6th grade vocabulary words
449 words from Rookling's SSAT practice, each with a simple definition and a synonym. Harder words that show up often on middle school entrance tests like the SSAT. Grade levels are a guide: a strong reader can move up a list.
| Word | Meaning | Synonym |
|---|---|---|
| abate | To become less strong or less intense. | subside |
| abridge | To make a book or text shorter by cutting out parts. | shorten |
| abscond | To slip away secretly, often to avoid being caught. | run off |
| abstain | To choose not to do or have something. | go without |
| abysmal | Of very poor quality, about as bad as it can be. | terrible |
| acrid | With a strong, sharp smell or taste that stings the nose or throat. | bitter |
| acumen | The ability to understand things quickly and make wise choices. | insight |
| affront | A rude act or remark that hurts someone's pride. | insult |
| aghast | Filled with shock and fear at something terrible you just saw or heard. | appalled |
| alacrity | A quick and happy readiness to do something. | eagerness |
| alleviate | To make pain or trouble hurt less. | ease |
| allocate | To set something aside or give out shares for a certain use. | assign |
| aloof | Staying apart from others and not friendly. | detached |
| altruistic | Caring about the needs of others before your own. | selfless |
| ambiguous | Able to be understood in more than one way. | unclear |
| ambivalent | Pulled two opposite ways about something at the same time. | having mixed feelings |
| ameliorate | To make a poor or painful situation better. | improve |
| amicable | Friendly and without fighting. | cordial |
| amnesty | Official forgiveness given to people who broke the law. | pardon |
| anecdote | A short, funny or interesting account of something that happened. | story |
| animosity | A strong feeling of dislike toward someone. | hostility |
| anthology | A book that gathers writings from different authors into one place. | collection |
| appalled | Shocked and upset by something very wrong. | horrified |
| apprehensive | Worried that something bad may happen. | uneasy |
| aqueduct | A bridge or pipe built to carry a river or stream over a long way. | water channel |
| arable | Suitable for plowing and growing crops. | farmable |
| arcane | Secret and understood by only a small number of people. | known to very few |
| arduous | Needing a lot of hard work and effort. | difficult |
| artisan | A skilled person who makes goods by hand. | craftsperson |
| ascetic | Living a plain life and doing without luxuries on purpose. | self-denying |
| assert | To say something in a strong, sure way. | declare |
| assiduous | Working steadily and carefully with great effort. | hardworking |
| assuage | To make a bad feeling less painful or less strong. | relieve |
| astute | Quick to see how things really are and use that to your advantage. | shrewd |
| audacious | Bold and willing to take big risks, even if it shocks people. | daring |
| autonomous | Able to make its own choices without being controlled by others. | independent |
| avarice | An extreme wish to have lots of money and riches. | greed |
| avian | Having to do with the feathered animals that fly and lay eggs. | of birds |
| badger | To keep on at someone until they get annoyed. | pester |
| balmy | Warm in a soft and pleasant way, never harsh. | mild |
| banal | So ordinary and overused that it has lost all interest. | unoriginal |
| barter | To trade one thing for another without using money. | swap |
| beckon | To signal with a hand or a nod that you want someone to come to you. | wave over |
| beguile | To win someone over in a pleasing way, sometimes to fool them. | charm |
| bemused | Puzzled and a little confused about what is going on. | perplexed |
| benediction | A prayer asking for good things to come to someone. | blessing |
| benign | Gentle and mild, and not likely to cause any trouble. | harmless |
| bequeath | To leave something to someone in a will after you die. | hand down |
| bicker | To argue in a petty way over small, unimportant things. | squabble |
| bilateral | Having a pair of sides, or involving a pair of groups. | two-sided |
| blanch | To turn white or pale, like a face after a sudden shock. | whiten |
| blatant | Done openly with no attempt to hide it. | glaring |
| boorish | Rough and bad mannered, with no care for good behavior. | rude |
| brandish | To shake or swing something in the air for others to see. | wave |
| brazen | Bold and showing no embarrassment. | shameless |
| brusque | Short and sharp in the way you talk to people. | curt |
| bungle | To mess up a task by being clumsy. | botch |
| burly | Having a large, heavy, powerful body. | brawny |
| cacophony | A harsh jumble of loud sounds that clash. | racket |
| cajole | To gently talk someone into doing something with sweet words. | coax |
