SAT - PowerScore Vocabulary

All of these terms are taken from Powerscore's repeat offenders book. When studying these terms, consider how they may fit into a sentence, any related words, and any antonyms or synonyms.

abstract

to draw or take away

existing in thought, no physical/concrete existence

acquire

to come into possession of

adversary

an opponent or enemy

advocate

to argue in favor of

aesthetic

relating to beauty

allege

to declare without proof

alleviate

provide relief, make easier

allude

make an indirect reference to

ambiguous

open to more than one interpretation, unclear

ambivalent

having mixed feelings

amiable

having or displaying friendliness

analogous

corresponding, similar

anecdote

short account of a real incident/person

antagonize

provoke or display hostility

anthropology

the study of the origins, behavior, and culture of human beings

archaeology

the study of prehistoric people and their cultures

arrogant

having feelings of excessive pride/self-worth

articulate

clearly pronounced, well-spoken

pronounce clearly and distinctly

ascertain

make certain

aspiration

a desire to succeed, a goal

assert

state confidently

assume

accept as true without proof

astute

intelligent and clever

augment

enlarge/increase

autonomy

independence

avid

enthusiastic

belie

to misrepresent

benevolent

charitable, kind

bewilder

puzzle, confuse

bolster

support and strengthen

callous

insensitive, emotionally hardened

camaraderie

friendship

candid

open and straightforward

cantankerous

ill-tempered, unwilling to cooperate

capricious

apt to change suddenly

censure

strong disapproval

coherent

clear and logical

collaborate

to work together

commend

to praise

complacent

contented to a fault with oneself or one’s actions

conciliate

to win over, make peace

concise

expressing much in a few words

condemn

express strong disapproval of

condescend

behave as if lowering oneself to an inferior level

condone

to excuse, overlook

constrain

hold back, restrict

contempt

scorn, open disrespect

conventional

following accepted customs and behaviors

convoluted

complicated

corroborate

confirm or support with evidence

cunning

deceptive, sly

cynical

distrusting, pessimistic

dearth

lack in supply

debunk

prove untrue

decry

express strong disapproval of

deject

lower someone’s spirits, make downhearted

denounce

openly speak out against

depict

to represent or show

deride

to ridicule

differentiate

to mark as different

digress

wander away, usually from a topic/subject

diligent

detailed and persistent

diminish

decrease in size, extent, or range

discern

perceive or understand with sight or other senses

disclose

to reveal or uncover

disdain

a lack of respect + feeling of dislike

disillusion

free from false beliefs

disingenuous

insincere

disparage

belittle or criticize

disparate

different and distinct

dispute

question the truth of

dogmatic

characterized by assertion of unproved/unprovable principles

dubious

doubtful, questionable

eccentric

peculiar, odd

elicit

call or bring out

illicit

illegal

elite

selected as the best

eloquent

expressing oneself powerfully, effectively

elucdate

make clear by explanation

embellish

make better by adding details

empathy

the understanding of another’s feelings

emphatic

expressed with emphasis

emulate

imitate in order to match or excel

endure

continue despite difficulty

epitome

perfect example

equivocal

uncertain, open to interpretation

eradicate

to destroy

erroneous

mistaken, containing error

evoke

call forth emotions/feelings

exacerbate

increase harshness/bitterness of

exasperate

intensely irritate

exemplary

serving as a worthy example

explicit

clearly expressed or demonstrated

exploit

use for one’s own advantage

extol

praise highly

flagrant

shockingly obvious

foster

encourage or care for

frugal

avoidance of excessive spending

fundamental

essential, basic

futile

useless, unproductive