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Your roadmap to a 2200+ SAT Score!
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SAT Verbal - Vocabulary List (Page 4 of 4)
quaff
(v.) drinking deeply
A dog will quaff if he becomes overheated.
quagmire
(n.) marshy land
The vehicle became stuck in the quagmire.
quaint
(adj.) old-fashioned; unusual; odd
One of the best qualities of the bed-and-breakfast was its quaint setting in the charming English village.
qualified
(adj.) experienced, indefinite
She was well qualified for the job after working the field for ten years.
qualm
(n.) sudden feeling of uneasiness or doubt
His qualms about flying disappeared once the plane landed softly.
quandary
(n.) dilemma
Joe and Elizabeth were caught in a quandary: Should they spend Thanksgiving with his parents or hers?
Unable to make a firm decision, I’ve been in this quandary for weeks. When the car broke down the commuter was
left in a quandary. quarantine (n.) isolation of a person or persons to prevent the spread of disease To be sure they
didn’t bring any contagions back to Earth, the astronauts were put under quarantine when they returned.
quiescence
(n.) state of being at rest or without motion
After a tough day on the shipping dock, one needs quiescence.
A period of quiescence is useful to calm the nerves.
quiescent
(adj.) inactive, at rest
Everyone deserves a day off and should remain quiescent on Sundays. The Bible says that the Lord created the
Earth in six days and on the seventh He was quiescent.
quintessence
(n.) the pure essence of anything
This story is the quintessence of American fiction.
quirk
(n.) peculiar behavior; startling twist
Nobody’s perfect-we all have our quirks.
Our vacation went smoothly save for one quirk-a hurricane that came barreling into the coastline as we were
preparing to head home. The plot of that movie had so many quirks that it became very hard to follow.
Always needing to put the left shoe on first is a peculiar quirk. quixotic (adj.) foolishly idealistic; romantically
idealistic; extravagantly chivalrous He was popular with the ladies due to his quixotic charm. She had a quixotic
view of the world, believing that humans need never suffer. rabid (adj.; n.) furious; with extreme anger; a disease
affecting animals The insult made him rabid.
Discovering that the dog was rabid, the mail carrier knew he’d have to get a shot.
He’s been a rabid sports fan for as long as I have known him.
raconteur
(n.) a person skilled at telling stories
Our entertainment was a raconteur who told a story of talking animals. ramification (n.) the arrangement of branches;
consequence One of the ramifications of driving fast is getting a speeding ticket.
rampant
(adj.) growing unchecked; widespread
Social unrest was rampant because of the lack of food available to the people.
rampart
(n.; v.) a defense; to defend
The ramparts where beginning to crumble.
rancid
(adj.) having a bad odor
Left out too long, the meat turned rancid.
rancor
(n.) strong ill will; enmity
Her rancor for the man was evident in her hateful expression. Sure they had their disagreements, but there was no
rancor between them. rant (v.) to speak in a loud, pompous manner; rave He disputed the bill with the shipper,
ranting that he was dealing with thieves.
rapacious
(adj.) using force to take
Rapacious actions were needed to take the gun from the intruder.
ratify
(v.) to make valid; confirm
The Senate ratified the new law that would prohibit companies from discriminating according to race in their hiring
practices. Hunters were called in to rarefy the deer population. rationalize (v.) to offer reasons for; account for on
rational grounds His daughter attempted to rationalize why she had dropped out of college, but she could not give
any good reasons. raucous (adj.) disagreeable to the sense of hearing; harsh; hoarse The raucous protesters stayed
on the street corner all night, shouting their disdain for the whale killers. raze (v.) to scrape or shave off; to obliterate
or tear down completely The plow will raze the ice from the road surface. It must be time to give the cat a manicure;
she razed my skin last night. They will raze the old Las Vegas hotel to make room for a $2.5 billion gambling palace.
realm
(n.) an area; sphere of activity
In the realm of health care, the issue of who pays and how is never far from the surface.
The bounding islands were added to the realm of the kingdom.
rebuff
(n.) a blunt refusal to offered help
The rebuff of her aid plan came as a shock.
rebuttal
(n.) refutation
The lawyer’s rebuttal to the judge’s sentencing was to present more evidence to the case.
recalcitrant
(adj.) stubbornly rebellious
The boy became recalcitrant when the curfew was enforced. The recalcitrant youth dyed her hair purple, dropped
out of school, and generally worked hard at doing whatever others did not want her to do.
recession
(n.) withdrawal; economic downturn
Oscar’s gum recession left him with sensitive teeth. Soaring unemployment in the nation’s industrial belt triggered
recession. recidivism (n.) habitual or chronic relapse of criminal or antisocial offenses Even after intense therapy the
parolee experienced several episodes of recidivism, and was eventually sent back to prison. reciprocal (adj.) mutual;
having the same relationship to each other Hernando’s membership in the Picture of Health Fitness Center gives him
reciprocal privileges at 245 health clubs around the U.S. Although his first child was adopted, she had a reciprocal
relationship with her father. recluse (adj.; n.) solitary; a person who lives secluded His recluse life seems to make him
happy.
