Princeton SAT Flashcards
0
Q
Controversy
A
A usually prolonged public dispute; an argument
1
Q
Depict
A
To represent by drawing, portray; to characterize in words
3
Q
Undermine
A
To weaken, sabotage, subvert, debilitate, destabilize
4
Q
advocate
A
to support or urge by argument, especially publicly
5
Q
cynic
A
one who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions
6
Q
dispute
A
to engage in argument or debate; to argue vehemently, quarrel
7
Q
Provoke
A
to anger or vex; to stir up or call forth (feelings, desires, or activity)
8
Q
contradict
A
to challenge, confront, counter, deny, or oppose
9
Q
empathy
A
identification with and understanding of another’s situation, feelings, and motives
10
Q
perceive
A
to become aware of by means of the senses; to recognize or understand
11
Q
phenomenon
A
a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed or observable; something remarkable or extraordinary
12
Q
contempt
A
a feeling of disdain for anything considered mean or worthless
13
Q
resolve
A
to come to a firm decision about, determine; to settle or solve (e.g., a question or a controversy)
14
Q
speculate
A
to engage in thought, especially conjectural thought
15
Q
intricate
A
having many interrelated parts or facets; hard to understand, work, or make
16
Q
skepticism
A
a questioning or doubting attitude; doubt regarding religion
17
Q
assert
A
to state positively; declare
18
Q
distinct
A
not identical, separate; different in nature or quality, dissimilar
19
Q
divisive
A
dissenting, at odds with, alienating; creating dissension or discord
20
Q
consume
A
to expend by use; to use up
21
Q
digress
A
to wander away from the main topic or argument in speaking or writing
22
Q
innovate
A
to introduce (something new)
23
Q
diminish
A
to make or become smaller, less, or less important
24
Q
nostalgia
A
a sentimental longing for something in the past
25
practical
of, involving, or resulting from practice or action; adapted or suited for actual use
26
versatile
capable of turning easily from one thing to another; having many uses or applications
27
profound
showing deep insight or understanding; originating in the depths of one's being
28
tenacity
persistence, strong character, perseverance
29
insight
intuitiveness, awareness, observation, understanding, wisdom
30
endure
to tolerate, withstand, sustain, undergo, bear hardship
31
perplex
to cause to be puzzled or bewildered; to confuse
32
denounce
to condemn openly; to attack accuse, or criticize
33
plausibility
credibility, believability
34
vulnerable
capable of or susceptible to being wounded; open to or defenseless against criticism or attack
35
pragmatic
practical, sensible, logical
36
rigor
the quality of being strict or inflexible; harshness, as of attitude, severity; hardship
37
adept
very skilled; expert
38
disparage
to speak of negatively; to belittle
39
aesthetic
having to do with the appreciation of beauty
40
superficial
being at, on, or near the surface; apparent rather than real
41
foster
to promote the growth or development of; to bring up
42
ambivalent
simultaneously experiencing opposing feelings; uncertain
43
elaborate
worked out in great detail, painstaking; ornate, showy, or gaudy
44
beneficial
producing or promoting a favorable result; helpful
45
embellish
to ornament or decorate; to exaggerate
46
imply
to indicate, suggest, refer, hint
47
esoteric
intended for or understood by only a small group
48
inevitable
unable to be avoided or escaped
49
resent
to feel or show displeasure or indignation at
50
scarce
insufficient to satisfy a need or demand; rarely encountered
51
ingenuity
the quality of being cleverly inventive or resourceful
52
substantiate
to support with proof or evidence; to verify
53
isolated
detached or separated, alone
54
subtle
difficult to perceive; fine or delicate; characterized by or requiring mental acuteness
55
presume
to take for granted, assume, or suppose; to undertake (do something) without right or permission
56
sentiment
an attitude, feeling, or opinion; refined or tender emotion
57
rhetoric
the art of using language effectively and persuasively
58
defiance
a bold resistance to authority or force; open disregard; contempt
59
abstruse
difficult to understand
60
deliberate
studied or intentional; careful or slow in deciding
61
bolster
to hearten, support, or prop up
62
eradicate
to get rid of as if by tearing it up by the roots; to abolish
63
contend
to struggle; to compete
64
indifferent
without interest or concern; having no bias or preference
65
conventional
conforming to accepted standards
66
autonomy
independence; self-determination
67
discern
to catch sight of; to recognize and understand
68
futile
incapable of producing a useful result; vain
69
trivial
of very little importance
70
elitism
the practice of or belief in rule by an elite
71
endorse
to express approval or support of, especially publicly
72
resign
to give up (an office or position), especially formally; to relinquish; to submit (oneself, one's mind) without resistance
73
forbear
to refrain from; to be patient or self-controlled
74
frivolous
characterized by lack of seriousness or sense; not worthy of serious notice, trivial
75
fundamental
of or being a foundation or basis; basic; of great importance, essential
76
inadequate
insufficient, incompetent, incapable, weak
77
erratic
inconsistent, unpredictable, wandering, irregular, unstable
78
persuade
to prevail on (a person) to do something, as by advising or urging; to induce to believe, convince
