Imagine this: you're knee-deep in an ACT Reading passage, smoothly progressing until you stumble upon a word that throws you off track. Sound familiar? Don't worry; you're not alone. But here's the deal: honing your vocabulary skills is like acquiring power-ups in a video game—it's absolutely essential!
In this comprehensive guide, we've curated the ultimate list of the top 100 ACT vocabulary words you need to ace those tricky reading passages like a pro. From unraveling complex terms to understanding subtle nuances, mastering these words is your ticket to ACT success.
Understanding Vocabulary in the ACT Reading Section
Alright, let's break it down. When you're tackling the ACT Reading section, you are going to run into all sorts of words. We are talking about words that might make you say, "Hmm, what does that even mean?" So, what kind of words are we talking about here?
Why vocabulary matters
Now, let's talk about why having a strong vocab is like having a secret weapon. See, when you know lots of words, it's like having a superpower. You can understand those tough passages better, pick up on hidden meanings, and really get what the author's trying to say.
Examples of Vocabulary Words
Think about words like "subservient," "qualms," or "suffrage." These are the types of words that pop up in ACT Reading passages and make things more interesting. They might seem a bit fancy at first, but getting acquainted with them can make your reading experience more engaging and rewarding!
How is vocabulary tested?
So, how does the ACT test your vocab skills? Well, it's not like a traditional spelling bee or anything. Instead, they sneak those tricky words right into the reading passages. Your job is to figure out what they mean in context. It's like a little word puzzle!
In these passages, you'll come across words that might not be part of your everyday vocabulary. But relax! You don't need to know every word in the English language to ace this test. Instead, focus on understanding the words in the context of the passage. Pay attention to how they're used and their role in the text.
Remember, the ACT isn't testing your ability to memorize definitions. It's testing your ability to comprehend and analyze the written material. So, when you come across a tricky word, take a moment to think about how it fits into the bigger picture. With practice, you'll become a pro at deciphering those sneaky vocabulary words in no time!
How to Use This ACT Vocabulary List Effectively
To make the most of this ACT vocabulary list, here are some tips to help you memorize those tricky words, incorporate them into your daily routine, and find the right tools to aid your learning:
- Utilize Spaced Repetition:
- Incorporate Words into Daily Use:
- Explore Vocabulary Learning Tools:
Have you ever heard of spaced repetition? It's a fancy term for reviewing material at intervals over time. Instead of cramming all at once, try spreading out your study sessions. Look over the words regularly, gradually increasing the time between review sessions. This technique can help cement the words in your memory for the long haul.
One of the best ways to solidify new vocabulary is to use it in your everyday conversations and writing. Try incorporating the words into sentences, journal entries, or even casual chats with friends. The more you use the words in context, the more natural they'll become to you.
There are plenty of tools and apps, such as WordUp, Vocabulary - Learn words daily, and many more, designed to make vocabulary learning fun and effective. Consider trying resources like flashcard apps, vocabulary games, or online quizzes. Find what works best for you and make it a regular part of your study routine.
Top 200+ Common ACT Vocabulary Words You Need to Know
Here's a curated list of 213 common ACT vocabulary words, along with their definitions and examples, organized by category for easy reference:
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abate | Abating Abater Abatement | To reduce in intensity; to lessen | We waited for the wind to abate. |
| Abridge | Abridgement | Shorten (a piece of writing) without losing the sense; shorten in duration or extent | The very period of sleep, so necessary for the young, is too often abridged. |
| Abysmal | Abysmally | Extremely poor or bad; having immense extension downward, backward, or inward | A desperate cry echoing from the abysmal reaches of the cave. |
| Acquiesce | Acquiesced Acquiescing Acquiescent | Accept something reluctantly but without protest | They demanded it, and he acquiesced. |
| Acumen | The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions | The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions. | |
| Aesthetic | Aestheticism | A pleasing appearance or effect | There are practical as well as aesthetic reasons for planting trees. |
| Alacrity | Eagerness, enthusiasm, or quickness | She accepted the invitation with an alacrity that surprised me. | |
| Aloof | Removed or distant either physically or emotionally | He was naturally aloof and kept to himself. | |
| Ambivalent | Ambivalence | Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something | She’s somewhat ambivalent about the relationship. |
| Ambiguous | Ambiguousness | Unclear or confusing; capable of being understood in two or more ways | Due to the ambiguous nature of the question, it was difficult to choose the right answer. |
| Amicable | AmicabilityAmicableness | Characterized by friendly goodwill | They reached an amicable agreement. |
| Arcane | Mysterious or secret | As efficient as film sets can be, they can also be unbelievably arcane. | |
