Elite SAT Prep Vocabulary

1000 Words

conscientious

adj. showing care and precision; compassionate

crass

adj. dull-witted; unrefined; mannerless

impart

v. to give a portion of; to make known

spendthrift

n. one who spends money wastefully

tabulate

v. to count

adroit

adj. naturally skillful, esp. when dealing with difficult circumstances

dexterous

adj. skillful with the hands or mind

redolent

adj. aromatic; fragrant; suggestive

foreboding

n. a sense of impending evil, esp. one without definite cause

denouement

n. conclusion

subsidy

n. monetary assistance

prevalent

adj. dominant; widespread

incumbent

adj. necessary or obligatory

n. a person who currently holds a position

mimic

v. to copy closely, esp. with intent to ridicule

beacon

n. a signaling light; a source of guidance or inspiration

supplant

v. to replace; to take the place of

scythe

n. a long-handled, bladed instrument used for harvesting crops

shard

n. a fragment of a brittle substance

wayward

adj. rebellious, disobedient

effrontery

n. bold and insulting behavior; arrogance

vagary

n. an erratic notion or action

agile

adj. quick and easy in movement; mentally alert

glut

n. an oversupply

cursory

adj. superficially done; performed rapidly or quickly

spurn

v. to push or drive away

comply

v. to follow; to yield or act in accordance with requests, conditions, etc.

peccadillo

n. a minor sin

incendiary

adj. causing or capable of causing fire; stirring up trouble

impunity

n. exemption from punishment or harm

proficient

adj. very skillful, esp. through training

precede

v. to go before

benefactor

n. one who helps and supports others

flout

v. to intentionally and obviously disobey

erode

v. to wear away slowly

spate

n. a large number or amount of something, esp. in a brief time

imbue

v. to inspire

credulous

adj. tending to believe easily; naive

bravura

n. a showy display

omniscient

adj. all-knowing

untenable

adj. indefensible, or impossible to maintain

veneer

n. an attractive, ultimately misleading outward show; thin layer

legible

adj. capable of being read or deciphered

recount

v. to tell in detail

prevaricate

v. to speak or write evasively in order to avoid telling the truth

sedentary

adj. sitting down most of the time

veracious

adj. honest; truthful

venerate

adj. to look upon with respect and honor

raconteur

n. skillful storyteller

leaning

n. a preference

premature

adj. early

vicarious

adj. felt as if one were taking part in the experiences of another

pique

v. to arouse (interest, curiousity); to irritate

abate

v. to lessen in amount, intensity or strength

maternal

adj. characteristic of a mother

decorum

n. polite behavior

pretentious

adj. claiming dignity or importance, esp. when undeserved

unwieldy

adj. hard to handle or manage, esp. because of size or weight

homely

adj. unattractive, plain-looking

impromptu

adj. without preparation

visceral

adj. instinctive

staccato

adj. composed of abrupt, disconnected parts or sounds

rue

v. to regret

meritocracy

n. a system in which promotion is based on individual ability or achievement

inveigle

v. to obtain by flattery

behoove

v. to be necessary or proper for

austere

adj. stern or severe in appearance; without luxury

inert

adj. unable to move or respond; sluggish

mnemonic

adj. pertaining to or assisting the memory

censor

v. to prevent from becoming known or circulated

imposing

adj. impressive or intimidating by size, power, or manner

hectic

adj. characterized by intense activity

sully

v. to dirty or tarnish, esp. by disgracing

insipid

adj. uninteresting; having no flavor

anachronism

n. something not belonging to a certain time period

malady

n. a disease; illness; sickness