Word List: Difficult
The fifth and final part of our ASVAB Word Knowledge Study Guide features our most difficult word list. The words on this list represent the types of very challenging words that may appear on the ASVAB test. As part of your Word Knowledge test prep you should carefully study each of these definitions and then use the review quiz at the bottom of the page to test your memory.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| Abrogate | To abolish or put an end to something |
| Amenable | Willing to answer, act, or yield; agreeable; submissive |
| Camaraderie | Good fellowship; mutual trust and friendship |
| Capitulate | To give up resistance; to surrender |
| Chagrin | A feeling of disappointment or humiliation |
| Chastise | To discipline or criticize |
| Clandestine | Characterized by or executed with secrecy or concealment; private |
| Clemency | An act of showing mercy or forgiveness |
| Concoction | Something concocted (contrived or made up, often by combining ingredients) |
| Corroborate | To confirm |
| Cursory | Hasty; going over something rapidly and not noticing details |
| Digress | To deviate or depart from the main topic or argument |
| Discord | Disagreement or difference of opinion |
| Disparate | Distinct or dissimilar |
| Domicile | A place of residence; a home |
| Enmity | Hostility or hatred |
| Eschew | To shun, avoid, or keep away from |
| Extraneous | Irrelevant; coming from something external |
| Fortuitous | Lucky or fortunate |
| Fraudulent | Involving fraud or deception |
| Inexorable | Unyielding; not to be persuaded or moved |
| Infraction | A breach or violation |
| Instigate | To urge or provoke something to an action |
| Insubordinate | Not consenting to authority |
| Intrepid | Dauntless, completely fearless |
| Lethargic | Drowsy or sluggish |
| Litigation | A lawsuit or legal action |
| Malevolent | Wishing harm or evil upon something |
| Malign | To speak damaging lies against a person |
| Negligent | Someone who is neglectful or careless |
| Onerous | Troublesome; causing hardship |
| Opulent | Wealthy; richly supplied |
| Paragon | Someone who is excellent or exceptional |
| Plethora | An excess |
| Prolific | Producing something in large quantities |
| Proviso | A condition or stipulation of something |
| Quagmire | A situation that is very difficult to get out of |
| Quandary | A dilemma or state of uncertainty about what to do |
| Renounce | To choose to give up or put aside something |
| Reprisal | Retaliation against an enemy |
| Rudiment | The beginning or first appearance or form of something |
| Superficial | Shallow, external; only being concerned with what’s on the surface |
| Susceptible | Capable of being affected emotionally; subject to influence |
| Squander | To spend wastefully |
| Truncate | To cut short; to cut off a part |
| Umbrage | Annoyance or offense; a vague feeling of doubt |
| Vacillate | To be indecisive in opinion |
| Vilify | To speak poorly of someone or something |
| Vindictive | Showing revengeful spirit; inclined to revenge |
| Vociferous | Outspoken; crying out noisily and openly |
Now that you’ve reviewed the word list above, try testing yourself with the review quiz below. This quiz features 20 words from the difficult word list. Do your best not to look at the word chart and give an honest effort at remembering the words and definitions!
Part 5 Review Quiz:
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Your answers are highlighted below.
Question 1 |
Corroborate most nearly means
corrupt | |
validate | |
vanquish | |
curtail |
Question 1 Explanation:
To corroborate is to confirm or validate.
Question 2 |
Proviso most nearly means
stipulation | |
protégé | |
prolific | |
stringency |
Question 2 Explanation:
A proviso is a condition or stipulation of an agreement.
Question 3 |
Intrepid most nearly means
skittish | |
imprudent | |
investigative | |
courageous |
Question 3 Explanation:
Someone is intrepid if they act courageously and without fear.
Question 4 |
Opulent most nearly means
opal | |
rich | |
economical | |
optional |
Question 4 Explanation:
Something opulent is rich or well-supplied.
Question 5 |
Capitulate most nearly means
capitalize | |
coagulate | |
concede | |
conform |
Question 5 Explanation:
To capitulate is to give in or concede.
Question 6 |
Abrogate most nearly means
acquiesce | |
answer | |
approve | |
abolish |
Question 6 Explanation:
"Abrogate" means to repeal or do away with. The word that comes closest to having the same meaning is "abolish."
Question 7 |
Enmity most nearly means
animosity | |
neutrality | |
entity | |
irascibility |
Question 7 Explanation:
"Enmity" and "animosity" both describe a hostility or hatred towards something. "Irascibility" might be tempting, but it generally describes a hot temper rather than a dislike of someone or something.
Question 8 |
Onerous most nearly means
difficult | |
ominous | |
confusing | |
angering |
Question 8 Explanation:
Something onerous is difficult or burdensome, typically referring to labor or responsibility.
Question 9 |
Reprisal most nearly means
restatement | |
reconsideration | |
retribution | |
redundancy |
Question 9 Explanation:
"Reprisal" and "retribution" both describe an act of revenge or retaliation against an enemy.
Question 10 |
Vilify most nearly means
exalt | |
hate | |
avenge | |
slander |
Question 10 Explanation:
To vilify someone is to slander or speak very poorly of them.
Question 11 |
Lethargic most nearly means
dazed | |
languid | |
unaware | |
stupid |
Question 11 Explanation:
Someone is lethargic if they are acting lazy or without energy. The word that comes closest to this definition is "languid".
Question 12 |
Truncate most nearly means
reject | |
subdue | |
entrench | |
curtail |
Question 12 Explanation:
"Truncate" and "curtail" both describe cutting something short.
Question 13 |
Fortuitous most nearly means
fortunate | |
supported | |
vacated | |
fortified |
Question 13 Explanation:
Something is fortuitous if it is lucky or fortunate.
Question 14 |
Paragon most nearly means
winner | |
paramount | |
exemption | |
exemplar |
Question 14 Explanation:
A paragon is a model of excellence in something. The word with the most similar meaning is "exemplar."
Question 15 |
Cursory most nearly means
pivotal | |
initial | |
hasty | |
hurtful |
Question 15 Explanation:
Something cursory is hasty, done without much attention or caution.
Question 16 |
Infraction most nearly means
violation | |
affliction | |
faction | |
action |
Question 16 Explanation:
An infraction is a violation or breach of something.
Question 17 |
Vacillate most nearly means
ventilate | |
infatuate | |
moderate | |
fluctuate |
Question 17 Explanation:
To vacillate is to fluctuate, or go back and forth, in an opinion.
Question 18 |
Inexorable most nearly means
unrelenting | |
unexplainable | |
understanding | |
inconsolable |
Question 18 Explanation:
"Inexorable" describes something that is unrelenting or unyielding.
Question 19 |
Prolific most nearly means
well-spoken | |
life-giving | |
fruitful | |
impotent |
Question 19 Explanation:
Something prolific is fruitful in that it produces things in large quantities.
Question 20 |
Eschew most nearly means
deliberate | |
forget | |
abandon | |
handle |
Question 20 Explanation:
To eschew something is to deliberately avoid or abandon it.
Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect.
There are 20 questions to complete.
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