Having a strong understanding and ability to use a wide range of words accurately is important for students to achieve outstanding scores on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT.

Reading Comprehension

The SAT and ACT reading sections involve understanding complex passages. A strong vocabulary allows you to quickly comprehend the meaning of these texts, discern the subtleties of language, and understand the author's intent, tone, and argument structure.

Writing and Language

Many questions in the SAT Reading and Writing section and the ACT English section test your ability to edit and improve sentences. Recognizing subtle differences in word choice and understanding of word usage and nuances in context can help you identify the most precise and effective options for sentence improvement.

Confidence

The more words you know, the less likely you are to be thrown off by unfamiliar terms in the exam. A strong vocabulary boosts your confidence and helps you navigate the test more effectively.

 
 
SAAT & ACT Vocabulary Words
Here are 306 words you must know for the SAT and ACT:
Word Part of Speech Definition Root Word Synonym Antonym Sample Sentence
Abhor Verb To regard with disgust and hatred. Latin abhorrere Detest Admire She abhors violence and prefers peaceful solutions.
Abrasive Adj. Showing little concern for others; harsh. Latin abrasivus Harsh Gentle His abrasive remarks alienated his coworkers.
Abrupt Adj. Sudden or unexpected; brief and curt in manner. Latin abruptus Sudden Gradual His abrupt departure left everyone shocked and confused.
Absolve Verb To free someone from blame, guilt, or responsibility. Latin absolvere Exonerate Condemn The jury absolved her of all wrongdoing.
Abstain Verb To restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something. Latin abstinere Refrain Indulge He abstained from eating dessert to maintain his diet.
Abundance Noun A large quantity of something; more than enough. Latin abundantia Plenty Scarcity The region is known for its abundance of natural resources.
Abundant Adj. Existing or available in large quantities. Latin abundare Plentiful Scarce The region is known for its abundant natural resources.
Accentuate Verb To emphasize or highlight. Latin accentuare Highlight Downplay The design accentuates the modern features of the building.
Accessible Adj. Easy to approach or reach; capable of being used or understood. Latin accessibilis Reachable Inaccessible The new website is much more accessible than the old one.
Adamant Adj. Refusing to be persuaded or change one’s mind. Greek adamas Unyielding Flexible She was adamant about finishing the project on time, despite obstacles.
Adept Adj. Very skilled or proficient at something. Latin adeptus Skilled Inept He is adept at solving complex math problems.
Adhere Verb To stick firmly to a surface or to follow a set of rules or beliefs. Latin adhaerere Stick Detach; Disobey The paint adheres well to the wood surface. The artist chose to adhere strictly to the classical style of painting.
Admonish Verb To warn or reprimand someone firmly. Latin admonere Reprimand Praise The teacher admonished the students for not completing their homework.
Affable Adj. Friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to. Latin affabilis Friendly Rude His affable demeanor made him popular among his peers.
Affirm Verb To state as a fact; to declare strongly. Latin affirmare Assert Deny The witness affirmed that she saw the suspect at the scene.
Agitate Verb To stir or disturb emotionally or physically. Latin agitare Upset Calm The loud noises agitated the baby, causing her to cry.
Alternating Adj. Occurring in turns or rotation; switching back and forth between different states or actions. Latin alternare Rotating Consistent The alternating patterns of light and dark made the room feel dynamic.
Ambiguous Adj. Open to more than one interpretation; unclear. Latin ambiguus Unclear Clear The politician’s ambiguous statement left voters confused.
Ambivalent Adj. Having mixed or contradictory feelings about something. Latin ambivalens Conflicted Certain She felt ambivalent about moving to a new city—excited but also apprehensive.
Amiable Adj. Having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner. Latin amicabilis Pleasant Hostile Her amiable personality made her well-liked by everyone.
Amplify Verb To increase the volume or intensity of something. Latin amplificare Magnify Diminish The speaker amplified his voice to address the large crowd.
Animosity Noun Strong hostility or dislike. Latin animositas Hostility Friendship There was clear animosity between the rival teams.
Annotate Verb To add explanatory notes or comments to a text or diagram. Latin annotare Comment Ignore The teacher asked us to annotate the passage with notes about its themes.
Approximate Adj./Verb Close to the actual, but not completely accurate or exact. Latin approximare Estimate Exact The approximate distance between the two cities is 200 miles.
Ardent Adj. Enthusiastic or passionate. Latin ardere Passionate Indifferent She was an ardent supporter of the environmental movement.
Arouse Verb To awaken or stimulate a feeling or response; to provoke. Latin arousare Stimulate Calm The announcement aroused a sense of excitement in the audience.
Articulate Verb To express an idea or feeling clearly. Latin articulare Expressive Mumble The professor articulated his ideas with precision and clarity.
Ascertain Verb To find out for certain. Latin certus Determine Assume The detective worked to ascertain the facts of the case.
Assert Verb To state or declare something confidently or forcefully. Latin assertus Declare Doubt He asserted his innocence in the face of the accusations.
Atypical Adj. Not typical; unusual or uncommon. Greek a- + typikos Unusual Typical The artist’s work was considered atypical for its time, breaking conventional norms.
Audacious Adj. Bold, daring, or showing a lack of respect. Latin audacia Bold Cautious His audacious plan to climb the mountain without gear shocked everyone.
Augment Verb To make something greater by adding to it. Latin augmentare Enhance Reduce She took on a second job to augment her income.
Austere Adj. Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance. Greek austeros Stern Luxurious The monk’s austere lifestyle contrasted with the lavish surroundings.
Benevolent Adj. Well-meaning and kind. Latin benevolens Kind Malevolent Her benevolent gestures earned her the admiration of the community.
Bolster Verb To support or strengthen. Middle English Support Weaken The coach’s pep talk bolstered the team’s morale.
