504 Essential Words for SSAT & ISEE
(Upper)
abnegation - answer the act of rejecting or renouncing something; self-denial
abject - answer existing to the highest amount, extreme (used to describe something
bad); lacking dignity or pride, despicable (used to describe a person or behavior)
abjure - answer to relinquish or give up
abrogate - answer to formally abolish or repeal
abstemious - answer moderate or sparing; especially in eating and drinking
accost - answer to approach and address someone in an aggressive manner
Achilles - answer a great warrior and Trojan War leader (in Greek mythology); used to
describe a weakness (Achilles' heel)
acumen - answer having the keenness of mind to make good judgements and quick
decisions
adulterate - answerto corrupt or make impure
adumbrate - answerto foreshadow in a vague way; to indicate faintly
aggrandize - answerto make greater or enhance the reputation, power or wealth of
someone or something
alias - answeran assumed or additional identity; otherwise known as
alacrity - answerpromptness, cheerful readiness
alleviate - answerto make less severe, to make more bearable
allude - answerto indirectly hint at; to suggest
altruistic - answershowing an unselfish concern for others' welfare
ameliorate - answerto make better or to improve
,amorphous - answerlacking a clearly defined form, character, or shape; having no focus
or structure (when describing an organization or group)
anachronistic - answerbelonging to another chronological period, usually an earlier one
anathema - answera thing or person that is intensely disliked; a formal denouncement
or curse by a religious leader or authority
annex - answerto add as an extra part; an addition to a building or a document
antithesis - answersomething or someone that is the direct opposite of something or
someone else
antediluvian - answerold fashioned, dating from the past; referring to the time before the
Biblical flood
arcane - answerunderstood by few; mysterious or secret
apocryphal - answersomething of doubtful authenticity
approbation - answerthe expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official
approval
archetypal - answerthe most representative or typical example of something, relating to
an original model or archetype
ardent - answervery enthusiastic, impassioned, having or expressing great feeling,
passion, or intense devotion
artifact - answeran object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or
historical interest. from an earlier period
artifice - answerusing cunning or stratagem to create false appearances or trickery
ascetic - answerone who leads a life of self-denial and contemplation; absent of luxury
aspersion - answera damaging or derogatory statement or criticism; slander
assiduous - answerpersistent, attentive; diligent and unremitting in an effort ar at a task
attenuate - answerto weaken in force or reduce in intensity; to make thin or slender
avaricious - answergreedy; strongly desiring material wealth
austerity - answerstrict economy or severity of life or manner
, balk - answerto become an obstacle to something, to hinder from proceeding; a defeat,
hinderance or disappointment
bedlam - answera state of confusion or chaos
beguile - answerto trick, mislead, or cheat; to divert or charm
benevolent - answershowing kindness, goodwill or charity; set up for benefits as
opposed to profit
besmirch - answerto tarnish or soil; to remove honor from
bigot - answersomeone showing extreme intolerance or prejudice to those of differing
beliefs or race
blandishment - answera speech or action intended to coax, flatter or entice
bogus - answercounterfeit, not genuine; a sham
brittle - answerhard and rigid, not able to be stretched or drawn out; easily damaged;
lacking in sensitivity, warmth, or compassion; candy made with melted sugar and often
nuts
boor - answera rude person without manners
bulwark - answera wall or protection built for defense against danger; someone giving
strong support during a trial or struggle
carp - answerto complain or find fault in an annoying way
circumocution - answeran indirect, roundabout way of speaking or expressing an idea
buttress - answeran external prop or support used to steady a structure; to support or
give encouragement
burgeon - answerto develop or flourish, to grow quickly; to begin to bud
cache - answera hiding place; to conceal, to hide
cacophony - answerharsh discordance of sound
cajole - answerto persuade by flattery or promises
callow - answerinexperienced or immature
calumny - answera false, malicious statement to injure reputation
(Upper)
abnegation - answer the act of rejecting or renouncing something; self-denial
abject - answer existing to the highest amount, extreme (used to describe something
bad); lacking dignity or pride, despicable (used to describe a person or behavior)
abjure - answer to relinquish or give up
abrogate - answer to formally abolish or repeal
abstemious - answer moderate or sparing; especially in eating and drinking
accost - answer to approach and address someone in an aggressive manner
Achilles - answer a great warrior and Trojan War leader (in Greek mythology); used to
describe a weakness (Achilles' heel)
acumen - answer having the keenness of mind to make good judgements and quick
decisions
adulterate - answerto corrupt or make impure
adumbrate - answerto foreshadow in a vague way; to indicate faintly
aggrandize - answerto make greater or enhance the reputation, power or wealth of
someone or something
alias - answeran assumed or additional identity; otherwise known as
alacrity - answerpromptness, cheerful readiness
alleviate - answerto make less severe, to make more bearable
allude - answerto indirectly hint at; to suggest
altruistic - answershowing an unselfish concern for others' welfare
ameliorate - answerto make better or to improve
,amorphous - answerlacking a clearly defined form, character, or shape; having no focus
or structure (when describing an organization or group)
anachronistic - answerbelonging to another chronological period, usually an earlier one
anathema - answera thing or person that is intensely disliked; a formal denouncement
or curse by a religious leader or authority
annex - answerto add as an extra part; an addition to a building or a document
antithesis - answersomething or someone that is the direct opposite of something or
someone else
antediluvian - answerold fashioned, dating from the past; referring to the time before the
Biblical flood
arcane - answerunderstood by few; mysterious or secret
apocryphal - answersomething of doubtful authenticity
approbation - answerthe expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official
approval
archetypal - answerthe most representative or typical example of something, relating to
an original model or archetype
ardent - answervery enthusiastic, impassioned, having or expressing great feeling,
passion, or intense devotion
artifact - answeran object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or
historical interest. from an earlier period
artifice - answerusing cunning or stratagem to create false appearances or trickery
ascetic - answerone who leads a life of self-denial and contemplation; absent of luxury
aspersion - answera damaging or derogatory statement or criticism; slander
assiduous - answerpersistent, attentive; diligent and unremitting in an effort ar at a task
attenuate - answerto weaken in force or reduce in intensity; to make thin or slender
avaricious - answergreedy; strongly desiring material wealth
austerity - answerstrict economy or severity of life or manner
, balk - answerto become an obstacle to something, to hinder from proceeding; a defeat,
hinderance or disappointment
bedlam - answera state of confusion or chaos
beguile - answerto trick, mislead, or cheat; to divert or charm
benevolent - answershowing kindness, goodwill or charity; set up for benefits as
opposed to profit
besmirch - answerto tarnish or soil; to remove honor from
bigot - answersomeone showing extreme intolerance or prejudice to those of differing
beliefs or race
blandishment - answera speech or action intended to coax, flatter or entice
bogus - answercounterfeit, not genuine; a sham
brittle - answerhard and rigid, not able to be stretched or drawn out; easily damaged;
lacking in sensitivity, warmth, or compassion; candy made with melted sugar and often
nuts
boor - answera rude person without manners
bulwark - answera wall or protection built for defense against danger; someone giving
strong support during a trial or struggle
carp - answerto complain or find fault in an annoying way
circumocution - answeran indirect, roundabout way of speaking or expressing an idea
buttress - answeran external prop or support used to steady a structure; to support or
give encouragement
burgeon - answerto develop or flourish, to grow quickly; to begin to bud
cache - answera hiding place; to conceal, to hide
cacophony - answerharsh discordance of sound
cajole - answerto persuade by flattery or promises
callow - answerinexperienced or immature
calumny - answera false, malicious statement to injure reputation
