Direct Hits: Core Vocabulary of the SAT (Fifth Edition) Flashcards
2
Q
Ambivalent
A
Having mixed or opposing feelings at the same time
3
Q
Anomaly
A
Deviation from the norm or what is expected
4
Q
Anomalous
A
Atypical, full of anomalies
5
Q
Sarcastic
A
Mocking; derisive; taunting; stinging
6
Q
Sardonic
A
Mocking; derisive; taunting; stinging
7
Q
Snide
A
Mocking; derisive; taunting; stinging
8
Q
Dearth
A
A scarcity or shortage of something
9
Q
Paucity
A
A scarcity or shortage of something
10
Q
Prattle
A
To speak in a foolish manner; to babble incessantly
11
Q
Wry
A
Dry; humorous with a clever twist and a touch of irony
12
Q
Droll
A
Dry; humorous with a clever twist and a touch of irony
13
Q
Unconventional
A
Not ordinary or typical; characterized by avoiding customary conventions and behaviours
14
Q
Unorthodox
A
Not ordinary or typical; characterized by avoiding customary conventions and behaviours
15
Q
Meticulous
A
Extremely careful; very exacting
16
Q
Painstaking
A
Extremely careful; very exacting
17
Q
Fastidious
A
Extremely careful; very exacting
18
Q
Audacious
A
Fearlessly, often recklessly daring; very bold
19
Q
Indifferent
A
Marked by a lack of interest or concern; nonchalant
20
Q
Apathetic
A
Marked by a lack of interest or concern; nonchalant
21
Q
Diffident
A
Hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence; unassertive; shy; retiring
22
Q
Self-effacing
A
Hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence; unassertive; shy; retiring
23
Q
Pragmatic
A
Practical; sensible; not idealistic or romantic
24
Q
Evocation
A
An imaginative re-creation of something; a calling forth
25
Q
Presumptuous
A
Taking liberties; brashly overstepping one’s place; impertinently bold; displaying effrontery
26
Recalcitrant
Stubbornly resistant and defiant; obstinate; obdurate; refractory; disobedient
27
Boon
A timely benefit; blessing
28
Bane
A source of harm and ruin
29
Clandestine
Secret; covert; not open; not aboveboard
30
Surreptitious
Secret; covert; not open; not aboveboard
31
Affable
Agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly
32
Amiable
Agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly
33
Genial
Agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly
34
Gregarious
Agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly
35
Austere
Having no adornment or ornamentation; bare; not ornate
36
Austerity
Great self-denial, economy, discipline; lack of adornment
37
Altruism
Unselfish concern for the welfare of others
38
Ambiguity
The quality or state of having more than one possible meaning; doubtful; equivocal
39
Ambiguous
Unclear; uncertain; open to more than one interpretation; not definitive; dubious
40
Upbraid
To express disapproval; to scold; to rebuke; to censure
41
Reproach
To express disapproval; to scold; to rebuke; to censure
42
Castigate
To express disapproval; to scold; to rebuke; to censure
43
Nostalgia
A wistful, sentimental longing for a place or time in the past
44
Conjecture
An inference based upon guesswork; a supposition
45
Obsolete
No longer in use; outmoded in design or style
46
Archaic
No longer in use; outmoded in design or style
47
Antiquated
No longer in use; outmoded in design or style
48
Auspicious
Very favorable
49
Propitious
Very favorable
50
Gaffe
A blunder; a faux pas; a clumsy social or diplomatic error
51
Impasse
A deadlock; stalemate; failure to reach an agreement
52
Anachronism
The false assignment of an event, person, scene, or language to a time when the even, person, scene, or word did not exist
53
Belie
To contradict; to prove false; used of appearances that are misrepresentative
54
Mitigate
To relieve; to lessen; to ease
55
Mollify
To relieve; to lessen; to ease
56
Assuage
To relieve; to lessen; to ease
57
Alleviate
To relieve; to lessen; to ease
58
Covet
To strongly desire; to crave
59
Covetous
Grasping, greedy, eager to obtain something; avaricious
60
Antithesis
The direct or exact opposite; extreme contrast; antipode
61
Antithetical
Exactly opposite; antipodal
62
Prototype
An original model; an initial design
63
Aloof
Detached; distant physically or emotionally; reserved; standing near but apart
64
Trite
Unoriginal; commonplace; overused; clichéd
65
Hackneyed
Unoriginal; commonplace; overused; clichéd
66
Banal
Unoriginal; commonplace; overused; clichéd
67
Platitudinous
Unoriginal; commonplace; overused; clichéd
68
Insipid
Unoriginal; commonplace; overused; clichéd
69
Antecedent
A preceding event; a forerunner; a precursor
70
Plausible
Believable; credible
71
Implausible
Unbelievable; incredible
72
Prudent
Careful; cautious; sensible
73
Aesthetic
Relating to the nature of beauty, art, and taste; having a sense of what is beautiful, attractive, or pleasing
74
Paradox
A seemingly contradictory statement that nonetheless expresses a truth
75
Enigmatic
Mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling
76
Inscrutable
Mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling
77
Acquiesce
To comply; to agree; to give in
78
Naïve
Unaffectedly simple; lacking worldly expertise; overly credulous; unsophisticated; immature; inexperienced; ingenuous
79
Gullible
Unaffectedly simple; lacking worldly expertise; overly credulous; unsophisticated; immature; inexperienced; ingenuous
80
Autonomy
Independence; self-governance
81
Autonomous
Acting independently, or having the freedom to do so; not controlled by others; self-governing
82
Futile
Completely useless; doomed to failure; in vain
83
Indigenous
Native to an area
84
Endemic
Native to an area
85
Ubiquitous
Characterized by being everywhere; omnipresent; widespread; pervasive
86
Prevalent
Characterized by being everywhere; omnipresent; widespread; pervasive
87
Pandemic
An epidemic that is geographically widespread and affects a large proportion of the population
88
Fortitude
Strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage
89
Diminutive
Very small
90
Trivial
Trifling; unimportant; insignificant
91
Minutiae
Minor everyday details
92
Exhort
To encourage; to urge; to give a pep talk; to implore
93
Antipathy
Strong dislike; ill will; the state of detesting someone; enmity; rancor
94
Digress
To depart from a subject; to wander; to ramble
95
Tenacious
Characterized by holding fast; showing great determination in holding on to something that is valued
96
Indulgent
Characterized by excessive generosity; overly tolerant
97
Polarize
To create disunity or dissension; to break up into opposing factions or groups; to be divisive
98
Nebulous
Vague; cloudy; misty; lacking a fully-developed form
99
Analogy
A similarity or likeness between things - events, ideas, actions, trends - that are otherwise unrelated
100
Analogous
Comparable or similar in certain respects
101
Ephemeral
Very brief; lasting for a short time; transient
102
Fleeting
Very brief; lasting for a short time; transient
103
Evanescent
Very brief; lasting for a short time; transient
104
Perennial
Returning year after year; enduring
105
Penchant
A liking or preference for something; a bent; an inclination
106
Predilection
A liking or preference for something; a bent; an inclination
107
Propensity
A liking or preference for something; a bent; an inclination
108
Capricious
Very changeable; characterized by constantly shifting moods
109
Mercurial
Very changeable; characterized by constantly shifting moods
110
Fickle
Very changeable; characterized by constantly shifting moods
111
Boorish
Vulgar; characterized by crude behaviour and deplorable manners; unrefined
112
Uncouth
Vulgar; characterized by crude behaviour and deplorable manners; unrefined
113
Crass
Vulgar; characterized by crude behaviour and deplorable manners; unrefined
114
Indignant
Characterized by outrage at something that is perceived as unjust
115
Innuendo
A veiled reference; an insinuation
116
Thwart
To stop; to frustrate; to prevent
117
Stymie
To stop; to frustrate; to prevent
118
Adroit
To have or show great skill; dexterous; nimble
119
Deft
To have or show great skill; dexterous; nimble
120
Adept
To have or show great skill; dexterous; nimble
121
Admonish
To earnestly caution; to warn another to avoid a course of action
122
Incontrovertible
Impossible to deny or disprove; demonstrably true
123
Voracious
A huge appetite that cannot be satisfied; insatiable
124
Ravenous
A huge appetite that cannot be satisfied; insatiable
125
Rapacious
A huge appetite that cannot be satisfied; insatiable
126
Callous
Emotionally hardened; insensitive; unfeeling
127
Intrepid
Courageous; resolute; fearless
128
Undaunted
Courageous; resolute; fearless
129
Nonchalant
Having an air of casual indifference; cooly unconcerned; unflappable
130
Convoluted
Winding, twisting, and therefore difficult to understand; intricate
131
Itinerant
Migrating from place to place; not sedentary
132
Poignant
Moving; touching; heartrending
133
Impetus
A stimulus or encouragement that results in increased activity
134
Bucolic
Characteristic of charming, unspoiled countryside and the simple, rural life