| Apathy | Lack of interest, feeling, enthusiasm, or concern | Another reason for voter apathy is a lack of confidence in politicians. | |
| Arduous | ArduousnessArduously | Involving or requiring strenuous effort or difficulty | I went through a long and arduous training program. |
| Assuage | Assuagement Assuaged | To make an unpleasant feeling less intense | To assuage his guilt, he did all he could to help. |
| Audacious | AudacityAudaciously | Showing a willingness to take bold risks | She made an audacious decision to quit her job. |
| Austere | AusterityAusterely Austereness | Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance; markedly simple; giving little or no scope for pleasure | He was known for his austere style of writing. |
| Avarice | Avaricious | Extreme greed for wealth or material gain | He paid a month’s rent in advance, just enough to satisfy the landlord’s avarice. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beckon | To summon or signal typically with a wave or nod; to appear inviting | In the warm sunshine, ancient courtyards beckon, inviting exploration. | |
| Becloud | Make less visible; obscure or blur; darken with or as if with clouds | Don’t becloud the discussion by raising unrelated issues. | |
| Behemoth | Behemothic | A mighty animal; something of monstrous size, power, or appearance | The newest SUV is a behemoth that doesn’t even fit in a standard parking space. |
| Belligerent | Belligerence | Hostile and aggressive | The player became quite belligerent and was thrown out of the game. |
| Benevolent | Benevolence | Well-meaning and kindly | They are often characterized as benevolent and admirable. |
| Benign | BenignantBenignancy | Harmless; gracious; favorable, wholesome | We were happy to hear that the tumor was benign. |
| Blithe | Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be improper | She had a blithe disregard for the consequences of her actions. | |
| Boisterous | Rough and stormy; loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline | A large and boisterous crowd attended the concert. | |
| Bolster | To support or strengthen | They took high premiums to bolster up the funds. | |
| Brandish | Shake or wave a weapon; raise and move in various directions; aggressive manner | She brandished a stick at the dog. | |
| Brawl | Quarrel or fight noisily; make a loud confused noise | It is often a clash of egos with no more interest than a street brawl. | |
| Buoyant | Buoyancy | Able to float; cheerful and optimistic | Warm air is more buoyant than cool air. |
| Burgeon | Grow forth; sprout; grow or develop rapidly | The market for collectibles has burgeoned in recent years. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cacophony | Cacophonous | An unpleasant mixture of loud sounds | As we entered the farmyard we were met with a cacophony of animal sounds. |
| Callous | Showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others | His callous remarks hurt her deeply. | |
| Capitulate | Capitulation | To accept defeat, or to give up or give in | The patriots had to capitulate to the enemy forces. |
| Catalyst | Catalytic Catalytically | A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change; a person or thing that precipitates an event | That waterway became the catalyst of the area’s industrialization. |
| Clandestine | Planned or done in secret, especially describing something that is not officially allowed | The refugees entered the country clandestinely, on foot by mountain paths. | |
| Coherent | Logical and consistent | Although he had a few drinks, he was sufficiently coherent to arrange a taxi home. | |
| Colloquial | Colloquially | Of informal spoken language or conversation; conversational or chatty | He writes in an easy, colloquial style. |
| Cognizant | Cognizance | Knowledgeable of something especially through personal experience | He is cognizant of his duties as a father. |
| Conundrum | A confusing and difficult problem or question; a question asked for amusement, typically one with a pun in its answer | The detective faced a conundrum that seemed impossible to solve. | |
| Copious | Abundant in supply or quantity | There was a copious amount of work to get through. | |
| Credulous | Credulity | Having or showing too great a readiness to believe things | They were too credulous in accepting his version of events. |
| Cryptic | Having or seeming to have a hidden or ambiguous meaning; mysterious | If you keep making cryptic comments, how can I interpret what you’re saying? | |
| Cumbersome | Cumbersomeness | Large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; slow or complicated and therefore inefficient | Despite her long cumbersome skirt, she managed to get over the wall. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debacle | A sudden and ignominious failure; disaster | The project’s failure was a complete debacle. | |
| Deleterious | To describe something that has a harmful or damaging effect, especially on one’s health or well-being | The deleterious effects of air pollution on respiratory health are well-documented. | |
| Demur | Demurral | Raise doubts or show objections | I did it without demur. |
| Denigrate | Denigration | Criticize in a derogatory manner; sully; defame: to denigrate someone’s character | The company conducted a smear campaign to denigrate the book and its author. |
| Dexterity | Skill in performing a task | This is to a degree a matter of physical skill, training and dexterity. | |
| Desiccate | DesiccationDesiccated | Dry out completely | The hot desert sun desiccated the plants. |
| Digress | Digression | Leave the main subject temporarily | The speaker tended to digress from the main topic during the presentation. |