| callous | Not caring at all about how much others are hurting. | heartless |
| camaraderie | Friendly feeling and trust among people who spend time together. | fellowship |
| candid | Saying what you really think in an open, direct way. | honest |
| carp | To keep complaining about small faults. | nitpick |
| castigate | To scold or criticize someone very harshly. | rebuke |
| cataclysm | A sudden, huge disaster that causes great destruction. | catastrophe |
| chagrin | The annoyed, upset feeling of having failed or looked foolish. | embarrassment |
| circumnavigate | To travel by ship all the way round the earth or an island. | sail around |
| circumspect | Careful to think about risks before doing anything. | guarded |
| clamber | To climb using hands and feet in a clumsy way. | scramble |
| clamor | A loud, mixed-up noise, such as many voices shouting. | uproar |
| clandestine | Done in hiding so that others will not find out. | secret |
| clemency | A kind choice to give a softer punishment than someone deserves. | mercy |
| coddle | To treat someone too gently and do too much for them. | pamper |
| commend | To say good things about someone for what they did well. | praise |
| commiserate | To show someone you feel sorry about their bad luck. | sympathize |
| complacent | So satisfied with how things are that you stop trying. | smug |
| comprehensive | Covering every part of a topic, with nothing left out. | all-inclusive |
| conceit | Thinking much too highly of yourself. | vanity |
| condescending | Acting as if you are better than others and talking down to them. | snobbish |
| condone | To let bad behavior go by without objecting to it. | overlook |
| conflagration | A huge fire that spreads and destroys a lot. | inferno |
| conscientious | Putting in effort to do your duties properly. | careful |
| conscript | A person made by law to serve in the army. | drafted soldier |
| conspicuous | Standing out so that people see it easily. | noticeable |
| consternation | A sudden feeling of shock and worry. | dismay |
| contemplate | To think about something deeply and for a long time. | consider |
| contiguous | Touching along a side or edge. | adjoining |
| contravene | To go against a rule or law. | violate |
| contrite | Feeling real regret for something wrong you did. | sorry |
| convalesce | To rest and slowly get better after being sick or hurt. | regain health |
| convivial | Friendly and lively, and fun to be around at a party. | sociable |
| corroborate | To give more proof that a statement is true. | confirm |
| covet | To want badly something that someone else has. | envy |
| credulous | Too ready to believe what people tell you. | gullible |
| culpable | Responsible for something wrong and deserving the fault. | blameworthy |
| cursory | Done fast and without looking closely at details. | hurried |
| curtail | To cut something short or make it smaller. | reduce |
| dank | Wet and cold in an unpleasant way, like a cave. | damp |
| daunt | To make someone feel nervous and less sure they can do something. | intimidate |
| dearth | A small supply of something that is needed, far less than enough. | shortage |
| debacle | A sudden, messy event where everything goes wrong. | total failure |
| debilitate | To take away a lot of someone's strength. | weaken |
| decorous | Polite and dignified in the way you behave. | proper |
| decry | To say publicly and strongly that something is bad or wrong. | denounce |
| deify | To treat someone as if they were a god. | idolize |
| dejected | Feeling low and sad after things did not go well. | discouraged |
| deluge | A huge rush of water, or a very large amount of things at once. | flood |
| demure | Quiet, reserved, and not showing off. | modest |
| deplete | To make a supply of something nearly gone by taking it away bit by bit. | use up |
| deplore | To feel and say that something is very wrong. | strongly condemn |
| devise | To come up with a plan or a clever new idea. | think up |
| devout | Deeply and sincerely religious or committed. | faithful |
| dexterous | Skillful and quick, especially when using the hands. | deft |
| diffident | Lacking confidence and slow to speak up. | shy |
| dilapidated | Old and broken, in poor shape because no one has fixed it. | run-down |
| diminutive | Much smaller than what is usual. | tiny |
| din | A loud, harsh noise that keeps going. | clamor |
| dire | Very grave and urgent, like a warning of danger. | extremely serious |
| discern | To see or understand something that is not easy to notice. | perceive |
| discrepancy | A difference that shows two things do not match as they should. | inconsistency |
| disdain | A feeling that someone or something is beneath you and not worth respect. | contempt |
| disparity | A big gap between two things that are being compared. | inequality |
| distraught | So upset and worried that you can hardly think straight. | frantic |
| diurnal | Awake and busy during daylight and asleep at night. | active by day |
| divulge | To let out a secret that was supposed to be kept hidden. | disclose |
| dormant | Not active right now, but able to become active again. | resting |
| dour | Serious and unfriendly looking, with a grim face. | stern |
| drab | Dull and plain, with no bright color or interest. | lackluster |
| drastically | In a big and sudden way that changes things a lot. | severely |
| droll | Funny in a quiet, dry, and slightly odd way. | amusing |
| drudgery | Boring, tiring work that seems to go on forever. | toil |
| dubious | Not sure about it and having reason to question it. | doubtful |
| duplicity | Dishonest behavior where you act one way but secretly mean another. | deceit |
| edifice | A large, grand building. | structure |
| efface | To rub out or wipe away a mark so it can no longer be seen. | erase |
| egocentric | Caring only about your own wants and views. | self-centered |
| egregious | Very bad in a way that is hard to miss. | glaring |
| elated | Filled with great happiness and excitement. | thrilled |
| emancipate | To set someone free from being owned or controlled. | liberate |
| embark | To begin a journey, such as by boarding a boat. | set out |
| embellish | To make something fancier by adding extra details. | decorate |
| encumber | To load someone down so they cannot move easily. | hamper |
| engrossed | So caught up in something that you forget what is around you. | absorbed |
| enigmatic | Hard to figure out, like a puzzle with no clear answer. | mysterious |
| enmity | A deep and lasting feeling of ill will toward someone. | hostility |
| enthrall | To hold someone's attention completely. | captivate |
| enthralled | So interested in something that you cannot look away. | spellbound |
| entourage | The group of people who travel along with an important person. | attendants |
| ephemeral | Lasting for only a very brief time. | short-lived |
| eradicate | To get rid of something so that none of it remains. | eliminate |
| erratic | Changing in a way that has no pattern. | unpredictable |
| erudite | Having a great deal of knowledge gained from years of study. | scholarly |
| eschew | To stay away from something deliberately, as a rule. | avoid |
| euphemism | A gentler way of saying something that sounds harsh. | tactful substitute |
| evince | To clearly show a feeling or quality. | exhibit |
| excruciating | Hurting so much that it is almost too much to stand. | agonizing |
| exhort | To strongly encourage someone to do something. | urge |
| exonerate | To prove that someone did not do the wrong thing they were accused of. | clear |
| exquisite | So finely made and lovely that it is a joy to look at. | extremely beautiful |
| extol | To speak of something with great admiration and excitement. | praise highly |
| extravagant | Spending much more than is needed or sensible. | wasteful |
| exult | To feel and show great joy, especially after a win. | rejoice |
| fallacy | A mistaken belief that many people think is true. | myth |
| famished | Feeling that your stomach is empty and you need food badly. | extremely hungry |
| fastidious | Hard to please because you care about every small detail. | fussy |
| fathom | To work out and truly understand something deep or hard. | comprehend |
| feral | Living in the wild after coming from tame or kept animals. | untamed |
| fervor | Very strong and intense feeling. | passion |
| fiasco | An event that goes so badly that it is embarrassing. | complete failure |
| fiscal | Having to do with government money, budgets, and taxes. | financial |
| flagrant | Shockingly obvious, usually about something wrong. | blatant |
| flounder | To move around clumsily and with great effort, as in deep mud. | struggle |
| flout | To ignore a rule in an open, proud way. | defy |
| foible | A small, harmless flaw in a person's character. | failing |
| foil | To stop someone's plan from working. | thwart |
| forage | To roam around looking for food. | scavenge |
| forfeit | To give up something as a punishment or because of a broken rule. | lose |
| forgo | To choose to do without something you could have. | sacrifice |
| formidable | So strong or impressive that it is scary to face. | daunting |
| fractious | Cranky and quick to argue or fight. | quarrelsome |
| frenetic | Wild, fast, and full of rushing about. | hectic |
| furtive | Done sneakily to avoid being noticed. | secretive |
| garish | Too bright and showy in a way that looks tasteless. | flashy |
| garrulous | Talking a lot, often about unimportant things. | chatty |
| glacial | Moving at a pace so gradual you can barely notice it. | very slow |
| glean | To learn or pick up facts a little at a time from different places. | gather |
| glib | Smooth and quick with words, but shallow or not sincere. | slick |
| grandiose | Trying too hard to seem grand and important. | pretentious |
| grueling | Very hard and tiring, pushing you to your limit. | exhausting |
| guile | Sly cleverness used to trick people. | cunning |
| hackneyed | Worn out from being said or done too many times, so it feels dull. | overused |
| hamlet | A tiny group of houses, smaller than a town. | village |
| harangue | A long, loud, angry speech aimed at someone. | rant |
| harbinger | Something that shows that a change is on its way. | omen |
| harrowing | Very upsetting and painful to live through. | traumatic |
| haughty | Proud in a way that looks down on others. | arrogant |
| heed | To pay attention to a warning or advice and act on it. | listen to |
| hiatus | A pause in something that is expected to start again. | interruption |
| humane | Showing kindness and care, especially toward those who suffer. | compassionate |
| idyllic | Like a calm, lovely picture of happiness. | peaceful and perfect |
| impartial | Not taking anyone's side in an argument or contest. | unbiased |
| impeccable | Perfect, with no errors at all. | flawless |
| impervious | Not letting water or harm get through. | resistant |
| impetuous | Acting quickly on a sudden urge without thinking. | rash |
| implore | To ask for something in a desperate, pleading way. | beg |
| inadvertent | Done by mistake, without planning it. | unintentional |
| incense | To make someone extremely angry. | enrage |
| inclement | Stormy, with rain, wind, or cold making it unpleasant outdoors. | harsh |
| indelible | Impossible to wipe away or remove, like some ink stains. | permanent |
| indolent | Not wanting to work or put out effort. | lazy |
| inexorable | Moving forward in a way that nothing can halt. | unstoppable |
| infallible | Not able to make a mistake. | never wrong |
| infer | To reach a conclusion from clues instead of being told. | conclude |
| innate | Part of you from the day you were born, not learned. | inborn |
| innocuous | Not able to hurt or upset anyone. | harmless |
| inscrutable | Impossible to understand, like a face that shows no feeling. | unreadable |
| insinuate | To say something unkind in a sly way without saying it directly. | suggest |
| insipid | Dull and weak, with no taste or excitement. | flavorless |
| instigate | To make something happen, especially trouble, by stirring it up. | provoke |
| intangible | Not able to be felt with your hands, like an idea. | untouchable |
| intractable | Very hard to control, lead, or deal with. | unmanageable |
| intrepid | Bold and willing to face danger and the unknown. | fearless |
| introspective | Thinking deeply about your own feelings and thoughts. | reflective |
| iridescent | Showing bright rainbow colors that change as you move. | shimmering |
| irked | Bothered by something in a mild way. | annoyed |
| jaded | Tired of something and no longer excited by it after having too much of it. | weary |
| jettison | To throw something overboard or out to lighten the load. | discard |
| jocular | Fond of joking and being playful. | humorous |
| jubilant | Full of great happiness, often because of a win. | rejoicing |
| judicious | Showing good judgment in your choices and decisions. | wise |
| languish | To grow weak and lose strength over time, often from neglect. | wither |
| latent | Hidden for now, but able to show up later. | dormant |
| leery | Careful and a bit suspicious because you do not fully trust something. | wary |
| lineage | The family line of people a person is descended from. | ancestry |
| listless | Having no energy or interest in doing anything. | spiritless |
| lithe | Slender and able to twist and bend gracefully. | flexible |
| loiter | To stand or linger in a place without any clear reason. | hang around |
| malcontent | A person who is always unhappy and complains about things. | grumbler |
| malign | To say untrue and hurtful things about someone. | slander |
| mar | To damage a part of something so it is no longer perfect. | spoil |
| martial | Having to do with fighting and armies. | military |
| meager | Not enough in amount to be satisfying. | skimpy |
| meddle | To get involved in things that are not your business. | interfere |
| melee | A messy, wild fight where many people are mixed together. | brawl |
| mercurial | Likely to change moods quickly and without warning. | changeable |
| meticulous | Paying close attention to every small detail. | thorough |
| misanthrope | A person who dislikes and avoids human beings. | people-hater |
| miser | A person who hoards money and hates to spend any. | cheapskate |
| misnomer | A label that does not fit what it describes. | wrong name |
| mitigate | To make a bad thing softer or not as harsh. | lessen |
| mollify | To calm someone who is angry or upset. | soothe |
| mortified | So embarrassed that you wish you could disappear. | humiliated |
| mottled | Marked with spots and patches of different shades. | blotchy |
