PSAT VOCABULARY

abandon (n.)

total lack of inhibition

abase

to humble; humiliate

abate

to reduce, decrease

abdicate

to give up a position, right or power

aberration

deviation from the ordinary

abet

to aid; act as accomplice

abject

miserable, pitiful

abolitionist

one who opposes the practice of slavery

abortive

interrupted while incomplete, futile

abrogate

to put an end to, abolish by authority

abscond

to leave secretly

absolve

to forgive, free from blame

accolade

praise, distinction

accrue

to accumulate, grow by additions

acerbic

bitter, sharp in taste or temper

acme

peak, 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

adjacent

next to

admonish

to caution or reprimand

adroit

highly competent, skillful, accomplished

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

affected (adj.)

pretentious, phony

affront

personal offense, assault

agile

well coordinated, nimble

agitation

commotion, excitement; uneasiness

agrarian

relating to farming or rural manners

alacrity

cheerful willingness, eagerness; speed

allegory

symbolic representation

allure (v.)

to entice by charm; attract

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

belligerent

hostile, tending to fight

benefactor

someone giving aid or money

beneficient

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

bestial

beastly, animal-like

consensus

unanimity, agreement of opinion or attitude

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

convalescence

gradual recovery after an illness

convex

curved outwards

convoluted

twisted, complicated, involved

corroborate

to confirm, verify

cosmetic (adj.)

relating to beauty; affecting the surface of something

cosmopolitan

sophisticated, free from local prejudices

coterie

small group of people with a similar purpose

defamatory

slanderous, injurious to the reputation

deferential

respectful and polite in a submissive way

deflation

decrease, depreciation

deleterious

harmful, destructive, detrimental

demagogue

leader, rabble-rouser, usually using appeals to emotion/prejudice

demographics

data relating to study of human population

demur

to express doubts or objections

denigrate

to slur someone's reputation

deplete

to use up, exhaust

deplore

to express or feel disapproval of; regret strongly

deploy

to spread out strategically over an area

depravity

sinfulness, moral corruption

deprecate

to belittle, disparage

effigy

stuffed doll, likeness of a person

effrontery

impudent boldness; audacity

effulgent

brilliantly shining

effusive

expressing emotion without restraint

elegy

mournful poem

emaciated

skinny, scrawny, gaunt, especially from hunger

eminent

celebrated, distinguished; outstanding, towering

emollient

having soothing qualities, especially for skin

endemic

belonging to a particular area, inherent

enervate

to weaken, sap strength from

engender

to produce, bring about, cause

enjoin

to urge, order, command; forbid or prohibit as by judicial order

enmity

hostility, antagonism, ill-will

ensconce

to settle comfortably into a place

entreat

to plead, beg

ephemeral

momentary, transient, fleeting

fatuous

stupid; foolishly self-satisfied

fawn (v.)

to flatter excessively, seek the favor of

faze

to bother, upset or disconcert

feckless

careless, irresponsible, ineffective

feign

to pretend, give a false impression; to invent falsely

felicitous

suitable, appropriate; well-spoken

fell (v.)

to chop, cut down

fervid

passionate, intense, zealous

fetid

foul-smelling, putrid

finicky

fussy, difficult to please

flaccid

limp, flabby, weak

flagrant

outrageous, shameless

flamboyant

flashy, garish; exciting, dazzling

florid

gaudy, extremely ornate; ruddy, flushed

flounder

to falter, waver; to muddle, struggle

flout

to treat contemptuously, scorn

foible

minor weakness or character flaw

foil (v.)

to defeat, frustrate

foment

to arouse or incite

ford (v.)

to cross a body of water at a shallow place

forestall

to prevent, delay; anticipate

forswear

to repudiate, renounce, disclaim, reject

fortuitous

happening by luck, fortunate

founder (v.)

