SAT Vocab - M

machination

scheming activity for an evil purpose

magnanimous

forgiving; unresentful; noble in spirit; generous

magnate

a rich, powerful, or very successful businessperson

malaise

a feeling of depression, uneasiness, or quesiness

malfeasance

an illegal act, especially by a public official

malinger

to pretend to be sick to avoid doing work

malleable

easy to shape or bend

mandate

a command or authorization to do something; the will of the voters as expressed by the results of an election

manifest

visible; evident

manifesto

a public declaration of beliefs or principles, usually political ones

marshal

to arrange in order; to gather together for the purpose of doing something

martial

warlike; having to do with combat

martyr

someone who gives up his or her life in pursuit of a cause, especially a religious one; one who suffers for a cause; one who makes a show of suffering in order to arouse sympathy

matriculate

to enroll, especially at a college

maudlin

silly and overly sentimental

maverick

a nonconformist; a rebel

maxim

a fundamental principle; an old saying

mediate

to help settle differences

mellifluous

sweetly flowing

mendacious

lying; dishonest

mendicant

a beggar

mentor

a teacher, tutor, counselor, or coach; especially in business, an experienced person who shows an inexperienced person the ropes

mercenary

a hired soldier; someone who will do anything for money

mercurial

emotionally unpredictable; rapidly changing in mood

metamorphosis

a magical change in form; a striking or sudden change

microcosm

the world in miniature

miliey

environment; surroundings

minuscule

very tiny

misanthropic

hating mankind

mitigate

to moderate the effect of someting

mollify

to soften; to soothe; to pacify

monolithic

massive, solid, uniform, and unyielding

moribund

dying

morose

gloomy; sullen

mortify

to humiliate

mundance

ordinary; pretty boring; not heavenly and eternal

munificent

very generous; lavish

myopia

nearsightedness; lack of foresight

myriad

a huge number