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SAT > TOUGHEST WORDS > Flashcards

TOUGHEST WORDS Flashcards

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1
Q

LAMBASTE

A

denounce; strongly criticize

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2
Q

QUIESCENT

A

marked by inactivity; a state of quiet repose

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3
Q

PROVISIONAL

A

tentative; temporary; for the time being (like a PROVISIONAL driver’s license)

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4
Q

LURID

A

sensational; shocking; ghastly

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5
Q

TRUCULENT, PUGNACIOUS, BELLIGERENT

A

defiantly aggressive; eager to fight

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6
Q

PROPITIATE

A

to appease; to conciliate; to regain the favor or goodwill of

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7
Q

ÉLAN

A

a vigorous spirit; a great enthusiasm

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8
Q

PERFUNCTORY

A

something performed in a spiritless, mech-anical, and routine manner

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9
Q

APLOMB

A

self-assurance; confident composure; admirable poise under pressure

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10
Q

OPACITY

A

hard to understand; impenetrably dense and obscure

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11
Q

CRAVEN

A

characterized by acting in a cowardly manner

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12
Q

VENAL

A

corrupt, dishonest, open to bribery

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13
Q

LICENTIOUS

A

immoral; DISSOLUTE; debauched

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14
Q

NOXIOUS

A

harmful; injurious to physical, mental or moral health

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15
Q

SUPERFLUOUS and EXTRANEOUS

A

unnecessary; extra

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16
Q

DUPLICITOUS

A

deliberately deceptive in behavior or speech

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17
Q

PROFLIGATE

A

wasteful; someone who SQUANDERS (wastes) time and money by living for the moment

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18
Q

EPIPHANY

A

a sudden realization; an insightful moment

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19
Q

INSIDIOUS

A

causing harm in a subtle or stealthy manner; devious

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20
Q

VACUOUS and INANE

A

empty; lacking serious purpose; VAPID

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21
Q

HARBINGER, PORTENT, PRESAGE

A

indications or omens that something important or calamitous is about to occur

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22
Q

BELEAGUER

A

to beset; to surround with problems

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23
Q

BURGEON

A

to grow rapidly and expand

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24
Q

IMPERIOUS

A

domineering and arrogant; haughty

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25
Q

PETULANT

A

peevish, irritable

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26
Q

COMPLAISANT

A

amiable; agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; AFFABLE

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27
Q

FAWN

A

to behave in a servile manner; SUBSERVIENT

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28
Q

OBDURATE and INTRANSIGIENT

A

very stubborn; obstinate; unyielding persistent; inflexible; INTRACTABLE

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29
Q

REDOLENT

A

exuding fragrance; full of a specified smell

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30
Q

CHICANERY

A

deception by subterfuge; deliberate trickery

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31
Q

CONUNDRUM

A

a difficult problem; a dilemma with no easy solution

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32
Q

SLIGHT

A

a disrespectful or disparaging remark

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33
Q

CAPITULATE

A

to surrender; comply without protest

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34
Q

DISHEARTENING

A

very discouraging; dismaying; dispiriting

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35
Q

APOCRYPHAL

A

of doubtful authenticity

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36
Q

MAGISTERIAL

A

learned and authoritative

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37
Q

PLASTICITY, MALLEABLE, PLIABLE

A

flexible; easily shaped, especially by outside influences or forces

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38
Q

CHAGRIN

A

the feeling of distress caused by humiliation, failure or embarrassment

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39
Q

OBSTREPEROUS

A

noisily and stubbornly defiant; unruly; boisterous

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40
Q

IDYLLIC

A

charmingly simple and carefree

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41
Q

DILAPIDATED

A

having fallen into a state of disrepair; broken-down; in deplorable condition

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42
Q

EXTEMPORIZE and IMPROVISE

A

both mean to lecture or speak without notes

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43
Q

MYRIAD

A

many; numerous

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44
Q

UNGAINLY

A

awkward; clumsy

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45
Q

DILATORY

A

habitually late; tardy

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46
Q

VITUPERATIVE

A

characterized by verbal abuse; bitter criticism

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47
Q

DISCORDANT

A

not in harmony; incompatible; at variance with, as in a DISCORDANT detail that doesn’t fit a pattern

