PSAT Word List
Terms
undefined, object
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- ABANDON (n.)
- total lack of inhibition
- ABASE
- to humble; disgrace
- ABATE
- decrease, reduce
- ABDICATE
- to give up a position, right, or power
- ABERRATION
- something different from the usual
- ABET
- to aid; act as accomplice
- ABHOR
- to loathe, detest
- ABOLITIONIST
- one who opposes the practice of slavery
- ABORTIVE
- interrupted while incomplete
- ABRIDGE
- to condense, shorten
- ABROGATE
- to put an end to, abolish by authority
- ABSCOND
- to depart secretly
- ABSOLVE
- to forgive, free from blame
- ABSTAIN
- to choose not to do something
- ACCOLADE
- praise, distinction
- ACCRUE
- to accumulate, grow by additions
- ACERBIC
- bitter, sharp in taste or temper
- ACME
- highest point; summit
- ACQUIESCE
- to agree; comply quietly
- ACRID
- harsh, bitter
- ACRIMONY
- bitterness, animosity
- ACUITY
- sharpness
- ACUMEN
- sharpness of insight
- ADAGE
- old saying or proverb
- ADAMANT
- uncompromising, unyielding
- ADAPT
- to accommodate; adjust
- ADHERE
- to cling or follow without deviation
- ADJACENT
- next to
- ADMONISH
- to caution or reprimand
- ADROIT
- skillful, accomplished, highly competent
- ADULATION
- high praise
- 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
- AGENDA
- plan, schedule
- AGILE
- well coordinated, nimble
- AGITATION
- commotion, excitement; uneasiness
- AGRARIAN
- relating to farming or rural matters
- ALACRITY
- cheerful willingness, eagerness; speed
- ALIAS
- assumed name
- ALIENATED
- distanced, estranged
- ALLEGORY
- symbolic representation
- ALLEVIATE
- to relieve, improve partially
- ALLURE (v.)
- to entice by charm; attract
- ALLUSION
- indirect reference
- ALOOF
- detached, indifferent
- ALTRUISM
- unselfish concern for others' welfare
- AMBIGUOUS
- uncertain; subject to multiple interpretations
- AMBIVALENCE
- attitude of uncertainty; conflicting emotions
- AMELIORATE
- to make better, improve
- AMENABLE
- agreeable, cooperative
- AMEND
- to improve or correct flaws in
- AMENITY
- pleasantness; something increasing comfort
- AMIABLE
- friendly, pleasant, likable
- AMICABLE
- friendly, agreeable
- AMORAL
- unprincipled, unethical
- AMORPHOUS
- having no definite form
- AMPHIBIAN
- creature equally at home on land or in water
- AMPLE
- abundant, plentiful
- AMULET
- ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
- ANACHRONISTIC
- outdated
- 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
- ANTIQUITY
- ancient times; the quality of being old
- 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 posession 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 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 spoke, expressing onself clearly
- ARTISAN
- craftsperson; expert
- ASCEND
- to rise or climb
- ASCETIC
- self-denying, abstinent, austere
- ASHEN
- resembling ashes; deathly pale
- ASKEW
- crooked, tilted
- ASPERSION
- false rumor, damaging report, slander
- ASPIRE
- to have great hopes; to aim at a goal
- 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
- ATROCIOUS
- monstrous, shockingly bad, wicked
- ATTAIN
- to accomplish, gain
- ATTENUATE
- to make thin or slender; weaken
- AUDACIOUS
- bold, daring, fearless
- AUDIBLE
- capable of being heard
- AUGMENT
- to expand, extend
- AUGURY
- prophecy, prediction of events
- AUGUST
- dignified, awe inspiring, venerable
- AUSPICIOUS
- having favorable prospects, promising
- AUSTERE
- stern, strict, unadorned
- AUTHORITARIAN
- extremely strict, bossy
- AUTOCRAT
- dictator
- AVARICE
- greed
- AVENGE
- to retaliate, take revenge for an injury or crime
- AVER
- to declare to be true, affirm
- AVERSION
- intense dislike
- AVERT
- to turn (something) away; prevent, hinder
- AVIARY
- large enclosure housing birds
- AWRY
- crooked, askew, amiss
- BALEFUL
- harmful, with evil intentions
- BALLAD
- folk song, narrative poem
- BALM
- soothing, healing influence
- 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
- BEHEMOTH
- huge creature
- BELABOR
- to insist repeatedly or harp on
- BELIE
- to misrepresent; expose as false
- BELLICOSE
- warlike, aggressive
- BELLIGERENT
- hostile, tending to fight
- BENEFACTOR
- someone giving aid or money
- BENEFICENT
- kindly, charitable; doing good deeds; producing good effects
- BENIGHTED
- unenlightened
- BENIGN
- kindly, gentle, or harmless
- BEQUEATH
- to give or leave through a will; to hand down
- BERATE
- to scold harshly
- BESEECH
- to beg, plead, implore
- BESTIAL
- beastly, animal-like
- BIAS
- prejudice, slant
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
- list of books
- BISECT
- to cut into two (usually equal) parts
- BLANCH
- to pale; take the color out of
- BLANDISH
- to coax with flattery
- BLASPHEMOUS
- cursing, profane, irreverent
- BLATANT
- glaring, obvious, showy
- BLIGHT (v.)
