SAT vocabulary Flashcards
1
Q
prefix
A
an element placed at the beginning of a word to adjust or qualify its meaning, such as ex-, non-, re-; a word, letter, or number placed before another; a title such as, Ms. used before someone’s name
2
Q
suffix
A
an element added to the end of a word to form a new word, such as -ation, -fy, -ing, -itis
3
Q
relative/ relativism
A
something that belongs to the same group as something else because of shared characteristics, qualitites, etc.
4
Q
e- (prefix)
A
out or away from; relating to the internet; for example, e-money
5
Q
empathy
A
something that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions; the ability to share someone else’s feelings
6
Q
ef- (prefix)
A
something external or outwardly directed
7
Q
eu-
A
good; well; advantageous
8
Q
hyper-
A
over; above; beyond the ordinary
9
Q
hypo-
A
under; beneath; less than ordinary
10
Q
sympathy
A
the feeling that you care about and are sorry about someone else’s trouble, grief, misfortune, etc; a sympathetic feeling
11
Q
acquiesce
A
to accept something reluctantly but without protest; tending to accept or allow what other people want or demand
12
Q
articulate
A
a person’s ability to speak fluently and coherently; to express (something, such as an idea in words)
13
Q
civilized
A
marked by well-organized laws and rules about how people behave with each other
14
Q
augment
A
to increase the size or amount of (something)
15
Q
culture
A
the beliefs, customs, arts, etc. of a particular society, group, place, or time
16
Q
chastise
A
to inflict punishment on
17
Q
laconic
A
using few words in speech or writing
18
Q
platitude
A
a statement that expresses an idea that is not new; the quality of being dull or trite
19
Q
terse
A
sparing in the use of words but polished; abrupt or clipped
20
Q
efface
A
to make something erase/ disappear; in the figurative sense, to make oneself appear insignificant or inconspicuous
21
Q
hyperbole
A
exaggerated statements; language that describes something as better or worse than it really is
22
Q
lampoon
A
to publicly criticize someone or something by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm; a piece of writing, cartoon, etc., that mocks of a well-known person/thing
23
Q
laud
A
to praise a person or their achievements formally and highly, esp. in a public context.; praise; to give praise to, glorify; derserving commendation; praiseworthy
24
Q
raconteur (male)
raconteuse (female)
A
a person who tells anecdotes or stories in a skillful and amusing manner
25
amass
to gather together or accumulate a large number of valuable materials or things over a period of time; to gather together in a crowd or group
26
coalesce
to come together and to form one mass or whole; to combine elements together into a whole
27
concur
to be of the same opinion; to agree with the same decision, opinion, or finding; to occur or happen at the same time; to coincide
28
condone
to accept or allow behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive to continue; to approve or sanction something with reluctance
29
disseminate
to spread or to disperse something, esp. information widely; to scatter; to spread throughout an organ or throughout the body
30
banal
so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring
31
hackneyed
a phrase or idea lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite
32
succinct
briefly and clearly expressed, esp. something written or spoken; terse
33
disperse
to distribute or to spread over a wide area; to go or to cause to go in different directions or to different destinations; to cause gas, smoke, mist, or cloud to thin out and eventually disappear; the action or process of distributing things or people over a wide area
34
digress
to leave the main subject temporarily in speech or in writing
35
euphemism
a polite word that takes the place or a direct, shocking, or upsetting word; an artifical, highly elaborate way of writing or speaking
36
bombast
high-sounding language with little meaning, used to impress people
37
-ic, -etic, -ical, or -al
relating to; of; like
38
-in (prefix)
into
39
-trud or -trus (root)
thrust or push
40
-ance, -ancy, -ence, -ency, -ant, -ent (suffix)
act, fact quality, state, result, or degree; state of; quality of; process of
41
despot
a ruler or other person who holds absolute power or control
42
glutton
an excessively greedy eater; excessive eating & drinking
43
hedonist
the pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence; the ethical theory that pleasure or happiness is the highest good
44
hypocrite
a person who claims to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, that they do not actually possess; pretense
45
sycophant
a person who acts obsequiously or with fawning attentiveness toward someone in order to gain an advantage; a servile flatterer
46
fortuitous
happening or produced by chance; lucky' fortunate; accidental; currently means producing fortunate outcomes or something that is lucky or fortunate
47
incessant
