ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary BuilderWordsA
ISEE & SSAT vocabulary words starting with A
124 words from the 1,500-word ISEE and SSAT deck, each with its meaning. Open a word for example sentences, synonyms and antonyms.
- abashed adjective — embarrassed or ashamed
- abate verb — to lessen in strength or intensity
- abbreviate verb — to shorten a word or piece of writing
- abhor verb — to regard with disgust and hatred
- abound verb — to exist in great numbers
- abridge verb — to shorten while keeping the essence
- abrogate verb — to formally cancel or abolish a rule, law, or agreement
- abrupt adjective — happening suddenly and without warning
- absolute adjective — complete and total, without any exception or qualification
- abstemious adjective — not self-indulgent, especially in food and drink
- abstruse adjective — difficult to understand
- abundant adjective — existing in great quantity
- accede verb — to agree to a request or demand, often after hesitation
- accelerate verb — to begin moving or happening faster
- accentuate verb — to emphasize or make more noticeable
- accolade noun — an award or praise
- accrue verb — to accumulate gradually over time
- acerbic adjective — sharp, biting, or harsh in tone
- acquiesce verb — to accept something reluctantly without protest
- acquire verb — to gain, obtain, or come to have something
- acrimonious adjective — angry and bitter in tone
- acumen noun — keen judgment in practical matters
- adage noun — a short saying that expresses a commonly held truth or piece of wisdom
- adamant adjective — refusing to be persuaded
- adept adjective — very skilled
- adequate adjective — enough for a particular need
- adhere verb — to stick to something or follow it closely
- admonish verb — to gently but firmly warn or scold someone
- adorn verb — to decorate or add ornamentation to
- adroit adjective — skillful and clever, especially with the hands or mind
- adulation noun — excessive praise or admiration
- adversary noun — an opponent or enemy
- adverse adjective — preventing success; unfavorable or harmful
- affable adjective — friendly and easy to talk to
- affluent adjective — having a great deal of money or valuable possessions
- affront noun — a deliberate insult to someone's dignity or pride
- agenda noun — a list of topics to be discussed at a meeting
- aggrandize verb — to increase the power, status, or reputation of someone or something
- aghast adjective — filled with shock or horror
- agile adjective — able to move quickly and easily
- ailment noun — a minor illness
- alacrity noun — brisk and cheerful readiness
- allay verb — to reduce fear, worry, or pain
- alleviate verb — to make less severe
- aloof adjective — distant and reserved; uninvolved
- alter verb — make something different
- amalgamate verb — to combine separate things into a unified whole
- ambiguous adjective — having more than one possible meaning; unclear
- ambivalence noun — a state of having mixed or contradictory feelings about something
- ambivalent adjective — having mixed or contradictory feelings
- amble verb — to walk at a slow, relaxed pace
- ameliorate verb — to make a bad situation better
- amend verb — to make changes to improve
- amiable adjective — friendly and pleasant
- amity noun — peaceful friendship and goodwill
- amorphous adjective — lacking a clear or definite shape
- ample adjective — more than sufficient in size, quantity, or degree
- anachronism noun — something out of its proper time
- analyze verb — to study something closely by examining its parts
- anecdote noun — a short, entertaining account of a real incident
- animosity noun — strong hostility or ill will
- announce verb — to make information publicly known
- anodyne adjective — soothing or blandly inoffensive
- anomalous adjective — deviating from what is standard or expected
- anomaly noun — something that deviates from the norm
- anonymous adjective — not identified by name; of unknown origin
- antagonist noun — a character or person who actively opposes another
- antecedent noun — an earlier event, condition, or thing from which something later develops
- antepenultimate adjective — third from the last item in a series or list
- antibiotic noun — a medicine that kills or stops the growth of bacteria
- anticipate verb — to expect or prepare for something
- antipathy noun — a deep-seated dislike
- antiquated adjective — so old-fashioned that it is no longer useful or suitable
- anxious adjective — worried or nervous about what might happen
- apathy noun — lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern
- apocryphal adjective — of doubtful authenticity; widely repeated but not proven true
- apparent adjective — easy to see or understand; seeming to be true
- apparition noun — ghostly figure that appears suddenly
- appease verb — to calm or pacify, especially by giving in
- appeasement noun — the act of calming someone by giving in to their demands
- appointment noun — an arranged time to meet someone
- apprehensive adjective — worried that something unpleasant may happen
- apprise verb — to inform someone about an important matter
- approbation noun — approval or praise
- apt adjective — especially suitable or appropriate
- arbitrary adjective — based on whim, not reason
- archaic adjective — very old-fashioned and no longer in common use
- archetype noun — original model or typical example of a particular kind
- ardent adjective — very enthusiastic or passionate
- arduous adjective — involving great effort; difficult
- arid adjective — extremely dry; lacking moisture
- armistice noun — agreement to stop fighting for a time
- ascend verb — to move upward
- ascertain verb — to discover something with certainty
- ascribe verb — to attribute something to a particular cause, source, or person
- ashamed adjective — feeling bad or guilty about something you did
- asperity noun — harshness in manner, tone, or conditions
- aspire verb — to have a strong ambition to achieve something
- assemble verb — to bring people or parts together; to come together as a group
- assent verb — to express agreement with a proposal or opinion
- assess verb — to judge or estimate the value, quality, or importance of something
- assiduous adjective — showing great care and perseverance
- assignment noun — a task given to someone to complete
- assuage verb — to make less severe
- assure verb — to tell someone confidently that something is true
- astute adjective — having sharp judgment and keen insight
- attain verb — to achieve or reach a goal
- attention noun — careful thought or notice given to something
- attentive adjective — carefully listening or watching
- attenuate verb — to reduce the strength, force, or effect of something
- attract verb — to pull something toward oneself or draw interest
- attribute noun — a quality or characteristic of someone or something
- audacious adjective — showing a willingness to take bold risks
- audible adjective — loud or clear enough to be heard
- audio noun — sound, especially when recorded or transmitted electronically
- audiophile noun — a person deeply devoted to high-quality sound reproduction
- augment verb — to make greater by adding to it
- auspicious adjective — showing signs of future success; favorable
- austere adjective — severe or strict; without comfort or decoration
- autobiography noun — a book about a person's life written by that same person
- automatic adjective — operating by itself with little or no direct human control
- autonomy noun — freedom to govern oneself or make independent decisions
- avarice noun — extreme greed for wealth or material gain
- avert verb — to prevent something harmful from happening