Howard Hughes, among the most famous and enigmatic figures of the 20th century, ultimately retreated to a life as a
recluse.
recondite
(adj.) hard to understand; concealed
The students were dumbfounded by the recondite topic. Many scientific theories are recondite, and therefore not
known at all by the general public.
rectify
(v.) correct
The service manager rectified the shipping mistake by refunding the customer’s money.
recumbent
(adj.) resting
The recumbent puppy stirred.
recusant
(adj.) disobedient of authority
Recusant inmates may be denied privileges. redolent (adj.) sweet-smelling; having the odor of a particular thing The
redolent aroma of the pie tempted everyone. The restaurant was redolent with the smell of spices. redundant (adj.)
wordy; repetitive; unnecessary to the meaning The redundant lecture of the professor repeated the lesson in the text.
Her comments were both redundant and sarcastic. With millions of transactions at stake, the bank built a redundant
processing center on a separate power grid.
refurbish
(v.) to make new; renovate
The Newsomes are refurbishing their old colonial home with the help of an interior designer.
refute
(v.) challenge; disprove
He refuted the proposal, deeming it unfair
regal
(adj.) royal; grand
The regal home was lavishly decorated and furnished with European antiques.
The well-bred woman behaves in a regal manner.
reiterate
(v.) to repeat again
Rose found that she had to reiterate almost everything, leading her to fear her husband was going deaf.
If you did not hear me the first time, I will reiterate the directions for you.
relegate
(v.) banish; put to a lower position
With Internal Affairs launching an investigation into charges that Officer Wicker had harassed a suspect, he was
relegated to desk duty.
relevant
(adj.) of concern; significant
Asking applicants about their general health is relevant since much of the job requires physical strength.
relinquish
(v.) to let go; abandon
House Speaker Jim Wright had to relinquish his position after an ethics investigation undermined his authority.
remonstrate
(v.) to protest or object to
The population will remonstrate against the new taxes.
remorse
(n.) guilt; sorrow
The prosecutor argued that the defendant had shown no remorse for his actions.
renascence
(n.) a new life; rebirth
The renascence of the band resulted in a new recording contract. rend (v.) to rip or pull from; to split with violence;
to disturb with a sharp noise The kidnapper rent the newborn baby from the arms of its mother as she was leaving the
hospital.
A freakish water spout rent the fishing boat in half. Every morning, the 5:47 local out of New Brunswick rends the
dawn’s silence with its air horn.
render
(v.) deliver; provide
The Yorkville First Aid Squad was first on the scene to render assistance. renegade (n.) a person who abandons
something, as a religion, cause or movement; a traitor Benedict Arnold remains one of the most notorious renegades
in American history.
repast
(n.) food that is eaten
The repast consisted of cheese, wine, and bread
replete
(adj.) well supplied
The kitchen came replete with food and utensils.
replica
(n.) copy; representation; reproduction
The equine sculpture was a replica of a Remington.
reprehend
(v.) to reprimand; to find fault with
Finding the need to reprehend the student’s actions, she gave her detention. reproach (v.) to blame and thus make
feel ashamed; to rebuke The major reproached his troops for not following orders.
reprobate
(v.) to condemn; to reject
The teacher will reprobate the actions of the delinquent student.
His assertions were reprobated as inappropriate.
reproof
(n.) a rebuke
For all his hard work, all he got was a reproof of his efforts. repudiate (v.) to disown; to deny support for; reject; cancel
The man will repudiate all claims that he was involved in the deal. Although his party supported the bill, this senator
repudiated it.
The offer was repudiated because of its cost.
repugnant
(adj.) inconsistent; resistance
The repugnant actions of the man made others lose trust in him.
Despite their efforts to convince her, she remained repugnant.
resignation
(n.) quitting; submission
He submitted his resignation because he found a new job. You could see the resignation on his face: Things just
weren’t working out as he’d expected. resilient (adj.) flexible; capable of withstanding stress The elderly man
attributed his resilient health to a good diet and frequent exercise.
resolution
(n.) proposal; promise; determination
Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell journeyed to Ireland to help bring about a peaceful resolution to years of strife.
resonant
(adj.) resounding; re-echoing
Beautiful resonant music escaped from the cathedral’s windows.
respite
(n.) recess; rest period
The workers talked and drank coffee during the respite.
The team was given a respite from the long practice schedule.
resplendent
(adj.) dazzling and shining
Her new diamond was resplendent in the sunshine.
resurgent
(adj.) rising or tending to rise again
A resurgent wave of enthusiasm erupted from the once quiet crowd.
reticent
(adj.) silent; reserved; shy
The reticent girl played with her building blocks while the other children played tag.
It was difficult to get the reticent boy to join the conversation.
retract
(v.) to draw or take back
Once you say something, it’s hard to retract.
retroaction
(n.) a reverse action
The retroaction of the car sent those standing behind it fleeing. The bill’s retroaction stood to save taxpayers an
average of $500 a head. reverent (adj.) respectful; feeling or showing deep love, respect, or awe The congregation
was very reverent of its spiritual leader. reverie (n.) the condition of being unaware of one’s surroundings, trance;
dreamy thinking or imagining, especially of agreeable things As their anniversary neared, Lisa fell into a reverie as
she recalled all the good times she and Roscoe had had.
After spending the morning in reverie, I decided to work in the afternoon.
revile
(v.) to be abusive in speech
It is not appropriate for a teacher to revile a student. rhapsodize (v.) to speak or write in a very enthusiastic manner
Hearing the general rhapsodize about his time as a plebe sent a wave of recognition through the academy grads.
rhetorical (adj.) having to do with verbal communication; artificial eloquence In posing a rhetorical question, he
hoped to get people thinking. The perception that Gary Hart was spouting rhetorical flourishes enabled fellow
Democrat Walter Mondale to score debate points by asking, “Where’s the beef?”
ribald
(adj.) vulgar joking or mocking
Some people find the comedian’s ribald act offensive.
The ribald story proved an embarrassment to its audience.
rigor
(n.) severity
She criticized the planning board’s vote with rigor.
rivet
(v.) to secure; to hold firmly, as in eyes
We can rivet the boat to the dock.
She could not look away from the morbid scene; she was riveted to it.
roseate
(adj.) rose-colored
The roseate sunset faded into the sky.
rout
(n.; v.) a noisy or disorderly crowd; a retreat or terrible defeat; to dig up The rout kept the police busy all morning with
crowd control. The Scarlet Knights beat the Fighting Irish in a rout, 56-14.
I need to rout the backyard in order to put in the pipes.
rudimentary
(adj.) elementary
Adding two plus two is a rudimentary activity.
ruffian
(n.) tough person or a hoodlum
Contrary to popular opinion, ruffians are nothing new in the city.
ruminate
(v.) to consider carefully
The doctor will ruminate on his diagnosis.
Facing a tough decision, he decided to ruminate before making his thoughts known.
rummage
(v.) search thoroughly
Determined to find his college yearbook, he rummaged through every box in the garage. rustic (adj.) plain and
unsophisticated; homely; of or living in the country The president enjoyed spending weekends at Camp David, a
rustic retreat in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland. saga (n.) a legend; any long story of adventure or heroic deed
The saga of King Arthur and his court has been told for generations.
sagacious
(adj.) wise
Many of her friends came to her with their problems because she gave sagacious advice.
The old man gave sagacious advice.
salient
(adj.) noticeable; prominent
What’s salient about the report is its documentation of utter despair in the heartland of the richest nation on Earth.
His most salient feature is his nose.
His salient bruise will alert his mother to the altercation.
salubrious
(adj.) promoting good health
Salubrious food helps maintain an ideal weight.
Exercising frequently and eating healthy foods are salubrious habits.
salutatory
(adj.) of or containing greetings
Two messengers were sent to the new neighbors with a salutatory letter.
salvage
(v.) rescue from loss
The family tried to salvage their belongings after their home was destroyed by a tornado. sanction (v.; n.) an act of
giving authoritative permission; to give encouragement; a blockade The government has sanctioned the meetings as
a worthy cause. He did more than tolerate her actions, he sanctioned them. Before committing troops to war, the
president wanted to give the sanctions a chance to work.
sanguine
(adj.) optimistic; cheerful; red
Even when victory seemed impossible, the general remained sanguine.
The dress was sanguine with a bright green border stripe.
With a sanguine nod the interviewee entered the office.
sapid
(adj.) having a pleasant taste
Yellow and blue icing covered the sapid pastry.
sarcasm
(n.) ironic; bitter humor designed to wound
The teacher did not appreciate the student’s sarcasm and gave him detention.
sardonic
(adj.) having a sarcastic quality
H.L. Mencken was known for his sardonic writings on political figures. satire (n.) a novel or play that uses humor or
irony to expose folly The new play was a satire that exposed the President’s inability to lead the country.
saturate
(v.) soak thoroughly; drench
She saturated the sponge with soapy water before she began washing the car.
saturnine
(adj.) gloomy, sluggish
The never-ending rain put everyone in a saturnine mood.
saunter
(v.) to walk at a leisurely pace; stroll
The loving couple sauntered down the wooded path.
savant
(n.) one who is intelligent
The savant accepted his award of excellence. savor (v.) to receive pleasure from; to enjoy with appreciation; dwell
on with delight After several months without a day off, she savored every minute of her week-long vacation.
scanty
(adj.) inadequate; sparse
The malnutrition was caused by the scanty amount of healthy food eaten each day.
schism
(n.) a division in an organized group
When the group could not decide on a plan of action, a schism occurred.
scourge
(v.) to whip severely
The trainer will scourge the animal if it attacks someone.
scrupulous
(adj.) honorable; exact
After finding a purse with valuable items inside, the scrupulous Mr.
Prendergast returned everything to its owner.
