ACT - SAT Vocab Words - O, P

Question 1

obdurate

Answer 1

(adj.) unyielding to persuasion or moral influences (The obdurateold man refused to take pity on the kittens.)

Question 2

obfuscate

Answer 2

(v.) to render incomprehensible (The detective did want to answer the newspaperman’s questions, so he obfuscatedthe truth.)

Question 3

oblique

Answer 3

(adj.) diverging from a straight line or course, not straightforward (Martin’s obliquelanguage confused those who listened to him.)

Question 4

oblivious

Answer 4

(adj.) lacking consciousness or awareness of something (Oblivious to the burning smell emanating from the kitchen, my father did not notice that the rolls in the oven were burned until much too late.)

Question 5

obscure

Answer 5

(adj.) unclear, partially hidden (Because he was standing in the shadows, his features were obscure.)

Question 6

obsequious

Answer 6

(adj.) excessively compliant or submissive (Mark acted like Janet’s servant,obeying her every request in an obsequiousmanner.)

Question 7

obsolete

Answer 7

(adj.) no longer used, out of date (With the inventions of tape decks and CDs, which both have better sound and are easier to use, eight-track players are now entirely obsolete.)

Question 8

obstinate

Answer 8

(adj.) not yielding easily, stubborn (The obstinatechild refused to leave the store until his mother bought him a candy bar.)

Question 9

obstreperous

Answer 9

(adj.) noisy, unruly (Billy’s obstreperousbehavior prompted the librarian to ask him to leave the reading room.)

Question 10

obtuse

Answer 10

(adj.) lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect (Political opponents warned that the prime minister’s obtuseapproach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war.)

Question 11

odious

Answer 11

(adj.) instilling hatred or intense displeasure (Mark was assigned the odioustask of cleaning the cat’s litter box.)

Question 12

officious

Answer 12

(adj.) offering one’s services when they are neither wanted nor needed (Brenda resented Allan’s officiousbehavior when he selected colors that might best improve her artwork.)

Question 13

ominous

Answer 13

(adj.) foreboding or foreshadowing evil (The fortuneteller’s ominouswords flashed through my mind as the hooded figure approached me in the alley.)

Question 14

onerous

Answer 14

(adj.) burdensome (My parents lamented that the pleasures of living in a beautiful country estate no longer outweighed the onerousmortgage payments.)

Question 15

opulent

Answer 15

(adj.) characterized by rich abundance verging on ostentation (The opulent furnishings of the dictator’s private compound contrasted harshly with the meager accommodations of her subjects.)

Question 16

oration

Answer 16

(n.) a speech delivered in a formal or ceremonious manner (The prime minister was visibly shaken when the unruly parliament interrupted his orationabout failed domestic policies.)

Question 17

ornate

Answer 17

(adj.) highly elaborate, excessively decorated (The ornatestyling of the new model of luxury car could not compensate for the poor quality of its motor.)

Question 18

orthodox

Answer 18

(adj.) conventional, conforming to established protocol (The company’s profits dwindled because the management pursued orthodoxbusiness policies that were incompatible with new industrial trends.)

Question 19

oscillate

Answer 19

(v.) to sway from one side to the other (My uncle oscillatedbetween buying a station wagon to transport his family and buying a sports car to satisfy his boyhood fantasies.)

Question 20

ostensible

Answer 20

(adj.) appearing as such, seemingly (Jack’s ostensiblereason for driving was that airfare was too expensive, but in reality, he was afraid of flying.)

Question 21

ostentatious

Answer 21

(adj.) excessively showy, glitzy (On the palace tour, the guide focused on the ostentatiousdecorations and spoke little of the royal family’s history.)

Question 22

ostracism

Answer 22

(n.) exclusion from a group (Beth risked ostracismif her roommates discovered her flatulence.)

Question 23

pacific

Answer 23

(adj.) soothing (The chemistry professor’s pacificdemeanor helped the class remain calm after the experiment exploded.)

Question 24

palatable

Answer 24

(adj.) agreeable to the taste or sensibilities (Despite the unpleasant smell, the exotic cheese was quite palatable.)

Question 25

palette

Answer 25

(adj.) a range of colors or qualities (The palette of colors utilized in the painting was equaled only by the range of intense emotions the piece evoked.)

Question 26

palliate

Answer 26

(v.) to reduce the severity of (The doctor trusted that the new medication would palliate her patient’s discomfort.)

Question 27

pallid

Answer 27

(adj.) lacking color (Dr. Van Helsing feared that Lucy’s pallid complexion was due to an unexplained loss of blood.)

Question 28

panacea

Answer 28

(n.) a remedy for all ills or difficulties (Doctors wish there was a single panacea for every disease, but sadly there is not.)

