SAT Words 80-160

Acumen

sharpness or keenness of mind

Adept

skilled or proficient in a particular activity

Ebullient

full of enthusiasm, energy, and excitement

Effrontery

shameless or impudent boldness

Effulgent

shining brightly or radiantly

Egregious

outstandingly bad or shocking

Elicit

to draw out or bring forth a response, reaction, or information

Elusive

difficult to grasp or define

Enigma

a mystery or puzzle

Ephemeral

lasting for only a short time

Epitome

a perfect example of a particular quality or type

Imperceptible

impossible or very difficult to perceive by the senses

Perspicacious

having a ready insight into and understanding of things

Platitude

a remark or statement that has been used too often to be interesting

Portent

a sign or warning of something to come

Posthumous

occurring or receiving after death

Precariousness

a state of being dangerously unstable or uncertain

Preeminent

surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way

Premonition

a feeling or sense of something to come

Proclivity

a natural or habitual inclination toward something

Attenuate

to weaken or reduce in force, value, or intensity

Compel

to force someone to do something

Deceive

to mislead or trick someone into believing something false

Delude

to mislead or deceive someone

Dichotomy

a clear different between two opposing ideas or things

Discern

to notice or understand something that is not immediately obvious

Disdainful

showing contempt scorn

Displacement

the act of forcing someone or something to move from its place

Disposition

a person’s usual mood, attitude, or personality

Dissolution

the act of formally ending or dissolving something

Extort

to obtain something through force or threats

Obliterate

to completely destroy or wipe out something

Quell

to suppress or put an end to something

Repel

to drive or force something away

Subdue

to overpower to bring under control

Subjugate

to bring someone or something under control

Suffuse

to spread or diffuse thorughout

Transform

to change or alter the form or nature of something

Usurp

to seize power or position by force or without right

Bane

a cause of great distress or annoyance

Causality

the relationship between cause and effect

Detriment

the condition of being harmful or damaging

Expedient

convenient and practical, although possibly improper or immoral

Facade

a deceptive outward appearance meant to conceal a less pleasant reality

Fascinate

to capture someone’s attention or interest

Fatuous

silly or pointless

Feckless

lacking initiative, strength, or effectiveness

Fervent

having or displaying passionate intensity

Fictitious

not real or true, being imaginary or invented

Fidelity

loyalty and faithfulness

Flamboyant

showy or attention-grabbing style

Flammable

easily ignited or capable of catching fire

Florid

elaborately or excessively intricate and ornate

Fluctuate

to rise and fall irregularly in number or amount

Formidable

Inspiring fear or respect through size, strength or skill

Futile

pointless or ineffective

Inevitable

certain to happen, unavoidable

Intermediary

a person who acts as a link between parties to facilitate an agreement

Pertain

to relate or be connected to something

Apocryphal

of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true

Appraise

to assess the value, quality, or significance of something

Astute

keenly perceptive or quick-witted

Attribute

to regard something as being caused by or connected to something else

Auspicious

indicating a favorable or promising future

Aversion

a strong dislike or aversion to something

Blandishment

flattering speech intended to persuade or influence

Cajole

to persuade someone through flattery or gentle urging

Credible

believable or trustworthy

Dejection

a state of sadness or sorrow

Deter

to discourage or prevent someone from doing something

Disparate

essentially different or distinct in kind

Dispassionate

lacking emotion or involvement

Doleful

expressing sadness or sorrow

Extraction

the act of removing or extracting something

Fatigue

the feeling of extreme tiredness or weariness

Hyperbole

exaggerated or over-the-top statements

Incisive

clear, sharp, or able to express ideas in a direct and effective manner

Indifferent

lacking interest or concern

Ingenuity

the ability to come up with new ideas or solutions

Dissemble

to conceal one’s true motives, feelings, or beliefs