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 , 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, if your child decides to take one of these tests.
9th grade vocabulary words
absolve
alleviate
alternative
ambivalent
analyze
animosity
approximate
arbitrary
attribute
beneficial
comprehensive
connotation
contrast
credible
cursory
cynic
dearth
deficient
demonstrate
depict
derive
detract
devastate
digress
dilemma
diligent
dissent
distort
diversion
elation
elicit
elude
escalate
evaluate
exacerbate
excerpt
exemplify
explicit
exposition
falter
feasible
feign
fluctuate
formulate
generate
gist
hypothetical
impartial
implausible
implication
imply
incentive
incoherent
indolent
infamous
infuriate
innovation
intercede
interpret
intimidate
isolate
jeopardize
lucrative
mandatory
mediate
mortify
niche
obscure
obsolete
pacify
perception
perspective
pertinent
ponder
prevalent
proponent
punitive
rapport
rationale
reconcile
redundant
respective
retaliate
sabotage
scrutiny
simulate
squander
succumb
tangible
technique
traumatic
turmoil
valid
verify
viable
vulnerable
See the academic vocabulary lists for 8th grade and 10th grade, too.
Learn more about how to help your 9th grader with reading skills:
• Read: Getting ready for high school reading
• Read: Making high school reading more inclusive
• Watch: Is your teen learning the research skills needed for college?
• Do: Give intellectual graffiti a try
• Check out: 9th grade college prep timeline
