SSAT Vocabulary List

We are compiling a list of SSAT vocabulary through our "Word of the Day" series for our children. We hope that, each day, you will take a few quick moments to review and use a word of the day with your child. Over time, they will develop a strong vocabulary and be ready for high school and beyond.  

If your child will be taking the SSAT or equivalent standardized test, a vocabulary list can be very helpful towards improving your child's performance on the SSAT. The SSAT is a standardized test that is used by many independent schools to assess a student's academic potential and readiness for the rigors of a high school curriculum.

A strong vocabulary is essential for success in high school and beyond, as it allows one to communicate effectively, understand complex texts, and express oneself clearly. Studying SSAT vocabulary can also help build confidence and reduce test anxiety, as your child will feel more prepared and comfortable with the test material. 

Let us all try to use these words with our kids to help them develop strong vocabularies and communication skills.

 

 

 


      • advent - the arrival of, the coming of
      • emerge - to come out from, to appear
      • substantiate - to prove something
      • distinctive - unique, special
      • optimistic - thinking positively
      • conundrum - a confusing problem
      • prerogative - a right, entitlement
      • contradiction - saying the opposite
      • detrimental - harmful
      • envy / envious - jealous
      • evacuate - to leave in an emergency
      • hardship - tough times
      • idealism / ideal - perfection and perfect situation
      • illuminate - to shine or light up
      • liberate - to free
      • moral - do good and do the right thing
      • nonchalant - done without caring, not careful
      • obsolete - outdated, doesn’t exist anymore
      • petrify / petrified - (1) to be scared, or (2) turn to stone
      • protagonist - the main character and usually the good person in a story
      • queasy - nauseous
      • restore - to return back to the way it was, to fix
      • reveal - to make it known, to show what it is
      • salvage - to save and preserve
      • inclination - a tendency
      • indelible - a permanent mark
      • invaluable - extremely useful, precious
      • lucid - clear and easy to understand
      • vicarious - experience through someone else
      • sanctuary - a safe place, haven
      • render - to make something happen
      • relinquish - to give something up
      • sequester - to separate from others
      • adept - to be good at something
      • contemporaneous - in the same time period
      • empathy - understanding the feelings of others
      • reinforce - make stronger, strengthen
      • prolific - creates a lot
      • diplomatic - acting in a skillful manner
      • refrain - to hold back from doing something
      • impediment - something that is in the way
      • transient - temporarily passing through
      • euphemism - a milder way of saying something harsh
      • usurp - take control or power by force
      • enigma - a puzzle, mysterious
      • impervious - cannot pass through
      • implore - to beg for something
      • specious - nonsense, invalid, not serious
      • clairvoyant - can see the future
      • inexorable - unchangeable, unyielding
      • patent - 1) obvious 2) right to an invention
      • rhetoric - persuasive language, speaking
      • ancillary - supportive services
      • inconsequential - unimportant, of no consequence
      • revoke - to take back, to cancel
      • candid - to be clear and concise
      • empathy - understanding the feelings of others
      • clandestine - secretive
      • transient - passing through temporarily
      • acquiesce - to give in, to agree to
      • prudence - caution
      • endorse - to support or agree with
      • prerequisite - a requirement that you need first
      • corroborate - to confirm what someone else has said
      • fortify - to make stronger
      • surmise - to assume
      • sophomoric - immature, juvenile
      • persevere - keep trying even when difficult
      • affliction - a medical condition, sickness
      • incorrigible - behavior unable to be corrected
      • elated - extremely happy
      • compel - to urge someone to do
      • obscure - to hide
      • decadent - self-indulgent, over the top
      • illustrious - known for being at the top of one's field
      • interminable - never ending
      • stimulus - to activate something and make it grow
      • sagacious - good judgment, wise
      • introspective - think inwardly and reflective
      • mundane - dull, uninteresting
      • monotonous - dull, repetitious
      • facilitate - to help do something
      • contrite - to feel apologetic, to feel sorry
      • sentimental - feel fondness and have warm memories
      • prevaricate - to speak in an evasive way
      • valiant - courageous, brave
      • persist - to keep doing something
      • magnify - to make something bigger
      • contemplate - the think carefully about