to fall helplessly; sink; fail

fracas

noisy dispute

fractious

unruly, rebellious

fraught

full of, accompanied by

frenetic

wildly frantic, frenzied, hectic

fulsome

sickeningly excessive; repulsive

funereal

mournful, appropriate to a funeral

furtive

secret, stealthy

garrulous

very talkative

gaunt

thin and bony

gibe

to make heckling, taunting remarks

girth

distance around something

glib

fluent in an insincere manner; offhand, casual

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 improve or correct flaws in

amoral

unprincipled, unethical

amorphous

having no definite shape

anachronistic

outdated

anarchy

absence of government or law; chaos

animosity

hatred, hostility

antecedent (adj.)

coming before in place or time

antipathy

dislike, hostility; extreme opposition or aversion

antiquated

outdated, obsolete

antiquity

ancient times; the quality of being old

apathy

lack of feeling or emotion

aphorism

old saying or short, pithy statement

apocryphal

not genuine; fictional

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

ascetic

self-denying, abstinent, austere

ashen

resembling ashes; pale

askew

crooked, tilted

aspersion

false rumor, damaging report, slander

assail

to attack, assault

assiduous

diligent, persistent, hardworking

gluttony

eating and drinking to excess

goad

to prod or urge

grandiloquence

pompous talk; fancy but meaningless language

grandiose

magnificent and imposing; exaggerated and pretentious

gratuitous

free, voluntary; unnecessary and unjustified

gregarious

outgoing, sociable

grievous

causing grief or sorrow; serious and distressing

grimace

facial expression showing pain or disgust

guile

trickery, deception

hapless

unfortunate, having bad luck

harbinger

precursor, sign of something to come

haughty

arrogant and condescending

hedonism

pursuit of pleasure as a goal

hegemony

leadership, domination, usually by a country

hemorrhage

heavy bleeding; bleeding heavily

assuage

to make less severe, ease, relieve

astringent

harsh, severe, stern

astute

having good judgement

atone

to make amends for a wrong

attenuate

to make thin or slender; weaken

audacious

bold, daring, fearless

augment

to expand, extend

august

dignified, awe inspiring, venerable

auspicious

having favorable prospects, promising

austere

stern, strict, unadorned

autocrat

dictator

avarice

greed a

aver

to declare to be true, affirm

aversion

intense dislike

avert

to turn (something) away; prevent, hinder

aviary

large enclosure housing birds

baleful

harmful

ballad

folk song, narrative poem

balm

smoothing, healing influence

banal

trite, overly common

bane

something causing death, destruction or ruin

blanch

to pale; take the color out of

blandish

to coax with flattery

blight (v.)

to afflict, destroy

bombastic

using high-sounding but meaningless language

boor

crude person, one lacking manners or taste

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 support or reinforce

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

heterogeneous

composed of unlike parts, different, diverse

hew

to cut with an ax

homage

public honor and respect

homogeneous

composed of identical parts

husband (v.)

to farm; manage carefully and thriftily

hutch

pen or coop for animals; shack, shanty

hypochondria

unfounded belief that one is often ill

iconoclast

one who attacks traditional beliefs

idealism

pursuit of noble goals

idiosyncrasy

peculiarity of temperament, eccentricity

ignominious

disgraceful and dishonorable

illicit

illegal, improper

illusory

deceptive, unreal

immaculate

spotless; free from error

immutable

unchangeable, invariable

cartography

science or art of making maps

castigate

to punish, chastise, criticize severely

catholic

universal; broad and comprehensive

caucus

a smaller group within an organization; a meeting of such a group

caustic

biting, sarcastic; able to burn

cede

to surrender possession of something

censorious

severely critical

cessation

temporary or complete halt

chagrin

shame, embarrassment, humiliation

champion (v.)

