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Free ISEE Upper Level Vocabulary Flashcards
The 500 words that matter most for the Upper Level ISEE Verbal Reasoning section, turned into 1,500 flashcards that practice the questions the way the real test asks them. Made by Dr. Stuart Donnelly for his own students, and free for every family.
- 500 words
- 1,500 cards
- Audio for every word
- Anki + Quizlet
What’s Inside
Three Cards for Every Word
Each word builds from “I know what it means” to “I can answer it on test day.”
1 · Learn the Word
See the word and hear it spoken aloud, then flip for a plain-English meaning, a synonym, an example sentence and any “close cousin” words to keep straight.
2 · ISEE Synonyms
A capitalized word with four choices, just like Part One of Verbal Reasoning. Tap an answer, flip, and see right away whether it was correct.
3 · Sentence Completion
A sentence with a blank and four choices, like Part Two of Verbal Reasoning. The answer side names the context clue, so your child learns how to find the answer, not just the answer.
Why Vocabulary
Why Vocabulary Matters on the Upper Level ISEE
The Upper Level Verbal Reasoning section has 40 questions in 20 minutes: synonyms and sentence completions. That is just 30 seconds per question, so there is no time to puzzle out a word your child has never seen. Knowing the word is usually the whole battle.
Vocabulary also helps on Reading Comprehension, where passages and answer choices use the same kind of words. It is one of the most reliable ways for a high school applicant to raise their score.
- Every word was checked. Each of the 1,500 questions was answered independently and checked against the answer key. Choices that could be argued as a second right answer were replaced.
- Built for teens (ages 13–17). Plain-English meanings and everyday example sentences, with no dictionary jargon.
- Spaced repetition in Anki. Each word comes back just before it would be forgotten, so 10–15 minutes a day goes a long way.
The Word List
ISEE Upper Level Vocabulary List: All 500 Words
Every word in the deck, A to Z, with a plain-English meaning and a synonym. Start with the Core 200, then move on to the Extension 300. Prefer paper? Download the printable PDF word list.
Core 200 start here · the most common ISEE Upper Level words
- abate v. to become less strong or intense (lessen)
- abdicate v. to give up a throne or a responsibility (resign)
- abject adj. extremely miserable and hopeless (miserable)
- acquiesce v. to agree or give in without protest (agree)
- acrimonious adj. bitter and angry in tone (bitter)
- acumen n. skill at making quick, smart judgments (insight)
- adage n. an old, well-known saying (saying)
- adroit adj. skillful and clever, especially with hands or mind (skillful)
- affable adj. friendly and easy to talk to (friendly)
- alacrity n. cheerful eagerness and quickness (eagerness)
- altruistic adj. unselfishly concerned for others (selfless)
- ambiguous adj. able to be understood in more than one way (unclear)
- ambivalent adj. having mixed feelings about something (undecided)
- ameliorate v. to make a bad situation better (improve)
- anomaly n. something that differs from what is normal (oddity)
- antipathy n. a strong feeling of dislike (dislike)
- aplomb n. calm confidence, especially under pressure (poise)
- arbitrary adj. based on chance or whim, not reason (random)
- artifice n. clever trickery meant to fool people (trickery)
- ascertain v. to find out for certain (determine)
- ascetic adj. giving up comforts and pleasures for discipline (self-denying)
- assiduous adj. showing steady, careful effort (diligent)
- assuage v. to ease or calm a painful feeling (ease)
- audacious adj. boldly daring and willing to take big risks (bold)
- auspicious adj. showing signs of future success (promising)
- austere adj. plain and severe, without comfort or decoration (plain)
- avarice n. extreme greed for wealth (greed)
- banal adj. dull and ordinary, lacking anything fresh (commonplace)
- bane n. a cause of constant trouble or misery (curse)
- belittle v. to make someone or something seem unimportant (put down)
- bombastic adj. full of showy, puffed-up language (pompous)
- brevity n. the quality of being short (shortness)
- buttress v. to support or strengthen (strengthen)
- cacophony n. a harsh, jarring mix of loud sounds (racket)
- cajole v. to persuade with flattery or gentle urging (coax)
- cantankerous adj. grumpy and quick to argue (grouchy)
- capitulate v. to stop resisting and give in (surrender)
- capricious adj. changing suddenly and without any good reason (fickle)
- castigate v. to criticize or scold harshly (scold)
- catharsis n. a release of strong emotion that brings relief (release)
- caustic adj. bitterly harsh or able to burn chemically (biting)
- charlatan n. a person who falsely claims special skill (fraud)
- circumspect adj. careful to consider risks before acting (cautious)
- circumvent v. to find a way around a rule or obstacle (bypass)
- clandestine adj. done in secret, often to hide something (secret)
- clemency n. mercy shown when deciding a punishment (mercy)
- coalesce v. to come together to form one whole (merge)
- cogent adj. clear, logical, and convincing (convincing)
- condescending adj. acting as if others are less intelligent (patronizing)
- condone v. to accept or allow behavior that is wrong (excuse)
- contentious adj. likely to cause arguments (controversial)
- conundrum n. a confusing and difficult problem (puzzle)
- corroborate v. to confirm with additional evidence (confirm)
- credence n. belief that something is true (belief)
- criterion n. a standard used for judging something (standard)
- culpable adj. deserving blame for wrongdoing (guilty)
- cursory adj. quick and not thorough (hasty)
- dearth n. a lack or shortage (shortage)
- debacle n. a sudden and embarrassing failure (disaster)
- debunk v. to show that a claim is false (disprove)
- decorum n. proper and polite behavior (manners)
- decry v. to criticize openly as wrong (criticize)
- deference n. polite respect for another's wishes or judgment (respect)
- delineate v. to describe or mark out precisely (outline)
- demagogue n. a leader who stirs up emotions instead of reason (agitator)
- denounce v. to declare publicly that something is wrong (condemn)
- deride v. to mock with scorn (mock)
- diatribe n. a bitter, angry speech of criticism (rant)
- dichotomy n. a sharp division into two opposing parts (split)
- didactic adj. intended to teach, often in a preachy way (instructive)
- diffident adj. lacking self-confidence; shy (shy)
- dilettante n. someone who dabbles in a subject without serious study (dabbler)
- disparage v. to speak of as having little worth (badmouth)
- disparate adj. very different; not alike at all (different)
- disseminate v. to spread information widely (spread)
- dogmatic adj. insisting one's beliefs are right beyond question (opinionated)
- duplicity n. dishonest behavior that deceives others (deceit)
- ebullient adj. bubbling over with cheerful excitement (cheerful)
- eclectic adj. drawn from many different sources or styles (varied)
- effusive adj. expressing feelings in an overflowing, gushing way (gushing)
- egregious adj. shockingly bad (outrageous)
- engender v. to cause or give rise to (produce)
- enmity n. deep and lasting hostility (hostility)
- ephemeral adj. lasting only a very short time (fleeting)
- epiphany n. a sudden moment of understanding (realization)
- epitome n. a perfect example of a quality or type (model)
- equanimity n. calmness and an even temper, even under stress (composure)
- equitable adj. fair and equal to everyone involved (fair)
- equivocate v. to speak vaguely to avoid giving a clear answer (hedge)
- erudite adj. having great knowledge gained from study (scholarly)
- esoteric adj. understood by only a small, specialized group (obscure)
- euphemism n. a mild word that replaces a harsh one (polite term)
- exacerbate v. to make a problem worse (worsen)
- exonerate v. to clear someone of blame (clear)
- exorbitant adj. far more than is reasonable, especially in price (excessive)
- extol v. to praise with great enthusiasm (praise)
- extraneous adj. not related to the main subject (irrelevant)
- extricate v. to free from a difficult situation (free)
- facetious adj. joking at an inappropriate or serious moment (joking)
- fastidious adj. very careful about details and cleanliness (fussy)
- fathom v. to understand something difficult (grasp)
- feign v. to pretend to feel or have (fake)
- flippant adj. lacking respect or seriousness; casually disrespectful (careless)
- foment v. to stir up trouble or unrest (stir up)
- forestall v. to prevent by acting ahead of time (prevent)
- fortitude n. courage and strength in facing hardship (courage)
- fortuitous adj. happening by lucky chance (lucky)
- galvanize v. to shock or excite into action (motivate)
- garrulous adj. excessively talkative, especially about trivial things (talkative)
- gratuitous adj. unnecessary and without good reason (uncalled-for)
- hackneyed adj. used so often it has lost its freshness (overused)
- harangue v. to lecture someone forcefully and at length (lecture)
- hubris n. excessive pride or self-confidence (arrogance)
- hyperbole n. extreme exaggeration not meant to be taken literally (exaggeration)
- idiosyncratic adj. peculiar to one person; quirky (quirky)
- impassive adj. showing no emotion (expressionless)
- imperious adj. bossy and arrogant, expecting to be obeyed (bossy)
- impervious adj. unable to be affected or passed through (resistant)
- impetus n. a force that drives someone to act (motivation)
- impugn v. to question someone's honesty or motives (question)
- impunity n. freedom from punishment or consequences (immunity)
- incongruous adj. out of place; not fitting its surroundings (mismatched)
- inculcate v. to teach by constant repetition (instill)
- indolent adj. lazy and avoiding effort (lazy)
- ingratiate v. to win favor by trying hard to please (flatter)
- innocuous adj. harmless; not likely to hurt or offend (harmless)
- innuendo n. an indirect hint, usually something negative (hint)
- insipid adj. lacking flavor or interest (bland)
- intransigent adj. refusing to change one's position (stubborn)
- inundate v. to overwhelm with a huge amount (flood)
- irascible adj. easily made angry (irritable)
- jettison v. to throw away or discard (discard)
- juxtaposition n. placing two things side by side to compare (contrast)
- laconic adj. using very few words (brief)
- levity n. lighthearted humor, especially at a serious time (humor)
- loquacious adj. very talkative (talkative)
- magnanimous adj. generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival (generous)
- malaise n. a vague feeling of unease or low energy (unease)
- malevolent adj. wishing harm to others (evil)
- malign v. to say false, harmful things about (slander)
- maverick n. an independent person who refuses to conform (rebel)
- mercurial adj. changing mood quickly and unpredictably (moody)
- misnomer n. a name that describes something wrongly (wrong name)
- mitigate v. to make less severe or harmful (reduce)
- modicum n. a small amount (bit)
- mollify v. to calm someone's anger (soothe)
- nefarious adj. wicked or villainous (wicked)
- negate v. to cancel the effect of (cancel)
- nuance n. a subtle difference in meaning or tone (subtlety)
- obfuscate v. to make something unclear on purpose (confuse)
- oblique adj. indirect; not stated openly (indirect)
- obsequious adj. too eager to please or obey others (fawning)
- opaque adj. not letting light pass through (solid)
- ostentatious adj. showy and meant to impress others (showy)
- ostracize v. to exclude someone from a group (exclude)
- pedantic adj. too concerned with minor rules and details (nitpicking)
- perfunctory adj. done only out of duty, with little care (halfhearted)
- pernicious adj. harmful in a gradual or hidden way (harmful)
- placate v. to calm someone by making concessions (calm)
- poignant adj. deeply moving, often in a sad way (touching)
- pragmatic adj. focused on what is practical and actually works (practical)
- preclude v. to make impossible in advance (prevent)
- prodigious adj. remarkably great in size or amount (enormous)
- profligate adj. recklessly wasteful, especially with money (wasteful)
- proliferate v. to increase rapidly in number (multiply)
- propagate v. to spread or reproduce widely (spread)
- prosaic adj. ordinary and lacking imagination (ordinary)
- provincial adj. narrow-minded because of limited experience (narrow-minded)
- pugnacious adj. eager to argue or fight (combative)
- querulous adj. complaining in a whiny way (whiny)
- recalcitrant adj. stubbornly refusing to obey or cooperate (defiant)
- recant v. to publicly take back an earlier statement (retract)
- relegate v. to move to a lower, less important position (demote)
