Cracking the SSAT & ISEE - The Princeton Review 2019

Learning vocabulary
Part i the basics of both tests

THE IMPORTANCE OF VOCABULARY

Both the ISEE and the SSAT test synonyms, and you need to know the tested words to get those questions right. While ISEE Sentence Completions and SSAT Analogies allow for a more strategic approach, the fact remains that knowing words is important to scoring points on these questions.

Having a strong vocabulary will also help you throughout your life: on other standardized tests, of course; in college; in your job; and when you read.

Flash Cards

Making effective flash cards is important. We’ll address how to do so shortly!

BUILDING A VOCABULARY

The best way to build a great vocabulary is to keep a dictionary and flash cards on hand and look up any new words you encounter. For each word you find, make a flash card, and review your flash cards frequently. We’ll discuss effective ways of making flash cards shortly.

Reading a lot helps ensure that you will encounter new words. Read newspapers, magazines, and books. If you think you don’t like reading, you just haven’t found the right material to read. Identify your interests—science, sports, current events, fantasy, you name it—and there will be plenty of material out there that you will look forward to reading.

Not sure what you should read? Ask a parent or favorite teacher. Below are just a few suggestions, but there are so many more.

You can also learn words through vocab-building websites, such as vocabulary.co.il or quizlet.com, which present drills in the form of addictive and rewarding games.

The vocabulary list in this chapter is for Upper Level. Lower/Elementary, and Middle Level vocabulary lists can be found online. But it’s much more fun to learn words you might not know. Imagine how smart you’ll sound!

Finally, in the coming pages, you will find lists of words that you may see on the SSAT or ISEE.

Making Effective Flash Cards

Most people make flash cards by writing the word on one side and the definition on the other. That’s fine as far as it goes, but you can do much better. An effective flash card will provide information that will help you remember the word. Different people learn words in different ways, and you should do what works best for you. Here are some ideas, along with a couple of examples.

Relating Words to Personal Experience

If the definition of a word reminds you of someone or something, write a sentence on the back of your flash card using the word and that person or thing. Suppose, for example, you have a friend named Scott who is very clumsy. Here’s a flash card for a word you may not know:

Relating Words to Roots

Many words are derived from Latin or Greek words. These words often have roots—parts of words—that have specific meanings. If you recognize the roots, you can figure out what the word probably means. Consider the word benevolent. It may not surprise you that “bene” means good;think beneficial. “Vol” comes from a word that means wish and also gives us the word voluntary. Thus benevolent describes someone who is good-hearted (good wish). Your flash card can mention the roots as well as the words beneficial and voluntary to help you remember how the roots relate to benevolent.

Often if you don’t know the exact meaning of a word, you can make a good guess as to what the tone of the word is. For example, you may not know what “terse” means, but if a teacher said “My, you’re being very terse today,” you’d probably assume it meant something bad. Knowing the tone of words can be very helpful even if you can’t remember the exact definition. As you go through your flash cards, you can separate them into three piles: positive, negative, and neutral. This will help you more rapidly recognize the tone of advanced vocabulary.

Here are some roots that may show up in words on the SSAT or ISEE.

Other Methods

There are many other ways to remember words. If you are visually inclined, you might draw pictures to help you remember words. Others use mnemonics (a word that comes from a Greek word for memory), such as sound associations or acronyms (such as PEMDAS: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally). Some people remember words if they speak the words and definitions out loud, in addition to writing flash cards. A great way to remember a word is to start using it in conversation. Ultimately, whatever works for you is the right approach!

