SAT Vocab 1 Flashcards
abate
v. to become less active, less intense, or less in amount
ex. As I began my speech, my feelings of nervousness quickly abated.
abstract
adj. existing purely in the mind; not representing actual reality
ex. Julie had trouble understanding the appeal of the abstract painting.
abysmal
adj. extremely bad
ex. I got an abysmal grade on my research paper!
accordingly
adv. in accordance with
ex. All students must behave accordingly.
acquisition
n. the act of gaining a skill or possession of something
ex. Language acquisition is easier for kids than it is for adults.
adapt
v. to make suit a new purpose
v. to accommodate oneself to a new condition, setting, or situation
ex. The US has adapted many foreign foods to better suit the tastes of Americans.
ex. Dogs are known for their ability to quickly adapt to their environments.
adept
adj. having knowledge or skill (usu. in a particular area)
ex. Beth loves playing the piano, but she’s especially adept at the violin.
adequate
adj. having sufficient qualifications to meet a specific task or purpose
ex. Though his resume was adequate, the company doubted whether he’d be a good fit.
advent
n. the arrival or creation of something (usu. historic)
ex. The world has never been the same since the advent of the light bulb.
adversarial
adj. relating to hostile opposition
ex. An adversarial attitude will make you many enemies in life.
advocate
n. someone who promotes or defends something
v. to defend or promote something (usu. a belief, theory, opinion, etc.)
ex. I am an advocate for free higher education.
ex. Environmental protesters often advocate for cleaner energy practices.
aesthetic
adj. relating to beauty or refined taste
ex. The aesthetic decorations at the wedding reception made you feel as if you were a character in a fairy tale.
afford
v. to be able to buy
v. to be able to spare
ex. He’s saving money so he can afford to buy a new car.
agitate
v. to promote something (usu. a cause)
ex. They’re agitating for better health care.
allow
v. to permit or consent to
ex. US law allows citizens to speak freely.
allude
v. to make a secretive mention of something
ex. She alluded to the problem at hand but didn’t say anything more about it.
altercation
n. a noisy argument or confrontation
ex. Greg got into an altercation with a stranger at the bar.
ambiguous
adj. unclear or vague in meaning
ex. Her ambiguous statement made me question whether she could be trusted.
ambitious
adj. having a powerful desire for success or achievement
ex. Penny is so ambitious, she wants to be president someday.
ambivalence
n. the state of being uncertain or stuck between two or more options
ex. His ambivalence prevented him from immediately signing the contract.
analogous
adj. similar but not identical
ex. Green onions are considered analogous to spring onions.
annihilate
v. to destroy or cause devastating destruction
ex. The dictator sent orders to annihilate the group of rebels.
anomaly
n. something different from the norm
ex. This result is an anomaly and very rarely happens.
anticipate
v. assume to be likely to happen
ex. The party was just as fun as I had anticipated it would be.
antipathy
n. a strong feeling of dislike
ex. Her antipathy toward the professor was obvious: she rolled her eyes whenever he entered the classroom.
apex
n. the highest point of something
ex. The spring play was the apex of our school year.
apprehension
n. fearful expectation of something
ex. Her apprehension to leave her house resulted in her missing the train.
articulate
v. to clearly express in words
ex. She articulated her opinion on the price of the house.
artificial
adj. something made; not occurring naturally
ex. Many candies use artificial flavors to make them taste fruity.
assertion
n. a strong declaration
ex. His assertion that sharks are mammals made everyone laugh.
austere
adj. extremely plain
adj. stern and forbidding
adj. relating to self-denial
ex. He lived in a small austere cabin in the middle of the woods.
ex. My boss had an austere expression on her face.
ex. An austere lifestyle, like that of monks, isn’t for everybody.
authenticity
n. the quality of being real and true instead of fake and contrived
ex. The police officer doubted the authenticity of the suspect’s story.
avenue
n. an intangible path or approach to something
ex. The company has decided to pursue other avenues.
avid
adj. actively interested in or enthusiastic about something
ex. Gerald is an avid soccer fan
basic
adj. relating to the foundation or basis of something
ex. You have to start with basic Russian before you can move on to the advanced level.
bear
v. to have as a characteristic
v. to have (a child)
v. to bring forth
v. to put up with
ex. She bears a strong resemblance to your mother.
ex. Judy will bear her first child later this year.
ex. My garden is going to bear pumpkins this year.
ex. I can’t bear her complaining any longer!