Bombastic Adj. High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated. Greek bombos Pretentious Concise His bombastic speech failed to convey a clear message.
Brash Adj. Self-assertive in a rude or overbearing way. Old Norse brasa Impulsive Reserved His brash behavior alienated potential allies.
Buttress Noun/Verb A structure built to support or reinforce a wall or building; to support or strengthen something. Old French bastir Strengthen Undermine The church’s walls were buttressed with large stone supports.
Candid Adj. Truthful and straightforward. Latin candidus Honest Deceptive She gave a candid assessment of her colleague's performance.
Capitulate Verb To cease to resist an opponent or surrender. Latin capitulare Surrender Resist The enemy was forced to capitulate after weeks of siege.
Catastrophic Adj. Involving or causing great damage or disaster. Greek katastrophē Disastrous Beneficial The earthquake had catastrophic consequences for the local population.
Circumvent Verb To find a way around an obstacle or restriction; to avoid by cleverness. Latin circumvenire Avoid Confront The company tried to circumvent the new regulations by finding loopholes.
Coerce Verb To persuade someone forcefully to do something. Latin coercere Compel Allow They coerced the witness into giving false testimony.
Cognitive Adj. Relating to the mental processes of perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning. Latin cognitio Mental Physical Cognitive development is essential for young children as they learn new skills.
Cognizant Adj. Having knowledge or awareness. Latin cognoscere Aware Ignorant He is fully cognizant of the risks involved in this venture.
Commercialize Verb To manage or exploit something for financial gain; to turn into a commercial product or activity. Latin commercium Market Decommercialize The company plans to commercialize its new technology by next year.
Complementary Adj. Combining in such a way as to enhance or complete something. Latin complementum Harmonious Dissimilar Their talents were complementary, making them an ideal team.
Compose Verb To create or form something, especially in writing or music; to arrange parts into a whole. Latin componere Create Destroy She composed a beautiful symphony that was performed worldwide.
Conceal Verb To hide or keep something out of sight. Latin concelare Hide Reveal He tried to conceal his disappointment, but it was obvious.
Concede Verb To admit or acknowledge something, often reluctantly or after initial resistance. Latin concedere Admit Deny After much debate, he conceded that his opponent had a stronger argument.
Conceptualize Verb To form a concept or idea of something in one’s mind. Latin conceptus Imagine Confuse She conceptualized a new business model that revolutionized the industry.
Concise Adj. Brief but comprehensive. Latin concisus Brief Lengthy Her presentation was concise and straight to the point.
Configure Verb To arrange or set up something in a particular way. Latin configurare Arrange Disorganize You need to configure the software settings before use.
Consult Verb To seek advice or information from someone or something. Latin consultare Advise Ignore He consulted with his lawyer before making the final decision.
Consume Verb To use up or destroy something; to eat or drink something. Latin consumere Devour Conserve They consumed the entire pizza within minutes.
Contoured Adj. Shaped or formed into a particular outline, especially one that is smooth or curved. Latin contour Shaped Flat The contoured surface of the chair made it very comfortable.
Contrive Verb To plan or devise something, often in a clever or creative manner. Latin conterere Devise Destroy They contrived an ingenious plan to surprise their friend on her birthday.
Convert Verb To change something into a different form, state, or use. Latin convertere Transform Maintain He decided to convert his garage into a home office.
Convey Verb To communicate or transport something from one place to another. Latin convehere Communicate Hold The letter conveyed a sense of urgency and concern.
Convoluted Adj. Extremely complex and difficult to follow. Latin convolutus Complicated Simple The convoluted explanation left everyone confused.
Copious Adj. Abundant in supply or quantity. Latin copia Abundant Sparse The farmer had a copious harvest this year.
Correlates Verb To show a mutual relationship or connection between two things. Latin correlare Connects Diverge The rise in temperature correlates with the increase in energy consumption.
Critical Adj. Extremely important; essential for a particular purpose; involving an analysis or judgment. Greek kritikos Crucial Insignificant It is critical that you submit the report by Friday.
Cultivate Verb To grow or nurture something, especially crops or skills. Latin cultivare Nurture Neglect He cultivated a passion for reading during his childhood.
Daunt Verb To make someone feel intimidated or apprehensive. Latin domitare Intimidate Encourage The steep mountain did not daunt the experienced climber.
Debilitate Verb To weaken or make something less effective. Latin debilis Weaken Strengthen The illness debilitated him, leaving him bedridden for weeks.
Deceptive Adj. Misleading or giving a false impression. Latin deceptus Misleading Honest The advertisement was deceptive, leading customers to believe the product was free.
Definitive Adj. Conclusive and authoritative; final. Latin definitus Conclusive Tentative The dictionary is the definitive source for spelling and definitions.
Deft Adj. Neatly skillful and quick in one’s movements. Old English daft Skillful Clumsy The pianist’s deft fingers danced across the keys.
Delegate Verb To assign responsibility or authority to another person or group. Latin delegare Assign Retain She delegated the task to her assistant, trusting them to handle it efficiently.
Deliberate Adj. Done consciously and intentionally. Latin deliberare Intentional Accidental The deliberate actions of the protestors drew widespread attention.
Depict Verb To represent or portray something through words, pictures, or other forms. Latin depictus Portray Misrepresent The artist depicted the landscape with stunning detail.
Descend Verb To move downward; to slope or fall to a lower position. Latin descendere Fall Ascend The hikers began to descend the mountain after reaching the summit.
Diligent Adj. Showing care and effort in one’s work or duties. Latin diligere Hardworking Lazy She is diligent in completing her assignments on time.
Discern Verb To recognize or perceive something clearly, especially with effort. Latin discernere Perceive Overlook She could easily discern the subtle differences between the two paintings.
Disconcerting Adj. Causing discomfort or confusion; unsettling. Latin disconcertare Unsettling Reassuring The sudden change in schedule was disconcerting to everyone involved.
