Princeton SAT Flashcards

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0
Q

Controversy

A

A usually prolonged public dispute; an argument

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1
Q

Depict

A

To represent by drawing, portray; to characterize in words

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3
Q

Undermine

A

To weaken, sabotage, subvert, debilitate, destabilize

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4
Q

advocate

A

to support or urge by argument, especially publicly

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5
Q

cynic

A

one who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions

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6
Q

dispute

A

to engage in argument or debate; to argue vehemently, quarrel

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7
Q

Provoke

A

to anger or vex; to stir up or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity)

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8
Q

contradict

A

to challenge, confront, counter, deny, or oppose

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9
Q

empathy

A

identification with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives

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10
Q

perceive

A

to become aware of by means of the senses; to recognize or understand

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11
Q

phenomenon

A

a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable; something remarkable or extraordinary

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12
Q

contempt

A

a feeling of disdain for anything considered mean or worthless

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13
Q

resolve

A

to come to a firm decision about, determine; to settle or solve (e.g., a question or a controversy)

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14
Q

speculate

A

to engage in thought, especially conjectural thought

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15
Q

intricate

A

having many interrelated parts or facets; hard to understand, work, or make

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16
Q

skepticism

A

a questioning or doubting attitude; doubt regarding religion

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17
Q

assert

A

to state positively; declare

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18
Q

distinct

A

not identical, separate; different in nature or quality, dissimilar

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19
Q

divisive

A

dissenting, at odds with, alienating; creating dissension or discord

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20
Q

consume

A

to expend by use; to use up

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21
Q

digress

A

to wander away from the main topic or argument in speaking or writing

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22
Q

innovate

A

to introduce (something new)

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23
Q

diminish

A

to make or become smaller, less, or less important

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24
Q

nostalgia

A

a sentimental longing for something in the past

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25
Q

practical

A

of, involving, or resulting from practice or action; adapted or suited for actual use

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26
Q

versatile

A

capable of turning easily from one thing to another; having many uses or applications

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27
Q

profound

A

showing deep insight or understanding; originating in the depths of one’s being

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28
Q

tenacity

A

persistence, strong character, perseverance

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29
Q

insight

A

intuitiveness, awareness, observation, understanding, wisdom

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30
Q

endure

A

to tolerate, withstand, sustain, undergo, bear hardship

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31
Q

perplex

A

to cause to be puzzled or bewildered; to confuse

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32
Q

denounce

A

to condemn openly; to attack accuse, or criticize

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33
Q

plausibility

A

credibility, believability

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34
Q

vulnerable

A

capable of or susceptible to being wounded; open to or defenseless against criticism or attack

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35
Q

pragmatic

A

practical, sensible, logical

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36
Q

rigor

A

the quality of being strict or inflexible; harshness, as of attitude, severity; hardship

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37
Q

adept

A

very skilled; expert

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38
Q

disparage

A

to speak of negatively; to belittle

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39
Q

aesthetic

A

having to do with the appreciation of beauty

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40
Q

superficial

A

being at, on, or near the surface; apparent rather than real

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41
Q

foster

A

to promote the growth or development of; to bring up

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42
Q

ambivalent

A

simultaneously experiencing opposing feelings; uncertain

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43
Q

elaborate

A

worked out in great detail, painstaking; ornate, showy, or gaudy

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44
Q

beneficial

A

producing or promoting a favorable result; helpful

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45
Q

embellish

A

to ornament or decorate; to exaggerate

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46
Q

imply

A

to indicate, suggest, refer, hint

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47
Q

esoteric

A

intended for or understood by only a small group

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48
Q

inevitable

A

unable to be avoided or escaped

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49
Q

resent

A

to feel or show displeasure or indignation at

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50
Q

scarce

A

insufficient to satisfy a need or demand; rarely encountered

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51
Q

ingenuity

A

the quality of being cleverly inventive or resourceful

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52
Q

substantiate

A

to support with proof or evidence; to verify

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53
Q

isolated

A

detached or separated, alone

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54
Q

subtle

A

difficult to perceive; fine or delicate; characterized by or requiring mental acuteness

