How the list and the board work

This page holds a vocabulary list built for 9th grade readers. Every word includes how to say it, its part of speech, a plain meaning and a sentence showing it at work, so you get more than a one-line definition to memorize.

When you've read through it, tap Play this list to open a board that draws only from this page. Type a guess and check the colors on each letter. Green means the letter is correct and in the right spot. Yellow means it's in the word but in a different spot. Gray means it isn't in the word. Use what you learn from one guess to shape the next.

A few words from the list

These four words are shown here as examples of the format. They are not the word waiting on today's board.

Benevolent (buh-NEV-uh-lunt), adjective: kind and generous, wishing others well. "The benevolent donor asked that her gift stay anonymous."

Eloquent (EL-uh-kwunt), adjective: fluent and persuasive in speech or writing. "His eloquent speech convinced even the skeptics in the room."

Formidable (FOR-mih-duh-bul), adjective: impressive in a way that can feel intimidating. "The debate team faced a formidable opponent from the neighboring school."

Mitigate (MIT-ih-gate), verb: to make something less severe or serious. "Planting trees along the riverbank helped mitigate the flooding after heavy rain."

Study tips for 9th grade readers

By 9th grade, vocabulary work pays off most when it connects to real reading and writing, not just isolated word lists.

• Read the word in a real sentence, then write your own. The example here is a

starting point. Rewrite it with your own topic to check you understand the meaning, not just the shape of the sentence.

• Group words by how strong they feel. Formidable and difficult both describe a

challenge, but formidable carries more weight. Sorting words by intensity helps you pick the right one when you write.

• Test yourself with a cover-and-recall method. Cover the meaning column and try to

define each word from memory before checking. Getting it wrong and correcting yourself helps it stick better than reading a correct answer straight through.

• Use new words in class discussion. Trying a word out loud, even imperfectly, cements

it faster than only writing it down.

• Review the list a few days later. A quick second pass a few days after first reading

a word does more for long-term memory than repeating it five times in one sitting.

For teachers

This page works as a short warm-up before a unit on persuasive writing or rhetoric, since several words here, like eloquent and formidable, connect naturally to that kind of discussion. Show a word, ask for a guess at its meaning, then reveal the definition and example together.

For a paper copy, printing this page from the browser gives you the words with pronunciation, part of speech and meaning already formatted for a handout or a short quiz. Since the list is still being built, treat it as a growing resource rather than a final, fixed worksheet.

Because the board only pulls from this list, it also works well as a shared class activity. Everyone plays from the same set of words, so you can compare strategies once the round ends.

More vocabulary practice

If a word here feels out of reach, the 8th grade vocabulary list is worth checking first. Ready for more, try 10th grade vocabulary words. For broader high school practice, see vocabulary words for high school, take the vocabulary quiz, or read tips on memorizing vocabulary.