sat vocab - unit 1

ambivalent

having/showing mixed feelings about someone/something

bolster

to improve something/make it stronger; to support

complacent

overly satisfied with oneself

conclusive

proving something beyond doubt

convey

(1) to make ideas, feelings, etc. known to someone

(2) to take, carry, or transport someone/something from one place to another

decorum

polite behavior

disparage

to speak in a disapproving/slighting manner

eccentric

(of people/their behavior) unusual; unconventional; odd

evoke

to bring an image, a feeling, a memory, etc. into one’s mind

exhaustive

including everything possible; very thorough/complete

homogeneous

composed of parts that are all of the same type

indifferent

uncaring; having no particular concern

oblivious

lacking awareness

obscure

(1) hard to see or understand

(2) not well known

pessimism

a tendency to take the gloomiest view of a situation

rebut

to show that a statement/criticism is false; to provide opposing arguments

rhetoric

persuasive/artful use of language

transcend

to be or go beyond the usual limits of something

undermine

(1) to make something, especially someone’s confidence/authority, gradually weaker/less effective

(2) to make something weaker at the base

underscore

to emphasize

agreeable

(1) pleasant & easy to like

(2) willing to do something or allow something

arbitrate

to officially settle an argument/disagreement between 2 people/groups

belligerent

unfriendly & aggressive; warlike

console

to comfort/sympathize with someone who is unhappy or disappointed

debunk

to show than an idea, a belief, etc. is false

dire

very serious or bad

elate

to fill with happiness, excitement, or pride

equanimity

a calm state of mind, especially maintained in difficult situations

faction

a small group within a larger one whose goals or beliefs differ from those of the larger group

fluent

(1) able to speak, read, or write a language, especially a foreign language, easily & well

(2) done in a smooth & skillful way

grievance

something that appears unfair & about which one complains/protests

heyday

the time when someone/something had most power or success, or was most popular

immerse

(1) to cover someone/something completely with a liquid

(2) to become/make someone completely involved in something

luminous

(1) full of or giving out light

(2) inspiring and easily understood

mitigate

to make less harmful, serious, or severe

nuance

a very slight difference in meaning, sound, color, or emotion

opulent

having/showing extreme wealth

peremptory

expecting to be obeyed immediately & without question or refusal

pernicious

having a harmful effect, especially in a way that’s gradual & not easily notice

pompous

showing an attitude that one is more important than other people, especially by using long & formal words

preclude

to prevent; to make impossible

protagonist

the main character in a play, movie or book

reciprocate

to return the same feelings or behavior that was previously shown

retract

to take back or withdraw

sporadic

happening only occasionally or at intervals that are not regular

sublime

(1) of the best/most excellent kind; inspiring awe

(2) extreme, especially in a way that shows one is not aware of one’s actions

taint

to damage or spoil the quality of something or the opinion that people have of someone/something

ubiquitous

seeming to be everywhere or in several places at the same time; very common

vice

immoral/wicked behavior

whimsical

unusual & not serious in a way that’s amusing/annoying

abject

(1) terrible & without hope

(2) without any pride/respect

amoral

not following any moral rules & not caring about right & wrong

attire

clothes

bona fide

genuine, real, or legal; not false

brash

confident in an aggressive way

chide

to criticize/blame someone because they have something wrong; to scold

conflate

to put 2 or more things together to make 1 new thing

cumbersome

(1) large & heavy; difficult to carry

(2) long or slow & complicated

discursive

moving from 1 point to another without any strict structure; rambling

egregious

extremely bad

exegesis

critical explanation or analysis, especially of a text

exhort

to try hard to persuade someone to do something

foolhardy

taking unnecessary risks

havoc

a situation in which there is great damage, destruction, or confusion

hubris

excessive pride or self-confidence

innuendo

an indirect remark about someone/something, usually suggesting something bad or rude

interloper

a person who is present in a place/situation where they don’t belong

levy

to impose/collect something, especially taxes

mosaic

(1) a picture/pattern made by placing together small pieces of glass, stone, etc. of different colors

(2) a combination of diverse elements forming a generally cohesive whole

oscillate

(1) to keep changing from one feeling, behavior, or position to another, and back again

(2) to change in strength or direction at regular intervals

pertain

to be connected; to relate

predicament

a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially one where it’s difficult to know what to do

puerile

silly; suitable for a child rather than an adult

redolent

(1) smelling strongly of

(2) arousing thoughts of

sacrosanct

that’s considered to be too important to change/question

skittish

easily excited/frightened and therefore difficult to control

stymie

to prevent someone from doing something planned/desired; to prevent someone from happening

trenchant

expresses strongly, effectively, and clearly

unscathed

not hurt

whet

to increase one’s desire for/interest in something; to sharpen

abandon

freedom from worry/inhibition

become

(1) to make appear attractive

(2) to be suitable for

couch

to phrase in a particular way

exercise

(1) to carry out the functions of

(2) to make upset or angry

qualify

to modify a previous statement by making the meaning weaker/less general

reservation

a feeling of doubt about a plan/idea

singular

of an exceptionally high standard; remarkable

skirt

to be on or pass around the edge of something

temper

to make the effects of something less severe by balancing it with something else

trying

annoying/difficult to deal with

allude

to refer to indirectly

elude

(1) to avoid/escape from someone or something, especially in a clever way

(2) to escape the understanding/memory of someone

discrete

independent of other things of the same type; separate

discreet

careful in what one says/does, in order to keep something secret or to avoid causing embarrassment; cautious

exacerbate

to make something worse, especially a disease/problem

exasperate

to annoy/irritate someone very much

eminent

famous & respected, especially in a particular profession

imminent

likely to happen very soon

tacit

suggested indirectly/understood, rather than said in words

taciturn

tending not to say very much, in a way that seems unfriendly