VOCABULARY BUILDER .

VOCABULARY BUILDER
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The top 50 vocabulary words on the exam are:
ANOMALY ASSUAGE ENIGMA
EQUIVOCAL ERUDITE FERVID
LUCID OPAQUE PLACATE
PRECIPITATE PRODIGAL ZEAL
ABSTAIN ADULTERATE APATHY
AUDACIOUS CAPRICIOUS CORROBORATE
HOMOGENOUS DESICCATE ENGENDER
EPHEMERAL GULLIBLE PEDANT
LACONIC LAUDABLE LOQUACIOUS
MITIGATE PRAGMATIC PROPRIETY
VACILLATE VOLATILE WAVER
ADVOCATE ANTIPATHY BOLSTER
CACOPHONY DERIDE DISSONANCE
ENERVATE EULOGY GARRULOUS
INGENUOUS LETHARGIC MALLEABLE
MISANTHROPE OBDURATE OSTENTATION
PARADOX PHILANTHROPIC PREVARICATE
VENERATE
TOP 180 WORDS IN CONTEXT
1) ABSCOND: to leave secretly
Cheyenne ABSCONDED from McDonalds without paying her bill.
2) ABATE: to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
After the storm ABATED, people left the shelter and returned to their homes.
3) ABSTAIN: to choose not to do something
The priest will voluntarily ABSTAIN from sexual activity.
4) ABYSS: an extremely deep hole
The rodent scurried into his hiding place in the deep ABYSS of the cave.
Related words

ABYSSAL: pertaining to great depth
ABYSMAL: extremely bad
5) ADULTERATE: to make impure
The suspicious-tasting milk was ADULTERATED with water.
Related words
UNADULTERATED: pure
ADULTERY: an illicit relationship; an affair
6) ADVOCATE: to speak in favor of
The physician ADVOCATED a lifestyle including rigorous exercise.
Related words
ADVOCACY: active support for
7) AESTHETIC: concerning the appreciation of beauty
Decorators include flowers in home decor for their AESTHETIC appeal.
Related words
AESTHETE: someone unusually sensitive to beauty
AESTHETICISM: concern with beauty
8) AGGRANDIZE: to increase in power, influence, and reputation
The overzealous job candidate AGGRANDIZED himself by claiming achievements beyond his
ability.
9) ALLEVIATE: to make more bearable
Two Ibuprofen will ALLEVIATE the pain from a headache.
10) AMALGAMATE: to combine; to mix together
IBM and GE AMALGAMATED to form Mega-Corporation.
Related Words
AMALGAM: a mixture, especially of two metals
11) AMBIGUOUS: doubtful or uncertain; able to be interpreted several ways
Jane's AMBIGUOUS response to his marriage proposal made Joe doubt her sincerity.
Related Words
AMBIGUITY: the quality of being ambiguous
12) AMELIORATE: to make better; to improve

Jane can AMELIORATE her dental pain by taking aspirin.
13) ANACHRONISM: something out of place in time
The 1950's music seemed ANACHRONISTIC in the modern nightclub.
14) ANALOGOUS: similar or alike in some way; equivalent to
My love for my son is ANALOGOUS to my father's love for me.
Related words
ANALOGY: a similarity between things that are otherwise dissimilar
ANALOGUE: something that is similar in some way to something else
15) ANOMALY: deviation from what is normal
Her friendly behavior at the dance was an ANOMALOUS deviation from her ususal frosty
demeanor.
Related words
ANOMALOUS: deviating from what is normal
16) ANTAGONIZE: to. annoy or provoke to anger
The child ANTAGONIZED the cat by pulling its tail.
Related Words
ANTAGONISTIC: tending to provoke conflict
ANTAGONIST: someone who fights another
17) ANITPATHY: extreme dislike
The ANTIPATHY between Clare and her mother-in-law often descended into verbal fighting..
18) APATHY: lack of interest or emotion
APATHETIC voters don't bother to show up at the polls.
19) ARBITRATE: to judge a dispute between two opposing parties
Since the couple could not agree on a property settlement, a judge was forced to ARBITRATE
their divorce proceedings.
Related words
ARBITRATION: a process by which a conflict is resolved
ARBITRATOR: a judge
20) ARCHAIC: ancient, old-fashioned
Her ARCHAIC computer could not handle the latest software.

