PSAT Study words

ambivalent

having mixed feeling or contradictory ideas about something or someone

buttress*

to increase the strength of or justification for; to reinforce

abate

decrease, recede

unobtrusive

not conspicuous or attracting attention

tenuous

very weak or slight

evoke

to bring or recall to the conscious mind

conjecture

the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence for proof

substantiate

to provide evidence to support or prove the truth of

mitigate*

to make something less severe, serious, or painful

contempt

the feeling that a person or thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn

deference

humble submission and respect

hinder

create difficulties for someone or something, resulting in delay or obstruction

implicit

implied but not plainly expressed

invoke

to cite or appeal to someone or something as an authority for an action or in support of an argument

dormant

having normal physical functions suspended or slowed down for a period of time; in or as if in a deep sleep

divergent

tending to be different or develop in different directions

obsolete

no longer produced or used; out of date

accentuate*

make more noticeable or prominent

copious*

plentiful in number

disseminate

to scatter or spread widely

eclipse

to make less outstanding or important by comparison

empirical

based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience than theory or pure logic

augment*

to expand or increase

uncanny

strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way

supplant*

to supersede and replace; to take the place of

placate

to make someone less angry or hostile

pretentious*

attempting to impress by showing greater importance, talent, culture, etc. than is possessed

palpable*

capable of being touched or felt

omit

to leave out or exclude something or someone

transpose

cause two or more thing to exchange places

entail*

involve something as necessary or inevitable part or consequence

lament*

express regret or disappointment about something

vindicate*

to clear someone or something of blame or suspicion

preclude*

to prevent something from happening or being possible

insidious

treacherous, spreading harm stealthily

calamitous

disastrous

adept

very skilled, expert

fickle

erratic

aesthetic

pertaining to the appreciation of beauty

unattainable*

impossible to achieve

corollary

a statement or condition that logically results from a proven argument

prevail

to win

prevailing

widespread; generally accepted

misconstrue*

to interpret something incorrectly, often leading to a misunderstanding

antithesis

the direct opposite

autonomous

acting independently

prohibitive*

serving as an obstacle or barrier

decry

to denounce; discredit

defame

to libel or slander; to ruin the good name of someone

feign

to represent falsely; to fake

stipulate*

to specify or demand a requirement or condition as part of an agreement

deplorable

regrettable

disparate

different; incompatible

magnanimous

forgiving; generous

synopsis*

a brief summary or overview of a longer text or event

harrowing

frightening or traumatic

paucity

scarcity or lack of

clandestine

done in secret

reverberate*

to echo or resound repeatedly; to have a lasting impact or influence

cursory

not thorough; superficial

posthumous

occurring after ones death

propensity

a tendency towards something

municipal*

relating to the local government or administration of a city or town

supple

flexible

replete

completely filled

prolific

very productive

sway*

to have control or influence over someone or something

culpable

deserving of blame

deride

to ridicule or mock

overt

not hidden; obvious

miser

a stingy person

heterodox*

contrary to or differing from established beliefs or accepted doctrines

ornate

elaborately or heavily decorated

introspective

meditative, thoughtful

credulity

gullibility, a tendency to be too ready to believe something

irrefutable*

impossible to deny or disprove

amicable

agreeable

resolute

determined

mutable

changeable

discordant

conflicting; disagreeable in sound

benevolent*

kind and helpful

epitome

a perfect example

tactful

sensitive in dealing with others

paltry

lacking in importance; trivial

arduous*

involving strenuous effort; requiring a lot of work

disparity

difference

dispassionate

calm; fair

elucidate

to explain or clarify

myriad

a vast number

unpretentious*

modest

eclectic

getting ideas from a diverse range of sources

candid

direct

malleable

capable of being shaped or formed

candor

honesty

recurrent*

occurring repeatedly or at regular intervals

incongruous

not corresponding or agreeing

inadvertent

unintentional

abate

decrease, recede

incisive

sharpness of mind

ascertain

to determine or discover

coherent

logically connected

appraise*

to estimate the value of something

inundate

to overwhelm; to flood

immutable

unchangeable

accrue

to increase or to gain

supersede*

to replace with something better

hamper

to prevent the free movement or action of

animosity

hatred or bitter hostility

deleterious

harmful to one’s health

judicious

showing sound judgement

impede*

to delay or prevent someone or something by obstructing them

acumen

sharpness of judgement or insight

audacious

bold; fearless

misconstrue

misinterpret

nefarious

extremely wicked

brevity

concise expression without wasted words

notoriety

being famous or well known

homogenous*

having the same characteristics throughout

nuance

a subtle difference

obtrusive

imposing to others

depreciate

to devalue

derelict

abandoned, neglectful of duty

interdependent*

mutually reliant on each other; interconnected

censure

blame or condemn

ambiguous

uncertain; subject to multiple interpretations

complacent

self-satisfied; indifferent; accepting of mediocrity

indisputable

impossible to question or doubt

antagonist*

an adversary

intrinsic

inherent

fortuitous

accidental or by chance

hiatus

a pause or lapse

emulate*

to imitate or strive to equal or surpass; to copy the actions of someone or something

