SSAT Vocabulary Practice: List 30

Twenty-word practice set from the Ubiquitous Essentials SSAT/SAT academic glossary.

Vocabulary List 30: DI-DI Words

1. DictumSSAT vocabularyA formal statement, rule, or authoritative saying.
2. DidacticSSAT vocabularyIntended to teach, often in a moralizing way.
3. PedanticSSAT vocabularyOverly concerned with small rules or bookish details.
4. DiffidentSSAT vocabularyShy and lacking self-confidence.
5. TimidSSAT vocabularyShy, fearful, or easily frightened.
6. DigressSSAT vocabularyTo wander away from the main topic.
7. DilettanteSSAT vocabularyA person with a shallow amateur interest in an art or field.
8. DiscernSSAT vocabularyTo perceive, recognize, or distinguish clearly.
9. DiscreetSSAT vocabularyCareful, tactful, and avoiding embarrassment.
10. DiscreteSSAT vocabularySeparate and distinct.
11. DiscriminateSSAT vocabularyTo recognize differences; or to treat unfairly based on category.
12. DisdainSSAT vocabularyA feeling of scorn or strong dislike.
13. DisinterestedSSAT vocabularyImpartial and not influenced by personal gain.
14. DisparageSSAT vocabularyTo belittle or speak of as unimportant.
15. DisparateSSAT vocabularyEssentially different or not comparable.
16. DisseminateSSAT vocabularyTo spread information widely.
17. DissipateSSAT vocabularyTo scatter, waste, or gradually disappear.
18. DissolutionSSAT vocabularyThe breaking up, ending, or decay of something.
19. DistendSSAT vocabularyTo swell or expand from pressure inside.
20. DistinguishSSAT vocabularyTo tell apart or recognize as different.

Exercise 1: Matching

Match each word with the correct definition.

Words

  1. Dictum _____
  2. Didactic _____
  3. Pedantic _____
  4. Diffident _____
  5. Timid _____
  6. Digress _____
  7. Dilettante _____
  8. Discern _____
  9. Discreet _____
  10. Discrete _____
  11. Discriminate _____
  12. Disdain _____
  13. Disinterested _____
  14. Disparage _____
  15. Disparate _____
  16. Disseminate _____
  17. Dissipate _____
  18. Dissolution _____
  19. Distend _____
  20. Distinguish _____
A. A feeling of scorn or strong dislike.
B. To wander away from the main topic.
C. Shy and lacking self-confidence.
D. Impartial and not influenced by personal gain.
E. To spread information widely.
F. To swell or expand from pressure inside.
G. Shy, fearful, or easily frightened.
H. Essentially different or not comparable.
I. To perceive, recognize, or distinguish clearly.
J. Intended to teach, often in a moralizing way.
K. Overly concerned with small rules or bookish details.
L. To recognize differences; or to treat unfairly based on category.
M. To belittle or speak of as unimportant.
N. To scatter, waste, or gradually disappear.
O. To tell apart or recognize as different.
P. Careful, tactful, and avoiding embarrassment.
Q. A person with a shallow amateur interest in an art or field.
R. A formal statement, rule, or authoritative saying.
S. Separate and distinct.
T. The breaking up, ending, or decay of something.
Show Matching Answer Key

1-R, 2-J, 3-K, 4-C, 5-G, 6-B, 7-Q, 8-I, 9-P, 10-S, 11-L, 12-A, 13-D, 14-M, 15-H, 16-E, 17-N, 18-T, 19-F, 20-O

Exercise 2: Gap Filling

Choose the best word from the word bank to complete each sentence.

discriminate, didactic, dictum, disinterested, dissolution, digress, distend, discreet, disparage, timid, dissipate, disseminate, disdain, distinguish, pedantic, discern, discrete, dilettante, diffident, disparate
  1. The balloon began to _____ as more air filled it.
  2. The fog began to _____ as the morning sun rose.
  3. The club faced _____ when most members moved away.
  4. The coach repeated his favorite _____: preparation beats luck.
  5. The novel felt too _____ when every chapter ended with an obvious lesson.
  6. The judge stayed _____ because she had no personal connection to either side.
  7. The usually bold speaker became _____ when the auditorium filled.
  8. The two poems looked similar but came from _____ traditions.
  9. She felt _____ for the unfair rule but still explained her reasons calmly.
  10. A careful reader can _____ between evidence and opinion.
  11. During his speech, Noah had to stop himself from starting to _____.
  12. He was only a _____, buying brushes before learning basic painting skills.
  13. With practice, readers can _____ the author's tone from small word choices.
  14. Can you _____ the two twins by their voices?
  15. Good teammates do not _____ a beginner for asking simple questions.
  16. The school used posters to _____ the new library schedule.
  17. The teacher divided the project into three _____ tasks.
  18. The reviewer sounded _____ when he corrected every comma but ignored the main idea.
  19. The counselor was _____ when she discussed the private problem.
  20. Although she knew the answer, the _____ student spoke very softly.
Show Gap Filling Answer Key

1. Distend, 2. Dissipate, 3. Dissolution, 4. Dictum, 5. Didactic, 6. Disinterested, 7. Timid, 8. Disparate, 9. Disdain, 10. Discriminate, 11. Digress, 12. Dilettante, 13. Discern, 14. Distinguish, 15. Disparage, 16. Disseminate, 17. Discrete, 18. Pedantic, 19. Discreet, 20. Diffident

Exercise 3: Paragraph Using All Words

Read the paragraph and notice how each vocabulary word is used in context.

In one busy school week, every conversation seemed to introduce a new vocabulary word. The two poems looked similar but came from Disparate traditions. The school used posters to Disseminate the new library schedule. During his speech, Noah had to stop himself from starting to Digress. Although she knew the answer, the Diffident student spoke very softly. The balloon began to Distend as more air filled it. The coach repeated his favorite Dictum: preparation beats luck. The novel felt too Didactic when every chapter ended with an obvious lesson. The teacher divided the project into three Discrete tasks. Good teammates do not Disparage a beginner for asking simple questions. She felt Disdain for the unfair rule but still explained her reasons calmly. The usually bold speaker became Timid when the auditorium filled. Can you Distinguish the two twins by their voices? He was only a Dilettante, buying brushes before learning basic painting skills. The reviewer sounded Pedantic when he corrected every comma but ignored the main idea. The judge stayed Disinterested because she had no personal connection to either side. The fog began to Dissipate as the morning sun rose. The counselor was Discreet when she discussed the private problem. A careful reader can Discriminate between evidence and opinion. The club faced Dissolution when most members moved away. With practice, readers can Discern the author's tone from small word choices.

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