SAT Words Prep 2

hackneyed

unoriginal, trite

sanctimonious

giving a hypocritical appearance of piety

proclivity

a strong inclination toward something

harrowing

greatly distressing

colloquial

characteristic of informal conversation

insurgent

one who rebels

accord

Agreement

abject

wretched, pitiful

raze

to demolish

indignation

anger sparked by something unjust or unfair

garish

gaudy, in bad taste

flout

to disregard or disobey openly

espouse

to take up as a cause, support

iconoclast

one who attacks common beliefs or institutions

abnegation

denial of comfort to oneself OR denouncing power

insolent

rude, arrogant, overbearing

fickle

shifting in character, inconstant

embezzle

to steal money by falsifying records

elicit

to bring forth, draw out, evoke

illicit

forbidden

discern

to perceive, detect

abscond

to sneak away and hide (to avoid arrest usually)

abstain

to freely choose not to commit an action

contrite

eager to be forgiven

cerebral

related to the intellect

boon

a gift or blessing

timorous

timid, fearful

portent

an omen (a sign)