SAT words

Aesthetic

Aesthetic

(adj) pertaining to a sense of the beautiful

syn: artistic, creative

Undermine

(verb) to weaken or cause to collapse

syn: challenge, debilitate

ant: assist, strengthen, support

Pragmatic

(adj) sensible or practical; realistic

syn: feasible, rational, realistic

ant: idealistic, impractical, romantic

Indifferent

(adj) without interest, no feeling

syn: apathetic, nonchalant, detached

ant: compassionate, partial (bias), sympathetic

Ambiguous

(adj) open to interpretation, unclear

syn: dubious, obscure

ant: certain, definite, unquestionable

Ambivalent

(adj) contradictory; mixed feelings

syn: equivocal, wavering, vacillating

ant: certain, definite, unequivocal

Benevolent

(adj) unselfish; very generous

syn: compassionate, alternative

ant: greedy, miserly, stingy

Alleviate

(verb) to relieve or ease

syn: assuage, mitigate

ant: aggravate, irritate

Plausible

(adj) believable, probable

syn: probable, conceivable

ant: irrational, inconceivable, unreasonable

Obsolete

(adj) no longer in use

syn: antediluvian, antiquated, archaic

ant: contemporary, innovative, modern

Prudent

(adj) wise; sensible; thorough

syn: judicious, shrewd, discerning

ant: hasty, foolish, nonsensical

Dearth

(noun) inadequate supply, shortage of something

syn: deficiency, paucity, scantiness

ant: abundance, excess, sufficiency

Austere

(adj) simplicity, without excess

syn: primitive, unadorned

ant: elaborate, extravagant, indulgent

Paradox

(noun) self contradictory statement

syn: contradiction, inconsistency

ant: normality, standard, truth

Embellish

(verb) to decorate, enhancing w/ fictitious additions

syn: embroider, garnish, overstate

ant: lessen, reduce

Unorthodox

(adj) not ordinary, non conventional

syn: eccentric, heretical, unconventional

ant: conventional, normal, standard

Audacious

(adj) extremely bold, (recklessly) brave

syn: dauntless, resolute, valiant

ant: cautious, meek, timid

Futile

(adj) useless, no hope

syn: fruitless, ineffective, unproductive

ant: productive, effective, successful

Meticulous

(adj) pay close attention to detail

syn: painstaking, fastidious, thorough

ant: carless, negligent, thoughtless

Morose

(adj) gloomy, very depressed

syn: melancholy, despondent, sullen

ant: content, sanguine, optimistic

Belligerent

(adj) aggressive, hostile, want to fight

syn: cantankerous, pugnacious, truculent

ant: agreeable, mellow, placatory

Demographics

(noun) stats of a population

syn: census, poll, statistics

Evoke

(verb) to call up; produce

syn: evince, provoke, summon

ant: ignore, repress, suppress

Naive

(adj) lack of experience, unsophisticated

syn: gullible, innocent, unsuspecting

ant: aware, knowledgeable, skeptical

Perfunctory

(adj) lacking interest, indifferent, merely performing duty

syn: apathetic, cursory, lackadaisical

ant: careful, precise, thorough

Ubiquitous

(adj) being everywhere, widespread

syn: pervasive, prevalent, universal

ant: limited, scarce, uncommon

Autonomous

(adj) independent, self-governing

syn: liberated, sovereign

ant: controlled, subservient, dependent

Disheartening

(adj) very discouraging, depressing

syn: dejecting, demoralizing, dismaying

ant: encouraging, hopeful, promising

Proliferation

(noun) rapid; massive growth

syn: augmentation, expansion, spread

ant: contraction, reduction, diminution

Myriad

(adj) innumerable, countless

syn: endless, infinite, incalculable

ant: bounded. countable, limited

Fortitude

(noun) mental & emotional strength

syn: determination, firmness, tenacity

ant: apathy, lethargy, timidity

Poignant

(adj) moving the emotions, touching

syn: emotional, passionate, sentimental

ant: callous, indifferent, unfeeling

Acclaim

(verb) to highly praise

syn: extol, laud, tout

ant: condemn, denounce, reproach

Subtle

(adj) difficult to perceive, requiring mental acuteness

syn: implied, inconspicuous, insinuated