| Despot | A ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way | He was a successful basketball coach, but many people regarded him as a petty despot. | |
| Disparate | Disparity | Essentially different in kind; not able to be compared | Chalk and cheese are disparate substances. |
| Disseminate | Dissemination | Spread (something, especially information) widely | Health authorities should foster good practice by disseminating information. |
| Dogmatic | Asserting opinions as if they were facts | His dogmatic attitude made it difficult to have a constructive discussion. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ebullient | Ebullience | Cheerful and full of energy | She sounded ebullient and happy. |
| Eclectic | Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources | The art gallery featured an eclectic collection of paintings from various periods and styles. | |
| Egregious | Outstandingly bad; shocking | The company’s egregious negligence led to a massive environmental disaster. | |
| Eloquent | Eloquence | Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing | The speaker delivered an eloquent speech that moved the audience to tears. |
| Eminent | Eminence | Famous or respected within a specific sphere | The professor is an eminent authority in the field of neuroscience. |
| Enervate | To weaken or sap the energy of something; make powerless | The long commute enervated her, leaving her too tired to cook dinner. | |
| Enigma | Enigmatic | A person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand | The enigmatic smile on her face left everyone curious. |
| Epiphany | Epiphanic | A moment of sudden revelation or insight | She had an epiphany while walking in the park, suddenly understanding the solution to her problem. |
| Equanimity | Equanimous | Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation | Despite facing criticism, she maintained her equanimity and remained composed. |
| Ethereal | Extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world | The ethereal beauty of the sunset took our breath away. | |
| Evanescent | EvanescenceEvanescently | Soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing | The evanescent beauty of the morning dew vanished as the sun rose higher in the sky. |
| Exacerbate | To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse | His comments only served to exacerbate the tension in the room. | |
| Exonerate | To absolve someone from blame or wrongdoing | The DNA evidence exonerated the suspect, proving his innocence beyond doubt. | |
| Expedite | To accelerate the process or progress of; speed up; to execute promptly; issue, dispatch | We need to expedite the delivery process to ensure that the package arrives on time. | |
| Expedition | A journey or excursion undertaken for a specific purpose, often involving travel or exploration | The scientific expedition to Antarctica yielded valuable data about climate change. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fallacious | Based on a mistaken belief | The politician’s argument was fallacious, as it relied on inaccurate statistics and logical inconsistencies. | |
| Fastidious | Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail | She was known for her fastidious attention to detail. | |
| Fatuous | Silly and pointless | His fatuous remarks made everyone in the room roll their eyes. | |
| Feign | Feigner | Pretend to be affected by a feeling, state, or injury | His feigned enthusiasm for the project fooled no one; everyone knew he wasn’t interested. |
| Fervent | Fervency | Having or displaying a passionate intensity | He fervently prayed for his family’s safety during the storm. |
| Frugal | FrugalityFrugally | Thrifty | She lived a frugal lifestyle, saving money wherever she could. |
| Furtive | Attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive | The thief cast a furtive glance around before slipping the wallet into his pocket. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genre | A category, especially of artistic or literary composition | Science fiction is a popular genre of literature. | |
| Glaring | Glare | Giving out or reflecting a strong or dazzling light; staring fiercely or fixedly | The glaring sun made it difficult to see the road ahead. |
| Gregarious | Fond of company; sociable | She was known for her gregarious personality, always eager to meet new people. | |
| Grandeur | Grand | Splendor and impressiveness | The palace was designed with such grandeur that it left visitors in awe. |
| Guile | Guileful | Sly or cunning intelligence | He guilefully manipulated the situation to his advantage. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hapless | Unfortunate, having bad luck | The haplessness of the situation left everyone feeling helpless. | |
| Harbinger | A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another | The early snowfall was seen as a harbinger of a harsh winter ahead. | |
| Haughty | Arrogant | The haughty aristocrat looked down on those she considered beneath her. | |
| Hedonist | Hedonistic | A person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life | Their lifestyle was characterized by hedonistic pursuits and excess. |
| Hegemony | Hegemonic | Leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others | The hegemonic power of the empire extended far beyond its borders. |
| Heresy | Heretical | Belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious doctrine | The religious leader was accused of spreading heresy for his unorthodox beliefs. |
