SAT Vocabulary WordSmart1 - English Definitions

Vocabulary flashcards covering the words and definitions from the provided notes.

abnegate

to renounce or deny oneself; reject a claim.

abortive

failing to achieve the intended result; unsuccessful.

abysmal

extremely bad; appallingly poor; very deep.

accost

to approach and address boldly or aggressively.

adage

a traditional proverb expressing a general truth.

adherent

a follower or supporter of a cause or person.

adulterate

to make impure by adding inferior substances.

agnostic

believing ultimate reality (e.g., God) is unknowable.

allege

to claim or assert without proof.

allusion

an indirect reference to something.

amnesty

an official pardon, especially for political offenses.

antipathy

a deep-seated dislike; aversion.

aphorism

a concise, witty statement of a general truth.

apocryphal

of doubtful authenticity; spurious.

apotheosis

elevation to divine status; the perfect example.

arbiter

a judge or one with power to decide a dispute.

archetype

the original model; a typical example; prototype.

ardent

passionate; fervent; intensely enthusiastic.

ascendancy

controlling influence; domination.

attrition

gradual weakening through friction, pressure, or loss.

auspicious

favorable; conducive to success.

awry

off course; askew; not as planned.

bane

a cause of great harm or ruin.

beget

to produce or bring about; to sire.

belabor

to overwork or overexplain; to dwell on excessively.

bemused

puzzled; bewildered; deep in thought.

bereft

deprived of; lacking; made desolate by loss.

beset

to trouble persistently; to surround and harass.

blithe

cheerful and carefree; heedlessly lighthearted.

broach

to bring up for discussion; to open.

burgeon

to grow or expand rapidly; flourish.

callow

immature; inexperienced.

chasm

a deep fissure; a wide gap in opinions.

chimera

a fantasy or illusion; an impossible dream.

clemency

mercy; leniency toward an offender.

cognizant

aware

collusion

secret cooperation for a deceitful purpose.

compendium

summary

complacent

self-satisfied and uncritical; smug.

complicity

participation in wrongdoing; partnership in crime.

concord

harmony; agreement.

conducive

tending to bring about; favorable.

confluence

a flowing together; a meeting of streams/ideas.

consecrate

to make sacred; to dedicate to a purpose.

construe

to interpret; to analyze the meaning of.

contentious

argumentative; quarrelsome; controversial.

contiguous

sharing a boundary; touching; adjacent.

contingent

dependent on conditions; possible but uncertain.

corollary

a natural consequence; a proposition derived.

covenant

a formal, binding agreement or contract.

covet

to desire intensely, often wrongfully.

credulous

too ready to believe; gullible.

criterion

a standard or principle for judgment.

cursory

hasty and superficial; not thorough.

cynic

one who believes people are motivated by self-interest.

debacle

a complete collapse; disastrous failure.

debauchery

excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

dictum

an authoritative statement; formal pronouncement.

distend

to swell or expand from internal pressure.

eclectic

drawn from diverse sources; varied.

edify

to instruct or improve morally/intellectually.

efface

to erase; to make oneself inconspicuous.

effusion

an unrestrained outpouring of feelings.

elliptical

oval; also, ambiguous or purposely incomplete.

elusive

hard to find, catch, or understand.

encroach

to intrude gradually on another’s territory or rights.

enfranchise

to give the right to vote; to set free.

epigram

a brief, witty saying.

exhort

to strongly urge or encourage.

exonerate

to clear from blame or accusation.

farcical

absurdly comical; ludicrous.

fatalist

one who believes events are predetermined and inevitable.

fetter

to restrain or shackle; a chain or bond.

fidelity

faithfulness to duties or a person.

figurative

metaphorical; not literal.

flaunt

to display ostentatiously; show off.

flout

to openly disregard or mock rules.

foible

a minor weakness or quirk in character.

foment

to instigate or stir up (trouble).

forbear

to refrain; to be patient.

fortuitous

happening by chance; often lucky.

genteel

refined and polite; sometimes affectedly so.

glut

an excessive supply; to oversupply.

grandiose

pretentiously grand; pompous.

gratuitous

uncalled-for; given free; lacking reason.

guile

sly or cunning intelligence; deceit.

hapless

unfortunate; unlucky.

hegemony

leadership or dominance over others.

hermetic

airtight; also, reclusive or esoteric.

heyday

the period of greatest success or vigor.

hiatus

a break or interruption in continuity.

histrionic

overly dramatic; theatrical.

ignominy

deep personal disgrace; public shame.

impervious

not penetrable; not affected.

impetuous

acting quickly without thought; rash.

impotent

lacking power or effectiveness.

impugn

to challenge as false; to attack verbally.

inane

silly; lacking sense or meaning.

inaugurate

to begin formally; to induct into office.

incandescent

glowing with heat; brilliantly bright.