Post on 19-Jan-2016
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SAT EXAM REVIEWHendy’s Top 50 Vocab Words
#1
Apparent or professed Syn: purported, alleged Ant: real, true, actual “The ____ reason for the
school closing was a need for asbestos mitigation.”
#1
ostensible
#2
an excessive desire to acquire or possess wealth
Syn: covetousness, rapacity Ant: generosity, openhandedness “Ebenezer Scrooge’s personality
was marked by significant _____.”
#2
avarice
#3
Not religious; worldly; pertaining to the state
Syn: civil Ant: sacred, divine Despite having a devoutly
religious population, Turkey enforces strict _____ laws in public.
#3
secular
#4
Overly self-satisfied Syn: contented Ant: dissatisfied, malcontent “Just because we won the past
five games, this is no time to get _____.”
#4
complacent
#5
Shameless boldness Syn: audacity, impertinence,
nerve Ant: timidity, modesty “Can you believe Cleetus had the
___ to high-five the Queen of England?!”
#5
effrontery
#6
(verb) to speak or argue in favor of (noun) a person who pleads in the
interest or case of an individual Syn: champion, support, defender “The online hacker group
Anonymous is often an _____ for people who are bullied or persecuted.”
#6
advocate
#7
Existing as a natural or essential part of
Syn: intrinsic, implicit, internal Ant: extrinsic, external “For generations, people in my
family have had an ____ tendency toward skin problems.”
#7
inherent
#8
to pretend or give a false appearance of
Syn: fake, sham, simulate “Don’t ____ shock over their
elopement; you knew perfectly well that they were running off to Vegas.”
#8
feign
#9
being or seeming to be everywhere
Syn: omnipresent, pervasive, universal
Ant: rare, scarce “During the holiday season, holly
and tinsel are _____ at shopping malls.”
#9
ubiquitous
#10
To make an accurate line drawing or diagram of; to portray or describe in detail
Syn: depict, set forth “Why don’t you ____ all the
details of your campaign strategy to us?”
#10
delineate
#11
A hindrance or obstruction Syn: encumbrance, obstacle,
handicap Ant: aid, assistance “A lack of financial aid is a serious
____ to my dream of going away to school.”
#11
impediment
#12
Immersed in deep, often melancholy thought
Syn: meditative, reflective, wistful Ant: lighthearted, blithe, jocund “Edgar Allan Poe’s protagonists
were often morose, ____ characters.”
#12
pensive
#13
High in rank; distinguished; outstanding; conspicuous
Syn: prominent, notable, remarkable
Ant: obscure, undistinguished “Dr. Phil is the most ____
psychiatrist on TV.” (even though he’s a hack)
#13
eminent
#14
Indirect or roundabout; long-winded
Syn: winding, meandering, rambling
Ant: direct, unveering “Mapquest is unreliable and will
take you on the most ___ route to Baltimore.”
#14
circuitous
#15
To regard with horror and loathing; to hate intensely
Syn: loathe, despise, detest Ant: relish, love, cherish “I ___ anyone who exploits
workers for his own gain.”
#15
abhor
#16
High-minded but impractical Syn: idealistic, visionary, fanciful Ant: realistic, practical “We engaged on a ___ quest to
find Jack’s beanstalk.”
#16
quixotic
#17
Inactive, as if in sleep; suspended in use, growth, or development
Syn: latent, passive, inert Ant: active, vibrant, thriving “The herpes virus, even when not
active, lies ____ in the body.”
#17
dormant
#18
Subject to or determined by one’s judgment; random
Syn: judgmental, irrational, partial Ant: objective, fair, equitable “Why must I be subjected to your
___ rules about hats and sugar content?”
#18
arbitrary
#19
To overlook or disregard an offense, thereby implying forgiveness, acceptance, or approval of it
Syn: ignore, accept, tolerate Ant: condemn, denounce “The team’s lenient punishment of
Allen Iverson makes it seem like they ____ his actions.”
#19
condone
#20
Deeply learned in a specialized area
Syn: scholarly, profound, knowledgeable
Ant: ignorant, uninformed “Neil deGrasse Tyson is ____ in
the area of astrophysics.”
