Vocabulary

HSPT word list

495 words at the level the test uses, drawn from our own practice questions. Each has a short meaning, a charge mark, and a sentence. The charge is the fastest thing to memorize: + is positive, − is negative, ○ is neutral. On a synonym or antonym item, the charge alone often eliminates two choices.

A

abateverb○: to become less strong; By evening the wind had abated and the boats went out.
abbreviateverb○: to shorten; Most students abbreviate "Massachusetts" as MA on the form.
abdicateverb○: to give up power; The king abdicated and handed the throne to his daughter.
abhorverb−: to hate deeply; She abhors cruelty to animals of any kind.
abideverb○: to follow or observe; to put up with; Players who cannot abide by the rules sit out the game.
abnormaladjective−: not normal, unusual; An abnormal amount of snow fell in October.
abodenoun○: a residence, a home; The cabin by the lake was their summer abode.
abrasiveadjective−: irritating; rough; His abrasive comments made the meeting tense.
abruptadjective−: sudden and unexpected; curt; The meeting came to an abrupt end when the alarm sounded.
absolutionnoun+: forgiveness; She asked for absolution after breaking the vase.
absolveverb+: to free from guilt or blame; The video absolved the driver of any fault.
abstainverb○: to choose not to do something; Three members abstained from the vote.
abundantadjective+: present in large amounts; Rain was abundant that spring, and the fields turned green early.
accelerateverb○: to speed up, advance; The car accelerated as it merged onto the highway.
acclaimnoun+: enthusiastic public praise; The novel won wide acclaim.
accoladenoun+: strong praise, an award; The film earned accolades from every critic in town.
accommodateverb+: to make room for; to adapt to; The hotel can accommodate two hundred guests.
accountableadjective○: responsible for; Each captain is accountable for the team's equipment.
accumulateverb○: to collect, to pile up; Dust accumulates on the shelves when no one is home.
accuseverb−: to blame, to charge with wrongdoing; Nobody accused him of cheating until the scores came back.
acridadjective−: bitter, sharp in taste or smell; An acrid smoke drifted from the burnt toast.
adamantadjective○: refusing to change one's mind; He was adamant that the trip should leave at dawn.
adaptableadjective+: able to change to fit new conditions; Adaptable players learn a new position in a week.
adeptadjective+: highly skilled; An adept mechanic found the problem in five minutes.
adhereverb○: to stick to; to follow closely; The label would not adhere to the wet jar.
adjacentadjective○: next to; The gym is adjacent to the cafeteria.
admonishverb−: to warn or scold gently; The librarian admonished the boys for shouting.
adornverb+: to decorate; Lanterns adorned the porch for the party.
adversarynoun−: an opponent; The chess champion respected her adversary but did not fear him.
adverseadjective−: harmful or unfavorable; Adverse weather kept the planes on the ground.
adversitynoun−: difficulty, misfortune; She kept training through injury and other adversity.
advocateverb+: to support, to speak in favor of; The nurse advocated for longer visiting hours.
aestheticadjective○: having to do with beauty; The bridge was built for strength, not aesthetic appeal.
affableadjective+: friendly and easy to talk to; The affable coach greeted every parent by name.
affluentadjective+: wealthy; The affluent town had three public pools.
affrontnoun−: a deliberate insult; Skipping the ceremony was taken as an affront to the host.
aggravateverb−: to make worse; to annoy; Running on the sore ankle only aggravated the injury.
aggressiveadjective−: forceful, ready to attack; The aggressive sales pitch drove customers away.
agileadjective+: able to move quickly and easily; The agile goalkeeper reached the corner of the net in time.
agitateverb−: to shake or disturb; to stir up; The loud crowd agitated the horses.
ailmentnoun−: a mild illness; A cold is a common winter ailment.
ajaradjective○: slightly open; She left the door ajar so the cat could come in.
alleviateverb+: to make a problem less severe; An ice pack alleviated the swelling in his ankle.
allocateverb○: to give out, to set aside for a purpose; The council allocated funds for a new playground.
allotverb○: to give out a share of; Each speaker was allotted five minutes.
aloofadjective−: distant and uninvolved; The new student seemed aloof, but she was only shy.
alterverb○: to change; A tailor altered the sleeves to fit.
altercationnoun−: a noisy disagreement; An altercation over a parking spot drew a crowd.
altruisticadjective+: unselfishly concerned for others; Her altruistic decision to donate the prize surprised everyone.
amassverb○: to gather, to accumulate; Over forty years he amassed a huge stamp collection.
ambiguousadjective−: open to more than one meaning; The ambiguous instructions left half the class confused.
ambivalentadjective○: having mixed feelings; He felt ambivalent about moving: excited, but sad to leave friends.
amiableadjective+: friendly and pleasant; An amiable clerk helped us find the right size.
amicableadjective+: friendly, civil; The two sides reached an amicable agreement.
amissadjective−: wrong, out of place; She sensed something was amiss when the lights were off.
ampleadjective+: more than enough; There was ample time to finish before the bell.
amplifyverb○: to increase, to make louder; Speakers amplified the singer's voice across the field.
analyzeverb○: to examine closely; The coach analyzed the film of the last game.
anecdotenoun○: a short, interesting story; He opened the speech with an anecdote about his dog.
animateverb+: to bring to life, to make lively; A good story animated the dull lecture.
animositynoun−: strong dislike or hostility; Years of animosity between the rivals ended with a handshake.
antagonistnoun−: an opponent, an enemy; The novel's antagonist is a greedy landlord.
antagonizeverb−: to provoke, to make an enemy of; Teasing the dog will only antagonize it.
anticipateverb○: to foresee, to expect; We anticipated rain and packed umbrellas.
antidotenoun+: a cure for a poison; The clinic kept an antidote for snakebites.
apatheticadjective−: showing no interest or concern; An apathetic crowd barely clapped when the game ended.
apathynoun−: lack of feeling or interest; Voter apathy kept turnout low.
apexnoun○: the highest point; The climbers reached the apex at noon.
appallingadjective−: shocking, horrifying; The locker room was left in appalling condition.
appealnoun○: an urgent request; The shelter made an appeal for blankets.
apprehensiveadjective−: anxious about what may happen; She was apprehensive before her first solo performance.
arbitraryadjective−: based on whim rather than reason; The rule seemed arbitrary, since no one could explain it.
archaicadjective○: very old or old-fashioned; The letter used archaic spellings like 'olde.'
ardentadjective+: full of passion or enthusiasm; An ardent fan, he never missed a home game.
arduousadjective−: requiring great effort; The arduous climb took most of the day.
aridadjective○: very dry; Few plants survive in the arid stretch beyond the hills.
arrogantadjective−: pompous, full of oneself; The arrogant champion refused to shake hands.
asperitynoun−: harshness of tone; He answered with such asperity that the room went quiet.
aspireverb+: to aim for a goal; She aspires to become a surgeon.
assentverb+: to agree; The board assented to the new schedule.
assiduousadjective+: showing steady, careful effort; Assiduous practice turned a weak free throw into a reliable one.
assistverb+: to help; A volunteer assisted the runners at the water station.
astuteadjective+: quick to see and understand; An astute reader noticed the clue in the first chapter.
atoneverb+: to make amends; He atoned for the broken window by repairing it himself.
atrociousadjective−: awful, very bad; The weather was atrocious, so the game was called off.
atypicaladjective○: unusual, not typical; A warm day in January is atypical here.
audaciousadjective○: boldly daring; The audacious plan called for crossing the river at night.
audibleadjective○: able to be heard; Her whisper was barely audible over the fan.
augmentverb○: to make greater, to add to; He augmented his allowance by mowing lawns.
austereadjective○: severely plain; strict; The monks lived in austere rooms with a bed and a table.
authenticadjective+: genuine, real; The museum confirmed the coin was authentic.
averseadjective−: opposed to, unwilling; She is averse to speaking in front of crowds.
avertverb○: to turn away or prevent; A quick swerve averted the collision.
avidadjective+: eager, enthusiastic; An avid reader, he finishes a book a week.