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55
Q

presume

A

to take for granted, assume, or suppose; to undertake (do something) without right or permission

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56
Q

sentiment

A

an attitude, feeling, or opinion; refined or tender emotion

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57
Q

rhetoric

A

the art of using language effectively and persuasively

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58
Q

defiance

A

a bold resistance to authority or force; open disregard; contempt

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59
Q

abstruse

A

difficult to understand

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60
Q

deliberate

A

studied or intentional; careful or slow in deciding

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61
Q

bolster

A

to hearten, support, or prop up

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62
Q

eradicate

A

to get rid of as if by tearing it up by the roots; to abolish

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63
Q

contend

A

to struggle; to compete

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64
Q

indifferent

A

without interest or concern; having no bias or preference

65
Q

conventional

A

conforming to accepted standards

66
Q

autonomy

A

independence; self-determination

67
Q

discern

A

to catch sight of; to recognize and understand

68
Q

futile

A

incapable of producing a useful result; vain

69
Q

trivial

A

of very little importance

70
Q

elitism

A

the practice of or belief in rule by an elite

71
Q

endorse

A

to express approval or support of, especially publicly

72
Q

resign

A

to give up (an office or position), especially formally; to relinquish; to submit (oneself, one’s mind) without resistance

73
Q

forbear

A

to refrain from; to be patient or self-controlled

74
Q

frivolous

A

characterized by lack of seriousness or sense; not worthy of serious notice, trivial

75
Q

fundamental

A

of or being a foundation or basis; basic; of great importance, essential

76
Q

inadequate

A

insufficient, incompetent, incapable, weak

77
Q

erratic

A

inconsistent, unpredictable, wandering, irregular, unstable

78
Q

persuade

A

to prevail on (a person) to do something, as by advising or urging; to induce to believe, convince

79
Q

exemplify

A

to illustrate by example

80
Q

prevail

A

to be widespread or current; to occur as the most important or frequent element

81
Q

exploit

A

to utilize, especially for profit; to take advantage of

82
Q

hostility

A

meanness, bitterness, animosity, resentment

83
Q

naïve

A

having unaffected simplicity of nature; lacking in experience, judgment, or information

84
Q

negligent

A

guilty of or characterized by neglect

85
Q

vindictive

A

disposed to seek revenge; revengeful, spiteful

86
Q

prestige

A

a reputation or influence arising from success, achievement, and/or rank

87
Q

reconcile

A

to cause to accept something not desired; to cause to become friendly again; to settle a dispute

88
Q

tolerate

A

to allow without hindrance, permit; to put up with, endure

89
Q

accumulate

A

to gather or collect

90
Q

adapt

A

to adjust or become adjusted to new requirements or conditions

91
Q

complacency

A

a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of unpleasant possibilities

92
Q

anachronism

A

the representation of something as existing or happening in the wrong time period

93
Q

disdain

A

hate, contempt, scorn, dislike, or ridicule

94
Q

antagonism

A

active hostility or opposition

95
Q

connoisseur

A

an expert judge in an art or matters of taste

96
Q

assume

A

to take for granted without proof; to suppose; to take upon oneself

97
Q

baffle

A

to bewilder, perplex, astound, or confuse

98
Q

benign

A

kind and gentle

99
Q

brevity

A

the quality or state of being brief in duration

100
Q

callous

A

emotionally hardened; unfeeling

101
Q

candid

A

completely honest; straightforward

102
Q

collaborate

A

to work with another

103
Q

integrate

A

to bring together into a unified or interrelated whole; to combine to produce a whole or a larger unit

104
Q

Commemorate

A

To serve as a memorial of; to honor the memory of by some observance

105
Q

Burden

A

That which is carried; a load; that which is borne with difficulty

106
Q

Contrary

A

Opposite in character or direction

107
Q

Inconsistent

A

Lacking in harmony between the different parts or elements; self-contradictory; lacking agreement, as one thing with another or two or more things in relation to each other; at variance

