How Word Knowledge Works
The Word Knowledge (WK) section is a synonym test. Nearly every question gives you a word, either alone or in a short sentence, and asks which answer choice "most nearly means" the same thing. On the computer adaptive CAT-ASVAB you answer 15 scored questions in 9 minutes, and because WK feeds your Verbal Expression composite, it directly affects your AFQT score.
You can't memorize the dictionary, so study smart:
- Learn roots and prefixes. Pieces like bene (good), mal (bad), dict (say), and anti (against) let you decode words you've never seen.
- Use context. When the word appears in a sentence, read the whole sentence and ask what feeling or idea would fit in that spot.
- Eliminate opposites first. Test writers love including an antonym among the choices. Cross out any choice that means the reverse, then any choice that's unrelated, and pick from what's left.
Work through the list below in short sessions, a band at a time. Saying each definition out loud in your own words beats silently rereading it.
Words A-C
| Word |
Meaning |
| abate | to lessen or become less intense |
| abundant | present in large amounts, plentiful |
| adamant | refusing to change your mind |
| adverse | harmful or working against you |
| ambiguous | unclear or open to more than one meaning |
| amiable | friendly and pleasant |
| apathy | lack of interest or concern |
| arduous | very difficult and tiring |
| astute | sharp and quick to understand |
| audacious | bold and daring |
| benevolent | kind and generous |
| brevity | shortness in speech or writing |
| candid | honest and direct |
| coerce | to force someone to do something |
| competent | having the skill to do something well |
| concise | short and to the point |
| condone | to accept or overlook wrong behavior |
| cordial | warm and polite |
| credible | believable or trustworthy |
| cunning | clever in a sly way |
Words D-F
| Word |
Meaning |
| daunting | intimidating or discouraging |
| deficient | lacking something that is needed |
| deter | to discourage someone from acting |
| diligent | hardworking and careful |
| discreet | careful about what you say or reveal |
| docile | easy to manage or teach |
| dormant | inactive for now, able to become active |
| dubious | doubtful or questionable |
| durable | able to last through heavy use |
| eloquent | skilled and persuasive with words |
| elude | to escape or avoid capture |
| endorse | to publicly support or approve |
| evade | to avoid or escape by cleverness |
| exempt | free from a duty others must meet |
| exploit | to use unfairly for selfish gain |
| feasible | possible and practical to do |
| feign | to fake or pretend |
| fluctuate | to shift up and down irregularly |
| frugal | careful not to waste money |
| futile | pointless and certain to fail |
Words G-L
| Word |
Meaning |
| garner | to gather or collect |
| genuine | real and sincere |
| grave | very serious or solemn |
| gullible | easily fooled or tricked |
| hamper | to slow or block progress |
| haphazard | done without order or plan |
| hazardous | dangerous or risky |
| hinder | to hold back or delay |
| hostile | unfriendly or aggressive |
| immense | extremely large in size |
| impartial | fair and not taking sides |
| imply | to suggest without saying directly |
| indifferent | showing no interest or concern |
| intact | whole and undamaged |
| intricate | very detailed and complicated |
| jeopardy | danger or risk of loss |
| jovial | cheerful and good humored |
| keen | sharp, eager, or highly perceptive |
| lenient | not strict, mild in punishment |
| lucrative | producing a lot of money |
Words M-P
| Word |
Meaning |
| meager | small in amount, barely enough |
| meticulous | extremely careful about details |
| mundane | ordinary and dull |
| negligent | careless in a duty |
| novice | a person new to something |
| nullify | to cancel or make invalid |
| obsolete | no longer in use, outdated |
| obstinate | stubborn and hard to persuade |
| ominous | suggesting something bad will happen |
| opaque | impossible to see through or understand |
| pertinent | directly related to the matter |
| placid | calm and peaceful |
| plausible | believable and reasonable |
| potent | strong and powerful |
| pragmatic | practical rather than idealistic |
| precise | exact and accurate |
| provoke | to stir up anger or action |
| prudent | careful and sensible |
| punctual | arriving or acting exactly on time |
| pursue | to chase or work toward |
Words Q-S
| Word |
Meaning |
| quell | to put down or silence |
| quench | to satisfy thirst or put out |
| rash | acting without thinking first |
| rebuke | to scold sharply |
| redundant | unnecessarily repeated or no longer needed |
| reluctant | unwilling or hesitant |
| resilient | able to recover quickly |
| robust | strong and healthy |
| rupture | to break or burst apart |
| scrutinize | to examine very closely |
| serene | calm and untroubled |
| shrewd | sharp in practical judgment |
| somber | dark, gloomy, or serious |
| sparse | thinly spread, few in number |
| stagnant | not moving or growing |
| stern | strict and serious |
| subside | to sink down or grow quieter |
| subtle | slight and not obvious |
| succinct | brief and clearly stated |
| superficial | on the surface only, shallow |
Words T-Z
| Word |
Meaning |
| tangible | real and able to be touched |
| tedious | boring, slow, and repetitive |
| tentative | uncertain and not final |
| terse | brief to the point of bluntness |
| thrive | to grow strong and succeed |
| thwart | to block or prevent |
| tranquil | calm and quiet |
| trivial | of little importance |
| unanimous | agreed on by everyone |
| uniform | the same throughout |
| urgent | needing immediate attention |
| vacant | empty or unoccupied |
| verify | to confirm as true |
| versatile | useful in many different ways |
| vigilant | watchful and alert for danger |
| vital | absolutely necessary for life or success |
| wary | cautious and on guard |
| wither | to dry up and shrivel |
| yield | to give way or produce |
| zealous | intensely enthusiastic and devoted |
Make These Words Stick
Turn these into flashcards - the study guide has a spaced-repetition vocabulary deck that resurfaces words right before you would forget them.
Take a Practice Test