benevolent
adj. kind, generous
ex. Many cultures believe in benevolent spirits.
bias
n. a preconception that prevents objectivity
ex. It’s important to avoid bias when investigating a crime.
bittersweet
adj. tinged with a feeling of sadness
ex. The ending of the romance movie was bittersweet.
bolster
v. to support, strengthen, or fortify
ex. If we work together, we should be able to lift and then bolster the couch.
boost
n. an increase or growth
v. to increase or make grow
ex. The boost in profits was a welcome change
ex. In order to boost profits, you need to cater to your customers.
brawl
n. an intense, loud fight
v. to fight loudly and disruptively
ex. A brawl broke out at school today after one student accused another of cheating.
ex. The two students brawled for an hour.
brevity
n. the quality of being brief or terse
ex. The brevity of their time together made it all the more romantic.
candid
adj. direct, blunt
ex. Josh is candid about his desire to become an actor.
candor
n. the trait of being honest and frank
ex. I admire her candor, especially when nobody else bothers to speak up.
capitalize
v. to use to your advantage
ex. I’d like to capitalize on your math skills by having you work the cash register.
capture
v. to trap or take possession of
v. to successfully represent or imitate
v. to captivate, mesmerize
v. to catch or seize
ex. The spy was captured by the enemy.
ex. Your painting beautifully captures the ephemerality of life.
ex. I was captured by her beauty.
ex. The cops captured the criminal three days after the incident.
civic
adj. relating to the city or citizens
ex. Voting is a civic duty.
clinical
adj. emotionally unattached (usu. used in medical or scientific setting)
ex. Her clinical approach to situations allows her to handle them more effectively
clout
n. a special advantage of power
ex. Children of rich and famous people often believe they have a lot of clout.
coarse
adj. indicating a rough texture
adj. lacking refinement or sophistication
ex. The horse’s mane was coarse, as if it had never been washed.
ex. The queen’s coarse way of speaking surprised the other members of royalty.
coincide
v. to happen at the same time
ex. It wasn’t until after I booked my ticket that I realized the concert coincided with my finals.
Commission
n. the use of payment to request something (e.g., a service or product)
ex. This painting was commissioned by a rich merchant in 1589.
comparable
adj. able to be compared
ex. THis novel is comparable to Huckleberry Finn.
competent
adj. sufficiently qualified
ex. We need to hire a competent web developer to create a good website for our company.
complacent
adj. satisfied, with no desire to change or improve
ex. Though he had never won any awards or even been published, he was complacent with this life as a poet.
complement
v. to make perfect or complete
ex. This wine perfectly complements this platter of gourmet cheese.
concede
v. to be forced to agree or surrender
v. to admit to a transgression
ex. With no chance of winning the battle, the army at least conceded.
ex. Dan conceded to pranking his sister.
conceive
v. to imagine or come up with
ex. The plan to build the city was originally conceived in the early 1900s.
condone
v. to overlook, approve, or allow
ex. She couldn’t condone her daughter’s rebellious behavior.
conductive
adj. able to bring about or be suitable for
ex. The noisy students hardly made the campus library conducive to studying.
conduct
v. to control or manage
v. to behave a certain way
ex. The group conducted their research abroad last year.
ex. Be sure to conduct yourself accordingly.
confide
v. to share something secretive with someone
ex. She confided all of her biggest secrets in her best friend.
confine
v. to put limits on; to restrict
ex. We are going to confine the use of this drinking fountain.
consensus
n. overall agreement
ex. After weeks of debating, the panel finally came to a consensus.
consternation
n. feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected
ex. I always welcomed Clover, much to the consternation of the neighbors.
constitute
v. to form or compose (part of) something
ex. The desire for equality constituted the civil rights movement.
contemplate
v. to think deeply about
ex. She contemplated telling her teacher about the cheating student
contend
v. to maintain or assert (an opinion)
ex. The president contends that the US government will not negotiate with terrorists.
contradict
v. to be in contrast with
ex. The camera footage contradicts his alibi.
controversial
adj. highly debatable and causing contention
ex. Millions of viewers watched the controversial debate take place.
conventional
adj. abiding by accepted standards
ex. She lives a conventional life in the suburbs.
convey
v. to pass on or transfer (information)
ex. I have trouble conveying my thoughts in French.
conviction
n. a firm belief in something
ex. Her religious convictions prevent her from eating meat.