Discreet Adj. Careful in one’s speech or actions to avoid causing offense or revealing private information. Latin discretus Tactful Reckless They held a discreet meeting to discuss the confidential matter.
Disengage Verb To separate or detach something from a connection or attachment. Latin disengagere Detach Attach He tried to disengage himself from the argument but couldn’t resist.
Dismissive Adj. Showing disregard or lack of interest; treating something as unworthy of attention. Latin dimittere Indifferent Respectful Her dismissive attitude towards the suggestions irritated the group.
Disorienting Adj. Causing confusion or loss of direction, especially in space or time. Latin disorientare Confusing Clear The sudden change in environment was disorienting, leaving everyone uncertain.
Disparate Adj. Essentially different or dissimilar in kind or quality. Latin disparatus Different Similar The two teams were made up of disparate groups with very different backgrounds.
Dispute Verb/Noun To argue about something; a disagreement or conflict. Latin disputare Debate Agree They had a heated dispute over the project’s direction.
Diverge Verb To separate or move in different directions from a common point. Latin divergere Separate Converge The two paths diverge at the foot of the mountain, leading to different destinations.
Diverse Adj. Showing a great deal of variety; very different from one another. Latin diversus Varied Similar The class was made up of a diverse group of students from various cultural backgrounds.
Docile Adj. Ready to accept control or instruction; submissive. Latin docilis Obedient Defiant The dog was surprisingly docile despite its large size.
Domesticate Verb To tame or train an animal or plant to live and reproduce in a human-controlled environment. Latin domesticus Tame Wild They worked for years to domesticate the wild horses.
Elaborate Verb/Adj. To develop or present something in great detail; involving many careful parts. Latin elaborare Detailed Simplify She elaborated on her idea during the meeting, providing several examples.
Eloquent Adj. Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing. Latin eloquens Persuasive Inarticulate The speaker’s eloquent words inspired the audience.
Elusive Adj. Difficult to find, catch, or achieve; hard to define or understand. Latin elusivus Evasive Clear The solution to the puzzle was elusive, and no one could solve it.
Emphasize Verb To give special importance or attention to something. Greek emphaino Highlight Downplay The teacher emphasized the importance of completing the assignment on time.
Engaging Adj. Attractive or charming; capable of holding one’s attention. Latin engagiare Captivating Boring The speaker delivered an engaging presentation that kept the audience captivated.
Enhance Verb To improve the quality or value of something. Latin inaltare Improve Diminish The bright lighting enhanced the appearance of the room.
Ephemeral Adj. Lasting for a very short time. Greek ephemeros Fleeting Permanent The beauty of the sunset was ephemeral but breathtaking.
Exemplify Verb To illustrate or clarify by giving an example. Latin exemplum Illustrate Misrepresent The teacher used the novel to exemplify the themes of love and sacrifice.
Fabricate Verb To invent or make something; to invent or concoct something, usually with the intention to deceive. Latin fabricari Manufacture Verify He fabricated the story to cover up his mistake.
Facetious Adj. Treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor. Latin facetia Sarcastic Serious His facetious comments during the meeting were not appreciated.
Fallacious Adj. Based on a mistaken belief or unsound reasoning. Latin fallacia Misleading Valid His argument was fallacious and lacked logical support.
Fathom Verb To understand or comprehend something deeply. Old English fæðm Comprehend Misunderstand It’s hard to fathom the scale of the universe.
Favorable Adj. Showing approval or support; likely to lead to success or good results. Latin favorabilis Advantageous Unfavorable The weather conditions were favorable for the outdoor event.
Fervent Adj. Displaying passionate intensity. Latin ferventem Enthusiastic Indifferent Her fervent dedication to the cause was evident in her work.
Flamboyant Adj. Tending to attract attention because of exuberance, confidence, or stylishness. Latin flambare Showy Subdued He wore a flamboyant outfit to the party, drawing all eyes to him.
Fluctuate Verb To vary or change frequently, often in an irregular or unpredictable way. Latin fluctuare Vary Stabilize The stock prices fluctuate constantly, making it difficult to predict trends.
Foretell Verb To predict or estimate something that will happen in the future. Old English for Predict Miss The fortune teller tried to foretell the future based on the cards.
Forge Verb To create or form something through effort or through heating and shaping, especially metal. Old French forger Create Destroy The blacksmith forged a new sword from the hot iron.
Fortuitous Adj. Happening by chance or accident. Latin fortuitus Lucky Deliberate It was a fortuitous encounter that led to their collaboration.
Gallant Adj. Brave, heroic, or exceptionally polite and attentive. Old French galer Brave Cowardly The gallant knight ventured into the dangerous forest.
Garner Verb To collect or gather, especially information or approval. Old French garnir Gather Scatter The candidate garnered widespread support through her speeches.
Glaring Adj. Extremely obvious or conspicuous. Old English glær Obvious Subtle The glaring mistake on the report was impossible to overlook.
Glorify Verb To praise or honor highly. Latin glorificare Praise Disparage The team was glorified for their historic championship win.
Gregarious Adj. Fond of company; sociable. Latin gregarius Sociable Introverted Her gregarious personality made her the life of the party.
Gullible Adj. Easily deceived or tricked. Middle English gull Naive Skeptical The gullible tourist fell for the vendor's overpriced trinkets.
Hasten Verb To move or act quickly. Old English hæst Accelerate Delay He hastened to finish his homework before the deadline.
Haughty Adj. Arrogantly superior and disdainful. Latin altus Arrogant Humble The celebrity's haughty demeanor alienated her fans.
Heed Verb To pay attention to or take notice of. Old English hēdan Observe Ignore The teacher warned them to heed the instructions carefully.