A scrupulous cleaning was conducted before the family moved.
scrutinize
(v.) examine closely; study
After allowing his son to borrow the family car, the father scrutinized every section for dents.
scurrilous
(adj.) vulgarity
The scurrilous language made the mother twinge.
sectarian
(adj.) to be narrow minded or limited
A sectarian precluded him from listening to the other side. sedentary (adj.) characterized by sitting; remaining in one
locality The sedentary child had not moved after two hours. The old woman who never left her home town has led a
sedentary life.
sedition
(n.) a revolt
The sedition by the guards ended with their being executed for treason.
sedulous
(adj.) working diligently; persistent
The sedulous habits of the team will surely conclude in victory.
Only the most sedulous salespeople will succeed.
seethe
(v.) to be violently disturbed
By the time I arrived, she was seething with anger.
He seethed at the prospect of losing the business to his conniving uncle.
sequester
(v.) to separate or segregate
The jury was sequestered at the local inn.
serendipity
(n.) an apparent aptitude for making fortunate discoveries accidentally Serendipity seemed to follow the lucky winner
where ever he went.
serrated
(adj.) having a saw-toothed edge
While camping, the family used a serrated band saw to cut firewood.
servile
(adj.) slavish; groveling
He knew they both possessed equal abilities, and yet he was always treated as a servile underling.
His servile leadership forced her to take over.
The servile nurse did everything the doctor told her to do.
shady
(adj.) a character of questionable honesty
A shady person would not be trusted with a sensitive secret.
shoal
(n.) a large group or crowd
Shoals of grain were stored in the barn.
shoddy
(adj.) of inferior quality; cheap
The state’s attorney said many homes, as they were built with shoddy materials, were bound to just blow apart even in
winds of 60 or 70 miles per hour.
The shoddy homes were blown over in the storm.
sinuous
(adj.) full of curves; twisting and turning
Sinuous mountain roads at night present extra danger at night when it’s harder to see the road’s edge.
skeptic
(n.) doubter
Even after seeing evidence that his competitor’s new engine worked, the engineer remained a skeptic that it was
marketable.
skulk
(v.) to move secretly, implies sinister
The thief skulked around the neighborhood hoping to find his next target.
They found the boy skulking in the bushes.
The woman attempted to skulk away from cleaning the house by hiring a cleaning service.
slander
(v.) defame; maliciously misrepresent
Orville said he’d been slandered, and he asked the court who would-or could- give him his name back.
sloth
(n.) disinclination to action or labor
Employers want to guard against hiring sloths as new employees.
slothful
(adj.) lazy
The slothful actions of the player led to his benching.
slovenly
(adv.) sloppy
His mother-in-law did not approve of his slovenly manner. sodden (adj.) soggy; dull in action as if from alcohol The
flowers were sodden after the rain.
The sodden reaction of the man caused the accident.
sojourn
(v.) to stay temporarily
The family will sojourn at their summer home. The guest remained only for a sojourn; she was going to leave in the
afternoon.
solace
(n.) hope; comfort during a time of grief
When her father passed away, she found solace amongst her friends and family. solemnity (n.) a deep, reverent
feeling often associated with religious occasions The church service was full of solemnity.
The solemnity of the funeral procession stood in stark contrast to the young children splashing with delight in a
nearby pool.
solicit
(v.) ask; seek
The jobless man solicited employment from many factories before he was able to find work. soliloquy (n.) a talk one
has with oneself (esp. on stage) Imagine T.S. Eliot’s poem The Waste Land performed on stage as a kind of soliloquy!
The soliloquy by the man standing alone on the cliff sent a message of regret. solubility (n.) that can be solved; that
can be dissolved The solubility of sugar causes it to disappear when put in water.
somber
(adj.) dark and depressing; gloomy
The sad story had put everyone in a somber mood.
soporific
(adj.) causing sleep
The soporific medication should not be taken when you need to drive.
sordid
(adj.) filthy; base; vile
The sordid gutters needed to be cleaned after the long, rainy autumn. The criminals thought patterns were so sordid
that he was not granted parole.
sovereign
(adj.) superior
The power was given to the sovereign warrior. specious (adj.) plausible, but deceptive; apparently, but not actually,
true The jury forewoman said the jury saw through the defense lawyer’s specious argument and convicted his client
on the weight of the evidence.
I was unsure of the meaning of the specious statement.
spelunker
(n.) one who studies caves
The spelunker made a startling discovery in the old mine. spendthrift (n.) a person who spends money extravagantly
The spendthrift bought two new necklaces and three pairs of shoes.
splenetic
(adj.) marked by hostility
The splenetic warriors advanced with no thought of what they were destroying. sporadic (adj.) rarely occurring or
appearing; intermittent In the desert there is usually only sporadic rainfall.
spurious
(adj.) not genuine, false; bogus
Spurious claims by the importer hid the fact that prison labor had been used in the garments’ fabrication.
The newspaper was notorious for spurious information.
spurn
(v.; n.) to push away; a strong rejection
The woman spurned the advances of her suitor, saying she wasn’t ready for a commitment.
