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Vocabulary list for the ACT exam: A strong foundation in English vocabulary is essential for achieving a high score on the ACT. This foundation allows test-takers to progress beyond comprehending the literal meaning of passages. By possessing a robust vocabulary, students can delve deeper into the text, grasping the nuanced arguments and perspectives presented in the questions.
This enhanced understanding empowers students to craft clear and persuasive responses to ACT prompts. A vocabulary mastery equips them to tackle these prompts with confidence and precision. That said, we have curated and enlisted a comprehensive vocabulary list for the ACT exam for those wishing to improve their lexicon and ace the test.
This Blog Includes:
100+ Vocabulary Words for the ACT 2024 Exam
ACT vocabulary: The English section of the ACT assesses a candidate’s ability to formulate well-structured, lucid, and comprehensible responses to designated themes or prompts under time constraints. To achieve success in this section, a comprehensive understanding of a broad range of vocabulary is paramount.
Refer to the ACT vocabulary list below to bolster your chances of success in the said standardised exam. A thorough comprehension of these words can significantly enhance a test-taker’s performance.
| Word | Meaning |
| Abate | To reduce in intensity or amount |
| Abdicate | To give up a position, right, or power |
| Aberration | A departure from what is normal |
| Abhor | To hate deeply |
| Abstruse | Difficult to understand |
| Accolade | An award or honour |
| Acquiesce | To agree or consent without protest |
| Acrimony | Bitterness or ill feeling |
| Adamant | Refusing to be persuaded; firm in opinion |
| Adroit | Skillful and clever |
| Adulation | Excessive praise or flattery |
| Aesthetic | Concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty |
| Alacrity | Brisk and cheerful readiness |
| Alleviate | To make less severe |
| Amalgamate | To combine; to mix together |
| Ambiguous | Open to more than one interpretation |
| Ambivalent | Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas |
| Ameliorate | To improve, make better |
| Amicable | Peaceable, friendly |
| Amorphous | Shapeless, formless |
| Anachronistic | Out of date, not attributed to the correct historical period |
| Anathema | A cursed, detested person |
| Anecdote | A short and amusing or interesting story |
| Antithesis | The direct opposite, a sharp contrast |
| Apathetic | Feeling or showing little emotion |
| Apocryphal | Of doubtful authenticity |
| Apprehensive | Fearful or anxious, especially about the future |
| Archaic | Ancient; old-fashioned |
| Arduous | Difficult; requiring much effort |
| Articulate | Able to speak clearly and expressively |
| Ascertain | To find out for certain |
| Aspersion | A damaging or derogatory statement |
| Assiduous | Persistent, attentive, diligent |
| Astute | Shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom |
| Atrophy | To waste away |
| Audacious | Bold, adventurous, recklessly daring |
| Auspicious | favorable; fortunate |
| Austere | severe or stern in manner |
| Avarice | Greed; desire for wealth |
| Banal | So lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring |
| Benevolent | Kindly, charitable |
| Bequeath | To give or pass on as an inheritance |
| Berate | To scold sharply |
| Beseech | To beg, plead, implore |
| Bilious | Bad-tempered; cross |
| Blasphemy – | Speech which offends religious sentiments |
| Boon | a gift or blessing |
| Brevity | Briefness; short duration |
| Bucolic | Pertaining to the countryside; rural; rustic |
| Burgeon | To grow and flourish |
| Cacophony | A harsh, jarring noise |
| Cajole | To persuade with false promises and flattery |
| Callous | Emotionally hardened, unfeeling |
| Capitulate | To surrender |
| Capricious | Sudden and unaccountable changes in mood or behaviour |
| Carping | finding fault; complaining |
| Catharsis Censure – to criticize harshly | A release of emotional tensionCensure – to criticize harshly |
| Chagrin | embarrassment; a complete loss of courage |
| Chicanery | trickery; deception |
| Churlish | Rude in a mean-spirited and surly way |
| Circuitous | Roundabout, not direct |
| Clandestine | Secret, concealed; underhanded |
| Clemency | Mercy |
| Cogent | Forceful, convincing; relevant, to the point |
| Commensurate | Proportional |
| Compunction | Remorse, regret |
| Concomitant | Existing concurrently |
| Conflagration | A large destructive fire |
| Conundrum | A difficult problem |
| Copious | Abundant; plentiful |
| Cordial | Warm and friendly |
| Corpulent | Fat; having a large, bulky body |
| Coterie | A circle of close associates or friends |
| Craven | Cowardly |
| Credulity | Readiness to believe |
Culpable | Deserving blame |
| Cupidity | Greed |
| Cursory | Hasty and superficial |
| Daunt | To make afraid; to discourage |
| Debacle | A complete failure; a total collapse |
| Debilitate | To weaken |