B

baffleverb−: to confuse; The riddle baffled the whole class.
banaladjective−: dull from overuse; The speech was full of banal phrases everyone had heard before.
banternoun+: playful teasing talk; The friendly banter continued through lunch.
barterverb○: to bargain or trade without money; Farmers bartered eggs for flour.
belatedadjective○: late, after the event; A belated birthday card arrived in March.
belittleverb−: to make seem unimportant; Do not belittle a small improvement; it is still progress.
belligerentadjective−: eager to fight; aggressive; A belligerent fan was escorted out.
benefitverb+: to gain an advantage; to help; Everyone benefits from a good night's sleep.
benevolentadjective+: kind and generous; A benevolent neighbor paid for the team's new uniforms.
benignadjective+: gentle; not harmful; The doctor said the lump was benign and nothing to fear.
berateverb−: to scold harshly; The coach berated the team for a careless loss.
biasedadjective−: unfairly favoring one side; A biased referee is worse than a careless one.
bizarreadjective−: odd, very strange; A bizarre hat with three brims stopped traffic.
blatantadjective−: obvious, in an offensive way; The blatant foul drew a red card.
bleakadjective−: barren, gloomy; The bleak field had no trees for shade.
blitheadjective+: carefree, happy; She gave a blithe wave and skipped off.
boisterousadjective○: noisy and lively; A boisterous crowd filled the gym.
bolsterverb+: to support or strengthen; The win bolstered the team's confidence before the finals.
brashadjective−: bold in a rude way; His brash remark silenced the table.
brazenadjective−: bold, shameless; The brazen thief walked out the front door.
brevitynoun○: shortness in time or words; The brevity of his answer surprised the interviewer.
briskadjective+: fast and active; refreshing; A brisk walk warmed us up.
broachverb○: to bring up a subject; She waited for dessert to broach the topic of camp.
brusqueadjective−: abrupt in manner; blunt; Her brusque reply ended the conversation.
buttressverb+: to reinforce, to support; New facts buttressed her argument.

