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SAT Vocabulary > Core Vocabulary II > Flashcards

Core Vocabulary II Flashcards

From Direct Hits Core Vocabulary of the SAT

1
Q

Polarize

A

(v.) to break up into two opposing groups

– polar opposites, north pole south pole

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2
Q

Trivial

A

(adj.) unimportant; insignificant

– trivia is sadly useless (but interesting!) information

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3
Q

Diminutive

A

(adj.) very small

– diminish is to make something small

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4
Q

Exhort

A

(v.) to strongly encourage

– ‘ex’ out, let out horto hortare, to encourage

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5
Q

Antipathy

A

(n.) a firmly established feeling of dislike

– ‘anti’ against, pathos, feeling

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6
Q

Animosity

A

(n.) strong hostility or unfriendliness

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7
Q

Crass

A

(adj.) gross in the state of mind; lacking sensitivity

– crass is gross

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8
Q

Tenacious

A

(adj.) tending to keep a firm hold of something

– teneo, tenere

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9
Q

Rancor

A

(n.) bitterness or resentfulness

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10
Q

Indulgent

A

(adj.) having a tendency to be overly generous or lenient with someone

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11
Q

Digress

A

(v.) to depart from the main subject in speech or writing

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12
Q

Analogy

A

(n.) a similarity

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13
Q

Nebulous

A

(adj.) vague; cloudy; lacking a fully developed form

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14
Q

Fleeting

A

(adj.) very brief; lasting for a very short time

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15
Q

Divisive

A

(adj.) tending to cause disagreement or disunity between people

– divide

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16
Q

Minutiae

A

(n.) minor everyday details

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17
Q

Penchant

A

(n.) a liking or preference

– I have a liking for this pendant

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18
Q

Ephemeral

A

(adj.) very brief; lasting for a very short time

– pharmacy, ambulances. The sounds of the ambulance that passes by our house

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19
Q

Capricious

A

(adj.) very changeable

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20
Q

Predilection

A

(n.) a liking or preference; a bias in favor of something

– direction

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21
Q

Uncouth

A

(adj.) lacking good manners or grace

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22
Q

Indignant

A

(adj.) feeling anger at what is seen as unfair

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23
Q

Innuendo

A

(n.) an indirect hint or suggestion

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24
Q

Thwart

A

(v.) to prevent (someone) from accomplishing something

– this wart prevents me from going out

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25
Stymie
(v.) to prevent or hinder the progress of -- a starmie in the sewer blocks waterflow
26
Adroit
(adj.) very skilled -- apparently android phones are very skilled
27
Boorish
(adj.) rough and bad-mannered -- booo! at boorish people!
28
Adept
(adj.) very skilled -- adapted to this type of job
29
Admonish
(v.) to warn someone firmly -- 'ad' toward, moneo monere, to warn
30
Incontrovertible
(adj.) indisputable -- 'in' not, convertible, changeable
31
Voracious
(adj.) having a huge appetite that cannot be satisfied
32
Ravenous
(adj.) extremely hungry
33
Callous
(adj.) having a cruel disregard for others; insensitive -- callous is thick skin, so someone who is 'thick' doesn't care of others?
34
Deft
(adj.) very skilled
35
Intrepid
(adj.) fearless; adventurous
36
Undaunted
(adj.) brave -- not daunted
37
Nonchalant
(adj.) casual indifference; cooly unconcerned
38
Convoluted
(adj.) difficult to follow, esp. of an argument, story, or sentence)
39
Itinerant
(n.) someone who travels from place to place
40
Mercurial
(adj.) subject to sudden changes of mood -- the element mercury is liquid
41
Poignant
(adj.) evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret
42
Impetus
(n.) a stimulus or encouragement that results in increased activity
43
Verve
(n.) vigor and spirit or enthusiasm
44
Bucolic
(adj.) of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside or country life -- broccoli
45
Equanimity
(n.) calmness esp. in a difficult situation -- equal animo (spirit)
46
Rustic
(adj.) of or relating to the countryside; rural
47
Analogous
(adj.) similar
48
Unflappable
(adj.) having calmness in a crisis
49
Viable
(adj.) capable of working successfully
50
Panache
(n.) flamboyant confidence of style and manner
51
Flamboyant
(adj.) tending to attract attention because of their energy, confidence, and stylishness
52
Provocative
(adj.) stimulating discussion or controversy
53
Placid
(adj.) calm or quiet
54
Fortuitous
(adj.) happening by lucky chance
55
Pastoral
(adj.) relating to the grazing of sheep or cattle
56
Dispel
(v.) to make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear
57
Feasible
(adj.) possible
58
Anguish
(n.) severe mental or physical pain or suffering
59
Extol
(v.) to strongly praise -- "since you're such a good person (praise) you don't have to pay a toll" (ex, out)
60
Amalgam
(n.) a mixture or blend
61
Intemperate
(adj.) having a lack of self-control
62
Temperate
(adj.) exercising moderation
63
Superficial
(adj.) shallow; lacking depth; concerned with surface appearances
64
Tout
(v.) to attempt to sell, typically by pestering people in an aggressive or bold manner
65
Laud
(v.) to praise
66
Acclaim
(v.) to praise enthusiastically -- I claim that these people are amazing
67
Diatribe
(n.) a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone -- the tribe
68
Disparage
(v.) to regard or represent as being of little worth -- dispose of the trash into the garage
69
Dismissive
(adj.) feeling or showing that something is unworthy of consideration -- dismiss from the situation
70
Pompous
(adj.) filled with self-importance -- Pompi
71
Cryptic
(adj.) having a hidden meaning; mysterious
72
Subtle
(adj.) a gradual change that is difficult to detect immediately
73
Disparity
(n.) a great difference; an inequality
74
Curtail
(v.) to cut short or reduce -- cut the cat's tail to make him shorter in length
75
Tirade
(n.) a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation -- talking with raid
76
Innocuous
(adj.) not harmful or offensive -- 'in' not, noxious

SAT Vocabulary (12 decks)

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