Solutions Test Prep Center Vocabulary Review

A collection of academic vocabulary terms, definitions, and parts of speech based on the Solutions Test Prep Center study materials.

motivation

the desire to act in order to achieve something or serve one's interests

conscientious

wishing to do what is right or correct; performing one's work well and thoroughly

fictitious

not real; fabricated; related to an imaginary character or work

ascribed

to assign a cause to something; to consider a quality as belonging to another

habitable

to be suitable for living in

homogeneous

of the same or similar nature; of uniform composition; equivalent

mutable

easy to change; fluctuating; varying

postulate

to suggest something as a basis for discussion; to posit; to hypothesize

ameliorate

to improve something unpleasant or unsatisfactory; to remedy

rationalize

to attempt to explain or justify with logic, even if that logic is unreliable; to defend

hallmark

a mark of distinct excellence

idiosyncratic

peculiar; individual; unique

epitomized

to be a perfect example of something; exemplified; representative; idealized

discredit

to make something seem false or less reliable; to disprove

defer

to postpone; to yield or submit to another person

entail

to require; to involve as a necessary part

irrefutable

impossible to deny or disprove; unquestionable

unalterable

unchangeable; fixed permanently

prolific

present in large amounts; abundant; productive

dissonance

tension or clashing between two unsuitable or inharmonious part

belie

to misrepresent; to indicate something not expected

forestall

to prevent or obstruct by taking advance action

indoctrinate

to make someone accept a set of beliefs uncritically

confound

to cause surprise or confusion; to mix two things to the point they are indistinguishable

subtlety

the quality of being subtle; complexity

obscurity

the state of being unknown or difficult to comprehend

rigor

demanding; difficult or extreme

apathy

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern; indifference

immutable

unchanging; permanent

unrivaled

better than others within the same group; unparalleled

dynamic

having constant change, activity, or purpose; energetic and full of new ideas

subside

to become less intense or severe; to abate; to lower or go below normal levels

exploit

to utilize; to take advantage of

equitable

fair and impartial; unbiased

superfluous

unnecessary; excessive or redundant

extricate

to free from a difficult circumstance

ambivalence

having mixed feelings; uncertainty; doubt

foresight

the ability to predict what will happen in the future

harbinger

a person or thing that signals the approach of another; an indicator

exemplar

a person or thing that serves as an ideal model; a paragon

incongruity

the state of being dissimilar to surrounding elements; unsuitability; dissonance

dearth

scarcity; a lack of something; a deficiency

renounce

to formally abandon; to reject

exorbitant

describes an unreasonably high price

conflated

combined; blended

intercede

to intervene on someone's behalf; to mediate

insurmountable

too great to be overcome; overwhelming

erratic

not even or regular; unpredictable

desultory

lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm; superficial; casual

veritable

real; genuine

recalcitrant

having an uncooperative attitude towards authority; unmanageable

sanguine

optimistic; cheerful even in difficult situations

misanthropic

disliking and avoiding human society; antisocial

retroactive

taking effect from a past date; describes when a new condition / price is applied to past events

spurious

not genuine; false; invalid (of claims)

scrupulous

thorough and extremely attentive to details; avoids doing things incorrectly or wrongly

equivocal

open to more than one interpretation; uncertain; ambiguous

contentious

likely to cause arguments; debatable

arduous

involving or requiring a lot of effort; difficult

conjecture

a guess formed with incomplete information

counterfactual

contrary to a factual statement or knowledge

analogous

comparable; being similar in meaning or design

efficacy

the ability to succeed; the ability to produce an intended result