C

callousadjective−: careless of others' feelings, unfeeling; Laughing at the injury was a callous thing to do.
candidadjective+: honest and direct; He gave a candid account of what went wrong.
cantankerousadjective−: grouchy, bad-tempered; The cantankerous neighbor yelled at every passing car.
capriciousadjective−: changing suddenly without reason; Capricious weather ruined two picnics in one week.
captivateverb+: to enchant, to hold the attention of; The magician captivated the children for an hour.
causticadjective−: corrosive; harshly critical; Her caustic review stung the young actor.
cautiousadjective○: careful to avoid danger; A cautious driver slows down long before the curve.
censureverb−: to criticize severely and formally; The council censured the member for missing every meeting.
ceremoniousadjective○: formal; The award was handed over with a ceremonious bow.
championverb+: to defend or support a cause; The mayor championed the new library.
chaoticadjective−: disorderly, in confusion; The chaotic hallway emptied when the bell rang.
chastiseverb−: to scold, to punish; He was chastised for arriving late again.
cherishverb+: to hold dear; She cherishes the letters her grandfather wrote.
cholericadjective−: irritable, quick to anger; A choleric driver honked before the light changed.
chronicadjective−: lasting a long time; recurring; His chronic lateness finally cost him the job.
circumspectadjective+: careful to consider all risks; Be circumspect about sharing details online.
circumventverb−: to go around, to get around a rule; They circumvented the fee by paying in advance.
clamornoun−: a loud commotion; a noisy demand; A clamor rose from the stands after the call.
clandestineadjective−: kept secret; The clandestine meeting was held after dark.
claritynoun+: the quality of being clear; The clarity of the map made the hike easy to follow.
clemencynoun+: mercy; The judge showed clemency to the first-time offender.
coarseadjective−: rough in texture or manner; The coarse sandpaper left scratches.
coerceverb−: to force by pressure or threats; No one should be coerced into signing a contract.
coherentadjective+: logical and clearly connected; Her essay was coherent from the first sentence to the last.
cohesiveadjective+: sticking together, unified; By June the team was a cohesive unit.
collaborateverb+: to work together; Two classes collaborated on the mural.
commenceverb○: to begin; The parade commences at noon.
commendverb+: to praise; The firefighter was commended for her bravery.
compassionnoun+: sympathy, concern for others; He showed compassion by sitting with the new student.
compelverb○: to force; Bad weather compelled the pilot to land early.
competentadjective+: able, capable; A competent mechanic fixed it in an hour.
compilationnoun○: a collection gathered together; The album is a compilation of their best songs.
compileverb○: to collect and put together; She compiled the scores into one chart.
complacentadjective−: smugly satisfied; not trying harder; A complacent champion is easy to beat.
compliantadjective○: inclined to obey rules; The compliant puppy sat on command.
complyverb○: to accept, to go along with a rule; Drivers must comply with the speed limit.
composurenoun+: a feeling of calm, self-control; The pilot kept her composure during the storm.
comprehensiveadjective○: all-inclusive, complete; The comprehensive review covered every chapter.
compromiseverb○: to give and take, to settle by each side yielding; The sisters compromised on a movie both liked.
concealverb○: to hide; The fog concealed the far shore.
concedeverb○: to admit; to give in; He conceded that her plan was better.
conceitedadjective−: overly proud of oneself; The conceited singer talked only about himself.
conciseadjective+: saying much in few words; A concise summary fits on one index card.
concludeverb○: to end; to decide after thought; The concert concluded with an encore.
concordnoun+: agreement, harmony; The neighbors lived in concord for decades.
concurverb○: to agree; Both doctors concurred with the diagnosis.
condescendverb−: to stoop; to act as if superior; He condescended to explain the rules very slowly.
condescendingadjective−: snobby, talking down to others; Her condescending tone annoyed the volunteers.
condoneverb−: to overlook or accept wrongdoing; The school does not condone cheating in any form.
confiscateverb−: to take away by authority; The teacher confiscated the phone until dismissal.
conflagrationnoun−: a large destructive fire; The conflagration destroyed three barns.
congenialadjective+: pleasant and agreeable; The cabin had a congenial atmosphere after dinner.
consequentlyadverb○: as a result; It rained all week; consequently, the field was mud.
conservativeadjective○: cautious, traditional; A conservative estimate put the crowd at two thousand.
consolidateverb○: to combine into one; The school consolidated two small classes.
conspicuousadjective○: easily seen; standing out; A conspicuous red hat made him easy to find in the crowd.
conspiracynoun−: a secret plan by a group, a scheme; The surprise party was a conspiracy of cousins.
constructverb○: to build; Volunteers constructed the stage in a day.
contagiousadjective−: spreading from one to another; Her laugh was contagious, and soon everyone was giggling.
contaminateverb−: to make impure; Runoff contaminated the stream.
contemporaryadjective○: modern; of the same time; The museum's new wing shows contemporary art.
contentadjective+: satisfied; The cat was content to sleep in the sun.
contortverb−: to twist or bend out of shape; His face contorted with the effort.
contradictverb−: to speak against, to say the opposite; The witness contradicted her earlier statement.
contriteadjective○: feeling sorry for wrongdoing; The contrite boy offered to repair the broken fence.
contriveverb○: to devise, to plan cleverly; They contrived a way to sneak the puppy inside.
conundrumnoun○: a confusing problem; How to fit five people in a four-seat car was a conundrum.
conventionaladjective○: following accepted customs; She chose a conventional design over a daring one.
copiousadjective+: plentiful, in large amounts; He took copious notes during the lecture.
cordialadjective+: warm and friendly; The two coaches exchanged a cordial greeting.
corruptadjective−: dishonest; The corrupt official took bribes.
counterfeitadjective−: fake, made to deceive; The counterfeit bill felt too smooth.
courteousadjective+: polite, well-mannered; A courteous clerk held the door for us.
credibleadjective+: believable; Her account was credible because the times matched.
criticaladjective○: fault-finding; very important; He was critical of every dish at the potluck.
crucialadjective○: necessary, extremely important; Sleep is crucial the night before a test.
culpritnoun−: the one at fault; The culprit left muddy footprints on the rug.
culturenoun○: the arts, customs, and refinement of a group; The trip introduced them to another culture.
cumulativeadjective○: adding up over time; The cumulative effect of small savings was large.
cunningadjective−: clever in a sly way; A cunning fox slipped past the dogs.
cursoryadjective−: quick and not thorough; A cursory glance at the map was not enough.
cynicaladjective−: believing people act only from self-interest; A cynical fan assumed the referee had been paid.

