SAT

augment

to make larger, increase

arrest

to stop; to seize

byzantine

convoluted; complicated

itinerant

traveling from place to place

unstinting

given or giving without restraint; very generous

terse

sparing in the use of words; abrupt; blunt

loquacious

very talkative

bombastic

pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas

perfunctory

carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection

polemical

stirs up controversy by having a negative opinion about someone or something

acquiescent

ready to accept without protest

denounce

publicly declare to be wrong or evil

ostentatious

showy, pretentious

pugnacious

eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight

contentious

controversial

prodigious

remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree

relinquish

voluntarily cease to keep or claim; give up

apathy

lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern

obdurate

stubborn; refuses to change one's actions opinions

tractable

easily managed or controlled

infallible

incapable of making mistakes or being wrong

improvident

not having or showing foresight; spendthrift or thoughtless

halcyon

denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful

sedulous

hard working; diligent

evasive

tending to avoid commitment or self-reflection, especially by responding only indirectly

recuperative

recover or regain

dissolute

lax in morals

superfluous

unnecessary, especially through being more than enough

candor

honesty, frankness

evanescent

existing briefly; transitionary

temporize

avoid making a decision or committing oneself in order to gain time

disseminate

to distribute or spread widely

haughty

self important; arrogant

indigent

poor; needy

sophistry

subtle deceptive reasoning or argumentation

baffled

bewildered, perplexed, confused

phlegmatic

having or showing no emotions

want

lack

reprieve

temporary relief

exhortation

an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something

languid

lazy; lethargic

substantiate

to provide evidence or proof to support a claim or argument

pejorative

term that conveys a negative or demeaning connotation

4 tones

didactic, appreciation, contempt, concern

myopic

unimaginative; short-sighted

onerous

burdensome; laborious

formulaic

following a predetermined pattern or formula

admonition

counsel, advice, or caution

contiguous

touching; sharing a border

scrutinize

examine closely

flotsam

debris in the ocean

solitary

alone

empirical

observable

solemn

serious

toady

excessively obedient; flatterer

paradox

statement that is contradictory or counterintuitive

dubious

doubtful; hesitating

dilatory

slow to act; lazy; to dilly dally

abstruse

difficult to understand; obscure

convoluted

extremely complicated; difficult to follow

eschew

deliberately avoid something; to circumvent

skepticism

doubtful

paragon

model of perfection

charlatan

fraud; trickster

keenness

intellectually sharp

venerated

highly regarded

countenance

expression of a face

hasten

quicken; hurry

sardonic

sarcastic; mocking

adept

skillful

undermine

weaken an argument

seldom

rarely

rankled

feeling or showing anger

ineffable

to great or extreme to be expressed or described in words

idyllic

ideal; peaceful

despondent

extremely depressed

brevity

brief; concise; succinct

ominous

dreadful

engrossing

encapsulating; enveloping

timorous

of timid nature; easily frightened

contempt

disdain or scorn for something

idiosyncratic

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

arbitrary

based on personal whim or random choice instead of reason or system

ubiquitous

present everywhere

preeminent

superior; unsurpassing

confound

causing surprise of confusion

nostalgic

longing or yearning for the past

consequence

result (no negative connotation)

serendipity

happy occurrence

ambivalence

mixed emotions

pragmatic

practical

mollify

calm down

innate

natural instinct

traducer

someone who speaks maliciously about someone else

dearth

shortage; deficiency; scarcity

diffident

shy because of lack of self-confidence

indignant

expressing strong displeasure

epithets

word or phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing

ephemeral

lasting for a short time

obtuse

slow to understand; slow-witted