dsat
Vocabulary Terms
Page 1
Abolish: formally put an end to a system, practice, or institution.
Accent: to emphasize; distinctive manner of pronunciation.
Acquiesce: to agree; to accept; to give in.
Aesthetic: relating to beauty and art.
Affirmation: statement of validation or confirmation; a positive assertion.
Ambivalence: undecided; having mixed emotions about something.
Ambulatory: able to walk.
Anchor: to hold in place.
Anecdote: a short story of an interesting or amusing event.
Arrogant: overly convinced of one's own importance or superiority.
Articulate: able to speak well; precisely defined; intelligible.
Assess: to estimate the value of something; to measure.
Authoritarian: against individual freedom; favoring absolute obedience.
Biased: not neutral; prejudiced; leaning to one side.
Bizarre: strikingly unconventional; odd; eccentric.
Blunder: to make a stupid mistake; to move unsteadily.
Complacent: self-satisfied; unconcerned.
Comprehensive: of large scope; all-encompassing; including all.
Condescend: to talk down to; to patronize.
Confide: to tell someone a secret.
Conspicuous: easily noticed; obvious.
Contaminate: to make impure or corrupt by contact or association.
Contemporary: living or existing at the same time.
Corroborate: to support with evidence; to confirm.
Corrugated: formed into wrinkles, folds, or grooves.
Corrupt: immoral; dishonest; contaminated.
Credulous: believing; gullible.
Denounce: to speak out against; to condemn.
Disentangle: to free; to clear up or resolve.
Disparity: inequality; difference; incongruity.
Diverse: varied; distinct; differing from one another; heterogeneous.
Eloquent: fluent and graceful in speech; articulate.
Elusive: hard to catch; evasive.
Emulate: to try to equal or excel, especially through imitation.
Endorse: to approve; to sanction.
Enduring: lasting; durable; chronic; unresolved; persistent.
Evacuate: to empty; to vacate; to remove residents from a place.
Exclude: to eject; to shut out from membership; to bar.
Exemplary: outstanding; setting a good example.
Exemplify: to serve as an example of.
Exhaustive: thorough; complete; comprehensive.
Expedite: to hasten; to speed up; to remove impediments.
Expendable: not needed after having been used; disposable.
Expenditure: expense; that which is consumed, used up.
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Extraneous: irrelevant; extra; unnecessary; unimportant; foreign.
Facilitate: to make easier.
Fanatic: one who is extremely devoted to a cause or idea.
Fertile: productive or fruitful.
Flagrant: conspicuously bad; outrageously noticeable.
Fraudulent: using deceit or trickery.
Fruitful: productive; successful.
Fundamental: essential; basic; original.
Futile: hopeless; ineffective; useless.
Grave: serious.
Gullible: easily cheated or deceived; ingenuous.
Heed: to listen to; to give careful attention to.
Hideous: disgusting; foul; revolting; grisly.
Hilarity: a state of merriment or high enjoyment; boisterous fun.
Hypothetical: theoretical; for the sake of argument.
Immune: exempt; resistant to disease.
Inadvertent: accidental; unintentional; not duly attentive; heedless.
Incessant: unceasing; never ending.
Incoherent: without logical connection; disjointed; rambling.
Indifferent: not caring one way or another; lacking preference.
Inevitable: unavoidable; bound to happen.
Infer: conclude from evidence; deduce; guess; surmise.
Innate: inborn; inherited; intrinsic.
Innocuous: inoffensive; harmless.
Innovate: to introduce something new; to create.
Ironic: satiric; unexpected; using words to say the opposite of what is meant.
Irrational: not based on reason; not capable of reasoning.
Jovial: characterized by hearty, joyous humor.
Lenient: gently tolerant; permissive; indulgent; forbearing.
Mared: damaged; injured; imperfect; impaired; spoiled.
Mobile: movable; adaptable.
Neutral: unbiased; not taking sides; objective.
Novel: new; unusual; fresh.
Opaque: not allowing light to pass; not transparent.
Orthodox: standard; commonly accepted; conventional; customary.