corroborate
v. to provide evidence for; to back up (a claim)
ex. The note signed by her father corroborates her claim that she was absent from class that day.
counteract
v. to work in opposition to
ex. This ingredient seems to counteract the other ones.
counterargument
n. an argument used to criticize or dismantle another argument
ex. Make sure to include a counterargument in your essay so that you can show you’ve considered the topic from all perspectives.
counterproductive
adj. hindering the achievement of a goal
ex. Bill’s idea to take a shortcut was ultimately counterproductive: it took us twice as long to get to the train station.
culmination
n. the final act or climax
ex. The culmination of the performance was unforgettable.
cultivate
v. to foster the growth of
ex. Teachers don’t just pass on new information to students–they cultivate their academic potential.
decree
v. to declare formally and with authority
ex. The president decreed that Halloween would henceforth be a national holiday.
deference
n. respect; regard
ex. Her deference to the elderly makes her the perfect candidate for an internship at the retirement center.
deficient
adj. not enough in degree or amount
ex. I feel as though the sources for my paper are deficient.d
demonstrate
v. to do as an example
v. gives evidence for
ex. Could you demonstrate the dance move for me?
ex. This book’s use of words such as “grim” and “bleak” demonstrates the author’s mournful tone.
demur
v. to object to
ex. She demurred at my request to transfer to a different department.
deplete
v. to (over) use over time (usu. resources)
ex. The lost campers quickly depleted their supply of food.
desolate
adj. bare, barren, empty
ex. The moon is one giant, desolate landscape.
devise
v. to come up with (a plan)
ex. Lana devised a plan to make herself famous.
dilemma
n. a problem, usually requiring a choice between two options
ex. The main dilemma is whether to pay for a commercial or not.
diligence
n. conscientiousness; the quality of being committed to a task
ex. Diligence and confidence will get you far in life.
diminish
v. to become smaller in scope or degree
ex. the itchiness of mosquito bites usually starts to diminish after a few days.
dire
adj. hopeless and dangerous or fearful
ex. When the police didn’t explain what was happening right away, Jane knew that the situation must be dire.
discord
n. disagreement
ex. Disputes over money caused intense discord in the family.
disdain
n. a lack of respect and strong dislike (toward something or someone)
ex. He looked at me with such disdain that I immediately knew the job wouldn’t work out.
dismay
n. hopelessness, stress, or consternation
v. to fill with woe or apprehension
ex. To Nick’s dismay, he got an F on the test.
ex. Many were dismayed by the town’s implementation of metered parking.
disparage
v. to belittle or speak down to
ex. A good boss is stern but never disparages his or her employees
dispatch
v. to send off a message or messenger
ex. The mother dispatched her daughter to their neighbor’s house.
diversification
n. the act of becoming diverse
ex. Lately, there’s been a noticeable diversification of students at higher institutions.
doctrine
n. a principle, theory, or position, usu. advocated by a religion or government
ex. Devoutly religious people often live their lives according to their doctrines.
dominion
n. power or authority (usu. over a territory)
n. a legal territory
ex. The country claimed to have dominion over parts of Russia.
ex. Puerto Rico is a dominion of the US.
dreary
adj. sad, gloomy, dull
ex. The gray clouds in the sky made the day feel dreary.
dubious
adj. doubtful, questionable
ex. The man’s claims to the throne were dubious since nobody knew where he’d come from.
eccentric
adj. peculiar or odd; deviating from the norm
ex. She’s a little eccentric but still fun to be around.
egregious
adj. extremely bad
ex. After cheating on the exam, Emily began to feel as though she’d made an egregious mistake.
eloquent
adj. having refined or expression communication skills (in speaking or writing)
ex. His speech was not only eloquent but also extremely compelling.
eminent
adj. superior or distinguished; high in position or status
ex. Our town made news when the eminent magician came to perform at our local theater.
emit
v. to discharge, give forth, or release
ex. Plants consume carbon dioxide and emit oxygen.
emphatic
adj. very expressive; using emphasis
ex. Her emphatic smile told me she was excited to ride the roller coaster.
empirical
adj. derived from experience, observation, or an experiment
ex. You need empirical evidence to support your claim.
endow
v. to equip or bestow (usu. a quality or ability)
ex. According to the myth, the gods endowwed him with teh gift of healing.
endure
v. to withstand, sustain, or hold out against
ex. I can’t endure this wait any longer. Will Stanford accept or reject me?
