ACT Vocabulary Words

Apathy

An absence of emotion or enthusiasm, lack of feeling or interest

scarce

not enough, deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand

generate

bring into existence

keen

very penetrating and clear and sharp in operation

manifest

reveal its presence or make an appearance

grueling

characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion

plead

appeal or request earnestly

adversity

hardship; misfortune, a state of misfortune or affliction

ephemeral

enduring a very short time, lasting a short time

exasperation

actions that cause great irritation (or even anger)

frugal

economical, avoiding waste and luxury; scanty, poor, meager

inevitable

an unavoidable event

benevolent

having or showing or arising from a desire to promote the welfare or happiness of others

debacle

a complete failure; a total collapse

camaraderie

trust among friends

condescending

Treating people as weak or inferior

Persist

Refuse to stop or change, to continue steadily in a course of action, to last, remain

Integrity

honesty, high moral standards; an unimpaired condition, completeness, soundness

Mundane

ordinary, commonplace

Chastise

to inflict physical punishment as a means of correction; to scold severely

Malleable

capable of being shaped or bent

Cajole

to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises

Pacify

fight violence and try to establish peace

Dingy

depressing or soiled in character or appearance

Nonchalant

without showing concern or enthusiasm; indifferent

Deprave

make morally bad corrupt

Opulent

rich and superior in quality

Precocious

Unusually advanced or talented at an early age

Convergence

the occurrence of two or more things coming together

Digression

straying from main point

Diligent

hardworking, industrious, not lazy

Pretentious

pretending to be important, intelligent or cultured, pompous, self-important

Ostensible

apparent; represented as true; possibly or seemingly true on the surface

Aesthetic

relating or pertaining to a sense of beauty or art

Propensity

a natural inclination or tendency

Disdain

lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike

Chide

to blame; scold

Permeate

to spread through, penetrate, soak through

Invective

an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

Clandestine

secret, concealed; underhanded

Prudent

cautious, careful, showing good sense

Reconsiliation

Restoring peace and harmony, settling a dispute

Resilient

(adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly

Scrutinize

to examine in detail with careful or critical attention

Divergent

tending to move apart in different directions

Commiserate

to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress

Trite

unoriginal and stale due to overuse

Placate

to stop from being angry; to calm

Substantiate

to support with proof or evidence

Tactful

skilled in handling difficult situations or people, polite

Tenacious

tough; stubborn; not letting go

Transient

lasting only a short time, fleeting; one who stays only a short time

Vindicate

clear of accusation, blame, suspicion,, to free from blame

Nuance

a subtle difference or distinction in expression, meaning, response, etc.

Jocund

merry; cheerful; lighthearted

bemused

deeply absorbed in thought

Poignant

deeply moving, strongly affecting the emotions

Cryptic

having a secret or hidden meaning

Enamor

to fill or inflame with love

Amicable

friendly, agreeable