D

debilitatingadjective−: causing weakness; A debilitating illness kept her out of school for a month.
debunkverb○: to expose as false; The article debunked the myth about lightning.
decipherverb○: to work out the meaning of; It took an hour to decipher his handwriting.
decisiveadjective+: settling a matter; firm in deciding; A decisive goal in the last minute won the match.
declareverb○: to announce; The referee declared the match a draw.
decreeverb○: to command by official order; The principal decreed a longer lunch period.
deferverb○: to put off; to yield to another; They deferred the decision until the full committee could meet.
deficientadjective−: lacking something needed; The diet was deficient in iron.
defileverb−: to violate, to make dirty or corrupt; Vandals defiled the monument with paint.
delayverb○: to put off, to suspend; Fog delayed every flight that morning.
delegateverb○: to assign to another; The captain delegated the warm-up to her assistant.
delicateadjective○: fragile; requiring care; The delicate glass ornament cracked in the box.
delinquentadjective−: overdue; neglecting a duty; A delinquent library book costs a dime a day.
depleteverb−: to use up; The long drought depleted the reservoir.
deplorableadjective−: shameful, very bad; The deplorable conditions were reported to the city.
derelictadjective−: neglected, abandoned; The derelict factory had no windows left.
desecrateverb−: to violate something sacred; Graffiti desecrated the old chapel wall.
desistverb○: to stop; The sign told skaters to desist.
despairnoun−: loss of hope; After the third loss, despair set in.
despondentadjective−: deeply discouraged; He felt despondent after the third rejection letter.
destituteadjective−: very poor; The flood left many families destitute.
deterverb○: to discourage from acting; A locked gate deters most trespassers.
detrimentaladjective−: causing harm; Skipping breakfast is detrimental to concentration.
deviateverb○: to stray from a course; The bus deviated from its route to avoid the parade.
deviousadjective−: sneaky and dishonest; A devious plan to skip the test backfired.
dexteritynoun+: skill with the hands; aptitude; Knitting takes more dexterity than it looks.
dictionnoun○: choice of words; clarity of speech; The actor's diction carried to the back row.
dilapidatedadjective−: falling apart from neglect; A dilapidated barn leaned toward the road.
diligentadjective+: working carefully and steadily; A diligent student checks every answer twice.
diminishverb○: to make or become smaller; Interest in the club diminished after the founder left.
disadvantagenoun−: a hurt or loss; an unfavorable position; Starting late put the team at a disadvantage.
disagreementnoun−: a conflict, controversy; A disagreement about the rules ended the game.
discernverb+: to see or understand clearly; In the fog we could barely discern the shore.
discloseverb○: to reveal; The company disclosed the price on Monday.
discreditverb−: to cause disbelief in; to harm the reputation of; One false claim discredited the whole report.
discreteadjective○: separate, distinct; The project has three discrete stages.
discriminateverb−: to show prejudice; to tell apart; It is unfair to discriminate on the basis of age.
disdainnoun−: the feeling that something is unworthy; He looked at the messy desk with disdain.
disheveledadjective−: messy, untidy; He arrived disheveled after running from the bus.
dismaladjective−: gloomy; very poor; A dismal score sent the team back to practice.
dismantleverb○: to take apart; They dismantled the tent before the storm.
disparageverb−: to speak of as having little worth; It is easy to disparage a plan you did not write.
disputeverb−: to argue; The players disputed the call for five minutes.
disregardverb−: to ignore; He disregarded the warning and got soaked.
dissentnoun−: lack of agreement, disagreement; The vote passed over loud dissent.
distinctadjective○: separate, clearly different; The twins have distinct handwriting.
distortverb−: to twist out of shape, to alter; The funhouse mirror distorted his reflection.
distraughtadjective−: very upset; The distraught owner searched all night for the dog.
distributeverb○: to hand out, to spread over an area; Ushers distributed programs at the door.
diverseadjective+: different, varied; The garden has a diverse mix of vegetables.
divulgeverb○: to reveal a secret; She would not divulge the surprise.
docileadjective○: easily led or taught; quiet; The docile puppy sat the first time it was asked.
dominateverb−: to overpower, to control; One team dominated the tournament.
dormantadjective○: inactive, as if asleep; The volcano has been dormant for centuries.
dubiousadjective−: doubtful; of uncertain quality; The dubious claim had no evidence behind it.
durableadjective+: able to last a long time; Durable boots are worth the extra cost.
duressnoun−: threat, hardship used to force someone; A promise made under duress does not count.

