ASVAB English Roots & Vocabulary

Cards · 60

Bene- / Mal-

Prefixes meaning 'good/well' and 'bad/ill'. The benevolent donor funded the shelter, while the malicious hacker damaged the network.

Benefactor

A person who gives money or help to a person or cause. An anonymous benefactor paid for the student's college tuition.

Malevolent

Having or showing a wish to do evil to others. The villain cast a malevolent glare across the crowded courtroom.

Chron-

Root meaning 'time'. We arranged the historical events in chronological order from earliest to latest.

Anachronism

Something placed outside its proper historical time. Seeing a wristwatch in the medieval film was a noticeable anachronism.

Chronic

Persisting for a long time or constantly recurring. He suffered from chronic lower back pain after the accident.

Dict-

Root meaning 'to say' or 'speak'. The jury delivered its final verdict after three days of deliberation.

Contradict

To assert the opposite of a statement. The witness's new statement directly contradicted his previous testimony.

Edict

An official order or proclamation issued by an authority. The general issued an edict imposing an immediate curfew.

Port-

Root meaning 'to carry'. Sailors loaded heavy cargo into the transport vehicle.

Deport

To expel a foreign national from a country. The government moved to deport the spy who violated federal law.

Portable

Easily carried or moved. Soldiers rely on lightweight, portable communication gear in the field.

Scrib- / Script-

Root meaning 'to write'. The archaeologist discovered ancient inscriptions on the cave wall.

Inscribe

To carve, cut, or write words on a surface. The jeweler agreed to inscribe their names inside the silver rings.

Postscript

An additional remark written at the end of a letter. She added a hurried postscript reminding him to call tomorrow.

Spec- / Spect-

Root meaning 'to look' or 'see'. The detective inspected the crime scene closely for fingerprints.

Circumspect

Wary and unwilling to take risks; cautious. The diplomat gave a circumspect reply to avoid provoking conflict.

Spectator

A person who watches an event, show, or game. Over ten thousand spectators filled the arena for the championship match.

Gen-

Root meaning 'birth', 'origin', or 'kind'. Scientists studied the genetic material to trace the virus's origin.

Generate

To produce or bring into existence. Solar panels generate clean electricity for the remote military outpost.

Indigenous

Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native. The eucalyptus tree is indigenous to Australia.

Path-

Root meaning 'feeling', 'suffering', or 'disease'. The psychologist specializes in understanding emotional distress.

Apathy

Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. Low voter turnout reflected public apathy toward both political candidates.

Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Great leaders demonstrate empathy by actively listening to their squad.

Ambi- / Amphi-

Prefix meaning 'both' or 'around'. The ambiguous wording caused confusion among the troops.

Ambidextrous

Able to use the right and left hands equally well. Being ambidextrous allowed the pitcher to throw effectively with either arm.

Ambivalent

Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something. She felt ambivalent about moving overseas for the new deployment.

Tract-

Root meaning 'to pull' or 'drag'. The heavy tractor pulled the stuck vehicle out of the mud.

Retract

To draw back or withdraw a statement or promise. The newspaper was forced to retract the false headline.

Protracted

Lasting for a long time or longer than expected. The two nations finally reached peace after protracted negotiations.

Voc- / Vok-

Root meaning 'voice' or 'call'. The singer's vocal control impressed the panel of judges.

Advocate

To publicly recommend or support. The sergeant continued to advocate for improved safety equipment.

Revoke

To officially cancel or take back a decree, decision, or promise. The state decided to revoke his commercial driving license.

Cred-

Root meaning 'to believe'. The witness lacked credibility due to several inconsistent statements.

Incredulous

Unwilling or unable to believe something; skeptical. He gave an incredulous laugh when told he had won the lottery.

Credence

Belief in or acceptance of something as true. The newly discovered radar data gave credence to the pilot's report.

Junct-

Root meaning 'to join'. Highway 10 meets Interstate 5 at this busy junction.

Adjunct

Something added to another thing but not essential; an assistant. She served as an adjunct professor in the mathematics department.

Conjunction

The action of coming together; a connecting word. The navy worked in conjunction with the coast guard during the rescue.

Vert- / Vers-

Root meaning 'to turn'. The engineer converted the engine from diesel to electric power.

Avert

To turn away or prevent an undesirable event. Quick steering allowed the driver to avert a head-on collision.

Adversary

One's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute. The boxer carefully studied the weaknesses of his next adversary.

Sub-

Prefix meaning 'under', 'below', or 'beneath'. The submarine descended quietly beneath the surface.

Subordinate

Lower in rank or position. Officers must treat subordinate personnel with professional respect.

Subvert

To undermine the power and authority of an established system. Rebel forces attempted to subvert the government through sabotage.

Inter-

Prefix meaning 'between' or 'among'. The international treaty promoted peace among neighboring countries.

Intervene

To come between so as to prevent or alter a course of events. The commander had to intervene to calm the escalating dispute.

Intermittent

Occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous. Intermittent rainfall made the dirt road slick and dangerous.

Omni-

Prefix meaning 'all' or 'every'. The omnivorous animal consumed both plants and meat.

Omnipotent

Having unlimited power; able to do anything. Ancient myths often portrayed supreme gods as omnipotent rulers.

Omnipresent

Widely or constantly encountered; widespread. Smartphones have become omnipresent in modern everyday life.

Luc- / Lum-

Root meaning 'light'. The moon provided enough illumination to guide their night march.

Elucidate

To make clear or explain thoroughly. The briefing officer was asked to elucidate the mission's core objectives.

Lucid

Expressed clearly; easy to understand. Despite the chaos, she gave lucid instructions to the rescue team.

Taciturn

Reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little. The taciturn mechanic preferred working quietly alone in the hangar.

Loquacious

Tending to talk a great deal; talkative. The loquacious guide shared stories throughout the entire bus tour.

Pragmatic

Dealing with things sensibly and realistically. They adopted a pragmatic approach to solve the budget shortfall quickly.

Ephemeral

Lasting for a very short time; fleeting. The rainbow was an ephemeral sight that faded within minutes.

Tenacious

Tending to keep a firm hold of something; persistent. The dog maintained a tenacious grip on the training rope.

Meticulous

Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise. The technician conducted a meticulous inspection of the aircraft engine.