| Hurtle | Move or cause to move at a great speed, typically in an uncontrolled manner | The sudden hurtle of the car down the hill was terrifying. | |
| Hypothetical | HypothesisHypothesize | Involving or the making of assumptions; assumed; imagined for purposes of example | The scientist proposed a new hypothesis to explain the phenomenon. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idiosyncrasy | IdiosyncraticallyIdiosyncratic | A mode of behavior or way of thought peculiar to an individual | The idiosyncratic way she laughed, snorting softly, added a unique charm to her personality. |
| Ignominious | IgnominyIgnominate | Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame | She was ignominiously forced to resign. |
| Illicit | Illicitness | Forbidden by law, rules, or custom | The police seized the illicit goods being sold in the underground market. |
| Imbibe | Imbibement | To drink or absorb | She loved to imbibe the rich flavors of coffee, sipping it slowly. |
| Imbroglio | Acutely painful or embarrassing misunderstanding | A celebrated imbroglio involved some big names in the New York literary scene. | |
| Immutable | ImmutabilityImmute | Unchanging over time or unable to be changed | From our vantage point, the skies can seem predictable and immutable. |
| Impasse | ImpassableImpasse | A situation in which progress is impossible; a deadlock | Compromise will be necessary in order to break the impasse. |
| Impervious |
Imperviousness
Imperviously |
Not allowing fluid to pass through; unable to be affected by | She seems almost impervious to the criticism from all sides. |
| Impetuous | Impetuate | Acting or done quickly and without thought or care | He’s always been an impetuous young man. |
| Incandescent | IncandescenceIncandesce | Emitting light as a result of being heated; full of strong emotion; passionate | Cassie leaned forward on the wagon seat, squinting anxiously into the incandescent sunrise. |
| Ingenuous | Innocent and unsuspecting | She thanked me with ingenuous sweetness for coming home with her. | |
| Incessant | Incessancy | Continuing without interruption | I’m fed up with this incessant rain. |
| Iniquity | IniquitateIniquitous | Immoral or grossly unfair behavior | This iniquity is to remain, and the regulations may even increase the discrimination permitted. |
| Insidious | Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects | It was an insidious disease, and the effects were noticed too late. | |
| Insolent | Insolence | Showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect | You should not be insolent to your teachers |
| Inveterate | InveteracyInveterately | Having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change | One of the pleasures of the TV show, The Simpsons, is Homer’s inveterate stupidity. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jocular | Fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful | Your father is very jocular and easy-going. | |
| Jubilant | Feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph | A large number of jubilant fans ran onto the pitch. | |
| Juxtapose | Juxtaposition | To place side by side, especially for comparison or contrast | Immediate reactions from the day were juxtaposed with interviews conducted after the event. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindle | To ignite | It was her teacher who kindled her interest in music. | |
| Knell | The sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral | The recommendations would sound the death knell for investigative journalism. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lachrymose | LachrymosityLachrymate | Tearful or given to weeping | He is better known for his lachrymose ballads than hard rock numbers. |
| Lament | LamentationLamentable | A passionate expression of grief or sorrow; a complaint; express passionate grief about; express regret or disappointment about something | Ken began to lament the death of his only son. |
| Languid |
Languidity
|
(Of a person, manner, or gesture) having or showing a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; weak or faint from illness or fatigue | “I am so tired,” she said in a languid voice. |
| Lethargic | Lethargy | Laziness or lack of energy | The tempo is slow, keeping me calm, but not so slow as to make me feel lethargic. |
| Lucrative | Lucrate | Profitable; money making; remunerative | There was more money in the game thanks to lucrative television contracts. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malicious | Intending to do harm | The star was facing charges of assault and malicious damage, which were later dismissed. | |
| Malleable | Malleability | (Of a metal or other material) able to be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking or cracking; easily influenced | They are as malleable and easily led as sheep. |
| Magnanimous | Magnanimity | Very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself | In a magnanimous gesture, she gave her co-writer the award. |
| Malevolent | Malevolence | Having or showing a wish to do evil to others | It seemed that a malevolent spirit was out to get me. |
| Malfeasance | Malfeasant | Wrongdoing, especially by a public official | Malfeasance is bad behavior, especially from officials or people who should know better. |
| Maudlin | Self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness | The girl’s performance was so maudlin that people started to boo her off the stage. | |
| Maverick | An unorthodox or independent-minded person | People thought he was too much of a maverick. | |
| Mollify | MollificationMollified | To appease the anger or anxiety of someone | My feeling is that he will leave, although good results could still mollify him. |
