English vocab

ca·coph·o·ny [kuh-kof-uh-nee] n. An unpleasant noise; a discordant and often harsh mixture of sounds

con·form·ist [kuhn-fawr-mist] n. A person who uncritically or habitually conforms to the customs, rules, or styles of a group. --con·form·ist adj. Marked by conformity or convention.

e·rad·i·cate [ih-rad-i-keyt] v. e·rad·i·cat·ed, e·rad·i·cat·ing, e·rad·i·cates. 1. To destroy completely; get rid of;  annihilate. --e·rad·i·ca·ble [ih-rad-i-kuh-buhl] adj. --e·rad·i·ca·tion n. --e·rad·i·ca·tive adj. --e·rad·i·ca·tor n.

pan·a·ce·a [pan-uh-see-uh] n. A remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all. 

pu·ni·tive [pyoo-ni-tiv] adj. Inflicting or aiming to inflict punishment; punishing. --pu·ni·tive·ly adv. --pu·ni·tive·ness n.

dearth [durth] n. 1. A scarce supply; a lack. 2. Shortage of food; famine.

Animal Farm

mach·i·na·tion [mak-uh-ney-shuhn] n. crafty scheme or plot intended to cause some evil end  (usually machinations)

tac·i·turn [tas-i-turn] adj. Habitually untalkative; quiet. --tac·i·tur·ni·ty n. --tac·i·turn·ly adv.

im·pu·ni·ty [im-pyoo-ni-tee] n., pl. im·pu·ni·ties. Exemption from punishment, penalty, or harm 

prop·a·gan·da [prop-uh-gan-duh] n. 1. information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread to persuade or mislead, often to help a a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc. 2. Material disseminated by the advocates of a doctrine or cause. --prop·a·gan·dism n. --prop·a·gan·dist n. --prop·a·gan·dis·tic adj. --prop·a·gan·dis·ti·cal·ly adv.

prag·mat·ic [prag-mat-ik] adj. 1. Dealing or concerned with facts or actual occurrences; practical. --prag·mat·i·cal adj. --prag·mat·i·cal·ly adv.

trac·ta·ble [trak-tuh-buhl] adj. 1. Easily managed, controlled, or swayed; governable. 2. Easily handled or worked; malleable. --trac·ta·bil·i·ty or trac·ta·ble·ness n. --trac·ta·bly adv.

ap·a·thy [ap-uh-thee] n. 1. Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal; indifference. 2. Lack of emotion or feeling --apathetic adj

ig·no·min·i·ous [ig-nuh-min-ee-uhs] adj  Shameful or disgraceful; dishonorable

cryp·tic [krip-tik] also cryp·ti·cal adj. 1. Having hidden meaning; mystifying. --cryp·ti·cal·ly adv. --cryp·tic·ness n.

in·de·fat·i·ga·ble [in-di-fat-i-guh-buhl] adj. Incapable or seemingly incapable of being fatigued; tireless. --in·de·fat·i·ga·bil·i·ty or in·de·fat·i·ga·ble·ness n. --in·de·fat·i·ga·bly adv.

blithe [blahyth] adj. blith·er, blith·est. 1. Carefree and lighthearted. 2. Lacking or showing a lack of due concern; casual. --blithe·ly adv. --blithe·ness n.

ret·i·cent [ret-uh-suhnt] adj. 1. Inclined to keep one's thoughts, feelings, and personal affairs to oneself. 2. Restrained or reserved in style. 3. Reluctant; unwilling. --ret·i·cent·ly adv

wist·ful [wist-fuhl] adj. 1. Full of wishful yearning. 2. Pensively sad; melancholy. --wist·ful·ly adv. --wist·ful·ness n.

max·im [mak-sim] n. A succinct formulation of a fundamental principle, general truth, or rule of conduct.

Related SAT words

es·o·ter·ic [es-uh-ter-ik] adj. 1. Intended for or understood by only a particular group; exclusive, private, privileged  2. Of or having the nature of philosophy: philosophical, dense  

poign·ant [poin-yuhnt, poi-nuhnt] adj. 1.Keenly distressing to the mind or feelings; profoundly moving; touching. 2. Piercing; incisive. 

na·ive or na·ïve [nah-eev] adj. 1.a. Lacking worldliness and sophistication; artless. b. Simple and credulous as a child; ingenuous. 2. Lacking critical ability or analytical insight; not subtle or learned.  --na·ive·ly adv. --na·ive·ness -- na·ive·té n.

gul·li·ble [guhl-uh-buhl] adj. Easily deceived or duped. --gul·li·bil·i·ty n. --gul·li·bly adv.

pos·ter·i·ty [po-ster-i-tee] n. Future generations.

stag·nant [stag-nuhnt] adj. 1. Not moving or flowing; motionless. 2. Foul or stale from standing. 3.a. Showing little or no sign of activity or advancement; not developing or progressing; inactive. b. Lacking vitality or briskness; sluggish or dull. --stag·nan·cy n. --stag·nant·ly adv.

rem·nant[rem-nuhnt] n. 1. Something left over; a remainder. 2. A leftover piece of fabric remaining after the rest has been used or sold. 3. A surviving trace or vestige. 4. Often remnants.