ACT VOCAB!!

Word: Abundant Present in large quantities

Living next to a lake means we have an abundant supply of water.

Word: Accurate

Definition: Correct; free from errors

Example: Make sure your address is accurate before submitting your online order.

Word: Acquire

Definition: To come into possession of

Example: When my grandfather died, I acquired his baseball card collection.

Word: Adamant

Definition: Refusing to change an opinion

Example: The defendant was adamant that he was innocent.

Word: Adequate

Definition: Enough to meet a specific task or purpose

Example: Though his resume was adequate, the company doubted whether he’d be a good fit.

Word: Adjacent

Definition: Close to or next to

Example: The park is adjacent to the school.

Word: Adverse

Definition: Unfavorable; against one’s desires

Example: I had an adverse reaction to my medication and had to stop taking it.

Word: Affable

Definition: Friendly, easy to talk to

Example: As the most affable of the teachers, Mr. De Soto was the math teacher all the students wanted.

Word: Ambiguous

Definition: Having several potential meanings; unclear and difficult to understand

Example: When I asked HR what my chances were of getting the job, they gave me a very ambiguous reply.

Word: Ambitious

Definition: Having a powerful desire for success or achievement

Example: Kelsey is so ambitious she's settling for nothing less than the presidency.

Word: Annihilate

Definition: To destroy or kill

Example: The dictator sent orders to annihilate the group of rebels.

Word: Antipathy

Definition: A strong feeling of dislike

Example: Her antipathy toward the professor was obvious: she rolled her eyes whenever he entered the classroom.

Word: Apparent

Definition: Readily seen or understood

Example: Alexis said she was fine, but the tears in her eyes made it apparent she was lying.

Word: Ascent

Definition: Upward movement; advancement

Example: Ruthless and cunning, Mable refused to let anyone come in the way of her ascent to the country's highest political office.

Word: Attribute

Definition: To give credit

Example: Be sure to attribute credit to your sources when writing a research paper.

Word: Arbitrary

Definition: Based on a whim or random decision

Example: Flipping a coin is an arbitrary way to make a decision.

Word: Arduous

Definition: Requiring a lot of effort

Example: After you cross the bridge, there’s an arduous walk up the hill.

Word: Benevolent

Definition: Kind, generous

Example: Many cultures believe in benevolent spirits.

Word: Bias

Definition: A preconception that prevents objectivity

Example: It’s important to avoid bias when investigating a crime.

Word: Bolster

Definition: To support, strengthen, or fortify

Example: If we work together, we should be able to lift and then bolster the couch.

Word: Burgeoning

Definition: Growing quickly; flourishing

Example: It didn't take long for my burgeoning cake business to have more customers than I could handle.

Word: Bypass

Definition: To avoid

Example: The longtime cab driver knew the exact backstreet to take in order to bypass the traffic pileup.

Word: Candid

Definition: Direct, blunt

Example: Josh is candid about his desire to become an actor.

Word: Candor

Definition: The trait of being honest and frank

Example: I admire her candor, especially when nobody else bothers to speak up.

Word: Capitalize

Definition: To use to your advantage

Example: I’d like to capitalize on your math skills by having you work the cash register.

Word: Catalyst

Definition: Something that causes a change or new event

Example: Everett's unfair conviction was the catalyst for his lifelong interest in justice and criminal reform.

Word: Ceaseless

Definition: Unending, without pause

Example: No matter where you were on the island, it was possible to hear the ceaseless sound of the sea.

Word: Censure

Definition: To express strong disapproval

Example: Every parent in our district censured the education cuts.

Word: Clarify

Definition: To make clear or intelligible

Example: Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed, I try to take a walk to try to clarify my thoughts and decide what to do next.

Word: Coincide

Definition: To happen at the same time

Example: It wasn’t until after I booked my ticket that I realized the concert coincided with my finals.

Word: Competent

Definition: Sufficiently qualified

Example: We need to hire a competent web developer to create a good website for our company.

Word: Complacent

Definition: Satisfied, with no desire to change or improve

Example: Though he had never won any awards or even been published, he was complacent with his life as a poet.

Word: Complement

Definition: To make perfect or complete

Example: This wine perfectly complements this platter of gourmet cheese.

Word: Conceal

Definition: To hide

Example: Bram wore his hat low to conceal the scar on his face.

Word: Concur

Definition: To agree

Example: Brian believes women should be paid as much as men, and I concur.

