1. admonish (verb) to
warn; to criticize gently
(ad-mon-ish)
clue: admonish=criticize
The coach admonished me
for playing video games
instead of coming to
practice.
ex: parents admonish
children; puppies need to be
admonished

2. aghast (adj.) struck with
horror; shocked
(uh-gast)
clue: aghast=ghosts
make me aghast
We were aghast after
watching the scary movie.
ex: an aghast student;
aghast because of the
haunted house

3. annihilate (verb) to
destroy completely; to
reduce to utter ruin
(uh-nahy-uh-leyt)
clue:
annihilate=devastate
We annihilated their
football team last night.
ex: annihilate all
opponents; annihilated the
old houses

4. benefactor (verb) a
person who provides
help, especially by giving
money.
ben-uh-fak-ter
clue: benefactor=be a
factor and help
People who donated more
than $100 to the library were
listed as benefactors.
ex: the child’s benefactor; a
secret benefactor; financial
benefactor

5. bestow (verb) to give as
an honor; to present as a
gift.
(bih-stoh)
clue: bestow=to present
or gift
An Academy Award is the
highest honor Hollywood
can bestow on a film.
ex: bestow gifts; bestow
advice; bestow an award

6. devious (adj.) having
many twists and turns;
sneaky; not frank.
(dee-vee-uhs)
clue: devious=cunning
and deceptive
The devious scheme was
intended to take advantage
of vulnerable people.
ex: devious plan; devious
mastermind

7. devoid (adj.) Lacking;
empty; entirely without.
(dih-void)
clue: devoid=bare
Although he had
experienced great
misfortune, he was devoid
of bitterness.
ex: devoid of happiness;
devoid of energy; room was
devoid of furniture

8. heed (noun) to pay
DO NOT attention to.
WRITE ON (heed)
THE TEST! clue: heed=listen
Pay heed to the teacher’s
instructions before you
begin the test.
ex: heed my advice, heed
your coach

9. mortal 1. (noun) a
human being, especially
as contrasted with a god.
2. (adj.) very severe
(mawr-tl)
Mother
clue: mortal=human
Achilles, a hero in Greek
mythology, had a goddess
Father
Achilles for a mother and a mortal
for a father.
ex: only a mortal; mortal
danger; mortal wound

10. muse (verb) to think
about in a quiet, careful
way.
(myooz)
clue: muse=to ponder
I mused over whether to
sell the house.
ex: mused privately; he is
musing

11. pioneer (noun) a person
who goes before others
and opens the way for
them to follow.
(pahy-uh-neer)
clue: pioneer=to blaze a
path
Lucretia Mott was a pioneer
in the women’s rights
movement.
ex: pioneer in the field of
engineering; space pioneer;
early settlers were pioneers

12. plague (noun) a deadly disease
that spreads rapidly from person
to person; Anything that causes
destruction or suffering; (verb) To
cause destruction or suffering
(pleyg)
clue: plague = serious suffering
About one fifth of the population of
London died during the bubonic
plague of 1665.
Ex: plagued by doubts; problems
that plagued the company; the
plagues of Egypt.

13. subside (verb) to sink to a
lower level; to become
quieter or less active
(suhb-sahyd)
clue: subside = to go down
like a slide; to calm down
After the rain stopped, the
floodwaters gradually
subsided.
Ex: his anger subsided; the
Waters subsided noise subsided

14. unwitting (adj.) not done on
purpose; not aware of what is
really happening; clueless
unwittingly (adv.) by mistake
clue: unwitting = unintended
(un·wit·ting)
The teacher unwittingly left
the answers to the test on the
board.
ex: unwitting insult; unwitting
mistake; unwitting friends

15. wrath (noun) forceful
anger; fury
(rahth)
clue: wrath = rage
After blinding
Poseidon's son,
Odysseus was a victim
of the god’s wrath.
ex: the wrath of God;
the hurricane’s wrath