HSPT vocabulary list: 42 words to start with
Vocabulary is tested twice on the HSPT: Verbal Skills has synonyms and antonyms (22 of its 60 questions on STS's sample form) and Reading has 22 vocabulary questions. Below are 42 words from our own 500-word list, with meanings and examples. STS publishes no word list; these are words of the level the test uses, chosen by us.
Updated October 24, 2026 · by AdmitTest
The counts are from the sample form in STS's HSPT manual: Verbal Skills has 13 synonym and 9 antonym questions, and Reading has 22 vocabulary questions, so vocabulary is up to 44 of the 298 questions. Methods for each question type are in the Verbal Skills and Reading guides.
42 words, with meanings and examples
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| abandon (verb) | to leave behind and not come back | The sailors had to abandon the sinking ship and row to shore. |
| adequate (adj) | enough for a need | The library had adequate space for the whole class to work quietly. |
| alter (verb) | to change something | The tailor will alter the jacket so the sleeves are shorter. |
| antagonize (verb) | to make someone angry or unfriendly | He tried not to antagonize his sister, so he stopped teasing her about her haircut. |
| articulate (adj) | able to express ideas clearly | The articulate speaker explained the complicated topic in simple words. |
| banish (verb) | to send away and forbid to return | The king banished the knight from the kingdom for breaking his promise. |
| boast (verb) | to talk with too much pride about yourself | He liked to boast about his video game scores to anyone who would listen. |
| captivate (verb) | to hold someone's attention with charm | The storyteller captivated the children with tales of dragons and castles. |
| commence (verb) | to begin | The graduation ceremony will commence at ten o'clock sharp. |
| conform (verb) | to follow the usual rules or customs | Some students conform to every trend, while others prefer their own style. |
| conventional (adj) | following usual customs or methods | Instead of a conventional report, Ana made a short documentary film. |
| decisive (adj) | able to make choices quickly and firmly | A decisive leader can make tough choices when time is short. |
| deprive (verb) | to take away or keep something from someone | Staying up all night will deprive your body of the rest it needs. |
| diligent (adj) | working hard and carefully | The diligent student studied her notes every night before the exam. |
| docile (adj) | calm and easy to control | The docile pony let the children brush its mane and tail. |
| elaborate (adj) | having many careful details | They built an elaborate sandcastle with towers, bridges, and a moat. |
| enormous (adj) | extremely large | An enormous whale surfaced right beside our little boat. |
| exceed (verb) | to go beyond a limit or amount | Drivers who exceed the speed limit may get a ticket. |
| famine (noun) | a severe lack of food in an area | The long drought led to a famine that lasted two years. |
| fluctuate (verb) | to rise and fall irregularly | Temperatures fluctuate a lot in the desert between day and night. |
| genuine (adj) | real and true; not fake | The bracelet is made of genuine gold, not painted plastic. |
| hazardous (adj) | dangerous; risky | Icy sidewalks can be hazardous for people walking to work. |
| immaculate (adj) | perfectly clean or neat | After hours of scrubbing, the kitchen was immaculate. |
| inevitable (adj) | certain to happen; unavoidable | With so many dark clouds overhead, rain seemed inevitable. |
| integrity (noun) | honesty and strong moral principles | She showed integrity when she returned the extra change to the cashier. |
| keen (adj) | eager or very interested | My sister is keen to learn how to play the guitar. |
| malicious (adj) | intending to harm others | Spreading malicious rumors about a classmate is a form of bullying. |
| misconception (noun) | a wrong idea or belief | A common misconception is that bats are blind, but most can see quite well. |
| notable (adj) | worthy of attention or notice | Mount Rushmore is one of the most notable landmarks in South Dakota. |
| obvious (adj) | easy to see or understand | It was obvious that the dog had eaten my sandwich: crumbs were everywhere. |
| perplex (verb) | to confuse or puzzle | The last question on the math quiz perplexed even the best students. |
| precarious (adj) | unsafe and likely to fall or fail | The stack of books on the edge of the desk looked precarious. |
| prolong (verb) | to make something last longer | The extra innings prolonged the game until almost midnight. |
| recede (verb) | to move back or away | The floodwaters slowly receded, leaving mud on every street. |
| remote (adj) | far away from other places | The scientists lived in a remote research station in Antarctica. |
| robust (adj) | strong and healthy | The robust young oak survived the windstorm without losing a branch. |
| solitary (adj) | alone; without others | The solitary wolf wandered far from its pack in search of food. |
| succinct (adj) | brief and clearly stated | Her succinct answer covered everything in just two sentences. |
| tangible (adj) | able to be touched; real and concrete | A trophy is a tangible reward, but pride is something you feel inside. |
| trivial (adj) | of little importance | Don't worry about trivial mistakes; focus on the big ideas in your essay. |
| valiant (adj) | very brave, especially in danger | The valiant knight protected the village from the dragon. |
| volatile (adj) | likely to change suddenly and without warning | His volatile temper made his friends careful about what they said. |
How to use the list
- Learn 5 to 10 words a day. Cover the meaning, say it, check.
- Say your own sentence with each word.
- The next day, quiz yesterday's words before the new ones.
- On a synonym question, give your own word before reading the choices. On an antonym question, check that the choice is the opposite, not the same.
The full list of 500 words, with synonyms, an opposite and an example for each, is part of HSPT Full Prep ($89).
Free full-length HSPT practice test. 298 questions in five timed sections, no sign-up. Your child's score by section and by skill when it ends.
Start the free testCommon questions
Does the HSPT have a vocabulary list?
STS publishes no official word list. The test measures vocabulary built over years of reading, in Verbal Skills (synonyms and antonyms) and in Reading (vocabulary in context). Lists like this one are practice, not a promise of what appears.
How many words should my child learn?
A few a day, with review. Five to ten new words a day for a few weeks is plenty; more important is using each word in a sentence and reviewing yesterday's words.
How many vocabulary questions are on the HSPT?
On the sample form in STS's manual: 13 synonyms and 9 antonyms in Verbal Skills, and 22 vocabulary questions in Reading, so 44 of 298 questions.
What is the best way to learn HSPT vocabulary?
Reading every day, plus learning words in families (a root like 'bene', good, opens benefit and benevolent) and saying your own synonym before looking at the choices on a question.