SSAT Vocabulary Practice: List 45

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

Vocabulary List 45: FL-SU Words

1. FlagrantSSAT vocabularyObviously and shockingly wrong.
2. ReservoirSSAT vocabularyA supply or storage place, especially for water.
3. NeologismSSAT vocabularyA newly coined word or expression.
4. NepotismSSAT vocabularyFavoring relatives in jobs or opportunities.
5. NihilismSSAT vocabularyBelief that life or values have no meaning.
6. NominalSSAT vocabularyIn name only; very small.
7. NostalgiaSSAT vocabularyLonging for the past.
8. NotoriousSSAT vocabularyFamous for something bad.
9. Novel (adj.)SSAT vocabularyNew, original, or unusual.
10. NoxiousSSAT vocabularyHarmful or poisonous.
11. NuanceSSAT vocabularyA subtle difference in meaning or feeling.
12. SubtleSSAT vocabularyDelicate, slight, or not obvious.
13. ObdurateSSAT vocabularyStubbornly refusing to change.
14. ObfuscateSSAT vocabularyTo make unclear or confusing.
15. ObliqueSSAT vocabularyIndirect or slanting.
16. OblivionSSAT vocabularyA state of being forgotten or unaware.
17. ObscureSSAT vocabularyHard to understand; not well known.
18. ObsequiousSSAT vocabularyOverly eager to please.
19. FawningSSAT vocabularyExcessively flattering or servile.
20. SubservientSSAT vocabularySubmissive or overly obedient.

Exercise 1: Matching

Match each word with the correct definition.

Words

  1. Flagrant _____
  2. Reservoir _____
  3. Neologism _____
  4. Nepotism _____
  5. Nihilism _____
  6. Nominal _____
  7. Nostalgia _____
  8. Notorious _____
  9. Novel (adj.) _____
  10. Noxious _____
  11. Nuance _____
  12. Subtle _____
  13. Obdurate _____
  14. Obfuscate _____
  15. Oblique _____
  16. Oblivion _____
  17. Obscure _____
  18. Obsequious _____
  19. Fawning _____
  20. Subservient _____
A. Hard to understand; not well known.
B. Favoring relatives in jobs or opportunities.
C. A subtle difference in meaning or feeling.
D. Excessively flattering or servile.
E. Overly eager to please.
F. Harmful or poisonous.
G. Longing for the past.
H. Indirect or slanting.
I. Delicate, slight, or not obvious.
J. Stubbornly refusing to change.
K. Famous for something bad.
L. A supply or storage place, especially for water.
M. Obviously and shockingly wrong.
N. In name only; very small.
O. Belief that life or values have no meaning.
P. A newly coined word or expression.
Q. Submissive or overly obedient.
R. A state of being forgotten or unaware.
S. To make unclear or confusing.
T. New, original, or unusual.
Show Matching Answer Key

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

Exercise 2: Gap Filling

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

obscure, oblivion, fawning, oblique, obfuscate, neologism, nepotism, reservoir, notorious, obdurate, noxious, novel (adj.), nominal, flagrant, obsequious, nostalgia, nihilism, subtle, nuance, subservient
  1. His role was _____; he had the title but no real authority.
  2. The actor captured every _____ in the character's voice.
  3. The app created a _____ that students began using at lunch.
  4. The _____ assistant praised every idea, even the terrible ones.
  5. The town's _____ stored enough water for the dry summer.
  6. The old song nearly passed into _____ until the choir revived it.
  7. The team proposed a _____ solution no one had tried.
  8. The _____ toddler would not leave the playground.
  9. Hiring his cousin over stronger applicants looked like _____.
  10. The pirate became _____ for attacking merchant ships.
  11. The poem seemed _____ until we discussed its symbols.
  12. Looking at old yearbooks filled the alumni with _____.
  13. The villain wanted _____ followers who never questioned orders.
  14. The joke was so _____ that only a few students noticed it.
  15. Long sentences can _____ a simple idea.
  16. The lab labeled the fumes _____ and opened the windows.
  17. The _____ assistant agreed with every idea, even the bad ones.
  18. Her _____ answer hinted at the truth without stating it.
  19. The villain's _____ made him reject every moral rule.
  20. The lab report had a _____ error: it listed the wrong chemical.
Show Gap Filling Answer Key

1. Nominal, 2. Nuance, 3. Neologism, 4. Fawning, 5. Reservoir, 6. Oblivion, 7. Novel (adj.), 8. Obdurate, 9. Nepotism, 10. Notorious, 11. Obscure, 12. Nostalgia, 13. Subservient, 14. Subtle, 15. Obfuscate, 16. Noxious, 17. Obsequious, 18. Oblique, 19. Nihilism, 20. Flagrant

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 pirate became Notorious for attacking merchant ships. His role was Nominal; he had the title but no real authority. The Obdurate toddler would not leave the playground. The villain's Nihilism made him reject every moral rule. The actor captured every Nuance in the character's voice. The lab labeled the fumes Noxious and opened the windows. The lab report had a Flagrant error: it listed the wrong chemical. The Obsequious assistant agreed with every idea, even the bad ones. Looking at old yearbooks filled the alumni with Nostalgia. The joke was so Subtle that only a few students noticed it. Her Oblique answer hinted at the truth without stating it. Hiring his cousin over stronger applicants looked like Nepotism. The team proposed a Novel (adj.) solution no one had tried. The old song nearly passed into Oblivion until the choir revived it. The app created a Neologism that students began using at lunch. The poem seemed Obscure until we discussed its symbols. The town's Reservoir stored enough water for the dry summer. The Fawning assistant praised every idea, even the terrible ones. The villain wanted Subservient followers who never questioned orders. Long sentences can Obfuscate a simple idea.

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