SSAT Middle Level Vocabulary

abhor

Hate

abyss

an extremely deep hole

adapt

(physiology) the responsive adjustment of a sense organ (as the eye) to varying conditions (as of light)

affiliation

An association with a group or organization

aggregate

Gathered into a whole; total

akin

related to or alike

ambiguous

doubtful or uncertain; can be interpreted several ways

amorphous

(adj.) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion

anguish

(n.) great mental suffering, distress, or pain; (v.) to be deeply tormented by pain or sorrow

animosity

(n.) strong dislike; bitter hostility

annex

(v.) To add to, attach: to incorporate;(n.) An attachment or addition

arbitrary

determined by chance or impulse

aspiration

Breathing fluid, food, vomitus, or an object into the lungs

assent

Agreement

assert

(v.) To declare or state as truth, maintain or defend, put forward forcefully

assess

An evaluation technique for technology that requires analyzing benefits and risks, understanding the trade-offs, and then determining the best action to take in order to ensure that the desired positive outcomes outweigh the negative consequences.

barrage

A flood

barren

(adj.) not productive, bare

bashful

Shy

bastion

(n.) a fortified place, stronghold

brash

Bold

brazen

(adj.) shameless, impudent; made of brass

candid

Completely honest, straightforward

coerce

To compel, force

commodities

economic goods or products before they are processed and/or given a brand name, such as a product of agriculture

compassion

From the Latin meaning "to suffer together with." It is the love, kindness, mercy, or forbearance shown to a neighbor who is suffering in some way.

comprehensive

covering or including everything

condone

(v.) to pardon or overlook

confer

Consult, compare views; bestow or give

congenial

Agreeable

consensus

General agreement

contemplation

thoughtful observation

controversal

causing argument

conundrm

problem; dillemma

conniving

acting together in secret toward a fraudulent or illegal end

conventional

(adj.) in line with accepted ideas or standards; trite

creed

A formal statement of religious belief or confession of faith.

dwadle

to waste time

decree

An order having the force of law

defiant

Boldly resistant or challenging

dejection

Depression

desolate

Deserted and lonely

dignity

The inherent and unchanging value of all persons as a direct result of their being created by God in His image and likeness.

dilute

To make a liquid less concentrated

disavow

(v.) to deny responsibility for or connection with

disgraced

to have caused a loss of honor or respect

disputed

Contested; argued about

distasteful

Unpleasant; disagreeable

duration

(n.) the length of time that something continues or lasts

economize

reduce expenses; be frugal

elegant

Graceful or refined in appearance or behavior

esteem

(v.) to regard highly (n.) a highly favorable opinion or judgment

euphemism

An indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant

exalt

To glorify

exemplify

To illustrate by being an example of

falter

(v.) to hesitate, stumble, lose courage; to speak hesitatingly; to lose drive, weaken, decline

fatigue

Extreme tiredness

flaccid

Limp, lacking tone

flourish

N. AN EMBELLISHMENT OR ORNAMENTATION, V. MEANING TO GROW VIGOROUSLY, OR TO THRIVE

foolhardy

Unwisely bold or daring

frank

direct

glean

extract from many sources

gratified

pleased or satisfied

grievances

Complaints

gullible

Easily deceived

haphazard

(adj.) by chance; not planned; lacking order

haughty

Arrogant

hoard

A secret store of valuables or money

immaculate

Spotless

incident

An event

incidental

accompanying but not a major part of something.

incisive

(adj.) sharp, keen, penetrating (with a suggestion of decisiveness and effectiveness)

indifferent

Having no preference

indignant

Characterized by outrage at something that is perceived as unjust

innovate

To be creative; to introduce something new

insight

A sudden and often novel realization of the solution to a problem

insolent

Boldly disrespectful

intermission

a break between acts of a play or performance during which people are sent out for snacks or stretch breaks

intricate

Complicated; difficult to understand

inundate

To flood

irate

Angry

justify

Give valid reasons or evidence to support an answer or conclusion.

kinetic

Energy of motion

lament

to express sorrow; to grieve

limber

(adj.) flexible; (v.) to cause to become flexible

lofty

(adj.) very high; noble

lucrative

(adj.) bringing in money; profitable

luminous

bright; brilliant; glowing

meager

Lacking in quantity or quality

meander

(v.) to wander about, wind about; (n.) a sharp turn or twist

menace

A threat

mystify

To confuse or puzzle someone

neglect

to abandon; to not provide care

noncommittal

(adj.) Not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no

nostalgic

Longing for the past

notorious

Infamous

noxious

Harmful

obstinate

Stubborn

overbearing

(adj.) domineering, haughty, bullying; overpowering, predominant

overt

(adj.) open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized