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General vocabulary · Topic 11 of 14

General Vocabulary: Action & Idea Words

General Vocabulary: Action & Idea Words — Set 1

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Vocabulary · general action & idea words

General Vocabulary: Action & Idea Words — Set 1

The most-tested action words here: abate (lessen), cease (stop), initiate (begin), mitigate (make less severe) and diminish (shrink).

01 · Most testedabate = lessen, die down
02 · Most testedcease = stop
03 · Most testedmitigate = make less severe
01

Most-tested words

abate (verb) — to lessen or die down
cease (verb) — to stop
initiate (verb) — to begin or start
mitigate (verb) — to make less severe
diminish (verb) — to lessen or shrink
02

More words

facilitate (verb) — to make easier
devise (verb) — to plan or invent
engender (verb) — to cause or give rise to
assert (verb) — to state firmly
potential (adjective) — possible, not yet real
consistency (noun) — thickness or texture; steady sameness
access (noun) — a way or right to reach or use
impetus (noun) — a driving force
detriment (noun) — harm or damage
eradicate (verb) — to wipe out completely
augment (verb) — to increase by adding
disseminate (verb) — to spread widely
instigate (verb) — to start or stir up
anticipate (verb) — to expect and prepare for
implement (verb) — to put into action
03

In a sentence

Show 20 example sentences
abate: The storm began to abate by midnight, and the rain slowed to a drizzle.
cease: The pump alarm will cease once the empty IV bag is replaced.
initiate: The student initiated a study group before the first exam.
facilitate: Ramps facilitate entry for people who use wheelchairs.
devise: The team devised a color-coded system to keep track of supplies.
engender: Clear explanations engender trust between a family and the care team.
assert: The witness asserted that the light was red when the car went through.
potential: Wet floors are a potential hazard, so the area is marked with a sign.
consistency: Pudding has a thicker consistency than juice.
access: Every nurse on the unit has access to the supply room.
impetus: A frightening diagnosis in the family was the impetus for his healthier diet.
detriment: Skipping sleep to study can work to the detriment of exam scores.
mitigate: Ice packs can mitigate swelling after a sprain.
eradicate: Vaccination programs eradicated smallpox around the world.
augment: She took a weekend job to augment her income while in school.
disseminate: The health department disseminated flu-shot reminders by text message.
instigate: Two fans instigated the fight by throwing cups at the other team.
anticipate: The staff anticipated a busy night and stocked extra blankets.
implement: The clinic will implement the new check-in system next month.
diminish: The pain diminished as the swelling went down.
Pearl

Abate, diminish and mitigate all point to less; cease means stop completely.

Sources · Cambridge Dictionary — abate · Cambridge Dictionary — cease · Cambridge Dictionary — initiate · Cambridge Dictionary — facilitate · Cambridge Dictionary — devise · Cambridge Dictionary — engender · Cambridge Dictionary — assert · Cambridge Dictionary — potential · Cambridge Dictionary — consistency · Cambridge Dictionary — access · Cambridge Dictionary — impetus · Cambridge Dictionary — detriment · Cambridge Dictionary — mitigate · Cambridge Dictionary — eradicate · Cambridge Dictionary — augment · Cambridge Dictionary — disseminate · Cambridge Dictionary — instigate · Cambridge Dictionary — anticipate · Cambridge Dictionary — implement · Cambridge Dictionary — diminish · Vocabulary.com — word list "HESI A2" (HESI review-book list) · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 Vocab" deck "A's" · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 vocab YT vids" flashcards · Union Test Prep — HESI Vocabulary study guide p. 2 · Brainscape — "HESI A2 Vocabulary" flashcards · McGraw-Hill "500 Evolve Reach (HESI) A2 Questions", ch. 2 Vocabulary (EasyNotecards transcription) · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 Vocab" deck "I's" · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 Vocab" deck "E's" · Vocabulary.com — word list "HESI" · Built from the verified NurseSavvy HESI A2 fact map (facts reviewed 2026-10-16). HESI is a trademark of Elsevier; NurseSavvy is not affiliated with Elsevier.