Question 29

paradigm

Answer 29

(n.) an example that is a perfect pattern or model (Because the new SUV was so popular, it became the paradigm upon which all others were modeled.)

Question 30

paradox

Answer 30

(n.) an apparently contradictory statement that is perhaps true (The diplomat refused to acknowledge the paradox that negotiating a peace treaty would demand more resources than waging war.)

Question 31

paragon

Answer 31

(n.) a model of excellence or perfection (The mythical Helen of Troy was considered a paragon of female beauty.)

Question 32

paramount

Answer 32

(adj.) greatest in importance, rank, character (It was paramount that the bomb squad disconnect the blue wire before removing the fuse.)

Question 33

pariah

Answer 33

(n.) an outcast (Following the discovery of his plagiarism, Professor Hurley was made a pariah in all academic circles.)

Question 34

parody

Answer 34

(n.) a satirical imitation (A hush fell over the classroom when the teacher returned to find Deborah acting out a parody of his teaching style.)

Question 35

parsimony

Answer 35

(n.) frugality, stinginess (Many relatives believed that my aunt’s wealth resulted from her parsimony.)

Question 36

partisan

Answer 36

(n.) a follower, adherent (The king did not believe that his rival could round up enough partisans to overthrow the monarchy.)

Question 37

patent

Answer 37

(adj.) readily seen or understood, clear (The reason for Jim’s abdominal pain was made patent after the doctor performed a sonogram.)

Question 38

pathology

Answer 38

(n.) a deviation from the normal (Dr. Hastings had difficulty identifying the precise nature of Brian’s pathology.)

Question 39

pathos

Answer 39

(n.) an emotion of sympathy (Martha filled with pathos upon discovering the scrawny, shivering kitten at her door.)

Question 40

paucity

Answer 40

(adj.) small in quantity (Gilbert lamented the paucity of twentieth century literature courses available at the college.)

Question 41

pejorative

Answer 41

(adj.) derogatory, uncomplimentary (The evening’s headline news covered an international scandal caused by a pejorative statement the famous senator had made in reference to a foreign leader.)

Question 42

pellucid

Answer 42

(adj.) easily intelligible, clear (Wishing his book to be pellucid to the common man, Albert Camus avoided using complicated grammar when composing The Stranger.)

Question 43

penchant

Answer 43

(n.) a tendency, partiality, preference (Jill’s dinner parties quickly became monotonous on account of her penchant for Mexican dishes.)

Question 44

penitent

Answer 44

(adj.) remorseful, regretful (The jury’s verdict may have been more lenient if the criminal had appeared penitent for his gruesome crimes.)

Question 45

penultimate

Answer 45

(adj.) next to last (Having smoked the penultimate cigarette remaining in the pack, Cybil discarded the last cigarette and resolved to quit smoking.)

Question 46

penurious

Answer 46

(adj.) miserly, stingy (Stella complained that her husband’s penurious ways made it impossible to live the lifestyle she felt she deserved.)

Question 47

perfidious

Answer 47

(adj.) disloyal, unfaithful (After the official was caught selling government secrets to enemy agents, he was executed for his perfidious ways.)

Question 48

perfunctory

Answer 48

(adj.) showing little interest or enthusiasm (The radio broadcaster announced the news of the massacre in a surprisingly perfunctory manner.)

Question 49

permeate

Answer 49

(v.) to spread throughout, saturate (Mrs. Huxtable was annoyed that the wet dog’s odor had permeated the furniture’s upholstery.)

Question 50

pernicious

Answer 50

(adj.) extremely destructive or harmful (The new government feared that the Communist sympathizers would have a pernicious influence on the nation’s stability.)

Question 51

perplex

Answer 51

(v.) to confuse (Brad was perplexed by his girlfriend’s suddenly distant manner.)

Question 52

perspicacity

Answer 52

(adj.) shrewdness, perceptiveness (The detective was too humble to acknowledge that his perspicacity was the reason for his professional success.)

Question 53

pert

Answer 53

(adj.) flippant, bold (My parents forgave Sandra’s pert humor at the dinner table because it had been so long since they had last seen her.)

Question 54

pertinacious

Answer 54

(adj.) stubbornly persistent (Harry’s parents were frustrated with his pertinacious insistence that a monster lived in his closet. Then they opened the closet door and were eaten.)

Question 55

perusal

Answer 55

(n.) a careful examination, review (The actor agreed to accept the role after a two-month perusal of the movie script.)

Question 56

pervasive

Answer 56

(adj.) having the tendency to spread throughout (Stepping off the plane in Havana, I recognized the pervasive odor of sugar cane fields on fire.)