verbose

wordy

assail

to attack someone

robust*

strong or healthy; can also be used to describe data as convincing

fathom

to understand

accost

to approach and speak to someone

acuity

insight; sharpness

extrapolate*

to estimate or forecast based on existing trends or date

deferential

yielding to the opinion or wishes of another

paradox

a contradiction or puzzle

affinity for*

a natural liking or attraction to something

aberration

a deviation from the normal or proper

proscribe

to forbid

partition*

to separate into parts

disconcerting

confusing; unsettling

atrophy

to deteriorate

laud

to praise highly

dissonant

harsh or irregular in sound

abet

to aide, act as an accomplice

abhor

to detest or loathe

verisimilitude*

the appearance of being true or real

conspicuous*

standing out so as to be clearly visible

ameliorate*

to make better or more tolerable

amorphous*

having no definite form or character

engender*

cause or give rise to a feeling, situation, or condition

tertiary

of the third order, rank, stage, formation; less important

austere*

severe or strict in manner, attitude or appearance; lacking any excess

citadel

a stronghold or fortress

coalesce

to grow together

equivocal*

subject to two or more interpretations; of uncertain nature or classification

repine

to feel or express discontent

repudiate*

to deny the truth or validity of

evince*

to reveal the presence of a quality or feeling

insuperable*

impossible to overcome or surpass, insurmountable

nebulous*

unclear, vague, or hazy, lacking definite form or boundaries

demagogue

a person who appeals to the emotions or prejudices of the people

neophyte

a beginner or novice

cogent

persuasive or forceful

laconic

using few words

ineluctable*

inevitable, unable to be avoided or escaped

denigrate

ridicule; belittle

gratuitous

unnecessary, uncalled for

mirth

merriment, joy

demur

to object

superfluous*

exceeding what is necessary or required; unnecessary

equivocate

to be ambiguous, not upfront

altruistic

selflessness; unselfish concern for the welfare of others

partisan

a strong supporter of a cause, person, or party

fastidious

very attentive to detail

adulation

high praise

guile

deception or skillful deceit

induce*

to bring about or cause a particular response or action

prodigious

causing amazement or wonder; enormous

magnanimous

noble, generous

hedonism

the pursuit of pleasure

demure

modest and reserved, falsely so

scrupulous*

a person or process that is diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details

terse

brief

clamor

noise, a mixture of disagreeable sounds

colloquial

informal

acquiesce

to agree; submit passively

irreproachable*

beyond criticism or fault, perfect or faultless in behavior or actions

loquacious

talkative

haughty

arrogant; snobbish

deft

skilled

idiosyncratic*

peculiar or unique to an individual; having distinctive characteristics

bereft

lacking; missing

curt

short in response, commonly used when someone is being rude

perfunctory

done routinely with little care

rancor

bitterness; spitefulness

coalesce*

to come together to form a single group or mass

belligerent

aggressive; hostile

contrite

affected by guilt

omniscient

all knowing

untenable

indefensible

orthodox*

adhering to established beliefs, customs, or practices

decorous

marked by good behavior

pertinent

relevant

banal

commonplace

allay

to lessen, ease, or soothe

spurious*

false or not genuine; lacking authenticity

surreptitious

secret and stealthy

bilk

to swindle or cheat

egregious

obviously bad or offensive

antipathy

extreme dislike

incongruous*

out of place

acrimony

bitterness or hostility

disparage

belittle; to speak down to someone

fervent

passionate or zealous

dubious

doubtful

venerable*

worthy of respect

curmudgeon

a rude person

convivial

sociable; festive

extol

to commend or praise

admonish

to caution or reprimand; to warn

partite*

divided into parts

capricious

impulsive; whimsical

dogmatic

inflexible; rigid in one’s beliefs

accretion

gradual build up or growth by addition

omnipresent*

present everywhere at the same time

extemporaneous

improvised or spontaneous

abet

to aid

inviolable

not to be broken; sacred

untoward*

unfavorable, inappropriate, or inconvenient

assent

to agree

taciturn

reserved or quiet

trite

overused, commonplace, having no freshness or appeal

hew*

to cut or shape

profligate

wasteful

ubiquitous

universal

adroit

skillful; accomplished; highly competent

abhor

to detest or loathe

castigate

to punish severely

brusque

rudely concise

secular

worldly, not spiritual

pious

very observant of religious practices

amenable

agreeable or cooperative

furtive

sneaky or sly

edify

to instruct or enlighten

assiduous

diligent; hard working

admonish

to caution or advise against

heretic

a person holding untraditional or blasphemous opinions

incorrigible

incapable of being corrected or reformed

auspicious

favorable; promising

avarice

greed

egalitarian

equal for all

circumspect

careful to consider all circumstances and consequences

byzantine

very complicated or intricate

arcane

known or understood by only a few

feckless

weak; ineffective; incompetent

ardent

passionate

expedient

suitable for achieving a particular end

ascetic

self-denying; depriving oneself of something

onerous

burdensome or oppressive

sagacious

wise

indelible

making marks or an impression that cannot be removed or lost

aspersion

a false rumor or damaging report

innocuous

harmless

impious

irreverent; disrespectful

assuage

to soother or pacify

perspicacious

very perceptive or discerning

abstruse

complex; hard to understand

petulant

childish; irritable

abase

to humble or degrade

latent

undeveloped or dormant

abdicate

to formally relinquish

obstreperous

noisy; unruly

harbinger

forerunner or omen

beguile

to deceive

irreverent

lacking respect

parity

state of being equivalent

callow

inexperienced; immature

perfunctory

routine; done without care

dearth

a lack or deficiency

enigma

something or someone puzzling or hard to understand

amiable

friendly and good

eminent

prominent; distinguished

pragmatic

practical

iconoclast

one who attacks traditional ideas or institutions

antipathy

a deep dislike or aversion

penitent

remorseful

magnate

a powerful or influential person

gregarious

sociable; enjoying the company of others

languid

exhausted

affable

friendly

hapless

ill fated; unlucky

palliate

to soothe or mitigate