SSAT Upper Vocabulary Flashcards from Lecture Notes

Abase

humiliate; or lower in rank

Abate

become less in amount or degree

Abdicate

give up powers or duties

Aberration

not normal and unwelcome

Abeyance

state of temporary disuse

Abhorrent

inspiring disgust and loathing

Abject

extremely bad and degrading

Abrasive

harsh and biting in manner

Abridge

shorten something but keep its spirit

Abscond

leave in secret to avoid detection

Abstemious

showing self-restraint

Abstinence

self-restraint from an indulgence

Abstruse

obscure or difficult to understand

Abundant

existing in large quantities

Abysmal

extremely bad or appalling

Abyss

deep and almost bottomless chasm

Accede

agree to a demand, request, or treaty

Accentuate

make more noticeable

Acclaim

enthusiastic and public praise

Acclimate

adjust or adapt to new conditions

Accolade

an honor, award, or praise

Accomplice

one who helps commit a crime

Accost

confront someone aggressively

Accrue

accumulate gradually (money)

Acme

highest point or level

Acolyte

a devoted follower or attendant

Acquiesce

accept without protest

Acquit

clear someone of criminal charges

Abrogate

repeal or do away with

Acrimonious

bitter and angry in speech or tone

Acumen

shrewdness or sharpness of judgement

Acute

having sharpness or severity

Adage

a proverb expressing a truth

Adamant

uncompromising or inflexible

Abstain

restrain oneself from something

Amorous

relating to sexual attraction

Adjourn

suspend with intent to resume

Admonish

warn or scold someone

Abjure

reject or renounce a belief

Adulate

praise someone excessively

Assuage

lessen the intensity of something

Boisterous

noisy, cheerful, and rowdy

Circumspect

carefully considers all options

Contravene

oppose or act against

Deficient

lacking in quality or element

Disparate

made up of different parts

Emancipate

free from restraint or bondage

Espionage

practice of spying or using spies

Feasible

able to be done or carried out

Glib

nonchalant to the point of insincerity

Hubris

exaggerated pride or self-confidence

Impugn

attack as false by words or argument

Ingratiate

gain favor with through effort

Irrelevant

not significant or necessary

Listless

lacking energy or interest

Mettle

vigor and strength of temperament

Numinous

holy, spiritual, or supernatural

Panegyric

formal or elaborate praise

Philanthropy

goodwill towards humanity

Prestigious

inspiring respect and admiration

Putrefy

decay or rot and produce a smell

Replete

fully equipped or filled

Sardonic

grimly mocking or cynical

Squalor

dirtiness due to poverty or neglect

Surpass

become better than something

Treatise

systematic written work on a subject

Verbose

filled with more words than needed

Adversary

opponent in conflict or contest

Anecdote

short story on a real occurrence

Astute

clever and perceptive

Bolster

support or strengthen

Circumstantial

full but inconclusive proof

Contrite

feeling or showing remorse

Dissonance

lack of harmony or agreement

Disparate

made up of different parts

Emasculate

deprive of strength or spirit

Esteem

respect and admiration

Fecund

fertile or productive

Gluttonous

excessively greedy in consumption

Hyperbole

exaggerated statement

Impunity

free from harm or punishment

Inimical

harmful or destructive

Irremediable

not able to be cured

Lithe

easily flexible or graceful

Migrate

move from one habitat to another

Nymph

spirit of nature; or a fairy

Pantomime

express meaning through gesture

Phlegmatic

unexcitable or unemotional

Presumptuous

failure to observe propriety

Quagmire

difficult situation or predicament

Reprehensible

deserving criticism or condemnation

Sate

satisfy until full (such as with food)

Squander

wastefully use something

Surreal

bizarre or unbelievable

Trenchant

sharply perceptive or caustic

Verboten

forbidden usually by an authority

Abdicate

give up powers or duties

Adversity

hardship and suffering

Alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness

Animosity

hostility towards something