SAT Vocabulary

Visage

the face, usually with reference to shape, features, expression, etc.

Profane

to treat (something sacred) with irreverrence or disrespect

Mutiny

rebellion against any kind of authority

Assail

to attack vigourously or violently, to assault

Mar

to damage or spoil to a certain extent

Semblance

outward aspect or appearance

Trifle

a thing of very little value

Inconstant

frequently changing, variable or irregular

Temper

to soften or to tone down

Consort

to associate, or keep company

Idolatry

excessive or blind adoration, reverence, or devotion

Hoarse

(of a person's voice) sounding rough and harsh

Dexterity

skill, cleverness, agility

Boisterous

(of a person or event) noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy

Chide

to express disapproval of; scold; reproach

Rancor

bitter resentment of ill will; hatred

Lamentable

regrettable, unfortunate

Vex

to make someone feel annoyed, worried, or frustrated, especially with trivial matters

Addle

to make or become confused

Fray

a fight, battle, or skirmish

Strife

angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict

Valiant

possessing or showing courage or determination

Tyrant

a cruel or oppressive ruler

Posterity

all future generations of people

Gallant

(of a person or behavior) brave, heroic

Calamity

a great misfortune or disaster

Perjury

the willful giving of false testimony under oath

Sojourn

a temporary stay

Beseech

to implore urgently; to beg eagerly for

Fickle

likely to change, especially due to instability

Prate

to talk excessively; to babble

Vile

highly offensive, unpleasant, or objectionable

Fiend

a diabollically cruel or wicked person

Beguile

to charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way

Dote

to be extermely fond and uncritical of

Woe

a great sorrow or distress (often used hyperbolically)

Tedious

too long, slow, or dull; tiresome or monotonous

Contrary

opposite in nature, direction, or meaning

Adversity

difficulties or misfortue

Ebb and flow

A recurret or rhythmical pattern of coming and going or decline and regrowth

Acrid

having an irritatingly strong and unpleasant taste or smell

Ruse

an action intended to deceive someone; a trick

Vehemence

the display of strong feeling; passion

Forage

(of a person or animal) search widely for food or provisions

Covenant

an agreement, ususally formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified

Revere

to regard with respect tinged with awe

Insolent

boldly rude or disrespectful

Chasm

a deep cleft in the earth's surface; gorge

Engulf

(of a natural force) sweep over (something) so as to surround or cover it completely

Regal

of , resembling, or fit for a monarch, especially in being magnificent or dignified

Presumptuous

(of a person or their behavior) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.

Stagnant

showing no activity; dull and sluggish

Elude

to evade or escape from (a danger, enemy, or pursuer) typically in a skillful or cunning way

Chastise

to rebuke or reprimand severely

Verbatim

in exactly the same words as were used originally

Scurry

(of a person or animal) move hurriedly with short quick steps

Irrevocable

not able to be changed, reversed, recovered

Drab

lacking brightness or interest; drarily dull

Pristine

in its original condition; unspoiled

Sentinel

a soldier or guard whose job is to stand and keep watch

Wispy

(of hair, clouds, etc) fine, feathery

Auspicious

favorable, conducive to success

Sulk

to be moodily silent

Bloated

(of a part of the body) swollen with fluid or gas

Cultivate

try to acquire or develop (a quality or skill)

Vain

having or showing an eexcessively high opinion of oneself (appearance, abilities, or worth)

Relevant

closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered

Cunning

having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion

Shabby

in poor condition through long or hard use or lack of care

Smirk

to smile in an irritatingly smug, conceited, or silly way

Taut

stretched or pulled tight

Devious

showing a skillful use of underhanded tactics to acheive goals

Inevitable

certain to happen, unavoidable

Benevolent

well meaning and kindly

Uncanny

strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way

Trivial

of little value or importance

Extravagant

exceeding what is reasonable or appropriate, often connected with cost

Wane

decrease in vigor, power, or extent; become weaker

Somber

dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy

Adversary

an enemy or opponent

Taciturn

(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little

Specious

superficial, plausible, but actually wrong

Vicissitudes

a change of circumstance or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant

Contrite

feeling or showing remorse or pentience; affected by guilt

Torrid

very hot and dry; full of passion or charged emotions arising from sexual love

Prodigal

wastefully extravagant; spends money recklessly

Impervious

unable to be affected by

Bravado

a bold manner or a show of boldness in order to impress or intimidate

Callow

(of a young person) inexperienced and immature with negative connotation

Pristine

in its original condition; unspoiled

Imprudent

not caring about the consequences of an action; rash

Oblige

to do as someone asks or desires in order to help or please them

Implore

to beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something

Frivolity

lack or seriousness; lightheartedness

Assent

to express agreement or approval

Contrived

deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously; artificial; strained

Trite

(of a remark, poinion, or idea) overused; lacking originality or freshness

Minutiae

the small, precise, or trivial details of something

Al fresco

(especially with reference to eating) in the open air

Intrepid

fearless, adventurous; daring

Non sequitur

a statement that does not follow logically from what came before

Faux pas

an embarassing or tactless remark or act in a social situation

Raison d'être

the most important reason or purpose for someone or something's existence

Grapple

to engage in a close fight or struggle without weapons

Joie de vivre

exuberant, enjoyment of life

Gravitate

to move toward or be attracted to a person, place, or thing

Enervate

to cause (someone) to feel drained of energy or vitality; to weaken

Vanity

inflated pride in oneself or one's appearance

Deplore

to feel or express strong disapproval of something

Luminous

bright and shining, especially in the dark

Uncanny

strange and mysterious, especially in an unsettling way

Curt

rudely brief

Gall

bold and imprudent behavior

Acquiesce

to accept something reluctantly, but without protest

Buffet

(especially of wind or waves) to strike repeatedly and violently; to knock someone over or off course

Incarnate

(especially ofr a deity or spirit) embodied in flesh; in human form

Divine

to discover by guesswork or intuition; to have supernatural or magic insight into (future events)

Ameliorate

to make (something bad or insatisfactory) better

Elucidate

to make (something) clear; to explain

Garish

obtrusively bright and showy

Brusque

blunt in manner or speech often to a point of ungracious harshness

Equanimity

mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation

Reparation

the making amends for a wrong one has done

Commiserate

to express or feel sympathy or pity; to sympathize

Capricious

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

Anachronism

a thing that does not fit in the time period or stiuation

Impudent

not showing due respect for another person

Apellation

name, title, or designation

Imperative

impossible to deter or evade; of vital importnace; crucial

Heinous

(of a person or wrongful act) utterly wicked or terrible

Reminisce

to recollect of; tell of past experiences

Benign

gentle or kind; not harmful

Tribulation

cause of great trial or suffering

Bombastic

high-sounding but little meaning; inflated

Dessicate

to dry out thoroughly

Immaterial

of no real importance; inconsequential

Calamitous

catastrophic or disastrous

Culprit

a person who is responsible for a crime or other misdeed

Incur

to become liable or subject to by one's own actions; to bring down upon oneself

Thwart

to prevent (someone) from accomplishing something

Maraud

to rove and raid in search of plunder

Animosity

a strong feeling of dislike or ill will that tends to display itself in action

Elicit

to draw out or bring forth; evoke

Cacophony

harsh discordance of sound

Pretentious

attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed.

Apprehension

fearful or uneasy anticipation of the future; dread

Berate

to rebuke or scold angrily and at length

Blasphemous

grossly disrespectful toward what is to be held sacred

Treacherous

guilty of betrayal or deception

Placate

to make (someone) less angry or hostile

Gaudy

cheaply showy in a tasteless way; flashy

Gait

a manner of walking, stepping, or running

Affluent

having an abundance of wealth, property, or material goods; rich

Unceremonious

discourteously abrupt; hasty; rude

Pacify

to appease; to satisfy or bring to a state of peace

Perfunctory

done routinely and with little interest

Palpable

capable of being handled, touched, or felt; tangible

Contemptuous

showing or feeling that someone or something is worthless or despicable; scornful

Exaltation

feeling or state of extreme happiness

Vaunt

to speak boastfully; brag

Pariah

an outcast

Ostracize

to exclude from a group

Magnanimous

very generous and forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person

Unscrupulous

having or showing no moral principles

Hoard

to amass (money or valuable objects) and store or hide away

Earnestly

with deep and sincere feeling

Vernacular

the language or dialect spoken by ordinary people in a particular country or region

Gauche

lacking social grace or sensitivity; awkward; crude

Haughty

blatantly and disdainfully proud; having or showing an attitude of superiority or contempt for others

Cynic

a person who believes others are motivated purely by self-interest rather than honorable or unselfish reasons