Unlucky enough to be the ninth telemarketer to call Jane that evening, he caught her spurn.
squalid
(adj.) filthy; wretched (from squalor)
The lack of sanitation piping caused squalid conditions. He makes good money, but I would never want to work in
those squalid crawl spaces.
stagnant
(adj.) motionless, uncirculating
The stagnant water in the puddle became infested with mosquitoes.
staid
(adj.) marked by self-control
The horse was staid as it entered the stable.
stamina
(n.) endurance
Anybody who can finish the New York Marathon has lots of stamina.
stanch
(v.) to stop or check the flow of; staunch
It is necessary to stanch the bleeding from the wound as soon as possible. stanza (n.) group of lines in a poem having
a definite pattern The poet uses an odd simile in the second stanza of the poem.
static
(adj.) inactive; changeless
The view while riding in the train across the endless, flat landscape remained static for days.
The static water of the lake reflected the image of the trees.
steadfast
(adj.) loyal
The secret service agents are steadfast to their oath to protect the president.
stigma
(n.) a mark of disgrace
The “F” on his transcript is a stigma on his record.
stigmatize
(v.) to characterize or make as disgraceful
The gross error will stigmatize the worker as careless.
stipend
(n.) payment for work done
She receives a monthly stipend for her help with the project. The bank will pay the woman a stipend of a hundred
dollars a week. stoic (adj.) detached; unruffled; calm; austere indifference to joy, grief, pleasure, or pain The soldier
had been in week after week of fierce battle; nonetheless, he remained stoic.
With stoic obedience the child sat quietly on the chair.
stoke
(v.) to feed fuel to; especially a fire
With the last embers dying, he stoked the fire one more time.
stolid
(adj.) showing little emotion
With a stolid expression, the man walked away from the confrontation.
striated
(adj.) having lines or grooves
The striated road was ready for traffic.
stridency
(n.) harshness or shrillness sound
The stridency of the whistle hurt the dog’s ears.
strident
(adj.) creaking; harsh, grating
Her strident voice hampered her chances of getting the announcer position.
stupor
(n.) a stunned or bewildered condition
He was in a stupor after being hit on the head.
stymie
(v.) to hinder or obstruct
Large amounts of snowfall will stymie the rescue effort.
suave
(adj.) effortlessly gracious
She was a suave negotiator, always getting what she wanted without anyone feeling they’d lost anything.
The elegant woman entered the room with a suave walk.
subjugate
(v.) to dominate or enslave
The bully will attempt to subjugate the remainder of the class. The royal family subjugated the peasants, making
them perform hard labor.
subliminal
(adj.) below the level of consciousness
Critics of advertising say that it’s loaded with subliminal messages. subsidiary (adj.) giving a service; being in a
subordinate position The function of the subsidiary was to oversee the bank’s commercial loans.
He acknowledged the importance of the issue, but called it subsidiary to a host of other concerns. substantive (adj.)
existing independently of others; a large quantity The only company not acquired in the merger retained its
substantive existence.
A substantive amount of money will be needed to fund the project.
subsume
(v.) to include within a larger group
The AFL was subsumed by the NFL in the 1960s. subtlety (n.) propensity of understatement; so slight as to be barely
noticeable There was no subtlety in the protest; each person carried a sign and yelled for civil rights.
With great subtlety we slipped away from the boring party. succinct (adj.) clearly stated; characterized by
conciseness The speech was succinct yet emotional.
Usually, the most succinct definition is the right one. Articles in USA Today are so succinct that some observers
nicknamed the newspaper “McPaper.”
succor
(n.) aid; assistance
Succor was given to the fire victim in the form of clothes and temporary shelter.
succumb
(v.) give in; yield; collapse
When dieting, it is difficult not to succumb to temptation.
suffuse
(v.) to overspread
The rain will suffuse the spilled sand around the patio.
sumptuous
(adj.) involving great expense
A sumptuous spread of meats, vegetables, soups and breads was prepared for the guests.
sunder
(v.) break; split in two
The Civil War threatened to sunder the United States. Management seeks to sunder the workers’ connections to the
union. sundry (adj.) various; miscellaneous; separate; distinct This store sells many sundry novelty items.
Sundry items may be purchased as a single item. superficial (adj.) on the surface, narrow minded; lacking depth The
victim had two stab wounds, but luckily were only superficial.
superfluous
(adj.) unnecessary; extra
Although the designer considered the piece superfluous, the woman wanted the extra chair in her bedroom.
Only the first sentence is necessary; all of these details are superfluous. After they finished their seven-course meal, a
large dessert seemed superfluous.
superlative
(adj.) of the highest kind or degree
The Golden Gate Bridge is a superlative example of civil engineering.
supplant
(v.) to take the place of
Can you supplant my position if I cannot play?
suppliant
(adj.) asking earnestly and submissively
Her suppliant request of wanting to know the name of the man was met with a laugh.
suppress
(v.) to bring to an end; hold back
The illegal aliens were suppressed by the border patrol. surfeit (v.; n.) excessively indulging; overindulgence The
teenagers were warned not to surfeit at the party. The result of her surfeit was a week of regret.
surmise
(n; v) a guess; to guess
Was my surmise correct?
