SAT Hard Vocab

polarizing

causing strong disagreement between opposing factions or groupings

consequential

resulting in something; important

ephemeral

lasting a very short time

transient

temporary, fleeting

divisive

causing conflict, opposition

parochial

local; narrow (minded); limited

credibility

the quality of being trusted and believed in

pristine

fresh and clean; uncorrupted

sullied

damage the purity or integrity of; defile

laud

praise

guile

treacherous cunning, deceit

homogenization

A trend toward uniformity

amalgamation

when majority and minority groups combine to form a new group

dissonance

harsh, inharmonious, or discordant sounds

estrangement

state of being separated or kept at a distance

misconstrue

to interpret wrongly, mistake the meaning of

capriciously

acting without apparent reason or cause

scrupulously

extremely careful and precise

contentious

quarrelsome, inclined to argue

perilous

dangerous

pervasive

widespread

diaphanous

very sheer and light; almost completely transparent

dissemination

the act of spreading widely; scattering

disposition

a person's inherent qualities of mind and character

melding

blend, combine

unanimity

in complete agreement

latent

present, but not active; hidden

recant

To formally withdraw

repudiate

to disown, reject, or deny the validity of

inviolable

sacred; of such a character that it must not be broken, injured, or profaned

innocuous

not harmful or offensive

undifferentiated

not having a specialized function or structure

ubiquitous

present or existing everywhere

prudently

in a way that shows care and thought for the future.

overtly

without concealment or secrecy; openly.

evinced

reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling).

assuage

make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense

scrutinize

examine or inspect closely and thoroughly

scruple

a feeling that prevents you from doing something that you think is morally wrong or makes you uncertain about doing it

neurotic

behaving strangely or in an anxious way, often because of a mental illness

nascent

(especially of a process or organization) just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential.