Your teen will encounter these ninth grade vocabulary words across subjects — from history and English to physics and math — which is why they’re called academic vocabulary words. It’s increasingly important for your child to know these words to better understand what they read and hear in class. When your ninth grader knows these words well enough to use them in writing and presentations, it will add precision, nuance, and eloquence to your teen’s work.

Share this list, courtesy of Hyde Park Central School District with your teen. Challenge yourself and your teen to use these words in everyday conversation. Not only will knowing these words help your child excel now, they’re words that will pop up on the SAT and ACT, too, when it comes time for your child to apply to college.

absolve escalate mediate
alleviate evaluate mortify
alternative exacerbate niche
ambivalent excerpt obscure
analyze exemplify obsolete
animosity explicit pacify
approximate exposition perception
arbitrary falter perspective
attribute feasible pertinent
beneficial feign ponder
comprehensive fluctuate prevalent
connotation formulate proponent
contrast generate punitive
credible gist rapport
cursory hypothetical rationale
cynic impartial reconcile
dearth implausible redundant
deficient implication respective
demonstrate imply retaliate
depict incentive sabotage
derive incoherent scrutiny
detract indolent simulate
devastate infamous squander
digress infuriate succumb
dilemma innovation tangible
diligent intercede technique
dissent interpret traumatic
distort intimidate turmoil
diversion isolate valid
elation jeopardize verify
elicit lucrative viable
elude mandatory vulnerable
     

See the academic vocabulary lists for 8th grade and 10th grade, too.

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