Question 57

petulance

Answer 57

(n.) rudeness, irritability (The Nanny resigned after she could no longer tolerate the child’s petulance.)

Question 58

philanthropic

Answer 58

(adj.) charitable, giving (Many people felt that the billionaire’s decision to donate her fortune to house the homeless was the ultimate philanthropic act.)

Question 59

phlegmatic

Answer 59

(adj.) uninterested, unresponsive (Monique feared her dog was ill after the animal’s phlegmatic response to his favorite chew toy.)

Question 60

pillage

Answer 60

(v.) to seize or plunder, especially in war (Invading enemy soldiers pillaged the homes scattered along the country’s border.)

Question 61

pinnacle

Answer 61

(n.) the highest point (Book reviewers declared that the author’s new novel was extraordinary and probably the pinnacle of Western literature.)

Question 62

pithy

Answer 62

(adj.) concisely meaningful (My father’s long-winded explanation was a stark contrast to his usually pithy statements.)

Question 63

pittance

Answer 63

(n.) a very small amount, especially relating to money (Josh complained that he was paid a pittance for the great amount of work he did at the firm.)

Question 64

placate

Answer 64

(v.) to ease the anger of, soothe (The man purchased a lollipop to placate his irritable son.)

Question 65

placid

Answer 65

(adj.) calm, peaceful (The placid lake surface was as smooth as glass.)

Question 66

platitude

Answer 66

(n.) an uninspired remark, cliché (After reading over her paper, Helene concluded that what she thought were profound insights were actually just platitudes.)

Question 67

plaudits

Answer 67

(n.) enthusiastic approval, applause (The controversial new film received plaudits from even the harshest critics.)

Question 68

plausible

Answer 68

(adj.) believable, reasonable (He studied all the data and then came up with a plausible theory that took all factors into account.)

Question 69

plenitude

Answer 69

(n.) an abundance (My grandmother was overwhelmed by the plenitude of tomatoes her garden yielded this season.)

Question 70

plethora

Answer 70

(n.) an abundance, excess (The wedding banquet included a plethora of oysters piled almost three feet high.)

Question 71

pliable

Answer 71

(adj.) flexible (Aircraft wings are designed to be somewhat pliable so they do not break in heavy turbulence.)

Question 72

poignant

Answer 72

(adj.) deeply affecting, moving (My teacher actually cried after reading to us the poignant final chapter of the novel.)

Question 73

polemic

Answer 73

(n.) an aggressive argument against a specific opinion (My brother launched into a polemic against my arguments that capitalism was an unjust economic system.)

Question 74

portent

Answer 74

(n.) an omen (When a black cat crossed my sister’s path while she was walking to school, she took it as a portent that she would do badly on her spelling test.)

Question 75

potable

Answer 75

(adj.) suitable for drinking (During sea voyages it is essential that ships carry a supply of potable water because salty ocean water makes anyone who drinks it sick.)

Question 76

potentate

Answer 76

(n.) one who has great power, a ruler (All the villagers stood along the town’s main road to observe as the potentate’s procession headed towards the capital.)

Question 77

pragmatic

Answer 77

(adj.) practical (The politician argued that while increased security measures might not fit with the lofty ideals of the nation, they were a pragmatic necessity to ensure everyone’s safety.)

Question 78

precipice

Answer 78

(n.) the face of a cliff, a steep or overhanging place (The mountain climber hung from a precipice before finding a handhold and pulling himself up.)

Question 79

preclude

Answer 79

(v.) to prevent (My grandfather’s large and vicious guard dog precluded anyone from entering the yard.)

Question 80

precocious

Answer 80

(adj.) advanced, developing ahead of time (Derek was so academically precocious that by the time he was 10 years old, he was already in the ninth grade.)

Question 81

predilection

Answer 81

(n.) a preference or inclination for something (Francois has a predilection for eating scrambled eggs with ketchup, though I prefer to eat eggs without any condiments.)

Question 82

preponderance

Answer 82

(adj.) superiority in importance or quantity (Britain’s preponderance of naval might secured the nation’s role as a military power.)

Question 83

prepossessing

Answer 83

(adj.) occupying the mind to the exclusion of other thoughts or feelings (His prepossessing appearance made it impossible for me to think of anything else.)

Question 84

presage

Answer 84

(n.) an omen (When my uncle’s old war injury ached, he interpreted it as a presage of bad weather approaching.)

Question 85

prescient

Answer 85

(adj.) to have foreknowledge of events (Questioning the fortune cookie’s prediction, Ray went in search of the old hermit who was rumored to be prescient.)