I surmise that we will not
He surmised how the play would end before the second act began.
surpass
(v.) go beyond; out do
After recovering from a serious illness, the boy surpassed the doctor’s expectations by leaving the hospital two days
early.
surreptitious
(adj.) done secretly
The surreptitious maneuvers gave the advancing army an advantage.
susceptible
(adj.) easily imposed; inclined
She gets an annual flu shot since she is susceptible to becoming ill.
swathe
(v.) to wrap around something; envelop
Soft blankets swathe the new born baby.
sycophant
(n.) flatterer
Rodolfo honed his skills as a sycophant, hoping it would get him into Sylvia’s good graces.
The sycophant is known for attending many parties. syllogism (n.) reasoning in order from general to particular The
syllogism went from fish to guppies.
symmetry
(n.) correspondence of parts; harmony
The roman columns give the building a symmetry.
synthetic
(adj.) not real, rather artificial
The synthetic skin was made of a thin rubber.
table
(n.) a systematic list of details
The train schedule was set up as a table.
tacit
(adj.) not voiced or expressed
The National Security Agency aide argued, in effect, that he had received the president’s tacit approval for the arms-
for-hostages deal. taciturn (adj.) inclined to silence; speaking little; dour, stern The man was so taciturn it was
forgotten that he was there.
tantalize
(v.) to tempt; to torment
The desserts were tantalizing, but he was on a diet.
tarry
(v.) to go or move slowly; delay
She tarried too long, and therefore missed her train.
taut
(adj.) stretched tightly
They knew a fish was biting, because the line suddenly became taut.
tawdry
(adj.) tastelessly ornamented
The shop was full of tawdry jewelry.
tedious
(adj.) wearisome, tiresome
Cleaning the house is a tedious chore for some people. With so many new safety precautions instituted, flying has
become a tedious affair. teem (v.) to be stocked to overflowing; to pour out; to empty The new plant seemed to be
teeming with insects. It is healthier to teem the grease from the broth before serving it.
temerity
(n.) foolhardiness
Temerity can result in tragedy if the activity is dangerous. temper (v.) to moderate, as by mingling with something
else; to bring to the proper condition by treatment She drew a hot bath, but then realized she’d have to temper it with
a little cool water or end up scalded.
The craftsman tempered the steel before being able to twist it to form a table leg.
temperament
(n.) one’s customary frame of mind
The girl’s temperament is usually very calm.
tenacious
(adj.) holding; persistent
With a tenacious grip, the man was finally able to pull the nail from the wall.
After his tenacious pleas, she finally conceded.
His hold on his dreams is as tenacious as anyone I know.
tenet
(n.) a principle accepted as authoritative
The tenets of socialism were explained in the book.
tensile
(adj.) undergoing or exerting tension
The pipeline was capable of flexing to withstand the tremendous tensile strain that might accompany an seismic
movement.
tentative
(adj.) not confirmed; indefinite
Not knowing if he’d be able to get the days off, Al went ahead anyway and made tentative vacation plans with his pal.
tenuous
(adj.) thin, slim, delicate; weak
The hurricane force winds ripped the tenuous branches from the tree. The spectators panicked as they watched the
cement block dangle from one tenuous piece of twine. tepid (adj.) lacking warmth, interest, enthusiasm; lukewarm
The tepid bath water was perfect for relaxing after a long day.
termagant
(n.) a constantly quarrelsome woman
Agreement with the termagant was an impossibility.
terrestrial
(adj.) pertaining to the earth
Deer are terrestrial animals; fish are aquatic.
terse
(adj.) concise; abrupt
She believed in getting to the point, so she always gave terse answers. The terse speech contained only the
essential comments. tether (n.) the range or limit of one’s abilities; rope or chain used to keep a boat from drifting or
an animal from wandering My tether of playing basketball is shooting air balls. The bulldog was tethered to his
doghouse.
thrall
(n.) a slave
The worker was treated like a thrall, having to work many hours of overtime.
thrifty
(adj.) frugal, careful with money
Being thrifty, the woman would not purchase the item without a coupon.
The thrifty couple saved money by taking the bus to work.
throe
(n.) spasm or pang; agony
A particularly violent throe knocked her off her feet. The wounded soldier squirmed in throes of agony. thwart (v.)
prevent from accomplishing a purpose; frustrate Their attempt to take over the country was thwarted by the palace
guard. timbre (n.) the quality of sound which distinguishes one from another The timbre of guitar music is different
from that of piano music.
timorous
(adj.) lacking courage; timid
The timorous child hid behind his parents.
Hillary came to accept him as a timorous soul who needed succor.
torpid
(adj.) being dormant; slow, sluggish
When we came upon the hibernating bear, it was in a torpid state.
A torpid animal does not act with energy.
The old, torpid dog spent most of his time sleeping. tortuous (adj.) full of twists and turns; not straight forward;
possibly deceitful The suspect confessed after becoming confused by the tortuous questioning of the captain.
toxic
(adj.) poisonous
It’s best to store cleansing solutions out of children’s reach because of their toxic contents. tractable (adj.) easily
managed (opposite: intractable) The boat was so lightweight it was tractable by one person.