Peripheral: on the edge; external; surrounding; unimportant.
Phenomenon: an observable fact or occurrence; an extraordinary person or thing.
Pivotal: important; crucial.
Preclude: to prevent; to make impossible; to bar.
Predecessor: one who previously held a position; one who came before.
Predicament: an unpleasantly difficult or dangerous situation.
Premature: happening before the proper time.
Premeditated: planned or considered in advance.
Provocative: exciting; attracting attention; irritating; evocative; stimulating.
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Rejuvenate: to restore to a youthful vigor or youthful appearance.
Relevant: important; pertinent; material; applicable.
Remorse: deep and painful regret for wrongdoing; contrition.
Renounce: to give up; refuse; resign.
Repudiate: to refuse to have anything to do with; disown.
Scrutinize: to examine very closely.
Solemn: serious; grave; somber; gloomy; formal; ceremonious.
Solicit: to ask for; to seek; to extract; to beg; to tempt or lure.
Solitude: the state of being alone; seclusion; isolation.
Specify: to mention or name explicitly.
Stanza: a section of a poem.
Subtle: not obvious; delicate; difficult to distinguish or understand.
Summary: a concise statement of main points.
Summon: call together; send for.
Tentative: not fully worked out or developed; uncertain.
Trivial: of little importance/significance; ordinary; commonplace; trite.
Turbulence: state of unrest or disturbance; atmospheric agitation.
Uniform: always the same; unchanging; unvarying; consistent; regular.
Universal: something which includes or covers everything; present everywhere.
Unprecedented: having no previous example or precedent.
Valid: well-grounded; sound; supportable; producing desired result.
Viable: capable of surviving or growing; practical and workable.
Virtue: the quality of moral excellence; righteousness; goodness.
Vital: necessary to continuation of life; full of life; energetic.
Willful: governed by will without regard to reason; intentional; stubborn.
Zany: given to outrageous behavior; bizarre; absurd.
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Prejudiced: not neutral.
Eccentric: unconventional; odd.
Commend: to praise.
Acclaim: praise.
Revere/Reverence: to worship.
Deference: courteous respect.
Adulation: excessive praise or flattery.
Accolade: an award, honor, or flattery.
Exalt: to praise highly.
Eulogy: a public speech praising the achievements of a dead person.
Laud/Laudatory: to praise, to acclaim.
Plaudit: expression of praise.
Venerate: to worship.
Extol: to praise.
Approbation: approval, commendation, or praise.
Rhapsodize: to write or speak with enthusiasm; to gush.
Panegyric: a formal speech of praise.
Paragon: a model of perfection; one who is widely respected.
Hinder: to obstruct; to make progress difficult.
Impede: to block.
Check: to restrict; to curb (as in progress).
Repress: to restrain; to hold back.
Hamper: to obstruct; to make progress difficult.
Curb: to restrict or block.
Stymie: to block.
Squelch: to crush; to squash; to quell.
Quell: to suppress or crush; especially to put down a riot.
Compatible: able to coexist harmoniously; sympathetic.
Affinity: attraction; relationship; kinship.
Empathy/Empathize: understanding of another's thoughts, attitudes, or feelings.
Concordance: agreement; accord.
Trifling: silly and unimportant.
Ignoramus: a stupid person.
Dolt: stupid person; idiot.
Fatuous: silly and foolish.
Inane: silly and foolish.
Vacuous: empty-headed; lacking intelligence; stupid.
Obtuse: dull; stupid.
Dormant: asleep or inactive.
Stagnant: motionless.
Static: motionless.
Inert: inactive.
Latent: present but not active.
Quiescent: inactive.
Skeptical: doubting; critical.
Dubious: doubtful or questionable.
Refute: to disprove.
Contest: to challenge or dispute.
Impugn: to challenge as false, especially someone's motives.
Amenable: ready to compromise or adjust.
Compliant/Pliant: giving in to others; yielding.
Yielding: giving in to others.
Malleable: capable of being changed.
Tractable: easily controlled; easily changed.
Ponder: to think over.
