ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Words›P

ISEE & SSAT vocabulary words starting with P

147 words from the 1,500-word ISEE and SSAT deck, each with its meaning. Open a word for example sentences, synonyms and antonyms.

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• pacify verb — to calm or soothe an angry or upset person
• palpate verb — to examine by touch, especially in a medical exam
• paltry adjective — so small or trivial as to be almost worthless
• panacea noun — a solution for all difficulties or diseases
• panegyric noun — a formal speech or piece of writing that gives high praise
• panorama noun — wide, unbroken view of an area
• paradox noun — a statement or situation that seems contradictory but may reveal a hidden truth
• paramount adjective — more important than anything else, supreme
• paraphrase verb — to restate something using different words
• parasite noun — an organism that lives on or in another and benefits at its expense
• parched adjective — extremely dry from heat or lack of rain
• pariah noun — a person rejected or avoided by a group
• parochial adjective — narrow in outlook and limited to local concerns
• parole noun — early release of a prisoner under supervision before the full sentence ends
• parry verb — to evade a difficult question by skillfully redirecting it
• parsimonious adjective — unwilling to spend or give even when doing so is reasonable
• partial adjective — forming only part of the whole
• participate verb — to take part in an activity
• partisan adjective — strongly favoring one party or side, often without fairness
• patent adjective — plainly obvious or evident
• patient adjective — able to wait calmly without getting upset
• paucity noun — a scarcity or insufficient amount of something
• peculiar adjective — strange or different from what is usual
• pedantic adjective — overly concerned with minor rules, details, or displays of learning
• peer verb — to look closely or with difficulty
• peevish adjective — easily irritated, especially by small annoyances
• pejorative adjective — expressing contempt or disapproval
• penchant noun — strong natural liking or preference for something
• pensive adjective — engaged in deep, serious thought
• pentagon noun — a shape with five straight sides and five angles
• pentagram noun — a five-pointed star drawn with a single continuous line
• pentathlon noun — an athletic competition made up of five different events
• penurious adjective — extremely unwilling to spend money
• perceive verb — to notice, understand, or become aware of something
• perceptive adjective — having keen insight or understanding
• peremptory adjective — demanding immediate obedience without allowing discussion
• perfidious adjective — treacherous or deliberately faithless
• perfidy noun — deliberate betrayal of trust; treachery
• perfunctory adjective — carried out without real interest or effort
• perilous adjective — full of danger
• permanent adjective — meant to remain or continue for a very long time
• permeate verb — to spread through every part of something
• permit verb — to allow something to happen
• pernicious adjective — having a harmful effect, especially gradually
• perpetuate verb — to make something continue indefinitely
• persevere verb — to continue trying to do something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success
• perspective noun — a point of view or way of seeing something
• perspicacious adjective — having keen insight
• persuade verb — to convince someone to do or believe something
• pertinent adjective — directly relevant to the matter being considered
• peruse verb — to read or examine something carefully
• pervasive adjective — existing or spreading widely throughout a place
• perverse adjective — deliberately unreasonable or contrary to what is expected
• pester verb — to annoy someone with frequent requests or interruptions
• petite adjective — small and slim in build, especially referring to a woman's figure
• petulant adjective — childishly irritable or sulky, especially over small things
• philosopher noun — person who studies fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics
• philosophy noun — the study of fundamental questions about knowledge, existence, and values
• phlegmatic adjective — calm and unemotional, even in difficult situations
• pinpoint verb — to identify or locate exactly
• pique verb — to arouse curiosity or interest
• pithy adjective — brief yet forceful and full of meaning
• placate verb — to calm someone who is angry or upset
• placid adjective — calm and peaceful
• plaintive adjective — sounding sad and mournful
• plateau noun — a stage where progress levels off after a period of improvement
• plausible adjective — seeming reasonable or believable
• plead verb — to ask for something in an urgent or emotional way
• plentiful adjective — available in a large amount
• plethora noun — excessive amount or number of something
• pliable adjective — able to bend or be shaped easily
• plod verb — to walk slowly with heavy steps