Having a tractable staff made her job a lot easier.
traduce
(v.) to defame or slander
His actions traduced his reputation.
tranquillity
(n.) peace; stillness; harmony
The tranquillity of the tropical island was reflected in its calm blue waters and warm sunny climate.
transmutation
(n.) a changed form
Somewhere in the network’s entertainment division, the show underwent a transmutation from a half-hour sitcom into
an hour-long drama.
transmute
(v.) to transform
Decorators transmute ordinary homes into interesting showcases.
transpire
(v.) to take place; come about
With all that’s transpired today, I’m exhausted.
traumatic
(adj.) causing a violent injury
It was a traumatic accident, leaving the driver with a broken vertebra, a smashed wrist, and a concussion.
travail
(n.) very hard work; intense pain or agony
The farmer was tired after the travail of plowing the fields.
The analgesic finally ended her travail.
trek
(v.) to make a journey
They had to trek through the dense forest to reach the nearest village.
trenchant
(adj.) cutting; keen or incisive words
Without a trenchant tool, they would have to break the branches rather than cut them.
The trenchant words hurt the man deeply.
trepidation
(n.) apprehension; uneasiness
Her long absence caused more than a little trepidation.
With great trepidation, the boy entered the water for the first time.
tribunal
(n.) the seat of judge
The tribunal heard the case of the burglary.
tribute
(n.) expression of admiration
Her performance was a tribute to her retiring teacher.
trite
(adj.) commonplace; overused
The committee was looking for something new, not the same trite ideas.
Eating tomato salads became trite after their excessive popularity.
trivial
(adj.) unimportant; small; worthless
Although her mother felt otherwise, she considered her dish washing chore trivial.
troth
(n.) belief; faith; fidelity
The couple pledged troth to each other through their vows.
truculent
(adj.) fierce, savage, cruel
Truculent fighting broke out in the war-torn country. The truculent beast approached the crowd with wild eyes and
sharpened claws.
truncate
(v.) to shorten by cutting
With the football game running over, the show scheduled to follow it had to be truncated.
tumid
(adj.) swollen; pompous
The tumid river washed away the homes built on the shore.
After he earned his high-school diploma, he became insufferably tumid.
The tumid balloon floated, but the empty one did not.
tumult
(n.) a noisy commotion; disturbance
The tumult was caused by two boys wanting the same toy.
After the tumult, I found it difficult to resume my studies.
turbid
(adj.) thick and dense; cloudy
The turbid green waters of the lake prevented them from seeing the bottom. turbulence (n.) condition of being
physically agitated; disturbance Everyone on the plane had to fasten their seat belts as the plane entered an area of
turbulence.
turmoil
(n.) unrest; agitation
Before the country recovered after the war, they experienced a time of great turmoil.
turpitude
(n.) vileness
The turpitude of the action caused a rage among the people. tutelage (n.) the condition of being under a guardian
or a tutor Being under the tutelage of a master musician is a great honor.
tycoon
(n.) wealthy leader
The business tycoon prepared to buy his fifteenth company.
tyranny
(n.) absolute power; autocracy
The people were upset because they had no voice in the government that the king ran as a tyranny.
ubiquitous
(adj.) omnipresent; present everywhere
A ubiquitous spirit followed the man wherever he went.
Water may seem ubiquitous, until a drought comes along.
ulterior
(adj.) buried; concealed; undisclosed
She was usually very selfish, so when she came bearing gifts he suspected that she had ulterior motives.
My ulterior concerns are more important than my immediate ones. The man’s ulterior motive was to spy on the lab,
though he said he wanted a job.
umbrage
(n.) offense or resentment
The candidate took umbrage at the remark of his opponent.
unalloyed
(adj.) pure, of high quality
An unalloyed chain is of greater value than a piece of costume jewelry.
uncanny
(adj.) of a strange nature; weird
That two people could be so alike was uncanny.
uncouth
(adj.) uncultured; crude
The social club would not accept an uncouth individual.
undermine
(v.) to weaken; often through subtle means
The attempts to undermine the merger were unsuccessful. The supervisor undermined the director’s power and
began controlling the staff.
unequivocal
(adj.) clear and unambiguous
The 50-0 vote against the bill was an unequivocal statement against the measure.
His response was unequivocal, which seemed unusual for a politician.
unfeigned
(adj.) genuine; real; sincere
Her unfeigned reaction of surprise meant she had not expected the party.
ungainly
(adj.) clumsy and unattractive
The ungainly man knocked over the plant stand. uniform (adj.) never changing, always with the same standard The
marching band moved in uniform across the field. Patrons of fast-food chains say they like the idea of a uniform
menu wherever they go.
unique
(adj.) without equal; incomparable
The jeweler assured him that the dubloon was unique, as it was part of the long lost treasure of the Atocha. universal
(adj.) concerning everyone; existing everywhere Pollution does not affect just one country or state- it’s a universal
problem. unobtrusive (adj.) out of the way; remaining quietly in the background The shy man found an unobtrusive
seat in the far corner of the room. It was easy to miss the unobtrusive plaque above the fireplace.
unprecedented
(adj.) unheard of; exceptional
Weeks of intense heat created unprecedented power demands, which the utilities were hard pressed to meet.
unpretentious
(adj.) simple; plain; modest
He was an unpretentious farmer: An old John Deere and a beat-up Ford pick-up were all he needed to get the job
done. unruly (adj.) not submitting to discipline; disobedient The unruly boys had to be removed from the concert
hall.
untoward
(adj.) improper; unfortunate
Asking guests to bring their own food would be an untoward request.
