HSPT Vocabulary Word List

abhor (v.)

despise

abode (n.)

residence

abrasive (adj.)

irritating

abrupt (adj.)

sudden

absolution (n.)

forgiveness

absolute (v.)

to free from guilt

acclaim (v.)

to praise

accolade (n.)

strong praise

acrid (adj.)

bitter

adept (adj.)

skillful

adhere (v.)

to attach to stick

admonish (v.)

to warn

adorn (v.)

to decorate

affluent (adj.)

wealthy

affront (n.)

deliberate act

aggravate (v.)

to make worse

alleviate (v.)

to lessen

allocate (v.)

to give out

allot (v.)

to allocate to give out

aloof (adj.)

indifferent

alteration (n.)

disagreement

amass (v.)

to gather to accumulate

ambiguous (adj.)

unclear

ambivalent (adj.)

uncertain

amiable (adj.)

friendly

amicable (adj.)

civil cordial

anecdote (n.)

story

animate (v.)

to make alive

animus (n.)

hostility

apathy (n.)

indifference

astute (adj.)

sharp

augment (v.)

to make greater

authentic (adj.)

real

averse (adj.)

opposed to

avert (v.)

to avoid

avid (adj.)

eager

baffle (v.)

to confuse

banal (adj.)

boring

banter (n.)

teasing

barter (v.)

to bargain or to negotiate

belated (adj.)

after the event

belittle (v.)

to put down

belligerent (adj.)

warlike

benevolent (adj.)

charitable

berate (v.)

to scold

biased (adj.)

partial

bizarre (adj.)

odd

blatant (adj.)

obvious

bleak (adj.)

barren

blithe (adj.)

happy

boisterous (adj.)

noisy rowdy

bolster (v.)

to support

brash (adj.)

bold

brazen (adj.)

bold

brisk (adj.)

fast active

broach (v.)

to bring up

buttress (v.)

to reinforce

callous (adj.)

careless

candid (adj.)

frank open

cantankerous (adj.)

grouchy

censure (v.)

to criticize harshly

ceremonious (adj.)

formal

champion (v.)

to defend or support

chaotic (adj.)

disorderly

chastise (v.)

to scold

cherish (v.)

to hold dear

choleric (adj.)

irritable

circumvent (v.)

to go around

clandestine (adj.)

secretive

clemency (n.)

mercy

coarse (adj.)

rough

compilation (n.)

collection

complacent (adj.)

at ease happy

compliant (adj.)

inclined to obey rules

composure (n.)

feeling of calm

comprehensive (adj.)

all-inclusive

compromise (v.)

to give and take

conceited (adj.)

overly proud

concise (adj.)

to the point

conclude (v.)

to end

concord (n.)

agreement

concur (v.)

to agree

condescend (v.)

to stoop or humble

condescending (adj.)

snobby

condone (v.)

to allow

conflagration (n.)

a destructive fire

congenial (adj.)

pleasing friendly

conservative (adj.)

cautious

consolidate (v.)

to combine

conspicuous (adj.)

obvious

contemporary (adj.)

modern

content (adj.)

satisfied

contort (v.)

to twist or bend

contradict (v.)

to speak against

contrite (adj.)

sorry

contrive (v.)

to devise

conundrum (n.)

a riddle

conventional (adj.)

traditional

credible (adj.)

believable

critical (adj.)

fault-finding