SAT VOCAB 2

tacit

implicit

reticent

not revealing one’s thoughts = reserved

oblivious

ignorant

affable

amiable = congenial

insinuate

intimate = imply

impervious

impermeable = impenetrable

acrid

unpleasantly bitter = pungent

wry

satirical

candour

honesty = candidness

belligerent

bellicose

pugnacious

quarrelsome

mercenary

intense desire for wealth = greedy

vigorous

robust

watershed

an event making a turning point in a situation

spurious

specious = bogus

arcane

enigmatic = clandestine

ruthless

callous = cruel

sombre

solemn

rustic

plain

stagnant

static

paradigm

specimen = exemplar

volatile

turbulent = fickle

temper

alleviate = assuage

monotonous

dull, repetitive and tedious

onerous

strenous

parochial

provincial = insular

contentious

controversial

abrasive

sharp, forthright = acerbic

bastion

defensive device (building, belief,…)

chagrin

indignation = vexation

clamour

loud noise = tumult

deft

skillful = finesse

furtive

convert

incipent

begin to happen

maverick

unorthodox person

marshal

assemble = gather

superfluous

surfeit = surplus

transient

ephemeral = fleeting

aberration

anomaly

diffident

self-effacing = modest

cogent

persuasive

acumen

astuteness

condone

sanction

clement

temperate = mild

adulation

praise

extricate

release = unloose

confound

astonish

haughty

pompous = egotistical

supercilious

lofty = conceited

potent

mighty = commanding

atheist

person who disbelieves in the existence of God

jubilant

exuberant

languid

feeble = lackadaisical

polemical

hostile

usurp

take sth over unlawfully = seize

fastidious

scrupulous = punctilious

recluse

a person who lives a solitary life

stoic

unflappable = insouciant

opulent

costly, luxurious

lithe

slim, supple, and graceful

rant

speak or shout angrily

strident

loud and harsh = raucous

uncouth

uncivilized

incense

fragrance

torpor

state of inactivity

gullible

easily deceived = credulous

deplore

denounce = deprecate

abhor

condemn

epitome

perfect example

apathetic

indifferent

mercurial

capricious

respledent

splendid

thwart

hinder

malinger

pretend to be ill

lugubrious

mournful = melancholy

iconoclast

sceptic

hubris

conceit = haughtiness

debunk

deflate = puncture

laconic

succint = concise

economy

thrift = prudence

instigate

incite = provoke

kindle

set on fire = ignite

soporific

inducing drowsiness = sedative

somnolent

drowsy

profligate

dissolute = improvident

lampoon

satirize

propitious

promising = providential

specious

superficially plausible, but actually wrong:

virulent

noxious

contrite

regretful = remorseful

assiduous

diligent = sedulous

querulous

habitually complaining

quandary

dilemma = plight

mellifluous

soothing sound = dulcet

whimsical

volatile = fickle

guile

cunning = chicanery

jocular

droll = humorous

neologism

invention of new word = coinage

remiss

negligent = heedless

officious

peremptory = commanding