Vocabulary Quizzes: Term Lists



Vocabulary: Term Lists

Throughout the course of the school year, you will be responsible for learning the vocabulary terms included in the lists below. They have been carefully selected from the SAT and the PSSA preparation texts in order to enhance your vocabulary knowledge and future standardized test scores. Assessment of these will include a vocabulary quiz every week, which will cover one list. Quiz dates will be given in advance and should be listed below for studying purposes.

• Making up quizzes missed when absent is the student’s responsibility. Failure to make-up the quiz within the following week results in a failing grade for the quiz.

|List #1: Quiz Date _________________ |List #3: Quiz Date _________________ |

| | |

|acquiesce (v.) – to give in and agree peaceably |despot (n.) – a ruler with total control |

|chastise (v.) – to scold severely or punish |sycophant (n.) – one who flatters others |

|augment (v.) – to make something greater or bigger |glutton (n.) – one who is overly hungry for something |

|condone (v.) – to overlook or pardon an offense |hedonist (n.) – someone who lives for happiness |

|amass (v.) – to accumulate, collect |hypocrite (n.) – one who pretends to have beliefs that he does not have |

|disseminate (v.) – to spread knowledge or ideas everywhere |heretic (n.) – one who differs from accepted theory |

|coalesce (v.) – to mix together from separate elements |charlatan (n.) – a fraud |

|concur (v.) – to agree, assent |bigot (n.) – one who stubbornly holds to his own opinions |

|digress (v.) – to wander off course in speaking or writing |miser (n.) – a greedy person |

|laud (v.) – to praise, commend |insurgent (n.) – a rebel |

|disperse (v.) – to spread all over |zealot (n.) – a fanatic |

|efface (v.) – to erase; to wear away |skeptic (n.) – one who doubts |

|List #2: Quiz Date _________________ |List #4: Quiz Date _________________ |

| | |

|banal (adj.) – commonplace, not fresh |fervent (adj.) – full of strong emotion |

|terse (adj.) – stripped of all but the essentials |germane (adj.) – appropriate |

|raconteur (n.) – gifted talker or storyteller |fortuitous (adj.) – happening by chance |

|euphemism (n.) – the use of a nice word instead of an offensive one |grueling (adj.) – demanding and exhausting |

|succinct (adj.) – brief and to the point |indulgent (adj.) – generous to a fault |

|hackneyed (adj.) – overused |vulnerable (adj.) – open to hurt |

|bombast (adj.) – pompous, arrogant |profuse (adj.) – in great abundance |

|articulate (v.) – to speak in a clear, effective way |superficial (adj.) – on the surface, not deep |

|laconic (adj.) – using as few words as possible |uniform (adj.) – consistent |

|hyperbole (n.) – wild exaggeration |listless (adj.) – lacking energy |

|lampoon (n.) – verbal ridicule |incessant (adj.) – going on without interruption |

|12. platitude (n.) – a tired, trite, overused old saying |unobtrusive (adj.) – not noticeable |

|List #5: Quiz Date _________________ |List #8: Quiz Date _________________ |

| | |

|arrogant (adj.) – self-important |astute (adj.) – wise |

|disdain (n.) disapproval or dislike |discerning (adj.) – showing wise judgment |

|fastidious (adj.) – extremely fussy |formidable (adj.) fostering respect |

|haughty (adj.) – openly proud |indefatigable (adj.) – tireless |

|disparage (v.) – to belittle |sage (adj.) – wise as a result of experience |

|deprecate (v.) – to disapprove mildly |profound (adj.) – deeply important |

|condescend (v.) – to come down in level |judicious (adj.) – showing good judgment |

|supercilious (adj.) – superior |meticulous (adj.) – particular to details |

|contempt (n.) – total lack of respect |painstaking (adj.) – revealing much care |

|pretentious (adj.) – insisting on recognition |resilient (adj.) – able to bounce back from change |

|scoff (v.) – to make fun of |tenacious (adj.) – persistent in holding on |

|complacent (adj.) – smug |benevolent (adj.) – showing good will |

|List #6: Quiz Date _________________ |List #9: Quiz Date _________________ |

| | |

|garner (v.) – to gather |abstract (adj.) – vague |

|mar (v.) – to spoil |lax (adj.) – unstructured |

|heed (v.) – to listen to |atrophy (v.) – to waste away |

|meander (v.) – to wander casually without a plan |affluent (adj.) – wealthy |

|nullify (v.) – to render without worth |concrete (adj.) – specific |

|obliterate (v.) – to erase completely |stringent (adj.) – rigid, adhering to standards |