Related words
ARCHAISM: an outdated word or phrase
21) ARDOR: intense and passionate feeling
Jason's ARDOR for Joan was evident when he passionately described the beauty of her smile.
Related words
ARDENT: expressing ardor; passionate
22) ARTICULATE: able to speak clearly and expressively
His ARTICULATE defense of his client convinced the jury to acquit him of all charges.
23) ASSUAGE: to make something unpleasant less severe
Paula used overeating to ASSUAGE her sense of meaninglessness and despair.
24) ATTENUATE: to reduce in force or degree; to weaken
The new law ATTENUATED the government's power to arrest people for frivolous reaosns..
25) AUDACIOUS: fearless and daring
The AUDACIOUS waitress insulted her customer, with no fear of possible reprisal.
Related words
AUDACITY: the quality of being audacious
26) AUSTERE: severe or stern in appearance; undecorated
The nuns' AUSTERE home was completely unadorned.
Related words
AUSTERITY: severity, especially poverty
27) BANAL: predictable, cliched, boring
Flight attendants greet all passengers with BANAL phrases like "Have a nice day".
Related words
BANALITY: the quality of being banal
28) BOLSTER: to support; to prop up
The metal brackets BOLSTERED the heavy bookshelves onto the wall.
29) BOMBASTIC: pompous in speech and manner
Jake's BOMBASTIC claims were too outrageous to be believed.
Related words
BOMBAST: pompous speech or writing

30) CACOPHONY: harsh, jarring noise
The chirping of the birds created a CACOPHONY in the normally silent backyard.
31) CANDID: impartial and honest in speech
Children's observations are usually CANDID and unpretentious.
32) CAPRICIOUS: changing one's mind quickly and often
Jill's CAPRICIOUS nature led her to change boyfriends quite often.
Related words
CAPRICE: whim, sudden fancy
33) CASTIGATE: to punish or criticize harshly
European countries CASTIGATE perpetrators harshly for crimes that are considered minor in the
United States.
34) CATALYST: something that brings about a change in something else
Jack's great job on the project was the CATALYST that led to his promotion.
Related Words
CATALYZE: to bring about a change in something else
35) CAUSTIC: biting in wit
Jim's insulting, yet clever remarks gave him a reputation for CAUSTIC wit.
36) CHAOS: great disorder or confusion
Without proper supervision, the children's behavior will descend into CHAOS.
Related Words
CHAOTIC: jumbled, confused
37) CHAUVINIST: someone prejudiced in favor of a group to which he or she belongs
Male CHAUVINISTS think that men are inherently superior to women.
38) CHICANERY: deception by means of craft or guile
Dishonest salesmen often use CHICANERY to sell their least desirable products.
39) COGENT: convincing and well reasoned
Swayed by the COGENT argument of the defense, the jury acquitted the defendant.
Related words
COGITATE: to think deeply
40) CONDONE: to overlook, pardon, or disregard

Failing to prosecute minor crimes CONDONES lawlessness.
41) CONVOLUTED: intricate and complicated
Rather than tell the truth, Jane made up a long, CONVOLUTED story to explain her absence.
42) CORROBORATE: to provide supporting evidence
Physical evidence CORROBORATED the witness's testimony.
43) CREDULOUS: too trusting; gullible
Only CREDULOUS 9-year-olds still believe in Santa Claus.
Related words
CREDULITY: the quality of being credulous
44) CRESCENDO: steadily increasing volume or force
The CRESCENDO of tension became unbearable as the mystery movie continued.
45) DECORUM: appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety
The biker lacked the DECORUM appropriate for a formal dinner.
Related words
DECOROUS: conforming to acceptable standards
46) DEFERENCE: respect, courtesy
Gentle George treated his elderly grandmother with the utmost DEFERENCE.
Related words
DEFER: to delay; to show someone deference
DEFERENT: courteous and respectful
47) DERIDE: to speak of or treat with contempt; to mock
The awkward teenager was often DERIDED by his more popular peers.
Related words
DERISION: mockery and taunts
DERISIVE: in a mocking manner
48) DESICCATE: to dry out thoroughly
DESICCATED coconut has been dried and browned in a hot oven.
Related words
DESICCANT: something that removes water from another substance
49) DIATRIBE: an abusive, condemnatory speech

