SAT Words

Vacillate

Vacillate

alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive.

Spurn

reject with disdain or contempt.

Fiscal

relating to government revenue, especially taxes (financial)

Martyr

1) a person who is killed because of their beliefs (cause, beliefs, principles)
2) a person who displays or exaggerates their discomfort or distress in order to obtain sympathy or admiration.

Allure

the quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating.

Taboo

• a social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion of a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing.

• something that is prohibited or restricted by social or cultural norms

Prolific

producing in large quantities or with great frequency; highly productive

Disclose

1) make (secret or new information) known.
2) allow (something) to be seen, especially by uncovering it.

used in contexts involving information, secrets, or details that are being revealed.

Dismantle

taking something apart with the intention that it will not be put back together in its original form.

• It can also imply a more thorough or complete deconstruction, sometimes beyond just the physical aspects

Compel

a strong, often external force that mandates or drives someone to take action, often against their will or inclination.

• no implications of illegality or threats. can just involve moral, social, or legal threats.

• Strong but legitimate force.

Impel

an internal drive or motivation that pushes someone to act, often stemming from feelings, emotions, or a sense of necessity.

Aid

help/assistance

Aide

A person that helps (the assistant)

Predisposed

Having a tendency or inclination toward a particular condition, state, or action due to inherent or pre-existing factors.

• inherent tendencies

• pre-existing factors

• long term tendencies

Quintessential

the most perfect or typical example of a particular quality or class. Represents its essential characteristics

Opulent

ostentatiously showy, rich, luxurious, and lavish

Dub

to give an unofficial name or nickname to (someone or something).

Incidentally

occurring merely by chance or without intention or calculation.

Remarkable

worthy of attention; striking

Formidable

inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.

renowned

known or talked about by many people; famous.

Prominent

something or someone that is important, well-known, and noticeable (has influence)

Frightful

very unpleasant, serious, or shocking.

Sartorial

of or relating to a tailor or tailored clothes

Hegemony

leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others.

laudable

(of an action, idea, or goal) deserving praise and commendation.

beseech

ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something; implore; entreat.

discerned

perceive or recognize (something) with careful, analytical observation that leads to a deeper understanding or distinction. Implies distinguishing between subtle differences

delineate

describe or portray (something) precisely.

exonerate

(especially of an official body) absolve (someone) from blame for a fault or wrongdoing, especially after due consideration of the case; acquit

insurmountable

too great to be overcome.

pronounced

very noticeable or marked; conspicuous.

apathetic

showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern

prudent

acting with or showing care and thought for the future.

docile

ready to accept control or instruction; submissive.

contentious

causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.

placid

(of a person or animal) not easily upset or excited; calm

plaintiveness

showing or expressing sorrow

ineffable

too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words; indescribable

reticent

not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.

listless

(of a person or their manner) lacking energy or enthusiasm.

amalgamate

the action, process, or result of combining or uniting.

pointedly

in a direct and unambiguous way, often indicating criticism or displeasure.

obtusely

in a way that is stupid and slow to understand, or unwilling to try to understand

• implies that someone is being deliberately or annoyingly slow to understand something.

preclude

prevent from happening; make impossible.

defenestrate

throw (someone) out of a window.

antipathy

a deep-seated, passionate feeling of emotional/long lasting dislike.
-usually towards people/things

stout

chubby

apocryphal

(of a story or statement) of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true

galvanized

shock or excite (someone) into taking action.

innocuous

not harmful or offensive.

moreover

additionally

vindictive

having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.

vindicative

proving that someone is right/innocent

vindication

the action of clearing someone of blame or suspicion.

peevish

easily irritated, especially by unimportant things.

rampant

(especially of something unwelcome or unpleasant) flourishing or spreading unchecked.

reclusive

solitary (avoiding company of other people)

Exalt

-To raise in rank, honor, or power; to elevate or glorify.

-To hold someone/something in high regard (think or speak highly of)

Prevail

prove more powerful than opposing forces; be victorious.

Sonorous

-(of a person's voice or other sound) imposingly deep and full.

-capable of making a deep/ringing sound

Inept

having or showing no skill; clumsy

Vagrant

a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging.

-adj: wanderer/wandering

Pervious

allowing water to pass through; think “permeate”

Demure

reserved, modest, and shy (typically used of a woman).

extrapolate

estimate or predict something based on known data

tenuous

-very weak/slight

-very slender/fine; insubstantial

laudable

(of an action, idea, or goal) deserving praise and commendation.

scrupulous

-(of a person or process) diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details.

-very concerned to avoid doing wrong.

tact

adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.

Adroitness

cleverness or skill.

Repute (n)

the opinion generally held of someone or something; the state of being regarded in a particular way. Think “reputation”

Enumerate

list one by one

Disseminate

-spread (something, especially information) widely.

-to spread throughout an organ/the body

Effusive

expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner.

Effusion

• an instance of giving off something such as a liquid, light, or smell. (think ‘“pouring”)

• the act of being writing effusively

voluble

talking fluently , readily, and constantly. Not a yapper; has meaningful stuff to say

discourse

• (N) written or spoken communication or debate.

• (V) to speak or write authoritatively about a topic

Precursor

a person or thing that comes before another of the same kind; a forerunner.

Versimilitude

how closely something resembles reality or seems believable; the convincingness of something existing in reality

Insidious

proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects

Largesse

generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others.

Atonement

reparation for a wrong or injury.

Impertinent

• Rude/disrespectful

• Irrelevant

Opprobrium

• harsh criticism or censure (severe disapproval)

• the public disgrace arising from someone's shameful conduct.

Precipice

a very steep rock face or cliff, especially a tall one.

Emblematic

serving as a symbol of a particular quality or concept; symbolic.

Exult

to feel or show triumphant elation or jubilation

Zealous

showing great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or object

Austerity

-sternness or severity of manner or attitude
-set of political-economic policies that aim to reduce government budget deficits

Bedlam

uproar and confusion

Gaudy

extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless.