SAT 500 Flashcards
1
Q
ambivalent
A
having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.
2
Q
anomaly
A
something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected
3
Q
sarcastic,sardonic,snide
A
mocking,derisive(gúnyos), taunting
4
Q
dearth and paucity
A
a scarcity or lack of something.
5
Q
prattle
A
talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way.(yapp)
6
Q
wry
A
using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humour.(appeals to your intellect and often produces a knowing smile)
7
Q
unconventional, unorthodox
A
not based on or conforming to what is generally done or believed(unusual)
8
Q
painstaking, meticulous
A
extremely careful; very exacting
9
Q
audacious
A
fearlessly, often recklessly daring; very bold
10
Q
INDIFFERENT and APATHETIC
A
Marked by a lack of interest or concern
11
Q
DIFFIDENT
A
Lacking self-confidence; self-effacing ; NOT
assertive
12
Q
PRAGMATIC
A
Practical; sensible; NOT idealistic or romantic
13
Q
EVOCATION
A
An imaginative re-creation
14
Q
PRESUMPTUOUS
A
Overbearing; impertinently bold; characterized by brashly overstepping one’s place
15
Q
RECALCITRANT
A
Stubborn resistance to and defiance of authority
or guidance; OBSTINATE; OBDURATE
16
Q
BOON
A
A timely benefit; blessing
17
Q
BANE
A
A source of harm and ruin
18
Q
CLANDESTINE and SURREPTITIOUS
A
Secret; covert; not open; NOT ABOVEBOARD
19
Q
AFFABLE, AMIABLE, GENIAL,
GREGARIOUS
A
All mean agreeable; marked by a pleasing
personality; warm and friendly
20
Q
AUSTERE
A
Having no adornment or ornamentation; bare;
not ORNATE
21
Q
AUSTERITY
A
The trait of great self-denial; economy
22
Q
ALTRUISTIC
A
Unselfish concern for the welfare of others
23
Q
AMBIGUOUS
A
Unclear; uncertain; open to more than one
interpretation; not definitive
24
Q
UPBRAID, REPROACH, CASTIGATE
A
To express disapproval; scold; rebuke;
CENSURE
25
NOSTALGIA
A sentimental longing for the past
26
CONJECTURE
An inference based upon guesswork; a
SUPPOSITION
27
OBSOLETE, ARCHAIC, ANTIQUATED
No longer in use; outmoded in design or style
28
AUSPICIOUS and PROPITIOUS
Very favorable
29
MOROSE
Very depressed, DESPONDENT (Word 175),
mournful
30
IMPASSE
A deadlock; stalemate; failure to reach an
agreement
31
ANACHRONISM
The false assignment of an event, person, scene
or language to a time when the event, person,
scene, or word did not exist
32
BELIE
To give a false impression; to contradict
33
MITIGATE, MOLLIFY, ASSUAGE,
ALLEVIATE
All mean to relieve; to lessen; to ease
34
COVET
To strongly desire; to crave
35
ANTITHESIS and ANTITHETICAL
Direct opposite; the complete reverse;
ANTIPODE
36
PROTOTYPE
An original model
37
ALOOF
Detached; distant physically or emotionally;
reserved; standing near but apart
38
TRITE, HACKNEYED, BANAL,
PLATITUDINOUS, INSIPID
All mean unoriginal; commonplace; overused;
CLICHED
39
ANTECEDENT
A preceding event; a FORERUNNER; a
PRECURSOR
40
PLAUSIBLE
Believable; credible
41
IMPLAUSIBLE
Unbelievable; incredible
42
PRUDENT
Careful; cautious; sensible
43
AESTHETIC
Relating to what is beautiful; an appreciation
of what is beautiful or attractive
44
PARADOX
A seemingly contradictory statement that
nonetheless expresses a truth
45
ENIGMATIC and INSCRUTABLE
Mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling
46
ACQUIESCE
To comply, agree, give in
47
NAIVE and GULLIBILE
Unaffected simplicity; lacking worldly expertise;
overly CREDULOUS; unsophisticated
48
AUTONOMOUS
Independent; not controlled by others