All of their friends expressed sympathy about their untoward separation.
unwonted
(adj.) rare
The unwonted raise would be the only one received for a few years. The changed migratory habits of the Canada
geese, though unwonted, is unwanted because of the mess they make.
upshot
(n.) the final act or result
The upshot of the debate was that the bill would be released to the floor.
urbane
(adj.) cultured; suave
The gala concert and dinner dance was attended by the most urbane individuals.
The English businessman was described by his peers as witty and urbane. usurpation (n.) art of taking something for
oneself; seizure During the war, the usurpation of the country forced an entirely new culture on the natives. usury (n.)
the lending of money with an excessively high interest rate An interest rate 30 points above the prime rate would be
considered usury in the United States.
Loan sharks frequently practice usury, but their debtors usually have little choice but to keep quiet and pay up.
utopia (n.) imaginary land with perfect social and political systems Voltaire wrote of a utopia where the streets were
paved with gold.
waft
(v.) move gently by wind or breeze
The smoke wafted out of the chimney.
waive
(v.) to give up; to put off until later
I will waive my rights to have a lawyer present because I don’t think I need one.
As hard as he tried, he could only waive his responsibility for so long.
wan
(adj.) lacking color; sickly pale
Her face became wan at the sight of blood.
wane
(v.) to gradually become less; to grow dim
After time, interest in the show will wane and it will no longer be as popular.
The full moon waned until it was nothing but a sliver in the sky. wanton (adj.) unmanageable; unjustifiably malicious
My wanton hunger must be satiated.
With wanton aggression, the army attacked the defenseless village.
It is hard to lose weight when one has a wanton desire for sweets.
warrant
(v.) justify; authorize
The police official warranted the arrest of the suspect once enough proof had been found.
welter
(n.) a confused mass; turmoil
When the emergency alarm sounded, a welter of shivering office workers formed in the street as people evacuated
the site. The welter moved from street to street to escape the fire.
wheedle
(v.) to influence or persuade
The crook may attempt to wheedle the money from the bank.
He tried hard to wheedle his father into buying him a car.
whet
(v.) to sharpen by rubbing; to stimulate
Before carving the turkey, you must whet the blade.
The smell of cooking food has whet my appetite.
The smell of dinner cooking whetted her appetite.
whimsical
(adj.) fanciful; amusing
Strolling down Disney World’s Main Street is bound to put child and grown-up alike in a whimsical mood.
wily
(adj.) concealing; sly
The wily explanation was meant to confuse the investigator.
winsome
(adj.) charming; sweetly attractive
His winsome words moved the crowd to love him even more.
wither
(v.) wilt; shrivel; humiliate; cut down
The plant withered slowly since it received little light and little water.
wizened
(adj.) shriveled; withered
The wizened face of the old man was covered by his hat.
wooden
(adj.) to be expressionless or dull
The wooden expression of the man made him look like a statue.
workaday
(adj.) commonplace
The workaday meal was not exciting to the world class chef.
wrath
(n.) violent or unrestrained anger; fury
Do not trespass on his property or you will have to deal with his wrath.
wreak
(v.) to give vent; to inflict
The dragon will wreak havoc upon the countryside. wrest (v.) to pull or force away by a violent twisting The warriors
wrest the power from the king. wretched (adj.) miserable or unhappy; causing distress Brought up in an orphanage,
Annie led a wretched existence. The continual rain made for a wretched vacation.
wry
(adj.) mocking; cynical
He has a wry sense of humor which sometimes hurts people’s feelings.
xenophobia
(n.) fear of foreigners
Xenophobia kept the townspeople from encouraging any immigrants to move into the neighborhood.
yoke
(n.) harness; collar; bond
The jockey led her horse by the yoke around its neck and face.
yore
(n.) former period of time
When he sees his childhood friends, they speak about the days of yore.
zealot
(n.) believer; enthusiast; fan
The zealot followed whatever rules the cult leader set. zenith (n.) point directly overhead in the sky; highest point
The astronomer pointed her telescope straight up toward the zenith. The Broncos seemed to be at the zenith of their
power just as their rivals on the turf were flagging.
The sun will reach its zenith at noon.
The zenith of her career occurred during her time as chairperson.
zephyr
(n.) a gentle wind; breeze
It was a beautiful day, with a zephyr blowing in from the sea.
The zephyr blew the boat slowly across the lake.
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Learn about Joe’s SAT
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