Hibernate Verb To spend a long period of time in a dormant or inactive state, especially during the winter. Latin hibernare Sleep Awake Bears hibernate during the winter to conserve energy.
Hoard Verb To accumulate and hide or store away. Old English hord Stockpile Distribute He hoarded supplies for months, preparing for a potential shortage.
Homogeneous Adj. Of the same kind; alike. Greek homogenes Uniform Heterogeneous The committee was surprisingly homogeneous in their views on the matter.
Humble Adj. Modest or low estimate of one’s importance. Latin humilis Modest Arrogant Despite his success, he remained humble and approachable.
Hypothetical Adj. Based on an assumption or theory. Greek hypothetikos Theoretical Real The scientist presented a hypothetical scenario to explain the phenomenon.
Illogical Adj. Lacking sense or clear, sound reasoning. Latin illogicus Irrational Rational His argument was illogical and did not convince the audience.
Illuminate Verb To light up or clarify. Latin illuminare Brighten Obscure The lantern illuminated the path through the forest.
Illustrious Adj. Well-known, respected, and admired for achievements. Latin illustris Renowned Unknown Her illustrious career as a scientist inspired countless students.
Immaculate Adj. Perfectly clean or free from flaws. Latin immaculatus Spotless Dirty The house was immaculate after the cleaning crew left.
Imminent Adj. About to happen; impending. Latin imminere Approaching Distant The storm's arrival was imminent, so we quickly took shelter.
Impart Verb To make information known or to give something. Latin impartire Share Withhold The professor imparted her vast knowledge to the eager students.
Impartial Adj. Not biased or prejudiced; treating all sides equally. Latin im + partialis Neutral Biased The judge was impartial, ensuring a fair trial for both parties.
Impede Verb To hinder or obstruct the progress of. Latin impedire Obstruct Facilitate Heavy traffic impeded the emergency vehicle’s progress.
Imperceptible Adj. Impossible to perceive or detect; so slight that it cannot be noticed. Latin imperceptibilis Subtle Noticeable The change in temperature was so imperceptible that no one noticed it.
Impervious Adj. Not affected or influenced by something. Latin impervius Resistant Vulnerable The material is impervious to water, making it ideal for roofing.
Impetuous Adj. Acting or done quickly without thought or care. Latin impetuosus Rash Cautious Her impetuous decision to quit her job shocked her colleagues.
Implement Verb To put a plan or decision into action; to carry out. Latin implementum Execute Neglect The company decided to implement the new policy starting next month.
Implore Verb To beg earnestly or desperately. Latin implorare Plead Demand The student implored the teacher for an extension on the project.
Impractical Adj. Not sensible or realistic; not suited to the situation or purpose. Latin im + practicus Unfeasible Practical The plan was deemed impractical due to its high cost and complexity.
Improvise Verb To create or perform something without preparation or planning, often with available materials. Latin improvisus Ad-lib Plan The actor had to improvise his lines when the script was lost.
Imprudent Adj. Not showing care for the consequences of an action. Latin imprudentis Careless Wise It was imprudent of him to invest all his savings in one risky venture.
Inadequate Adj. Not sufficient or suitable for the intended purpose; lacking in quality or quantity. Latin in + adequatus Insufficient Adequate The equipment provided was inadequate for the job, resulting in delays.
Inadvertent Adj. Occurring by chance or without intention; unintentional. Latin in + advertens Unintentional Intentional The inadvertent mistake caused the project deadline to be missed.
Incessant Adj. Continuing without pause or interruption. Latin incessans Continuous Intermittent The incessant noise of the construction work made it hard to focus.
Incite Verb To encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behavior). Latin incitare Provoke Suppress His speech incited anger among the protesters.
Inconclusive Adj. Not leading to a clear or definite conclusion; ambiguous. Latin in + concludere Uncertain Conclusive The results of the experiment were inconclusive, so further testing was needed.
Indecipherable Adj. Impossible to read, interpret, or understand due to lack of clarity or complexity. Latin in + decipherare Unreadable Readable The handwriting was so messy it was completely indecipherable.
Inept Adj. Having or showing no skill; clumsy. Latin ineptus Clumsy Competent His inept handling of the situation only made things worse.
Inevitable Adj. Certain to happen; unavoidable. Latin inevitabilis Unavoidable Avoidable Failure seemed inevitable given the lack of preparation.
Inexplicable Adj. Unable to be explained or understood; baffling. Latin in + explicare Incomprehensible Explainable The disappearance of the airplane remains inexplicable, despite extensive research.
Infallible Adj. Incapable of making mistakes or being wrong; flawless. Latin in + fallibilis Flawless Fallible The scientist believed the theory to be infallible, but later it was disproven.
Innocuous Adj. Harmless or not likely to offend or cause injury. Latin innocuus Harmless Harmful The remark was innocuous and didn't offend anyone.
Innovative Adj. Introducing or using new methods, ideas, or products; original and creative. Latin innovare Creative Conventional The startup was praised for its innovative approach to solving the problem.
Interchangeable Adj. Able to be exchanged or replaced with another item without significant difference. Latin inter + cambiare Equivalent Unique The two parts were interchangeable, making repairs easier.
Interject Verb To say something abruptly, especially during a conversation. Latin interjectus Interrupt Hold He interjected a quick comment during the heated discussion.
Intrepid Adj. Fearless, adventurous. Latin intrepidus Fearless Timid The intrepid explorers ventured into uncharted territory.
Intricate Adj. Very detailed or complex; complicated in design or structure. Latin intricatus Complex Simple The intricate pattern on the fabric was carefully designed.
Invalidate Verb To make something invalid or void; to render something without legal or logical value. Latin in + validare Nullify Validate The evidence presented in court was enough to invalidate his claim.
Invasive Adj. Tending to intrude on or interfere with something, often in an unwelcome or harmful way. Latin invadere Intrusive Harmless The invasive species spread quickly and threatened the local ecosystem.
