SAT 3 Flashcards
Pariah
(n.) an outcast; persona non grata
Cantankerous
(adj.) bad-tempered, ornery, grumpy, grouchy
Rote
(n.) mechanical or habitual repetition of something to be learned; automatically, mindlessly, memorization
Debutant
(n.) a person making a first appearance (especially in society)
Penultimate
(adj.) the second to last one in a series
Obsequious
adj.) excessively obedient or complimenting, sycophantic, subservient, cloying, submissive, oleaginous
Spontaneity
(n.) the condition of being spontaneous
Gallivant
(v.) to go around from place to place for fun, roam, travel, wander
Sanguine
(adj.)
a. optimistic or positive, especially in a difficult situation (hopeful, cheerful, buoyant)
b. blood-red
Perfunctory
(adj.) (of an action or gesture) carried out with minimum effort, cursory, lacking effort, hasty, brief
Capricious
adj.) given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior, variable, mercurial, unpredictable, volatile, changeable
Despot
(n.) an autocratic ruler, totalitarian, tyrant
Utilitarian
(adj.) designed to be useful or practical (rather than attractive); functional, effective, useful
Troglodyte
(n.)
a. (literally) a caveman, hermit
b. (informally) somebody intentionally ignorant or old-fashioned
Brooding
(adj.) showing deep unhappiness in thought
Brood
(v.) to think deeply about something that makes one unhappy
Incredulity
(n.) the state of being unwilling to believe something; disbelief, dubiousness, skepticism
Dapper
(adj.) (typically of a man) neat and trim in dress and appearance; dashing, handsome, well-dressed
Bellicose
(adj.) demonstrating aggression or willingness to fight; pugnacious (OMM: hostile, combative, antagonistic)
Stoic
(adj.) a person not showing pain, hardship, nerves, or stress
Cacophony
(n.) a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds; din, racket
Cacophonous – (adj.) harsh-sounding
Antonym: mellifluous, dulcet
Candid
(adj.) truthful and straightforward, honest, frank, blunt, open, unposed (in a photo)
Candor – (n.) open and honest
Demure
(adj.) reserved, modest, shy, milquetoast
Proverbial
(adj.) for a word or phrase referred to as a proverb or idiom (“Steph Curry was proverbially on fire”)
Antonym of literally
Alacrity
(n.) brisk and cheerful readiness; eagerness, willingness, enthusiastic
