SAT Vocab

Abate

v. to become less strong, or to make something less strong

Abstract

adj. existing as an idea, feeling, or quality, not as a material object

Abysmal

adj. very bad

Adversarial

adj. involving opposition or disagreement

Agitate

v. to argue energetically, esp. in public, in order to achieve a particular type of change

Benevolent

adj. kind and helpful

Beguile

v. to charm, attract, or interest sometimes in order to deceive

Bereft

adj. having to do without something or someone and suffering from the loss

Blandishments

n. pleasant words or actions used in order to persuade someone to do something

Blik

v. to get money form someone unfairly or dishonestly

Cajole

v. to persuade someone to do something they might not want to do, by pleasant talk and (sometimes false) promises

Callous

adj. unkind, cruel, and without sympathy or feeling for other people

Calumny

n. (the act of making) a statement about someone that is not true and is intended to damage the reputation of that person

Camaraderie

n. a feeling of friendliness towards people that you work or share an experience with

Congruity

n. the quality of being the same as, or in agreement with, other facts or principles

Dearth

n. an amount of something taht is too small; a lack

Debauch

v. to destroy or damage something so that it is no longer considered good or moral

Demagogue

n. a person, esp. a political leader, who wins support by exciting people’s emotions rather than giving them reasons

Denigrate

v. to say that someone or something is not good or important

Diaphanous

adj. Substance, esp. cloth, is so delicate and thin that you can see through it.

Eclectic

adj. consisting of different types, methods, styles, etc.

Ebullient

adj. excited and enthusiastic

Egregious

adj. (of something bad) extreme; beyond any reasonable degree

Embezzlement

n. the crime of secretly taking money that is in you care or that belong to an organization or business you work for

Emollinet

n. a cream or liquid that makes dry or sore skin softer or less painful

Flagrant

adj. shocking because of being so bad and so obvious

Forbearance

n. the quality of being patient and being able to forgive someone or control yourself in a difficult situation

Fortuitous

adj. (esp. of something to your advantage) happening by chance

Fractious

adj. tending to argue, fight, or complain, and hard to control

Fetter

v. to keep someone within limits or stop them form making progress

Garrulous

adj. having the habit of talking a lot, esp. about unimportant things

Gourmand

n. a person who enjoys eating large amounts of food

Grandiloquent

adj. Style or way of using language is complicated in order to attract admiration and attention, esp. in order to make someone or something seem important

Gratuitous

adj. not necessary; with no reasonable cause

Goulash

n. a dish originally from Hungary consisting of meat cooked in a sauce with vegetables and paprika

Hegemony

n. (esp. of countries) the position of being the strongest and most powerful and therefore able to control others

Heterogeneous

adj. consisting of different parts or types

Hapless

adj. unlucky

Hokey

adj. too emotional or artificial to be believed

Idiosyncratic

adj. having strange or unusual habits, ways of behaving, or features

Impecunious

adj. having very little money

Inchoate

adj. only recently or partly formed, or not completely developed or clear

Incumbent

adj. officially having the named position

Intransigent

adj. refusing to change your opinions or behavior

Jubilant

adj. feeling or expressing great happiness, especially becasue of a success

Jacaranda

n. any of genus of tropical American trees with attractive, usually purple flowers

Jumbotron

n. a very large video screen like those used in sports stadiums

Jabber

v. to speak or say something quickly in a way that is difficult to understand

Juxtapose

v. to put things that are not similar next to each other

Kibosh

n. to spoil or destroy an idea or plan

Keloid

n. a scar that grows bigger and more lumpy than the wound it is healing

Knell

n. the sound of a bell ran slowly to announce a death

Kleptomania

n. a very strong wish to steal that you cannot control, especially without any need or purpose, usually considered to be a type of mental illness

Knave

n. a dishonest man

Laconic

adj. using very few words to express what you mean

Largesse

adj. n. willingness to give money, or money given to poor people by rich ppl

Legerdemain

n. skillful hiding of the truth in order to trick ppl

Linchpin

n. the most important member of a group or part of a system, that holds together the other members or parts, makes it possible for them to operate as intended

Licentious

adj. sexual in a uncontrolled and socially unacceptable way

Maelstrom

n. a situation in which there is great confusion, violence, and destruction

Maudlin

adj. feeling sad and sorry for yourself, especially after you have drunk a lot of alcohol

Mawkish

adj. showing emotion or love in an awkward or silly way

Maverick

n. a person who think and acts in an independent way, often behaving differently from the expected or usual way

Mendacious

adj. not telling the truth

Negligent

adj. not being careful or giving enough attention to people or thing that are you reponsibility

Nadir

n. the worst moment, or the moment of least hope and least achievement

Neophyte

n. someone who has recently become involved in an activity and is still learning about it

Noisome

adj. very unpleasant and offensive

Noxious

adj. Something, especially a gas or other substance, that is noxiou