to support or defend

charlatan

quack, fake

chary

watchful, cautious, extremely shy

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

clairvoyant

having ESP, psychic

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, or convincing

coherent

intelligible, lucid, understandable

collateral

accompanying

impasse

blocked path, dilemma with no solution

impassive

showing no emotion

impeach

to charge with misdeeds in public office; accuse

impecunious

poor, having no money

imperious

arrogantly self-assured, domineering, overbearing

impertinent

rude

impervious

impossible to penetrate; incapable of being affected

implacable

inflexible, incapable of being pleased

implicate

to involve in a crime, incriminate

implicit

implied, not directly expressed

importune

to ask repeatedly, beg

impotent

powerless, ineffective, lacking strength

impoverish

making poor or bankrupt

imprecation

curse

impregnable

totally safe from attack, able to resist defeat

collusion

collaboration, complicity, conspiracy

commensurate

proportional

commodious

roomy, spacious

communicable

transmittable

commute

to change a penalty to a less severe one

complacent

self-satisfied, smug

complement

to complete, perfect

complicity

knowing partnership in a wrongdoing

compunction

feeling of uneasiness caused by guilt or regret

conceded

to yield, admit

conciliatory

appeasing or disarming

condone

to pardon or forgive; overlook; justify or excuse a fault

conduit

tube, pipe or similar passage

conflagration

big, destructive fire

congeal

to become thick or solid, as a liquid freezing

congenial

similar in tastes and habits

conglomerate

collected group of varied things

conscientious

governed by conscience; careful and thorough

consecrate

to declare sacred; dedicate to a goal

impudent

arrogant, audacious

impugn

to call into question, attack verbally

inane

foolish, silly, lacking significance

inaugurate

to begin or start officially; to induct into office

incandescent

shining brightly

incarcerate

to put into jail; to confine

incense (v.)

to infuriate, enrage

inception

beginning

inchoate

imperfectly formed or formulated

incipient

beginning to exist or appear; in an initial stage

incisive

perceptive, penetrating

incognito

in disguise, concealing one's identity

incontrovertible

unquestionable, beyond dispute

incorrigible

incapable of being corrected

incredulous

skeptical, doubtful

covert

hidden; secret

covet

to desire strongly something possessed by another

crass

crude, unrefined

craven

cowardly

credence

acceptance of something as true or real

credulous

gullible, trusting

creed

statement of belief or principle

culmination

climax, final stage

culpable

guilty, responsible for a wrong

cupidity

greed

curmudgeon

cranky person

cursory (adj.)

hastily done, superficial

curt

abrupt, blunt

daunt

to discourage, intimidate

dearth

lack, scarcity, insufficiency

debase

to degrade or lower in quality or stature

debilitate

to weaken, enfeeble

debunk

to discredit, disprove

deciduous

falling off or shed seasonally; short-lived, temporary

decorum

proper behavior, etiquette

decry

to belittle, openly condemn

deface

to mar the appearance of, vandalize

depreciate

to lose value gradually

deride

to mock, ridicule, make fun of

derivative

copied or adapted; not original

desiccate

to dry completely; dehydrate

desist

to stop doing something

despondent

feeling discourage or dejected

despot

tyrannical ruler

desultory

unmethodical, rambling, at random

deter

to discourage; prevent from happening

dexterous

skilled physically or mentally

diaphanous

allowing light to show through; delicate

diatribe

bitter verbal attack

dictum

authoritative statement; popular saying

didactic

excessively instructive

diffidence

shyness, lack of confidence

dilapidated

in disrepair, run down, neglected

dilate

to enlarge, swell, extend

inculcate

to teach, to impress in the mind

indefatigable

never tired

indelible

permanent, not erasable

indigent

very poor

indignant

angry, incensed, offended

indolent

habitually lazy, idle

indomitable

fearless, unconquerable

indubitable

unquestionable

inert

unable to move, tending to inactivity

inexorable

inflexible, unyielding

infinitesimal

extremely tiny

infirmity

disease, ailment

ingenuous

straightforward, open; naive and unsophisticated

ingrate

ungrateful person

ingratiate

to bring oneself purposely into another's good graces

dilatory

slow, tending to delay

diplomacy

discretion, tact

dirge

funeral hymn

disburse

to pay out

discordant

harsh sounding, badly out of tune

discrepancy

difference between

disdain

to regard with scorn and contempt

disgorge

to vomit, discharge violently

disparage

to belittle, speak disrespectfully about

disparate

dissimilar, different in kind

dispirit

to dishearten, make dejected

disrepute

disgrace, dishonor

dissemble

to pretend, disguise one's motives

desseminate

to spread far and wide

dissipate

to scatter; to pursue pleasure to excess

dither

to move or act confusedly without clear purpose

diurnal

daily

divine (v.)

