SAT vocab 1-250

wry

dryly humorous and slightly ironic

recluse

a person who hides from the world; a hermit or very shy person

relent

to give in or become less severe

spartan

very plain; not luxurious or lavish; extremely harsh and disciplined

resonant

deep and resonating in tone; having qualities of a lingering echo

counter

to respond or reply, as in an argument

veer

to change direction quickly or suddenly

interloper

a meddler; one who interferes in the affairs of others

recumbent

lying down in a position of comfort

immaterial

not significant or relevant; not pertinent or related to the matter at hand

qualify

to limit or restrict, especially to limit one's approval or agreement

cumbersome

clumsy or difficult to manage; awkward to handle

decimate

to destroy or kill a large part of something (originally 1/10 of something)

yoke

to link or join together

harbor

to give shelter to, or to entertain or keep in your mind or heart a certain thought or feeling

incriminate

to make guilty or appear to be guilty of a crime

rash

acting quickly and without proper judgment

epicure

a person with refined tastes in food and wine; a gourmet

humdrum

dull; common; boring

exploit

a daring act of courage; also used as (v.) to take advantage of

abbreviate

to make shorter or more brief

aggregate

total; comprising many parts; also used as (v.) to combine

convoluted

intricate and complex; difficult to understand

temper

to soften or moderate; to make less severe; to balance

slander

a false oral statement that harms someone's reputation; also (v.) to make such a statement

satire

a literary work that uses wit, humor, irony, etc. to point out human folly or weakness

opportune

happening at a fortunate moment; timely

deem

to have as an opinion; to consider in a certain light or point of view

homogeneous

uniform; all the same or of the same kind

limber

flexible; supple and bending easily

diagnosis

a medical opinion about the nature of a disease or symptom; a critical analysis of something

onus

a burden or obligation; an unpleasant task or responsibility

depict

to represent or show, particularly in visual form; to portray

incontrovertible

cannot be questioned or overturned; impossible to dispute

formidable

inspiring fear or dread; representing a threat; scary

hidebound

stubborn and close-minded

lull

to soothe or calm; to deceive into a state of unreadiness

demure

modest and reserved; coy, especially of women

arrogant

prideful and self-important; unpleasantly and unjustifiably confident

quaff

to drink quickly or with enthusiasm

coincide

to occur at the same time

furrow

a trench or ditch; a wrinkle (also a verb-to form a wrinkle, especially in one's forehead from worry or concern)

gross

total; glaringly obvious or flagrant

detriment

damage or harm

liaison

communication between different groups; a person who communicates between different groups

converse

to talk or speak; to engage in an exchange of ideas

cite

to quote; to refer to

encore

a second performance; a call for a second performance from the audience

rebut

to refute, especially by offering arguments or evidence

consequence

the result or outcome

polyglot

a person who speaks multiple languages

deploy

to set into action or motion; to send into service or activity

pedestrian

boring, common, everyday; banal

disconcert

to make worried or concerned; to unsettle

ample

abundant; plentiful

paramount

of chief importance; supreme; ranking higher than others

curb

to restrain or check; to hold back

replicate

to reproduce or make a copy or facsimile

scion

a descendant or heir, especially of a powerful family

skeptical

tending toward doubt or disbelief; questioning

modest

limited in extent; humble

exemplary

serving as an ideal example; worthy to serve as a model

binge

to engage in excessive consumption or appetite; to overindulge

loath

reluctant; hesitant

loathe

to hate or despise

consternation

a state of confusion, worry, or anxiety

empathy

feeling what others feel; feeling as if you feel the suffering or concerns of others

harangue

a tirade; a long, complaining speech; also (v.) to make such a speech

prone

lying face down (also an adjective—inclined or tending toward an action)

fluctuate

to go up and down unpredictably

provocative

tending to provoke; exciting; stimulating

adjacent

next to; adjoining

reprieve

to cancel or postpone punishment (also a noun—any such cancellation or delay in punishment)

vehement

full of strong feelings and conviction; forceful

maxim

a brief saying that acts as a rule or guideline

milestone

a significant marker or event; a notable accomplishment or event

goad

a long stick used to prod animals; also (v.) to prod or push someone or something in such a manner

sedition

the act of committing treason or rebellion against your government

boisterous

full of energy and activity; unruly

portray

to represent or describe in pictures or words

pilfer

to steal something that is of little value

gargantuan

extremely large; gigantic

sentiment

feelings or beliefs; an opinion, especially one based on feelings

hefty

big or heavy

circumscribe

to limit or restrain; to define the limits

hypothesis

a theory based on evidence; a tentative explanation

culpable

being guilty or to blame for a crime or wrongdoing

marshal

to gather troops or military forces together; to gather or arrange anything, especially evidence or proof

enumerate

to list or number; to count

tedious

boring and repetitive; monotonous

heterogeneous

made up of many different components or elements; mixed

pale

to lessen or decrease in importance or significance

blemish

an imperfection or scar; a flaw

gourmet

a person who relishes food and drink; a connoisseur

anonymous

without revealing an identity; nameless; name unknown

pontificate

to speak in a long-winded and pompous style

delectable

delicious or tasty; delightful

jeremiad

a long, scolding speech; a long tale of sadness and woe; a warning about one's conduct or behavior

innovative

new or original; groundbreaking

contemplate

to think about or consider deeply