General Vocabulary: Action & Idea Words — Set 2

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Vocabulary · general action & idea words

General Vocabulary: Action & Idea Words — Set 2

The most-tested words here: ostracize (shut out), malign (speak badly of), adulation (excess praise) and milieu (surroundings).

01 · Most testedostracize = shut out of a group
02 · Most testedadulation = excessive praise
03 · Most testedmilieu = surroundings, setting
01

Most-tested words

ostracize (verb) — to shut out of a group
malign (verb) — to speak falsely and badly of
adulation (noun) — excessive praise or admiration
milieu (noun) — surroundings; social setting
02

More words

delineate (verb) — to outline or describe exactly
depict (verb) — to show or portray
placate (verb) — to calm an angry person
abdicate (verb) — to give up power or a duty
recede (verb) — to move back or lessen
recourse (noun) — a source of help to turn to
disdain (noun) — scorn; looking down on
contravene (verb) — to break a rule or law
critique (noun) — a detailed judgment of a work
euphemism (noun) — a mild word for a harsh one
hyperbole (noun) — deliberate exaggeration
supposition (noun) — an assumption without proof
entreat (verb) — to beg or plead
ruminate (verb) — to think over and over
contemplate (verb) — to think about or consider
forgo (verb) — to go without; give up
03

In a sentence

Show 20 example sentences
delineate: The syllabus delineates exactly what each exam will cover.
depict: The poster depicts the steps of proper hand washing.
placate: The manager placated the upset customer with a refund.
ostracize: The other students ostracized him after he reported the cheating.
malign: The ad maligned the rival company with claims it could not prove.
abdicate: The king abdicated in favor of his daughter.
recede: The floodwater receded slowly over three days.
recourse: When the phone lines went down, their only recourse was to send a runner.
adulation: The young singer was not prepared for the adulation of thousands of fans.
disdain: She looked at the fast-food menu with disdain.
contravene: Parking in the ambulance bay contravenes hospital policy.
critique: The instructor gave each student a written critique of the care plan.
euphemism: "Passed away" is a common euphemism for "died."
hyperbole: Saying the line was a mile long was hyperbole; it was about twenty people.
supposition: The broken wrist was only a supposition until the X-ray confirmed it.
milieu: The quiet milieu of the rehab unit helped patients rest.
entreat: The mother entreated the driver to slow down.
ruminate: He ruminated over the exam question for hours after the test.
contemplate: She contemplated a career in pediatrics after her clinical rotation.
forgo: He chose to forgo dessert to keep his blood sugar steady.
Pearl

To ostracize is to push someone out; adulation lifts someone up with too much praise.

Sources · Cambridge Dictionary — delineate · Cambridge Dictionary — depict · Cambridge Dictionary — placate · Cambridge Dictionary — ostracize · Cambridge Dictionary — malign · Cambridge Dictionary — abdicate · Cambridge Dictionary — recede · Cambridge Dictionary — recourse · Cambridge Dictionary — adulation · Cambridge Dictionary — disdain · Cambridge Dictionary — contravene · Cambridge Dictionary — critique · Cambridge Dictionary — euphemism · Cambridge Dictionary — hyperbole · Cambridge Dictionary — supposition · Cambridge Dictionary — milieu · Cambridge Dictionary — entreat · Cambridge Dictionary — ruminate · Cambridge Dictionary — contemplate · Cambridge Dictionary — forgo · Vocabulary.com — word list "HESI A2" (HESI review-book list) · NurseStudy.net — HESI A2 study guide: vocabulary list · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 Vocab" deck "P's" · McGraw-Hill "500 Evolve Reach (HESI) A2 Questions", ch. 2 Vocabulary (EasyNotecards transcription) · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 Vocab" deck "M's" · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 Vocab" deck "A's" · Brainscape — "Hesi vocab" flashcards · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 vocab YT vids" flashcards · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 Vocab" deck "C's" · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 Vocab" deck "E's" · NurseHub — free HESI A2 Vocabulary diagnostic test · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 Vocab" deck "H's" · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 Vocab" deck "S's" · TestHQ — HESI A2 Vocabulary (frequently tested words) · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 Vocab" deck "F's" · Built from the verified NurseSavvy HESI A2 fact map (facts reviewed 2026-10-16). HESI is a trademark of Elsevier; NurseSavvy is not affiliated with Elsevier.

General Vocabulary: Action & Idea Words — Set 3

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Vocabulary · general action & idea words

General Vocabulary: Action & Idea Words — Set 3

The most-tested words here: respite (a short break), acumen (keen judgment) and sagacity (wisdom).

01 · Most testedrespite = a short break, relief
02 · Most testedacumen = keen judgment
03 · Most testedsagacity = wisdom
01

Most-tested words

sagacity (noun) — wisdom and good judgment
acumen (noun) — sharp judgment in a field
respite (noun) — a short break or relief
02

More words

convert (verb) — to change into another form
expand (verb) — to grow larger
hone (verb) — to sharpen or refine a skill
persecute (verb) — to treat cruelly and unfairly
relocate (verb) — to move to a different place
anecdote (noun) — a short true story
gamut (noun) — the full range
construct (noun) — an idea or theory built in the mind
regulation (noun) — an official rule
fluctuate (verb) — to rise and fall; vary
replicate (verb) — to copy or repeat exactly
correlate (verb) — to be linked; change together
trepidation (noun) — fear about what's coming
ramification (noun) — a consequence, often unplanned
precept (noun) — a guiding rule or principle
scrutinize (verb) — to examine closely
substantiate (verb) — to prove with evidence
03

In a sentence

Show 20 example sentences
convert: Convert the weight from pounds to kilograms before you record it.
expand: The lungs expand as air flows in.
hone: Students hone their interview skills by practicing with classmates.
persecute: Many families fled after the government began to persecute their religious group.
relocate: The clinic relocated to a larger building downtown.
sagacity: The elders were known for their sagacity in settling disputes.
anecdote: The instructor opened the lecture with an anecdote about her first night shift.
acumen: Her business acumen helped the small clinic stay open.
gamut: The patient's emotions ran the gamut from fear to relief.
construct: Intelligence is a construct that psychologists measure in different ways.
regulation: State regulations limit how many hours a pilot can fly in a row.
fluctuate: Gas prices fluctuate from week to week.
replicate: Other labs could not replicate the study's surprising results.
correlate: In the study, hours of sleep correlated with test scores.
respite: An afternoon nap gave the tired parent a brief respite from caring for the newborn.
trepidation: She felt some trepidation before her first clinical shift.
ramification: Missing the deadline had ramifications for the whole team's schedule.
precept: "First, do no harm" is a basic precept of health care.
scrutinize: The pharmacist scrutinized the label before filling the order.
substantiate: The reporter could not substantiate the rumor, so she did not publish it.
Pearl

Sagacity and acumen both mean good judgment; a respite is a break from strain.

Sources · Cambridge Dictionary — convert · Cambridge Dictionary — expand · Cambridge Dictionary — hone · Cambridge Dictionary — persecute · Cambridge Dictionary — relocate · Cambridge Dictionary — sagacity · Cambridge Dictionary — anecdote · Cambridge Dictionary — acumen · Cambridge Dictionary — gamut · Cambridge Dictionary — construct · Cambridge Dictionary — regulation · Cambridge Dictionary — fluctuate · Cambridge Dictionary — replicate · Cambridge Dictionary — correlate · Cambridge Dictionary — respite · Cambridge Dictionary — trepidation · Cambridge Dictionary — ramification · Cambridge Dictionary — precept · Cambridge Dictionary — scrutinize · Cambridge Dictionary — substantiate · Vocabulary.com — word list "HESI A2" (HESI review-book list) · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 vocab YT vids" flashcards · Brainscape — "Hesi vocab" flashcards · McGraw-Hill "500 Evolve Reach (HESI) A2 Questions", ch. 2 Vocabulary (EasyNotecards transcription) · NurseHub — free HESI A2 Vocabulary diagnostic test · TestHQ — HESI A2 Vocabulary (frequently tested words) · Brainscape — "Hesi A2 Vocab" deck "S's" · Built from the verified NurseSavvy HESI A2 fact map (facts reviewed 2026-10-16). HESI is a trademark of Elsevier; NurseSavvy is not affiliated with Elsevier.

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