entail
v. to involve or include
ex. A doctoral program entails long nights and a heavy workload.
entrenched
adj. firmly established
ex. Her face will forever be entrenched in my memory.
enumerate
v. to specify or count
ex. I can’t enumerate how many times I’ve had to remind my students when their papers are due.
envy
n. excessive jealousy
v. to admire and be jealous of
ex. His envy of her is quite obvious.
ex. She envies her coworker’s social skills.
ephemerality
n. the quality or state of lasting only for a short time
ex. I’m attracted to the fragility and ephemerality of these delicate flowers.
erratic
adj. having no fixed course; deviating from the norm
ex. The car became erratic after slipping on ice.
establish
v. to enac
v. to found (a business, group, school, etc.)
ex. They established a law that made it illegal to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol.
ex. Our group established a new branch in Chicago.
evoke
v. to draw forth or call up
ex. Horror movies are great at evoking fear.
exacerbate
v. to make worse or increase the severity of
ex. The doctor told me not to run as it can exacerbate my knee injury.
excel
v. to do something extremely well or to be superior in
ex. She was a well-rounded student but excelled especially in science.
exert
v. to put into use (usu. as effort)
ex. Don’t exert all of your energy at once.
exhilarating
adj. invigorating, stimulating, or exciting
ex. The music playing at the club was catchy and exhilarating.
expend
v. to use up (as in energy or money)
ex. Be careful not to expend all your energy in the first half o the marathon.
exploit
v. to use selfishly or for profit
ex. The shoddy company exploited its worked by paying them extremely low wages.
facilitate
v. to aid the progress of
ex. In grad school, advisors facilitate students’ research and offer constructive criticism.
feasibility
n. the practicality or possibility of something
ex. The feasibility of her project was doubtful; she’d have to go all the way to Antarctica and back before the school year ended.
ferocity
n. viciousness, violence
ex. The lion is just one wild animal known for its ferocity.
fiscal
adj. related to (government) money
ex. Fiscal policy is how the government uses money to influence the economy.
flourish
v. to prosper, grow, or make fast progress
ex. After one year, the tiny plants had flourished into a breathtaking garden.
fluctuate
v. to be unstable; to rise and fall
ex. Stocks can fluctuate on a daily basis, making it difficult to determine when to buy or sell one.
foment
v. to sir up
ex. THe civilians accused their leader of fomenting political unrest.
foreseeable
adj. capable of being predicted or anticipated
ex. I can’t imagine aliens visiting us in the foreseeable future.
frankly
adv. directly, clearly
ex. I frankly don’t see the point in learning to drive.
freewheeling
adj. carefree
ex. His freewheeling attitude often got him in trouble at work.
fundamental
adj. the most essential or most basic part
ex. A thesis is arguably the most fundamental part of an essay.
galvanizing
adj. thrilling, exciting, stimulating
ex. The galvanizing performance left everyone spellbound.
geriatric
adj. relating to old age
ex. I became interested in geriatric medicine shortly after my grandfather passed away from cancer.
hostile
adj. harmful, dangerous
ex. The voices around the corner sounded angry, hostile even.
hypothetical
adj. supposed; relating to a hypothesis
ex. For my physics homework, I must come up with a hypothetical situation.
ignominious
adj. publicly shameful or humiliating
ex. The politician’s expensive campaign ultimately ended in ignominious defeat.
impart
v. to transmit, bestow, or disclose
ex. Parents must impart common sense to their children.
impartiality
n. the equal and objective treatment of opposing views
ex. To ensure impartiality, we require everyone to follow these general guidelines.
imposing
adj. impressive (esp. in size or appearance)
ex. The old mansion was imposing in its huge size and gothic architecture.
imposition
n. an unnecessary burden
ex. If it’s not too much of an imposition, could you proofread my paper?
imprudent
adj. not cautious or prudent; rash
ex. Backpacking abroad can be fun, but don’t be imprudent about money.
incite
v. to encourage or stir up
ex. Her hateful words incited anger in teh crowd.
indifference
n. apathy, emotional detachment
ex. The girl’s indifference toward her brother upset their parents.
indiscriminately
adv. randomly; with little or no distinction
ex. Lottery winners are chosen indiscriminately.
indulge
v. to give into; to satisfy or gratify
ex. My friend loves to indulge in cheesy romance movies.
infer
v. to guess, conclude, or derive by reasoning
ex. You can infer from this quotation that the writer didn’t care for “pretty” language.