to foretell or know by inspiration

divisive

creating disunity or conflict

docile

tame, willing to be taught

doctrinaire

rigidly devoted to theories

dogmatic

rigidly fixed in opinion, opinionated

doleful

sad, mournful

dormant

at rest, inactive, in suspended animation

dour

stern and sever; sullen and gloomy

drivel

stupid talk; slobber

droll

amusing in a wry, subtle way

dulcet

pleasant sounding, soothing to the ear

duplicity

deception, dishonesty, double-dealing

dyspeptic

suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable

inhibit

to hold back, prevent, restrain

inimical

hostile, unfriendly

injunction

command, order

innate

natural, inborn

innocuous

harmless; inoffensive

inscrutable

impossible to understand fully

insidious

sly, treacherous, devious

insipid

bland, lacking flavor; lacking excitement

insolent

insulting and arrogant

instigate

to incite, urge, agitate

ebb

to fade away, recede

ebullient

exhilarated, full of enthusiasm and high spirits

edict

law, command, official public order

edifice

building

edify

to instruct morally and spiritually

efface

to erase or make illegible

effervescent

bubbly, lively

epicure

person with refined taste in food and wine

epigram

short, witty saying or poem

equanimity

calmness, composure

equivocal

ambiguous, open to multiple interpretations

equivocate

to use vague or ambiguous language intentionally

errant

straying, mistaken, roving

erudite

learned, scholarly

esoteric

understood by only a learned few

espouse

to support or advocate; to marry

eulogy

high praise, often in a public speech

euphony

pleasant, harmonious sound

evanescent

momentary, transitory, short-lived

exacerbate

to aggravate, intensify the bad qualities of

exculpate

to clear blame or fault, vindicate

execrable

utterly detestable, abhorrent

exhort

to urge or incite by strong appeals

exonerate

to clear of blame, absolve

exorbitant

extravagant, greater than reasonable

expedient (adj.)

convenient, efficient, practical

expiate

to atone for, make amends for

exponent

one who champions or advocates

expound

to elaborate; to expand or increase

expurgate

to censor

extemporanous

unrehearsed, on the spur of the moment

extol

to praiseto

extricate

to free from, disentangle

extenuate

to lessen the seriousness, strength, or effect of

extrinsic

not inherent or essential, coming from without

exult

to rejoice

facile

very easy

fallacious

wrong, unsound, illogical

fallow

uncultivated, unused

farcical

absurd, ludicrous

fastidious

careful with details

insular

isolated, detached

insurgent (adj.)

rebellious, insubordinate

insurrection

rebellion

intemperate

showing no sign of being under control

inter

to bury

interloper

trespasser; meddler in others' affairs

intermittent

starting and stopping

intimation

clue, suggestion

intractable

not easily managed

intransigent

uncompromising, refusing to be reconciled

intrepid

fearless

intrinsic

inherent, internal

introspective

contemplating one's own thoughts and feelings

inure

to harden; accustom; become used to

invective

verbal abuse

inveterate

confirmed, long-standing, deeply rooted

invidious

envious; obnoxious

iota

very tiny amount

irascible

easily angered

iridescent

showing many colors

jaded

tired by excess or overuse; slightly cynical

jargon

non-sensical talk; specialized language

jettison

to cast off, throw cargo overboard

jingoism

belligerent support for one's country

jocular

jovial, playful, humorous

juncture

point where two things are joined

kernel

innermost, essential part; seed grain, often in a shell

knell

sound of a funeral bell

lachrymose

tearful

lackadaisical

idle, lazy; apathetic, indifferent

laconic

using few words

laggard

dawdler, loafer, lazy person

lament (v.)