| Munificent | Munificence | Very generous | That position includes not only a munificent salary, but travel opportunities. |
| Mundane | Lacking interest or excitement; dull. | The truth is far more mundane and less interesting than the story might suggest. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nefarious | Wicked or criminal | Through other nefarious means, the spammer has also built up a list of email addresses. | |
| Nonchalance | Nonchalant | Cool indifference or lack of concern; casualness | She faced the crowd with the nonchalance of an experienced speaker. |
| Novice | A person new to and inexperienced in a job or situation | I’m a complete novice as far as skiing is concerned. | |
| Nuance | A slight shade or degree of difference (as in color, tone, or meaning) | He listened to the subtle nuances in the song. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obscure | Obscurity | Not discovered or known about; uncertain; not clearly expressed or easily understood; keep from being seen; conceal | Trees obscured his vision; he couldn’t see much of the Square’s southern half. |
| Obsequious | Too eager to praise or obey someone | The waiters came hurrying forward with obsequious smiles on their faces. | |
| Obsolete | Obsolescence | No longer produced or used; out of date; less developed than formerly or in a related species; cause (a product or idea) to become obsolete by replacing it with something new | We’re trying to stimulate the business by obsoleting last year’s designs. |
| Obstinate | Obstinacy | Stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion; not easily subdued, remedied, or removed | Despite the sound advice given to him, the man remained obstinate. |
| Omnipotent | Omnipotence | Having unlimited power, influence | God is described as omnipotent and benevolent |
| Omniscient | Omniscience | Having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight | An omniscient author knows everything about everybody in the story. |
| Opulent | Opulence | Rich in appearance; showing great wealth | The town became an opulent center of a powerful and prosperous state. |
| Ostensible | Ostensibility | Stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so | Your ostensible reason for visiting every bakery in town is that you’re looking for a part-time job — but I think you really just want to eat cupcakes. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palpable | Palpability | Able to be touched or felt; easily perceptible | There was a palpable excitement in the air as the town prepared for the festival. |
| Panacea | A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases | A woman seems to believe that chicken soup is a panacea for nearly everything. | |
| Paradox | Paradoxical | A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth | It is a paradox that computers need maintenance so often, since they are meant to save people time. |
| Paradigm | A typical example or pattern of something; a model | The war was a paradigm of the destructive side of human nature. | |
| Parochial | Parochialism | Narrow-minded; provincial | His parochial loyalty was such that he would rather face death than seek a new life in any other principality. |
| Pathos | Pathetic | A quality that evokes pity or sadness | It had laughs and characters, and moments of what could almost be called pathos. |
| Penchant | A strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something | He has a penchant for adopting stray dogs. | |
| Perfidious | Perfidy | Deceitful and untrustworthy | His perfidious actions, marked by deceit and betrayal, shattered the trust of those who once considered him a friend. |
| Perfunctory | Carried out with minimal effort or reflection | However, this poor, perfunctory effort will do the band more harm than good. | |
| Peripheral | Relating to or situated on the edge of something; of secondary or minor importance; marginal. | Recall, in the first instance, that much of this is peripheral to our lives. | |
| Permeate | Permeation | To spread throughout | His personality has begun to permeate through the whole organization. |
| Pernicious | Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way | What worries me are the pernicious influences on athletes like him. | |
| Petulant | Petulance | Childishly sulky or bad-tempered | Mattie had come in like some petulant kid and thrown himself in a corner. |
| Philistine | A person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts | Our uncle Marvin, who’s only interested in eating, sleeping, and watching game shows, could be considered a philistine. | |
| Pinnacle | The highest point | Although he reached the pinnacle of success, he was unspoilt by it. | |
| Placate | PlacationPlacatory | To make someone less angry or hostile | This doesn’t placate anyone, calm things down, or keep order. |
| Plausible | Plausibility | Seeming reasonable or probable | His explanation sounded plausible, and he presented it well. |
| Pompous | Arrogant; self-important | She found it difficult to talk about her achievements without sounding pompous. | |
| Pragmatic | Pragmatism | Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations | It was something altogether more pragmatic than that – a worry that the party might be split. |
| Precarious | Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse | He earned a precarious livelihood by gambling. | |
| Precocious | Precocity | Having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual | As a boy, Freud was intellectually precocious and an extremely hard worker. |
