SAT Vocab 1201-1300

beleaguer

to trouble persistently; harass

precipitous

extremely or impassably steep; hasty

stalemate

any position or situation in which no action can be taken

sagacious

acutely insightful and wise; skillful in statecraft or management

reciprocate

to give, feel, etc. in return; interchange

denounce

to condemn or censure openly or publicly

incoherent

unable to express yourself clearly or fluently; without logical connection

dynamism

great energy, force, or power; vigor

appeal

an earnest request for aid, support, sympathy, mercy, etc.; the ability to attract interest or emotions

idiom

an expression whose meaning cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up

appropriate

to take for one's own use, especially illegally or without permission

fatalist

the acceptance of all things and events as inevitable

bully

to intimidate, dominate, or threaten a weaker person

capitulate

to surrender; succumb to conditions

opaque

not clear; not clearly understood or expressed

bemoan

to express distress or grief over; lament strongly

creed

any system of principles or beliefs

spare

frugal; economical

boor

ill-mannered, coarse, and contemptible in behavior or appearance

unconditional

without limitations; absolute

versatile

capable of or adapted for many different uses, skills, etc.

buttress

to make stronger or defensible; to give encouragement or support to

unsung

not praised or acclaimed

vindicated

freed from any question of guilt

toxin

any poisonous substance

affliction

a cause of great suffering and distress; a condition of suffering

liability

something disadvantageous; the state of being legally obligated and responsible

sensational

causing or intended to cause intense feelings, especially curiosity or horror

propriety

correct or appropriate behavior

replicate

to reproduce or make an exact copy of

manipulative

skillful in influencing or controlling others to your own advantage

epilogue

a short passage added at the end of a literary work

rehash

to present or use over, with no or few changes

fervor

feelings of great warmth and intensity; emotional excitement

alteration

a heated or angry dispute; noisy argument or controversy

stifle

to hold back; suppress

superfluous

more than is needed or required; unnecessary

scrupulous

having or showing a strict regard for what one considers right; principled

liable

legally responsible; susceptible or likely

altruistic

showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others

breathtaking

thrillingly beautiful; remarkable; astonishing

parched

dry, hot, or thirsty

indomitable

that cannot be subdued or overcome; unconquerable

platonic

free from physical desire; purely spiritual

trespass

someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission

apathetic

marked by a lack of interest; showing little or no emotion

elucidate

to make clear and more comprehensible

scour

to range over; to search thoroughly; to cleanse by rubbing

abstruse

difficult to understand

affiliation

the act of becoming formally connected or associated

exhilarate

to enliven; invigorate; stimulate

insatiable

impossible to satisfy

cerebral

characterized by the brain; involving intelligence rather than emotions

kinetic

characterized by motion

defy

to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly

mandatory

required by rule; authoritatively ordered

stint

to be frugal; a period of time spent doing something

buffoon

a ridiculous or stupid person

mimic

to imitate or copy

reap

to gather as a reward or result of some action

threshold

the starting point for a new state or experience

migrant

habitually moving from place to place

respite

a delay or cessation for a time; an interval of relief

welfare

the good fortune, health, happiness, or prosperity of a person or group

stimulate

to rouse to action or effort; spur on

vacancy

being unoccupied; an empty area or space

lament

to cry of sorrow and grief; a mournful poem

recessive

tending to recede or go back

secular

pertaining to worldly things; not religious or sacred

encumber

to impede or hinder; hamper

imposition

something imposed as a burden or duty

decorum

propriety in manners and conduct

zealot

a fervent and even militant supporter of something

reconciliation

the act of restoring friendly relations

levy

an imposing or collecting, as of a tax

proprietary

pertaining to property or ownership

provoke

to incite or arouse

illegible

not readable

forsake

to quit or leave entirely; abandon

conjoin

to join together; combine

adverse

in opposition to your interests or welfare

feign

to make believe; pretend

perturb

to disturb or disquiet greatly

ornamental

serving an aesthetic rather than useful purpose

corporeal

of the physical body; material

relish

to derive great enjoyment from

assess

to estimate or judge the value or character of

verbose

using or containing too many words

decimate

to destroy a great number or proportion of

imbecile

a stupid or foolish person

pliable

capable of being bent; adaptable

flinch

to draw back, as with fear or pain

colossal

so great in size or force as to elicit awe

insurrection

organized opposition to authority

transitory

lasting a very short time

aboriginal

having existed from the beginning; native

ballad

a narrative poem of popular origin; a narrative song

ambivalent

uncertain or unable to decide

rambunctious

noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline

adoration

deep love or esteem; the act of worshipping