SAT PREP

absolve

grant remission of a sin to

acrimony

a rough and bitter manner

amenable

disposed or willing to comply

banal

repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

candor

the quality of being honest and straightforward

caricature

a representation of a person exaggerated for comic effect

circumspect

careful to consider potential consequences and avoid risk

coalesce

fuse or cause to come together

corroborate

to give evidence for

congenial

suitable to your needs

curtail

terminate or abbreviate before its intended or proper end or its full extent

dearth

an insufficient quantity or number

debilitate

make weak

decorous

characterized by propriety and dignity and good taste in manners and conduct

decry

to express strong disapproval of

deference

courteous regard for people's feelings

demean

reduce in worth or character, usually verbally

deplore

to express strong disapproval of

derision

the act of threatening with contempt

derivative

a compound obtained from another compound

didactic

instructive, especially excessively

diffident

showing modest reserve

discord

lack of agreement or harmony

disparage

express a negative opinion of

dissipate

cause to separate and go in different directions

docile

easily handled or managed

eclectic

selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas

ephemeral

anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day

espouse

choose and follow a theory, idea, policy, etc.

exonerate

pronounce not guilty of criminal charges

fallacious

containing or based on incorrect reasoning

farce

a comedy characterized by broad satire

fastidious

giving and careful attention to detail

fawning

attempting to win favor by flattery

flippant

showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness

garrulous

full of trivial conversation

frivolous

not serious in content or attitude or behavior

gluttonous

given to excess in consumption of especially food or drink

hackneyed

repeated too often; over familiar through overuse

iconoclastic

characterized by attack on established beliefs

immutable

not subject or susceptible to change or variation

incongruity

the quality of disagreeing

innate

present at birth but not necessarily hereditary

ingrate

a person who shows no gratitude

ingenuous

lacking in sophistication or worldiness

languid

lacking spirit or liveliness

larceny

the act of taking something from someone unlawfully

meek

humble in spirit or manner

mutability

the quality of being capable of mutation

nonchalance

the trait of remaining calm and seeming not to care

outmoded

out of fashion

pendantic

marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning

perjury

criminal offense of making false statements under oath

pervasive

spreading or spread throughout

perpetual

continuing forever or indefinitely

petulant

easily irritated or annoyed

potency

the power or right to give orders or make decisions

premonition

an early warning about a future event

premise

a statement that is held to be true

presumptuous

going beyond what is appropriate, permitted, or courteous

prudent

marked by sound judgment

recluse

one who lives in solitude

refute

overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof

relinquish

turn away from; give up

reprehensible

bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure

repudiate

refuse to acknowledge, ratify, or recognize as valid

resolution

a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner

reticent

reluctant to draw attention to yourself

reverent

feeling or showing profound respect or veneration

serenity

the absence of mental stress or anxiety

stratagem

an elaborate or deceitful scheme to deceive or evade

subdued

restrained in style or quality

subversive

in opposition to an established system or government

taciturn

habitually reserved and uncommunicative

temper

a characteristic state of feeling

temperment

your usual mood

thwart

hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire

transcendent

exceeding or surpassing usual limits

trepidation

a feeling of alarm or dread

turbulance

instability in the atmosphere

urbane

showing a high degree of refinement

vacillate

be undecided about something

voracious

devouring or craving food in great quantities

wary

marked by keen caution and watchful prudence