Spelling Bee Lists for Upper Grades

Are you a teacher looking for spelling bee lists to use in your next classroom competition? Or perhaps you're a parent or student trying to "study ahead" on some typical spelling bee words. Either way, this list should help!

This page features 120 spelling bee words for  8th grade. It's a great study list for students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Use the links below to find our lists for other grades.

Printable spelling bee list for 8th grade

depth	forgetting	example	educate
entire	horizon	freight	earliest
threat	relieve	muscle	meant
exchange	securing	obedient	unsanitary
leisure	crypt	supervisor	persuade
glamorous	optimistic	envious	controversy
deficiency	schedule	characteristic	environment
amusement	criticize	venom	awkward
arrangement	considerable	barometer	vulnerable
mercenary	plaintiff	omitted	deterrent
cameos	malicious	obscure	propeller
perceived	taboo	technology	surmise
internally	specific	protein	criminal
precipitate	forgery	unbelievable	unduly
annoyance	vessel	insufficient	capably
belligerent	amnesty	snobbery	applicant
anxious	fashionable	machinery	laboratory
shuddering	sacrifice	fibrous	escalator
privilege	burglary	melodious	embargo
outrageous	rectangular	honorary	minimize
contrary	passageway	vertigo	malady
lucrative	extraordinary	abstain	procrastinate
serviceable	parliament	necessity	recurrent
ominous	permeate	religious	occurred
prestigious	scandalized	voracious	universal
transient	meticulous	personification	inevitable
vigilant	interrogate	malignant	benevolent
consequence	unenforceable	nostalgia	omnipotent
vivacious	precocious	indulgence	vulnerable
vacillate	inconvenience	potpourri	ubiquitous
phenomenon	caricature	surveillance	metamorphosis

Important Tips

Give students lots of practice in oral spelling before competitions. Ask students to spell words frequently aloud, even from their seats, for a bit of "performance" practice.

Be sure to use spelling bee words in sentences when quizzing students. For instance, bizarre, should be clarified so it won't be confused with bazaar:  The dog's behavior was so bizarre, the veterinarian knew it was gravely ill.

NEW! Spelling Bee Words List - 25 Challenging Spelling Bee Words with Pronunciations and Meanings! Teachers, use these for classroom warm-ups or competitions. Students, learn these before your next competition! 

You may also enjoy this list of 25 Hard Spelling Bee Words and Definitions.

Teachers: Need Another Spelling Bee List?

Our Spelling Bee Toolbox eBooks are comprehensive resources for anyone who wants a simple way to put together a classroom, all-school or multi-school spelling bee. 

Each eBook contains 600 words and sentences, rules, award certificates, organizational tips, student helps and much more. We also offer additional sets of 600 spelling bee words and sentences for those who don't need all the other bells and whistles. Also, see our 100 Difficult Words for Spelling Bees that includes definitions, pronunciations, sentences and more.

Or use our Monumental Bee Word Lists, if you're holding a competition in which you require definitions, parts of speech, language of origin and sentences. In each eBook, you'll find 400 all-new words!

Students:

If you're looking for more words to study, see our list of frequently misspelled words. Or take our Dictionery/dictionary quiz!

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AnyWord Spelling Practice Series   Fun Worksheets, games & prompts that work with almost ANY spelling words!

101 Word Play Puzzlers   Discover the FUN of letters & words as you solve each unique puzzle. Great vocabulary & spelling practice!