Princeton SAT Flashcards
Controversy
A usually prolonged public dispute; an argument
Depict
To represent by drawing, portray; to characterize in words
Undermine
To weaken, sabotage, subvert, debilitate, destabilize
advocate
to support or urge by argument, especially publicly
cynic
one who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions
dispute
to engage in argument or debate; to argue vehemently, quarrel
Provoke
to anger or vex; to stir up or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity)
contradict
to challenge, confront, counter, deny, or oppose
empathy
identification with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives
perceive
to become aware of by means of the senses; to recognize or understand
phenomenon
a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable; something remarkable or extraordinary
contempt
a feeling of disdain for anything considered mean or worthless
resolve
to come to a firm decision about, determine; to settle or solve (e.g., a question or a controversy)
speculate
to engage in thought, especially conjectural thought
intricate
having many interrelated parts or facets; hard to understand, work, or make
skepticism
a questioning or doubting attitude; doubt regarding religion
assert
to state positively; declare
distinct
not identical, separate; different in nature or quality, dissimilar
divisive
dissenting, at odds with, alienating; creating dissension or discord
consume
to expend by use; to use up
digress
to wander away from the main topic or argument in speaking or writing
innovate
to introduce (something new)
diminish
to make or become smaller, less, or less important
nostalgia
a sentimental longing for something in the past
practical
of, involving, or resulting from practice or action; adapted or suited for actual use
versatile
capable of turning easily from one thing to another; having many uses or applications
profound
showing deep insight or understanding; originating in the depths of one’s being
tenacity
persistence, strong character, perseverance
insight
intuitiveness, awareness, observation, understanding, wisdom
endure
to tolerate, withstand, sustain, undergo, bear hardship
perplex
to cause to be puzzled or bewildered; to confuse
denounce
to condemn openly; to attack accuse, or criticize
plausibility
credibility, believability
vulnerable
capable of or susceptible to being wounded; open to or defenseless against criticism or attack
pragmatic
practical, sensible, logical
rigor
the quality of being strict or inflexible; harshness, as of attitude, severity; hardship
adept
very skilled; expert
disparage
to speak of negatively; to belittle
aesthetic
having to do with the appreciation of beauty
superficial
being at, on, or near the surface; apparent rather than real
foster
to promote the growth or development of; to bring up
ambivalent
simultaneously experiencing opposing feelings; uncertain
elaborate
worked out in great detail, painstaking; ornate, showy, or gaudy
beneficial
producing or promoting a favorable result; helpful
embellish
to ornament or decorate; to exaggerate
imply
to indicate, suggest, refer, hint
esoteric
intended for or understood by only a small group
inevitable
unable to be avoided or escaped
resent
to feel or show displeasure or indignation at
scarce
insufficient to satisfy a need or demand; rarely encountered
ingenuity
the quality of being cleverly inventive or resourceful
substantiate
to support with proof or evidence; to verify
isolated
detached or separated, alone
subtle
difficult to perceive; fine or delicate; characterized by or requiring mental acuteness
presume
to take for granted, assume, or suppose; to undertake (do something) without right or permission
sentiment
an attitude, feeling, or opinion; refined or tender emotion
rhetoric
the art of using language effectively and persuasively
defiance
a bold resistance to authority or force; open disregard; contempt
abstruse
difficult to understand
deliberate
studied or intentional; careful or slow in deciding
bolster
to hearten, support, or prop up
eradicate
to get rid of as if by tearing it up by the roots; to abolish
contend
to struggle; to compete
indifferent
without interest or concern; having no bias or preference
conventional
conforming to accepted standards
autonomy
independence; self-determination
discern
to catch sight of; to recognize and understand
futile
incapable of producing a useful result; vain
trivial
of very little importance
elitism
the practice of or belief in rule by an elite
endorse
to express approval or support of, especially publicly
resign
to give up (an office or position), especially formally; to relinquish; to submit (oneself, one’s mind) without resistance
forbear
to refrain from; to be patient or self-controlled
frivolous
characterized by lack of seriousness or sense; not worthy of serious notice, trivial
fundamental
of or being a foundation or basis; basic; of great importance, essential
inadequate
insufficient, incompetent, incapable, weak
erratic
inconsistent, unpredictable, wandering, irregular, unstable
persuade
to prevail on (a person) to do something, as by advising or urging; to induce to believe, convince
