251-376, 500 KEY WORDS FOR THE SAT

Charles Gulotta

Insipid

dull; flat; without sparkle or flavor

Insolent

rude, haughty

Insolvent

unable to pay bills; bankrupt

Intermittent

occurring at intervals; periodic

Intractable

stubborn; immovable

Intrinsic

located within the very nature of an object or person; inherent

Invert

turn upside down or inside out; reverse position

Irascible

easily angered

Irony

an unexpected outcome, or the use of a word that is the opposite of its literal meaning

Irresolute

indecisive

Irreverent

disrespectful

Jargon

specialized language used by a particular group

Jaundice

yellow color; or, envy or resentment

Jaunty

lively; perky

Jeopardy

the threat or possibility of danger

Jettison

to throw overboard; to discard

Jocular

joking; playful; jesting; witty

Jubilant

filled with joy

Judicious

wise; making good decisions

Juncture

point in time, especially a crucial one; joint or connection

Juxtapose

to place side-by-side

Kindle

to start a fire

Kinetic

in motion; active

Laconic

quiet; of few words; terse

Lament

express sorrow; complain

Languish

lose energy or motivation

Latent

existing but inactive

Laud

praise; worship; extol

Legacy

something inherited

Lethargic

tired; sluggish; drowsy

Levity

lightness; playfulness; jocularity

Lionize

to put someone onto a pedestal; to treat with great respect

Listless

tired; sluggish; lacking drive

Loath

reluctant; unwilling

Loathe

to hate

Lofty

at a great height; elevated; noble

Loquacious

talkative

Lucid

easy to understand; transparent; clear-thinking

Ludicrous

absurd; ridiculous

Lugubrious

mournful

Magnanimous

big-hearted; generous; forgiving; noble

Magnate

a person of great power

Malediction

evil speech; curse

Malefactor

person who tries to hurt others; criminal

Malice

a desire to cause harm or suffering

Malign

to say evil or harmful things about someone; defame; vilify

Malleable

able to be reshaped by force; pliable; impressionable

Marred

spoiled, scratched, blemished

Meager

small in size or amount; thin; weak

Meander

wander in a carefree manner

Mellifluous

smooth; sweetly flowing

Mendacity

a lie; a false statement

Meticulous

very careful about details

Minute

very small in size

Misconstrue

misunderstand; interpret incorrectly

Mitigate

make less severe; mollify

Mollify

lessen anger; soothe; placate

Monologue

a long, uninterrupted speech

Morose

depressed

Mundane

ordinary; earthly (not spiritual); practical; temporary

Myriad

large number; many

Nefarious

extremely evil

Negligent

careless and possibly causing harm; neglectful

Neophyte

beginner

Nocturnal

active at night

Nostalgic

wishing for a return to the way things used to be; longing for the past; homesick

Novelty

something new or unusual

Nuance

slight degree; shade of difference

Nullify

remove or cancel all value or force

Nurture

provide care and surport

Obdurate

stubborn; unyielding

Objurgate

scold

Obliterate

remove or destroy completely

Obscure

hazy; unfamiliar

Obsequious

behaving like a meek

Obsolete

no longer usable

Obstinate

stubborn; refusing to be persuaded

Obtuse

dull; blunt

Obviate

eliminate the need for something; make unnecessary

Ominous

a sign of something unpleasant that's about to happen

Onerous

burdensome; oppressive

Opaque

too dark or thick for light to pass through

Opportunist

someone who takes advantage of the situation

Optimist

someone who always believes things will turn out okay

Opulence

luxury; wealth; riches

Pacifist

person who refuses to fight

Paltry

worthless; insignificant, petty

Paragon

model of excellence; the best

Parity

equality or equivalence; balance among a group of rivals

Parsimony

stinginess; excessive frugality

Partisan

blindly devoted to a cause or organization

Paucity

too few; scarcity

Pecuniary

having to do with money; financial

Penchant

a strong liking; attraction

Penury

extreme poverty; destitution

Perfunctory

without enthusiasm or thoroughness; routine

Pernicious

destructive

Perspicacity

mental sharpness; keen insight; shrewdness

Peruse

read carefully; study in detail

Pervade

to spread to every part