continuing without interruption; ceaseless; unending
48
indulgent
having a readiness or overreadiness to be generous to or lenient with someone; to allow oneself to follow one's will, to yield to, satisfy; self-indulgent
49
miser
a person who lives in wretched circumstances in order to save money; and spends as little money as possible
50
uniform
an identifying outfit worn by the members of a given profession, organization, or rank; of similar form or character to another or others; denoting a garment forming part of a person's uniform
51
charlatan
a person falsely
52
fervent
having or displaying a passionate intensity; eager
53
germane
relevant or essential to the subject under consideration
54
profuse
exuberantly plentiful; abundant; lavish; extravagant
55
skeptic
a person inclined to doubt or to question all accepted opinions; a person who doubts the truth of Christianity and other religions an atheist or agnostic; an ancient or modern philosopher who denies the possibility of knowledge, or even rational belief, in some sphere
56
vulnerable
susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm; liable to higher penalties
57
listless
lacking energy or enthusiasm (used to refer to a person's manner or demeanor)
58
grueling
something that is extemely tiring and demanding
59
superficial
existing or occurring at the surface; situated or occurring on the skin or immediately beneath it; appearing to be true or real only until examined more carefully; not thorough, deep, or complete; cursory; not having or showing any depth of character or understanding
60
unobtrusive
not conspicuous or attracting attention
61
zealot
a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals or beliefs; having or showing zeal
62
bigot
a person who is obstinately convinced of the superiority or correctness of his/her own opinions and who is prejudiced against those who hold different opinions; intolerant of other's opinions
63
heretic
a person believing in or practicing religious heresy; a person holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted; a belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious doctrines or principles
64
insurgent
rising in active revolt or relating to a rebels; a rebel or revolutionary; revolts
65
di, dis-
away; apart; opposite
66
co-, con-, com-, col-, cor-
with; together
67
complacent
pleased with a situation, especially something you have achieved, so that you stop trying to improve or change things
68
contempt
a feeling that someone or something is not important and deserves no respect; failure to obey or show respect to a court of law; complete lack of fear towards something dangerous
69
fastidious
very careful about small details with your appearance or at work
70
mitigate
to make the situation or the effects of something less bad, harmful, or serious
71
obscure
not well known and usually not very important; something that is difficult to understand; to prevent something from being understood or from being seen or heard clearly
72
placate
to make someone stop feeling angry
73
pretentious
trying to seem more important or more intelligent than you really are
74
scoff
to laugh at a person or idea and talk about them in a way that shows they are stupid
75
ab-, abstract
away from; away; from
76
ob-, obscure
over; against; toward; in the way
77
heed
to pay attention to someone's advice or warning; to pay attention to something & seriously consider it
78
peruse
to read thoroughly or carefully; examine carefully or at length
79
raze
to completely destroy something like a building, town, or other site
80
garner
to gather or to collect something, especially information or approval
81
mar
to make something less attractive or enjoyable; to spoil; to disfigure; to impair the quality of something
82
meander
a river, stream, or road having a lot of curvesin it; to move in a slow relaxed way, not in any particular direction; to wander; a person or text that wanders aimlessly with little purpose
83
nullify
to state officially that an agreement or contract has no legal effect; to invalidate; to make something lose its effect or value
84
obliterate
to destroy utterly; to wipe out; to cause become invisible or indistinct; to blot out
85
condescend
show feelings of superiority; patronize; do something in a haughty way, as though it is below your dignity or level of importance
86
supercilious
behaving or looking as though you think that you are superior to others
87
haughty
arrogantly superior and disdainful
88
rebuff
to reject someone or something in abrupt or ungracious manner; an abrupt or ungracious refusal or rejection of an offer, request, or friendly gesture
89
arrogant
having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance
90
disdain
a feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect; contempt; to refuse or reject something out of feelings of pride or superiority
91
disparage
regard as having very little worth
92
deprecate
to disapprove or criticize something
93
