HSPT Vocabulary Reference
Compiled from Barron’s HSPT Prep
Actions / Behavior
Word Part of Definition Synonyms Antonyms
Speech
abdicate verb to give up a position of power or resign, step down, claim, seize, retain
responsibility relinquish
abhor verb to hate something strongly hate, detest, loathe like, admire, tolerate
because it feels wrong
adorn verb to decorate or add beauty to decorate, beautify, deface, mar, strip
something embellish
agitate verb to disturb or upset; to stir up upset, provoke, stir calm, soothe, settle
avert verb to prevent something bad from prevent, avoid, ward off allow, invite, encourage
happening
bolster verb to support or strengthen support, reinforce, boost weaken, undermine,
hinder
contaminate verb to make something dirty or pollute, taint, spoil cleanse, purify, sanitize
unsafe
contrive verb to plan or invent cleverly or devise, engineer, scheme neglect, ignore,
dishonestly mismanage
desecrate verb to treat something sacred with violate, defile, profane honor, respect, sanctify
disrespect
defer verb to delay or put off to a later postpone, delay, table advance, hasten, expedite
time
embellish verb to make something more decorate, enhance, simplify, reduce, strip
attractive or detailed exaggerate
exhibit verb to show or display something display, present, showcase hide, conceal, secrete
feign verb to pretend to feel or be pretend, fake, simulate reveal, admit, show
something
forfeit verb to lose something because of a surrender, yield, give up keep, retain, preserve
rule or mistake
hamper verb to slow down or make progress hinder, obstruct, impede aid, assist, facilitate
difficult
hinder verb to block or hold back progress block, obstruct, thwart help, enable, assist
impede verb to get in the way of or slow block, delay, hamper speed, advance, promote
down
induct verb to officially bring someone into admit, enroll, inaugurate expel, dismiss, exclude
a group or position
mar verb to damage or ruin the damage, scar, spoil fix, repair, beautify
appearance of something
pilot verb to guide or test something new steer, guide, trial mislead, abandon, lose
prohibit verb to officially not allow something ban, forbid, bar allow, permit, enable
ratify verb to approve something officially approve, confirm, reject, veto, deny
authorize
reprimand verb to scold someone for doing scold, rebuke, admonish praise, commend,
wrong applaud
sever verb to cut off or end something cut, separate, split connect, join, attach
perturb verb to bother or disturb mentally disturb, unsettle, upset calm, reassure, soothe
1
Feelings / Attitudes
Word Part of Definition Synonyms Antonyms
Speech
abnormal adj. not usual or typical unusual, odd, irregular normal, typical, standard
adept adj. very skilled at something skilled, talented, unskilled, clumsy, inept
proficient
adverse adj. harmful or not helpful harmful, unfavorable, favorable, beneficial,
negative helpful
affront noun an insulting or disrespectful act insult, offense, slight compliment, praise, honor
altruistic adj. caring about others and willing selfless, charitable, giving selfish, greedy,
to help self-centered
animosity noun strong dislike or hatred hostility, hatred, rancor friendship, goodwill,
affection
arduous adj. very hard and tiring difficult, demanding, easy, simple, effortless
tough
astute adj. able to notice and understand sharp, perceptive, clever dull, slow, naive
things quickly
authentic adj. real or genuine genuine, true, legitimate fake, false, counterfeit
banal adj. boring because it’s overused stale, trite, dull original, fresh, interesting
belligerent adj. angry and ready to fight hostile, aggressive, peaceful, friendly, calm
combative
benevolent adj. kind and wanting to do good kind, charitable, generous cruel, harsh, selfish
benign adj. gentle or harmless gentle, harmless, mild harmful, dangerous,
severe
congenial adj. friendly and pleasant to be friendly, pleasant, unfriendly, cold, harsh
around agreeable
conspicuous adj. easy to notice; stands out noticeable, obvious, hidden, subtle, invisible
prominent
contrite adj. feeling sorry for doing wrong remorseful, sorry, shameless, proud,
repentant unrepentant
debilitating adj. making someone weak or unable weakening, crippling, strengthening, energizing,
to act draining fortifying
dubious adj. causing doubt; likely untrue doubtful, suspicious, certain, reliable,
sketchy trustworthy
elite adj. the best or highest level top, superior, premier ordinary, average,
common
enigma noun something mysterious or hard to mystery, puzzle, riddle clarity, explanation,
understand certainty
feeble adj. very weak weak, frail, puny strong, sturdy, powerful
futile adj. useless; sure to fail useless, pointless, effective, useful,
hopeless worthwhile
gullible adj. easily tricked naive, trusting, skeptical, wary, cautious
unsuspecting
hapless adj. very unlucky unlucky, unfortunate, lucky, blessed, fortunate
ill-fated
impediment noun something that blocks progress obstacle, barrier, aid, assistance, help
hindrance
indispensable adj. absolutely necessary essential, vital, crucial unnecessary, optional,
trivial
irate adj. extremely angry furious, enraged, mad calm, peaceful, content
jubilant adj. very happy and proud joyful, thrilled, elated sad, disappointed, gloomy
listlessness noun a tired, uninterested feeling apathy, lethargy, energy, enthusiasm, vigor
weariness
2
Word Part of Definition Synonyms Antonyms
Speech
lucid adj. clear and easy to understand clear, plain, transparent confusing, unclear,
opaque
meager adj. too small in amount scant, small, sparse plentiful, abundant,
ample
mediocrity noun only average quality averageness, ordinariness, excellence, mastery,
inferiority superiority
merit noun the quality of being good or value, worth, excellence fault, flaw, weakness
worthy
meritocracy noun a system where rewards are fairness, equality, favoritism, bias, nepotism
based on effort achievement
morose adj. very gloomy and unfriendly sullen, gloomy, moody cheerful, bright, upbeat
mundane adj. ordinary and not exciting ordinary, routine, dull unusual, exciting,
remarkable
nimble adj. quick and light in movement or agile, quick, spry clumsy, slow, sluggish
thought
opaque adj. not clear; hard to understand cloudy, unclear, obscure clear, transparent, lucid
severe adj. very serious or harsh harsh, serious, intense mild, gentle, lenient
superficial adj. only on the surface; not deep shallow, surface-level, deep, thorough, profound
cursory
tenacious adj. not giving up easily persistent, determined, weak, hesitant, yielding
steadfast
tyrant noun a cruel, unfair ruler dictator, oppressor, liberator, protector,
despot democrat
unique adj. one of a kind special, distinct, common, ordinary,
exceptional typical
unkempt adj. messy and not cared for messy, scruffy, untidy neat, tidy, groomed
verbose adj. using too many words wordy, long-winded, concise, brief, succinct
rambling
zeal noun great energy or enthusiasm for a enthusiasm, passion, apathy, indifference,
cause fervor boredom
zealot noun someone too extreme about a fanatic, extremist, radical moderate, skeptic, realist
belief
grave adj. very serious and important serious, solemn, weighty light, trivial, playful
disdain noun/verb strong dislike or disrespect scorn, contempt, derision respect, admiration,
regard
3
Speech / Expression
Word Part of Definition Synonyms Antonyms
Speech
candid adj. honest and direct frank, open, truthful dishonest, guarded,
secretive
concise adj. using only the words needed brief, succinct, wordy, rambling, verbose
to-the-point
conventional adj. following usual traditions traditional, standard, unconventional, original,
ordinary novel
discrete adj. separate and distinct separate, distinct, continuous, connected,
individual joined
diction noun choice and clarity of words in wording, phrasing, mumbling, slang,
speech articulation inarticulacy
fallacy noun a false belief or reasoning misconception, error, flaw truth, accuracy,
mistake soundness
oration noun a formal public speech speech, address, talk silence, muteness, quiet
reprimand noun a formal scolding rebuke, admonition, praise, commendation,
reproach approval
rickety adj. shaky or unstable shaky, flimsy, unstable sturdy, solid, strong
taciturn adj. quiet; not talking much silent, reserved, talkative, chatty, outgoing
tight-lipped
tirade noun a long, angry speech rant, outburst, harangue praise, compliment,
tribute
reticent adj. not wanting to share thoughts reserved, quiet, restrained open, talkative, expressive