79
exemplify
to illustrate by example
80
prevail
to be widespread or current; to occur as the most important or frequent element
81
exploit
to utilize, especially for profit; to take advantage of
82
hostility
meanness, bitterness, animosity, resentment
83
naïve
having unaffected simplicity of nature; lacking in experience, judgment, or information
84
negligent
guilty of or characterized by neglect
85
vindictive
disposed to seek revenge; revengeful, spiteful
86
prestige
a reputation or influence arising from success, achievement, and/or rank
87
reconcile
to cause to accept something not desired; to cause to become friendly again; to settle a dispute
88
tolerate
to allow without hindrance, permit; to put up with, endure
89
accumulate
to gather or collect
90
adapt
to adjust or become adjusted to new requirements or conditions
91
complacency
a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of unpleasant possibilities
92
anachronism
the representation of something as existing or happening in the wrong time period
93
disdain
hate, contempt, scorn, dislike, or ridicule
94
antagonism
active hostility or opposition
95
connoisseur
an expert judge in an art or matters of taste
96
assume
to take for granted without proof; to suppose; to take upon oneself
97
baffle
to bewilder, perplex, astound, or confuse
98
benign
kind and gentle
99
brevity
the quality or state of being brief in duration
100
callous
emotionally hardened; unfeeling
101
candid
completely honest; straightforward
102
collaborate
to work with another
103
integrate
to bring together into a unified or interrelated whole; to combine to produce a whole or a larger unit
104
Commemorate
To serve as a memorial of; to honor the memory of by some observance
105
Burden
That which is carried; a load; that which is borne with difficulty
106
Contrary
Opposite in character or direction
107
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
108
Convey
To take from one place to another; to communicate
109
Linguistics
The study of language
110
Drama
The art of writing and producing plays; a series of vivid, exciting, or suspenseful events
111
Duplicitous
Deceitful, dishonest, two-faced, deliberately deceptive
112
Inquiry
A seeking for information or knowledge; an investigation; a question, query
113
Erroneous
Containing an error; incorrect
114
Gesture
A movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that is expressive of an idea or an emotion
115
Impression
A strong effect produced on the intellect, feelings, or sense; a somewhat cage awareness or notion
116
Interact
To act upon one another
117
Lament
To express grief or regret (for or over); a vocal expression of grief
118
Contemporary
Existing, occurring, or living at the same time
119
Legitimate
According to law; in accordance with established rules and standards; valid, logical; justified
120
Manipulate
To manage or influence skillfully and often unfairly
121
Egotism
Excessive reference to oneself; self-centered was
122
Mitigate
To make or become less severe, intense, or painful
123
Objective
A purpose, goal; not influenced by personal feelings, unbiased
124
Proximity
Nearness in place, time, or relation
125
Obscure
Not clear to the understanding; ambiguous or vague; not easily noticed; inconspicuous
126
Optimism
A tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions; the belief that good will ultimately triumphs over evil
127
Vigor
Active Stengel or force, intensity; healthy physical or mental energy, vitality
128
Paradox
A contradiction, a puzzle, an inconsistency
129
Reticence
The quality or state of keeping silent; reserve
130
Penchant
A strong inclination or liking
131
Predict
To tell (what will happen) in advance; foretell
132
Refute
To prove to be false or erroneous
133
Rouse
To bring or come out of a state of sleep, unconciousness, or inactivity
134
Somber
Gloomily dark, downcast, glum, extremely serious, grave
135
Sustain
To bear the weight of, support; to undergo (e.g., injury, loss) without giving away; to endure
136
Obligation
A moral of legal duty; a binding promise, contract
137
Theorem
An explanation based on hypothesis and experiments
138
Debilitate
To impair the strength of; to weaken
139
Steadfast
Fixed in place, position, or direction; firm in purpose, resolution, or direction; unwavering
140
Admonish
To caution or advise against something
141
Alleviate
To ease a pain or burden
142
Compromise
An agreement, a give-and-take; a bargain or settlement
143
Reverence
A high opinion of something
144
Ascertain
To find out, as through investigation or experimentation
145
Indulge
To treat oneself or another to; to entertain, delight, please
146
Edify
To instruct and improve, especially morally; to enlighten
147
Hail
To salute or greet; to acclaim
148
Idiosyncrasy
Peculiarity, oddity, quirk, characteristic, trait, singularity
149
Preoccupy
To absorb, immerse, consume, engage
150
Supplement
Something added to complete a thing
151
Repute
To consider, believe
152
Stringent
Rigorously binding or extracting
153
Tact
Skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations
154
Arbitrary
Unreasonable or unsupported
155
Volatile
Evaporating rapidly; tending or threatening to erupt in violence, explosive
156
Afflict
To distress with mental or bodily pain
157
Pretension
A claim to do something; an unwarranted or false claim, as to merit, importance, or wealth
158
Amass
To collect; accumulate
159
Prudent
Wisely careful, showing good judgement