E

eccentricadjective○: unusual in an odd way; The eccentric inventor kept a goat in his office.
ecstaticadjective+: very happy; She was ecstatic when the letter came.
edibleadjective○: fit to be eaten; Only some wild berries are edible.
effusiveadjective+: expressing feeling freely, gushing; His effusive thanks went on for a full minute.
elatedadjective+: extremely happy; She was elated when the acceptance letter arrived.
elegantadjective+: classy, graceful; An elegant script covered the invitation.
elicitverb○: to draw out, to evoke; The joke elicited a groan from the class.
eliteadjective○: the best, a select group; Only elite runners qualify for the final.
eloquentadjective+: speaking or writing with grace and force; An eloquent speech moved the audience.
elusiveadjective○: hard to find or catch; The elusive fox was seen only at dusk.
eminentadjective+: famous and respected; An eminent scientist opened the new lab.
emulateverb+: to imitate in order to match; Young players emulate the stars they watch on television.
enigmanoun○: a puzzle or mystery; The missing key remained an enigma all week.
ephemeraladjective○: lasting a very short time; Fame in a viral video is ephemeral.
erraticadjective−: irregular and unpredictable; His erratic driving worried the passengers.
evasiveadjective−: avoiding a direct answer; The evasive reply made the teacher more suspicious.
exemplaryadjective+: serving as a model of excellence; Her exemplary attendance earned an award.
explicitadjective○: stated clearly and in detail; The explicit directions listed every turn.
exuberantadjective+: full of energy and excitement; Exuberant fans chanted through the rain.

F

fallacynoun−: a mistaken belief or faulty argument; It is a fallacy that heavier objects always fall faster.
falterverb−: to lose strength or momentum; Her confidence faltered before the interview.
feasibleadjective+: possible to do; Finishing by Friday is feasible if we start today.
feebleadjective−: weak; A feeble excuse convinced no one.
feignverb−: to pretend; He feigned surprise at the party he had planned himself.
ferventadjective+: having intense, passionate feeling; He gave a fervent defense of his idea.
fickleadjective−: changing loyalties or moods often; Fickle fans cheered one week and booed the next.
flimsyadjective−: weak and easily broken; The flimsy tent collapsed in the first gust.
flourishverb+: to grow well; to thrive; The garden flourished after the rain.
forageverb○: to search for food; Deer forage along the edge of the woods at dawn.
formidableadjective○: inspiring fear or respect through strength; The defending champions were a formidable opponent.
fortitudenoun+: courage in facing difficulty; It took fortitude to finish the race with a sprained ankle.
frivolousadjective−: not serious; silly; A frivolous complaint wasted the committee's time.
frugaladjective+: careful not to waste money; A frugal shopper waits for the sale.
furtiveadjective−: secretive and sly; A furtive glance at the answer key was noticed at once.
futileadjective−: having no useful result; Arguing with the umpire proved futile.

G

galvanizeverb+: to shock someone into action; The coach's speech galvanized the tired team.
garnerverb○: to gather or collect, especially praise or support; The film garnered praise from critics.
gauntadjective−: very thin and bony; The gaunt stray dog had not eaten in days.
genuineadjective+: real; sincere; Her genuine apology repaired the friendship.
gregariousadjective+: fond of company; sociable; A gregarious host makes sure no guest stands alone.
grimadjective−: forbidding or serious; not hopeful; The forecast painted a grim picture for the weekend.
gullibleadjective−: easily fooled; A gullible buyer paid twice the real price.

H

hamperverb−: to hold back or hinder; Heavy snow hampered the rescue effort.
haplessadjective−: unlucky, having no luck; The hapless traveler missed every connection that day.
harborverb○: to keep a feeling secretly; to give shelter to; She harbored doubts about the plan for weeks.
haughtyadjective−: proud in a scornful way; The haughty prince refused to speak to the servants.
hecticadjective−: full of frantic, rushed activity; It was a hectic morning before the early flight.
hinderverb−: to get in the way of; Loose gravel hindered the runners.
hoaxnoun−: a trick meant to deceive; The photo of the monster turned out to be a hoax.
hostileadjective−: unfriendly; showing opposition; The hostile crowd booed the visiting team.

