Vocabulary Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Vocabulary facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which word is an antonym for 'verbose'? → Concise
2. "The abundant harvest filled every basket, with plenty left over to sell." What does "abundant" mean? → Plentiful
3. What does the root 'bene-' mean? → Good or well
4. With his fortune, the old guy was benevolent. What does it mean to be benevolent? → Kind.
5. Which word is the best antonym for "permanent"? → Temporary
6. The additional dirt served as a crucial buttress for the foundation. Buttress means… → Support.
7. Choose the most accurate definition of the word "headstrong." → Stubborn
8. "The novel's plot was so convoluted that readers struggled to follow it." What does "convoluted" mean? → Complicated
9. Over the course of his career, the doctor was dubbed a charlatan. Charlatan is a term used to describe someone who... → Quack.
10. What does 'connotation' mean? → The emotional or implied associations of a word
11. In 'The arid desert stretched endlessly,' what does 'arid' most likely mean? → Extremely dry
12. In 'She showed great fortitude during the crisis,' what does 'fortitude' mean? → Courage and strength in the face of adversity
13. An 'ambiguous' statement is one that is: → Open to more than one interpretation
14. Choose the synonym for "rapid." → Swift
15. What does 'the ball is in your court' mean? → It is your turn to make a decision or take action
16. Choose the most accurate oblique definition. → Indirect
17. What does 'reluctant' mean? → Unwilling or hesitant
18. Which word is an antonym for 'mundane'? → Extraordinary
19. Which word is the closest synonym for 'candid'? → Frank
20. Keeping a personal notebook of new words you encounter is best described as a: → Vocabulary journal
21. Which is the most effective way to confirm you understand a new word? → Use it correctly in a sentence of your own
22. If someone tells you to "break the ice," what are they asking you to do? → Ease tension in a social situation
23. What does 'concise' mean? → Expressing much in few words; brief and to the point
24. Which word is an antonym of 'expand'? → Contract
25. Which word is the best antonym for "generous"? → Stingy
26. What part of speech does the suffix '-tion' or '-sion' typically form, as in 'creation' or 'decision'? → Nouns
27. "Unlike his gregarious sister, who loved parties, Tom preferred to stay home alone." What does "gregarious" mean? → Sociable
28. What does "a blessing in disguise" mean? → Something good that seemed bad at first
29. What is the difference between 'fewer' and 'less'? → Fewer is for countable things; less is for uncountable quantities
30. The prefix 'micro-' as in 'microscope' or 'microchip' means: → Very small or tiny