Context Clues

neglect: Dad spent countless hours caring for and manicuring his grass, so he hated when his neighbors neglected their lawns.

Outcast: If a wolf refuses to help its pack hunt, it becomes an outcast and must go on alone.

spontaneous: Brenda was trying to study for her chemistry final when she was overcome by the spontaneous urge to go on a bike ride, but the urge passed as suddenly as it came.

precarious: The daredevil always put himself in precarious situations that were too risky for most people to try.

laborious: Dexter wanted to take honors math, but the course load was too laborious alongside his football practices.

ostracized: The girls at school ostracized her because of the weird way she dressed.

boisterous: The fans at the football game were so boisterous that I couldn't hear my friend who was talking next to me.

decline: I am disappointed that Kyle declined our offer to sit in the dunk tank. Now who will dress up like a clown and sit still while people throw balls at him or her?

brisk: Jamie had a hard time keeping up with her mom, who was walking at a very brisk pace.

hiatus: After a long hiatus, the band got back together.

rectify: She made one mistake in the crossword puzzle but was able to rectify it on her own.

candid: When around his coworkers, Alan said that he agreed with the boss's new policy, but his candid opinion was that it would drive away customers.

symmetrical : Gordon wasn't sure that he cut out the shapes properly. He was afraid that he might have made them uneven, but his teacher assured him that his shapes were perfectly symmetrical.

audible: A dog whistle makes a high-pitched sound that is only audible to dogs.

Alter: Grandpa didn’t know that Suzie was coming along on the fishing trip, and now he had to alter his plans.

Amends: After Brian broke Darcy’s heart this last time, he will have to make some serious amends if he ever wants to win her back.

gregarious: Lizzie is known to be quite gregarious. She's friends with everyone.

Consume: John was so hungry that he consumed the cranberry muffin and went back for a donut.

dreadful: I became a vegetarian when I found out about the dreadful treatment that factory farmed animals receive.

cease: James, you need to cease tapping your pencil because other people are trying to concentrate.