innovative
adj. novel or new (esp. as an idea or invention)
ex. Her invention was incredibly innovative and won her multiple awards.
insatiable
adj. can’t be satisfied
ex. A vampire’s thirst for blood is said to be insatiable.
inversion
n. a reversal
ex. The culture’s norms were an inversion of our own.
invoke
v. to call on; to appeal to (e.g., a higher power)
ex. The shaman attempted to invoke a demon.
irreconcilable
adj. incapable of being in harmony or agreed upon
ex. The couple’s differences were ultimately irreconcilable, giving them no choice but to break up.
lament
v. to feel sorrow for; to mourn
ex. Susan lamented her missed chance at going to Europe with her high school class.
locomotion
n. movement
ex. Physics involves the study of locomotion.
lucrative
adj. capable of making a lot of money; profitable
ex. Writing books isn’t a particularly lucrative career, unless you’re J.K. Rowling.
malicious
adj. harmful, spiteful
ex. The malicious spirit drove out the inhabitants from their homes.
malleable
adj. capable of being molded or changed
ex. Children’s minds are malleable but only for so long.
materialistic
adj. superficial; focus on material possessions
ex. Many people accuse Americans of being materialistic.
melodramatic
adj. extravagant or exaggerated (as of melodrama)
ex. The melodramatic play was well liked by the audience.
modest
adj. simple and humble
adj. small in size or amount
ex. They moved into a modest house in the countryside.
ex. I received a modest sum of money for my help at the company event.
modify
v. to change, alter, or tweak
ex. Dr. Nguyen modified the gene so that it wouldn’t carry to disease.
momentous
adj. historically significant
ex. Her win in the election was momentous.
novel
adj. new, innovative
ex. We are looking for novel ways to approach the project.
nuance
n. a subtle difference in meaning
ex. Body-language experts even understand the nuances of facial expressions.
null
adj. legally void and ineffective
ex. The government declared their marriage null.
objectivity
n. judgement based on observations instead of emotions or opinions
ex. In scientific research, objectivity is of utmost importance.
obsolete
adj. no longer used; rare or uncommon
ex. Historians assumed record players would be obsolete by now, but in fact they’re making a huge comeback.
omnipotent
adj. almighty and all powerful
ex. Gods are omnipotent beings who can control human destiny.
onset
n. the beginning or early stages
ex. At the onset of her career as lawyer, things were looking up.
opine
v. to openly express an opinion
ex. The new employee opined at the company meeting.
ornate
adj. highly detailed and decorated
ex. That ornate silverware must be worth thousands of dollars!
oust
v. to remove or force out of (usu. a position or office)
ex. Sick of tired of putting up with his bad moods, the pirates ousted their captain.
paramount
adj. predominant, superior, most important
ex. Our paramount concern is the safety of our employees.
peculiar
adj. strange, bizarre
ex. Upon entering the abandoned house, Kate experienced a peculiar feeling, as if someone was watching her.
perish
v. to die; to pass away
ex. According to the news, nobody perished in the fire.
persecute
v. to cause suffering to
ex. They will persecute anyone who doesn’t agree with their views of the world.
petulant
adj. cranky, pouty, irritable
ex. Petulant children are especially difficult to care for.
pinnacle
n. highest level or degree
ex. Many believe that composers such as Beethoven and Mozart represent the pinnacle of classical music.
pitiable
adj. deserving pity
ex. The frail-looking dog was pitiable, so I gave it some food and took it inside to care for it.
plausible
adj. reasonable and possibly true
ex. Her story is plausible, but that doesn’t mean she’s telling the truth.
postulate
v. to assert
ex. The literary critic postulates that romanticism and naturalism are actually interconnected.
potent
adj. having great influence
adj. having a strong, chemical effect
ex. The bald eagle is a potent symbol of the US. The potion was definitely potent–it healed my wounds immediately!
pragmatic
adj. practical, useful
ex. It’s not necessarily more pragmatic to study engineering than it is to study philosophy. This change in law is without historical precedent.
precedent
n. an example or subject from earlier in time
ex. This change in law is without historical precedent.
predecessor
n. someone who comes before you (usu. in position or office)
ex. My predecessor gave me many tips for running the office.
prescribe
v. to command orders
v. to issue authorization for medications
ex. The directions for our essay prescribe a length of at least ten pages.
ex. A doctor must prescribe you this medication before you can begin taking it.