Inventive Adj. Having the ability to create new things or ideas; creative and original. Latin invenire Original Uncreative The inventive designer introduced new ideas that transformed the industry.
Iridescent Adj. Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles. Latin iris Shimmering Dull The soap bubble was iridescent, shimmering in a rainbow of colors.
Jubilant Adj. Feeling or expressing great happiness or triumph. Latin jubila Joyful Miserable The fans were jubilant after their team won the championship.
Juxtapose Verb To place or deal with close together for contrasting effect. Latin juxta Compare Separate The artist juxtaposed bright colors with dark shadows to create a striking image.
Keen Adj. Having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm. Old English cēne Sharp Apathetic She was keen to learn everything about the new software program.
Kindle Verb To start a fire or ignite excitement or interest. Old Norse kynda Ignite Extinguish Her inspiring words kindled a passion for learning in her students.
Labyrinthine Adj. Complicated and highly intricate. Greek labyrinthos Maze-like Straightforward The labyrinthine plot of the novel kept readers guessing until the end.
Laconic Adj. Using very few words. Greek lakonikos Brief Verbose His laconic reply suggested he didn’t want to discuss the matter further.
Lament Verb To express grief or sorrow. Latin lamentari Mourn Rejoice He lamented the loss of his childhood home after the storm.
Latent Adj. Existing but not yet developed or visible; hidden or dormant. Latin latere Hidden Manifest The disease remained latent in her body for several years before symptoms appeared.
Laud Verb To praise highly, especially in public. Latin laudare Praise Criticize The poet was lauded for her unique and poignant verses.
Laudable Adj. Deserving praise or commendation. Latin laudabilis Commendable Shameful Her dedication to helping the poor is truly laudable.
Lavish Adj. Sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious. Latin lavare Extravagant Meager They threw a lavish party to celebrate the milestone.
Legitimate Adj. Conforming to the law or rules; valid or justifiable. Latin legitimus Lawful Illegitimate The company assured its customers that the transaction was legitimate and secure.
Lenient Adj. Permissive, merciful, or tolerant. Latin lenis Forgiving Strict The teacher was lenient with late assignments, understanding students' challenges.
Lethargic Adj. Sluggish and apathetic. Greek lēthargikos Sluggish Energetic After staying up all night, she felt lethargic and unmotivated.
Localized Adj. Restricted to a specific area or part. Latin localis Restricted Widespread The infection was localized to his left lung and was treated successfully.
Magnanimous Adj. Generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person. Latin magnanimus Generous Selfish Despite the heated debate, she was magnanimous in victory, thanking her opponent.
Malicious Adj. Intended to harm or hurt. Latin malitia Spiteful Benevolent His malicious behavior toward others caused a great deal of distress.
Manipulate Verb To control or influence (someone or something) cleverly or unscrupulously. Latin manipulatus Influence Surrender The villain tried to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
Melancholy Adj. A deep, persistent sadness or sorrow. Greek melankholia Sadness Joyful The melancholy mood of the film left the audience reflecting on their own lives.
Meticulous Adj. Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise. Latin meticulosus Precise Careless She was meticulous in preparing her notes for the exam.
Mimic Verb/Adj. To imitate or copy something or someone, often to entertain or mock. Greek mimikos Imitate Original She could mimic the accents of people from different regions perfectly.
Mitigate Verb To make less severe, serious, or painful. Latin mitigare Lessen Aggravate The doctor prescribed medication to mitigate the patient's symptoms.
Moderate Verb/Adj. To make something less extreme or intense; average in amount or degree. Latin moderatus Temperate Extreme The coach asked the players to moderate their efforts to avoid exhaustion.
Modest Adj. Unassuming or humble in the estimation of one’s abilities or achievements. Latin modestus Humble Arrogant Despite his many awards, he remained modest and humble.
Mundane Adj. Lacking interest or excitement; dull. Latin mundanus Ordinary Exciting The routine chores felt mundane after a long week of intense work.
Mystifying Adj. Extremely confusing or difficult to understand; baffling. Greek mystikos Puzzling Clear The magician's trick was mystifying, leaving the audience in awe.
Nebulous Adj. In the form of a cloud or haze; hazy, unclear or vague. Latin nebulosus Vague Clear His explanation was so nebulous that no one understood what he meant.
Negligible Adj. So small or unimportant as to be not worth considering. Latin neglegibilis Insignificant Significant The difference in price between the two options was negligible.
Novel Adj. New and different from anything seen or experienced before; original. Latin novus New Common His approach to the problem was novel and offered a fresh perspective.
Noxious Adj. Harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant. Latin noxius Toxic Beneficial The noxious fumes from the factory polluted the air in the nearby town.
Nuanced Adj. Showing subtle distinctions or variations in meaning, expression, or feeling. Latin nube Subtle Obvious The film's portrayal of love was nuanced, capturing the complexity of human emotion.
Obfuscate Verb To confuse, bewilder, or make unclear. Latin obfuscatus Confuse Clarify The professor's complex explanation only served to obfuscate the topic further.
Obscure Adj./Verb Not well-known or understood; unclear; to make something unclear. Latin obscurus Conceal Clear The explanation was so obscure that no one understood what he meant.
Observant Adj. Quick to notice or perceive things; paying careful attention to details. Latin observare Perceptive Inattentive She was observant enough to catch the mistake in the report before it was sent out.
Obsolete Adj. No longer produced or used; out of date. Latin obsoletus Outdated Modern The technology quickly became obsolete as newer models were introduced.
Offhand Adj. Done or said without preparation or thought; casual. Old English of hand Casual Thoughtful His offhand remark upset many of the employees, even though he didn’t mean harm.
Ominous Adj. Giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen. Latin ominus Threatening Promising The dark clouds gave an ominous feeling to the day.