|mitigate (v.) – to ease |burgeon (v.) – to grow and expand |

|obscure (v.) – to make unclear |indigent (adj.) – very poor |

|peruse (v.) – to study carefully |cacophony (n.) – harsh sound |

|raze (v.) to tear down completely |optimism (n.) – a positive attitude |

|placate (v.) – to soothe |euphony (n.) – pleasing sound |

|rebuff (v.) – to criticize harshly |pessimism (n.) – a negative outlook |

|List #7: Quiz Date _________________ |List #10: Quiz Date _________________ |

| | |

|virtuoso (n.) – a highly skilled performer |gravity (n.) –seriousness |

|temerity (n.) – reckless behavior |desecrate (v.) – to defile something sacred |

|volition (n.) – by your choice |resolute (adj.) – faithful |

|torpor (n.) – inability to act quickly |objective (adj.) – unbiased, fair |

|quandary (n.) – a feeling of doubt |refutable (adj.) – able to be proven wrong |

|trepidation (n.) – fear |levity (n.) – humor |

|zenith (n.) – the highest point |consecrate (v.) – to make sacred |

|reticence (n.) – restraint |irresolute (adj.) – uncertain |

|respite (n.) – rest |subjective (adj.) – colored by opinion |

|parsimony (n.) – extreme stinginess |irrefutable (adj.) – impossible to prove wrong |

|nostalgia (n.) – a longing for the past | |

|predecessor (n.) – prior person | |

|List #11: Quiz Date _________________ |List #14: Quiz Date _________________ |

| | |

|irascible (adj.) – easily angered |aesthetic (adj.) – a sense of beauty |

|writhe (v.) – to twist |eclectic (adj.) – carefully selected from many good sources |

|taciturn (adj.) – silent |gratuitous (adj.) – unwanted |

|tawdry (adj.) – cheap looking |inevitable (adj.) – unavoidable |

|servile (adj.) – submissive |irony (n.) – the opposite of what is expected |

|surreptitious (adj.) – secretive |expedient (adj.) – practical |

|rancor (n.) – bitterness |apocryphal (adj.) – fictitious |

|sullen (adj.) – resentful |heinous (adj.) – awful |

|remorse (n.) – regret |mundane (adj.) – commonplace |

|rue (v.) – to regret |arduous (adj.) – demanding |

|malice (n.) – extreme ill will |prodigal (adj.) lavish in spending |

|malign (v.) – to slander (speak lies about) |quixotic (adj.) – unpredictable |

|List #12: Quiz Date _________________ |List #15: Quiz Date _________________ |

| | |

|acclaim (v.) – to announce with noisy approval |verbose (adj.) – wordy |

|rejuvenate (v.) – to make youthful |blasphemy (n.) – disrespect toward something sacred |

|revere (v.) – to respect |vilify (v.) – to slander (speak lies about) |

|sanction (v.) – to confirm |diatribe (n.) – a critical speech |

|temper (v.) – to adjust to conditions |vitriolic (adj.) – burning like acid |

|saturate (v.) – to fill completely |jargon (n.) – special terminology |

|whet (v.) – to stimulate the mind or appetite |satire (n.) – comedy using laughter as a weapon to evoke scorn |

|scrutinize (v.) – to examine closely |tirade (n.) – a lengthy, critical, emotional speech |

|vacillate (v.) – to change from one opinion to another |slander (n.) – a false criticism of someone |

|thwart (v.) – to baffle |garble (v.) – to change meaning through distortion |

|venerate (v.) – to admire |rhetoric (n.) – insincere writing or speech |

|waive (v.) – to give up |garrulous (adj.) – extremely talkative |

|List #13: Quiz Date _________________ |List #16: Quiz Date _________________ |

| | |

|brevity (n.) – briefness |ambiguous (adj.) – open to interpretation |

|criterion (n.) – a standard |capitulate (v.) – to give in |

|delineate (v.) – to outline |defer (v.) – to yield to someone of greater authority |