| Predilection | A preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something | The marine sergeants are generally tall fellows with unyielding spines and stiff upper lips, and very exclusive in their tastes and predilections. | |
| Preclude | PreclusionPreclusive | To prevent from happening; make impossible | She suffered an injury that precluded the possibility of an athletic career. |
| Precursor | A person or thing that comes before another of the same kind; a forerunner | The pre-meal selection of chutneys is a precursor of the sharp flavors to come. | |
| Pretentious | Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed | The houses in the neighborhood are large and pretentious. | |
| Prodigal | Prodigality | Wastefully extravagant | The prodigal child always spent her allowance the minute she got it. |
| Profound | Very great or intense | Over the long term, they will make a far more profound impact. | |
| Prolific | Prolificacy | Producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring | He was one of the most prolific, natural goal scorers the game has ever seen. |
| Propensity | An inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way | It is better to look for those tulips with a natural propensity for repeat performance. | |
| Propitious | Giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable | The summer of 1802 was thus a propitious moment to enhance Bonaparte’s authority. | |
| Prosaic | Lacking poetic beauty; commonplace; unromantic | The truth is more prosaic, but also more disturbing. | |
| Prudent | Prudence | Acting with or showing care and thought for the future | She made a prudent decision to save money for emergencies. |
| Pugnacious | Pugnacity | Eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight | His pugnacious attitude often led to conflicts. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualms | Qualmish | An uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one’s own conduct; a misgiving | She has no qualms about downloading pirated music files from the Internet. |
| Quixotic | Quixotism | Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical | They had quixotic dreams about the future. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rancor | Rancorous | A state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation | In the end, the debate created a degree of rancor among the committee members. |
| Rapturous | Rapture | Characterized by, feeling, or expressing great pleasure or enthusiasm | The audience broke into rapturous applause as soon as she appeared. |
| Redolent | Redolence | Smelling strongly of something or having qualities (especially smells) that make you think of something else | My grandmother’s house always seemed to be redolent with the aroma of baking bread. |
| Redundancy | Redundant | State of being no longer needed or useful; an act or instance of needless repetition | The restructuring is expected to result in the redundancy of several hundred workers. |
| Refurbish | Refurbishment | Renovate or redecorate | If they undertake to refurbish the building, they can rebuild the Odeon’s dented reputation. |
| Reticent | Reticence | Not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily | I am being deliberately reticent about the decision. |
| Resilient | Resilience | Able to recover quickly from difficulties | Despite facing many setbacks, she remained resilient and optimistic. |
| Robust | Strong and healthy; vigorous | He is in robust health. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salient | Standing out conspicuously; prominent; especially of notable significance; moving by leaps or springs | These are simple products and the main salient feature is the interest rate. | |
| Sanguine | Optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation; blood-red | He is sanguine about the company’s future. | |
| Scrupulous | Diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details | The research has been carried out with scrupulous attention to detail. | |
| Serendipity | Serendipitous | The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way | The arts develop because of aptitude, talent, genius, hard work and serendipity. |
| Serene | Serenity | Calm, peaceful, and untroubled | I don’t know how she manages to be so calm and serene. |
| Soporific | Tending to induce drowsiness or sleep | The motion of the train had a somewhat soporific effect. | |
| Spurious | Not being what it purports to be; false or fake; apparently but not actually valid | The accusations against him were based on spurious evidence. | |
| Stagnant | Not flowing or running, as water, air, etc; stale or foul from standing, as a pool of water. | Stagnant pools and ponds smell awful in a heatwave. | |
| Stoic | Being calm and almost without any emotion; one apparently or professedly indifferent to pleasure or pain | He and his pals are stoic in the face of any criticism of their team. | |
| Sublime | SublimableSublimer | To cause to pass directly from the solid to the vapor state and condense back to solid form; to convert (something inferior) into something of higher worth; to render finer (as in purity or excellence) | This passage in the symphony is some of the most sublime music he created. |
| Subservient | Subservience | Prepared to obey others unquestioningly; less important; subordinate; serving as a means to an end. | She was subservient to her parents. |
| Suffrage | Suffragist | The right of voting; a short intercessory prayer usually in a series | Even as the world entered the 21st century, some nations still did not permit women’s suffrage. |
