SSAT Test Vocab

Dubious

(adj.) hesitating or doubting

Corroborate

(v.) confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding)

Hubbub

(n.) a chaotic din caused by a crowd of people

Sublime

(adj.) of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe

Encumber

(v.) restrict or burden (someone or something) in such a way that free action or movement is difficult

Callow

(adj.) (of a young person) inexperienced and immature

Acumen

(n.) the ability to make good judgements and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain

Qualm

(n.) an uneasy fear that one is not following one's conscience or better judgment

Quandary

(n.a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation

Vaunt

(v.) boast about or praise (something), especially excessively

Covert

(adj.) not openly acknowledged or displayed

Idiosyncrasy

(n.) a mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual

Transgression

(n.) an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offense

Maven

(n.) an expert or connoisseur

Haughty

(adj.) blatantly and disdainfully proud

Disinclined

(adj.) unwilling; reluctant

Edifice

(n.) a building, especially a large, imposing one; a complex system of beliefs

Ruminate

(v.) to meditate or muse; ponder

Castigate

(v.) to reprimand (someone) severely

Spurn

(v.) to reject with disdain and contempt

Disdain

(n.) the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect; contempt

Miser

(n.) a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible

Dissipations

(pl. n.) the squandering of money, energy, or resources

Anecdote

(n.) a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person

Contrived

(adj.) deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously

Ambivalence

(n.) the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

Despondent

(adj.) feeling or showing extreme discouragement, dejection, or depression

Banal

(adj.) lacking originality, freshness, or novelty

Trite

(adj.) hackneyed or boring from much use

Apathy

(n.) lack of feeling or emotion

Penance

(n.) an act of self-abasement or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin

Fallacy

(n.) a false or mistaken idea

Lassitude

(n.) a condition of weariness or debility; fatigue

Presumptuous

(adj.) overstepping due bounds (as of propriety or courtesy); taking liberties

Virulent

(adj.) marked by a rapid, severe, and destructive course

Accrue

(v.) to accumulate or have due after a period of time

Belligerent

(adj.) inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness

Vociferous

(adj.) marked by or given to vehement insistent outcry

Nascent

(adj.) coming or having recently come into existence

Lethargy

(n.) the quality or state of being lazy, sluggish

Inundate

(v.) overwhelm

Facsimile

(n.) an exact copy

Emaciate

(v.) to cause to lose flesh so as to become very thin