PSAT: Challenging Words: List 4

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 181 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. pedantic
    marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning
  2. verdant
    characterized by abundance of vegetation and green foliage
  3. sardonic
    disdainfully or ironically humorous
  4. potentate
    a powerful ruler, especially one who is unconstrained by law
  5. meritorious
    deserving reward or praise
  6. florid
    elaborately or excessively ornamented
  7. carp
    any of various freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae
  8. tenable
    based on sound reasoning or evidence
  9. piquant
    having an agreeably pungent taste
  10. anathema
    a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication
  11. obsequious
    attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
  12. inoculate
    inject or treat with the germ of a disease to render immune
  13. incantation
    a ritual reciting of words believed to have a magical effect
  14. vernacular
    the everyday speech of the people
  15. beleaguer
    annoy persistently
Created on Thu Jun 05 15:34:42 EDT 2025

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