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HESI A2

Vocabulary.

Vocabulary questions from the HESI A2 track.

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Post-NGN questions with verified answers and rationales. This is the core drill.

What is the meaning of the word abrupt?

  • aSomething that is intended to prevent disease
  • bThe condition of being alone, especially when this makes you feel unhappy
  • cIn a way that achieves maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense
  • dSudden or unexpectedCorrect
Rationale

Sudden or unexpected Abrupt means sudden or unexpected.  A strong hand gripped her arm, bringing her to an abrupt stop. Something that is intended to prevent disease is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word prophylactic.  The condition of being alone, especially when this makes you feel unhappy is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word isolation.  In a way that achieves maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word efficiency.

Source recency: 2026

Which word has a similar meaning to the word malfunctioning?

  • aTenacious
  • bIllogical
  • cParsimonious
  • dDysfunctionalCorrect
Rationale

Dysfunctional Dysfunctional means not performing normally, as an organ or structure of the body; malfunctioning.  Plain abdominal X-rays are useful to detect gaseous distention of the dysfunctional organs. Tenacious is incorrect. Tenacious means holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold. Illogical is incorrect. Illogical means someone or something that lacks sense or clear, sound reasoning. Parsimonious is incorrect. Parsimonious means someone who is not willing to spend money or to give or use a lot of something.

Source recency: 2026

What is the meaning of the word febrile?

  • aPertaining to or marked by feverCorrect
  • bHaving no money or anything else of value
  • cCausing or capable of causing disease
  • dThe act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms
Rationale

Pertaining to or marked by fever Febrile means pertaining to or marked by fever. Last December, my son had to be taken to the hospital after suffering a febrile seizure. Having no money or anything else of value is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word indigent.  Causing or capable of causing disease is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word pathogenic.  The act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word diagnosis.

Source recency: 2026

What is the meaning of the word languid?

  • aLacking energy, or causing a lack of energy or enthusiasmCorrect
  • bHaving no money or anything else of value
  • cGrowing or developing quickly
  • dRelating to old people, especially with regard to their healthcare
Rationale

Lacking energy, or causing a lack of energy or enthusiasm Languid refers to someone or something that is lacking energy, or causing a lack of energy or enthusiasm. His languid manner showed he hadn’t fully recovered from the disease and was still weak. Having no money or anything else of value is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word indigent. Growing or developing quickly is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word burgeoning.  Relating to the elderly, especially with regard to their healthcare is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word geriatric.

Source recency: 2026

Select the meaning of the underlined word in the sentence. The nurse developed a detailed diet regimen for the patient.

  • aConcealed or disguised
  • bExisting or situated within the limits or surface of something
  • cSomething that is first in order, rank, or importance
  • dA regulated course, as of diet, exercise, or manner of living, intended to preserve or restore health or to attain some resultCorrect
Rationale

A regulated course, as of diet, exercise, or manner of living, intended to preserve or restore health or to attain some result Regimen is a regulated course, as of diet, exercise, or manner of living, intended to preserve or restore health or to attain some result. Always consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new regimen. Something that is first in order, rank, or importance is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word primary.  Existing or situated within the limits or surface of something is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word internal.  Concealed or disguised is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word covert.

Source recency: 2026

Select the meaning of the underlined word in the sentence. The nurse gave concise instructions to the patient.

  • aExpressing or covering much in few wordsCorrect
  • bTo harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict
  • cPertaining to, composed of, or provided with vessels or ducts that convey fluids, such as blood, lymph, or sap
  • dSoft or weak rather than firm
Rationale

Expressing or covering much in few words Concise means expressing or covering much in a few words. She gave a clear and concise account of the accident. To harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word persecute. Pertaining to, composed of, or provided with vessels or ducts that convey fluids, such as blood, lymph, or sap, is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word vascular.  Soft or weak rather than firm is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word flaccid.

Source recency: 2026

Which word has a similar meaning to “lift up”?

  • aAuscultate
  • bProlific
  • cOstracize
  • dElevateCorrect
Rationale

Elevate Elevate means to move or raise to a higher place or position; lift up. Exercise made her heartbeat elevate and her body sweat. Auscultate is incorrect. Auscultate means to examine by auscultation. Prolific is incorrect. Prolific refers to someone producing a great number or amount of something. Ostracize is incorrect. To ostracize means to be excluded from a society or group.

Source recency: 2026

Select the meaning of the underlined word in the sentence. The potent mixture of medications immediately alleviated the patient’s pain.

  • aSomething that is growing or developing quickly
  • bNot allowing entrance or passage
  • cCharacterized by or given to doing good
  • dChemically or medicinally effectiveCorrect
Rationale

Chemically or medicinally effective Potent means chemically or medicinally effective. If he could get potent drugs to cure disease, he was content, and he worked very hard in an empirical way to make them. Something that is growing or developing quickly is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word burgeoning.  Not allowing entrance or passage is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word impervious.  Characterized by or given to doing good is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word benevolent.