Word: Condense

Definition: To reduce to a shorter form; to make more compact

Example: Rhiannon's boss asked her to condense the 15-page report into a one-page memo.

Word: Confine

Definition: To limit or restrict; to enclose within bounds

Example: After breaking curfew for the third time, Tony's parents confined him to the house for a month.

Word: Confluence

Definition: A coming together of people or things; a joining

Example: The confluence of hot and cold air created a powerful thunderstorm.

Word: Consecutively

Definition: One after another in uninterrupted succession

Example: The robber was ordered to serve his two sentences consecutively, with the shorter sentence being served first.

Word: Console

Definition: To give comfort; to lessen grief

Example: Maggie always remembered that Sebastian was the first to console her after her dog died.

Word: Contention

Definition: A dispute; opposition; rivalry

Example: As they'd been enemies since childhood, Meena expected bitter contention from Jane when she voiced her opinion.

Word: Contours

Definition: Line or edge that defines the bounds of an object

Example: The winding road followed the contours of the Vosges Mountains.

Word: Contradict

Definition: To be in contrast with

Example: The camera footage contradicts his alibi.

Word: Controversial

Definition: Highly debatable and causing contention

Example: Millions of viewers watched the controversial debate take place.

Word: Conventional

Definition: Abiding by accepted standards

Example: Ebba lives a conventional life in the suburbs.

Word: Convey

Definition: To pass on or transfer (information)

Example: I have trouble conveying my thoughts in French.

Word: Copious

Definition: Abundant

Example: Jiro always takes copious notes during history class.

Word: Cordial

Definition: Friendly; courteous

Example: Because she was the one to break their engagement, Anya was nervous about seeing Eric again, but he was nothing but cordial.

Word: Crucial

Definition: Critical; extremely important

Example: Once General Grant received crucial information about the position of enemy troops, he was able to plan his strategy.

Word: Crude

Definition: Rudimentary; unrefined

Example: My own painting appeared crude and childlike compared to the prize winner's masterpiece.

Word: Cumbersome

Definition: Unwieldy; burdensome

Example: The bag of overstuffed pillows was light, but its cumbersome shape made it difficult to carry.

Word: Deceive

Definition: To trick or deceive

Example: My ex-boyfriend deceived me by pretending to be a millionaire.

Word: Deference

Definition: Respect; regard

Example: Her deference to the elderly makes her the perfect candidate for an internship at the retirement center.

Word: Deficiency

Definition: A lack

Example: Many sailors were stricken by scurvy until it was learned the disease was caused by a Vitamin C deficiency.

Word: Depict

Definition: To represent

Example: Mama was furious after the caricaturist depicted her with a unibrow and buck teeth.

Word: Deplete

Definition: To overuse over time so that resources become scarce.

Example: The lost campers quickly depleted their supply of food.

Word: Desolate

Definition: Bare, empty

Example: The moon is one giant, desolate landscape.

Word: Derive

Definition: To deduce; to obtain from a source or origin

Example: Many English words are derived from German.

Word: Devoid

Definition: Lacking

Example: As he charged, the knight's face was devoid of any fear.

Word: Dexterity

Definition: Skill in moving the hands or body; cleverness

Example: The brain surgeon used great dexterity as she made the tiny incision.

Word: Digress

Definition: To stray from the main topic

Example: I don't mean to digress from your story, but have you seen this new YouTube video?

Word: Diminish

Definition: To shrink or reduce

Example: Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet to diminish red wine stains.

Word: Discrepancy

Definition: An inconsistency or difference

Example: A discrepancy in her tax returns caused Geraldine to receive half the refund she was owed.

Word: Dismantle

Definition: To take apart

Example: To stem rampant corruption, the new CEO dismantled the entire C-suite and hired new managers.

Disparage: To belittle or speak down to. (A good boss is stern but never disparages his or her employees.)

Discrepancy: A lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts. (A discrepancy in her tax returns caused Geraldine to receive half the refund she was owed.)

Disseminate: To spread widely. (The news was disseminated broadly after the president's announcement.)

Dissent: To disagree. (The Supreme Court's dissenting opinion was written by Justice Ginsburg.)

Distort: To twist out of shape. (The funhouse mirrors distort our reflections.)

Divulge: To reveal something secret. (The spy refused to divulge any details of his mission.)

Eclectic: Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources. (Her musical tastes are eclectic, ranging from classical to hip-hop.)

Elaborate: Involving many carefully arranged parts or details. (The wedding decorations were elaborate and beautiful.)

