Core ACT Vocabulary Words (50+)
The ACT rewards precise vocabulary in Reading and English questions. Use this list of high‑frequency academic words with an essence line, a simple definition, an example, and a quick practice check.
abstain
Example: He decided to abstain from voting in the election.
To 'abstain' means to:
adversity
Example: She showed great courage in the face of adversity.
What does 'adversity' mean?
aesthetic
Example: The artist had a unique aesthetic sense.
'Aesthetic' relates to:
amicable
Example: They reached an amicable agreement after the dispute.
What does 'amicable' mean?
anachronistic
Example: The movie was criticized for its anachronistic costumes.
What does 'anachronistic' mean?
arid
Example: The desert has an arid climate.
The word 'arid' means:
asylum
Example: The refugees sought asylum in a foreign country.
'Asylum' is best defined as:
benevolent
Example: The benevolent woman donated to charities regularly.
What does 'benevolent' mean?
bias
Example: The judge was accused of bias in the case.
'Bias' refers to:
boisterous
Example: The children were boisterous after the party.
What does 'boisterous' mean?
brazen
Example: His brazen behavior shocked everyone.
What does 'brazen' mean?
brusque
Example: The teacher’s brusque reply upset the student.
If someone is 'brusque', they are:
camaraderie
Example: There was strong camaraderie among the teammates.
What does 'camaraderie' mean?
canny
Example: The canny investor made wise choices.
A 'canny' person is:
capacious
Example: The capacious bag could hold all her belongings.
What does 'capacious' mean?
capitulate
Example: The army was forced to capitulate.
To 'capitulate' means to:
clairvoyant
Example: The clairvoyant claimed she could see the future.
What does 'clairvoyant' mean?
collaborate
Example: They collaborated on the research project.
To 'collaborate' means to:
compassion
Example: She showed compassion for the homeless.
What does 'compassion' mean?
compromise
Example: They compromised on the price of the car.
A 'compromise' is:
condescending
Example: His condescending tone annoyed his colleagues.
A 'condescending' person is:
conditional
Example: The offer of the job was conditional on passing the test.
What does 'conditional' mean?
conformist
Example: He was a conformist who never questioned authority.
'Conformist' is best defined as:
convergence
Example: The convergence of ideas led to a breakthrough.
What does 'convergence' mean?
copious
Example: She took copious notes during the lecture.
What does 'copious' mean?
deleterious
Example: Smoking has deleterious effects on health.
What does 'deleterious' mean?
demagogue
Example: The demagogue stirred the crowd with emotional speeches.
'Demagogue' refers to:
digression
Example: The professor’s digression confused the students.
What does 'digression' mean?
diligent
Example: She is a diligent student who always completes her assignments.
What does 'diligent' mean?
discredit
Example: The scandal could discredit the politician.
To 'discredit' means to:
disdain
Example: She looked at him with disdain.
What does 'disdain' mean?
divergent
Example: They had divergent opinions on the subject.
'Divergent' means:
empathy
Example: Her empathy made her a good counselor.
What does 'empathy' mean?
emulate
Example: He tried to emulate his older brother’s success.
To 'emulate' means to:
ephemeral
Example: The beauty of the sunset was ephemeral.
What does 'ephemeral' mean?
evanescent
Example: The singer’s fame was evanescent.
What does 'evanescent' mean?
exemplary
Example: Her exemplary behavior impressed the teachers.
'Exemplary' means:
exasperation
Example: She sighed in exasperation after repeating herself.
What does 'exasperation' mean?
extenuating
Example: There were extenuating circumstances in the case.
What does 'extenuating' mean?
florid
Example: The palace had florid decorations.
The word 'florid' means:
forbearance
Example: He showed great forbearance in dealing with the angry customer.
What does 'forbearance' mean?
fortuitous
Example: It was fortuitous that they met at the café.
What does 'fortuitous' mean?
fraught
Example: The negotiations were fraught with difficulties.
The phrase 'fraught with' usually means:
frugal
Example: They lived a frugal lifestyle to save money.
What does 'frugal' mean?
hackneyed
Example: The movie’s plot was hackneyed and predictable.
A 'hackneyed' idea is:
haughty
Example: Her haughty manner offended her classmates.
What does 'haughty' mean?
hedonist
Example: The hedonist spent his days indulging in luxury.
A 'hedonist' is someone who seeks:
hypothesis
Example: The scientist tested her hypothesis through experiments.
What does 'hypothesis' mean?
impetuous
Example: His impetuous decision caused problems.
What does 'impetuous' mean?
impute
Example: The teacher refused to impute the missing homework to laziness.
To 'impute' something means to:
FAQ
Quick answers to common questions.