PSAT Prep Vocab Flashcards
Undermine
ˌən-dər-ˈmīn
V
to subvert or weaken insidiously or secretly
She tried to * my authority by complaining about me to my boss.
Cynic
ˈsi-nik
N
a person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons
Some *s thought that the controversy was all a publicity stunt.
ow: cynical (adj), cynicism (n)
Contempt
kən-ˈtem(p)t
N
the state of being despised
He feels that wealthy people view him with * because he is poor.
contemptible (adj), contemptuous (adj), contemptuously (adv)
Divisive
diˈvīsiv
Adj
tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people
They discussed the highly * issue of abortion.
ow: divisiveness (n)
Profound
prəˈfound Adj difficult to fathom or understand There are * mysteries of outer space. ow: profundity (n)
Tenacity
tə-ˈna-sə-tē N persistence You have to admire the * of certain myths within the historical record. ow: tenacious (adj)
Denounce
di-ˈnau̇n(t)s
V
to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or evil
The government called on the group to * the use of violence.
ow: denunciation (n)
Disparage
di-ˈsper-ij
V
regard or represent as being of little worth
He never missed an opportunity to * his competitors
ow: disparagement (n), disparager (n)
Ambivalent
Am-bi-va-lent Adj To have mixed feelings about someone Some loved her, some hated her, most were * about her ow: ambivalence (n)
Esoteric
ˌe-sə-ˈter-ik
Adj
requiring or exhibiting knowledge that is restricted to a small group
Metaphysics is such an * subject that most people are content to leave it to the philosophers
Abstruse
əb-ˈstrüs
Adj
difficult to comprehend
you’re not the only one who finds Einstein’s theory of relativity to be *
Bolster
ˈbōl-stər
Verb
to give a boost to
She came with me to * my confidence.
Autonomy
ȯ-ˈtä-nə-mē
Noun
the quality or state of being self-governing
The Catalans take the matter of their language very seriously; it is an outward indication of their *, of their distinction from the rest of Spain
ow– Autonomus (Adj): having the right or power of self-government
Elitism
ā-ˈlē-ˌti-zəm
Noun
leadership or rule by the best of a class
He accused her of racism and white *.
ow– Elitist(N):a person who believes that a system or society should be ruled or dominated by an elite(superior class).
Forebear
four-bear Noun Ancestor or precursor His * fought in the American Civil War. ow-- Forbearance(N): patient, lenient
Complacency
Com_pla-sense-see
Noun
Self satisfaction accompanied by unawarness of actual danger
Duplicitous
Dupe-plic-itous
Adj
Deceptive in words and action
Erroneous
\i-ˈrō-nē-əs, e-
Adj
containing error, mistaken
When you’re done, the programs scour your return for potential problems and * data and let you correct them.
Reticent
ˈre-tə-sənt
reserved, inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech
His friends and associates are conspicuously * to discuss him in public.
ow: reticence(N)-state of being reserved
Penchant
‘pen-chənt
Noun
a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something
He has a penchant for adopting stray dogs.
Theorem
ˈthir-əm
Noun
a general proposition not self-evident but proved by a chain of reasoning; a truth established by means of accepted truths
The * that the best defense is offense
Magnanimous
mag-ˈna-nə-məs
Adj
very generous or forgiving, generosity of mind,
She was too * to resent all the things others had said to her.
ow: magnanimously(adverb)-something done generously
Voracious
vȯ-ˈrā-shəs
Adj
having a huge appetite, eager
She was a * reader, as you can tell by her library of books.
Incredulous
in-ˈkre-jə-ləs
Adj
unwilling or unable to believe something
Many people were * that such a small fire could have caused so much damage.
ow: incredulity(Noun)- state of disbelief