to deplore, grieve

lampoon

to attack with satire, mock harshly

languid

lacking energy, indifferent, slow

larder

place where food is stored

largess

generosity; gift

lassitude

lethargy, sluggishness

latent

present but hidden; potential

laxity

carelessness

loquacious

talkative

lugubrious

sorrowful, mournful; dismal

lumber (v.)

to move slowly and awkwardly

lurid

harshly shocking, sensational; glowing

maelstrom

whirlpool; turmoil; agitated state of mind

magnate

powerful or influential person

malapropism

humorous misuse of a word

malcontent

discontented person, one who holds a grudge

malefactor

evil-doer; culprit

malevolent

ill-willed; causing evil or harm to others

malice

animosity, spite, hatred

malinger

to avoid responsibility by pretending to be ill

mannered

artificial or stilted in character

martial

warlike, pertaining to the military

martinet

strict disciplinarian, one who rigidly follows rules

martyr

person dying for his/her beliefs

maudlin

overly sentimental

mawkish

sickeningly sentimental

menagrie

various animals kept together for exhibition

mendacious

dishonest

mendicant

beggar

mercurial

quick, shrewd and unpredictable

meretricious

gaudy, falsely attractive

meritorious

deserving reward or praise

mettle

courageousness; endurance

militate

to operarte against, work against

miserliness

extreme stinginess

misnomer

an incorrect name or designation

missive

note or letter

mitigate

to soften, or make milder

mnemonic

relating to memory; designed to assist memory

mollify

to calm or make less severe

molt (v.)

to shed hair, skin or an outer layer periodically

monastic

extremely plain or secluded (as in a monastery)

moot

debatable; purely academic, deprived of practical significance

moribund

dying, decaying

morsel

small bit of food

mote

small particle, speck

motley

many colored; composed of diverse parts

mottle

to mark with spots

munificent

generous

mutability

changeability

nadir

lowest point

nascent

starting to develop, coming into existence

nebulous

vague, cloudy

neophyte

novice, beginner

nettle (v.)

to irritate

niche

recess in a wall; best position for something

nihilism

belief that existence and all traditional values is meaningless

noisome

stinking, putrid

nominal

existing in name only; negligible

novitiate

state of being a beginner or novice

noxious

harmful, unwholesome

nuance

shade of meaning

nullify

to make legally invalid; to counteract the effect of

obdurate

stubborn

obfuscate

to confuse, obscure

oblique

indirect, evasive; misleading, devious

obsequious

overly submissive; brownnosing

obsolete

no longer in use

obstinate

stubborn

obstreperous

troublesome, boisterous, unruly

obviate

to make unnecessary; to anticipate and prevent

occlude

to shut, block

odious

hateful, contemptible

officious

too helpful, meddlesome

opaque

impervious to light; difficult to understand

opine

to express an opinion

opportune

appropriate, fitting

opprobrious

disgraceful, contemptuous

opulence

wealth

oscillate

to move back and forth

ossify

to turn to bone; to be come rigid

ostentatious

showy

ostracism

exclusion; temporary banishment

ouster

expulsion, ejection

overwrought

agitated, overdone

pacify

to restore calm, bring peace

palatial

like a palace, magnificent

palaver

idle talk

pall (n.)

covering that darkens or obscures; coffin

pall (v.)

to lose strength or interest

palliate

to make less serious, ease

pallid

lacking color or liveliness

palpable

obvious, real, tangible

paltry

pitifully small or worthless

panacea

cure-all

panache

flamboyance, verve

pandemic

spread over a whole area or country

panegyric

elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise

paradigm

ideal example, model

paragon

model of excellence or perfection

parch

to dry or shrivel

pariah

outcast

parity

equality

parochial

of limited scope or outlook, provincial

parry

to ward off or deflect

parsimony

stinginess

partisan

strong supporter; biased in the favor of

pastiche

piece of literature or music imitating other works

pathos

pity, compassion

patrician

aristocrat

paucity

scarcity, lack

pedagogue

teacher

pedant

boring academic, nit-picker

pedestrian (adj.)