principle
n. basic truth, assumption, or rule
ex. Remember the universal principle: treat others as you want them to treat you.
prohibit
v. to command against, to outlaw
ex. Alcohol was prohibited in the US in the 1920s.
prompt
adj. punctual, on time
n. a cue to begin something; instructions
v. to incite, propel, or cause to act
ex. She is always prompt when it comes to turning in her homework.
ex. I had to write an essay based on a prompt.
ex. The possibility of a scholarship prompted him to apply to Harvard.
promulgate
v. to put into law or formally declare
ex. The ruler will at last promulgate an amnesty with the neighboring countries.
prosecute
v. to bring criminal action against someone (in a trial)
ex. The suspect was prosecuted yesterday.
provocative
adj. intending to provoke, inspire, or arouse
ex. Her paintings were considered quite provocative.
qualitative
adj. involving qualities of something (features and content)
ex. I noticed a qualitative change in her paintings.
quantitative
adj. involving quantities (numbers and amounts)
ex. We must conduct a quantitative analysis.
quirk
n. a strange habit
ex. His biggest quirk is his love of old marbles.
ramify
v. to split into two or more branches
ex. Cars ramified throughout the world in the twentieth century.
rash
adj. without attention to danger or risk
ex. Her rash decision to pass the car nearly resulted in a crash.
raw
adj. unrefined
adj. not processed; uncooked (as in food)
ex. He’s got raw talent as a singer, but he needs to work on his performance skills.
ex. In some countries, such as Japan, it is normal to eat raw fish.
readily
adv. right away and without difficulty
ex. Water was readily available at different points in the race.
reconsideration
n. thinking again about a previously made choice
ex. The judge’s reconsideration of her performance resulted in her victory.
reform
n. a change for the better; improvement
v. to improve via change
ex. The reform made it so that only those 18 and older can legally drive.
ex. The government reformed its vague policies.
refute
v. to prove to be untrue, unfounded, or incorrect
ex. The student refuted the professor’s claim in class.
reinforce
v. to strengthen or add support to
ex. We can use these pipes to reinforce the structure.
reluctantly
adv. somewhat unwillingly
ex. Max reluctantly agreed to see the horror movie with his friends.
renounce
v. to give up (usu. power or a position)
v. to cast off
ex. Our CEO renounced her position yesterday.
ex. He renounced his friend after he caught her stealing money from him.
reproach
v. to criticize
ex. The mother reproached her daughter’s school for making students come in during a blizzard.
repudiate
v. to refuse to recognize as true
v. to cast off
ex. The father repudiated his son’s marriage.
ex. She repudiated her son once she found out he’d married someone without telling her.
retention
n. the act of keeping something
ex. Water retention can make you weigh more on certain days.
satiated
adj. satisfied (usu. in hunger)
ex. I felt satiated after eating a snack.
savvy
adj. having practical intelligence or knowledge
ex. My brother is not very savvy when it comes to using public transportation.
scandalous
adj. morally offensive, often causing damage to one’s reputation
ex. The scandalous politician decided it was best to resign from office.
scorn
v. to look down on with disdain
ex. It’s difficult for me not to scorn those who use improper grammar.
scrupulous
adj. paying great attention to detail
ex. I am a scrupulous proofreader and never miss an error.
scrutinize
v. to examine carefully and critically
ex. The teacher scrutinized her student’s essays.
secrete
v. to produce or release (a substance)
ex. Trees secrete a sticky substance called sap.
sentiment
n. opinion
n. a tender or moving gesture
ex. I am of the sentiment that you should never give out your passwords to anyone.
ex. Even though I’m not a big fan of porcelain dolls, I appreciated the sentiment.
sheer
adj. so thin that light can shine through
ex. The curtains on the window were so sheer you could clearly see inside the house.
simple
adj. easy; not complex
adj. undecorated
ex. This math problem is so simple even a first grader can solve it.
ex. The simple beauty of the ocean is what makes it memorable.
sinister
adj. ominous, evil
ex. Medieval peasants believed sinister demons could harm humans.
solidarity
n. the joining of commonalities or common purposes among a group
ex. I stood in solidarity with other female students by refusing to wear the school’s uniform.
sparingly
adv. insufficiently, meagerly, or in a restricted manner
ex. Due to my condition, I must eat salt sparingly.
spawn
v. to release eggs
v. to call forth or generate
ex. Frogs typically spawn in ponds.
ex. The topic spawned an ongoing debate among his family members.