- renege v. to go back on a promise (back out)
- repudiate v. to reject completely and refuse to accept (reject)
- rescind v. to cancel or officially take back (cancel)
- reticent adj. unwilling to share thoughts or feelings (reserved)
- ruminate v. to think deeply and at length (ponder)
- sagacious adj. wise and showing good judgment (wise)
- salient adj. most noticeable or important (notable)
- sanguine adj. cheerfully hopeful (optimistic)
- scrupulous adj. very careful to be honest and correct (principled)
- sporadic adj. happening now and then, at irregular times (occasional)
- spurious adj. false or fake, though seeming genuine (false)
- staid adj. serious, proper, and unadventurous (stuffy)
- stoic adj. enduring hardship without complaining (uncomplaining)
- strident adj. loud, harsh, and grating (harsh)
- sublime adj. so beautiful or excellent it inspires awe (glorious)
- superfluous adj. more than is needed (extra)
- surreptitious adj. done secretly to avoid being noticed (sneaky)
- taciturn adj. habitually quiet and saying little (quiet)
- tenuous adj. very weak or slight (flimsy)
- transient adj. lasting only briefly; passing through (temporary)
- trepidation n. nervous fear about something that is coming (dread)
- ubiquitous adj. found everywhere (widespread)
- urbane adj. polished, polite, and sophisticated (refined)
- vacuous adj. empty of ideas or intelligence (empty)
- venerable adj. respected because of age, wisdom, or character (respected)
- virulent adj. extremely severe, harmful, or hostile (severe)
- vociferous adj. loudly and forcefully expressing opinions (vocal)
Extension 300 tap to show · harder words for higher scores
- abscond v. to leave secretly, often with stolen items (flee)
- accolade n. an award or expression of high praise (honor)
- accost v. to approach and speak to boldly (confront)
- affinity n. a natural liking or connection (liking)
- alienate v. to make someone unfriendly or distant (estrange)
- allay v. to calm or relieve fears or concerns (ease)
- allegiance n. loyalty to a person, group, or cause (loyalty)
- amalgamate v. to combine into one whole (merge)
- amnesty n. an official pardon for past offenses (pardon)
- anachronistic adj. out of place in time (outdated)
- annul v. to declare officially invalid (cancel)
- antithesis n. the exact opposite (opposite)
- apex n. the highest point (peak)
- apprehension n. anxious fear about what might happen (worry)
- apprise v. to inform or tell (inform)
- arbitrate v. to settle a dispute as a neutral judge (judge)
- arcane adj. known or understood by very few (obscure)
- archetype n. a perfect or typical example of something (model)
- aspire v. to strongly hope to achieve (hope)
- aversion n. a strong dislike (dislike)
- bellicose adj. eager to fight or argue (warlike)
- bemoan v. to express sorrow or complaint about (lament)
- bequeath v. to leave to someone in a will (leave)
- berate v. to scold angrily and at length (scold)
- blithe adj. cheerfully carefree, sometimes carelessly so (lighthearted)
- boon n. a helpful benefit or blessing (blessing)
- caveat n. a warning or condition to keep in mind (warning)
- cede v. to give up control of, often unwillingly (surrender)
- censure v. to criticize strongly and officially (condemn)
- cerebral adj. intellectual rather than emotional or physical (intellectual)
- chastise v. to scold or punish severely (scold)
- churlish adj. rude and ungracious (rude)
- cliche n. an overused phrase or idea (stock phrase)
- coddle v. to treat too gently; pamper (pamper)
- commiserate v. to share sympathy with someone (sympathize)
- concur v. to agree (agree)
- conjecture n. a guess based on little evidence (guess)
- connive v. to secretly plot something wrong (scheme)
- consternation n. shock mixed with anxious worry (dismay)
- construe v. to interpret in a particular way (interpret)
- contrive v. to cleverly invent or arrange (devise)
- convivial adj. friendly, lively, and fond of company (sociable)
- craven adj. lacking courage (cowardly)
- culminate v. to reach a final high point (end)
- debilitate v. to severely weaken (weaken)
- decadent adj. marked by excessive pleasure and luxury (indulgent)
- decimate v. to destroy a large part of (destroy)
- deface v. to spoil the surface or appearance of (vandalize)