135
Rustic
Characteristic of charming, unspoiled countryside and the simple, rural life
136
Pastoral
Characteristic of charming, unspoiled countryside and the simple, rural life
137
Equanimity
Calmness; composure; even-tempered; poise
138
Panache
Great vigor and energy; dash, especially in artistic performance and composition
139
Verve
Great vigor and energy; dash, especially in artistic performance and composition
140
Flamboyance
Great vigor and energy; dash, especially in artistic performance and composition
141
Élan
Great vigor and energy; dash, especially in artistic performance and composition
142
Provocative
Provoking discussion; stimulating controversy; arousing a reaction
143
Placid
Calm or quiet; undisturbed by tumult or disorder
144
Serene
Calm or quiet; undisturbed by tumult or disorder
145
Fortuitous
Of accidental but fortunate occurrence; having unexpected good fortune
146
Dispel
To drive away; scatter, as to dispel a misconception
147
Amalgam
A mixture; a blend; a combination of different elements
148
Viable
Capable of being accomplished; possible
149
Feasible
Capable of being accomplished; possible
150
Anguish
Agonizing physical or mental pain; torment
151
Intemperate
Lacking restraint; excessive
152
Temperate
Exercising moderation and restraint
153
Superficial
Shallow; lacking in depth; concerned with surface appearances
154
Laud
To praise; to applaud
155
Extol
To praise; to applaud
156
Tout
To praise; to applaud
157
Acclaim
To praise; to applaud
158
Dismissive
Showing overt intentional indifference or disregard; rejecting
159
Disparage
To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; to belittle
160
Pompous
Filled with excessive self-importance; pretentious; ostentatious; boastful
161
Cryptic
Having a hidden or ambiguous meaning; mysterious
162
Subtle
Difficult to detect; faint; mysterious; likely to elude perception
163
Disparity
An inequality; a gap; an imbalance
164
Curtail
To cut short or reduce
165
Innocuous
Harmless; not likely to give offense or to arouse strong feelings or hostility; not inimical
166
Diatribe
A bitter abusive denunciation; a thunderous verbal attack; a rant
167
Tirade
A bitter abusive denunciation; a thunderous verbal attack; a rant
168
Harangue
A bitter abusive denunciation; a thunderous verbal attack; a rant
169
Charlatan
A fake; fraud; impostor; cheat
170
Skeptic
A person who doubts, asks questions, and lacks faith
171
Rhetorician
An eloquent writer or speaker; a master of rhetoric (the art of speaking and writing)
172
Hedonist
A person who believes that pleasure is the chief goal of life
173
Ascetic
A person who gives up material comforts and leads a life of self-denial, especially as an act of religious devotion
174
Raconteur
A person who excels in telling anecdotes
175
Iconoclast
A person who attacks and ridicules cherished figures, ideas, and institutions
176
Partisan
A supporter of a person, part, or cause; a person with strong and perhaps biased beliefs
177
Polymath
A person whose expertise spans a significant number of subject areas
178
Dilettante
An amateur or dabbler; a person with a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge; a trifler
179
Mentor
An advisor; a teacher; a guide
180
Acolyte
A devoted follower
181
Demagogue
A leader who appeals to the fears, emotions, and prejudices of the populace
182
Automaton
A self-operating machine; a mindless follower; a person who acts in a mechanical fashion
183
Recluse
A person who leads a secluded or solitary life
184
Bungler
Someone who is clumsy or inept; a person who makes mistakes because of incompetence
185
Clairvoyant
Having the supposed power to see objects and events that cannot be perceived with the five traditional senses; as a noun, a seer
186
Prognosticator
A person who makes predictions based upon current information and data
187
Pundit
An expert commentator; an authority who expresses his or her opinion, usually on political issues
188
Zealot
A very enthusiastic person; a champion; a true believer, perhaps to an excessive degree; a fanatic
189
Neophyte
A beginner; someone new to a field or activity
190
Novice
A beginner; someone new to a field or activity
191
Greenhorn
A beginner; someone new to a field or activity
192
Benefactor
A person who makes a gift or bequest
193
Patron
A person who makes a gift or bequest
194
Beneficiary
The recipient of funds,titles, property, and other benefits
195
Dissembler
A liar and deceiver
196
Prevaricator
A liar and deceiver