Eloquent: Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing. (The politician gave an eloquent speech about the importance of education.)

Elusive: Difficult to find, catch, or achieve. (The police are finding it difficult to catch the elusive bank robber.)

Embark: To begin a journey. (They embarked on their journey across the country last week.)

Eminent: Famous and respected within a particular sphere or profession. (The eminent scientist was awarded the Nobel Prize.)

Empirical: Based on observation or experience. (The scientists collected empirical data to support their theory.)

Endorse: To support or approve of something. (The senator endorsed the bill.)

Enhance: To improve the quality of something. (Adding spices will enhance the flavor of the dish.)

Ephemeral: Lasting for a very short time. (The ephemeral beauty of the sunset was breathtaking.)

Equitable: Fair and impartial. (The teacher aimed to create an equitable learning environment for all students.)

Erroneous: Wrong or incorrect. (The reporter retracted the erroneous statement in the article.)

Esoteric: Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge. (The philosopher's theories were esoteric and difficult for the average person to understand.)

Evoke: To bring or recall to the conscious mind. (The painting evoked memories of her childhood.)

Exacerbate: To make a problem worse. (His rude comments only exacerbated the situation.)

Exemplary: Serving as a desirable model; very good. (The student's project was exemplary and received the highest grade.)

Exhort: To strongly encourage or urge someone to do something. (The coach exhorted his team to give their best effort.)

Exonerate: To clear from blame or wrongdoing. (The new evidence exonerated the wrongly accused man.)

Expedite: To make an action or process happen sooner. (We need to expedite the approval process for this application.)

Exuberant: Filled with lively energy and excitement. (The children were exuberant as they opened their presents.)

Fallacy: A mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument. (The idea that vaccines cause autism is a fallacy.)

Feasible: Possible to do easily or conveniently. (With the current budget, it’s not feasible to renovate the entire building.)

Fervent: Having or displaying a passionate intensity. (The fans were fervent in their support for the team.)

Fiasco: A complete failure, especially in a humiliating way. (The concert turned into a fiasco when the sound system broke down.)

Fleeting: Lasting for a very short time. (She experienced a fleeting moment of happiness before the sadness returned.)

Fortuitous: Happening by chance, often in a beneficial way. (It was fortuitous that she found the missing wallet on her way to work.)

Foster: To encourage or promote the development of something. (The teacher aimed to foster a love of reading in her students.)

Frugal: Sparing or economical with regard to money or food. (He lived a frugal lifestyle, saving most of his income.)

Garrulous: Excessively talkative. (The garrulous man held up the checkout line with his chatter.)

Gratuitous: Uncalled for; lacking good reason. (The movie's gratuitous violence was criticized by many reviewers.)

Gregareous: Fond of company; sociable. (She was a gregarious person who enjoyed socializing with friends.)

Hackneyed: Lacking significance through having been overused. (The hackneyed phrase "think outside the box" has lost its impact.)

Hapless: Unfortunate. (The hapless victims of the flood lost everything.)

Harangue: A lengthy and aggressive speech. (The principal’s harangue about the new rules lasted for nearly an hour.)

Haughty: Arrogantly superior and disdainful. (The haughty actor refused to speak to his fans.)

Hindrance: A thing that provides resistance or delay to something. (The heavy traffic was a hindrance to our progress.)

Homogeneous: Of the same kind; alike. (The neighborhood was a homogeneous community of middle-class families.)

Hyperbole: Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally. (The politician's claim was dismissed as hyperbole.)

Iconoclast: A person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions. (The artist was known as an iconoclast who challenged the status quo.)

Idiosyncratic: Peculiar or individual. (Her idiosyncratic habit of wearing mismatched socks made her stand out.)

Illustrious: Well known, respected, and admired for past achievements. (The scientist had an illustrious career in the field of genetics.)

Imminent: About to happen. (The storm is imminent, so we need to prepare now.)

Immutable: Unchanging over time or unable to be changed. (The laws of physics are immutable.)

Impartial: Treating all rivals or disputants equally. (The judge was impartial in his decision.)

Imperative: Of vital importance; crucial. (It is imperative that we finish this project on time.)

Impetus: The force that makes something happen or happen more quickly. (The new policy gave fresh impetus to the company's growth.)

Impinge: To have an effect, especially a negative one. (The noise from the construction site impinged on our ability to concentrate.)

Implausible: Not seeming reasonable or probable. (The defendant's excuse was implausible and did not convince the jury.)