I

immaculateadjective+: perfectly clean or without fault; The kitchen was immaculate after the inspection.
immerseverb○: to involve deeply in an activity or interest; The students immersed themselves in the science project.
impartialadjective+: treating all sides equally; An impartial judge does not favor either lawyer.
impedeverb−: to slow down or block progress; A fallen tree impeded traffic for an hour.
imperviousadjective○: not able to be affected or penetrated by something; The coating made the tent fabric impervious to rain.
impetuousadjective−: acting quickly without thought; An impetuous decision to quit left him with no plan.
incessantadjective−: never stopping; The incessant drip kept him awake.
indifferentadjective−: having no interest either way; He was indifferent to which movie they chose.
indignantadjective−: angry at unfair treatment; She was indignant at being blamed for a mistake she did not make.
indolentadjective−: lazy; The indolent cat moved only when the sun did.
industriousadjective+: hardworking; Industrious ants built the mound in a single week.
ineptadjective−: clumsy; lacking skill; An inept repair left the faucet dripping faster.
inevitableadjective○: certain to happen; unavoidable; Change was inevitable once the news broke.
inferverb○: to conclude from evidence; From the wet streets we inferred it had rained.
ingeniousadjective+: clever, original, and inventive; Her ingenious solution saved the team hours of work.
innovativeadjective+: introducing new ideas; An innovative design cut the bridge's cost in half.
insolentadjective−: rude and disrespectful; The insolent remark earned a detention.
intactadjective+: not damaged; complete; The package arrived intact despite the rough trip.
intrepidadjective+: fearless; Intrepid explorers crossed the ice field on foot.
irateadjective−: very angry; An irate customer demanded to see the manager.

J

jovialadjective+: cheerful and good-humored; The jovial bus driver sang on the way to school.
jubilantadjective+: showing great joy; Jubilant fans poured onto the field.

K

keenadjective+: sharp in thought; eager; She has a keen eye for spotting small errors.
keepsakenoun+: an object kept in memory of a person or event; She kept the concert ticket as a keepsake.
kindleverb○: to start a fire; to arouse a feeling; The old photographs kindled a wave of nostalgia.
kindredadjective+: similar in nature; closely related; The two strangers felt like kindred spirits after one conversation.
kineticadjective○: relating to or produced by motion; The kinetic sculpture spun slowly in the courtyard wind.
knacknoun+: a natural skill for doing something well; He has a real knack for fixing small engines.
knollnoun○: a small, rounded hill; They spread their blanket on a grassy knoll.
kudosnoun+: praise for an achievement; The volunteers earned kudos for organizing the food drive.

L

laboriousadjective−: requiring much hard work; Sorting the archive by hand was laborious.
lamentverb−: to express deep sorrow; The town lamented the loss of its oldest tree.
languishverb−: to lose strength, energy, or spirit gradually; The houseplants languished on the sunless windowsill.
lavishadjective○: generous or extravagant; A lavish feast covered three tables.
lenientadjective+: not strict; merciful; A lenient teacher accepted the late homework.
lethargicadjective−: sluggish; lacking energy; The heat left everyone lethargic by noon.
listlessadjective−: without energy or interest; A listless puppy may be sick.
loftyadjective+: very high in position or status; noble; She set lofty goals for her first novel.
loquaciousadjective○: very talkative; The loquacious host kept every guest entertained for hours.
lucidadjective+: clear and easy to understand; Her lucid explanation made the formula obvious.

M

maliciousadjective−: intending to do harm; A malicious rumor spread through the school.
malleableadjective○: easily influenced or shaped; Gold is one of the most malleable metals known.
meageradjective−: small in amount; barely enough; The meager harvest would not last the winter.
meanderverb○: to wander slowly without a fixed direction; The river meanders through the whole valley.
melancholyadjective−: sad and thoughtful; A melancholy tune drifted from the porch.
meticulousadjective+: extremely careful about details; A meticulous inspection found the hairline crack.
mimicverb○: to imitate closely, often playfully; The parrot learned to mimic its owner's laugh.
mitigateverb+: to make less severe; Sandbags mitigated the flood damage.
momentousadjective+: of great importance, especially for the future; It was a momentous day for the entire school.
moroseadjective−: gloomy and sullen; He grew morose after the team lost the final.
mundaneadjective○: ordinary; dull; Washing dishes is a mundane but necessary chore.

N

naiveadjective−: showing a lack of experience or judgment; It was naive to expect the trip to go perfectly.
negligentadjective−: failing to take proper or expected care; The driver was negligent and ran the red light.
nichenoun○: a specialized role, interest, or position; The small shop found its niche selling handmade candles.
nimbleadjective+: quick and light in movement; Nimble fingers finished the knot in seconds.
nonchalantadjective○: calmly unconcerned; He gave a nonchalant shrug when asked about the score.
nostalgicadjective○: feeling a longing for the past; The old photographs made her nostalgic for summer camp.
notoriousadjective−: famous for something bad; The notorious pirate was captured at last.
novicenoun○: a beginner; Even a novice swimmer can float on her back.

O

obliviousadjective−: unaware of what is happening around oneself; He was oblivious to the stares from across the room.
obscureadjective○: not clear; little known; The poem's meaning stayed obscure after three readings.
obsoleteadjective○: no longer in use; Floppy disks are obsolete.
obstinateadjective−: stubbornly refusing to change; The obstinate mule would not cross the bridge.
ominousadjective−: suggesting that something bad will happen; Ominous clouds gathered over the stadium.
opaqueadjective○: not letting light through; hard to understand; The opaque window kept the room private.
opportuneadjective+: well-chosen; particularly favorable for a purpose; The rain stopped at an opportune moment for the parade.
optimisticadjective+: hopeful and confident about the future; She stayed optimistic despite the long delay.
ostentatiousadjective−: showy, meant to impress; An ostentatious gold watch drew stares.
outlandishadjective−: very unusual, bizarre, or unfamiliar; The costume was too outlandish for a normal office party.
overtadjective○: done or shown openly, not hidden; There was no overt sign of trouble before the storm.