| muse | To think about something quietly and for a long while. | ponder |
| mutiny | When a crew rises up against the people in charge. | uprising |
| nadir | The bottom of something, where it is at its worst. | lowest point |
| nebulous | Fuzzy and without a clear shape or meaning. | unclear |
| nefarious | Wicked and sneaky, as a plan made to do wrong. | villainous |
| negligible | Too small to matter or to be worth noticing. | insignificant |
| neophyte | A person who has just begun to learn something. | novice |
| nomadic | Traveling from place to place instead of staying in one home. | roaming |
| nondescript | So plain and ordinary that nothing about it stands out. | unremarkable |
| nostalgic | Longing for happy times from the past. | wistful |
| noxious | Poisonous or very bad for living things to breathe or touch. | toxic |
| obfuscate | To make a message hard to understand, often on purpose. | confuse |
| obsolete | No longer used because something newer took its place. | outdated |
| odious | Deserving strong hatred or disgust. | detestable |
| officious | Too eager to give orders or help that nobody asked for. | meddlesome |
| ominous | Giving a sign that something bad is coming. | threatening |
| omniscient | Aware of every fact and thing there is. | all-knowing |
| ordeal | A long, hard test of how much you can stand. | awful experience |
| ornate | Covered in detailed decoration. | fancy |
| orthodox | Following the usual and widely accepted ways. | conventional |
| ostentatious | Done to impress people and get them to notice. | showy |
| palatial | Large and splendid, as in a home fit for a king. | grand |
| pallid | Lacking healthy color in the face. | pale |
| pallor | An unhealthy lack of color in the face or skin. | paleness |
| palpable | So strong that it seems you could reach out and feel it. | evident |
| paltry | Small in amount and not worth much. | measly |
| panacea | Something believed to solve every problem or heal every illness. | cure-all |
| pandemonium | A scene where everything is loud, wild, and out of control. | chaos |
| paragon | A person or thing that is the best example of a good quality. | model |
| paramount | Above all others in how much it matters. | foremost |
| pauper | A very poor man or woman with almost no money at all. | penniless person |
| penchant | A strong taste or liking for something. | fondness |
| pensive | Quiet and lost in serious thought. | thoughtful |
| perceptible | Able to be seen, heard, or felt, even if only barely. | detectable |
| perennial | Lasting for many years, or coming back year after year. | enduring |
| perfidy | Breaking someone's trust by betraying them. | treachery |
| perfunctory | Done fast and with little care, only because it has to be done. | halfhearted |
| pernicious | Causing damage in a slow or hidden way. | harmful |
| perpetual | Going on and on without stopping. | endless |
| perspicacious | Quick to notice and understand what is really going on. | perceptive |
| perturb | To bother someone and make them feel anxious or upset. | unsettle |
| peruse | To look over a text slowly and with care. | read closely |
| pervade | To move into every part of something and fill it. | spread through |
| pestilence | A deadly sickness that spreads fast among many people. | plague |
| petulant | Easily annoyed and grumpy in a childish way. | sulky |
| pilfer | To take small things that belong to someone else, little by little. | steal |
| pithy | Short but full of meaning. | concise |
| plaudits | Praise and applause for something well done. | acclaim |
| plausible | Reasonable enough that it could be true. | believable |
| plethora | Far more than enough of something. | overabundance |
| plight | A hard or dangerous situation that is difficult to escape. | predicament |
| polyglot | A person who knows and speaks many languages. | multilingual |
| pompous | Showing off with grand words and a high opinion of yourself. | self-important |
| portly | Heavy and round in the body. | stout |
| posterity | All the people who will live after us. | future generations |
| precocious | Showing skills or smarts earlier than most kids do. | advanced for their age |
| premonition | A feeling that something is about to happen, before it does. | forewarning |
| proclivity | A natural leaning toward doing a certain thing. | tendency |
| prodigal | Spending money or goods carelessly, with no thought for saving. | wasteful |
| profuse | Pouring out in very large amounts. | abundant |
| progeny | The young that come from a parent. | offspring |
| prolific | Creating or producing a great many things. | productive |
| provident | Wise about planning ahead and saving for the future. | farsighted |
| prowess | Great talent and skill at doing something. | expertise |
| prudent | Thinking ahead and using good judgment to avoid trouble. | sensible |