- to afflict, destroy
- BOISTEROUS
- rowdy, loud, unrestrained
- BOMBASTIC
- using high-sounding but meaningless language
- BOOR
- crude person, one lacking manners or taste
- BOTANIST
- scientist who studies plants
- BOVINE
- cowlike; relating to cows
- BRAZEN
- bold, shameless, impudent; of or like brass
- BROACH (v.)
- to mention or suggest for the first time
- BURGEON
- 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
- CALLOUS
- thick-skinned, insensitive
- CALLOW
- immature, lacking sophistication
- CANDOR
- honesty of expression
- CANNY
- smart; founded on common sense
- CAPITULATE
- to submit completely, surrender
- CAPRICIOUS
- impulsive, whimsical, without much thought
- CARICATURE
- exaggerated portrait, cartoon
- CARTOGRAPHY
- science or art of making maps
- CASTIGATE
- to punish, chastise, criticize severely
- CATALYST
- something causing change without being changed
- CATHOLIC
- universal; broad and comprehensive
- CAUCUS
- smaller group within an organization; a meeting of such a group
- CAUSTIC
- biting, sarcastic; able to burn
- CEDE
- to surrender posession of something
- CENSORIOUS
- severely critical
- CESSATION
- temporary or complete halt
- CHAGRIN
- shame, embarrassment, humiliation
- CHAMPION (v.)
- to defend or support
- CHAOTIC
- extremely disorderly
- CHARLATAN
- quack, fake
- CHARY
- watchful, cautious, extremely shy
- CHASTISE
- to punish, discipline, scold
- CHIDE
- to scold, express disapproval
- CHROMATIC
- relating to color
- CIRCUITOUS
- roundabout
- CIRCUMFERENCE
- boundary or distance around a circle or sphere
- CIRCUMSCRIBE
- to encircle; set limits on, confine
- CIRCUMSPECT
- cautious, wary
- CITADEL
- fortress or stronghold
- CIVIL
- polite; relating to citizens
- CLAIRVOYANT (adj.)
- having ESP, psychic
- CLAMOR
- to make a noisy outcry; a noisy outcry
- CLANDESTINE
- secretive, concealed for a darker purpose
- CLEMENCY
- merciful leniency
- CLOISTER (v.)
- to confine, seclude
- COALESCE
- to grow together or cause to unite as one
- CODDLE
- to baby, treat indulgently
- COERCE
- to compel by force or intimidation
- COGENT
- logically forceful, compelling, convincing
- COHERENT
- intelligible, lucid, understandable
- COLLATERAL
- accompanying
- COLLOQUIAL
- characteristic of informal speech
- COLLUSION
- collaboration, complicity, conspiracy
- COMMENSURATE
- proportional
- COMMODIOUS
- roomy, spacious
- COMMUNICABLE
- transmittable
- COMMUTE
- to change a penalty to a less severe one
- COMPENSATE
- to repay or reimburse
- COMPLACENT
- self-satisfied, smug
- COMPLEMENT
- to complete, perfect
- COMPLIANT
- submissive and yielding
- COMPLICITY
- knowing partnership in wrongdoing
- COMPUNCTION
- feeling of uneasiness caused by guilt or regret
- CONCAVE
- curving inward
- CONCEDE
- to yield, admit
- CONCILIATORY
- overcoming distrust or hostility
- CONCUR
- to agree
- CONDONE
- to pardon or forgive; overlook, justify, or excuse a fault
- CONDUIT
- tube, pipe, or similar passage
- CONFLAGRATION
- big, destructive fire
- CONFOUND
- to baffle, perplex
- CONGEAL
- to become thick or solid, as a liquid freezing
- CONGENIAL
- similar in tastes and habits
- CONGLOMERATE
- collected group of varied things
- CONJECTURE
- speculation, prediction
- CONSCIENTIOUS
- governed by conscience; careful and thorough
- CONSECRATE
- to declare sacred; dedicate to a goal
- CONSENSUS
- unanimity, agreement of opinion or attitude
- CONSOLATION
- something providing comfort or solace for a loss or hardship
- CONSOLIDATE
- to combine, incorporate
- CONSTRAINED
- forced, compelled; confined, restrained
- CONSTRUE
- to explain or interpret
- CONTENTIOUS
- quarrelsome, disagreeable, belligerent
- CONTINENCE
- self-control, self-restraint
- CONTRAVENE
- to contradict, deny, act contrary to
- CONTRITE
- deeply sorrowful and repentant for a wrong