- defame v. to damage someone's reputation with false statements (slander)
- deign v. to do something one considers beneath oneself (condescend)
- deleterious adj. causing harm or damage (damaging)
- demise n. the end or death of something (end)
- denigrate v. to unfairly criticize or belittle (belittle)
- deprecate v. to express disapproval of (disapprove)
- despot n. a ruler with total, often cruel, power (tyrant)
- desultory adj. lacking plan or purpose; halfhearted (aimless)
- detractor n. a person who criticizes something (critic)
- dilapidated adj. falling apart from age or neglect (run-down)
- disavow v. to deny any connection with or responsibility for (deny)
- disingenuous adj. insincere; pretending to know less than one does (insincere)
- dispassionate adj. not influenced by emotion; fair and impartial (objective)
- dissemble v. to hide one's true feelings or motives (pretend)
- dissipate v. to scatter or fade away gradually (scatter)
- dissonance n. a harsh lack of harmony (discord)
- dour adj. stern, serious, and gloomy (stern)
- dupe v. to trick or fool someone (trick)
- efface v. to erase or wipe out (erase)
- efficacy n. the ability to produce the desired result (effectiveness)
- egalitarian adj. believing all people deserve equal treatment (equal)
- elucidate v. to explain clearly (clarify)
- emanate v. to flow or come out from a source (flow)
- embroil v. to involve deeply in a conflict (involve)
- emissary n. a person sent to represent others (messenger)
- encroach v. to gradually intrude on another's space (intrude)
- enthrall v. to hold someone's complete attention (fascinate)
- entreat v. to ask earnestly; to beg (beg)
- equilibrium n. a state of balance (balance)
- erroneous adj. wrong; containing mistakes (wrong)
- eschew v. to deliberately avoid (avoid)
- espouse v. to adopt and support a cause or belief (support)
- ethos n. the guiding spirit or values of a group (spirit)
- evince v. to show or reveal clearly (show)
- exacting adj. demanding great care and effort (demanding)
- exalt v. to praise highly; to raise in rank (glorify)
- exhort v. to strongly urge someone to act (urge)
- expound v. to explain in great detail (explain)
- expunge v. to erase or remove completely (delete)
- extant adj. still in existence (surviving)
- extrapolate v. to predict by extending known information (infer)
- fatuous adj. silly and foolish in a smug way (foolish)
- feckless adj. weak, careless, and ineffective (ineffective)
- fetid adj. smelling very bad (stinking)
- fidelity n. loyalty or faithfulness; also accuracy (loyalty)
- florid adj. overly fancy or decorated in style (flowery)
- flout v. to openly ignore or disobey a rule (defy)
- foible n. a minor flaw or odd habit (quirk)
- forbearance n. patient self-control; tolerance (patience)
- frenetic adj. wild, fast, and frantic (frantic)
- furor n. an outburst of public anger or excitement (uproar)
- germane adj. relevant to the subject (relevant)
- glean v. to gather information bit by bit (gather)
- goad v. to provoke or push someone into action (provoke)
- grandiose adj. far too ambitious or impressive; showy (showy)
- harbinger n. a sign of something to come (sign)
- heresy n. an opinion that goes against accepted beliefs (dissent)
- heterogeneous adj. made up of many different kinds (varied)
- hiatus n. a pause or break in activity (break)
- histrionic adj. overly dramatic (dramatic)
- homogeneous adj. the same kind all the way through (uniform)
- hone v. to sharpen or improve a skill (sharpen)
- iconoclastic adj. attacking or rejecting traditional beliefs and customs (rebellious)
- imbue v. to fill deeply with a quality or feeling (fill)
- impecunious adj. having little or no money (poor)
- implacable adj. impossible to calm or satisfy (relentless)
- impudent adj. boldly disrespectful; rude (rude)
- inane adj. silly and lacking sense (silly)
- incendiary adj. likely to stir up anger or conflict (inflammatory)
- incense v. to make very angry (anger)
- incisive adj. sharply clear and insightful (sharp)
- incorrigible adj. unable to be corrected or reformed (hopeless)
- indefatigable adj. never tiring; tireless (tireless)
- indelible adj. impossible to erase or forget (permanent)
- indict v. to formally accuse of a crime (charge)
- indigent adj. very poor; needy (needy)
- indiscriminate adj. done without careful choice or judgment (random)