commonplace

peerless

unequaled

pensive

thoughtful

penury

extreme poverty

perennial

present throughout the years; persistent

perfidious

faithless, disloyal, untrustworthy

peripatetic

moving from place to place

permeable

penetrable

pernicious

very harmful

pertinent

applicable, appropriate

perusal

close examination

pestilence

epidemic, plague

petulance

rudeness, peevishness

phalanx

massed group of soldiers, people, or things

philanderer

pursuer of casual love affairs

philanthropy

love of humanity; generosity to worthy causes

philistine

narrow-minded person, someone lacking appreciation for art and culture

phlegmatic

calm in temperament; sluggish

piety

devoutness

pilfer

to steal

pique (n.)

fleeting feeling of hurt pride

pithy

profound, substantial; concise, succinct, to the point

plaintiff

injured person in a lawsuit

platitude

stale, overused expression

plenitude

abundance, plenty

plethora

excess, overabundance

pliant

pliable, yielding

plucky

courageous, spunky

ply (v.)

to use diligently; to engage; to join together

polemic

controversy, argument; verbal attack

polyglot

speaker of many languages

pontificate

to speak in a pretentious manner

pore (v.)

to study closely or meditatively

portent

omen

posterity

future generations; all of a person's descendants

potable

drinkable

prattle (n.)

meaningless, foolish talk

precarious

uncertain

precipice

edge, steep overhang

precipitous

hasty, quickly, with too little caution

preclude

to rule out

precocious

unusually advanced at an early age

precursor

forerunner, predecessor

prepossessing

attractive, engaging, appealing

presage

to foretell, indicate in advance

prescient

having foresight

pretext

excuse, pretended reason

prevaricate

to lie, evade the truth

privation

lack of usual necessities or comforts

probity

honesty, high-mindedness

proclivity

tendency, inclination

prodigal (adj.)

wasteful, extravagant, lavish

prodigious

vast, enormous, extraordinary

proficient

expert, skilled in a certain subject

profuse

lavish, extravagant

progenitor

originator, forefather, ancestor in a direct line

progeny

offspring, children

prognosis

prediction of disease outcome; any prediction

promontory

piece of land or rock higher than its surroundings

promulgate

to make known publicly

propensity

inclination, tendency

propitious

favorable, advantageous

proponent

advocate, defender, supporter

prosaic

relating to prose; dull commonplace

proscribe

to condemn; to forbid, outlaw

prostrate

lying face downward, lying flat on the ground

protean

readily assuming different forms or characters

prowess

bravery, skill

prudent

careful, cautious

pry

to intrude into; force open

puerile

childish, immature, silly

pugnacious

quarrelsome, eager and ready to fight

punctilious

careful in observing rules of behavior or ceremony

pungent

strong or sharp in smell or taste

punitive

having to do with punishment

quagmire

marsh; difficult situation

quandary

dilemma, difficulty

quell

to crush or subdue

querulous

inclined to complain, irritable

quibble

to argue about insignificant and irrelevant details

quiescence

inactivity, stillness

quixotic

overly idealistic, impractical

quotidian

occurring daily; commonplace

raconteur

witty, skillful storyteller

rail (v.)

to scold with bitter or abusive language

ramification

an implication, outgrowth or consequence

rancor

bitter hatred

rapport

relationship of trust and respect

rapt

deeply absorbed

rarefy

to make thinner, purer or more refined

raucous

harsh sounding; boisterous

ravage

to destroy, devastate

ravenous

extremely hungry

raze

to tear down, demolish

reactionary

marked by extreme conservatism, especially in politics

rebuff (n.)

blunt rejection

rebuke

to reprimand, scold

recalcitrant

resisting authority or control

recondite

relating to obscure learning; known only to a few

redress

relief from wrong or injury

rejoinder

response

relinquish

to renounce or surrender something

remuneration

pay or reward for work, trouble, etc.

