common SAT

abstruse

difficult to understand.

axiom

universally accepted principle.

didactic

instructive, teaching.

empirical

based on observation/experience.

egregious

outstandingly bad; shocking.

paradigm

model, framework.

pedestrian

ordinary, unimaginative.

prosaic

dull, straightforward.

tenuous

weak, flimsy.

transcendent

beyond ordinary limits.

altruistic

selfless, generous.

beneficent

doing good.

conscientious

diligent, responsible.

magnanimous

generous, noble.

munificent

very generous.

prudent

wise, careful.

sagacious

wise, insightful.

scrupulous

principled, careful.

aloof

distant, detached.

antagonistic

hostile.

apathetic

indifferent, uninterested.

assiduous

diligent, hardworking.

bellicose

warlike.

belligerent

aggressive.

caustic

sarcastic, biting.

dogmatic

inflexible, dictatorial.

dubious

doubtful, questionable.

fastidious

overly fussy, hard to please.

hubris

excessive pride.

imperious

domineering.

intransigent

refusing to compromise.

pedantic

overly concerned with details/rules.

petulant

irritable, childish.

supercilious

arrogant, looking down on others.

vitriolic

bitter, scathing.

capricious

unpredictable.

cursory

hasty, superficial.

desultory

random, disconnected.

ephemeral

short-lived.

evanescent

fleeting.

fleeting

passing quickly.

mutable

changeable.

perennial

enduring, long-lasting.

assuage

to soothe, lessen intensity.

placate

to calm down.

acrimonious

bitter, harsh (especially speech).

adversarial

opposed, hostile.

animosity

hostility.

avarice

greed.

banal

trite, cliché.

detached

unemotional, objective.

indignant

angry at injustice.

obfuscate

to confuse, make unclear.

reclusive

avoiding others.

sanguine

optimistic.

stoic

enduring without complaint.

cognizant

aware.

connoisseur

expert.

didactic

instructive.

erudite

scholarly, learned.

esoteric

known by few.

fatuous

foolish.

perspicacious

insightful.

quixotic

unrealistic, idealistic.

sophomoric

immature, superficial.

candor

honesty, frankness.

credulous

gullible.

fallacious

based on false logic.

mendacious

lying, dishonest.

specious

misleadingly plausible.

spurious

false, fake.

veracious

truthful.

veritable

genuine, real.