Impunity: Exemption from punishment. (The corrupt official acted with impunity, knowing he would not be held accountable.)

Incessant: Continuing without pause or interruption. (The incessant noise from the construction site was annoying.)

Incisive: Intelligently analytical and clear-thinking. (Her incisive comments during the debate impressed everyone.)

Indigenous: Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place. (The indigenous people of the region have lived there for centuries.)

Indispensable: Absolutely necessary. (Good communication skills are indispensable in this job.)

Ineffable: Too great or extreme to be expressed in words. (The beauty of the sunset was ineffable.)

Inevitable: Certain to happen; unavoidable. (Death is inevitable for all living beings.)

Innate: Inborn; natural. (She has an innate talent for music.)

Innocuous: Not harmful or offensive. (The comment was meant to be innocuous, but it upset many people.)

Insatiable: Impossible to satisfy. (He had an insatiable appetite for knowledge.)

Intrepid: Fearless; adventurous. (The intrepid explorer set out on a journey to the North Pole.)

Intrinsic: Belonging naturally; essential. (The intrinsic value of the artwork cannot be measured in money.)

Judicious: Having, showing, or done with good judgment. (The judge's decision was judicious and fair.)

Juxtapose: To place close together for contrasting effect. (The artist juxtaposed light and dark colors in the painting.)

Lament: To express sorrow, regret, or unhappiness about something. (They lamented the loss of their friend.)

Laudable: Deserving praise and commendation. (Her efforts to help the homeless were laudable.)

Lethargic: Affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic. (After the long flight, I felt lethargic and just wanted to sleep.)

Lucid: Expressed clearly; easy to understand. (The teacher's explanation was lucid and helped me understand the topic.)

Magnanimous: Generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person. (The magnanimous winner shared her prize with the runner-up.)

Malicious: Intending or intended to do harm. (The malicious gossip caused a lot of hurt feelings.)

Malleable: Easily influenced or shaped. (The young minds of children are malleable and can be shaped positively by good teachers.)

Maverick: An independent-minded person. (He was a maverick who always did things his own way.)

Meticulous: Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise. (She was meticulous in her preparation for the exam.)

Mitigate: To make less severe, serious, or painful. (The doctor prescribed medication to mitigate the patient's pain.)

Mundane: Lacking interest or excitement; dull. (The chores were mundane but necessary.)

Myriad: A countless or extremely great number. (The myriad stars in the sky were breathtaking.)

Nascent: Just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential. (The nascent company was already making a name for itself in the tech industry.)

Nefarious: Wicked or criminal. (The nefarious activities of the villain were finally exposed.)

Negligent: Failing to take proper care in doing something. (The driver was found negligent for not stopping at the red light.)

Novel: New or unusual in an interesting way. (The scientist presented a novel approach to the problem.)

Nuance: A subtle difference in meaning or opinion. (The artist's work is full of nuances that reveal new details with each viewing.)

Obsolete: No longer produced or used; out of date. (The company replaced its obsolete equipment with new technology.)

Ominous: Giving the impression that something bad is going to happen. (The dark clouds looked ominous and threatening.)

Opulent: Ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish. (The opulent mansion was filled with expensive artwork.)

Ornate: Made in an intricate shape or decorated with complex patterns. (The ornate frame was covered in elaborate carvings.)

Oust: To drive out or expel someone from a position or place. (The dictator was ousted from power.)

Pacify: To quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of. (The mother tried to pacify her crying baby.)

Paradox: A statement that contradicts itself but might still be true. (The paradox of the liar is a statement that cannot be true or false.)

Paragon: A person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality. (She is a paragon of virtue.)

Paramount: More important than anything else; supreme. (The safety of our students is of paramount importance.)

Peevish: Easily irritated, especially by unimportant things. (The peevish customer complained about the smallest details.)

Permeate: To spread throughout something; pervade. (The smell of freshly baked bread permeated the house.)

Pervasive: Spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people. (The pervasive influence of social media affects many aspects of our lives.)

Placid: Not easily upset or excited; calm and peaceful. (The placid lake was a perfect spot for a quiet afternoon.)

Pragmatic: Dealing with things sensibly and realistically. (The manager took a pragmatic approach to solving the problem.)

Precarious: Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse. (The ladder looked precarious, so I held it steady while he climbed.)

Precedent: An earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide. (The court's decision set a precedent for future cases.)

