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Stretch vocabulary

Challenging words for the most selective grammar and independent school papers and scholarship exams. Each word has a meaning written for children, a similar word and an opposite. Have a look at the first words for free.

Quick quiz

Ten questions from the Stretch level in the 11+ styles: closest meaning, opposites, odd one out, words in context and missing words. Marked straight away, with explanations. Premium level: the quiz needs Premium.

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Printables

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A first look at these words

Stretch level: the first 10 of 10, A to Z.

galvanise
verb
to shock or excite someone into taking action
Similar:
motivate
Opposite:
dampen
garrulous
adj.
talking a great deal, often about unimportant things
Similar:
talkative
Opposite:
quiet
genealogy
noun
the study of a family's history and who its ancestors were
Similar:
ancestry
Opposite:
disconnection
gentility
noun
polite, refined behaviour, once linked to high social class
Similar:
refinement
Opposite:
coarseness
glib
adj.
speaking smoothly and easily but in a way that seems insincere
Similar:
slick
Opposite:
earnest
goaded
verb
annoyed or pushed someone until they reacted or acted
Similar:
urged
Opposite:
calmed
gratuitous
adj.
not needed and done without good reason
Similar:
unnecessary
Opposite:
essential
guile
noun
clever and sly cunning used to trick people
Similar:
cunning
Opposite:
frankness
gung-ho
adj.
extremely keen and eager, sometimes without thinking
Similar:
eager
Opposite:
half-hearted
guttural
adj.
deep, harsh and made in the throat
Similar:
throaty
Opposite:
gentle