Operative Adj./Verb In operation or use; a person actively involved in an activity or operation. Latin operari Functional Inactive The new software is fully operative and ready for use in all departments.
Opulent Adj. Wealthy, luxurious, or lavish. Latin opulentus Luxurious Poor The opulent palace was filled with fine art and golden decor.
Originate Verb To begin or come into existence; to create or start something. Latin oriri Begin End The idea for the project originated from a discussion at last year’s conference.
Ornamental Adj. Serving as decoration rather than for a practical purpose. Latin ornare Decorative Functional The vase was purely ornamental, with no real use other than decoration.
Oscillate Verb To move or swing back and forth in a regular rhythm. Latin oscillare Swing Steady The fan oscillated in the corner, providing a cool breeze in the room.
Overt Adj. Done or shown openly; plainly apparent. Latin overtus Obvious Covert Her overt display of affection was noticed by everyone in the room.
Palpable Adj. Able to be touched or felt; tangible; clear to the mind or senses. Latin palpabilis Tangible Intangible The tension in the room was palpable as everyone awaited the decision.
Paucity Noun The presence of something in small amounts or numbers; scarcity. Latin paucus Scarcity Abundance The paucity of evidence made it difficult to reach a conclusion in the case.
Peripheral Adj. Related to or located on the edge of something; secondary or less important. Greek peripheria Marginal Central The meeting focused on the main issues, with peripheral topics saved for later.
Persevere Verb To continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or opposition. Latin perseverare Persist Give up She persevered through years of study to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor.
Persistent Adj. Continuing firmly or steadily in a course of action despite difficulties or opposition. Latin persistere Determined Fleeting His persistent efforts to improve the system eventually paid off.
Pervasive Adj. Spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people. Latin pervasus Widespread Limited The pervasive scent of freshly baked cookies filled the entire house.
Polarized Adj. Divided sharply into opposing groups or views. Latin polar Divided Unified The debate was highly polarized, with each side refusing to compromise.
Pragmatic Adj. Dealing with things sensibly and realistically based on practical considerations. Greek pragmatikos Practical Idealistic His pragmatic approach to solving the problem saved both time and resources.
Precocious Adj. Showing unusually early development, especially mental or intellectual. Latin praecox Advanced Slow The precocious child could read by the age of three.
Predatory Adj. Seeking to exploit or harm others, often for personal gain; related to predators. Latin praedator Exploitative Prey The predatory behavior of the company led to lawsuits from employees.
Predetermine Adj. To decide or determine in advance, especially by fate or a higher power. Latin praedeterminare Prearrange Unplanned His actions seemed predetermined, as if everything had already been decided for him.
Prescribe Verb To recommend or authorize the use of something, especially a treatment or remedy. Latin praescribere Recommend Proscribe The doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics to treat the infection.
Prevail Verb To prove more powerful or superior; to win or succeed after a struggle. Latin praevalere Triumph Fail After a long legal battle, justice finally prevailed.
Proclaim Verb To announce officially or publicly. Latin proclamare Announce Conceal The president will proclaim the new law during the ceremony tomorrow.
Prodigal Adj. Spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wasteful. Latin prodigus Wasteful Thrifty The prodigal son squandered his inheritance in a short amount of time.
Prolific Adj. Producing a large amount of something. Latin prolificus Productive Unproductive The prolific writer published a new novel every year.
Propagate Verb To breed or spread something, especially ideas or knowledge. Latin propagare Spread Suppress The organization works to propagate awareness about climate change.
Proponent Noun A person who advocates or supports a cause or idea. Latin proponere Advocate Opponent She was a leading proponent of environmental conservation.
Prosaic Adj. Lacking poetic beauty; dull or ordinary. Latin prosaicus Ordinary Imaginative His prosaic writing style failed to capture the audience’s interest.
Proscribe Verb To forbid, especially by law; to condemn or outlaw. Latin proscribere Forbid Prescribe The government decided to proscribe the use of the harmful chemical.
Quell Verb To put an end to something, usually by force. Old French quel Suppress Provoke The police were able to quell the riot before it escalated further.
Quixotic Adj. Extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical. Spanish Quijote Idealistic Practical His quixotic dreams of becoming a superhero were charming but unrealistic.
Recalcitrant Adj. Stubbornly resistant to authority or control. Latin recalcitrare Defiant Compliant The recalcitrant student refused to follow the teacher's instructions.
Recant Verb To withdraw or retract a statement or belief, especially formally. Latin recantare Retract Confirm After further investigation, he decided to recant his earlier statement.
Reciprocate Verb To respond to a gesture or action by making a corresponding one; to give and receive in return. Latin reciprocus Return Ignore She reciprocated his kindness by inviting him to her birthday party.
Recondite Adj. Little known; obscure, difficult to understand. Latin reconditus Obscure Obvious The professor’s recondite lecture left many students confused.
Refute Verb To prove something to be false or incorrect by providing evidence or argument. Latin refutare Disprove Confirm The lawyer refuted the accusations with solid evidence.
Rejuvenate Verb To make something or someone look or feel younger, fresher, or more lively. Latin rejuvenare Revitalize Deteriorate A good night's sleep can rejuvenate your mind and body.
Relevant Adj. Closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand; important. Latin relevare Pertinent Irrelevant Her comments were relevant to the discussion and helped clarify the issue.
Relinquish Verb To voluntarily give up or let go of something. Latin relinquere Surrender Retain He was forced to relinquish control of the project after his failure to meet deadlines.
Remorse Noun Deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed. Latin remorsus Regret Satisfaction He felt great remorse for his actions and apologized profusely.
Renounce Verb To formally give up or reject a belief, cause, or claim. Latin renuntiare Reject Accept He chose to renounce his citizenship in favor of a different country.
Repercussion Noun An unintended consequence or effect, often negative. Latin repercutere Consequence Cause The repercussion of her decision was felt by everyone in the organization.
