sat vocab

aggravate

irritate or make more severe

paucity

lack of

verisimilitude

similarity to the truth

profusion

great abundance

haphazard

unorganized; lack of plan

premeditated

planned and thought out beforehand

fruitless

having undesired results; useless

innocuous

mild or unharmful

novel

original and new

buttress

strengthen or defend

rudimentary

basic or unsophisticated

contrive

to devise something, usually evil

contrived

deliberately created seeming unnatural

revelation

a surprising unknown fact

ordeal

a painful experience

diatribe

a bitter verbal attack

tractable

easily controlled

immutable

unchangeable

vigilance

careful attention

consensus

agreement

disparate

distinct or dissimilar

insolent

arrogant lack of disrespect

sporadic

occurring irregularly

enigmatic

mysterious and difficult to understand

ambivalent

having mixed or contradictory feelings

resolute

determined and firm

subdue

to bring under control

inferior

lower in rank or ability

belittle

to make someone or something seem unimportant

resign

to voluntarily step down from a position

repress

to hold back or restrain

prevail

to be successful or widespread

vitriolic

filled with bitterness and hate

stymie

to prevent or greatly hinder

compound

to make worse by adding to it; greatly enhance

disparage

criticize or represent with little worth; belittle

outstrip

exceed or outdo

delegate

to give responsibility and trust to someone; entrust

renounce

to give up or refuse

offhand

showing little interest in a way that seems slightly rude; offensively nonchalant

implicit

suggested or implied without being directly expressed

embody

to represent a quality or idea

inevitably

unavoidably, predictably

protruding

sticking out; projecting

ludicrous

foolishly ridiculous

affront

to insult or offend

relish

enjoy greatly

reverence

deep respect

predisposition

someone likely to act a certain way

disavow

deny responsibility for

cryptic

mysterious or obscure (unclear) meaning

boast

to overly express pride

disposition

a person’s character, attitude, or mood; tendency to act a certain way

meddling

intrusive or unwanted interference

dutifully

obediently

embark on

to start to do something new or difficult

resort (to)

to turn to something when other choices are unavailable

agnostic

a person who is skeptical of religious belief

axiom

an established statement generally recognized as truth

debacle

a complete and utter disaster

ferment

action that leads to unrest or agitation

ignoble

unworthy in character

inexorable

untiring or unyielding in one’s efforts

inimical

unfriendly; hostile

nascent

newly formed

precipitate

to quicken

remonstrate

to protest in objection

solvent

able to pay of debts

truculence

aggressiveness; destructive force

abate

to diminish

aberrant

abnormal; atypical

abrasive

showing little concern to others’ feelings

altruistic

generous; charatiable

austerity

living a lifestyle with only necessary things

cacophony

loud and disruptive noise

dissent

to disagree

garrulous

talkative

gorge

a small canyon

hedonist

someone who commits life to pursuing pleasure

indefatigable

not easily tired; persistent

loathe

to hate; detest

novice

unskilled

retiring

shy and withdrawn

vicarious

experiencing secondhandedly through another person

synopsis

a brief summary

divulge

disclose or reveal

obviate

avoid; prevent

composure

a state of calmness

appease

to satisfy

deride

to express contempt or disrespect

didactic

inclined to teach to lecture

conceited

narcissistic (extreme self-importance)

ineptitude

lack of skill or ability

impertinent

rude

dire

dangerous

ameliorate

to improve

bolster

strengthen

rancor

resentment

antithesis

contrast between two things

cajole

to convince