common sat vocabulary and tone words list

just definitions + continuous; adds on new lessons

apathy

lack of emotion of interest

ambiguous

having more than one meaning; vague

feverent

passionate

vagrant

a wandering homeless person, a tramp

undermine

to weaken; to wear the foundation of

indifferent

not caring one way of the other lacking a preference; neutral

obscure

unclear; clouded; partially hidden; hard to understand

objective

without bias (as opposed to subjective)

revere

to worship

discriminate

the differentiate; to make a clear distinction; to see the difference

embellish

to add details; to exaggerate

denounce

to speak out against, to condemn

innovate

to be creative; to introduce something new

stagnant

not moving

candid

honest; frank

impartial

unbiased; neutral

discern

to distinguish one thing from another

ostentatious

showing off

contentious

quarrelsome

accusatory

indicating or suggesting that one believes a person has done something wrong

aloof

not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant

ambiguous1

being open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning1

ambivalent

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

analytical

relating to or using analysis or logical reasoning

antiquated

old-fashioned or outdated

belligerent

hostile and aggressive

cautionary

serving as a warning

charismatic

exercising a compelling charm which inspires devotion in others

conciliatory

intended or likely to placate or pacify

reprove

to scold; to find fault with

pessimism

gloominess; a belief that the bad guys always win

cursory

hasty; not thorough

profligate

extremely wasteful; wildly extravagant

miser

someone who hoards money

jocular

joking

fracas

uproar; brawl

caricature

a satiric portrait or representation

corroborate

to confirm

precarious

dangerously unstable

expository

explanatory

bolster

to support; to prop up

daunt

to intimidate; to discourage

inclined

tending toward one direction

uniform

constant; without variety

perceptive

having keen understanding; discerning

superficial

shallow; on the surface only

lucid

clear; easy to understand

immune

safe from harm; protected

aesthetic

concerned with beauty or art

condescending

having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority

confidential

intended to be kept secret

confrontational

tending to deal with situations in an aggressive way; hostile or argumentative

contend

assert something as a position in an argument

contradictory

mutually opposed or inconsistent

conversational

appropriate to an informal conversation

convoluted

(especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow

cynical

believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity

detached

separate or disconnected

disdainful

showing contempt or lack of respect

prodigal

extravagant; wasteful

assess

to estimate the value of; to measure

deter

to prevent; especially by threatening

complacent

smug; self-satisfied; overly confident

contempt

disdain; hatred

eloquent

speaking well; articulate

virtue

moral excellence

vital

essential; necessary

guile

cunning; decietfulness

biased

prejudiced; not neutral

censor

to delete objectionable material

vulnerable

capable of being harmed

hypocritical

insincere

eccentric

odd; unusual; quirky

disdain

contempt; intense dislike

abstract

theoretical; lacking substance (the opposite of concrete)

valid

founded on fact of evidence

subtle

not obvious; hard to spot

enigma

mystery

inevitable

unavoidable; bound to happen

disillusioned

disappointed in someone or something that one discovers to be less good than one had believed

emphatic

showing or giving emphasis; expressing something forcibly and clearly

empirical

based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic

encapsulation

the action of enclosing something in or as if in a capsule

enigmatic

difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious

equivocal

open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous

erudite

having or showing great knowledge or learning

excessive

more than is necessary, normal, or desirable; immoderate.

exhortation

an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something

explicit

stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt

inferred

derived by reasoning; implied as a conclusion

diverse

varied

articulate

speaking well

apprehensive

fearful; worried

benevolent

good; kind-hearted; generous

virulent

very harmful (like a virus)

pious (piety)

deadly religious

skeptical

doubting

provincial

narrow-minded; unsophisticated

resignation

acceptance of a situation

illuminate

to light up; make clear