Question 86

prescribe

Answer 86

(v.) to lay down a rule (The duke prescribed that from this point further all of the peasants living on his lands would have to pay higher taxes.)

Question 87

presumptuous

Answer 87

(adj.) disrespectfully bold (The princess grew angry after the presumptuous noble tried to kiss her, even though he was far below her in social status.)

Question 88

pretense

Answer 88

(n.)an appearance or action intended to deceive (Though he actually wanted to use his parents’ car to go on a date, Nick borrowed his parents’ car under the pretense of attending a group study session.)

Question 89

primeval

Answer 89

(adj.) original, ancient (The first primates to walk on two legs, called Australopithecus, were the primeval descendants of modern man.)

Question 90

privation

Answer 90

(n.) lacking basic necessities (After decades of rule by an oppressive government that saw nothing wrong with stealing from its citizens, the recent drought only increased the people’s privation.)

Question 91

probity

Answer 91

(n.) virtue, integrity (Because he was never viewed as a man of great probity, no one was surprised by Mr. Samson’s immoral behavior.)

Question 92

proclivity

Answer 92

(n.) a strong inclination toward something (In a sick twist of fate, Harold’s childhood proclivity for torturing small animals grew into a desire to become a surgeon.)

Question 93

procure

Answer 93

(v.) to obtain, acquire (The FBI was unable to procure sufficient evidence to charge the gangster with racketeering.)

Question 94

profane

Answer 94

(adj.) lewd, indecent (Jacob’s profane act of dumping frogs in the holy water in the chapel at his boarding school resulted in his dismissal.)

Question 95

profligate

Answer 95

(adj.) dissolute, extravagant (The profligate gambler loved to drink, spend money, steal, cheat, and hang out with prostitutes.)

Question 96

profuse

Answer 96

(adj.) plentiful, abundant (The fans were profuse in their cheers for the star basketball player.)

Question 97

promulgate

Answer 97

(v.) to proclaim, make known (The film professor promulgated that both interms of sex appeal and political intrigue, Sean Connery’s James Bond was superior to Roger Moore’s.)

Question 98

propagate

Answer 98

(v.) to multiply, spread out (Rumors of Paul McCartney’s demise propagated like wildfire throughout the world.)

Question 99

propensity

Answer 99

(n.) an inclination, preference (Dermit has a propensity for dangerous activities such as bungee jumping.)

Question 100

propitious

Answer 100

(adj.) favorable (The dark storm clouds visible on the horizon suggested that the weather would not be propitious for sailing.)

Question 101

propriety

Answer 101

(n.) the quality or state of being proper, decent (Erma’s old-fashioned parents believed that her mini-skirt lacked the propriety expected of a “nice” girl.)

Question 102

prosaic

Answer 102

(adj.) plain, lacking liveliness (Heather’s prosaic recital of the poem bored the audience.)

Question 103

proscribe

Answer 103

(v.) to condemn, outlaw (The town council voted to proscribe the sale of alcohol on weekends.)

Question 104

protean

Answer 104

(adj.)able to change shape; displaying great variety (Among Nigel’s proteantalents was his ability to touch the tip of his nose with his tongue.)

Question 105

prowess

Answer 105

(n.) extraordinary ability (The musician had never taken a guitar lesson in his life, making his prowess with the instrument even more incredible.)

Question 106

prudence

Answer 106

(n.) cautious, circumspect (After losing a fortune in a stock market crash, my father vowed to practice greater prudence in future investments.)

Question 107

prurient

Answer 107

(adj.) eliciting or possessing an extraordinary interest in sex (David’s mother was shocked by the discovery of prurient reading material hidden beneath her son’s mattress.)

Question 108

puerile

Answer 108

(adj.) juvenile, immature (The judge demanded order after the lawyer’s puerile attempt to object by stomping his feet on the courtroom floor.)

Question 109

pugnacious

Answer 109

(adj.) quarrelsome, combative (Aaron’s pugnacious nature led him to start several barroom brawls each month.)

Question 110

pulchritude

Answer 110

(n.) physical beauty (Several of Shakespeare’s sonnets explore the pulchritude of a lovely young man.)

Question 111

punctilious

Answer 111

(adj.) eager to follow rules or conventions (Punctilious Bobby, hall monitor extraordinaire, insisted that his peers follow the rules.)

Question 112

pungent

Answer 112

(adj.) having a pointed, sharp quality—often used to describe smells (The pungent odor in the classroom made Joseph lose his concentration during the test.)

Question 113

punitive

Answer 113

(adj.) involving punishment (If caught smoking in the boys’ room, the punitiveresult is immediate expulsion from school.)

Question 114

putrid

Answer 114

(adj.) rotten, foul (Those rotten eggs smell putrid.)