|ephemeral (adj.) – short lived |ambivalence (n.) – indecision |

|copious (adj.) in plentiful supply |dubious (adj.) – doubtful |

|dearth (n.) – scarcity |languor (n.) – weakness, tiredness |

|evanescent (adj.) – fading |fluctuate (v.) – to shift up and down |

|paucity (n.) – lack of number |tentative (adj.) – unsure |

|prodigious (adj.) – inspiring awe |indifferent (adj.) – unconcerned |

|meager (adj.) – lacking in quantity |lethargy (n.) – laziness |

|redundant (adj.) – extra and unnecessary |innocuous (adj.) – harmless |

|scanty (adj.) – brief or short |stagnant (adj.) – unmoving |

|List #17: Quiz Date _________________ |List #20: Quiz Date _________________ |

| | |

|undermine (v.) – to weaken |partial (adj.) – biased |

|repudiate (v.) – to disown |impartial (adj.) – unbiased |

|enhance (v.) – to make better |potent (adj.) – strong |

|hamper (v.) – to get in the way of |impotent (adj.) – weak |

|expedite (v.) – to speed up a process |inflate (v.) – to blow up |

|relegate (v.) – to put aside |deflate (v.) – to let the air out of |

|emulate (v.) – to imitate |famous (adj.) – widely known |

|squander (v.) – to waste |infamous (adj.) – of bad repute (reputation) |

|rescind (v.) – to cancel |savory (adj.) – very tasty |

|solicit (v.) – to ask for time, money, or moral support |unsavory (adj.) – tasting bad |

|emanate (v.) – to seep forth |tangible (adj.) – concrete |

|extricate (v.) – to free from an awkward spot |intangible (adj.) – not concrete (abstract) |

| |auspicious (adj.) – favorable |

| |inauspicious (adj.) – unfavorable |

| |discriminate (v.) – to notice differences |

| |indiscriminate (adj.) – at random |

| |consent (n.) – agreement |

| |dissent (n.) – disagreement |

| |neutral (adj.) – without bias |

| |biased (adj.) – prejudiced |

|List #18: Quiz Date _________________ | |

| | |

|esteem (n.) – a high opinion on one’s worth | |

|disparity (n.) – difference | |

|catharsis (n.) – cleansing of emotions | |

|anomaly (n.) – different from the norm | |

|censure (n.) – stern condemnation | |

|antithesis (n.) – direct opposite | |

|fallacy (n.) – incorrect idea | |

|indolence (n.) – laziness | |

|fledgling (n.) – a young bird | |

|hindrance (n.) – an obstacle | |

|clemency (n.) – mercy | |

|jeopardy (n.) – danger | |

|List #19: Quiz Date _________________ |List #21: Quiz Date _________________ |

| | |

|benign (adj.) – gentle, mild |didactic (adj.) – instructive |

|blithe (adj.) – cheerful |fickle (adj.) – changeable |

|elation (n.) – high spirits |gullible (adj.) – easily fooled |

|appease (v.) – to quiet |insipid (adj.) – dull |

|jocular (adj.) – jolly |petty (adj.) – of minor importance |

|effervescent (adj.) – bubbling with high spirits |incorrigible (adj.) – difficult to control |

|extol (v.) – to praise highly |officious (adj.) – self-important |

|placid (adj.) – calm |pompous (adj.) – arrogant |

|ameliorate (v.) – to improve |inane (adj.) – empty |

|serene (adj.) – peaceful |willful (adj.) – stubborn |

|frivolous (adj.) – not serious |tedious (adj.) – boring |

|assuage (v.) – to relieve something that hurts |wanton (adj.) – lacking human kindness |

|List #22: Quiz Date _________________ |List #25: Quiz Date _________________ |

| | |

|frugal (adj.) – careful with resources |paradigm (n.) – a model or ideal |

|exemplary (adj.) – serving as a model |unscathed (adj.) – uninjured |

|diligent (adj.) – showing care and attention |iconoclast (n.) – one who criticizes traditions |

|prudent (adj.) – careful |kindle (v.) – spark interest |

|scrupulous (adj.) – attention to detail |elaborate (v.) – to spell out in detail |

|parochial (adj.) – of narrow scope |tacit (adj.) – understood though not spoken |

|pious (adj.) – religious and devoted |peripheral (adj.) – around the edge |

|discreet (adj.) – showing good sense |deter (v.) – to hinder |

|thrifty (adj.) – careful with money |propensity (n.) – preference |

|solemn (adj.) – serious |discord (n.) – tension |

|pragmatic (adj.) – practical |precipitate (v.) – to cause to begin in an abrupt manner |

|steadfast (adj.) – faithful |unethical (adj.) – lacking morals |

|List #23: Quiz Date _________________ |List #26: Quiz Date _________________ |

| | |

|clairvoyant (adj.) – extraordinarily perceptive |arbitrary (adj.) – according to impulse |

|chimerical (adj.) – imaginary |blatant (adj.) – embarrassingly obvious |

|eccentric (adj.) – unusual |capricious (adj.) – not steady |

|karma (n.) – your life force that determines your fate |desultory (adj.) – in a random fashion |

|enigma (n.) – a mystery |extraneous (adj.) – extra |

|vicarious (adj.) – experienced secondhand |flagrant (adj.) – noticeable in a negative way |

|hypothetical (adj.) – based on a theory |devious (adj.) – deceptive |

|cryptic (adj.) – obscure |compatible (adj.) – well-suited |

|esoteric (adj.) – of knowledge belonging to initiated people |detrimental (adj.) – harmful |

|oblivious (adj.) – unaware |susceptible (adj.) – open to |

|utopia (n.) – a perfect place |resignation (n.) – surrender |

|elusive (adj.) – hard to identify |sporadic (adj.) – occurring off and on |

|List #24: Quiz Date _________________ |List #27: Quiz Date _________________ |

| | |

|virulent (adj.) – full of evil intent |exhaust (v.) – to use up |

|whimsical (adj.) – based on a whim (sudden thought) |enervate (v.) – to drain of energy |

|voluminous (adj.) – numerous |carp (v.) –to find fault |

|ubiquitous (adj.) – found everywhere |coerce (v.) to force |

|turbulent (adj.) – marked by turmoil and unrest |bolster (v.) – to support |

|haphazard (adj.) – random |belittle (v.) – to make fun of |

|precocious (adj.) – showing early mental development |advocate (v.) – to recommend |

|vindictive (adj.) – eager for revenge |cajole (v.) to beg |

|unimpeachable (adj.) – blameless |facilitate (v.) – to make easier |

|voracious (adj.) – insatiably hungry |denounce (v.) – to criticize publicly |

|homogenous (adj.) – alike |deplete (v.) – to greatly reduce |

|incongruous (adj.) – out of place |alienate (v.) – to set apart by ill will |

|List #28: Quiz Date _________________ |

| |

|bizarre (adj.) – unusual |

|prosaic (adj.) – ordinary |

|zany (adj.) – wacky |

|static (adj.) – unchanging |

|urbane (adj.) – sophisticated |

|opaque (adj.) – difficult to understand |

|stoic (adj.) – showing no feeling |

|subtle (adj.) – not obvious |

|latent (adj.) – hidden |

|innate (adj.) – inborn |

|futile (adj.) – ineffective |

|candid (adj.) – honest |

|List #29: Quiz Date _________________ |

| |

|quizzical (adj.) – questioning |

|rigorous (adj.) – demanding |

|reprehensible (adj.) – deserving blame |

|salutary (adj.) promoting good health |

|prolific (adj.) productive |

|recalcitrant (adj.) – defiant |

|pedestrian (adj.) – common |

|unassailable (adj.) – not open to attack |

|volatile (adj.) – explosive |

|superfluous (adj.) – extra |

|obsolete (adj.) – out of date |

|diffident (adj.) – hesitant |

|List #30: Quiz Date _________________ |

| |

|aloof (adj.) – distant; unfriendly |

|partisan (adj.) – biased |

|demeanor (n.) – manner of handling yourself |

|altruism (n.) – unselfish giving |

|austere (adj.) – reserved |

|provincial (adj.) – unsophisticated |

|authoritarian (adj.) – favoring allegiance to authority |

|nonchalant (adj.) – casual |

|brusque (adj.) – abrupt |

|contrite (adj.) – sorrowful |

|conciliatory (adj.) – reconciling |

|spurious (adj.) - false |

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