- indomitable adj. impossible to defeat or discourage (unbeatable)
- ineffable adj. too great to be described in words (indescribable)
- inexorable adj. impossible to stop or prevent (unstoppable)
- infuse v. to fill or soak with a quality (inject)
- ingenuous adj. innocent and trusting; not sly (naive)
- inherent adj. existing as a natural, basic part (built-in)
- inimical adj. harmful or unfriendly (harmful)
- inscrutable adj. impossible to understand or read (mysterious)
- insidious adj. harmful in a slow, hidden way (sneaky)
- insouciant adj. relaxed, carefree, and unconcerned (carefree)
- insular adj. narrow-minded and isolated from outside ideas (narrow-minded)
- insurmountable adj. too great to be overcome (impossible)
- intemperate adj. lacking self-control; excessive (unrestrained)
- interject v. to break in with a remark (cut in)
- intractable adj. hard to control, manage, or solve (stubborn)
- intrigue n. secret scheming or plotting (scheming)
- intrinsic adj. belonging to the basic nature of something (built-in)
- inveterate adj. having a long-established habit (habitual)
- irony n. a contrast between what is expected and what happens (incongruity)
- irrevocable adj. impossible to undo or change (final)
- jocular adj. playful and fond of joking (playful)
- labyrinth n. a complicated maze (maze)
- lackadaisical adj. lacking energy or enthusiasm; lazy (lazy)
- latent adj. present but hidden or not yet active (hidden)
- laudable adj. deserving praise (admirable)
- lithe adj. flexible and graceful (flexible)
- lugubrious adj. sad and gloomy, often in an exaggerated way (gloomy)
- magisterial adj. showing great authority and expert command (authoritative)
- maudlin adj. overly sentimental in a self-pitying way (sappy)
- mendacious adj. lying; not truthful (dishonest)
- munificent adj. very generous (generous)
- muster v. to gather or call up (summon)
- myopic adj. shortsighted; lacking foresight (shortsighted)
- nadir n. the lowest point (low point)
- nascent adj. just beginning to exist or develop (budding)
- nebulous adj. vague and unclear (vague)
- nominal adj. very small; existing in name only (small)
- nondescript adj. plain and lacking any special features (plain)
- nullify v. to cancel or make invalid (cancel)
- obdurate adj. stubbornly refusing to change one's mind (stubborn)
- obstreperous adj. noisy and hard to control (unruly)
- obtuse adj. slow to understand; dull (dense)
- obviate v. to remove the need for; to prevent (prevent)
- onerous adj. burdensome and difficult (burdensome)
- opportune adj. well-timed; convenient (timely)
- ostensible adj. seeming true on the surface, but perhaps not (apparent)
- overt adj. done openly; not hidden (open)
- pallid adj. unusually pale (pale)
- panacea n. a cure for all problems (cure-all)
- paradigm n. a typical model or pattern of thinking (model)
- paragon n. a perfect example of a quality (model)
- pariah n. a person rejected by everyone; an outcast (outcast)
- parsimonious adj. extremely unwilling to spend money (stingy)
- partisan adj. strongly favoring one side (biased)
- paucity n. a shortage or scarcity (shortage)
- pejorative adj. expressing disapproval or contempt (insulting)
- penchant n. a strong liking or habit (fondness)
- penitent adj. feeling sorry for wrongdoing (sorry)
- perennial adj. lasting a long time or returning yearly (lasting)
- peripheral adj. at the edge; not central (minor)
- pertinent adj. relevant to the matter at hand (relevant)
- peruse v. to read or examine carefully (examine)
- petulant adj. childishly sulky or bad-tempered (sulky)
- philanthropist n. a person who donates to help others (donor)
- pithy adj. short but full of meaning (concise)
- platitude n. an overused, unoriginal remark (cliché)
- plebeian adj. common or ordinary; not refined (common)
- plethora n. an excessive amount (abundance)
- portentous adj. warning of something important or bad to come (ominous)
- precipitate adj. done suddenly and without careful thought (hasty)
- precipitous adj. dangerously steep or sudden (steep)
- precursor n. something that comes before and leads to another (forerunner)
- predilection n. a natural preference or liking (preference)
- premonition n. a feeling that something is about to happen (hunch)
