vocab SAT - 400 words

aesthetic

concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty

undermine

to damage or weaken the foundation; sabotage

profound

having great depth or insight

refute

to prove false; overthrow by argument

skeptical

doubtful; disbelieving

ambivalent

having mixed feelings

hostile

unfriendly; having ill will

condemn

to express strong disapproval of

assert

to confidently make a statement

nostalgia

a longing for the past

pretense

a false appearance or action intended to deceive

cynical

wary of people's motives; believing people are selfish

obscure

unclear; hard to perceive

convention

accepted tradition or practice

contempt

a feeling that someone is inferior or worthless; scorn

foster

to bring up; nurture

pragmatic

practical; concerned with usefulness in the real world

revere

to regard with respect and awe

anecdote

short personal story

disparage

to speak of someone in a disrespectful way; belittle

exemplary

perfect; worthy of following

substantiate

to support with proof; verify

trivial

of little significance or value; unimportant

depict

to represent in words; describe

indifferent

having no concern; uncaring; apathetic

anthropology

the study of humans and society

futile

useless or ineffective; having no useful result

indignant

filled with anger and resentment

reconcile

to settle or resolve; to unite

sarcasm

a cutting, ironic remark to mock something

abstract

theoretical; difficult to understand

advocate

to support a cause or position

ambiguous

unclear; open to interpretation

eccentric

weird or odd; having a wacky personality

implausible

hard to believe; unrealistic

intemperate

having no self-control; reckless and wasteful

plausible

believable; credible

rhetoric

the art of using language effectively and persuasively

rigorous

extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate

subtle

difficult to detect or describe;making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something

temperate

having self-control; exercising moderation

archaeological

related to the study of people and their history

arrogant

having a sense of superiority or self-importance

complacent

self-satisfied to the point of being unconcerned

embellish

to make beautiful; to decorate

evoke

to bring forth or call to mind, especially feelings

immodest

lacking humility or decency

modest

humble

prudent

wise in handling practical matters; having good judgment

suppress

to put an end to forcibly; prevent the development, action, or expression

vindicate

to clear from accusation, blame or suspicion

deride

to treat with ridicule or contempt

diligent

hard working

disdain

to treat with contempt; despise

empathy

an understanding of another's situation and feelings

erroneous

mistaken

fundamental

basic; elementary

improvise

to invent or perform with no preparation

mundane

everyday and dull; boring

naive

showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment

superficial

shallow; having no depth of character

whimsical

playful and fanciful; imaginative; childlike

alleviate

to relieve from pain

antagonize

to cause someone to become hostile or unfriendly

bolster

to support or build up something

capricious

impulsive and unpredictable

convoluted

complicated or confusing

digress

to stray from the main topic

diminish

to make smaller; to reduce

dispute

to argue about; debate

dubious

having doubts; undecided

eloquent

having persuasiveness and expressiveness as a communicator

indulge

to give in to desires excessively, esp. with food or drink

precedent

an earlier case or event that is now considered a guide for similar cases

reprehensible

blameworthy; terrible

resilient

able to withstand difficulty; flexible

satire

the use of humor, exaggeration, or irony to mock something or someone

underscore

to emphasize

vulnerable

open to injury or attack; lacking protection

amiable

friendly

astute

wise; shrewd

benevolent

kind; charitable

bewilder

to confuse or baffle someone

coherent

clear and logical; makes sense

commend

to praise someone

elite

considered to be superior or the best

generalization

a general statement based on specific cases

impetuous

acting or done quickly without thought or care

negligent

failing to take proper care in doing something

phenomenon

a remarkable event/situation that is observed to exist

presumption

having a particular attitude or assumption as a basis

reticent

quiet and reserved

scorn

contempt; hatred; feeling that someone is worthless

scrutinize

to examine or inspect closely and thoroughly

somber

gloomy and sad

tyranny

cruel and oppressive government or rule

acquire

to buy or obtain for oneself

aspiration

a hope or ambition of achieving something

augment

to make something greater by adding to it

avid

having a deep interest in or enthusiasm for something, esp. a hobby