49
FUTILE
Completely useless; doomed to failure
50
INDIGENOUS and ENDEMIC
Both mean native to an area
51
UBIQUITOUS and PREVALENT
Characterized by being everywhere;
omnipresent; widespread; PERVASIVE
52
PANDEMIC
An epidemic that is geographically widespread
and affects a large proportion of the
population
53
FORTITUDE
Strength of mind that allows one to endure
pain or adversity with courage
54
DIMINUTIVE
Very small
55
TRIVIAL and MINUTIAE
Trifling; unimportant; insignificant; minor
everyday details
56
EXHORT
To encourage; urge; IMPLORE; give a pep talk
57
ANTIPATHY, ANIMOSITY, RANCOR
Strong dislike; ill will; the state of DETESTING
someone; ENMITY
58
DIGRESS
To depart from a subject; wander; ramble
59
TENACIOUS
Characterized by holding fast; showing great
determination in holding on to something that
is valued
60
INDULGENT
Characterized by excessive generosity; overly
tolerant
61
DIVISIVE and POLARIZE
Both mean to create disunity or dissension; to
break up into opposing factions or groups
62
NEBULOUS
Vague; cloudy; misty; lacking a fully
developed form
63
ANALOGY and ANALOGOUS
A similarity or likeness
64
FLEETING and EPHEMERAL
Both mean very brief; lasting for a short time
65
PENCHANT and PREDILECTION
Both mean a liking or preference for
something; an INCLINATION
66
CAPRICIOUS and MERCURIAL
Very changeable; fickle; characterized by
constantly-shifting moods
67
BOORISH, UNCOUTH, CRASS
Vulgar; characterized by crude behavior and
deplorable manners; unrefined
68
INDIGNANT
Characterized by outrage at something that is
perceived as unjust
69
INNUENDO
A veiled reference; an insinuation
70
THWART and STYMIE
To stop, frustrate, prevent
71
ADROIT, DEFT, ADEPT
To have or show great skill; DEXTEROUS;
nimble
72
ADMONISH
To earnestly caution; to warn against
(another) to avoid a course of action
73
INCONTROVERTIBLE
Indisputable; beyond doubt
74
VORACIOUS and RAVENOUS
A huge appetite that cannot be satisfied;
INSATIABLE
75
CALLOUS
Emotionally hardened; insensitive; unfeeling
76
INTREPID and UNDAUNTED
Both mean courageous, resolute, and fearless
77
NONCHALANT
Having an air of casual indifference; coolly
unconcerned
78
CONVOLUTED
Winding, twisting, and therefore difficult to
understand; intricate
79
ITINERANT
Traveling from place to place; NOT
SEDENTARY
80
POIGNANT
Moving; touching; heartrending
81
IMPETUS
A stimulus or encouragement that results in
increased activity
82
BUCOLIC, RUSTIC, PASTORAL
All of these words refer to charming, unspoiled
countryside
83
EQUANIMITY and UNFLAPPABLE:
Calmness; composure; even-tempered; poise
84
PANACHE, VERVE, FLAMBOYANT
Great vigor and energy; dash, especially in
artistic performance and composition
85
PROVOCATIVE
Provoking discussion and stimulating
controversy
86
PLACID
Calm or quiet; undisturbed by tumult or
disorder; SERENE
87
FORTUITOUS
Of accidental but fortunate occurrence; having
unexpected good fortune
88
DISPEL
To drive away; scatter; as to DISPEL a
misconception
89
AMALGAM
A mixture; blend, combination of different
elements
90
VIABLE and FEASIBLE
Both mean capable of being accomplished;
possible
91
ANGUISH
Agonizing physical or mental pain; torment
92
INTEMPERATE
Lacking restraint; excessive
93
TEMPERATE
Exercising moderation and restraint
94
SUPERFICIAL
Shallow; lacking in depth; concerned with
surface appearances
95
LAUD, EXTOL, TOUT, ACCLAIM
All mean to praise; applaud
96
DISMISSIVE
Showing INDIFFERENCE (Word 10) or
disregard; to reject