Upper Level Vocabulary (SSAT and ISEE)

Includes Lower, Elementary, and Middle Level Vocabulary

Ab through An

Abandon

Abbreviation

Abdicate

Abhor

Abridge

Abrupt

Abundant

Abyss

Acclaimed

Accord

Acknowledge

Acrid

Acumen

Acute

Adamant

Adapt

Adept

Adhere

Adhesive

Admire

Admonish

Adversary

Aesthete

Affiliation

Agenda

Aggrandize

Aggravate

Aggregate

Agile

Ail

Aimless

Akin

Alarmed

Allege

Aloof

Alter

Altruism

Amalgamate

Ambiguous

Ambivalent

Ameliorate

Amiable

Amorphous

Analyze

An through Be

Ancient

Androgynous

Anguish

Animosity

Annex

Antagonistic

Antipathy

Anxious

Apprehension

Approximate

Arbitrary

Arid

Ascertain

Ascetic

Aspect

Aspiration

Assail

Assent

Assert

Assess

Assured

Astonish

Attenuate

Austere

Astute

Audible

Auspicious

Authentic

Authoritative

Avarice

Banal

Barrage

Barren

Barrier

Bashful

Bastion

Bedlam

Bellicose

Belligerent

Bemoan

Benevolent

Benign

Bequest

Betray

Be through Co

Bewilder

Biased

Blatant

Blunt

Bolster

Bombastic

Bourgeois

Brandish

Brash

Brazen

Brittle

Burgeon

Cache

Callow

Candid

Capitulate

Capricious

Cascade

Cater

Cauterize

Cautious

Censor

Chagrin

Chasm

Chronic

Chronicle

Coalesce

Coerce

Commodities

Compassion

Compel

Competent

Composure

Comprehensive

Conceal

Concise

Condemn

Condescending

Condone

Confer

Confine

Conform

Confound

Congenial

Co through De

Conjure

Conniving

Connoisseur

Consensus

Conspicuous

Consume

Contemplation

Contented

Contradiction

Contrite

Controversial

Conventional

Copious

Cordial

Corpulent

Corrosion

Counsel

Counterfeit

Cower

Credible

Creed

Crucial

Cunning

Dawdle

Debate

Debt

Deceive

Decline

Decree

Defensive

Defiant

Deficient

Deft

Dejection

Deliberate

Delicate

Depict

Despair

Desolate

Detest

Detrimental

Deviate

Devotion

Dexterity

Di through Ep

Dignity

Dilute

Differentiate

Disavow

Discreet

Disgraced

Dismayed

Dispel

Disparage

Disperse

Display

Disputed

Dissect

Distasteful

Distend

Distort

Diversity

Docile

Domestic

Dominate

Dormant

Doubtful

Drastic

Dread

Drenched

Dubious

Duration

Eager

Economize

Egotist

Egress

Elegant

Elegy

Elongate

Eloquent

Embodiment

Embryonic

Emphasize

Endeavor

Enigma

Entrust

Envy

Ephemeral

Epitome

Eq through Fo

Equity

Equivalent

Eradicate

Erratic

Esoteric

Essential

Esteem

Euphemism

Evacuate

Evade

Evict

Exacerbate

Exalt

Exasperate

Excavate

Excel

Exemplify

Exhilarating

Exile

Exquisite

Extend

Extent

Extinct

Extol

Extravagant

Facet

Fallacy

Fallow

Falter

Fathom

Fatigue

Feasible

Feeble

Feign

Feisty

Fickle

Flaccid

Flamboyant

Flatter

Fleeting

Flotsam

Flourish

Fluctuate

Foolhardy

Fo through In

Foreseen

Forge

Formulate

Fortunate

Foster

Fragile

Frank

Frugal

Fulcrum

Fundamental

Furious

Furtive

Gap

Genesis

Genial

Generous

Genuine

Germane

Glean

Glint

Glutton

Graceful

Gratified

Grievances

Gullible

Haphazard

Hardship

Hasten

Haughty

Hazard

Hesitate

Hideous

