M-P SSAT Upper Level Vocabulary

Maelstrom

a powerful whirlpool; a chaotic or turbulent situation; a state of confusion or turmoil

Masticate

to chew food; to grind with the teeth; to reduce food to a pulp by chewing

Maudlin

excessively sentimental; tearfully sentimental; overly emotional, especially when intoxicated

Mendacious

dishonest; lying; inclined to deceive or lie

Modicum

a small amount; a limited quantity; a token amount; a small or moderate portion

Morass

a bog or marsh; a complicated or confusing situation; a quagmire; a predicament

moribund

at the point of death; in terminal decline; dying or decaying; obsolete or outdated

Munificent

liberal in giving; showing great generosity; especially in giving money

Nefarious

extremely wicked or evil

Neophyte

a beginner; a novice; someone new to a subject or belieft

Obfuscate

to confuse; to bewilder; to make unclear or unintelligible; to obscure or muddle

Occult

secret or hidden; mystical; relating to supernatural beliefs, practices, or phenomena

Opprobrium

harsh criticism or censure; public disgrace or shame; widely discredited or scorned due to shameful behavior

Ostracism

exclusion from a group; the act of shunning or banishing someone; social rejection

Paragon

a perfect example; model of excellence; the very best of a particular type

Pariah

outcast; social reject; despised or avoided person; one rejected or shunned by society

Parsimony

extreme frugality; unwillingness to spend money; excessive thriftiness

Pathological

related to disease; caused by a disorder; compulsive or obsessive; related to pathology

Pejorative

disparaging or belittling; expressing contempt; derogatory or insulting; an insult or derogatory remark

Penchant

a strong preference that is habitual; habitual liking or tendency towards something

Peregrination

a journey; wandering from place to place, especially over a long period

Pernicious

harmful or destructive; causing great harm, often subtly or gradually; deadly or fatal

Pert

lively and cheeky; bold or impudent, often playfully; showing a bold disregard for propriety; an analysis technique used to determine how long it will take to complete a complex task

Pithy

concise and expressive; brief yet meaningful; tersely cogent or insightful; succinct and forceful

Polarized

divided into opposing factions; sharply divided; characterized by stark opposition or contrast

Ponderous

heavy and slow-moving; dull or laborious; weighty or cumbersome; tedious or burdensome

Portent

An omen; a sign or warning of something about to happen, especially something momentous

Predilection

a preference or liking that is inherent or natural; a natural tendency or inclination towards something

Proclivity

a natural tendency or inclination; predisposition towards a particular behavior or belieft

Proscribe

to forbid or prohibit; to denounce or dondemn as harmful; to ban or outlaw officially