Ages
16+
Advanced vocabulary development
PSAT
SAT
GRE
Word list 1
Group 1
Notes
Abhor
hate
...................................................
Bigot
narrow-minded, prejudiced person
...................................................
Counterfeit
fake; false
...................................................
Enfranchise
give voting rights
...................................................
Hamper
hinder; obstruct
...................................................
Kindle
to start a fire
...................................................
Noxious
harmful; poisonous; lethal
...................................................
Placid
calm; peaceful
...................................................
Remuneration
payment for work done
...................................................
Talisman
lucky charm
...................................................
Group 2
Notes
Abrasive
rough; coarse; harsh
...................................................
Bilk
cheat; defraud
...................................................
Covert
hidden; undercover
...................................................
Engender
cause
...................................................
Hangar
storage area (like garage) for a plane
...................................................
Knotty
complex; difficult to solve
...................................................
Nuance
something subtle; a fine shade of meaning
...................................................
Plagiarism
taking credit for someone else's writing or ideas
...................................................
Renown
fame
...................................................
Tangent
going off the main subject
...................................................
More word lists and tips at http://www.majortests.com/word-lists
Page 1 of 5
Group 3
Notes
Abasement
humiliation; degradation
...................................................
Billowing
swelling; fluttering; waving
...................................................
Cower
recoil in fear or servility; shrink away from
...................................................
Enhance
improve; make better or clearer
...................................................
Harangue
noisy, attacking speech
...................................................
Labyrinth
a maze
...................................................
Nullify
to counter; make unimportant
...................................................
Plaintiff
petitioner (in court of law)
...................................................
Replete
full
...................................................
Tangible
can be touched
...................................................
Group 4
Notes
Abrogate
cancel; deny; repeal
...................................................
Blasphemy
speech which offends religious sentiments
...................................................
Credible
believable
...................................................
Enigma
puzzle; mystery
...................................................
Harbingers
indicators; bringers of warnings
...................................................
Labyrinthine
complicated; highly convoluted
...................................................
Nuzzle
cuddle; snuggle
...................................................
Plaudit
statement giving strong praise
...................................................
Reprehensible
shameful; very bad
...................................................
Tardy
slow; late; overdue; delayed
...................................................
More word lists and tips at http://www.majortests.com/word-lists
Page 2 of 5
Group 5
Notes
Absolution
forgiveness; pardon; release
...................................................
Blatant
obvious
...................................................
Creditable
praiseworthy
...................................................
Ensconce
establish firmly in a position
...................................................
Hasten
hurry; accelerate; rush
...................................................
Laceration
a cut
...................................................
Obdurate
stubborn
...................................................
Plausible
can be believed; reasonable
...................................................
Reprieve
a respite; postponement of a sentence
...................................................
Tawdry
of little value; gaudy
...................................................
Group 6
Notes
Abstain
desist; go without; withdraw
...................................................
Blighted
damaged; destroyed; ruined
...................................................
Credulous
gullible; ready to believe anything
...................................................
Enshroud
cover
...................................................
Haughtiness
arrogance; pride
...................................................
Lachrymose
tearful; sad
...................................................
Obfuscate
deliberately make something difficult to understand ...................................................
Plethora
an excess
...................................................
Repudiate
shun; eschew
...................................................
Tedium
boredom
...................................................
More word lists and tips at http://www.majortests.com/word-lists
Page 3 of 5
Group 7
Notes
Abstemious
self denying; refraining from indulging
...................................................
Blithe
free-spirited; carefree
...................................................
Crepuscular
active at dawn and dusk
...................................................
Enunciation
clear pronunciation; accent; articulation
...................................................
Headstrong
stubborn; willful
...................................................
Lackluster
dull; monotonous; bland
...................................................
Objective
unbiased; not subjective
...................................................
Pliable
flexible; not stubborn
...................................................
Rescind
retract; repeal
...................................................
Temper
to moderate; soften
...................................................
Group 8
Notes
Abstruse
difficult to understand; obscure
...................................................
Blunderbuss
1. ancient weapon (type of gun); 2. a clumsy person ...................................................
Cringe
recoil; flinch; shy away
...................................................
Envenom
to cause bitterness and bad feeling
...................................................
Hedonism
self indulgence; pleasure-seeking
...................................................
Laconic
using few words; brief; to the point
...................................................
Oblique
indirect; slanting
...................................................
Plumage
feathers of a bird
...................................................
Resignation
acceptance of fate
...................................................
Tenacious
stubborn; resolute; holding firm to a purpose
...................................................
More word lists and tips at http://www.majortests.com/word-lists
Page 4 of 5
Group 9
Notes
Accolade
tribute; honor; praise
...................................................
Bolster
support; prop up
...................................................
Cryptic
puzzling; enigmatic
...................................................
Ephemeral
short-lived
...................................................
Hedonist
a pleasure seeker
...................................................
Lamentation
expression of regret or sorrow
...................................................
Obliterate
destroy; demolish; eradicate
...................................................
Plummet
fall suddenly and steeply
...................................................
Resolution
determination
...................................................
Tentative
not certain
...................................................
Group 10
Notes
Acquiesce
to agree to; give in to
...................................................
Bombast
arrogant, pompous language
...................................................
Curtail
cut short
...................................................
Epicure
someone who appreciates good food and drink
...................................................
Heed
listen to
...................................................
Lampoon
ridicule; spoof
...................................................
Oblivious
totally unaware
...................................................
Podium
raised platform
...................................................
Resonant
echoing
...................................................
Tenuous
flimsy; not solid
...................................................
More word lists and tips at http://www.majortests.com/word-lists
Page 5 of 5