SAT Power Vocabulary - Princeton Book

amoral

lacking a sense of right and wrong

neither good or bad

circumnavigate

to sail or travel all the way around

circumscribe

to draw a line around

to set limits

to define

to restrict

circumspect

cautious

magnate

a rich, powerful, or very successful businessperson

omniscient

all-knowing; having infinite wisdom

benediction

a blessing

benign

gentle; not harmful; kind; mild

burgeon

to expand; to flourish

complacent

self-satisfied; overly pleased with oneself

equanimity

composure; calm

evoke

to summon forth; to draw forth

to awaken

to produce or suggest

invoke

to entreat / pray for

to declare to be in effect

malaise

a feeling of depression, uneasiness, queasiness

malfeasance

an illegal act

vociferous

loud; noisy; expressed in a forceful or loud way

volition

will; conscious choice

anachronism

something out of place in time or history

an incongruity

anthropomorphic

ascribing human characteristics to nonhuman animals or objects

antipathy

firm dislike; hatred

eulogy

a spoken or written tribute to a person (to a dead person)

pathos

that which makes people feel pity or sorrow

philanthropy

love of humankind (by doing good deeds)

sophomoric

juvenile; childishly goofy

amenable

obedient; agreeable

deign

to condescend

to think it beneath one’s dignity

elocution

the art of public speaking

ignominy

deep disgrace

impugn

to attack (the truth or integrity of something)

impunity

freedom from punishment or harm

indict

to charge with a crime

to accuse of wrongdoing

indignant

angry (because of something unjust or unworthy)

insulted

intractable

uncontrollable; stubborn; disobedient

lucid

clear; easy to understand

nominal

in name only

insignificant

Bert was the nominal chair, but Sue did everything.

temporal

pertaining to time

pertaining to life or earthly existence

non-eternal; short-lived

veracity

truthfulness

verity

the quality of being true