- prerogative n. a special right belonging to someone (right)
- presage v. to be a sign of a future event (foretell)
- presumptuous adj. too bold; acting without permission or right (arrogant)
- pretentious adj. trying to seem more important than one is (showy)
- pretext n. a false reason that hides the real one (excuse)
- primordial adj. existing from the very beginning of time (ancient)
- proclivity n. a natural tendency (tendency)
- prolix adj. using too many words; long-winded (wordy)
- propensity n. a natural inclination or tendency (tendency)
- propitious adj. favorable; likely to bring success (favorable)
- propriety n. correct, proper behavior (decency)
- proscribe v. to officially forbid (ban)
- protract v. to drag out for a longer time (extend)
- prowess n. great skill or ability (skill)
- puerile adj. childishly silly (childish)
- punitive adj. meant to punish (punishing)
- purport v. to claim, often falsely (claim)
- quash v. to put a stop to; to suppress (stop)
- quibble v. to argue over small, unimportant details (bicker)
- quotidian adj. ordinary and everyday (ordinary)
- rapacious adj. greedy and grasping (greedy)
- ravage v. to cause severe damage to (wreck)
- raze v. to completely tear down a building (level)
- reconcile v. to restore friendship after a disagreement (make up)
- recondite adj. little known and hard to understand (obscure)
- redolent adj. strongly suggestive or smelling of something (fragrant)
- redress v. to set right a wrong (correct)
- remiss adj. careless in doing one's duty (negligent)
- remunerate v. to pay for work or service (pay)
- reprehensible adj. deserving strong blame (shameful)
- respite n. a short break from something difficult (rest)
- resplendent adj. dazzlingly bright and beautiful (dazzling)
- retort v. to reply sharply or quickly (reply)
- retribution n. punishment given in return for a wrong (punishment)
- revile v. to criticize harshly and angrily (condemn)
- rhetoric n. persuasive or showy language (persuasion)
- sacrosanct adj. too important to be changed or questioned (sacred)
- salubrious adj. good for health (healthy)
- sanction v. to officially approve or allow (approve)
- sardonic adj. mocking in a grimly scornful way (mocking)
- satire n. humor that mocks foolishness or flaws (parody)
- scathing adj. harshly critical (harsh)
- schism n. a split into opposing groups (split)
- sedate adj. calm, quiet, and unhurried (calm)
- sententious adj. preachy and fond of moral sayings (preachy)
- serendipity n. a lucky, unexpected discovery (luck)
- servile adj. overly eager to obey or please others (obedient)
- slovenly adj. messy and careless in appearance or work (messy)
- solace n. comfort in a time of sadness (comfort)
- somnolent adj. sleepy; drowsy (sleepy)
- specious adj. seeming true but actually false (misleading)
- squalid adj. extremely dirty and unpleasant (filthy)
- stalwart adj. loyal, strong, and dependable (loyal)
- stipulate v. to state as a required condition (specify)
- stolid adj. calm and showing little emotion (unemotional)
- stymie v. to block or prevent progress (hinder)
- subjective adj. based on personal feelings rather than facts (personal)
- subjugate v. to bring under complete control (conquer)
- subservient adj. too willing to obey others (obedient)
- substantiate v. to support with proof or evidence (prove)
- subterfuge n. a trick used to hide or escape something (trickery)
- subvert v. to undermine or overturn (undermine)
- supercilious adj. arrogantly looking down on others (snobbish)
- superlative adj. of the very highest quality (excellent)
- supplant v. to take the place of; replace (replace)
- surmise v. to guess based on limited evidence (guess)
- sycophant n. a person who flatters powerful people to gain favor (flatterer)
- tacit adj. understood without being said (unspoken)
- tangential adj. only slightly related; off the main topic (unrelated)
- tantamount adj. equal in effect or value (equal)
- tawdry adj. cheap and showy (tacky)
- temerarious adj. recklessly bold (reckless)
- tempestuous adj. stormy or full of strong emotion (stormy)
- tenable adj. able to be defended or maintained (defensible)
- tenet n. a core belief or principle of a group (principle)
- timorous adj. shy and easily frightened (fearful)
- torpid adj. slow and inactive (sluggish)