ant: discernible, evident, perceptible

Disparity

(noun_ lack of similarity or equality, different

syn: discrepancy, distinction, incongruity

ant: agreement, equality, similarity

Viable

(adj) possible; capable of being accomplished

syn: feasible, practical, workable

ant: impossible, unachievable, unfeasible

Tenacious

(adj) persistent; showing determination

syn: dogged, resolute, steadfast

ant: hesitant, submissive, yielding

Indignant

(adj) anger over injustice or something insulting

syn: incensed, irate, scornful

ant: calm, collected, pleased

Mundane

(adj) commonplace, normal, boring

syn: pedestrian, prosaic

ant: anomalous, unique

Affable

(adj) pleasantly easy to talk to; friendly

syn: amiable, genial, gregarious

ant: irritable, unmannerly

Anguish

(noun) physical or mental pain; torment

syn: distress, misery, woe

ant: delight, joyfulness, solace

Dexterous

(adj) skillful, resourceful, proficient

syn: adept, adroit, deft

ant: incompetent, inept, maladroit

Polarizing

(adj) dividing sharply into opposing forces

syn: discordant, dissenting, divisive

ant: homogenous, integrated, undivided

Incontrovertible

(adj) unquestionable; beyond doubt

syn: certain, irrefutable, undeniable

ant: questionable, uncertain, variable

Penchant

(noun) natural inclination, tendency

syn: predilection, proclivity, propensity

ant: antipathy, disinclination, hatred

Prolific

(adj) very productive, fruitful

syn: abundant, profuse, teeming

ant: barren, futile, unproductive

Oblivious

(adj) unaware, lacking conscious

syn: ignorant, inattentive, negligent

ant: attentive, conscious, mindful

Ornate

(adj) elaborately adorned, lavish, decorated

syn: baroque, gaudy, sumptuous

ant: austere, plain, unpretentious

Transient

(adj) lasting briefly, short time

syn: ephemeral, fleeting, transitory

ant: enduring, interminable, perpetual

Digress

(verb) deviate or get away from main point

syn: meander, ramble, stray

ant: continue, maintain, sustain

Fortuitous

(adj) produced by chance; of a fortunate happening

syn: arbitrary, serendipitous, incidental

ant: calculated, deliberate, intentional

Marginal

(adj) minor importance; not central

syn: insignificant, negligible, peripheral

ant: central, important, major

Diminutive

(adj) small; tiny

syn: infinitesimal, miniscule, minute

ant: considerable, immense, substantial

Temperate

(adj) moderate, exercising moderation

syn: moderate, restrained

ant: excessive, immoderate, intemperate

Elucidate

(verb) make clear, provide clarificatoin

syn: clarify, explicate, illuminate

ant: conceal, mystify, obscure

Thwart

(verb) to prevent, to block

syn: hinder, impede, stymie

ant: aid, facilitate, support

Animosity

(noun) hatred or ill will

syn: antipathy, enmity, rancor

ant: rapport, reverence, sympathy

Innuendo

(noun) an indirect reference to or an insinuation of a person or thing

syn: allusion, reference, suggestion

Innocuous

(adj) not harmful; not likely to give offense

syn: inoffensive, painless

ant: harmful

Superficial

(adj) pertaining to the surface; external or shallow

syn: cursory, ostensible, trivial

ant: genuine

Innovative

(adj) tending to introduce something new

syn: creative, ingenious, original

ant: customary, derivative, traditional

Proponent

(noun) person who supports or argues for a cause

syn: advocate, supporter

ant: opponent, detractor

Prodigy

(noun) person (young) with amazing talent

syn: genius, natural

ant: imbecile, fool

Ascetic

(adj) rigorously abstinent, strict self denial of luxury

syn: austere, disciplined, spartan

ant: debauched, hedonistic, decadent

Benefactor

(noun) a kindly helper, one who gives

syn: patron, altruist

ant: hoarder, miser, skinflint

Pundit

(noun) learned person, expert, or authority

syn: expert, intellectual, scholar

ant: amateur, novice

Rhetorician

(noun) eloquent writer or speaker

syn: orator, pontificator

Zealous

