Top 66 Words on College Admissions Tests

Prosaic

commonplace

Nefarious

wicked

Cursory

performed hastily

Foster

cultivate, nurture

Tenacious

persistent or stubborn; holding fast

Anecdote

a short account

Pessimistic

gloomy

Elaborate

planned with great care, painstaking

Vindicate

to clear of accusation or suspicion

Boorish

crude

Anachronism

something out of its correct chronological or historical order

Laudatory

containing or expressing praise

Commendable

worthy of great praise or approval

Equitable

characterized by fairness and impartiality

Holistic

emphasizing the importance of the whole

Eclectic

comprising individual elements from a wide variety of sources

Consensus

general agreement or accord

Conciliatory

accommodating

Nostalgia

a longing for a former place or time

Erratic

having no fixed or regular course; lacking consistency

Disparity

difference

Lament

to mourn for

Sanguine

optimistic, hopeful or confident

Depict

to represent or characterize in words or pictures

Ethical

in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct

Zealous

motivated by zeal; enthusiastic

Embody

to represent in bodily or tangible form

Cathartic

delivering catharsis; emotionally purging

Idiosyncrasy

a habit or characteristic peculiar to an individual

Elucidate

to make lucid or clear, to explain

Advocate

one who acts in support or defense of a person or cause

Partisan

haired in support of a party

Censure

to express disapproval, to criticize or blame

Florid

reddish or rosy

Apprehensive

uneasy

Eloquent

characterized by clear, persuasive speech

Refute

to prove to be false

Naïve

unsophisticated

Mundane

ordinary

Deride

to ridicule

Lucid

clear; rational

Mock

to ridicule, defy

Irreverent

showing lack of due respect

Arrogance

display of self-importance or superiority

Ineffable

defying expression or description

Defiant

boldly resisting authority or an opposing force

Consummate

complete or perfect in every aspect

Magnanimous

generous in forgiving l; unselfish; free of resentment

Rhetorical

used for style or effect only

Speculate

to think or reflect; to conjecture

Felicitous

well suited for the occasion, appropriate

Cite

to quote as an authority or example

Obstinate

given to indulgence; not moderate

Venerate

to regard or treat with reverence

Intemperate

given to indulgence; not moderate

Aesthetic

pertaining to what is beautiful

Superfluous

unnecessary

Novel

new; different

Disparage

to speak of with disrespect, belittle

Pragmatic

practical

Brevity

the quality of being brief in time or duration

Exemplary

worthy of imitation; estimable; praiseworthy

Quell

to suppress; to put an end to; to pacify

Adept

very skilled, able or proficient

Solicitous

anxious or concerned; careful; eager

Somber

dark; dimly lit; gloomy