PSAT: Challenging Words: List 7

We've identified 200 challenging words you may see on the PSAT. Rely on your knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes to guess the meaning of each word as you practice and master each list.
15 words 170 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. quiescent
    being quiet or still or inactive
  2. cogitate
    consider carefully and deeply
  3. colloquial
    characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
  4. irascible
    quickly aroused to anger
  5. evanescent
    short-lived; tending to vanish or disappear
  6. paragon
    a perfect embodiment of a concept
  7. expeditious
    marked by speed and efficiency
  8. lugubrious
    excessively mournful
  9. cavil
    raise trivial objections
  10. coterie
    an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
  11. augury
    an event indicating important things to come
  12. prescient
    perceiving the significance of events before they occur
  13. nebulous
    lacking definite form or limits
  14. fortuitous
    lucky; occurring by happy chance
  15. quixotic
    not sensible about practical matters
Created on Thu Jun 05 15:35:35 EDT 2025 (updated Thu Nov 20 13:28:44 EST 2025)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.