Replicable Adj. Capable of being reproduced or repeated. Latin replicare Reproducible Unique The experiment was designed to be replicable, allowing others to verify the results.
Repudiate Verb To reject, deny, or disown something, especially a belief or opinion. Latin repudiare Deny Accept The politician repudiated the claims made against him during the campaign.
Rescind Verb To revoke, cancel, or repeal a law, order, or agreement. Latin rescindere Revoke Enforce The company decided to rescind the job offer after reviewing his application.
Resilient Adj. Able to recover quickly from difficulties; tough and adaptable. Latin resilire Hardy Fragile She showed resilient strength after the accident, returning to work soon after.
Restless Adj. Unable to rest or relax; constantly moving or active due to anxiety or agitation. Old French restless Uneasy Calm He felt restless during the long wait and couldn’t sit still.
Restrained Adj. Controlled, limited, or held back; not excessive or extreme in expression. Latin restrainere Controlled Unrestrained His restrained behavior at the meeting showed professionalism and composure.
Reticent Adj. Not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily; reserved. Latin reticens Reserved Outgoing He was reticent about sharing personal details during the interview.
Revere Verb To feel deep respect or admiration for something or someone. Latin revereri Respect Disrespect They revered their teacher for her wisdom and kindness.
Rigorous Adj. Strict and demanding, requiring a high level of effort and precision. Latin rigor Strict Lenient The rigorous training schedule prepared the athletes for the competition.
Rudimentary Adj. Involving or limited to basic principles; simple or primitive. Latin rudimentum Basic Advanced His rudimentary understanding of the subject required extra tutoring.
Sagacious Adj. Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment. Latin sagacitas Wise Foolish The sagacious leader made decisions that benefitted the entire community.
Salient Adj. Most noticeable or important; prominent. Latin salire Prominent Unimportant The salient features of the landscape included towering mountains and vast deserts.
Scrupulous Adj. Diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details, often because of a strong moral code. Latin scrupulosus Conscientious Careless The scrupulous lawyer reviewed every document before submission.
Sear Verb To burn or scorch the surface of something with intense heat. Old French sorgier Scorch Soften The chef seared the steak to lock in its juices.
Sequester Verb To isolate or hide away (someone or something). Latin sequester Isolate Release The jury was sequestered during the trial to avoid outside influence.
Serene Adj. Calm, peaceful, and untroubled. Latin serenus Peaceful Agitated The serene landscape provided the perfect setting for a quiet afternoon.
Shrewd Adj. Having or showing sharp judgment and common sense. Middle English shrewd Clever Foolish The shrewd investor made decisions that increased his wealth.
Simulate Verb To imitate the appearance or character of something, typically for training or research purposes. Latin simulatus Imitate Real The flight simulator allowed the pilot to simulate emergency scenarios.
Sinuous Adj. Having many curves and turns; winding. Latin sinus Winding Straight The sinuous road wound through the forest, offering breathtaking views.
Skeptical Adj. Doubtful or inclined to question accepted beliefs or statements. Greek skeptikos Doubtful Confident She was skeptical of the new diet fad and wanted to see more evidence before trying it.
Soporific Adj. Tending to induce sleep or drowsiness. Latin sopor Sleep-inducing Stimulating The soporific lecture made it difficult to stay awake.
Speculate Verb To form a theory or conjecture without sufficient evidence; to guess. Latin speculari Theorize Certify They speculated about the cause of the delay but had no solid information.
Spurious Adj. Not being what it purports to be; false or fake. Latin spurius FALSE Genuine His spurious claims were quickly debunked by the authorities.
Stagnant Adj. Showing no activity or change; dull and inactive. Latin stagnum Inactive Flowing The stagnant water in the pond bred mosquitoes.
Stimulate Verb To encourage or provoke a response or activity; to make something more active or intense. Latin stimulus Encourage Soothe The music helped to stimulate their creativity during the brainstorming session.
Subjugate Verb To bring under domination or control, often by force. Latin subjugare Conquer Liberate The conquerors sought to subjugate the native population.
Substantial Adj. Of considerable importance, size, or worth; significant. Latin substantialis Significant Insignificant The company made a substantial profit this quarter, far exceeding expectations.
Subtle Adj. Delicate or precise, difficult to perceive or understand; understated. Latin subtilis Faint Obvious The artist used subtle colors to create an intricate design.
Succinct Adj. Briefly and clearly expressed; concise. Latin succinctus Concise Verbose Her succinct answer saved a lot of time during the meeting.
Succumb Verb To yield or give in to something, such as a temptation or pressure; to die from an illness or injury. Latin succumbere Yield Resist After a long battle with the disease, he eventually succumbed to his illness.
Superficial Adj. Existing or occurring at or on the surface; lacking depth or substance. Latin superficialis Shallow Deep The report provided only a superficial analysis of the issue.
Supplement Verb/Noun To add something extra to complete or enhance something else. Latin supplere Enhance Detract She decided to supplement her diet with vitamins to boost her energy levels.
Surmise Verb To suppose or guess something without sufficient evidence; to make an assumption. Latin sumere Guess Know Based on the evidence, we can only surmise that the suspect is guilty.
Surpass Verb To exceed or go beyond something in quality, achievement, or degree. Latin superare Exceed Fail Her performance surpassed all expectations, earning her top honors.
Surreal Adj. Having the qualities of a dream or fantasy; strange or unreal in a way that is disorienting. French surréaliste Unreal Realistic The scene felt surreal, as if it were taken from a dream rather than reality.
Surreptitious Adj. Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of. Latin surreptitius Secretive Open The surreptitious meeting was held in a hidden location to avoid detection.
Synchronize Verb To cause things to happen or operate at the same time or rate. Greek synchronos Coordinate Desynchronize They tried to synchronize their watches to ensure they all arrived on time.
