PSAT Vocabulary

absolve

pardon (an offense)

abstract

theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational

accessible

easy to approach

accomodate

provide lodgings; oblige or help someone

acknowledge

recognize or admit

acrimony

bitterness of words or manner

adverse

unfavorable; hostile

aesthetic

artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful

affable

easily approachable; warmly friendly

affinity

kinship; attraction to

affluence

wealth; prosperity; abundance

alleviate

relieve; lessen

altruistic

unselfishly generous; concerned for others

ambiguous

unclear or doubtful in meaning

ambivalence

having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes

amenable

readily managed; willing to give in; agreeable; submissive

ample

abundant

antagonism

hostility; active resistance

antiquated

obsolete; outdated

apathy

lack of caring; indifference

apprehension

fear; discernment; capture

apprenticeship

time spent as a novice learning a trade from a skilled worker

appropriate (adj)

fitting or suitable; pertinent

appropriate (v)

acquire; take possession of for one's own use; set aside for a special purpose

aristocracy

hereditary nobility; privileged class

arrogance

pride; haughtiness

aspire

seek to attain; long for

assert

state strongly or positively; insist on or demand recognition of

assumption

something taken for granted; taking over or taking possession of

attain

reach or accomplish; gain

authentic

genuine

autonomous

self-governing

aversion

firm dislike

beneficial

helpful; advantageous; useful

benevolent

charitable; generous

benign

kindly; favorable; not malignant

betray

be unfaithful; reveal (unconsciously or unwillingly)

brittle

easily broken; difficult

buoyant

able to float; cheerful and optimistic

candor

frankness; open honesty

captivate

charm; fascinate

caricature

distortion; burlesque

censor

inspector overseeing public morals; official who prevents publication of offensive material

charlatan

quack; pretender to knowledge

chronicle

report; record (in chronological order)

circumspect

prudent; cautious

cite

quote; refer to; commend

cliche

phrase dulled in meaning by repetition

coalesce

combine; fuse

compliance

readiness to yield; conformity in fulfilling requirements

component

element; ingredient

compromise

adjust or settle by making mutual concessions; endanger the interests or reputation of

condone

overlook voluntarily; forgive; supply tacit approval

confirm

corroborate; verify; support

conformity

agreement or compliance; actions in agreement with prevailing social customs

congenial

pleasant; friendly

consistency

harmony of parts; dependability; uniformity; degree of thickness

console

lessen sadness or disappointment; give comfort

consolidation

unification; process of becoming firmer or stronger

contentious

quarrelsome

convention

social or moral custom; established practice

corrosion

destruction by chemical action

curtail

shorten; reduce

cynical

skeptical or distrustful of human motives

dawdle

loiter; waste time

defamation

harming a person's reputation

defiance

opposition; willingness to resist

degenerate

become worse; deteriorate

demean

degrade; humiliate

denounce

condemn; criticize

depict

portray

deplete

reduce; exhaust

deplore

regret strongly; express grief over

derision

ridicule; mockery

derivative

unoriginal; derived from another source

detached

emotionally removed; calm and objective; indifferent

deterrent

something that discourages; hindrance

didactic

teaching; instructional

digression

wandering away from the subject

discernible

distinguishable; perceivable

disclaimer

denial of a legal claim or right; disavowal

disclose

reveal

discord

lack of harmony; conflict

disinterested

unprejudiced

dismiss

put away from consideration; reject

disparage

belittle

disparate

basically different; unrelated

dispel

scatter; cause to vanish

disperse

scatter

dissent

disagree

dissipate

squander; waste; scatter

distinction

honor; contract; discrimination

divulge

reveal

docile

obedient; easily managed

doctrine

teachings, in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.) taught

dogmatic

opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal

eclipse

darken; extinguish; surpass

elated

overjoyed; in high spirits

elusive

evasive; baffling; hard to grasp

embellish

adorn