Public40 cardsby @donk

SAT Reading and Writing Vocabulary

High-frequency academic words used on standardized tests, each with a definition, part of speech, and an example sentence.

Cards (40)

1
Front
What does 'ambiguous' mean?
Back
Adjective. Open to more than one interpretation; unclear or uncertain. Example: The contract's ambiguous wording led to a dispute between the two parties.
2
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What does 'analogy' mean?
Back
Noun. A comparison between two things to explain or clarify a concept. Example: The teacher used an analogy between the human heart and a pump to explain circulation.
3
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What does 'anomaly' mean?
Back
Noun. Something that deviates from what is standard or expected. Example: The scientist noted an anomaly in the data that contradicted the prevailing theory.
4
Front
What does 'assert' mean?
Back
Verb. To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully. Example: The lawyer asserted that her client was innocent despite the circumstantial evidence.
5
Front
What does 'austere' mean?
Back
Adjective. Severe or strict in manner; having no comforts or luxuries. Example: The monk lived an austere life, owning only a few simple possessions.
6
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What does 'benevolent' mean?
Back
Adjective. Well-meaning and kindly; generous or charitable. Example: The benevolent donor funded the construction of a new community library.
7
Front
What does 'candid' mean?
Back
Adjective. Truthful and straightforward; frank. Example: She gave a candid assessment of the project's weaknesses during the meeting.
8
Front
What does 'circumspect' mean?
Back
Adjective. Wary and unwilling to take risks; cautious. Example: The circumspect investor carefully researched every opportunity before committing funds.
9
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What does 'coherent' mean?
Back
Adjective. Logical and consistent; forming a unified whole. Example: The essay was coherent, with each paragraph building logically on the previous one.
10
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What does 'concise' mean?
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Adjective. Giving a lot of information clearly in few words; brief but comprehensive. Example: The professor praised the student's concise summary of the lengthy report.
11
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What does 'corroborate' mean?
Back
Verb. To confirm or support a statement or theory with evidence. Example: The witness's testimony corroborated the defendant's alibi.
12
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What does 'cynical' mean?
Back
Adjective. Distrustful of human sincerity or integrity; believing people are motivated by self-interest. Example: Years of broken promises made him cynical about political change.
13
Front
What does 'debunk' mean?
Back
Verb. To expose the falseness or hollowness of a myth or belief. Example: The article debunked the popular myth that humans only use ten percent of their brains.
14
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What does 'deference' mean?
Back
Noun. Humble submission and respect toward someone of higher authority or expertise. Example: In deference to the elder council, the young leader waited before presenting her plan.
15
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What does 'disparate' mean?
Back
Adjective. Essentially different in kind; not easily compared; dissimilar. Example: The study combined disparate fields like biology and economics to analyze the problem.
16
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What does 'eloquent' mean?
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Adjective. Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing. Example: Her eloquent speech moved the audience to tears and inspired action.
17
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What does 'empirical' mean?
Back
Adjective. Based on observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic. Example: The researchers needed empirical evidence before drawing any conclusions.
18
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What does 'enigmatic' mean?
Back
Adjective. Difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious. Example: The Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile has fascinated art lovers for centuries.
19
Front
What does 'ephemeral' mean?
Back
Adjective. Lasting for a very short time; transitory. Example: The ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms makes them all the more cherished in Japanese culture.
20
Front
What does 'equivocal' mean?
Back
Adjective. Open to more than one interpretation; not clear or decided. Example: The politician gave an equivocal answer that satisfied neither side of the debate.
21
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What does 'exacerbate' mean?
Back
Verb. To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse. Example: The drought exacerbated the region's ongoing food shortage crisis.
22
Front
What does 'exemplify' mean?
Back
Verb. To be a typical example of; to illustrate by example. Example: Her dedication exemplifies the work ethic we value in all our employees.
23
Front
What does 'explicit' mean?
Back
Adjective. Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion. Example: The instructions were explicit, outlining every step of the assembly process.
24
Front
What does 'extrapolate' mean?
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Verb. To extend known data or experience into an unknown area to make predictions. Example: Scientists extrapolated future climate trends from decades of temperature records.
25
Front
What does 'facilitate' mean?
Back
Verb. To make an action or process easier. Example: The new software was designed to facilitate communication between remote teams.
26
Front
What does 'fallacy' mean?
Back
Noun. A mistaken belief or a failure in reasoning that renders an argument invalid. Example: Assuming that correlation equals causation is a common logical fallacy.
27
Front
What does 'forthright' mean?
Back
Adjective. Direct and outspoken; straightforward and honest. Example: His forthright manner was sometimes mistaken for rudeness, though he meant no offense.
28
Front
What does 'hierarchy' mean?
Back
Noun. A system in which things are ranked according to relative importance or authority. Example: The military operates within a strict hierarchy of command.
29
Front
What does 'impartial' mean?
Back
Adjective. Treating all rivals or disputants equally; not biased; fair. Example: A judge must remain impartial and base decisions solely on the evidence presented.
30
Front
What does 'implicit' mean?
Back
Adjective. Suggested or understood without being directly stated. Example: There was an implicit agreement among colleagues to keep the meeting confidential.
31
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What does 'inevitable' mean?
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Adjective. Certain to happen; unable to be avoided or prevented. Example: Given the storm's path, flooding in the valley seemed inevitable.
32
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What does 'inherent' mean?
Back
Adjective. Existing as a natural or permanent quality of something; intrinsic. Example: There is an inherent risk in any form of financial investment.
33
Front
What does 'mitigate' mean?
Back
Verb. To make less severe, serious, or painful. Example: Wearing a seatbelt can mitigate the injuries sustained in a car accident.
34
Front
What does 'nuance' mean?
Back
Noun. A subtle difference in meaning, expression, or sound. Example: Translating poetry is difficult because so much nuance can be lost between languages.
35
Front
What does 'objective' mean?
Back
Adjective. Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions; based on facts. Example: The journalist strove to provide an objective account of the political rally.
36
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What does 'paradox' mean?
Back
Noun. A seemingly absurd or contradictory statement that, when investigated, may prove to be well-founded. Example: It is a paradox that the more choices people have, the less satisfied they often feel.
37
Front
What does 'pragmatic' mean?
Back
Adjective. Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a practical way. Example: A pragmatic approach to solving the budget crisis involved cutting non-essential programs.
38
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What does 'rhetoric' mean?
Back
Noun. The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing; language designed to have a persuasive effect. Example: Critics argued that the candidate's speech was full of empty rhetoric and lacked substance.
39
Front
What does 'scrutinize' mean?
Back
Verb. To examine or inspect closely and thoroughly. Example: The editor scrutinized every paragraph of the manuscript before sending it to print.
40
Front
What does 'substantiate' mean?
Back
Verb. To provide evidence to support or prove the truth of something. Example: The researcher needed additional data to substantiate her bold claim.

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