Pensive: dreamily thoughtful.
Ruminate: to think over.
Muse: to become absorbed in thought.
Reprimand: to punish; to criticize.
Deride/Derision: to ridicule.
Slander: to defame; to speak maliciously of someone (also a noun).
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Disparage: to degrade; to speak slightingly about.
Malign: to slander; to injure by speaking ill of.
Belittle: to make something or someone seem smaller or less important.
Deprecatory: disapproving.
Castigate: to punish severely or criticize strongly.
Censure: the act of blaming or condemning; an official reprimand.
Spurn: to treat with disrespect; to reject; to show contempt.
Reprove: to blame; to reprimand.
Revile: to speak abusively; to scold.
Tirade: a long speech characterized by harsh, criticizing language.
Rebuke: to criticize; to scold.
Chasten/Chastise: to punish; to correct through discipline.
Admonish: to warn or criticize gently.
Flout: to mock; to show disrespect for something.
Vilify/Vile: to treat as evil; to curse; to verbally abuse.
Diatribe: speech characterized by bitterness or malice.
Upbraid: to criticize severely; to scold vehemently.
Rail: to scold or criticize harshly.
Inveigh: to attack verbally; to denounce.
Chide: to reprove or scold.
Respite: a pause; a rest.
Reprieve: a temporary relief; a postponement of penalty.
Table: to postpone indefinitely.
Hiatus: a break in continuity; a gap.
Abeyance: a suspension of an activity or function.
Equilibrium: a state of balance and stability.
Homogeneous: of the same type; uniform.
Parity: equality.
Commensurate: equal in measure or extent; corresponding.
Cordial: friendly; polite.
Congenial: pleasant and sociable.
Amiable: friendly; easy to get along with.
Amicable: friendly.
Benign: kind; good; gentle; harmless.
Amity: friendship.
Gregarious: sociable; fond of company; friendly.
Humane: compassionate; kind; merciful.
Affable: characterized by ease and friendliness with others.
Acquit: to free from blame.
Condone: to pardon or overlook; to excuse.
Amnesty: a pardoning.
Clemency: leniency; showing mercy.
Absolve: to pardon.
Vindicate: to clear from accusation or suspicion.
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Exonerate: to clear of a charge; to free from blame.
Exculpate: to free from blame.
Squander: to waste foolishly.
Exorbitant: excessive; extravagant.
Spendthrift: wastefully extravagant; one who spends too much.
Improvident: wasteful; prodigal.
Prodigal: wastefully extravagant.
Profligate: wastefully extravagant.
Clamor: loud, noisy shouting.
Din: unpleasant and loud noise.
Cacophony: loud, dissonant noises.
Vociferous: noisy; clamorous; loud shouting.
Obstreperous: noisy; usually in defiance.
Palpable: touchable; obvious.
Tangible: touchable; real.
Deceit: deception or trick.
Hypocrisy: insincerity; pretending to be what one is not.
Duplicity: deception; double-dealing; deceit.
Fallacious: false; misleading; deceptive.
Gouge: to cheat or defraud someone.
Specious: false.
Prevaricate: to lie.
Charlatan: an impostor; a quack; a con artist.
Fabricate: to make up for the purpose of deception; to manufacture.
Guile: deceit; cunning; trickery; duplicity.
Affected: acting in an artificial way; putting on a false appearance.
Chicanery: deception by artful trickery.
Insidious: treacherous; sneaky; sly.
Bilk: to defraud; to cheat; to swindle.
Feign: to put on a false appearance; to pretend for deceptive purposes.
Stratagem: a plan to deceive or trick.
Spurious: counterfeit; false.
Apocryphal: of doubtful origin; false.
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Cheerful: merriment; fun; gaiety.
Jovial: filled with gaiety; cheerful; carefree.
Exuberant: bubbling; vivacious; exhilarated.
Carefree: filled with cheerfulness and hopefulness.
Impoverished: poor; having no money.
Beggars: a poor person.
Filthiness: caused by poverty; extreme poverty.
Brevity: shortness of duration.
Concise: briefly stated; succinct.
Terse: brief and clear; succinct.
Pithy: effectively concise; short yet polished.
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Laconic: using a minimum number of words.
Taciturn: disinclined to talk; silent.
Sententious: short and moralistic in expression.
Irreverent: lacking respect.
Desecrate: to treat with disrespect.
Profane: ungodly; not sacred.
Heresy: dissent from traditional beliefs.
Blasphemy: lack of respect for God.
Iconoclasm: attacking traditional ideas.
Savory: good tasting.
Aromatic: fragrant; having an agreeable odor.
Euphony: pleasing to the ear; melodious.
Redolent: fragrant; having an agreeable odor.
Dulcet: pleasing to the ear; sweet-sounding.
Abashed: embarrassed; made ashamed.
Chagrin: distress caused by humiliation.
Mortify: to cause extreme embarrassment.
Ignominy: deep personal humiliation and disgrace.
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Abstract: theoretical; lacking substance.
Amorphous: without shape or form.
Incorporeal: without body; non-material.
Ethereal: heavenly; beyond the physical world.
Nebulous: vague and indistinct.
Inclined: tending toward one direction or opinion.
Propensity: a natural inclination or tendency.
Penchant: a strong liking.
Proclivity: a tendency to do something.
Novice: an inexperienced person.
Fledgling: young and inexperienced.
Neophyte: a beginner.
Callow: immature; inexperienced.
Contempt: scornful disdain; the act of despising.
Animosity: hatred.
Antagonism: opposition; hostility.
Disdain: a feeling of contempt.
Vindictive: vengeful; spiteful.
Antipathy: a feeling of ill-will.
Abhor: to hate intensely.
Malevolent: having ill-will and hatred.
Enmity: hostile or unfriendly feelings.
Fluctuate: to change frequently; to vary.
Fickle: unpredictable.
Waver: to hesitate; to sway.
Erratic: unstable; irregular.
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Whimsical: impulsive; unpredictable.
Capricious: impulsive and unpredictable.
Vacillate: to fluctuate between options.
Mercurial: temperamental; emotionally unstable.
Vicissitude: a change of fortune; alternating changes.
Morsel: a small amount.
Infinitesimal: extremely small.
Scant: small in amount.
Paltry: small or insignificant.
Mote: a small particle or speck.
Scintilla: a small amount or spark.
Snippet: a small piece.
Paucity: lack; scarcity.
Dearth: lack; small amount.
Augment: to increase; to add to.
Flourish: to prosper; to thrive.
Enhance: to make greater or better.
Aggrandize: to increase the power, status, or wealth of.
Burgeon: to grow rapidly.
Proliferation: rapid reproduction or multiplication.
Agile: able to move with ease and speed.
Adept: skilled and proficient.
Adroit: skillful and clever.
Spry: active and lively.
Lithe: flexible and graceful.
Supple: flexible and adaptable.
Saturate: to soak through completely.
Pervade: to spread through every part of.
Permeate: to penetrate and spread through.
Imbue: to inspire or influence thoroughly.
Curtail: to cut back; to lessen.
Taper: to gradually become narrower.
Truncate: to cut short.
Abate: to decrease or diminish.
Arable: fertile; capable of being plowed.
Prolific: very productive.
Fecund: fertile; productive.
Pragmatic: practical and sensible.
Expedient: efficient and practical for a particular situation.
Utilitarian: practical; designed for usefulness.
Fleeting: short-lived; not lasting long.
Transient: temporary; short-lived.
Ephemeral: lasting for a very short time.
Evanescent: vanishing; fleeting.
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Temporal: relating to time; not eternal.
Transitory: not lasting forever.
Nostalgia: a longing for past experiences.
Wistful: full of unfulfilled longing.
Maudlin: overly sentimental or emotional.
Mawkish: overly emotional or sentimental.
Simpering: shy or silly in a way that is insincere.
Deplete: to use up entirely.
Undermine: to weaken; to work against.
Debilitate: to weaken.
Annihilate: to destroy completely.