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48
Q

PERFIDIOUS

A

treacherous; traitorous; deceitful

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49
Q

PROLIFERATION

A

to rapidly increase

50
Q

INDOMITABLE and RESOLUTE

A

very determined; unwavering

51
Q

MORIBUND

A

approaching death; about to become obsolete

52
Q

NUANCE

A

a SUBTLE shade of meaning or feeling; a slight degree of difference

53
Q

FLIPPANT and FACETIOUS

A

treating serious matters with lighthearted humor or lack of respect

54
Q

CREDULOUS

A

easily convinced; tending to believe too readily; GULLIBLE

55
Q

FLORID

A

flowery in style; very ORNATE

56
Q

EXCORIATING and SCATHING

A

expressing strong disapproval; condemning; to loudly DECRY

57
Q

INTERLOPER

A

an intruder; a gatecrasher

58
Q

CEREBRAL

A

intellectual rather than emotional

59
Q

VISCERAL

A

instinctive rather than rational

60
Q

NONPLUSSED and CONFOUNDED

A

utterly PERPLEXED; completely puzzled; totally bewildered

61
Q

IGNOMINIOUS

A

humiliating; shameful; disgraceful

62
Q

IDIOSYNCRASY

A

a trait or mannerism that is peculiar to an individual

63
Q

CENSORIOUS and CAPTIOUS

A

highly critical; fault-finding

64
Q

CONSTERNATION

A

a state of great dismay and confusion

65
Q

DIDACTIC and EDIFY

A

designed or intended to teach and instruct

66
Q

ELUCIDATE

A

to make clear or plain, especially by explanation

67
Q

EFFUSIVE

A

unrestrained praise

68
Q

PROLIFIC

A

very productive

69
Q

FUROR

A

a general commotion; an uproar

70
Q

PARANOIA

A

a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness; irrational fear

71
Q

MARGINAL and PERIPHERAL

A

of secondary importance; NOT central

72
Q

OBFUSCATE

A

to deliberately confuse; to make something so confusing that it is hard to understand

73
Q

FLUMMOX

A

to confuse; perplex

74
Q

SPATE

A

a large number or amount

75
Q

INEFFABLE

A

a feeling that cannot be put into words; indescribable

76
Q

HISTRIONIC and OVERWROUGHT

A

excessively dramatic; a deliberate display of emotion

77
Q

PLACATE

A

to soothe or calm; appease

78
Q

ESCHEW

A

to avoid; shun; stay clear of

79
Q

STOPGAP

A

a temporary solution designed to meet an urgent need

80
Q

FLOTSAM

A

the floating wreckage of a ship; debris

81
Q

RESTITUTION

A

the act of making good or compensating for a loss, damage or injury

82
Q

CHURLISH, SULLEN, SURLY

A

all three mean ill-tempered; rude; lacking civility

83
Q

DISQUIETING

A

disturbing; upsetting; causing unease

84
Q

ORNATE

A

characterized by elaborate and expensive decorations; LAVISH

85
Q

EXECRABLE, ODIOUS, REPUGNANT

A

detestable, repulsive, extremely bad

86
Q

PERSPICACIOUS, PRESCIENT, DISCERNING

A

all three words mean insightful and perceptive

87
Q

ECLECTIC

A

choosing or using a variety of sources

88
Q

HIATUS

A

an interruption in time or continuity; a break

89
Q

VERTIGINOUS

A

characterized by or suffering from dizziness; having VERTIGO

90
Q

ESOTERIC and ARCANE

A

characterized by knowledge that is known only to a small group of specialists; obscure

91
Q

SUPERCILIOUS

A

haughty disdain, arrogant superiority

92
Q

CUPIDITY

A

excessive greed, especially for wealth; covetous

93
Q

UNDERWRITE

A

to assume financial responsibility for

94
Q

DISCOMFITED

A

uneasy; in a state of embarrassment

95
Q

TACITURN

A

habitually quiet; uncommunicative

96
Q

SINECURE

A

an office or position that requires little or no work and that usually provides an income

97
Q

LUGUBRIOUS

A

sad and mournful music

98
Q

COSMOPOLITAN

A

worldly; sophisticated; open-minded and aware of the big picture

99
Q

PROVINCIAL, PAROCHIAL, INSULAR

A

limited in perspective; narrow; restricted in scope and outlook

100
Q

FECUND

A

intellectually productive or inventive

101
Q

OSTENTATIOUS

A

showy; intended to attract notice; pretentious

102
Q

GUILE

A

treacherous cunning; skillful deceit

103
Q

SANGUINE

A

cheerfully confident; optimistic

104
Q

SCINTILLATING

A

sparkling; shining; brilliantly clever

105
Q

PRISTINE

A

remaining in a pure state; uncorrupted by civilization

106
Q

RAMPANT

A

unrestrained; unchecked

107
Q

PERNICIOUS

A

highly injurious; destructive; deadly

108
Q

OBLIVIOUS

A

lacking conscious awareness; unmindful; unaware

109
Q

REFRACTORY

A

obstinately resistant to authority or control

110
Q

GARRULOUS, VERBOSE, LOQUACIOUS

A

annoyingly talkative; VOLUBLE

111
Q

CONVIVIAL

A

fond of feasting, drinking, and good company

112
Q

BRUSQUE and CURT

A

abrupt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt

113
Q

TEPID

A

lukewarm; mild; half-hearted

114
Q

PROTEAN

A

readily taking on varied forms and meanings

115
Q

SOLICITOUS

A

showing great care and concern; attentive

116
Q

DISINGENUOUS

A

not straightforward or CANDID; insincere

117
Q

VENERATE and REVERE

A

to regard with great respect; to hold in high esteem

118
Q

CONTENTIOUS

A

quarrelsome; argumentative; likely to provoke a controversy; DISPUTATIOUS

119
Q

PRECLUDE

A

to make impossible; to rule out; prevent

120
Q

COMPUNCTION, CONTRITION, REMORSE

A

all describe feelings of sincere and deep regret

121
Q

DEMOGRAPHY

A

the study of the characteristics of human populations

122
Q

APHORISM and AXIOM

A

a statement universally accepted as true; a MAXIM

SAT (5 decks)

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