P

pacifyverb+: to calm or soothe; A bottle pacified the crying baby.
palatableadjective+: pleasant enough to taste, accept, or agree to; The revised plan was more palatable to both sides.
paramountadjective○: more important than anything else; supreme; Safety was paramount during the entire evacuation.
peculiaradjective○: strange or unusual; There was a peculiar smell coming from the basement.
perilousadjective−: full of danger; The perilous trail was closed after the rockslide.
perpetualadjective○: never ending or changing; The old office hummed with the perpetual noise of machines.
pertinentadjective○: relevant to the matter at hand; Only pertinent questions were allowed at the hearing.
pervasiveadjective○: spreading widely throughout a place or group; A pervasive fog covered the whole valley by morning.
placateverb+: to make someone less angry; A refund placated the frustrated customer.
placidadjective+: calm and peaceful; The placid lake mirrored the mountains.
plausibleadjective○: seeming reasonable or likely; His story was plausible, so the coach believed it.
pompousadjective−: self-important; A pompous speech bored the graduates.
pragmaticadjective+: practical rather than idealistic; A pragmatic plan used the tools we already had.
precariousadjective−: not securely held; risky; The vase sat in a precarious spot on the shelf edge.
predicamentnoun−: a difficult situation; Missing the last bus left them in a predicament.
prevalentadjective○: widespread; Colds are prevalent in late winter.
proficientadjective+: skilled and competent; She is proficient in three languages.
prosperousadjective+: successful and wealthy; A prosperous town built a new library.
prudentadjective+: showing care and good judgment; It was prudent to pack a raincoat.
punctualadjective+: on time; The punctual bus arrived at 7:02 every day.

Q

quaintadjective+: attractively old-fashioned or unusual; The quaint village had narrow cobblestone streets.
quandarynoun−: a state of uncertainty over what to do; She was in a quandary about which college to choose.
quellverb○: to put an end to, suppress; A calm voice quelled the panic in the hallway.
quenchverb○: to satisfy a thirst; to put out a fire; The cold water quenched his thirst after the run.
querynoun○: a question, especially one expressing doubt; He raised a query about the new schedule.

R

rampantadjective−: spreading uncontrollably; widespread; Rumors were rampant after the surprise announcement.
rashadjective−: acting or done without careful thought; His rash decision cost the team the final game.
recklessadjective−: careless of danger; Reckless skating on thin ice ended with a cold swim.
rectifyverb+: to correct; The bank rectified the error within a day.
refuteverb○: to prove a statement or theory to be wrong; The scientist refuted the outdated theory with new data.
relentlessadjective○: never letting up; Relentless rain flooded the lower fields.
reluctantadjective−: unwilling; hesitant; The reluctant volunteer stepped forward at last.
remedynoun+: a cure or solution; Rest is the best remedy for a sprain.
replenishverb+: to fill again; Rain replenished the dry creek.
reprimandverb−: to scold officially; The captain reprimanded the crew for the mess.
resilientadjective+: able to recover quickly; Resilient players shake off a loss by the next practice.
resoluteadjective+: firm and determined, especially under pressure; She remained resolute despite several setbacks.
reticentadjective○: reserved; not saying much; He was reticent about his reasons for leaving.
revereverb+: to regard with deep and respectful admiration; Students in the school still revere their retired coach.
robustadjective+: strong and healthy; A robust oak shaded the whole yard.

S

scantyadjective−: barely enough; Scanty rainfall left the well nearly dry.
scrutinizeverb○: to examine closely; The judges scrutinized every entry for errors.
sereneadjective+: calm and untroubled; The garden was serene in the early morning.
seververb○: to cut off; The storm severed the power line.
skepticaladjective○: not easily convinced; having doubts; She remained skeptical of the salesman's promises.
solacenoun+: comfort or relief during a time of distress; Music was a real solace during the difficult month.
solitaryadjective○: alone; single; A solitary heron stood in the shallows.
somberadjective−: dark, gloomy, or serious; The mood was somber after the announcement.
sporadicadjective○: happening now and then; Sporadic showers fell through the afternoon.
squanderverb−: to waste; He squandered the whole allowance in an afternoon.
stagnantadjective−: not moving or developing; Stagnant water breeds mosquitoes.
staunchadjective+: firm and loyal in one's support or beliefs; He was a staunch defender of the new library policy.
steadfastadjective+: firm and unwavering; Her steadfast support never wavered.
stifleverb−: to suppress or hold back; She had to stifle a laugh during the serious meeting.
strifenoun−: bitter or violent conflict; The nation was torn apart by years of strife.
submissiveadjective○: willing to obey; The submissive dog rolled over at once.
subtleadjective○: not obvious; delicate; A subtle change in tone told her he was upset.
superficialadjective−: on the surface only; shallow; A superficial scratch healed in a day.
superfluousadjective−: more than is needed; The superfluous paragraph was cut from the essay.
suppressverb○: to hold back or put down; She suppressed a laugh during the ceremony.