-ity, -ty, -ery, -ry, -y (suffix)
state or quality of
94
-ary
having the nature of; concerning; related to
95
astute
able to accurately assess or understand situations or behavior very well and quickly, and effectively turn this to your advantage
96
discerning
able to make good judgments or showing good judgment about people and styles
97
respite
a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant; a short delay permitted before an unpleasant obligation is met or a punishment is carried out; to postpone
98
reticence
not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily or easily
99
temerity
excessive confidence or boldness; rashness; unreasonable or foolhardly contempt of danger or opposition
100
torpor
a state of physical or mental inactivity; lethargy; sluggish
101
volition
the ability or the power to choose or decide something to oneself
102
zenith
the highest point reached by a celestial or other object; the point in the sky or celestial sphere directly above an observer; the time at which something is most powerful or successful
103
pro- (prefix)
forward
104
de-
off; away from; down
105
nostalgia
the sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations
106
parsimony
extreme unwillingness to spend money, or use resources
107
virtuoso
a person highly skilled in music, or another artistic pursuit; a person with special knowledge or interest in works of art
108
benevolent
well meaning and kindly; a charitable rather than profit-making organization
109
formidable
inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable
110
judicious
having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense
111
predecessor
person who held a job or office before current holder; a thing that has been followed or replaced by another
112
resilient
a substance or object able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed; a person or animal able to withstand or to recover quickly from a difficult conditions
113
meticulous
showing great attention to detail; very careful ad precise
114
caco- (prefix)
bad; poor; harsh
115
quandary
state of uncertainty or perplexity over what to do in a difficult situation; a difficult situation; a dilemma
116
sting, strict (root)
bind; draw tight
117
tenacious
not willing to let go of, give up, or be separated from an object that one holds, from a position, or from a principle
118
indefatigable
tirelessly persistent
119
sage
a profoundly wise person, usually an older person, a plant with gray-green leaves that are usually used in cooking
120
profound
a state, quality, or feeling that is very intense; very severe or deep-seated as in a disease or disability; having or showing great knowledge or insight; demanding deep study or thought
121
abstract/ concrete
a design that is in a shape or form that doesn't look realistic; short written statement of the most important ideas in a speech; to remove something from somehere or some place/ a hard substance used for building things; something solid
122
atrophy/ concrete
to make someone become weak due to a lack of blood or lack of use/
to grow or develop quickly
123
gravity/ levity
the seriousness or importance of an event/
having fun instead of being serious
124
malice
the desire to deliberately harm someone; harm that is done in a careful and planned way
125
rancor
a feeling of hatred especially when you cannot forgive someone
126
brevi-
brief
127
-ion (suffix)
act or condition of
128
servile
too eager to obey someone without questioning them; relating to slaves
129
criterion
a standard which is established so that a judgment or decision, especially a scientific one, can be made
130
delineate
to describe or draw something carefully so that it is easy to understand; to make the border between two areas very clear
131
surreptitious
doing something so quickly that people don't notice
132
affluent
having a lot of $ so you can buy a lot of items
133
paucity
less of something than is needed
134
redundant
not necessary because something else means or does the same thing; having additional parts that will make a system work if other parts fail
135
indigent
not having much money or possesions
136
temper
to make something difficult or bad more acceptable or nicer; to make metal as hard as is needed by heating it and then putting it in cold water
137
cacophony
a loud sound that is unpleasent
138
sullen
silently showing anger or bad mood; dark and not looking nice
139
meager
a small amount of food, money, etc. so much so that it is much less than you need
140
prodigious
extremely or surprisingly large or powerful
141
writhe
to twist your body from side to side violently; to feel anger or hate in a very strong way
142
scrutinize
to examine someone or something very thoroughly
143
thwart
to prevent someone from doing what he or she wants to do or something from happening; a seat fastened across a rowboat
144
irrefutable
something that cannot be disagreed with and must be accepted
145
acclaim