| Debunk | To expose as false |
| Decorum | Proper behaviour |
| Deference | Humble submission and respect |
| Defunct | No longer existing or functioning |
| Deleterious | Harmful |
| Demagogue | A leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power |
| Denigrate | To attack the reputation of; to speak ill of |
| Deride | To ridicule, laugh at with contempt |
| Diatribe Despot | A bitter and prolonged verbal attackA dictator with absolute power |
| Dichotomy | a division into two parts |
| Didactic | Intended to teach |
| Diffident | Shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved. |
| Dilatory | Tending to delay or procrastinate |
| Disparage | To belittle, speak slightingly of; to undervalue |
| Disseminate | To scatter or spread widely |
| Dither | To be indecisive |
| Docile | Easily taught, led, or managed; obedient |
| Dogmatic | stubbornly opinionated |
| Dormant | Inactive, sleeping |
| Dubious | Doubtful; of unlikely authenticity |
| Duplicity | Treachery, deceitfulness |
| Ebullient | Cheerful and full of energy |
| Eclectic | Selecting from or made up from a variety of sources |
| Efficacious | Effective, producing results |
| Effrontery | Shameless boldness |
| Egregious | Outstandingly bad |
| Elicit | To draw forth, bring out from some source |
| Elucidate | To clarify, explain |
| Emaciated | Unnaturally thin |
| Embullient | Enthusiastic |
| Emulate | To imitate with the intent of equaling or surpassing the model |
| Enervate | To weaken |
| Engender | To produce, cause, or bring about |
| Ennui | boredom |
| Ephemeral | Lasting a very short time |
| Epiphany | A moment of sudden revelation or insight |
| Equanimity | Composure; calmness |
Best Tips to Improve Your Vocabulary for the ACT Exam
ACT Vocabulary: A strong vocabulary is an invaluable asset for success on the ACT exam. It empowers test-takers to not only grasp the surface meaning of passages but also to delve deeper, unravelling the intricacies of arguments and appreciating the author’s nuanced perspective. Furthermore, a robust vocabulary equips students to craft articulate and persuasive responses to ACT prompts, demonstrating their critical thinking and analytical abilities.
This guide outlines several effective strategies specifically designed to enhance your vocabulary in preparation for the ACT:
- Extensive reading across various genres is paramount. Expose yourself to complex and well-written literature, news articles, and academic journals. Pay close attention to unfamiliar words, underlining or making note of them for further exploration.
- Don’t simply memorize isolated vocabulary words and their definitions. Instead, strive to understand how these words are used within a sentence or passage. This contextual understanding fosters a deeper retention of the word’s meaning and its various applications.
- Don’t be a passive recipient of information. Actively engage with new vocabulary by employing flashcards, creating mind maps, or even writing sentences using the newly acquired words.
- Utilize memory aids like mnemonics to bridge the gap between unfamiliar words and your existing knowledge base. A well-crafted mnemonic can significantly enhance your recall of challenging vocabulary terms.
- Make a conscious effort to incorporate your newly acquired vocabulary into your everyday conversations and writing. This continuous practice reinforces your understanding and strengthens the neural pathways associated with these words.
Top 5 Books to Help You Improve Your Vocabulary for the ACT Exam in 2024
When it comes to purchasing the finest ACT preparation books, it may get somewhat complicated. Here are the best vocabulary books for the ACT that you can purchase to bolster your chances of success in the exam. Have a look.
| Name of the Book | Name of the Author/Publisher | Price | Purchase Link |
| Cambridge Idioms Dictionary | Cambridge University Press | INR 346 | Click Here |
| Oxford Idioms and Phrasal Verbs | Ben Francis and Dilys Parkinson | INR 450 | Click Here |
| Pinnacle SSC 60 Days English Vocabulary book | Pinnacle Publications | INR 1,288 | Click Here |
| Blackbook of English Vocabulary | Nikhil K.R. Gupta | INR 329 | Click Here |
| Everyday Vocabulary More Than 6100 Words | Kumkum Gupta | INR 75 | Click Here |
So that was all about the vocabulary list for the ACT exam. Hope the blog has answered your queries regarding the topic.
FAQs
Ans. A strong vocabulary is crucial for the ACT English section. It allows you to grasp deeper meanings and nuances within passages, enhancing your reading comprehension and improving your score.
Ans. There are several! Reading widely, using context clues in practice tests, actively engaging with new words (like flashcards), and incorporating them into daily use are all effective methods.
Ans. Memorization alone is not ideal. Focus on understanding how words are used in context. This fosters deeper retention and improves your ability to apply them effectively on the ACT.
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