Obliterate: to erase completely.
Deface: to ruin the surface of.
Atrophy: to waste away from lack of use.
Pulverize: to crush or demolish.
Eradicate: to eliminate completely.
Expunge: to remove completely.
Efface: to erase or destroy.
Raze: to level or demolish.
Enervate: to weaken or drain of energy.
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Wane: to decrease in strength or intensity.
Stultify: to cause to lose enthusiasm or initiative, especially as a result of a tedious or restrictive routine.
Subvert: to undermine the power and authority of an established system or institution.
Quench: to extinguish; to satisfy a desire or need.
Eradicate: to destroy completely; to put an end to.
Obliterate: to remove from existence; to destroy all traces of.
Demolish: to destroy (a building) deliberately and completely.
Dwindle: to diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength.
Debilitate: to weaken someone or something.
Exhaust: to use up completely; to drain of resources.
Terminate: to bring to an end.
Merge: to combine or join together.
Amass: to gather together or accumulate over time.
Cohesion: the action or fact of forming a united whole.
Converge: to come together from different directions.
Coalesce: to come together to form one mass or whole.
Convene: to assemble or call together for a meeting.
Aggregate: to form or group into a class or cluster.
Confluence: the junction of two rivers; a coming together.
Hoard: to accumulate a supply of something, often in secret.
Congeal: to solidify or coagulate.
Garner: to gather or collect.
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Flamboyant: excessively showy or ornate.
Gaudy: extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless.
Ostentatious: characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice.
Ornate: elaborately or excessively decorated.
Flaunt: to display ostentatiously.
Tawdry: showy but cheap and of poor quality.
Garish: obtrusively bright and showy.
Florid: elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated.
Tranquil: free from disturbance; calm.
Serene: calm, peaceful, and untroubled.
Sedate: calm, dignified, and unhurried.
Repose: a state of rest, sleep, or tranquility.
Placid: not easily upset or excited; calm and peaceful.
Equanimity: mental calmness, stability, and composure, especially in difficult situations.
Halcyon: denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.
Snare: to trap or entangle.
Mire: to cause to become stuck or entangled.
Embroil: to involve someone deeply in a conflict or difficult situation.
Enmesh: to catch or involve in a situation from which it is difficult to escape.
Quagmire: a soft boggy area of land that gives way underfoot; a difficult or inextricable situation.
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Eccentric: unconventional and slightly strange.
Aberration: a departure from what is normal or expected.
Incongruous: not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something.
Disparate: essentially different in kind; not allowing comparison.
Anomalous: deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.
Demure: reserved, modest, and shy.
Reticent: not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily.
Timorous: showing or suffering from nervousness or a lack of confidence.
Diffident: modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.
Indulgent: pampering; satisfying desires.
Hedonistic: devoted to pleasure as a way of life.
Epicure: a person devoted to luxury and refined living.
Industrious: hardworking and diligent.
Diligent: conscientious; careful in one's work.
Tenacious: persistent; unwilling to give up.
Vehement: showing strong feeling; passionate.
Ardent/Ardor: great devotion or enthusiasm for a cause or idea.
Zealous: fervent; showing great energy in pursuit of a cause.
Fervent/Fervor: intense and passionate feeling.
Assiduous: hardworking; careful and persistent.
Indefatigable: tireless; persisting tirelessly.
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Benevolent: kind; good-hearted; generous.
Philanthropy: love of humankind; charitable donations.
Magnanimous: noble; generous; forgiving.
Munificent: very generous; giving.
Largess: generosity; a gift generously given.
Benefactor: a generous donor.
Altruistic: unselfish; concerned for the welfare of others.
Perplex: to confuse; to bewilder.
Baffle: to bewilder; to confuse.
Ambiguous: unclear in meaning; open to multiple interpretations.
Obscure: unclear; partially hidden; to make unclear.
Garble: to confuse; to distort meaning.
Confound: to confuse; to bewilder.
Misconstrue: to interpret wrongly; to misunderstand.
Enigmatic: puzzling; mysterious.
Cryptic: having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure.
Equivocate: to use ambiguous language to mislead or conceal the truth.
Labyrinthine: like a maze; intricate and confusing.
Becloud: to make unclear or confuse.
Knotty: complex; difficult to solve.
Conundrum: a perplexing question; a riddle.
Obfuscate: to deliberately make something unclear.
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Defiant: refusing to obey authority; resistant.
Resolute: determined; purposeful.
Obstinate: stubborn; unyielding.
Adamant: unyielding; inflexible.
Steadfast: firmly loyal or constant.
Obdurate: stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion.
Intransigent: unwilling to change one's views.
Intractable: hard to control or deal with; stubborn.
Recalcitrant: resistant to authority or control.
Refractory: stubborn or unmanageable.
Negligent: failing to take proper care in doing something.
Superficial: lacking depth or substance; shallow.
Slovenly: untidy or unkempt in appearance or habits.
Perfunctory: performed without care or interest; routine.
Cursory: hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.
Heedless: careless; not paying attention.
Lax/Laxity: careless or negligent in performance.
Remiss: negligent in the performance of a duty.
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Turmoil: a state of confusion or disorder.
Hectic: intensely active or chaotic.
Disarray: disorder; confusion.
Anarchy: lack of government or law; chaos.
Havoc: widespread destruction or chaos.
Tumult: a loud, confused noise; uproar.
Deter: to discourage someone from doing something.
Dishearten: to cause someone to lose confidence or enthusiasm.
Daunt: to intimidate or discourage someone.
Faze: to disturb or disconcert someone.
Browbeat: to intimidate someone, especially with harsh words.
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Adage: a wise, old saying; a proverb.
Aphorism: a concise statement of a principle.
Dictum: a formal pronouncement from an authoritative source.
Maxim: a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth.
Frugal: thrifty; not wasteful.
Miserly: extremely stingy; unwilling to spend money.
Stinting: supplying an inadequate amount; being parsimonious.
Parsimonious: unwilling to spend money or use resources.
Finicky: excessively particular or demanding.
Meticulous: showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
Fastidious: very attentive to detail; hard to please.
Fortuitous: happening by chance, often in a lucky or beneficial way.
Auspicious: conducive to success; favorable.
Propitious: giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable.
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Servile: like a servant; submissive.
Fawning: seeking notice through servile behavior.
Grovel: to behave in a servile manner.
Wheedle: to get what you want through flattery.
Sycophant: a person who seeks favor through flattery; a brown-noser.
Obsequious: overly submissive and eager to please.
Saccharine: nauseatingly sweet; overly friendly.
Blandish/Blandishment: to persuade by flattery or gentle praise.
Fulsome: excessively complimentary or flattering.
Inveigle: to win over or acquire by flattery.
Unctuous: oily or greasy; insincerely suave.
Toady: one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors.
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Reprehensible: deserving blame or criticism.
Culpable: blameworthy; deserving blame.
Shrewd: intelligent and cunning.
Prudent: wisely cautious; careful in decision-making.
Perceptive: insightful; able to understand things quickly.
Judicious: wise; sensible; showing good judgment.
Astute: having the ability to accurately assess situations or people.
Acuity/Acute: sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing.
Acumen: mental sharpness; quickness of insight.
Keen: sharp; intense; showing eagerness.
Incisive: clear and sharp; intelligent.
Profound: having deep insight or understanding.
Perspicacious: having a ready insight into and understanding of things.
Savant: a knowledgeable or learned person; a scholar.
Sage: a profoundly wise person.
Erudite: scholarly; having or showing great knowledge.
Lackadaisical: lacking vigor or determination; lazy.
Dawdle: to waste time; to move slowly.
Listless: lacking energy or spirit.
Lethargic: sluggish; lacking energy.
Sluggard: a lazy person; someone who avoids work.
Slothful: lazy; inactive.
Languid/Languor: lacking energy; weak or fatigued.
Torpor/Torpid: a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy.
Indolent: avoiding activity; lazy.
Lassitude: a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy.