SAT/Gatsby Vocab

These flashcards provide definitions of key vocabulary terms for review before the exam.

Abortive

Failing to achieve the intended result.

Abounding

Plentiful.

Absorbed

Deeply engaged.

Accountability

Responsibility for actions.

Accounting

Financial record-keeping.

Acute

Sharp or severe; intense.

Aesthetic

Concerned with beauty.

Affectations

Artificial behaviors meant to impress.

Affront

Insult.

Alarming

Causing fear.

Ambivalence

Mixed feelings.

Amorphous

Without clear shape.

Apathetic

Lacking interest.

Aquaplanes

Small motorboats used for water sports.

Ashen

Pale gray.

Aside

To one side.

Astute

Clever and perceptive.

Awe

A feeling of wonder or respect.

Awnings

Roof-like coverings.

Ballooned

Swelled or expanded rapidly.

Bleared

Blurred or watery.

Bracing

Refreshing or invigorating.

Bravado

Boldness meant to impress.

Breeding

Family background or upbringing.

Brisk

Quick and energetic.

Broiling

Very hot.

Brooding

Deeply thoughtful or worried.

Capacities

Abilities.

Caravansary

Roadside inn for travelers.

Cataracts

Large waterfalls.

Censure

Strong disapproval.

Chasms

Deep gaps or openings.

Civility

Politeness.

Clad

Dressed in.

Clenched

Closed tightly.

Clog

Block.

Clutching

Grabbing tightly.

Colloquial

Conversational; informal.

Colossal

Huge.

Combustion

Burning.

Commensurate

Equal in size or degree.

Commutation

Reduction of a sentence.

Compelled

Forced.

Conceits

Overly high opinions of oneself.

Conception

Idea or understanding.

Condescension

Talking down to others.

Congruous

In agreement or harmony.

Conscientious

Careful and responsible.

Conservatory

A room with glass walls for plants.

Consoling

Giving comfort.

Conspiratorial

Secretive; suggestive of plotting.

Contempt

Disrespect or disdain.

Contemptuous

Showing scorn.

Contingencies

Possible future events.

Cordials

Sweet alcoholic drinks.

Corps

A group trained for a specific purpose.

Corrugated

Shaped into folds or ridges.

Counterfeit

Fake.

Crimson

Deep red.

Croon

Sang softly.

Debauchee

A person devoted to excessive indulgence.

Defiantly

In a boldly resisting way.

Deft

Skillful and quick.

Defunct

No longer existing.

Dejection

Sadness.

Delusional

Holding false beliefs.

Desolate

Empty and lonely.

Despondent

Feeling hopeless.

Detachments

Groups sent away from a larger unit.

Digress

To stray from the topic.

Disconcerting

Unsettling.

Disdain

Strong dislike.

Disillusioned

Disappointed by reality.

Disinterested

Unbiased; not influenced by personal gain.

Dismayed

Distressed or worried.

Dispassionate

Calm and impartial.

Dissembling

Hiding true feelings.

Distraught

Deeply upset.

Drawing

Sketch.

Dwelling

Home.

Ecstatic

Extremely happy.

Effeminate

Having qualities traditionally associated with femininity.

Elicited

Drew out a response.

Eluded

Escaped from; avoided.

Enigmatic

Mysterious.

Entangled

Twisted together; involved.

Erroneous

Incorrect.

Euphemistic

Using mild words to replace harsh ones.

Evasions

Avoidances; indirect answers.

Exhilarating

Exciting and joyful.

Expansive

Wide-ranging.

Extinction

Complete disappearance.

Extravaganza

Lavish show.

Fare

Food; cost of travel.

Fawning

Overly flattering.

Flat

Emotionless or dull.

Flavored

Given a particular taste.

Flippant

Not showing serious respect.

Florid

Excessively elaborate.

Fluently

Smoothly and easily.