#20
erudite
#21
Arousing fear or admiration because of the unusual size or superiority of the thing involved; difficult to do because of the scale involved
“Running 10 miles through mud and electrical wires is a ____ undertaking.”
#21
formidable
#22
Wavering or uncertain because of an inability to make a choice between two contradictory feelings or viewpoints
Syn: contradictory, conflicting, opposing Ant: definite, firm, unequivocal “I had ___ feelings about the Ravens
winning the AFC Championship; they beat the hated Patriots, but – well, they’re still the friggin’ Ravens.”
#22
ambivalent
#23
To cancel or withdraw Syn: revoke, repeal, retract Ant: affirm, confirm, enforce “If you __ an invitation to a
vampire, does he have to leave your house?”
#23
rescind
#24
Fair and impartial; frank or outspoken; informal or unposed
Syn: unbiased, spontaneous Ant: prejudiced, reserved, ambiguous “While the formal prom photos were
great, my favorites were the ___ shots that showed everyone genuinely enjoying themselves.”
#24
candid
#25
Incapable of being penetrated or affected
Syn: impenetrable, unresponsive Ant: susceptible, permeable “My superpowers make me ___
to your evil magic, Lord Saruman!”
#25
impervious
#26
Foreshadowing evil; menacing or threatening
Syn: portentious, foreboding Ant: lucky, felicitous “The dark clouds rolling in were
an ____ indicator of how the weekend would go.”
#26
ominous
#27
To analyze, explain, interpret, or understand
Syn: deduce, infer, translate Ant: misinterpret “The old hymn can also be ____
as a rallying song for slaves who longed for freedom.”
#27
construe
#28
Highly injurious or harmful Syn: detrimental; malignant Ant: wholesome, beneficial “The oil company’s ____ plot to
cover up the effects of the oil spill will wreak untold havoc.”
#28
pernicious
#29
A strong curse or denunciation; the person or thing cursed; any object of intense dislike
Syn: abomination Ant: blessing “Plagiarists are ___ to academia.”
#29
anathema
#30
Overly short or abrupt Syn: curt, blunt, terse Ant: civil, polite, cordial “Richard Nixon was notorious for
his ____ demeanor.”
#30
brusque
#31
Profitable Syn: gainful, rewarding,
worthwhile Ant: unprofitable, unproductive,
barren “ I hear that derivatives trading is
a _____ field.”
#31
lucrative
#32
To yield to; to agree to Syn: agree, assent, consent,
acquiesce Ant: dissent, demur, balk at “I will ____ to your demands if
you agree to cut taxes on the middle class.”
#33
accede
#34
Inclined to doubt or deny the virtuousness or honesty of human motives
Syn: skeptical, pessimistic Ant: optimistic, sanguine, naïve “Your ___ view of the world would
have us all believe that everyone is greedy and self-interested.”
#34
cynical
#35
Understood by or only intended for a select few; difficult to understand
Syn: occult, private, mysterious Ant: popular, accessible, clear “Your __ references to an
astrological sign are useless in this situation.”
#35
esoteric
#36
To get around or avoid, especially by trickery or deception
Syn: dodge, duck, dip, dive, & dodge
Ant: obey, observe, abide by “The Dude abides; the nihilists
____.”
#36
circumvent
#37
Deeply religious, earnest, or sincere
Syn: pious, faithful, reverent Ant: unfaithful, irreverent,
lukewarm “I am descended from a ___
branch of Quakers.”
#37
devout
#38
Extremely and deliberately conspicuous; glaring
Syn: shocking, gross, brazen Ant: insignificant, minor “After your ___ flouting of school
rules, you are expelled, mister!”
#38
flagrant
#39
Keen of mind and judgement, especially in practical matters; cunning
Syn: shrewd, perceptive, sharp, sagacious
Ant: obtuse, undiscerning, empty-headed
“You are an ___ observer of the human condition.”
#39
astute
#40
Deliberate deception in speech or conduct
Syn: guile, deceit, trickery Ant: honesty, candor, integrity “The ___ of the carnie cost
many rednecks their savings.”
#40
duplicity