Tactile Adj. Relating to or involving the sense of touch. Latin tactilis Touchable Visual The tactile texture of the sculpture was intriguing to the audience.
Tangible Adj. Perceptible by touch; capable of being touched or felt. Latin tangibilis Concrete Intangible The evidence was tangible and could be held in our hands.
Tedious Adj. Too long, slow, or dull; tiresome and repetitive. Latin taedere Boring Exciting The process of reviewing the long report was tedious, but necessary.
Temerity Noun Excessive confidence or boldness, often causing rash actions. Latin temeritas Audacity Caution She had the temerity to question her teacher’s authority in front of the class.
Tenacious Adj. Holding firm to a belief, goal, or course of action; persistent. Latin tenax Persistent Weak The tenacious athlete continued to train despite the setbacks.
Tenuous Adj. Very weak or slight; lacking substance or strength. Latin tenuis Weak Strong The link between the two events was tenuous at best, with little evidence to support it.
Terse Adj. Concise and to the point, often to the point of rudeness. Latin tersus Brief Wordy His terse response left no room for further discussion.
Thwart Verb To prevent someone from accomplishing something; to obstruct. Old Norse thwart Obstruct Assist The storm thwarted our plans to go sailing on the lake.
Tranquil Adj. Free from disturbance; calm and peaceful. Latin tranquillus Calm Disturbed The tranquil park was the perfect place to relax and reflect.
Transcend Verb To rise above or go beyond the limits of something, often in a spiritual or abstract way. Latin transcendere Surpass Fall Her creativity transcended the boundaries of traditional art.
Trepidation Noun A feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen. Latin trepidatio Fear Calmness The thought of speaking in front of a large crowd filled him with trepidation.
Trite Adj. Lacking originality or freshness; overused and uninteresting. Latin tritus Overused Original His trite comments on the topic did nothing to advance the conversation.
Ubiquitous Adj. Present, appearing, or found everywhere. Latin ubique Omnipresent Rare Smartphones are ubiquitous in modern society, seen in almost every hand.
Unanimous Adj. Fully in agreement, especially by all members of a group. Latin unanimus Unified Divided The decision was unanimous, with everyone agreeing on the solution.
Uncanny Adj. Strange or mysterious, often in a way that causes unease. English uncanny Strange Normal The uncanny silence in the room made everyone feel uneasy.
Unctuous Adj. Excessively flattering or ingratiating, often insincerely so. Latin unctus Insincere Genuine His unctuous compliments made everyone feel uncomfortable.
Undermine Verb To weaken or damage something gradually or covertly. Old French under Weaken Strengthen The constant criticism undermined her confidence.
Underscore Verb To emphasize or highlight something, usually to draw attention to its importance. Latin underscorere Emphasize Understate The speaker underscored the need for immediate action in the closing remarks.
Unequivocal Adj. Leaving no doubt; clear and unambiguous. Latin aequivocus Certain Ambiguous His response was unequivocal, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
Unobtrusive Adj. Not conspicuous or attracting attention; not noticeable. Latin obtrudere Subtle Obvious The waiter was unobtrusive, ensuring we had everything we needed without being noticed.
Uproarious Adj. Characterized by loud noise or laughter; very funny. Latin uproar Hilarious Quiet The comedian’s uproarious performance had the audience in stitches.
Vacillate Verb To waver between different opinions or actions; to be indecisive. Latin vacillare Waver Decide He vacillated between accepting the job offer and staying at his current position.
Vague Adj. Not clear in meaning or expression; indefinite. Latin vagus Indistinct Clear The instructions were vague, leaving us uncertain about the next step.
Validate Adj. To confirm or verify as being true, accurate, or acceptable. Latin validus Confirm Invalid The results were validated by an independent review panel before publication.
Vary Verb To change or differ in some way; to alter or modify. Latin variare Differ Remain The temperature can vary greatly between day and night in the desert.
Vehement Adj. Showing strong feeling or passion; forceful or intense. Latin vehemens Passionate Indifferent He spoke with vehement anger during the debate.
Verisimilitude Noun The appearance or quality of being real or true; the resemblance to reality. Latin verus + similitudo Realism Falseness The movie’s attention to detail gave it a sense of verisimilitude that captivated the audience.
Vex Verb To annoy or worry someone; to cause distress. Latin vexare Irritate Soothe The constant noise began to vex the students trying to concentrate.
Vindicate Verb To clear someone of blame or suspicion; to justify or prove something right. Latin vindicare Justify Accuse The evidence finally vindicated him and proved his innocence.
Virtuous Adj. Having high moral standards; righteous. Latin virtus Ethical Immoral The virtuous knight always helped those in need.
Volatile Adj. Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse; highly unstable. Latin volatilis Unstable Stable The volatile stock market caused many investors to panic.
Waive Verb To voluntarily give up or relinquish a right or claim. Old French waiver Relinquish Retain He decided to waive his right to a trial and accepted the settlement offer.
Warranted Adj. Justified or deserved; reasonable. Old French garantir Justified Unjustified Her frustration was warranted after the long wait for assistance.
Wayward Adj. Difficult to control or predict, especially due to unusual or unpredictable behavior. Old English waeg Erratic Obedient The wayward child refused to follow the rules.
Winsome Adj. Attractive or appealing in a charming or pleasing way. Old English wynn Charming Unattractive Her winsome smile made her instantly likable.
Wistful Adj. Longing or yearning for something that may never be attained; melancholic. Old English wist Melancholy Cheerful He felt wistful as he looked at the old photograph of his childhood home.
Zealous Adj. Showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective. Greek zelos Enthusiastic Apathetic The zealous volunteers worked tirelessly to support the cause.
Zenith Noun The highest point or peak; the culmination. Latin zenith Peak Nadir The company reached its zenith with record profits last year.