renascent

reborn, coming into being again

renegade

traitor, person abandoning a cause

renege

to go back on one's word

repast

meal or mealtime

repeal

to revoke or formally withdraw (often a law)

replete

abundantly supplied

repose

relaxation, leisure

reprehensible

blameworthy, disreputable

reprobate

morally unprincipled person

reprove

to criticize or correct

requite

to return or repay

rescind

to repeal, cancel

resolute

determined; with a clear purpose

respite

interval of relief

resplendent

splendid, brilliant

restive

impatient, uneasy, restless

reticent

not speaking freely; reserved

retrospective

review of the past

revelry

boisterous festivity

revere

to worship, regard with awe

revile

to criticize with harsh language, verbally abuse

rhetoric

persuasive use of language

ribald

humorous in a vulgar way

riddle (v.)

to make many holes in; permeate

rife

widespread, prevalent; abundant

rostrum

stage for public speaking

rotund

round in shape; fat

rue

to regret

rustic

rural

saccharine

excessively sweet or sentimental

sagacious

shrewd, astute, acute

salient

prominent or conspicuous

sallow

sickly yellow in color

salubrious

healthful

sanction (n.)

permission, support; law; penalty

sanguine

ruddy; cheerfully optimistic

sardonic

cynical, scornfully mocking

saunter

to amble; walk in a leisurely manner

savant

learned person

scale (v.)

to climb to the top of

scintilla

trace amount

scintillate

to sparkle, flash

scrupulous

restrained; honest; careful and precise

scurrilous

vulgar, low , indecent

secular

not specifically pertaining to religion

sedentary

inactive, stationary; sluggish

seminal

relating to the beginning or seeds of something

senescent

aging, growing old

sentient

aware, conscious, able to perceive

sequester

to remove or set apart; put into seclusion

seraphic

angelic, pure, sublime

servile

submissive, obedient

simper

to smirk, smile foolishly

sinecure

well-paying job or office that require little or no work

singe

to burn slightly, scorch

sinuous

winding; intricate, complex

skulk

to move in a stealthy or cautious manner; sneak

sloth

sluggishness, laziness

slough

to discard or shed

slovenly

untidy, messy

sobriety

seriousness

sojourn

visit, stay

solicitous

concerned, attentive; eager

somnolent

drowsy, sleepy; inducing sleep

sonorous

producing a full, rich sound

sophistry

deceptive reasoning or argumentation

sophomoric

immature and overconfident

soporific

sleepy or tending to cause sleep

sordid

filthy; contemptible and corrupt

sovereign

having supreme power

spurious

lacking authenticity; counterfeit, false

spurn

to reject or refuse contemptuously; scorn

squalid

filthy; morally repulsive

squander

to waste

staid

self-restrained to the point of dullness

stand (n.)

group of trees

stark

bare, empty, vacant

stifle

to smother or suffocate; suppress

stockade

enclosed area forming defensive wall

stoic

indifferent to or unaffected by emotions

stolid

having or showing little emotion

strident

loud, harsh, unpleasantly noisy

stymie

to block or thwart

subjugate

to conquer, subdue; enslave

sublime

awe-inspiring; of high spiritual or moral value

subliminal

subconscious; imperceptible

subterfuge

trick or tactic used to avoid something

subvert

to undermine or corrupt

suffragist

one who advocated extended voting rights

sully

to soil, stain, tarnish, taint

supercilious

arrogant, haughty, overbearing, condescending

supersede

to take the place of; replace

supplicant

one who asks humbly and earnestly

surfeit

excessive amount

surly

rude and bad-tempered

surmount

to conquer, overcome

surreptitious

characterized by secrecy

sybarite

person devoted to pleasure and luxury

sycophant

self-serving flatterer, yes-man

symbiosis

cooperation, mutual helpfulness

synthesis

blend, combination

tacit

silently understood or implied

tangential

digressing, diverting

tawdry

gaudy, cheap, showy

temperance

restraint, self-control, moderation

tempestuous

stormy, raging, furious

PSAT VOCABULARY

Psat Revision with Asdfghjkl at Singapore American School

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