T

tacitadjective○: understood without being said; There was a tacit agreement not to mention the loss.
taciturnadjective○: habitually silent; The taciturn farmer answered in single words.
tactlessadjective−: careless of others' feelings; A tactless joke about her haircut ended the laughter.
tangibleadjective○: able to be touched or clearly perceived; The prize gave the students a tangible goal to work toward.
tediousadjective−: long and boring; Copying the list by hand was tedious.
tenaciousadjective+: holding on firmly; persistent; A tenacious defender never gave up on the play.
tentativeadjective○: not final; hesitant; We set a tentative date for the trip.
tenuousadjective−: thin and weak; slight; The link between the two events was tenuous.
thriftyadjective+: careful with money; A thrifty cook wastes nothing.
thwartverb−: to prevent someone from doing or achieving something; Security cameras helped thwart the attempted robbery.
timidadjective−: easily frightened; shy; The timid kitten hid under the couch.
tiradenoun−: a long angry speech; The coach's tirade lasted the whole halftime.
tranquiladjective+: peaceful and quiet; A tranquil evening followed the storm.
transientadjective○: lasting only a short time; passing quickly; The joy of winning felt transient once practice resumed.
trivialadjective−: of little importance; They argued over a trivial detail for an hour.
tyrantnoun−: a cruel, absolute ruler; The tyrant jailed anyone who disagreed.

U

unanimousadjective+: agreed on by everyone; The vote was unanimous.
undermineverb−: to weaken or damage something gradually; Constant criticism undermined her confidence over time.
underscoreverb○: to emphasize the importance of something; The coach's speech underscored the need for teamwork.
unfoundedadjective−: not based on fact or evidence; The rumor about the closure turned out to be unfounded.
uniformadjective○: the same throughout; not varying; The bricks were uniform in both size and color.
unkemptadjective−: untidy; An unkempt lawn hid the front steps.
unprecedentedadjective○: never done or known before; The storm caused unprecedented flooding downtown.
unyieldingadjective○: not giving way; firm; The unyielding rock split the plow blade.
upheavalnoun−: a violent or sudden disruption or change; The merger caused a major upheaval at the company.
utilitarianadjective○: designed to be useful rather than beautiful; The new building had a plain, utilitarian design.

V

vagueadjective−: not clearly expressed; A vague answer told us nothing useful.
valiantadjective+: showing courage or determination; The firefighters made a valiant effort to save the house.
venerableadjective+: deserving respect because of age or achievement; The venerable professor had taught at the school for forty years.
veracitynoun+: conformity to fact or truth; The reporter questioned the veracity of the online claim.
verboseadjective−: using too many words; The verbose report could have been one page.
versatileadjective+: able to do many things well; A versatile player can fill any position.
viableadjective+: capable of working successfully; practical; The committee found the fundraising plan financially viable.
vicariousadjective○: experienced through the actions of another person; He felt a vicarious thrill watching his sister's first race.
vigilantadjective+: keeping careful watch; Vigilant lifeguards spotted the swimmer in trouble.
vigornoun+: physical strength and healthy energy; She tackled the science fair project with real vigor.
vindicateverb+: to clear of blame; to prove right; The new evidence vindicated the accused clerk.
vividadjective+: bright; producing clear images; The vivid painting seemed to glow.
volatileadjective−: likely to change suddenly; A volatile temper made him hard to work with.
vulnerableadjective−: exposed to the possibility of harm; The unlocked door left the house vulnerable overnight.

W

waneverb−: to decrease gradually in strength or importance; Interest in the fad began to wane by midsummer.
waryadjective○: cautious about danger; Be wary of offers that seem too good.
waververb−: to hesitate or become unsteady; Her voice wavered as she read the closing lines.
whimsicaladjective+: playfully odd; A whimsical mural covered the school wall.
wholesomeadjective+: conducive to health or good character; They enjoyed a wholesome breakfast before the long hike.
winceverb−: to flinch slightly in pain or distress; He winced when the doctor examined the bruise.
wistfuladjective○: having a feeling of vague or wishful longing; He gave a wistful smile at the old photograph.
wretchedadjective−: very unfortunate, unhappy, or of poor quality; The wretched weather ruined the entire picnic.

X

xenophobianoun−: fear or dislike of people from other countries; The festival was created partly to counter xenophobia in the town.

Y

yearnverb○: to have a strong, wistful desire for something; She yearned to see her family again after the long trip.
yieldverb○: to give way to pressure; to produce a result; The old hinge finally yielded after several tries.
yokenoun−: a wooden bar joining two animals; a burden; Freed from the yoke of debt, she finally relaxed.
youthfuladjective+: having the qualities of youth; young in spirit; Her youthful energy surprised the older hikers.

Z

zealnoun+: great energy for a cause; She tackled the fundraiser with zeal.
zealousadjective+: full of eager and energetic enthusiasm; The zealous volunteers arrived a full hour early.
zenithnoun+: the highest point reached, as of power or success; The empire reached its zenith in the third century.
zestnoun+: great enthusiasm and energy; He approached every new task with real zest.