PSAT Vocabulary 2
Terms
undefined, object
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- abandon (n.)
- Total lack of inhibition
- abate
- Decrease, reduce
- aberration
- Something different from the usual
- abet
- To aid; act as accomplice
- abject
- Miserable, pitiful
- abrogate
- To put an end to, abolish by authority
- abscond
- To depart secretly
- accrue
- To accumulate, grow by additions
- acerbic
- Bitter, sharp in taste or temper
- acquiesce
- To agree; comply quietly
- acrid
- Harsh, bitter
- acrimony
- Bitterness, animosity
- acuity
- Sharpness
- acumen
- Sharpness of insight
- admonish
- To caution or reprimand
- adroit
- Skillful, accomplished, highly competent
- adumbrate
- To sketch, outline in a shadowy way
- adversarial
- Antagonistic, competitive
- aerie
- Nook or nest built high in the air
- aesthetic
- Pertaining to beauty or art
- affable
- Friendly, easy to approach
- affected (adj.)
- Pretentious, phony
- affluent
- Rich, abundant
- affront (n.)
- Personal offense, insult
- agrarian
- Relating to farming or rural matters
- alacrity
- Cheerful willingness, eagerness; speed
- ambivalence
- Attitude of uncertainty; conflicting emotions
- ameliorate
- To make better, improve
- amenable
- Agreeable, cooperative
- amenity
- Pleasantness; something increasing comfort
- amicable
- Friendly, agreeable
- amoral
- Unprincipled, unethical
- amorphous
- Having no definite form
- ample
- Abundant, plentiful.
- amulet
- Ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits.
- anarchy
- Absence of government or law; chaos.
- anathema
- Ban, curse; something shunned or disliked.
- animation
- Enthusiasm, excitement.
- animosity
- Hatred, hostility.
- annul
- To cancel, nullify, declare void, or make legally invalid.
- anomaly
- Irregularity or deviation from the norm.
- anonymity
- Condition of having no name or an unknown name.
- antagonist
- Foe, opponent, adversary.
- antecedent (adj.)
- Coming before in place or time.
- anthology
- Collection of literary works.
- antipathy
- Dislike, hostility; extreme opposition or aversion.
- antiquated
- Outdated, obsolete.
- antithesis
- Exact opposite or direct contrast.
- apathy
- Lack of feeling or emotion.
- aphorism
- Old saying or short, pithy statement.
- apocryphal
- Not genuine; fictional.
- apostate
- One who renounces a religious faith.
- appease
- To satisfy, placate, calm, pacify.
- approbation
- Praise; official approval.
- appropriate (v.)
- To take possession of.
- arable
- Suitable for cultivation.
- arbitrary
- Depending solely on individual will; inconsistent.
- arboreal
- Relating to trees; living in trees.
- arcane
- Secret, obscure, known only to a few.
- archaic
- Antiquated, from an earlier time; outdated.
- archipelago
- Large group of islands.
- ardent
- Passionate, enthusiastic, fervent.
- arduous
- Extremely difficult, laborious.
- arid
- Extremely dry or deathly boring.
- arsenal
- Ammunition storehouse.
- articulate (adj.)
- Well spoken, expressing oneself clearly.
- artisan
- Craftsperson; expert.
- ascend
- To rise or climb.
- ascetic
- Self-denying, abstinent, austere.
- ashen
- Resembling ashes; deathly pale.
- aspersion
- False rumor, damaging report, slander.
- assail
- To attack, assault.
- assiduous
- Diligent, persistent, hard-working.
- assuage
- To make less severe, ease, relieve.
- astringent
- Harsh, severe, stern.
- astute
- Having good judgment.
- atone
- To make amends for a wrong.
- attenuate
- To make thin or slender; weaken.
- augment
- To expand, extend.
- augury
- Prophecy, prediction of events.
- august
- Dignified, awe inspiring, venerable.
- auspicious
- Having favorable prospects, promising.
- austere
- Stern, strict, unadorned.
- autocrat
- Dictator.
- avarice
- Greed.
- aver
- To declare to be true, affirm.
- aversion
- Intense dislike.
- avert
- To turn (something) away; prevent, hinder.
- awry
- Crooked, askew, amiss.
- baleful
- Harmful, with evil intentions.
- banal
- Trite, overly common.
- bane
- Something causing death, destruction, or ruin.
- banter
- Playful conversation.
- bastion
- Fortification, stronghold.
- bay (v.)
- To bark, especially in a deep, prolonged way.
- beguile
- To deceive, mislead; charm.
- belabor
- To insist repeatedly or harp on.
- belie
- To misrepresent; expose as false.
- bellicose
- Warlike, aggresive.
- belligerent
- Hostile, tending to fight.
- benighted
- Unenlightened.
- benign
- Kindly, gentle, or harmless.
- bequeath
- To give or leave through a will; to hand down.
- berate
- To scold harshly
- blanch
- To pale; take the color out of.
- blandish
- To coax with flattery.
- blight (v.)
- To afflict, destroy.
- boisterous
- Rowdy, loud, unrestrained.
- bombastic
- Using high-sounding but meaningless language.
- bovine
- Cowlike; relating to cows.
- brazen
- Bold, shameless, impudent; of or like brass.
- broach (v.)
- To sprout or flourish.
- burnish
- To polish, make smooth and bright.
- buttress (v.)
- To reinforce or support.
- cacophony
- Jarring, unpleasant noise.
- cajole
- To flatter, coax, persuade.
- callow
- Immature, lacking sophistication.
- candor
- Honesty of expression.
- canny
- Smart; founded on common sense.
- callous
- Thick-skinned, insensitive.
- capitulate
- To submit completely, surrender.
- capricious
- Impulsive, whimsical, without much thought.
- castigate
- To punish, chastise, criticize severely.
- catalyst
- Something causing change without being changed.
- catholic
- Universal; broad and comprehensive
- cede
- To surrender possession of something.
- censorious
- Severely criticial.
- chagrin
- Shame, embarrassment, humiliation.
- charlatan
- Quack, fake.
- chary
- Watchful, cautious, extremely shy.
- chastise
- To punish, discipline, scold.
- chide
- To scold, express disapproval.
- chromatic
- Relating to color.
- circuitous
- Roundabout.
- circumspect
- Cautious, wary.
- clairvoyant (adj.)
- Having ESP, psychic.
- clandestine
- Secretive, concealed for a darker purpose.
- clemency
- Merciful leiency.
- cloister (v.)
- To confine, seclude.
- coalesce
- To grow together or cause to unite as one.
- coerce
- To compel by force or intimidation.
- cogent
- Logically forceful, compelling, convincing.
- collateral
- Accompanying.
- colloquial
- Characteristic of informal speech.
- collusion
- Collaboration, complicity, conspirary.