SSAT Verbal Reasoning Word List

audacious

outrageous, bold, daring

audible

perceptible, discernible, distinct

abbreviate

shorten, make concise

abrasive

harsh, rough, irritating

abstain

refrain, give up, hold back

acclaim

praise, approve, applaud

accumulate

acquire, gain, hoard

accuse

challenge, blame, incriminate

authentic

original, trustworthy, credible

autonomous

independent, self-governing

baffle

confuse, stump, puzzle

banal

usual, common, ordinary

barren

lifeless, empty, unfruitful

adaptable

flexible, changeable

adept

skillful, proficient, competent

adhere

attach, stick, follow, uphold

adversary

enemy, opponent, foe, nemesis

belated

late, overdue

benevolent

kind, good-hearted

benign

mild, peaceable, harmless

berate

scold, criticize, reprimand

bleak

grim, hopeless, desolate

deleterious

damaging, hurtful, injurious (harmful)

denigrate

malign, impugn, slander

concise

short, to the point, succinct (brief)

condescending

rude, snobbish

confident

sure, convinced, positive

conform

comply, submit, follow

conformity

compliance, submission

congested

packed, jammed, blocked

congruent

alike, matching, harmonious

deplete

diminish, reduce, use up

deplore

despise, hate, undervalue

deprecate

ridicule, disparage (to criticize)

consensus

agreement, compromise, harmony

consequential

important, major, meaningful

conservative

traditional, old-fashioned, conventional

constant

steady, persistent, incessant

deprive

take away, rob, remove

desire

want, longing, craving

desolate

barren, lifeless, devoid (empty)

destitute

poor, indigent (without money)

destroy

eliminate, obliterate (to wipe out)

deter

stop, halt, hinder

detractor

critic, enemy

diverge

separate, deviate (to go off course)

diverse

dissimilar, different, varied

divide

split up, disjoin, partition (to cut up)

divulge

bring to light, confess, tell

dominant

superior, controlling, main

dominate

rule over, influence, overshadow

genial

cordial, amiable, kindly (likeable)

grandiose

exaggerating, pompous (full of oneself), ostentatious (acting like a "show-off")

gratuitous

excessive, uncalled for

expand

enlarge, increase, swell

expansive

all-inclusive, broad, widespread

expedite

quicken, hurry, hasten

expert

skilled, knowledgeable, experienced

extenuate

diminish, lessen

extol

praise, exalt, acclaim (to rave about)

extraneous

extra, not needed, unnecessary

greedy

gluttonous, insatiable (strong desire for selfish gain)

extricate

liberate, free

extrinsic

foreign, alien, external (outside)

exuberant

cheerful, buoyant (high-spirited)

hackneyed

stale, common, trite (something overdone or constantly repeated)

haughty

snotty, narcissistic (focused on the arrogant)

fervent

sincere, impassioned

flagrant

shameless, undisguised, brazen

forbid

prohibit, disallow, ban

formal

official, established, conventional

forthright

sincere, honest, candid (open and straightforward)

gregarious

sociable, outgoing, good-natured

guileless

truthful, honest, straightforward

gullible

simple, credulous (easily fooled)

heinous

wicked, repugnant (very bad)

felicitous

appropriate, suitable, apropos

heretic

pagan, unbeliever, iconoclast (one who goes against a belief system)

hesitate

pause, defer (to put off), balk (to refuse to move forward)

feral

wild, savage, untamed

hypocrisy

phoniness, fraudulence

hypothetical

supposed, presumed, guessed

imitate

copy, mimic (copy), impersonate (to act like someone)

fortitude

courage, endurance, tenacity

immature

childish, infantile (like an infant)

impede

block, hinder, stymie (thwart)

impersonate

mimic, copy, imitate (to act like someone)

foster

champion, support, nurture

fragile

breakable, weak, frail

expensive

costing a lot of money; having a high price.

ornate

lavish, bejeweled, adorned

terminal

(at the end)

morose

negative, dark, sullen (gloomy)

mundane

ordinary, commonplace, everyday

munificent

generous, lavish, liberal (giving freely)

mutable

changeable, flexible, malleable (decorated)

orthodox

conventional, mainstream, usual

ostentatious

flashy, flamboyant, pretentious (able to be changed)

naive

innocent, trusting, newcomer

narcissistic

self-absorbed, conceited, selfish