PSAT VOCAB

concede

To admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it.

consensus

A general agreement.

corroborate

To confirm or give support to a theory or finding.

decisive

Settling an issue; producing a definite result.

deference

Humble submission and respect.

degrade

To treat or regard someone with contempt or disrespect.

denounce

To publicly declare to be wrong or evil.

dispute

A disagreement, argument, or debate.

divergent

Tending to be different or develop in different directions.

dormant

Having normal physical functions suspended; in or as if in a deep sleep.

eloquent

Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing.

evoke

To bring or recall to the conscious mind.

exert

To make a physical or mental effort.

explicit

Stated clearly and in detail.

imminent

About to happen.

impede

To delay or prevent by obstructing.

adhere

To believe in and follow practices.

advocate

To publicly recommend or support.

allude

To suggest or call attention to indirectly.

ambiguous

Open to more than one interpretation.

analogy

A comparison showing similarity.

blunt

To weaken the force of something.

concise

Giving a lot of information clearly in few words.

bias

Prejudice in favor of or against one thing or person.

assert

To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.

implicit

Implied though not plainly expressed.

impose

To take advantage by demanding attention or commitment.

indifference

Lack of interest, concern, or sympathy.

inevitable

Certain to happen; unavoidable.

invoke

To cite or appeal to as an authority.

ironic

Happening in the opposite way than expected.

novel

New or unusual in an interesting way.

obscure

Not discovered or known about; uncertain.

obsolete

No longer produced or used; out of date.

oppressive

Inflicting hardship; weighing heavily.

pervasive

Spreading widely, often in an unpleasant way.

prevalence

The fact of being widespread or common.

prominent

Important or famous.

provoke

To stimulate or cause a reaction, especially unwelcome.

reciprocate

To respond to a gesture or action with a similar one.

reconcile

To restore friendly relations.

refute

To prove (a statement or theory) to be wrong or false; disprove.

renounce

To formally declare one’s abandonment of (a claim, right, or possession).

repression

The restraint, prevention, or inhibition of a feeling, quality, etc.

retain

To continue to have (something); keep possession of.

skeptical

Not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations.

speculate

To form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence.

substantiate

To provide evidence to support or prove the truth of.

subtle

So delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe.

supplement

Something that completes or enhances something when added to it.

tenuous

Very weak or slight.

undermine

To lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of.

underscore

To emphasize or draw attention to.

unobtrusive

Not conspicuous or attracting attention.

validate

To check or prove the validity or accuracy of (something).

verisimilitude

The appearance of being true or real.

viable

Capable of working successfully; feasible.