• poignant adjective — evoking a strong feeling, especially sadness
• polygamy noun — the practice of having more than one spouse at the same time
• polygon noun — a closed flat shape with straight sides
• polyphonic adjective — having multiple independent melodic lines sounding together
• pompous adjective — excessively self-important and showy in manner
• ponder verb — to think about carefully for a long time
• portion noun — a part or share of something
• portray verb — to describe, show, or represent someone or something
• posterior adjective — located behind or toward the back of something
• posterity noun — all future generations collectively, especially as inheritors of something
• postpone verb — to delay an event to a later time
• potable adjective — safe and suitable for drinking
• pragmatic adjective — dealing with things sensibly and realistically; practical rather than idealistic
• precarious adjective — not securely held; risky
• precaution noun — an action taken in advance to prevent harm or risk
• precede verb — to come before something in time, order, or position
• precipice noun — very steep cliff or dangerous drop
• precise adjective — exact and accurate
• precision noun — exactness and accuracy in details or measurements
• preclude verb — to prevent something from happening or someone from doing something
• precocious adjective — having developed skills or abilities at an earlier age than usual
• predict verb — to say what will happen before it occurs
• preliminary adjective — coming before the main or final stage
• premature adjective — happening earlier than it should
• premise noun — an idea or assumption on which an argument is based
• prepared adjective — ready for what is going to happen
• prescient adjective — showing knowledge of events before they happen
• prescribe verb — to recommend a treatment or set down a rule as authoritative
• presumptuous adjective — overstepping appropriate bounds; arrogantly bold
• prevail verb — to win or prove stronger in the end
• previous adjective — coming before the one now considered
• prickly adjective — covered with small sharp points
• principle noun — a basic rule, belief, or idea that guides action or thought
• priority noun — something important that should be handled first
• pristine adjective — extremely clean and in excellent condition
• privation noun — severe lack of basic needs or comforts
• privy adjective — having secret or private knowledge of something
• probity noun — upright honesty and strong moral integrity
• proclivity noun — a natural tendency or inclination toward something
• prodigious adjective — remarkably great in size, degree, or extent
• proficient adjective — competent or skilled in doing something
• profligate adjective — recklessly wasteful with money or resources
• progression noun — a gradual movement or development from one stage to the next
• prolific adjective — producing many works or results
• prolix adjective — using too many words and becoming tedious
• promote verb — to support, encourage, or help grow
• promptly adverb — without waiting or being late
• pronounce verb — to make the sounds of a word when speaking
• proofread verb — to check writing for mistakes
• propagate verb — to spread ideas or information widely
• propensity noun — a natural tendency to behave in a particular way
• propitious adjective — giving a sign of success; favorable
• propriety noun — conformity to accepted standards of proper behavior
• prosaic adjective — ordinary; lacking imagination
• prose noun — ordinary written or spoken language without a regular rhythmic structure
• prosperous adjective — financially successful and thriving
• prostrate adjective — lying flat on the ground from exhaustion, submission, or distress
• protagonist noun — the main character in a story, or the leading figure in an event
• protean adjective — able to change readily or assume many different forms
• provincial adjective — narrow-minded or unsophisticated because of limited experience
• provisional adjective — temporary and subject to later confirmation or change
• provoke verb — to stir up a strong reaction or response, often anger
• prowl verb — to move around quietly while searching
• proximity noun — the state of being near or close to something in space or time
• prudent adjective — showing care and thought for the future; wise
• pugnacious adjective — eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight
• pulverize verb — to crush something into fine powder or dust
• punctilious adjective — extremely careful about details, rules, or proper behavior
• punctual adjective — arriving or happening at the planned time
• puny adjective — smaller or weaker than expected
• purpose noun — the reason why something is done or made
• pusillanimous adjective — lacking courage in a shameful or contemptible way
• putative adjective — generally believed or accepted but not conclusively proven
• puzzle verb — to make someone feel confused or unsure
• puzzled adjective — confused because something is difficult to understand

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