The angry husband bellowed a DIATRIBE at his unsuspecting wife.
50) DESULTORY: jumping from one thing to another; disconnected
Jade had a DESULTORY education, dropping out at the drop of a hat.
51) DIFFIDENT: lacking self-confidence
Sara's DIFFIDENT manner during her date suggested she was not interested in Jake.
52) DILATE: to make larger; to expand
My pupils DILATE when I enter a dark room.
53) DILATORY: intended to delay
The attorney used DILATORY means to stall the trial.
54) DILETTANTE: someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic
DILETTANTES have only a superficial interest in the hobby.
55) DIRGE: a funeral hymn or mournful speech
Mike wrote a DIRGE for the funeral of his cherished grandfather.
56) DISABUSE: to set right; to free from error
Benjamin Franklin DISABUSED critics who didn't understand electricity .
57) DISCERN: to perceive; to recognize
It is not always easy to DISCERN the difference between the truth and lies.
Related words
DISCERNMENT: taste and cultivation
58) DISPARATE: fundamentally different; entirely unlike
The boys look alike, yet their personalities are DISPARATE.
59) DISSEMBLE: to present a false appearance; to disguise one's real intentions or character
The lying husband could DISSEMBLE to his wife no longer; he admitted his plans to leave her.
60) DISSONANCE: a harsh and disagreeable combination, often of sounds
The DISSONANCE in the woods was caused by the is the inner conflict produced when long-
standing beliefs are contradicted by new evidence.
61) DOGMA: a firmly held opinion, often a religious belief
Karen's firm DOGMA was that our souls all live multiple lives through reincarnation.
DOGMATIC: dictatorial in one's opinions
The dictator was DOGMATIC-he, and only he, was right.

62) DUPE: to deceive; a person who is easily deceived
Con artists often DUPE the elderly out of their life savings.
63) ECLECTIC: selecting from or made up from a variety of sources
Jade's furiniture is an ECLECTIC mix of modern and southwestern styles.
64) EFFICACY: effectiveness
The EFFICACY of the drug is reduced if it is not taken according to the directions.
Related words
EFFICACIOUS: effective; productive
65) ELEGY: a sorrowful poem or speech
The author wrote an emotional ELEGY about his mother's death.
Related words
ELEGIAC: like an elegy; mournful
66) ELOQUENT: persuasive and moving, especially in speech
The President gave an ELOQUENT speech in honor of the lost soldiers.
67) EMULATE: to copy; to try to equal or excel
Jody tried to EMULATE her older sister Connie, copying her dress, hairstyle and mannerisims.
68) ENERVATE: to reduce in strength
The US military's surprise attacks ENERVATED the opposing army.
Related words
UNNERVE: to deprive of strength or courage
69) ENGENDER: to produce, cause, or bring about
Laura's fear of dogs was ENGENDERED at age six, when she was bitten by a pit bull.
70) ENIGMA: a puzzle; a mystery
Lois was so quiet about her personal life that she was somewhat of an ENIGMA in the otherwise
close group.
71) ENUMERATE: to count, list, or itemize
The wife ENUMERATED her husband's faults during their bitter argument.
72) EPHEMERAL: lasting a short time
The heady romantic phase of a relationship is EPHEMERAL in the context of a lifelong marriage.
73) EQUIVOCATE: to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead

The witness EQUIVOCATED when questioned by the police, misleading them about the time of
the robbery.
Related Words
EQUIVOCAL: undecided; trying to deceive
EQUIVOCATION: the act or state of equivocating
74) ERRATIC: wandering and unpredictable
The excited puppy ran ERRATICALLY through the house, often bumping into the furniture.
Related words
ERRANT: straying, mistaken, roving
75) ERUDITE: learned, scholarly, bookish
The annual research meeting attracted the most ERUDITE, well-published individuals.
Related words
ERUDITION: extensive knowledge or learning
76) ESOTERIC: known or understood by only a few
The teacher struggled to explain the ESOTERIC world of forensic science to the young class.
77) ESTIMABLE: admirable
Diane's commitment to charity work is ESTIMABLE, considering her busy schedule.
Related words
ESTEEM: high regard
78) EULOGY: speech in praise of someone
David gave his father's EULOGY; outlining his achievements and delightful personality.
79) EUPHEMISM: use of an inoffensive word or phrase in place of a more distasteful one
The human resource director preferred to use the EUPHEMISM "outsourced" instead of "fired."