197
Proponent
One who argues in support of something; an advocate; a champion of a cause
198
Prodigy
A person with great talent; a young genius
199
Oracle
A person considered to be oracular, that is a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinions
200
Misanthrope
A person who hates or distrusts humankind
201
Innovator
A person who introduces something new
202
Sycophant
A person who seeks favor by flattering people of influence; a toady; someone who behaves in an obsequious or servile manner
203
Stoic
A person who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain; impassive and emotionless
204
Stolid
A person who is seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy, grief, pleasure, or pain; impassive and emotionless
205
Reprobate
A morally unprincipled person
206
Renegade
A disloyal person who betrays his or her cause; a traitor; a deserter
207
Draconian
Characterized by very strict laws, rules, and punishments
208
Laconic
Very brief; concise; succinct; terse
209
Spartan
Plain; simple; austere
210
Halcyon
Idyllically calm and peaceful; an untroubled golden time of satisfaction, happiness, and tranquility
211
Sophistry
A plausible but deliberately misleading or fallacious argument designed to deceive someone
212
Chimerical
Given to fantastic schemes; existing only in the imagination; impossible; vainly conceived
213
Ostracize
To deliberately exclude from a group; to banish
214
Impecunious
Poor; penniless; not affluent
215
Nefarious
Famous for being wicked; villainous; vile
216
Jovial
Good-humored; cheerful; jocular
217
Dirge
A funeral hymn; a slow, mournful, lugubrious musical composition
218
Maudlin
Tearful; excessively sentimental, but not mawkish
219
Quixotic
Foolishly impractical in the pursuit of ideals; impractical idealism
220
Pandemonium
A wild uproar; tumult
221
Martinet
A strict disciplinarian; a person who demands absolute adherence to forms and rules
222
Fiasco
A complete failure; a debacle
223
Bowdlerize
To remove or delete parts of a book, song or other work that are considered offensive; to expurgate
224
Galvanize
To electrify; to stir into action as if with an electric shock
225
Picayune
Small value or importance; petty; trifling
226
Gerrymander
To divide a geographic area into voting districts so as to give unfair advantage to one party in elections
227
Maverick
An independent individual who does not go along with a group or party; a nonconformist
228
Juggernaut
An irresistible force that crushes everything in its path
229
Serendipity
Discovery by fortunate accident
230
Zenith
The highest point; the peak; the apex
231
Nadir
The lowest point; the bottom
232
Expunge
To take out; to delete; to remove
233
Excise
To take out; to delete; to remove
234
Expurgate
To take out; to delete; to remove
235
Eccentric
Literally out of the center; departing from a recognized, conventional, or established norm; an odd, unconventional person
236
Extricate
To get out of a difficult situation or entanglement
237
Exemplary
Standing out from the norm; worthy of imitation
238
Enumerate
To count out; to list; to tick off the reasons for
239
Elusive
Out of reach and therefore difficult to catch, define, or describe
240
Exorbitant
Literally out of orbit and therefore unreasonably expensive
241
Redundant
Needlessly repetitive; saying things again and again
242
Repudiate
To take back; to reject; to disavow
243
Recant
To take back; to reject; to disavow
244
Renounce
To take back; to reject; to disavow
245
Relinquish
To surrender or give back (or return) a possession, right, or privilege
246
Resilient
Bouncing back from adversity or misfortune; recovering quickly
247
Reaffirm
To assert again; to confirm; state positively
248
Reticent
To hold back one's thoughts, feelings, and personal affairs; restrained or reserved
249
Rebuff
To repel or drive back; to bluntly reject
250
Renovate
To make new again; restore by repairing and remodelling
251
Rejuvenate
To make young again; to restore youthful vigor and appearance
252
Resurgent
Rising again; sweeping or surging back
253
Repugnant
Abhorrent; offensive to the mind or senses; causing distaste or aversion
254
Deleterious
Going down in the sense of having a harmful effect; injurious
255
Decry
To put down in the sense of openly condemning; to express strong disapproval
256
Despondent
Downcast; very dejected; forlorn
257
Morose
Downcast; very dejected; forlorn
258
Denounce
To put down in the sense of making a formal accusation; to speak against
259
Demise
Sent down in the sense of ending in death; to cessation of existence or activity
260
Debunk
To put down by exposing false and exaggerated claims
261
Deride
To put down with contemptuous jeering; to ridicule or laugh at
262
Derisive
To put down with contemptuous jeering; to ridicule or laugh at
263
Devoid
Down in the sense of being empty; completely lacking in substance or quality; bereft; vacant
264
Impeccable
Having no flaws; perfect
265
Implacable
Not capable of being placated or appeased
266
Inexorable
Not capable of being stopped; relentless; inevitable
267
Incoherent
Not coherent and therefore lacking organization; lacking logical or meaningful connections
268
Insurmountable
Not capable of being surmounted or overcome
269
Irreverent
Lacking proper respect or seriousness; disrespectful
270
Irresolute
Not resolute; uncertain how to act or proceed; indecisive; vacillating
271
Circumspect
Looking carefully around - thus cautious and careful; prudent; discreet
272
Circuitous
Circular and therefore indirect in language, behaviour, or action, roundabout
273
Circumvent
To circle around and therefore bypass; to avoid by artful maneuvering
274
Circumscribe
To draw a line around and therefore to narrowly limit or restrict actions
275
Magnanimous
Filled with generosity and forgiveness; forgoing resentment and revenge
276
Erroneous
Filled with errors; wrong
277
Momentous
Filled with importance; very significant
278
Mellifluous
Smooth and sweet; flowing like honey
279
Ominous
Filled with menace; threatening
280
Acrimonious
Filled with bitterness; sharpness in words; rancorous
281
Copious
Filled with abundance; plentiful
282
Abstemious
Filled with moderation; temperate in eating and drinking
283
Malodorous
Filled with an unpleasant odor; foul-smelling
284
Tedious
Filled with boredom; very tiresome; dull and fatiguing
285
Heinous
Flagrantly, conspicuously bad; abominable; shockingly evil; monstrous; outrageous
286
Egregious
Flagrantly, conspicuously bad; abominable; shockingly evil; monstrous; outrageous
287
Gratuitous
Unwarranted; not called for by the circumstances; unnecessary
288
Precarious
Uncertain; characterized by a lack of security or stability
289
Perilous
Uncertain; characterized by a lack of security or stability
290
Wistful
Longing and yearning, tinged with melancholy (long-lasting sadness) and pensiveness
291
Earnest
Serious in intention or purpose; showing depth and sincerity of feelings
292
Disgruntled
Angry; dissatisfied; annoyed; impatient; irritated
293
Discontented
Angry; dissatisfied; annoyed; impatient; irritated
294
Authoritative
Commanding and self-confident; likely to be respected and obeyed, based on competent authority
295
Frivolity
The trait of being frivolous; not serious or sensible
296
Frivolous
Lacking any serious purpose of value; given to trifling or levity
297
Acerbic
Harsh, bitter, sharp; caustic
298
Acrid
Harsh, bitter, sharp; caustic
299
Solemn
Not cheerful or smiling; serious; gloomy
300
Grave
Not cheerful or smiling; serious; gloomy
301
Somber
Not cheerful or smiling; serious; gloomy
302
Inquisitive
Curious; inquiring
303
Reflective
Engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought, usually marked by sadness or melancholy
304
Pensive
Engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought, usually marked by sadness or melancholy
305
Equivocal
Ambiguous, open to interpretation, having an uncertain significance or meaning
306
Equivocate
To avoid making an explicit statement; to hedge; to use vague or ambiguous language
307
Deferential
Respectful; dutiful
308
Ebullient
Feeling or expressing great happiness or triumph
309
Elated
Feeling or expressing great happiness or triumph
310
Ecstatic
Feeling or expressing great happiness or triumph
311
Euphoric
Feeling or expressing great happiness or triumph
312
Exuberant
Feeling or expressing great happiness or triumph
313
Benevolent
Well-meaning; kindly
314
Malevolent
Wishing evil to others, showing ill will
315
Whimsical
Playful; fanciful; capricious; given to whimsies or odd notions
316
Vindictive
Having a strong desire for revenge
317
Prosaic
Dull; uninteresting; ordinary; commonplace; tedious; pedestrian; vapid; banal; hackneyed; unexceptional
318
Vitriolic
Bitter; caustic; acerbic; filled with malice
319
Conciliatory
Appeasing; intending to placate
320
Despairing
Showing the loss of all hope
321
Inflammatory
Arousing; intended to inflame a situation or ignite angry or violent feelings