exemplify
to illustrate by example
prevail
to be widespread or current; to occur as the most important or frequent element
exploit
to utilize, especially for profit; to take advantage of
hostility
meanness, bitterness, animosity, resentment
naïve
having unaffected simplicity of nature; lacking in experience, judgment, or information
negligent
guilty of or characterized by neglect
vindictive
disposed to seek revenge; revengeful, spiteful
prestige
a reputation or influence arising from success, achievement, and/or rank
reconcile
to cause to accept something not desired; to cause to become friendly again; to settle a dispute
tolerate
to allow without hindrance, permit; to put up with, endure
accumulate
to gather or collect
adapt
to adjust or become adjusted to new requirements or conditions
complacency
a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of unpleasant possibilities
anachronism
the representation of something as existing or happening in the wrong time period
disdain
hate, contempt, scorn, dislike, or ridicule
antagonism
active hostility or opposition
connoisseur
an expert judge in an art or matters of taste
assume
to take for granted without proof; to suppose; to take upon oneself
baffle
to bewilder, perplex, astound, or confuse
benign
kind and gentle
brevity
the quality or state of being brief in duration
callous
emotionally hardened; unfeeling
candid
completely honest; straightforward
collaborate
to work with another
integrate
to bring together into a unified or interrelated whole; to combine to produce a whole or a larger unit
Commemorate
To serve as a memorial of; to honor the memory of by some observance
Burden
That which is carried; a load; that which is borne with difficulty
Contrary
Opposite in character or direction
Inconsistent
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
Convey
To take from one place to another; to communicate
Linguistics
The study of language
Drama
The art of writing and producing plays; a series of vivid, exciting, or suspenseful events
Duplicitous
Deceitful, dishonest, two-faced, deliberately deceptive
Inquiry
A seeking for information or knowledge; an investigation; a question, query
Erroneous
Containing an error; incorrect
Gesture
A movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that is expressive of an idea or an emotion
Impression
A strong effect produced on the intellect, feelings, or sense; a somewhat cage awareness or notion
Interact
To act upon one another
Lament
To express grief or regret (for or over); a vocal expression of grief
Contemporary
Existing, occurring, or living at the same time
Legitimate
According to law; in accordance with established rules and standards; valid, logical; justified
Manipulate
To manage or influence skillfully and often unfairly
Egotism
Excessive reference to oneself; self-centered was
Mitigate
To make or become less severe, intense, or painful
Objective
A purpose, goal; not influenced by personal feelings, unbiased
Proximity
Nearness in place, time, or relation
Obscure
Not clear to the understanding; ambiguous or vague; not easily noticed; inconspicuous
Optimism
A tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions; the belief that good will ultimately triumphs over evil
Vigor
Active Stengel or force, intensity; healthy physical or mental energy, vitality
Paradox
A contradiction, a puzzle, an inconsistency
Reticence
The quality or state of keeping silent; reserve
Penchant
A strong inclination or liking
Predict
To tell (what will happen) in advance; foretell
Refute
To prove to be false or erroneous
Rouse
To bring or come out of a state of sleep, unconciousness, or inactivity
Somber
Gloomily dark, downcast, glum, extremely serious, grave
Sustain
To bear the weight of, support; to undergo (e.g., injury, loss) without giving away; to endure
Obligation
A moral of legal duty; a binding promise, contract
Theorem
An explanation based on hypothesis and experiments
Debilitate
To impair the strength of; to weaken
Steadfast
Fixed in place, position, or direction; firm in purpose, resolution, or direction; unwavering
Admonish
To caution or advise against something
Alleviate
To ease a pain or burden
Compromise
An agreement, a give-and-take; a bargain or settlement
Reverence
A high opinion of something
Ascertain
To find out, as through investigation or experimentation
Indulge
To treat oneself or another to; to entertain, delight, please
Edify
To instruct and improve, especially morally; to enlighten
Hail
To salute or greet; to acclaim
Idiosyncrasy
Peculiarity, oddity, quirk, characteristic, trait, singularity
Preoccupy
To absorb, immerse, consume, engage
Supplement
Something added to complete a thing
Repute
To consider, believe
Stringent
Rigorously binding or extracting
Tact
Skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations
Arbitrary
Unreasonable or unsupported
Volatile
Evaporating rapidly; tending or threatening to erupt in violence, explosive
Afflict
To distress with mental or bodily pain
Pretension
A claim to do something; an unwarranted or false claim, as to merit, importance, or wealth
Amass
To collect; accumulate
Prudent
Wisely careful, showing good judgement
