SAT Vocab III Flashcards
Altruistic
Unselfish, compassionate
Aberration
a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome.
Amorphus
Without clearly defined shape or form
Adversity
Difficulties; misfortune
Anthropocentrism
Belief that humans are most significant entity of the universe
Vacillate
To repeatedly change your opinions or desires
Banal
Boring or ordinary; not interesting
Benign
Not causing harm or damage
Bombastic
Meant to sound important but not sincere or meaningful
Bourgeois
: relating to or belonging to the middle class of society
Castigate
: to criticize (someone) harshly
Capitulate
: to stop fighting an enemy or opponent : to admit that an enemy or opponent has won
Cerebral
ce·re·bral \sə-ˈrē-brəl, ˈser-ə-, ˈse-rə-\ adjective medical : of or relating to the brain \: related to the mind rather than to feelings : intellectual and not emotional
Cosmopolitan
: a person who has lived in and knows about many different parts of the world
Curtail
: to reduce or limit (something)
Cursory
: done or made quickly
Debase
: to lower the value or reputation of (someone or something) : to make (someone or something) less respected
Dearth
: the state or condition of not having enough of something
Deference
: a way of behaving that shows respect for someone or something
Diffident
: lacking confidence : not feeling comfortable around people
Discretionary
available for use at the discretion of the user.
“rules are inevitably less flexible than a discretionary policy”
Dispel
To drive off in various directions; disperse; dissipate
Egragious
Outstandingly bad
Galvanize
shock or excite (someone), typically into taking action.
Enervate
cause (someone) to feel drained of energy or vitality; weaken.
synonyms: exhaust, tire, fatigue, weary, wear out, devitalize, drain, sap, weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, incapacitate, prostrate; More
Enmity
the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
“enmity between Protestants and Catholics”
Eradicate
destroy completely; put an end to.
“this disease has been eradicated from the world”
synonyms: eliminate, get rid of, remove, obliterate; More
Felicitous
well chosen or suited to the circumstances.
Forbearance
patient self-control; restraint and tolerance.
“forbearance from taking action”
synonyms: tolerance, patience, resignation, endurance, fortitude, stoicism; More
Gruff
abrupt or taciturn in manner.
“penetrate a gruff exterior and you will find him affable”
synonyms:
Hackneyed
(of a phrase or idea) lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite.
Hedonist
a person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life; a pleasure-seeker.
Industrious
diligent and hard-working.
synonyms: hard-working, diligent, assiduous, conscientious, steady, painstaking, sedulous, persevering, unflagging, untiring, tireless, indefatigable, studious; More
antonyms: indolent
Inefficacious
ˈinefiˈkāSHəs/
adjective
not producing the desired effect.
Fastidious
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
“he chooses his words with fastidious care”
Obdurate
stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action.
synonyms: stubborn, obstinate, intransigent, inflexible, unyielding, unbending, pigheaded, bullheaded, mulish, stiff-necked; More
antonyms: malleable, tractable
Partisan
1.
a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person.
synonyms:
Pervasive
(especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people.
Placate
make (someone) less angry or hostile.
Polarize
to cause (people, opinions, etc.) to separate into opposing groups
Pragmatic
dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.
Expurgate
remove matter thought to be objectionable or unsuitable from (a book or account).
Querulous
complaining in a petulant or whining manner.
Reactionary
1.
(of a person or a set of views) opposing political or social liberalization or reform.
synonyms:
Reticent
not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily.
“she was extremely reticent about her personal affairs”
Sagacity
having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; shrewd.
“they were sagacious enough to avoid any outright confrontation”
Sanguine
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.
Superfluous
unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.
Spurious
not being what it purports to be; false or fake.
Sycophant
a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage.
Subversive
seeking or intended to subvert an established system or institution.
Supercilious
behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.
Temerity
excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.
Tenacious
tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely.
Timorous
adjective
showing or suffering from nervousness, fear, or a lack of confidence.
“a timorous voice”
Utilitarian
designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive.
synonyms:
Venerable
accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character.
Virulent
bitterly hostile.
Ubiquitous
present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Wily
skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully.
“his wily opponents”
synonyms: shrewd, clever, sharp, sharp-witted, astute, canny, smart; More