| pseudonym | A made-up title a writer uses instead of the real one on a book. | pen name |
| pugnacious | Always ready to argue or fight. | combative |
| pungent | Having a strong smell or taste that bites at your nose or tongue. | sharp-smelling |
| quaff | To drink something deeply in big swallows. | gulp |
| querulous | Whining about things in a cranky voice. | complaining |
| quibble | To argue over a tiny, unimportant detail. | nitpick |
| rampant | Spreading fast and wild with nobody able to stop it. | unchecked |
| ratify | To give official agreement so that a treaty or law becomes valid. | approve |
| raucous | Loud, harsh, and rowdy. | boisterous |
| rebuke | To tell someone sharply that they did something wrong. | scold |
| recalcitrant | Stubbornly refusing to follow rules or orders. | defiant |
| recant | To say that you no longer believe what you said before. | retract |
| recapitulate | To go over the main points of something again. | summarize |
| recluse | A person who chooses to live alone, away from others. | hermit |
| reclusive | Preferring to stay away from other people and live alone. | withdrawn |
| recuperate | To get your strength back after being sick or worn out. | heal |
| redolent | Full of a strong smell, often a pleasant one. | aromatic |
| rejuvenate | To make someone feel fresh and full of energy again. | revitalize |
| relish | To take great pleasure in something and enjoy every bit of it. | savor |
| remiss | Careless about doing something you ought to do. | negligent |
| remorse | Deep sorrow for something wrong that you did. | guilt |
| repeal | To officially cancel a law. | revoke |
| replete | Completely filled, right up to the top. | brimming |
| resolute | Firm in your purpose and refusing to give up. | determined |
| reticent | Not willing to share your thoughts or feelings easily. | reserved |
| revere | To look up to someone with deep honor and admiration. | deeply respect |
| revoke | To take back a right or a permission so it no longer counts. | cancel |
| rotund | Having a body that is round and full. | plump |
| ruddy | Having a healthy, reddish color in the face. | rosy |
| rudimentary | At the first, simplest stage, with only the most important parts. | basic |
| ruse | A clever plan to fool someone. | trick |
| sagacious | Having sharp judgment and good sense from experience. | wise |
| saline | Containing salt, like the sea. | salty |
| sartorial | Having to do with tailors and the clothes they make. | of clothing |
| scapegoat | A person who gets blamed for what others did. | fall guy |
| scathing | So sharp and cruel in judging something that it stings. | harshly critical |
| scour | To look through every part of a place very carefully to find something. | search |
| scruple | A feeling of doubt about whether something is right that holds you back. | qualm |
| sedentary | Spending most of the time sitting down. | inactive |
| seethe | To boil with anger on the inside while staying quiet. | fume |
| sentry | A person who stands watch to protect a place. | guard |
| shirk | To dodge work or a duty that you should do. | evade |
| sidle | To move along sideways in a shy or quiet way. | edge |
| singe | To scorch the edge of something with a flame so it turns brown. | burn slightly |
| smattering | A small amount of something, scattered here and there. | sprinkling |
| smirk | A grin that shows you feel pleased with yourself, not a kind one. | smug smile |
| smolder | To glow and give off smoke with little or no flame. | burn slowly |
| sneer | To show you think someone is beneath you with a twisted smile or a nasty tone. | mock |
| solace | Comfort that helps when you are feeling sad. | consolation |
| somber | Serious and sad in mood, with little light or cheer. | gloomy |
| somnolent | Ready to fall asleep. | drowsy |
| speculate | To form an idea about something without enough facts to be sure. | guess |
| sporadic | Happening only once in a while, with no regular pattern. | occasional |
| spurious | Not real, though it is made to look genuine. | fake |
| squander | To use up money, time, or a chance in a careless way. | waste |
| staggering | So big or surprising that it is hard to believe. | astounding |
| stagnant | Not flowing or moving, so it may become dirty. | unmoving |
| staunch | Firm and steady in your support. | devoted |
| strident | Loud and harsh in a way that is unpleasant to hear. | grating |
| subservient | Too ready to obey others and put their wishes first. | submissive |
| subterfuge | A sneaky trick used to get what you want. | deception |
| subtle | So slight that it is hard to notice. | faint |
| subversive | Working quietly from the inside to bring down those in charge. | undermining |
| succumb | To give in to something too strong to resist. | yield |
| sumptuous | Rich and costly, with a look of great wealth. | luxurious |
| superficial | Dealing only with the outside or surface of something. | shallow |
