Test Your Vocabulary With This Quiz!



5 Min Quiz


To be palpable means to be readily or plainly seen, heard or perceived. In medical speak, palpable means that something is detectable simply by touch.


To examine in detail with careful or critical attention



To relinquish the right or claim to a throne

When one abdicates, they formally and voluntarily give up their rights to a throne. King Edward VIII infamously abdicated the crown of England in 1936.


Action that is performed by or affects only one side

When a decision is made unilaterally, this means it only affects or benefits one side, person, or group. Generally, this decision is made without the agreement of others.


A small, rounded hill

A knoll is a heightened bank or ridge in the earth. A knoll is a natural occurrence and is not created by humans.


To stimulate or shock with an electric current



Dried out with heat, extremely thirsty

When someone says they're parched, this means they're very thirsty and sometimes dehydrated. Foods can also be parched in order to remove hydration prior to serving.


A confusing and difficult problem or question



Hard and black volcanic glass

Obsidian is the dark, hard rock that is formed by lava. This occurs when lava is cooled very quickly with little crystal growth.


Being on guard, watchful



To behave uncontrollably and disruptively

When someone runs amok, they're typically out of control and behaving uncontrollably. At times, these occurrences can become violent.


Living in solitary; avoiding others

To be reclusive is to avoid interactions with others, and preferring to live alone. Some people actually enjoy living a life of seclusion.


A countless or extremely large number

Myriad means countless or extremely large in number. When someone says "a myriad of options" they generally mean the options are innumerable and are unable to be counted.


A person who is usually disliked or avoided



Being sensitive when dealing with others or difficult issues



To stray from the topic at hand

When someone says "I digress," they mean they've strayed from the main topic of conversation. This may occur when someone has gone off on a tangent and changed the subject.


A confused hand-to-hand fight between multiple people

A melee is a confused fight, skirmish, or scuffle. It occurs among several people.


Of little or no importance; insignificant



Dealing with things in a practical way



Expression of extreme joy and happiness

When one expresses jubilation, they are showing how happy and ecstatic they are. A jubilation is often a joyful showing of celebration.


Creating fear through great size and strength

A formidable enemy is one that is horrendous, frightening, and concerning. This generally occurs because of the size and strength of the person.


Noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy



Able to withstand attacks; not capable of being taken by force



When those with power or influence favor relatives or friends




When someone says they are clairvoyant, they mean that they are capable of seeing things that have happened in the past or things taht will happen in the future. Other words for this are psychic and telepathic.


Commendable or desirable



To clear someone from blame or suspicion



Getting ideas, style, or taste from a wide and diverse range of sources

Eclectic means getting ideas or taste from an extensive and wide range of sources. When someone says they have an eclectic taste in music, this means they enjoy music from many different genres.


An individual who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their ideals

A zealot is viewed as a fanatic who is often extreme in pursuing his or her ideals. This can be religious, political, or militant in nature.


Light, airy, or tenuous



To back out on a promise, undertaking or contract



Careful and unwasteful with regard to money or food



A person who is new to an experience



To develop gradually into a more complex form



Authorization, sanction or justification



Explore More Quizzes

Image: PCH

About This Quiz


Do you easily recognize words and their definitions? Do you remember the long days of studying your vocabulary words for the dreaded, yet inevitable, tests that lie ahead? Some students choose to take education a step further and pursue a graduate degree such as a Ph.D. These students are faced with words that are more difficult than some of us can imagine. 


So hold tight and let's see if you deserve a Ph.D.

About HowStuffWorks Play