| Sycophant | SycophancySycophantic | A person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage | He showed that he has no real advisers left—only sycophants— and that his own views are as extreme as any of theirs. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taciturn | Taciturnity | (Of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little | A taciturn man, he almost never initiates a conversation. |
| Tantamount | Equal in value, meaning, or effect | His statement was tantamount to an admission of guilt. | |
| Tenacious | Tenacity | Not easily pulled apart; tending to adhere or cling especially to another substance; persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired | She has been a tenacious champion of human rights for many years. |
| Transient | Transience | Lasting for only a short time | The transient feeling of happiness soon faded away. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubiquitous | Ubiquity | Present, appearing, or found everywhere | The company’s advertisements are ubiquitous. |
| Unassailable | Unassailability | Unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated | His landslide election victories, and his personal popularity in Middle England, made him look unassailable. |
| Unilateral | Performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a particular situation, without the agreement of another or the others | Our country is prepared to take unilateral action. | |
| Unscrupulous | Having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair | The unscrupulous businessman exploited legal loopholes to evade taxes and maximize profits. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacillate | Vacillation | Alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive | John shook his head, astonished by his own ability to vacillate. |
| Venerable | Venerability | Accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character | The venerable old man was a cherished source of advice and wisdom for the villagers. |
| Vehement | Vehemence | Showing strong feelings; forceful, passionate, or intense | He issued a vehement denial of the accusation. |
| Veracity | Veracious | Conformity to facts; accuracy | The jury did not doubt the veracity of the witness. |
| Vex | VexationVexed | To make someone feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried, especially with trivial matters | The question seemed to vex the many passers-by who stopped to gape. |
| Vicarious | Experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person | To give himself the vicarious illusion of companionship, he fell back on letters. | |
| Vindicate | Vindication | Clear someone of blame or suspicion | He felt vindicated when the truth became known. |
| Voracious | Wanting or devouring great quantities of food, books, or anything else | She’s a voracious reader. |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wary | Wariness | Feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems | Investors are increasingly wary about putting money into stocks. |
| Wistful | In a way that is sad and shows someone is thinking about something that is impossible or in the past | She was wistful for a moment, then asked, “Do you remember the old playground?” |
| Words | Word Forms | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zeal | Zealous | Eagerness and interest in pursuit of something | She worked with great zeal. |
Are these vocabulary words specific to the ACT exam?
While many of the words are commonly found in ACT reading passages, the vocabulary covered is also applicable to the traditional (paper-based) ACT Reading section. The word choices are not exclusively tailored to the digital format.
Are ACT and SAT vocabulary the same?
Almost. The ACT focuses less on direct vocabulary and more on comprehension, which can be challenging if you struggle with understanding passages. The SAT places a heavier emphasis on vocabulary, requiring students to know and analyze complex words in context.
Strategies for Learning and Remembering Vocabulary
Here are some effective strategies for learning and remembering vocabulary words for the ACT Reading section:
- Use Flashcards: Create flashcards with the word on one side and the definition on the other. Review them regularly, focusing on both memorization and understanding.
- Create Word Associations: Connect new words with familiar words or concepts to make them easier to remember. For example, associate "ephemeral" with "temporary" or "transient."
- Practice with Sample Passages: Work through ACT practice passages and highlight unfamiliar words. Look up their meanings and incorporate them into your vocabulary practice.
- Contextual Learning: Instead of just memorizing definitions, pay attention to how words are used in sentences or passages. Understanding context can help reinforce meanings.
- Review Regularly: Set aside dedicated time each day to review vocabulary words and reinforce your learning.
- Apply Words in Writing: Practice using new vocabulary words in your writing. This helps solidify your understanding and makes it easier to recall words during the test.
- Group Words by Theme: Organize vocabulary words into groups based on similar meanings or themes. This can help you see patterns and make connections between words.
- Use Online Resources: Take advantage of online vocabulary resources like UWorld, which offers comprehensive study materials and quizzes specifically tailored for ACT preparation.
Conclusion
Nail the ACT Reading section with boosted vocab! This guide arms you with top words and killer strategies. Decode passages like a pro, understanding nuances and acing that score. Dive in, practice, and watch your confidence skyrocket. Let's crush it together!