(adj) excessively active, devoted, or diligent

syn: ardent, fanatical, impassioned

ant: apathetic, dispassionate, indifferent

Mercenary

(adj) working or act just for money

syn: avaricious, covetous, venal

ant: altruistic, generous, unselfish

Sycophant

(noun) self seeking, servile flatter

syn: adulator, fawner, flatterer

Pariah

(noun) outcast, generally despised

syn: exile, outsider, reprobate

Charlatan

(noun) an imposter or fake, pretends to have knowledge

syn: fraud, phony, swindler

ant: authority, specialist, virtuoso

Misanthrope

(noun) a hater of humankind

syn: cynic, doubter

ant: humanitarian

Hedonist

(noun) person who devotes life to luxury

syn: debauchee, glutton, sybarite

ant: ascetic, puritan, spartan

Partisan

(adj) partial or biased

syn: biased, partial, warped

ant: fair, impartial, unbiased

Cynical

(adj) believing only selfish motivations drive human actions; distrusting

syn: skeptical, pessimistic, suspicious, scornful

ant: optimism, sanguine, trusting

Skeptical

(adj) attitude of doubt, question of validity, to be wary

syn: dubious, incredulous, leery

ant: credulous, gullible, unquestionable

Reclusive

(adj) living in seclusion or apart from society

syn: isolated, solitary, withdrawn

ant: convivial, gregarious, sociable

Oracle

(noun) person who delivers wise pronouncements

syn: forecaster, harbinger, prophet

Stoic

(adj) unmoved by joy or grief; free from passion

syn: aloof, detached, unflappable

ant: concerned, emotional, sentimental, poignant

Ostracize

(verb) to exclude, by general consent, banish, shun

syn: cogent, succinct, terse

ant: bombastic, loquacious, verbose

Galvanize

(verb) to stimulate, or stir into action

syn: arouse, invigorate, motivate

ant: discourage, dissuade, lull

Spartan

(adj) sternly disciplined, simple

syn: austere, frugal, stark

ant: embellished, intricate, ornate

Impecunious

(adj) having little to no money, poor

syn: destitute, impoverished, indigent

ant: affluent, opulent, prosperous

Nefarious

(adj) extremely wicked or villainous

syn: depraved, heinous, vile

ant: delightful, respectable, virtuous

Pandemonium

(noun) wild uproar, chaos

syn: clamor, commotion, tumult

ant: calm, harmony, tranquility

Affluent

(adj) wealthy, rich

syn: opulent, prosperous. upscale

ant: destitute, insolvent, penurious

Destitute

(adj) very poor, without means of subsistence

syn: bankrupt, depleted, penniless

ant: affluent, prosperous, wealthy

Lucrative

(adj) profitable, moneymaking

syn: fruitful, profitable, remunerative

ant: gainless, unprofitable, unrewarding

Avarice

(noun) insatiable greed for riches

syn: cupidity, miserliness, parsimony

ant: generosity, magnanimity, philanthropy

Plethora

(noun) surplus or overabundance

syn: excess, profusion, surfiet

ant: dearth, paucity, scarcity

Pertinent

(adj) relevant, pertaining to discussion

syn: applicable, connected, related

ant: irrelevant, trivial, unimportant

Exonerate

(verb) to clear of accusatoin, free from guilt

syn: absolve, pardon, vindicate

ant: condemn, convict, sentence

Unprecedented

(adj) without previous instance, never known

syn: novel, unique, unparalleled

ant: commonplace, customary, standard

Catalyst

(noun) person/thing causes some change

syn: impetus, spur, stimulant

ant: deterrent, hindrance, impediment

Conjuecture

(noun) an inference based on guesswork

syn: speculation, supposition, theory, hypothesis

ant: calculation , fact, truth

Conjecture

(noun) an inference based on guesswork

syn: speculation, supposition, theory, hypothesis

ant: calculation, fact, truth

Pandemic

(noun) a disease or epidemic throughout a large area

Virulent

(adj) severely harmful in its effects; hostile and bitter

syn: acrimonious, malignant, scathing

ant: innocuous, inoffensive

Nebulous

(adj) hazy, vague, lacking full developed form

syn: ambiguous, amorphous, indeterminate

ant: distinct, physical, tangible