spur
v. to stimulate or incite
ex. Her bravery spurred others to act.
squalid
adj. run-down, sordid, or sleazy
ex. The squalid cabin needed a new roof and an exterminator.
stark
adj. very plain; devoid of any details or features
ex. Looking out at the stark landscape, I felt a keen sense of isolation.
static
adj. motionless
adj. changeless
ex. The ball is static
ex. Her life has been static for the past three years.
subordinate
adj. lower in rank
n. someone lower in rank
v. to make dependent on or put at a lower rank
ex. The subordinate officers work every day.
ex. My subordinate will check you in.
ex. You aren’t my boss–you can’t subordinate me to the role of a receptionist!
subsequently
adv. happening later or after something
ex. I subsequently went home.
substantial
adj. very large in amount or degree
ex. I was shocked to find a substantial amount of money beneath the park bench.
substantiate
v. to strengthen with new evidence or facts
ex. It is important for scientists to substantiate their theories whenever possible.
subtle
adj. hard to detect or analyze
ex. I detected in her expression a subtle hint of irritation.
sufficient
adj. enough; just meeting a requirement
ex. These boxes should be sufficient for our move.
surly
adj. unfriendly; inclined to anger
ex. The bartender was a surly fellow who wasn’t afraid to start a fight.
surmount
v. to get on top of or overcome
ex. They managed to surmount the language barrier by using a translation app.
susceptible
adj. to be vulnerable (to something)
ex. Children are more susceptible to certain illnesses than adults are.
tactful
adj. skilled at dealing with people
ex. Her tactful attitude toward our class made her one of my favorite teachers.
taut
adj. pulled tight
ex. The rubberband was taut and ready to be fired.
teeming
adj. abundantly filled (usu. with living organisms)
ex. Doorknobs are not as clean as they look and are often teeming with germs.
temperament
n. usual mood or feelings
ex. She had a hostile temperament, making her intimidating to most people.
tentative
adj. not yet finalized
ex. We haven’t made any official arrangements yet, but the tentative location for our wedding is Hawaii.
transparent
adj. see-through; so thin that light can shine through
adj. truthful or easy to perceive
ex. Stained window glass isn’t as transparent as regular window glass is.
ex. She was transparent about her plans to end her marriage.
treacherous
adj. dangerous and unstable
ex. The journey was becoming treacherous, but they continued on regardless.
tremendous
adj. very large, good, or bad in degree or size
ex. Tremendous news! You don’t have to repay your loans!
ubiquitous
adj. being everywhere at once
ex. Cell phones are ubiquitous these days.
unadorned
adj. undecorated, plain
ex. Though the dress was cheap and unadorned, it was by far her favorite one on the rack.
undermine
v. to weaken or subvert (usu. gradually or secretly)
ex. Parents should take care not to constantly undermine their children.
underscore
v. to emphasize or give additional weight to
ex. This sentence seems to underscore the overall meaning of the passage.
undulate
v. to move as ripples or in a wavy pattern
ex. Belly dancers are known for their ability to skillfully undulate their stomachs.
unilateral
adj. one-sided
ex. The unilateral decision was deemed unfair by the other party involved.
unmitigated
adj. downright, utter, total
ex. My speech was an unmitigated disaster!
unjust
adj. unfair; not justified
ex. The court’s decision is unjust–he should not go free.
urge
n. desire or impulse
v. to encourage or persuade
ex. He had the urge to tell his parents about his acceptance to Columbia but decided against it.
ex. She urged her sister to apply to Stanford.
unveil
v. to make visible; to reveal
ex. We plan to unveil our plans for the new company project on Sunday.
unprecedented
adj. completely new and never having happened before; historic
ex. The number of protestors was unprecedented.
validate
v. to prove or declare valid
ex. Your selfish actions do not validate your feelings for me.
viability
n. ability to be done in a practical or useful way
ex. The viability of the solution is questionnable.
vital
adj. urgently necessary
ex. It is vital that you respond by the deadline.
vow
v. to promise
ex. My brother quickly broke his vow to never eat chocolate again.
warrant
v. to prove reasonable
ex. Wanting to look cool in front of your friends doesn’t warrant breaking the law.
yield
n. production of an amount
v. to give way to or surrender to
v. to produce or supply
ex. The farmer’s annual pumpkin yield exceeded 10,000.
ex. Cars turning right on red must yield to oncoming traffic.
ex. Our experiment yielded many unique-looking vegetables.
