Essential HSPT Vocab Sets 1-4

abbreviate

v. to shorten

abdicate

v. to give up power

adverse

adj. opposing

arduous

adj. difficult

belligerent

adj. warlike

boisterous

adj. noisy, rowdy

chastise

v. to scold

conflagration

n. a destructive fire

disclose

v. to reveal

disdain

n. hate or indifference

eloquent

adj. skillful with words

erroneous

adj. incorrect

feign

v. to pretend

garrulous

adj. chatty

incessant

adj. never ending

jubilant

adj. showing joy

plethora

n. excess

precocious

adj. mentally mature (unusually mature for one’s age)

radical

adj. extreme

monotonous

adj. boring

abhor

v. to despise

admonish

v. to warn

animosity

n. hostility

benign

adj. favorable

callous

adj. careless

concede

v. to admit

conspicuous

adj. obvious

cunning

adj. shy, scheming

decree

v. to command

eccentric

adj. unusual

embellish

v. to decorate, beautify

fluctuate

v. to vary

gregarious

adj. friendly, social

haughty

adj. arrogant

inconspicuous

adj. hidden

indifferent

adj. not caring

knoll

n. small hill

lethargic

adj. without energy

malice

n. desire to harm

morose

adj. gloomy

novice

n. beginner

omnipotent

adj. all powerful

placid

adj. calm

quandary

n. dilemma (a hard situation)

recalcitrant

adj. disobedient

reclusive

adj. isolated, alone

somber

adj. gloomy

stringent

adj. rigid

taciturn

adj. quiet

trivial

adj. unimportant

usurp

v. to take over

vanquish

v. to conquer

vigilant

adj. watchful

voracious

adj. hungry

whimsical

adj. carefree

zealot

n. fanatic

adamant

adj. determined

ailment

n. mild illness

apathy

n. indifference

blatant

adj. obvious

commence

v. to begin

contagious

adj. communicable

deplorable

adj. shameful

detrimental

adj. very harmful

docile

adj. tame

enigma

n. a mystery or puzzle

epitome

n. perfect example

expedite

v. to speed up (a process)

flagrant

adj. blatant

frivolous

adj. trivial

genial

adj. pleasant, gracious

illiterate

adj. unable to read

insinuate

v. to imply

intricate

adj. detailed

irrational

adj. nonsensical

lucid

adj. easy to understand

malignant

adj. dangeous

nonchalant

adj. easygoing, carefree

oblivious

adj. unaware

pinnacle

n. peak

prevalent

adj. widespread

rational

adj. reasonable

aloof

adj. indifferent

reluctance

n. hesitation

sedentary

adj. not moving often; sitting

superfluous

adj. excessive, unnecessary

transient

adj. going away quickly

unkempt

adj. messy

verbose

adj. wordy

timid

adj. shy

vulgar

adj. rude

accomodate

v. to make room

ample

adj. plenty, enough

bleak

adj. barren

ceremonious

adj. formal

condescending

adj. snobby, talking down to

destitute

adj. very poor

elicit

v., to draw out, evoke

endanger

v. to threaten

futile

adj. ineffective