Public40 cardsby @donk

SAT Essential Vocabulary

High-frequency words from recent SAT exams, each with a definition, part of speech, and a usage example.

Cards (40)

1
Front
What does 'ambiguous' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Open to more than one interpretation; unclear or uncertain. Example: The instructions were so ambiguous that students answered the question in completely different ways.
2
Front
What does 'ameliorate' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Verb. To make something bad or unsatisfactory better; to improve. Example: The new policy was designed to ameliorate the living conditions in low-income neighborhoods.
3
Front
What does 'anachronistic' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Belonging to a period other than that being portrayed; out of place in time. Example: The knight's use of a smartphone in the film was clearly anachronistic.
4
Front
What does 'candid' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Truthful and straightforward; frank. Example: She gave a candid assessment of the project's weaknesses during the meeting.
5
Front
What does 'capricious' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior; impulsive. Example: The capricious weather ruined their outdoor wedding plans.
6
Front
What does 'coalesce' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Verb. To come together and form one mass or whole; to unite. Example: The various factions eventually coalesced into a single political party.
7
Front
What does 'complacent' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements; self-satisfied. Example: After winning three games in a row, the team became complacent and lost the championship.
8
Front
What does 'contentious' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Causing or likely to cause disagreement or controversy. Example: Immigration reform remains a contentious issue in national politics.
9
Front
What does 'corroborate' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Verb. To confirm or give support to a statement, theory, or finding. Example: The witness's testimony corroborated the defendant's alibi.
10
Front
What does 'credulous' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Having or showing too great a readiness to believe things; gullible. Example: The credulous tourist was easily tricked into buying a fake painting.
11
Front
What does 'cynical' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity. Example: Years of broken promises made him cynical about politicians' motives.
12
Front
What does 'dearth' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Noun. A scarcity or lack of something. Example: There is a dearth of affordable housing in many major cities.
13
Front
What does 'didactic' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Intended to teach or instruct, often excessively moralistic. Example: The novel's didactic tone made it feel more like a lecture than a story.
14
Front
What does 'diffident' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Modest or shy due to a lack of self-confidence. Example: The diffident student rarely raised her hand, even when she knew the answer.
15
Front
What does 'disparate' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Essentially different in kind; not easily compared. Example: The committee brought together people from disparate backgrounds to solve the problem.
16
Front
What does 'empirical' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Based on observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic. Example: Scientists rely on empirical evidence gathered through controlled experiments.
17
Front
What does 'enumerate' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Verb. To mention a number of things one by one; to list. Example: The professor asked students to enumerate the causes of the Civil War.
18
Front
What does 'ephemeral' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Lasting for a very short time; transitory. Example: Social media trends are often ephemeral, fading within days.
19
Front
What does 'equivocal' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous, often intentionally. Example: The politician gave an equivocal answer to avoid committing to either side.
20
Front
What does 'esoteric' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Intended for or understood by only a small number of people with specialized knowledge. Example: The professor's lecture on quantum field theory was too esoteric for most undergraduates.
21
Front
What does 'euphemism' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Noun. A mild or indirect word or expression used in place of one that might be offensive or blunt. Example: 'Passed away' is a common euphemism for 'died.'
22
Front
What does 'exacerbate' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Verb. To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse. Example: The drought exacerbated the already severe food shortage.
23
Front
What does 'fastidious' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Very attentive to accuracy and detail; difficult to please; having high standards. Example: The fastidious editor caught every grammatical error in the manuscript.
24
Front
What does 'forthright' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Direct and outspoken; straightforward and confident. Example: Her forthright manner earned her respect, even from those who disagreed with her.
25
Front
What does 'gratuitous' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted. Example: Critics argued that the film's violence was gratuitous and added nothing to the plot.
26
Front
What does 'iconoclast' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Noun. A person who attacks or criticizes cherished beliefs or institutions. Example: Galileo was an iconoclast who challenged the Church's view of the solar system.
27
Front
What does 'impetuous' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Acting or done quickly and without thought or care; impulsive. Example: His impetuous decision to quit his job left him without income for months.
28
Front
What does 'incisive' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Intelligently analytical and clear-thinking; sharp and direct. Example: Her incisive critique identified the core flaw in the argument immediately.
29
Front
What does 'inherent' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute. Example: There is an inherent risk in any surgical procedure.
30
Front
What does 'loquacious' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Tending to talk a great deal; talkative. Example: The loquacious tour guide barely paused long enough for tourists to take photos.
31
Front
What does 'mendacious' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Not telling the truth; lying. Example: The mendacious salesman made promises he knew he could not keep.
32
Front
What does 'nuance' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Noun. A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound. Example: A skilled translator must capture every nuance of the original text.
33
Front
What does 'obstinate' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action. Example: The obstinate negotiator refused to compromise, stalling the peace talks.
34
Front
What does 'opaque' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Not able to be seen through; also, not clear or transparent in meaning; hard to understand. Example: The legal document was so opaque that clients needed a lawyer to interpret it.
35
Front
What does 'pragmatic' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Dealing with things sensibly and realistically based on practical considerations rather than theory. Example: The pragmatic manager chose the simplest solution that would actually work.
36
Front
What does 'proliferate' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Verb. To increase rapidly in number; to multiply. Example: Social media platforms have proliferated over the past decade.
37
Front
What does 'skeptical' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations about something. Example: Scientists are trained to be skeptical of results that have not been independently replicated.
38
Front
What does 'superfluous' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Unnecessary, especially through being more than enough. Example: The editor removed the superfluous adjectives to make the writing more concise.
39
Front
What does 'tenuous' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Adjective. Very weak or slight; lacking a firm basis. Example: The connection between the two events was tenuous at best.
40
Front
What does 'venerate' mean, and what part of speech is it?
Back
Verb. To regard with great respect; to revere. Example: Many cultures venerate their elders as sources of wisdom and guidance.

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