108
Q

Convey

A

To take from one place to another; to communicate

109
Q

Linguistics

A

The study of language

110
Q

Drama

A

The art of writing and producing plays; a series of vivid, exciting, or suspenseful events

111
Q

Duplicitous

A

Deceitful, dishonest, two-faced, deliberately deceptive

112
Q

Inquiry

A

A seeking for information or knowledge; an investigation; a question, query

113
Q

Erroneous

A

Containing an error; incorrect

114
Q

Gesture

A

A movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that is expressive of an idea or an emotion

115
Q

Impression

A

A strong effect produced on the intellect, feelings, or sense; a somewhat cage awareness or notion

116
Q

Interact

A

To act upon one another

117
Q

Lament

A

To express grief or regret (for or over); a vocal expression of grief

118
Q

Contemporary

A

Existing, occurring, or living at the same time

119
Q

Legitimate

A

According to law; in accordance with established rules and standards; valid, logical; justified

120
Q

Manipulate

A

To manage or influence skillfully and often unfairly

121
Q

Egotism

A

Excessive reference to oneself; self-centered was

122
Q

Mitigate

A

To make or become less severe, intense, or painful

123
Q

Objective

A

A purpose, goal; not influenced by personal feelings, unbiased

124
Q

Proximity

A

Nearness in place, time, or relation

125
Q

Obscure

A

Not clear to the understanding; ambiguous or vague; not easily noticed; inconspicuous

126
Q

Optimism

A

A tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions; the belief that good will ultimately triumphs over evil

127
Q

Vigor

A

Active Stengel or force, intensity; healthy physical or mental energy, vitality

128
Q

Paradox

A

A contradiction, a puzzle, an inconsistency

129
Q

Reticence

A

The quality or state of keeping silent; reserve

130
Q

Penchant

A

A strong inclination or liking

131
Q

Predict

A

To tell (what will happen) in advance; foretell

132
Q

Refute

A

To prove to be false or erroneous

133
Q

Rouse

A

To bring or come out of a state of sleep, unconciousness, or inactivity

134
Q

Somber

A

Gloomily dark, downcast, glum, extremely serious, grave

135
Q

Sustain

A

To bear the weight of, support; to undergo (e.g., injury, loss) without giving away; to endure

136
Q

Obligation

A

A moral of legal duty; a binding promise, contract

137
Q

Theorem

A

An explanation based on hypothesis and experiments

138
Q

Debilitate

A

To impair the strength of; to weaken

139
Q

Steadfast

A

Fixed in place, position, or direction; firm in purpose, resolution, or direction; unwavering

140
Q

Admonish

A

To caution or advise against something

141
Q

Alleviate

A

To ease a pain or burden

142
Q

Compromise

A

An agreement, a give-and-take; a bargain or settlement

143
Q

Reverence

A

A high opinion of something

144
Q

Ascertain

A

To find out, as through investigation or experimentation

145
Q

Indulge

A

To treat oneself or another to; to entertain, delight, please

146
Q

Edify

A

To instruct and improve, especially morally; to enlighten

147
Q

Hail

A

To salute or greet; to acclaim

148
Q

Idiosyncrasy

A

Peculiarity, oddity, quirk, characteristic, trait, singularity

149
Q

Preoccupy

A

To absorb, immerse, consume, engage

150
Q

Supplement

A

Something added to complete a thing

151
Q

Repute

A

To consider, believe

152
Q

Stringent

A

Rigorously binding or extracting

153
Q

Tact

A

Skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations

154
Q

Arbitrary

A

Unreasonable or unsupported

155
Q

Volatile

A

Evaporating rapidly; tending or threatening to erupt in violence, explosive

156
Q

Afflict

A

To distress with mental or bodily pain

157
Q

Pretension

A

A claim to do something; an unwarranted or false claim, as to merit, importance, or wealth

158
Q

Amass

A

To collect; accumulate

159
Q

Prudent

A

Wisely careful, showing good judgement