Hinder

Hoard

Homely

Idiosyncrasy

Ignoble

Illuminate

Illustrate

Imbue

Immaculate

Impasse

Imply

Impulsive

Inane

Incident

Incidental

Incision

In through Lu

Incisive

Incite

Incognito

Indifferent

Indignant

Infiltrate

Ingenuity

Ingress

Inhabit

Initial

Innate

Innocuous

Innovate

Inquiry

Insight

Insinuate

Insipid

Insolent

Integrity

Intermission

Integrate

Intricate

Inundate

Invoke

Irate

Jaded

Jargon

Jeer

Jest

Jubilant

Justify

Keen

Kinetic

Knoll

Laudatory

Lavish

Legacy

Lament

Legend

Legitimate

Lenient

Liberate

Limber

Linger

Lofty

Loquacious

Lucrative

Luminous

Lu through Op

Lure

Malicious

Meager

Meander

Meddle

Meek

Menace

Mentor

Merge

Meritorious

Meticulous

Mimic

Mirage

Misery

Model (adjective)

Modify

Molten

Moor

Moral

Morose

Muddled

Mundane

Mystify

Myth

Nag

Narcissism

Navigate

Negate

Neglect

Noncommittal

Nostalgic

Notorious

Novel

Novice

Noxious

Null

Obfuscate

Obscure

Obstacle

Obstinate

Obstruct

Obtuse

Occupy

Ominous

Omit

Onerous

Opaque

Opportune

Op through Pr

Optimistic

Opulent

Ornery

Ostentatious

Overbearing

Overt

Pacify

Pact

Palpable

Paltry

Paradigm

Parody

Parsimonious

Particle

Partisan

Patron

Peak

Pedestrian (adj)

Permeate

Perpetuate

Perplexed

Persevere

Persist

Perturb

Plea

Plight

Pluck (noun)

Plunder

Pompous

Porous

Pragmatic

Precipitate (with object)

Precise

Precocious

Predicament

Prediction

Predominate

Prejudiced

Presume

Pretentious

Prevalent

Primary

Pristine

Prominent

Prone

Prophesy

Prototype

Pr through Re

Provoke

Prudent

Pungent

Puny

Puzzled

Qualm

Quiescent

Ratify

Ravenous

Raze

Recalcitrant

Reckless

Refute

Reject

Reluctant

Reminisce

Remote

Rendezvous

Renounce

Renown

Personify

Pervasive

Pessimistic

Petty

Pigment

Pilfer

Pinnacle

Pious

Placate

Plausible

Remonstrate

Remuneration

Reparation

Replete

Replenish

Replica

Reprehensible

Repress

Reprimand

Reproach

Repudiate

Repugnant

Reservations (about something)

Residual

Resilience

Restore

Resume

Re through Su

Reticent

Reveal

Revere

Reverent

Robust

Rouse

Routine

Rue

Ruminate

Ruse

Rustic

Ruthless

Salvage

Sate

Satire

Savor

Sedate

Scant

Scarce

Scorn

Seclude

Seldom

Sequence

Shrewd

Simulate

Sincere

Sinister

Solemn

Solitary

Somber

Soothe

Specific

Sporadic

Speck

Spirited

Spontaneous

Stagnate

Stature

Steadfast

Stoic

Stringent

Subside

Succinct

Sullied

Superb

Superfluous

Suppose

Surrogate

Ta through Ul

Tact

Tangible

Taper

Task

Taunt

Tenacious

Terse

Testify to

Thrive

Thwart

Timid

Tiresome

Toil

Torment

Totemic

Tragedy

Trifle

Trite

Tumult

Ultimate

Un through Vi

Uncouth

Undermine

Underscore

Unique

Unruly

Uproot

Utilitarian

Utilize

Vacillate

Vend

Veneration

Vernacular

Versatile

Vetted

Vibrant

Viewpoint

Vigorous

Vigilant

Vindication

Vivacious

Vi through Ze

Vivid

Voracious

Vow

Voyage

Vulnerable

Wane

Wax (verb)

Weary

Wily

Wrath

Writhe

Zany

Zealous (or zeal)