praise for a person or his/her achievements; to praise someone or something publicly
146
brevity
the quality of expressing something in very few words; shortness of time
147
refutable
to prove that a statement ot idea is not correct or fair
148
rejuvenate
to make someone look and feel strong again; to make a place better again
149
resolute
doing something in a very determined way because of your strong beliefs
150
sanction
official orders or laws stopping trade, communication, etc. with another country, as a way of forcing its leaders to make a political change; official permission, approval, or acceptance; a form of punishment that can be used if someone disobeys a rule or law
151
vacillate
to continue to change your opinions or ideas
152
waive
to state officially that a right can be ignored because it does not have any purpose at this time
153
whet
to increase your desire for something
154
revere
to respect and admire someone a lot
155
objective
based on facts, or making decisons based on facts rather than on personal feelings
156
ephemeral
existing for only a short time
157
evanescent
something that disappears quickly
158
copious
existing or being produced in large quantities
159
subjective
influenced by a personal opinion, which therefore is often not fair
160
dearth
a lack of something
161
malign
harmful; to say or to write untrue, bad things about someone
162
ec-, ex-, ecto- (prefixes)
out, outside of, from
163
eclectic
deriving ideas style of taste from a broad and diverse range of sources; a person who derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources
164
irascible
easily becoming angry
165
rue
to wish that you had not done something; regret
166
expedient
an action that is convenient and practical but possibly improper or immoral; a means of attaining an end or a result, especially one that is covenient but considered improper or immoral; an action that is suitable or appropriate
167
taciturn
speaking very little so that you seem unfriendly
168
optimism
to believe that good things will always happen and the future will be good
169
garble
to reproduce a message, sound, or transmission in a confused and distorted way
170
desecrate
to damage something holy or respected
171
inevitable
certain to happen; unavoidable; so frequently experienced or seen that it is completely predictable; a situation that is unavoidable
172
pessimism
to expect bad things to happen and to be the outcome
173
jargon
special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand
174
quixotic
exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
175
desecrate
to damage something holy or respected
176
arduous
involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult or tiring
177
consecrate
to officially state in a special religious ceremony that something succh as a place or building is holy and can be used for religious purposes
178
dia- (prefix)
through; across
179
prodigal
spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant; having or giving something on a lavish scale; a person who spends money or resources freely and reckelssly; a person who leaves home spends money or resources freely and recklessly but later makes a repentant return
180
tawdry
behaving in a way that you should be ashamed of yourself; cheaply and badly made
181
remorse
a strong feeling of being sorry that you have done something wrong
182
aesthetic
concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty; giving or designed to give pleasure through beauty; of pleasing appearance; a set of priniciples underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement
183
lax
not strict or careful about standards of behavior; not firm, strict, or tight
184
stringent
very strict rule or law and must be obeyed
185
gratuitous
uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted; given or done free of charge
186
villify
speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner
187
heinous
a person, thing, or action that is utterly odious, replusive, or wicked
188
irony
state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to or opposite of what one expects and is often amusing as a result; a literary technique, orginally used in Greek tragedy, by which the full significance of a character's words or actions are clear to the audience or to the reader but unknown to the character
189
slander
the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to person's reputation; a false or mistaken spoken element
190
verbose
using or expressed in more words than are needed
191
garrulous
excessively talkative, especially on trival matters
192
mundane
lacking interest or excitement; dull; of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual world
193
rhetoric
the art of effective or pursuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques; language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on the audience, but is often regared as lacking in the sincerity or meaningful content
194
satire
the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues
