SAT Vocabulary: Advanced
English · 45 cards
Harder SAT words with definitions and examples.
All cards in SAT Vocabulary: Advanced
-
aberration
(n.) a departure from what is normal or expected
The warm December day was an aberration in an otherwise cold winter.
-
brusque
(adj.) abrupt or curt in manner
His brusque reply made her feel unwelcome.
-
capricious
(adj.) given to sudden, unpredictable changes
The capricious weather ruined our picnic plans.
-
deference
(n.) humble respect and submission to another's wishes
Out of deference to her mentor, she revised the essay.
-
ebullient
(adj.) cheerful and full of energy
The ebullient crowd celebrated long into the night.
-
fastidious
(adj.) very attentive to detail; hard to please
The fastidious chef rejected any plate that looked imperfect.
-
garrulous
(adj.) excessively talkative
The garrulous passenger talked for the entire flight.
-
harangue
(n.) a lengthy and aggressive speech
The coach launched into a harangue about missed practices.
-
iconoclast
(n.) a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
As an iconoclast, she challenged every tradition in the field.
-
juxtapose
(v.) to place close together for contrasting effect
The artist juxtaposed bright colors against a black background.
-
laconic
(adj.) using very few words
His laconic 'Fine' ended the conversation abruptly.
-
magnanimous
(adj.) generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival
The magnanimous champion praised her defeated opponent.
-
nefarious
(adj.) wicked or criminal
The detective uncovered the villain's nefarious scheme.
-
obstinate
(adj.) stubbornly refusing to change one's mind
He was too obstinate to admit he had taken a wrong turn.
-
pernicious
(adj.) having a harmful effect, especially gradually
The pernicious rumor slowly damaged her reputation.
-
quixotic
(adj.) extremely idealistic and impractical
His quixotic plan to end all traffic jams amused his colleagues.
-
recalcitrant
(adj.) stubbornly resistant to authority or control
The recalcitrant student refused to follow the new rules.
-
sycophant
(n.) a person who flatters to gain advantage
The manager was surrounded by sycophants who praised his every idea.
-
taciturn
(adj.) reserved; saying little
The taciturn guard rarely responded to questions.
-
ubiquitous
(adj.) present everywhere at once
Smartphones have become ubiquitous in modern life.
-
venerate
(v.) to regard with great respect
Many cultures venerate their elders for their wisdom.
-
wanton
(adj.) deliberate and unprovoked; reckless
The storm caused wanton destruction across the coast.
-
zenith
(n.) the highest point; the peak
The artist reached the zenith of her career in her forties.
-
acquiesce
(v.) to accept reluctantly without protest
She finally acquiesced to her parents' wishes.
-
bombastic
(adj.) high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated
His bombastic speech promised much but offered no real plan.
-
circumspect
(adj.) cautious; considering all consequences
A circumspect investor researches before buying any stock.
-
diaphanous
(adj.) light, delicate, and translucent
The diaphanous curtains let the morning light filter through.
-
effusive
(adj.) expressing feelings in an unrestrained way
She was effusive in her thanks for the surprise party.
-
fortuitous
(adj.) happening by chance, often luckily
Their fortuitous meeting led to a lifelong friendship.
-
hackneyed
(adj.) overused and therefore unoriginal
The film relied on hackneyed clichés about young love.
-
insidious
(adj.) proceeding in a gradual, harmful way
The disease is insidious because symptoms appear late.
-
loquacious
(adj.) tending to talk a great deal
The loquacious tour guide barely paused for breath.
-
mercurial
(adj.) subject to sudden and unpredictable mood changes
His mercurial temper made him difficult to work with.
-
nonchalant
(adj.) casually calm and relaxed
She remained nonchalant despite the looming deadline.
-
ostentatious
(adj.) designed to impress; showy
The mansion's ostentatious decor overwhelmed every visitor.
-
pragmatic
(adj.) dealing with things sensibly and realistically
She took a pragmatic approach to solving the budget crisis.
-
querulous
(adj.) complaining in a whining manner
The querulous customer found fault with everything.
-
reticent
(adj.) not revealing one's thoughts readily
He was reticent about discussing his past.
-
spurious
(adj.) false or fake; not genuine
The article was based on spurious claims and bad data.
-
trepidation
(n.) a feeling of fear or anxiety about the future
She approached the interview with trepidation.
-
vehement
(adj.) showing strong, forceful feeling
He was vehement in his denial of the accusation.
-
winsome
(adj.) attractive or appealing in a charming way
Her winsome smile won over the entire panel.
-
auspicious
(adj.) giving signs of future success; favorable
The sunny morning seemed an auspicious start to the trip.
-
cogent
(adj.) clear, logical, and convincing
She made a cogent argument for extending the deadline.
-
surreptitious
(adj.) kept secret because it would not be approved
He took a surreptitious glance at his phone during class.
Related decks