| superfluous | More than what is needed, so it could be left out. | needless |
| supplant | To push out someone or something and take its spot. | replace |
| surfeit | More of something than you need or want. | excess |
| surly | Rude and in a bad mood. | grumpy |
| surmise | To form an idea from a few clues, without being certain. | suppose |
| surmount | To get past a problem or climb up and over an obstacle. | overcome |
| surreptitious | Done in a secret way so nobody notices. | sneaky |
| susceptible | Easily affected by something, such as a germ or flattery. | vulnerable |
| sweltering | Sticky and warm so that you feel sweaty and uncomfortable. | uncomfortably hot |
| sylvan | Having to do with trees and forests. | of the woods |
| tacit | Understood by everyone without needing to be said. | unspoken |
| taciturn | Saying very little and rarely starting a conversation. | quiet |
| tactful | Careful about what you say so you do not hurt feelings. | diplomatic |
| tactile | Having to do with feeling things with your fingers. | relating to touch |
| temperate | Not extreme, with weather that is neither very hot nor very cold. | mild |
| tenacious | Holding on tight and refusing to give up. | persistent |
| tenet | A main belief or rule that a group lives by. | principle |
| tepid | Neither hot nor cold, but only a little bit warm. | lukewarm |
| terrestrial | Living on or having to do with the planet's land. | earthly |
| thwart | To block someone's plan so it cannot work. | prevent |
| tiff | A small, short argument over something unimportant. | squabble |
| timorous | Easily frightened and shy about taking risks. | fearful |
| transcribe | To copy down spoken words or other text in a new form. | write out |
| transgress | To step across a line or break a rule or law. | violate |
| transitory | Lasting only a short time before it passes. | fleeting |
| transmute | To change one thing completely into something else. | turn into |
| travesty | A poor and ridiculous copy of something that ought to be serious. | mockery |
| tremor | A small, quick shake or quiver. | slight shaking |
| trepidation | A nervous, shaky fear about something that may happen. | dread |
| trudge | To walk with slow, heavy steps because you are tired. | plod |
| tumult | Loud, confused noise and movement all at once. | commotion |
| twinge | A sudden, quick jab of pain or guilt. | pang |
| ubiquitous | Found in every place, no matter where you go. | seen everywhere |
| unilateral | Done by just a single person or group, without the others. | one-sided |
| unkempt | Messy and untidy, like hair that has not been combed. | disheveled |
| unscathed | Coming through a dangerous event with no injury or damage. | not hurt at all |
| unwieldy | Awkward to move or use because of its size or shape. | cumbersome |
| usurp | To grab a job or a throne that is not rightfully yours. | take power wrongly |
| vacuous | Empty of thought, meaning, or interest. | mindless |
| vagabond | A person who moves from place to place with no settled home. | wanderer |
| valor | Great bravery when facing danger. | heroism |
| vapid | Dull, with no flavor or spark of interest. | bland |
| vehement | Showing very strong feeling or power in what you say or do. | forceful |
| venerable | Honored and admired because of age, wisdom, or long service. | respected |
| venerate | To treat someone or something with great respect and honor. | revere |
| veracity | The quality of being true or honest. | truthfulness |
| verbiage | The use of far more words than are needed. | wordiness |
| vernal | Having to do with the season when flowers start to bloom. | of spring |
| vertigo | A spinning feeling that makes you lose your balance. | dizziness |
| vex | To make someone feel bothered or upset. | irritate |
| vigor | Strong, healthy energy for doing things. | vitality |
| vindictive | Eager to get back at someone who hurt you. | vengeful |
| virtuoso | A person with amazing, expert skill at something such as music. | master |
| virulent | Extremely harmful, or full of bitter hatred. | venomous |
| viscous | Thick and gooey, so that it pours very slowly. | syrupy |
| vivacious | Full of life, bright, and fun to be around. | lively |
| vociferous | Loud and determined in making your demands heard. | noisily insistent |
| volition | The power to make your own choices. | free will |
| wane | To slowly become smaller, weaker, or less. | dwindle |
| wheedle | To get what you want by sweet talk or flattery. | coax |
| windfall | A big piece of good luck, like money you did not expect. | bonanza |
| wizened | Dried up and covered in wrinkles from age. | shriveled |
| writhe | To twist and turn the body, as when in pain. | squirm |
| zenith | The top of something, where it reaches its greatest height or success. | highest point |
For words your child half knows, see synonym strategies.