97
DISPARAGE
To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way;
belittle
98
POMPOUS
Filled with excessive self-importance;
pretentious
99
CRYPTIC
Having a hidden or AMBIGUOUS (Word 21)
meaning; mysterious
100
SUBTLE
A gradual change that is difficult to detect
immediately
101
DISPARITY
An inequality; a gap; an imbalance
102
CURTAIL
To cut short or reduce
103
INNOCUOUS
Harmless; not likely to give offense or to
arouse strong feelings or hostility
104
DIATRIBE and TIRADE
A bitter abusive denunciation; a thunderous
verbal attack
105
CHARLATAN:
A fake; fraud; imposter; cheat
106
SKEPTIC:
A person who doubts; a skeptic asks questions
and lacks faith
107
RHETORICIAN:
An eloquent writer or speaker; a master of
RHETORIC (the art of speaking and writing)
108
HEDONIST:
A person who believes that pleasure is the chief
goal of life
109
ASCETIC:
person who gives up material comforts and
leads a life of self-denial, especially as an act of
religious devotion
110
RACONTEUR:
A person who excels in telling ANECDOTES
111
ICONOCLAST:
A person who attacks and ridicules cherished
figures, ideas, and institutions
112
DILETTANTE:
An amateur or dabbler; a person with a
SUPERFICIAL (Word go) interest in an art or
a branch of knowledge
113
PARTISAN:
A person with strong and therefore biased
beliefs
114
MENTOR:
An advisor; teacher; guide
115
ACOLYTE:
A devoted follower
116
DEMAGOGUE:
A leader who appeals to the fears, emotions,
and prejudices of the populace
117
AUTOMATON:
A self-operating machine; a mindless follower;
a person who acts in a mechanical fashion
118
RECLUSE:
A person who leads a secluded or solitary life
119
BUNGLER:
Someone who is clumsy or INEPT; a person
who makes mistakes because of incompetence
120
CLAIRVOYANT:
Having the supposed power to see objects and
events that cannot be perceived with the five
traditional senses; a SEER
121
PROGNOSTICATOR:
A person who makes predictions based upon
current information and data
122
PUNDIT:
An expert commentator; an authority who
expresses his or her opinion, usually on
political issues
123
ZEALOT:
A very enthusiastic person; a champion; a true
believer
124
NEOPHYTE, NOVICE, GREENHORN:
All three are beginners
125
BENEFACTOR and PATRON:
A person who makes a gift or bequest
126
BENEFICIARY:
The recipient of funds, titles, property, and
other benefits
127
DISSEMBLER and PREVARICATOR:
Both are liars and deceivers
128
PROPONENT:
One who argues in support of something; an
ADVOCATE; a champion of a cause
129
PRODIGY:
A person with great talent; a young genius
130
ORACLE:
A person considered to be a source of wise
counsel or prophetic opinions
131
MISANTHROPE:
A person who hates or distrusts humankind
132
INNOVATOR:
A person who introduces something new
133
SYCOPHANT:
A person who seeks favor by flattering people
of influence; a TOADY; someone who behaves
in an OBSEQUIOUS or servile manner
134
STOIC:
A person who is seemingly INDIFFERENT
(Word 10) to or unaffected by joy, grief,
pleasure, or pain; someone who is impassive
and emotionless
135
REPROBATE:
A morally unprincipled person; evil person
136
RENEGADE:
A disloyal person who betrays his or her cause;
a traitor; a deserter
137
EAND EX: THE MIGHTY PREFIXES E
AND EX TELL YOU THAT THINGS ARE
GOING OUT
138
EXPUNGE, EXCISE, EXPURGATE:
All three mean to take OUT; delete; remove
139
ECCENTRIC:
Literally OUT of the center; departing from a
recognized, conventional, or established norm;
an odd, UNCONVENTIONAL (Word 7) person
140
EXTRICATE:
To get OUT of a difficult situation or
entanglement
141
EXEMPLARY:
Standing OUT from the norm; outstanding;
worthy of imitation
142
ENUMERATE:
To count OUT; to list; to tick off the reasons for
143
ELUSIVE:
OUT of reach and therefore difficult to catch,
define, or describe
144
EXORBITANT:
Literally OUT of orbit and therefore
unreasonably expensive
145
RE: THE MIGHTY PREFIX RE TELLS
YOU THAT THINGS ARE COMING BACK
AGAIN AND AGAIN
146
REPUDIATE, RECANT, RENOUNCE:
All three mean to take BACK; to reject;
DISAVOW
147
REDUNDANT:
Needlessly repetitive; saying things AGAIN
and AGAIN
148
RELINQUISH:
To give something BACK; to surrender or give
BACK a possession, right, or privilege
149
RESILIENT:
To leap BACK; to come BACK from
ADVERSITY or misfortune
150
REAFFIRM:
To assert AGAIN; to confirm; state positively
151
RETICENT:
To hold BACK one’s thoughts, feelings and
personal affairs; restrained or reserved
152
REBUFF:
To repel or drive BACK; to bluntly reject
153
RENOVATE:
To make new AGAIN; restore by repairing and
remodeling
154
REJUVENATE:
To make young AGAIN; to restore youthful
vigor and appearance
155
RESURGENT:
To rise AGAIN; to sweep or surge BACK
156
DE: THE MIGHTY PREFIX DE TELLS
YOU THAT THINGS ARE HEADED
DOWN, DOWN, DOWN
157
DELETERIOUS:
Going DOWN in the sense of having a harmful
effect; injurious
158
DECRY:
To put DOWN in the sense of openly
condemning; to express strong disapproval
158
DESPONDENT:
Feeling DOWNCAST;; very dejected; FORLORN
159
DENOUNCE:
To put DOWN in the sense of a making a
formal accusation; to speak against
160
DEMISE:
To go all the way DOWN in the sense of ending
by death; the cessation of existence or activity
161
DEBUNK:
To put DOWN by exposing false and
exaggerated claims
162
DERIDE:
To put DOWN with contemptuous jeering; to
ridicule or laugh at
162
DEVOID:
To go DOWN in the sense of being empty;
completely lacking in substance or quality;
BEREFT
163
IMPECCABLE:
Having NO flaws; perfect
164
IMPLACABLE:
NOT capable of being placated or appeased
165
INEXORABLE:
NOT capable of being stopped; relentless;
inevitable
166
INCOHERENT:
NOT coherent and therefore lacking
organization; lacking logical or meaningful
connections
167
INSURMOUNTABLE:
NOT capable of being surmounted or overcome
168
IRREVERENT:
Lacking proper respect or seriousness;
disrespectful
169
CIRCU: THIS MIGHTY PREFIX TELLS
YOU THAT WHAT GOES AROUND
COMES AROUND
170
CIRCUMSPECT:
To look carefully around and therefore to be
cautious and careful; PRUDENT
171
CIRCUITOUS:
CIRCULAR and therefore indirect in language,
behavior or action
172
CIRCUMVENT:
To circle AROUND and therefore bypass; to
avoid by artful maneuvering
173
CIRCUMSCRIBE:
To draw a line AROUND and therefore to
narrowly limit or restrict actions
174
OUS: THIS ALL-IMPORTANT SUFFIX
MEANS FILLED WITH
175
MAGNANIMOUS:
Filled with generosity and forgiveness;
forgoing resentment and revenge
176
ERRONEOUS:
Filled with errors; wrong
177
MOMENTOUS:
Filled with importance; very significant
178
MELLIFLUOUS:
Smooth and sweet; flowing like honey
179
OMINOUS:
Filled with menace; threatening
180
ACRIMONIOUS:
Filled with bitterness; sharpness in words;
RANCOROUS
181
COPIOUS:
Filled with abundance; plentiful
182
ABSTEMIOUS:
Filled with moderation; temperate in eating
and drinking
183
MALODOROUS:
Filled with an unpleasant odor; foul smelling
184
TEDIOUS:
Filled with boredom; very tiresome; dull and
fatiguing
