HESI A2 Vocabulary Practice Questions: 25 Words With Answers
Vocabulary preparation for the HESI A2 is easier when you learn words in context instead of memorizing long lists without examples. You may encounter familiar words used in unfamiliar ways, medical terminology, or words that have similar meanings. Use the questions below to practice selecting the closest meaning. These are original Naxles study questions, not official HESI questions.
Practice questions
1. What does benign most nearly mean?
- A. Harmful
- B. Not cancerous or not harmful in the relevant context
- C. Contagious
- D. Sudden
Answer: B. In medicine, benign often describes a noncancerous growth. The exact meaning depends on context.
2. What does deteriorate mean?
- A. Improve
- B. Remain stable
- C. Become worse
- D. Disappear immediately
Answer: C. To deteriorate is to decline in condition or quality.
3. What does acute generally mean in a medical context?
- A. Sudden or short-term
- B. Permanent in every case
- C. Unrelated to illness
- D. Occurring only in old age
Answer: A. Acute commonly describes a condition with a relatively sudden onset or short duration. It does not automatically mean severe.
4. What is the closest meaning of alleviate?
- A. Worsen
- B. Relieve
- C. Measure
- D. Predict
Answer: B. To alleviate is to reduce or ease a problem, symptom, or burden.
5. What does comprehend mean?
- A. Understand
- B. Ignore
- C. Repeat without understanding
- D. Reject
Answer: A. Comprehend means to understand.
6. What does deficient mean?
- A. Excessive
- B. Lacking enough of something
- C. Unnecessary
- D. Fully developed
Answer: B. A deficient amount is insufficient or below what is needed.
7. What is a contraindication?
- A. A reason a treatment should not be used in a particular situation
- B. A guaranteed cure
- C. A routine appointment
- D. A measurement of temperature
Answer: A. A contraindication is a factor that makes a particular treatment or procedure inadvisable.
8. What does lethargic mean?
- A. Energetic
- B. Sluggish or unusually lacking energy
- C. Hungry
- D. Highly alert
Answer: B. Lethargy refers to reduced energy or alertness.
9. What does imminent mean?
- A. Unlikely
- B. About to happen
- C. Completed long ago
- D. Difficult to explain
Answer: B. An imminent event is expected to happen very soon.
10. What does subsequent mean?
- A. Earlier
- B. Following or coming afterward
- C. Unrelated
- D. Simultaneous in every case
Answer: B. Subsequent events occur after an earlier event.
11. What does obscure mean?
- A. Clear and obvious
- B. Difficult to understand or not well known
- C. Extremely loud
- D. Completely accurate
Answer: B. Depending on context, obscure can mean unclear, hidden, or little known.
12. What does meticulous mean?
- A. Careless
- B. Very careful and attentive to detail
- C. Impatient
- D. Unprepared
Answer: B. A meticulous person pays close attention to details.
13. What is the closest meaning of augment?
- A. Increase
- B. Reduce
- C. Divide
- D. Delay
Answer: A. Augment means to add to or increase.
14. What does sufficient mean?
- A. Excessive
- B. Enough
- C. Missing
- D. Uncertain
Answer: B. Sufficient means adequate for a particular purpose.
15. What does predominant mean?
- A. Least important
- B. Most common or influential
- C. Impossible to measure
- D. Unrelated to the subject
Answer: B. Predominant describes what is most noticeable, common, or influential.
16. What does inhibit mean?
- A. Encourage
- B. Restrict or slow
- C. Complete
- D. Discover
Answer: B. To inhibit is to restrain or reduce an activity or process.
17. What does coherent mean?
- A. Logical and connected
- B. Confusing and disorganized
- C. Silent
- D. Incomplete in every case
Answer: A. Coherent information is organized and makes sense.
18. What does ambiguous mean?
- A. Having only one possible meaning
- B. Open to more than one interpretation
- C. Always incorrect
- D. Easily measured
Answer: B. Ambiguous wording can be interpreted in multiple ways.
19. What does mandatory mean?
- A. Optional
- B. Required
- C. Unusual
- D. Temporary
20. What does prohibit mean?
- A. Permit
- B. Forbid
- C. Recommend
- D. Explain
Answer: B. To prohibit is to officially forbid something.
21. What does fluctuate mean?
- A. Remain exactly the same
- B. Rise and fall or change irregularly
- C. Stop permanently
- D. Increase once and never change
Answer: B. Fluctuating values vary over time.
22. What does viable mean?
- A. Capable of working or succeeding
- B. Certain to fail
- C. Unrelated to the situation
- D. Already completed
Answer: A. Viable describes something that is practical or capable of success.
23. What does concise mean?
- A. Brief but clear
- B. Long and repetitive
- C. Unclear
- D. Emotionally intense
Answer: A. Concise communication expresses the main idea without unnecessary words.
24. What does comply mean?
- A. Refuse
- B. Act according to a rule or request
- C. Investigate
- D. Postpone indefinitely
Answer: B. To comply is to follow a requirement or instruction.
25. What does reluctant mean?
- A. Eager
- B. Unwilling or hesitant
- C. Certain
- D. Unaware
Answer: B. A reluctant person is hesitant or not fully willing.
How to improve your vocabulary score
Study five to ten words at a time. For each word, write a definition, a synonym, and a sentence. Review the words again the next day rather than relying on a single study session. When you encounter an unfamiliar word in a question, read the whole sentence first. Look for clues such as contrast words, examples, and explanations. These clues can help you eliminate incorrect options even when you do not know the word immediately.
