HSPT Vocabulary List

Complete lit of Barron's HSPT vocabulary

abbreviate

to shorten

abdicate

to give up power

abide

to follow, observe

abhor

despise

abnormal

not normal, average

abode

residence

abrasive

irritating

abrupt

sudden

absolution

forgiveness

absolve

to free from guilt

abstain

to hold back

abundant

plentiful

accelerate

advance

acclaim

to praise

accolade

strong praise

accommodate

to make room

accountable

responsible for

accumulate

to collect

accuse

to blame

acrid

bitter

adamant

determined

adaptable

able to change

adept

skillful

adhere

to attach, to stick

adjacent

next to

admonish

to warn

adorn

to decorate

adversary

opponent

advocate

to support

aesthetic

about beauty

affluent

wealthy

affront

deliberate act

aggravate

to make worse

aggressive

forceful

agitate

to shake, disturb

ailment

mild illness

ajar

slightly open

alleviate

to lessen

adverse

opposing

adversity

difficulty, misfortune

allocate

to give out

allot

to allocate, to give out

aloof

indifferent

alter

change

altercaation

disagreement

altruistic

unselfish

amass

to gather, to accumulate

ambiguous

unclear

ambivalent

uncertain

amiable

friendly

amicable

civil, cordial

amiss

wrong

ample

plenty, enough

amplify

to increase

analyze

to examine

anecdote

story

animate

to make alive

animosity

hostility

antagonist

opponent, enemy

antagonize

to provoke

anticipate

foresee

antidote

a cure for poison

apathy

indifference

apex

peak

appalling

shocking

appeal

urgent request

apprehensive

nervous

arbitrary

based on a whim

archaic

very old

arduous

difficult

arid

dry

arrogant

pompous, cocky

asperity

harshness of tone

aspire

to strive

assent

to agree

assist

to help

astute

sharp

atone

to make ammends

atrocious

awful

atypical

unusual

audible

able to be heard

augment

to make greater

authentic

real

averse

opposed to

avert

to avoid

avid

eager

baffle

to confuse

banal

boring

banter

teasing

barter

to bargain or to negotiate

belated

after the event

belittle

to put down

belligerent

warlike

benefit

to gain an advantage

benevolent

charitable

benign

favorable

berate

to scold

biased

partial

bizarre

odd

blatant

obvious