SAT 60 Flashcards
adhere
verb
to believe in and follow the practices of
It can be difficult to adhere to a workout regimen without
coaching and discipline.
advocate
verb
to publicly recommend or support
Upon his appointment, the new vice president of the company
promised to advocate for increased vacation time for all employees.
allude
verb
to suggest or call attention to indirectly; to hint at
I didn’t mean to allude to your past breakup when discussing
celebrity romances that ended badly.
ambivalence
noun
the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about
something or someone
analogous
adjective
comparable in certain respects, typically in a way which makes
clearer the nature of the things compared
The rocking of a ship against the waves has been described by
some as analogous to the ups and downs of a rollercoaster ride.
anecdote
noun
a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or
person
Our professor opened the semester with a number of humorous
anecdotes about excuses he has heard from students who missed class.
apprehensive
anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will
happen
Lauren was apprehensive about her upcoming violin recital: she
had practiced enough but had never performed in front of more than four or
five people.
arbitrary
based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any
reason or system
The town’s enforcement of parking rules felt arbitrary, as some
days the rules would be strictly enforced and other days it seemed
impossible to get a ticket no matter how severe the infraction.
assert
to state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully
After listening to the rest of the board members shout over each
other, Dominic felt the need to assert that this time could have been better
spent offering practical solutions to the issue.
bias
prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group
compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair
Though she promised to be free of bias, it became evident very
quickly that my mom preferred a dog over a cat as a potential pet.
brevity
concise and exact use of words in writing or speech
Sabrina’s notes were known for their brevity, as entire concepts
were often summed up into a small series of words and phrases.
buttress
to increase the strength of or justification for; to reinforce
The commissioner has promised to train 30 new recruits by the
end of the year in order to buttress the police force as the city’s borders
expand.
concede
to admit that something is true or valid after first denying or
resisting it
After an intense debate, I was forced to concede that my
opponent had a strong argument regarding the need for district-wide budget
reallocation.
consensus
a general agreement
With everyone wanting a different cuisine, the group of friends
found it nearly impossible to come to a consensus.
corroborate
to confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding)
The thief claimed to have an alibi at the time of the crime but
could not produce any friend or family to corroborate his story.
decisive
settling an issue; producing a definite result
Megan scored a decisive victory for her field hockey team,
netting four goals in just the first half of the game.
deference
humble submission and respect
The student spoke with deference to his master when discussing
the proper application of a mixed martial arts technique.
degrade
to treat or regard (someone) with contempt or disrespect
The harsh note taped to the bulletin board in the employee
breakroom was clearly meant to degrade those who were not clocking back
in from breaks on time.
denounce
to publicly declare to be wrong or evil
The principal was expected to denounce graphic T-shirts as
unacceptable school attire, but she surprised everyone when she stated that
she considered them to be an important part of self-expression.
dispute
a disagreement, argument, or debate
A handshake, or verbal, agreement between employer and
employee can lead to a dispute when one party does not follow through and
there is no written documentation to resolve the matter.
divergent
tending to be different or develop in different directions
Due to the unclear instructions, students took divergent paths in
their papers, with some arguing multiple perspectives and some switching
topics altogether.
dormant
having normal physical functions suspended or slowed down
for a period of time; in or as if in a deep sleep
Though the volcano once erupted randomly and violently for
decades, it now lies dormant and is a popular tourist attraction.
eloquent
fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing
Shakespeare’s sonnets are considered some of the most eloquent
poems in British literature.
evoke
to bring or recall to the conscious mind
A country’s national anthem is meant to evoke feelings of pride
in its citizens.
exert
to make a physical or mental effort
Math Olympiad competitors exert a tremendous amount of
mental energy solving calculations while under a time limit.
explicit
stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or
doubt
The teacher’s classroom rules were explicit; they were written
on a poster right above her desk.
imminent
about to happen
The decreasing temperatures and darkening skies mean that a
rainstorm is imminent.
