrannical leader was
cut short when his own cabinet staged a coup and overthrew him.

25. Punctuation: marks such as a period, comma, or parenthesis used to clarify writing. While
Jeffrey was a good writer, he failed to use proper punctuation from time to time.

Round 9

1. Chauvinism: exaggerated or aggressive patriotism, especially for one’s own cause or gender.
People accused the Polish parliamentarian of chauvinism after he said men should earn more than
women in the European Parliament.

2. Paraphernalia: miscellaneous articles, especially the equipment needed for a particular activity.
He had all the drills, pipes, and other paraphernalia necessary to repair the leak.

3. Perseverance: continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or

opposition. Learning to play the piano was difficult, but in the end, her perseverance and hard work
made her an accomplished musician.

4. Ignominious: despicable; deserving of shame and disgrace. The competitor was expelled from
the competition due to his ignominious lying and cheating.

5. Chartreuse: a bright greenish-yellow color. Our new couch was a horrible chartreuse color that
clashed with our blue curtains.

6. Posthumous: arising or occurring after one’s death. The author received a posthumous award
for his final novel.

7. Imperceptible: very slight, gradual or subtle. The lizard changed color so slowly that the changes
were nearly imperceptible.
8. Fuchsia: a bright, purple-red color. The flowers were a color between red and pink, sort of a
bright fuchsia.

9. Phlegm: a thick mucus, especially common while sick. The doctor prescribed me medicine to
eliminate the phlegm that was making me cough.

10. Fahrenheit: a scale used to measure temperature. On the Fahrenheit scale, water freezes at 32
degrees and boils at 212 degrees.

11. Mnemonic: a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations that assists in remembering something.
Many students use a mnemonic to remember the order of the planets in the solar system.

12. Ennui: a feeling of dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement. After I finished
college and did not have a job, I felt a great sense of ennui.

13. Penitentiary: a prison for serious offenders. After his conviction, he was sentenced to twenty
years in the federal penitentiary.

14. Opprobrium: public disgrace or ill fame that follows from conduct considered grossly wrong or
vicious. They're going ahead with the plan despite public opprobrium.

15. Ostracize: shun or socially isolate. Sometimes popular students ostracize other students whom
they perceive as different.

16. Picturesque: visually charming or quaint. We cycled to a very picturesque village in a valley by a
river.

17. Gossamer: something very light, thin, or delicate. The bride’s gossamer veil seemed to float as
she walked down the aisle.

18. Condescension: talking down to someone. No one wants to discuss politics with him because he
thinks he knows everything and his tone drips with condescension.

19. Quotidian: ordinary, everyday or mundane. His life story is a very ordinary one, mired in
quotidian details.

20. Brusque: talking or behaving in a very direct, brief, and unfriendly way. The teacher was brusque
and impatient.

21. Skullduggery: underhanded or unscrupulous behavior. the company's apparently healthy

bottom line was merely an illusion, the result of years of accounting skullduggery.

22. Implausible: unlikely or improbable; failing to convince. She may have been telling the truth
about what happened, but her story seemed completely implausible.

23. Gubernatorial: relating to a governor. The gubernatorial race was too close to call in the days
before the election.

24. Tempestuous: Stormy or turbulent. The tempestuous weather made for poor sailing conditions.
25. Innuendo: an indirect remark of a negative nature. The story about the candidate was full of
innuendo, but did not offer any concrete evidence about the alleged corruption.

Round 10: EXTREME

1. Boutonniere: a flower worn by a man in his lapel. At the wedding, the groom wore a
boutonniere that matched the roses in the bride’s bouquet.

2. Denouement: the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are
drawn together and matters are explained or resolved. I wasn’t sure what would happen with
the main characters in the movie, but the denouement explained everything.

3. Amphitheater: An oval or round building with an open central area. The opera was performed
in the Roman amphitheater
4. Impeccable: In accordance with the highest standards; faultless. He had impeccable manner

5. Therapeutic: healing of a disease. After her illness, Debbie sought therapeutic treatment.

6. Cacophony: a harsh, unpleasant mixture of sounds. The orchestra played a cacophony of terrible
notes.

7. Reconnaissance: preliminary observation or research. Before purchasing property to build their

house, Dan hired a company perform a reconnaissance of the land.

8. Piqued: to stimulate interest or curiosity. Stephanie’s curiosity for all things Bosnian was piqued
after seeing the film.

9. Hypochondriac: a person who worries about their health often. Dad becomes a hypochondriac
after friends and neighbors become ill.

10. Obsequious: Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree. They were served by
obsequious waiters.

11. Quintessential: representing the most perfect example or something. Chili is the quintessential
representation of New Mexico.

12. Pterodactyl: a flying dinosaur with a long neck and big wings. Scientists believe that pterodactyls
could fly very fast and scream very loudly.