- torrid adj. extremely hot and dry (scorching)
- transcend v. to go beyond normal limits (exceed)
- travesty n. a shocking or absurd imitation of something (mockery)
- tremulous adj. shaking slightly from nervousness or weakness (shaky)
- trenchant adj. sharp, forceful, and clear (sharp)
- truculent adj. eager to argue or fight (aggressive)
- turgid adj. swollen; also, too wordy and showy (swollen)
- unassuming adj. modest and not showing off (modest)
- uncanny adj. strange in a way that is hard to explain (strange)
- unflappable adj. staying calm under pressure (composed)
- unwieldy adj. hard to handle because of size or shape (bulky)
- vacillate v. to switch back and forth between choices (waver)
- vapid adj. dull and lacking interest or ideas (dull)
- venal adj. willing to do wrong for money (corrupt)
- veracity n. truthfulness or accuracy (truth)
- verdant adj. green with lush plant growth (green)
- vestige n. a trace of something that no longer exists (trace)
- viable adj. capable of working or succeeding (workable)
- vicarious adj. experienced through another person's actions (secondhand)
- vilify v. to speak about someone in a cruelly insulting way (slander)
- vitriolic adj. full of bitter, harsh criticism (bitter)
- voluble adj. talking a lot, quickly and easily (talkative)
- wanton adj. deliberate and without any reason or excuse (senseless)
- zenith n. the highest point (peak)
Synonyms in brackets are the kind of answer choice the ISEE synonym questions use. The flashcards also test each word in an ISEE-style sentence completion.
Getting Started
How to Use the Flashcards
Anki (recommended)
- Install Anki: free on Mac and PC from apps.ankiweb.net, free AnkiDroid on Android, or AnkiMobile on iPhone and iPad.
- Download the deck and double-click the file (or use File → Import).
- Start with 1 · Core 200. Ten new words a day is plenty.
- Do the day’s reviews every day. That is the habit that makes words stick.
Quizlet
- Download the Quizlet sets and unzip them.
- In Quizlet, choose Create → Flashcard set → Import.
- Paste one file and set the separators to Tab and New line.
- Repeat for each set. Use Learn mode on the Core 200 first.
Study Plan
A Simple 10-Week Plan
50 new words a week (about 10 a day, five days a week). In Anki every card is tagged by week (ISEE::Week::01–10), so it’s easy to see where your child should be.
| Week | Deck | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Core 200 | Words 1–50 |
| Week 2 | Core 200 | Words 51–100 |
| Week 3 | Core 200 | Words 101–150 |
| Week 4 | Core 200 | Words 151–200 |
| Week 5 | Extension 300 | Words 201–250 |
| Week 6 | Extension 300 | Words 251–300 |
| Week 7 | Extension 300 | Words 301–350 |
| Week 8 | Extension 300 | Words 351–400 |
| Week 9 | Extension 300 | Words 401–450 |
| Week 10 | Extension 300 | Words 451–500 |
Short on time? Finish just the Core 200 (weeks 1–4). These are the words most likely to show up on test day.
All Three Levels
Free Vocabulary Decks for Every ISEE Level
1,500 words in total, with no repeats between levels. Start at your child’s level; if many of the words are new, begin one level down.
Upper Level
500 words for students in grades 8–11 applying to grades 9–12.
You are here
FAQ
Vocabulary Flashcards — Questions
Yes. Both downloads are free, with no sign-up and no email required. Share them with any family preparing for the ISEE.
The words are chosen for the Upper Level ISEE, which students in grades 8 to 11 take when applying to grades 9 to 12. None of them repeat the Lower or Middle Level decks, so the three decks together cover 1,500 words.
Install the free Anki app on a Mac or PC (ankiweb.net), or AnkiDroid on Android, or AnkiMobile on iPhone and iPad. Then double-click the .apkg file, or use File → Import in Anki. Everything (audio, fonts, styling) is built in.
Unzip the download. It contains six text files and a short how-to. In Quizlet choose Create → Flashcard set → Import, paste one file, set the separators to Tab and New line, and click Import.
About 10 new words a day, five days a week, finishes the Core 200 in four weeks and all 500 in ten. Anki brings each word back just before it would be forgotten, so short daily sessions of 10–15 minutes work best.
ISEE is a registered trademark of ERB, which does not sponsor or endorse this resource.