SAT Vocabulary - ELA 10th Honors

abate

to reduce, lessen (a____)

abhor

to hate, detest

abject

wretched, pitiful

abscond

to sneak away and hide

acerbic

biting, bitter in tone or taste

acrimony

bitterness, discord

affinity

a spontaneous feeling of closeness

alacrity

eagerness, speed

ambivalent

having opposing feelings

antipathy

a strong dislike, repugnance

antithesis

the absolute opposite

appalling

inspiring shock, horror, disgust

ascertain

to perceive, learn

banal

dull, commonplace

cajole

to urge, coax

collateral

secondary

contentious

having a tendency to quarrel or dispute

contrite

penitent, eager to be forgiven

convoluted

intricate, complicated

culpable

deserving blame

cursory

brief to the point of being superficial

curt

abruptly and rudely short

curtail

to reduce, lessen (c______)

daunting

intimidating, causing one to lose courage

dearth

a lack, scarcity

debacle

a disastrous failure, disruption

decorous

socially proper, appropriate

defer

to postpone something; to yield to another's wisdom

deferential

showing respect for another's authority

deft

skillful, capable

defunct

no longer used or existing

demure

quiet, modest, reserved

deplore

to feel or express sorrow, disapproval

deprecate

to belittle, depreciate

despondent

feeling discouraged, hopeless

deter

to discourage, prevent from doing

disaffected

rebellious, resentful of authority

discern

to perceive, detect

discretion

the quality of being reserved in speech or action; good judgment

disparage

to criticize or speak ill of

dispel

to drive away, scatter

divulge

to reveal something secret

dubious

doubtful, of uncertain quality

efface

to wipe out, obliterate, erase

effulgence

radiance, splendor

egregious

extremely bad

elude

to evade, escape

epitome

a perfect example, embodiment

exacerbate

to make more violent, intense

exigent

necessary, pressing, urgent, critical