SAT Vocab 2301-2400

equivocate

to be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

attribute

a quality, character, characteristic, or property; (v.) to regard something as being caused by someone or something

plunder

goods or money obtained illegally; (v.) to steal goods; take as spoils

weary

physically and mentally fatigued

predisposed

to give an inclination or tendency to beforehand

digress

to lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking; wander from a direct or straight course

inordinate

beyond normal limits; immoderate; excessive

propensity

a disposition to behave in a certain way; a natural inclination or tendency

enrich

to make better or improve in quality; make wealthy or richer

repulse

to force or drive back; cause to move back by force or influence; be repellent to; cause aversion in

intercede

to act between parties with a view to reconciling differences

underdog

one at a disadvantage and expected to lose

nebulous

lacking definition or definite content; lacking definite form or limits

adroit

quick or skillful or adept in action or thought

competent

adequate for the purpose; properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient

unwieldy

difficult to work or manipulate; difficult to use to handle or manage because of size or weight or shape; lacking grace in movement or posture

vivacious

vigorous and animated; lively

fluent

spoken or written with ease; flowing

gratis

given or done for nothing; free

shroud

something that covers or conceals like a garment; (v.) to cover; hide from view

automaton

a mechanism that can move automatically; someone who acts or responds in a mechanical or apathetic way

dolt

a person who is not very bright

rapture

a state of elated bliss; a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion

revoke

to take back or withdraw; annul, cancel, or reverse

dishearten

to depress the hope, courage, or spirits of; discourage

posthumous

occurring or coming into existence after a person's death

formidable

inspiring fear; extremely impressive in strength or excellence

matriculate

someone who has been admitted to a college or university; (v.) to enroll as a student

depreciate

to reduce the purchasing value of (money); to represent as of little value or merit; belittle

tout

to describe or advertise boastfully; publicize or promote; praise extravagantly

archetype

an original model on which something is patterned

soliloquy

an utterance or discourse by a person who is talking to himself or herself or is disregardful of or oblivious to any hearers present; the act of talking while or as if alone

compounded

composed of two or more parts, elements, or ingredients

incline

to have a tendency or disposition to do or be something

taxing

wearingly burdensome

presage

a sign or warning that something, typically something bad, will happen

ruminate

to reflect deeply on a subject; chew on

prototype

the original or model on which something is based or formed; a standard or typical example

veneer

an attractive appearance that disguises someone or something's true nature or feelings

flounder

to struggle with stumbling or plunging movements

tension

mental or emotional strain; intense, suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement; a strained relationship

amenable

(of a person) open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled

prevail

to be widespread or current; exist everywhere or generally; to be or prove superior in strength, power, or influence

desiccate

lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless; (v.) to lose water or moisture; to dry thoroughly

complacent

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements

enmity

a feeling or condition of hostility; a state of deep-seated ill-will

ingrate

a person who shows no gratitude

inert

slow and apathetic; unable to move or resist motion

reckless

marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences; characterized by careless unconcern

covet

to wish, long, or crave for something, especially the property of another person

queue

a file or line, especially of people waiting their turn; an ordered list of tasks to be performed or messages to be transmitted

paradox

(logic) a statement that contradicts itself

parable

a short moral story (often with animal characters)

severity

harshness, sternness, or rigor; intensity or sharpness, as of cold or pain

disreputable

lacking respectability in character or behavior or appearance

ostracize

to avoid speaking to or dealing with; expel from a community or group

illuminate

to make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear; make lighter or brighter

acme

the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development; the highest point

salvage

to save from shipwreck, fire, etc.

epitome

a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type

atone

to make amends or reparation

streamline

to design or provide with a form that presents very little resistance to a flow of air or water, increasing speed and ease of movement; to alter in order to make more efficient or simple

contemporary

existing, occurring, or living at the same time, belonging to the same time

unequivocal

unambiguous; clear; having only one possible meaning or interpretation

toxic

acting as or having the effect of a poison; poisonous

perplexing

lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion

compassion

the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to help

proverb

a short popular saying, usually of unknown and ancient origin, that expresses effectively some commonplace truth or useful thought

sobriety

abstaining from excess; moderation in or abstinence from alcohol or other drugs

docile

willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed; easily handled or managed

deploy

to distribute systematically or strategically; place troops or weapons in battle formation

champion

someone who fights for a cause; (v.) to defend; support

sierra

a chain of hills or mountains

aversion

a feeling of intense dislike; the act of turning yourself (or your gaze) away

cannibalistic

characterized by the eating of the flesh of an animal by another animal of its own kind

evenhanded

fair and impartial in treatment or judgment

imperial

of, like, or pertaining to an empire

garrulous

excessively talkative in a rambling, roundabout manner, especially about trivial matters

voluminous

large in number or quantity (especially of discourse)

cower

to show submission or fear; crouch or curl up

jovial

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

counsel

advice; opinion or instruction given in directing the judgment or conduct of another; (v.) to give advice to

topography

precise detailed study of the surface features of a region

unerring

not liable to error

immobility

the quality of not moving; remaining in place

cacophony

loud confusing disagreeable sounds; a loud harsh or strident noise

mischance

a mishap or misfortune

gerrymander

an act dividing a voting area so as to give your own party an unfair advantage; (v.) to divide unfairly and to one's advantage; of voting districts

depleted

having resources completely exhausted; no longer sufficient

exposition

a large-scale public exhibition or show, as of art or manufactured products; the act of expounding, setting forth, or explaining

prescient

perceiving the significance of events before they occur

rebate

a refund of some fraction of the amount paid; (v.) to allow as a discount; to deduct a certain amount, as from a total

mitigate

to make less severe or harsh; lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of

grievous

causing or marked by grief or anguish; causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm

dub

to give a nickname to

mortality

the state or condition of being subject to death

temporize

to be indecisive or evasive to gain time or delay acting

subdue

to conquer and bring into subjection; to overpower by superior force; render submissive

florid

having a red or flushed complexion; elaborately or excessively ornamented

autonomous

acting independently or having the freedom to do so