Source recency: 2026

Which word has a similar meaning to “a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary”?

  • aPrecipitous
  • bInfection
  • cOmniscient
  • dDelusionCorrect
Rationale

Delusion Delusion means a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary. The man kept describing the delusion that someone was out to hurt him. Precipitous is incorrect. Precipitous means happening in a very quick and sudden way, without any thought or planning. Infection is incorrect. Infection means the state produced by the establishment of one or more pathogenic agents (such as bacteria, protozoans, or viruses) in or on the body of a suitable host. Omniscient is incorrect. Omniscient means a person who knows or sees everything.

Source recency: 2026

Which word has a similar meaning to the word possibility?

  • aFluctuate
  • bAmenable
  • cPotentialCorrect
  • dManifestation
Rationale

Potential Potential means existing in possibility; capable of development into actuality.  Doctors are excited about the new drug’s potential benefits. Fluctuate is incorrect. To fluctuate means to change, especially continuously and between one level or thing and another. Amenable is incorrect. Amenable refers to someone who is willing to accept, or be influenced by a suggestion. Manifestation is incorrect. Manifestation means the act, process, or an instance of manifesting.

Source recency: 2026

Which word has a similar meaning to “an act or practice of causing death painlessly, so as to end suffering: advocated by some as a way to deal with persons dying of incurable, painful diseases”?

  • aTrauma
  • bOstracize
  • cEuthanasiaCorrect
  • dEvisceration
Rationale

Euthanasia Euthanasia means the act or practice of causing death painlessly, so as to end suffering: advocated by some as a way to deal with persons dying of incurable, painful diseases. If her condition worsens beyond repair, euthanasia may become your only option. Trauma is incorrect. Trauma is a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident. Ostracize is incorrect. To ostracize means to exclude from a society or group. Evisceration is incorrect. Evisceration is the process of removing one or all of the organs from the inside of a body.

Source recency: 2026

What is the meaning of amenable?

  • aWilling to accept, or be influenced by a suggestionCorrect
  • bMysterious and impossible to understand completely
  • cBeing in the process of passing out of use or usefulness
  • dVery kind and generous towards an enemy or someone you have defeated
Rationale

Willing to accept, or be influenced by a suggestion Amenable refers to someone who is willing to accept, or be influenced by a suggestion. Your wife might be more amenable to your suggestion if you detailed how much money it would save. Mysterious and impossible to understand completely is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word enigmatic.  Being in the process of passing out of use or usefulness is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word obsolescent.  Very kind and generous towards an enemy or someone you have defeated is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word magnanimous.

Source recency: 2026

What word meaning “reduce pain” best fits in the sentence? The ________ treatment focused on providing comfort and pain relief to improve the quality of life for the patient with a terminal illness.

  • aGeriatric
  • bNovice
  • cHematology
  • dPalliativeCorrect
Rationale

Palliative Palliative refers to something that reduces pain without curing the cause of the pain.  Facing a terminal illness, my grandfather chose palliative care only. Geriatric is incorrect. Geriatric is defined as relating to the elderly, especially with regard to their healthcare. Novice is incorrect. Novice means a person new to a particular occupation, activity, etc.; apprentice; beginner. Hematology is incorrect. Hematology is a medical science that deals with the blood and blood-forming organs.

Source recency: 2026

What is the meaning of burgeoning?

  • aHappening in a very quick and sudden way, without any thought or planning
  • bGrowing or developing quicklyCorrect
  • cA very large amount of something
  • dSomeone or something that is unclear or not easily describable
Rationale

Growing or developing quickly Burgeoning refers to something that is growing or developing quickly. The burgeoning tourist industry will help the island country’s economy recover, but an excess of visitors could negatively affect the ecosystem. Happening in a very quick and sudden way, without any thought or planning is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word precipitous.  A very large amount of something is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word plethora.  Someone or something that is unclear or not easily describable is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word ambiguous.

Source recency: 2026

What is the meaning of the underlined word in the sentence? One of the parameters of the Nurse Practice Act is that nurses are accountable for patient safety.

  • aHaving a negative or harmful effect on something
  • bSubject to the obligation to report, explain, or justify somethingCorrect
  • cEasy to teach, manage or handle
  • dOccurring or likely to occur soon
Rationale

Subject to the obligation to report, explain, or justify something Accountable means subject to the obligation to report, explain, or justify something. He was held accountable for his actions at work. Having a negative or harmful effect on something is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word adverse. Easy to teach or manage or handle is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word docile. Occurring or likely to occur soon is incorrect. This is the meaning of the word impending.

Source recency: 2026

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