Preclude: To prevent from happening; make impossible. (His injury precluded him from playing in the game.)

Proclivity: A tendency to choose or do something regularly. (She has a proclivity for punctuality.)

Proficient: Competent or skilled in doing or using something. (She is proficient in several languages.)

Prolific: Present in large numbers or quantities; plentiful. (The prolific author published several books each year.)

Propensity: An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way. (He has a propensity for exaggeration.)

Prudent: Acting with or showing care and thought for the future. (It is prudent to save money for emergencies.)

Quaint: Attractively unusual or old-fashioned. (The quaint cottage was surrounded by beautiful gardens.)

Quell: To put an end to a rebellion or other disorder. (The troops were called in to quell the unrest.)

Quintessential: Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class. (She is the quintessential soccer mom.)

Rancor: Bitterness or resentfulness. (There was rancor in his voice as he recounted the events.)

Ravenous: Extremely hungry. (After the hike, we were all ravenous and ready for dinner.)

Reclusive: Avoiding the company of other people; solitary. (The reclusive writer rarely made public appearances.)

Rectify: To put right; correct. (She tried to rectify her mistake by apologizing to him.)

Refute: To prove to be wrong or false. (The scientist refuted the claims made by the opposing team.)

Relegate: To consign or dismiss to an inferior rank or position. (He was relegated to a desk job.)

Replete: Filled or well-supplied with something. (The book is replete with interesting facts.)

Reproach: To address someone in such a way as to express disapproval or disappointment. (She reproached her son for his bad behavior.)

Resilient: Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. (The resilient community rebuilt after the hurricane.)

Resolute: Admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering. (She was resolute in her decision to become a doctor.)

Sage: Wise, especially as a result of great experience. (The sage advice of the elder helped guide the community.)

Scrupulous: Diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details. (The scrupulous editor checked every fact.)

Scrutinize: To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly. (The detective scrutinized the evidence.)

Serene: Calm, peaceful, and untroubled. (The serene landscape was a welcome sight.)

Sporadic: Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated. (The sporadic rain showers did not spoil our picnic.)

Stagnant: Having no current or flow and often having an unpleasant smell as a consequence. (The stagnant water in the pond was covered with algae.)

Stoic: Enduring pain and hardship without showing feelings or complaining. (He remained stoic during the funeral.)

Strident: Loud and harsh; grating. (The strident tone of his voice made everyone uncomfortable.)

Sublime: Of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe. (The view from the mountaintop was sublime.)

Substantiate: To provide evidence to support or prove the truth of. (The scientist's findings substantiated her theory.)

Succinct: Briefly and clearly expressed. (The teacher's instructions were succinct and easy to follow.)

Superfluous: Unnecessary, especially through being more than enough. (The report was marred by superfluous details.)

Surmise: To suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it. (From his expression, I surmised that he was angry.)

Surreptitious: Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of. (They carried on a surreptitious affair.)

Taciturn: Reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little. (The taciturn student never participated in class discussions.)

Tangible: Perceptible by touch; clear and definite; real. (The tension in the room was almost tangible.)

Tenuous: Very weak or slight. (The tenuous link between the two events was unconvincing.)

Transitory: Not permanent. (The transitory nature of life is often reflected in art.)

Ubiquitous: Present, appearing, or found everywhere. (The ubiquitous use of smartphones has changed the way we communicate.)

Unprecedented: Never done or known before. (The company took unprecedented measures to ensure safety.)

Vacuous: Having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless. (The vacuous stare of the student indicated he was not paying attention.)

Venerate: To regard with great respect. (The professor was venerated by his colleagues.)

Verbose: Using or expressed in more words than are needed. (The verbose speech was difficult to follow.)

Vex: To make someone feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried, especially with trivial matters. (The constant delays began to vex the passengers.)

Vindicate: To clear someone of blame or suspicion. (The evidence vindicated her claim of innocence.)

Vociferous: Vehement or clamorous. (The protestors were vociferous in their demands.)

Wary: Feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems. (The dog was wary of strangers.)

Whimsical: Playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way. (The whimsical illustrations delighted the children.)

Wistful: Having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing. (She cast a wistful glance at the old photos.)

Zenith: The time at which something is most powerful or successful. (At the zenith of his career, he was known worldwide.)

Zealous: Having or showing zeal. (The zealous supporters cheered loudly for their team.)

Zest: Great enthusiasm and energy. (The chef added a zest of lemon to the dish.)