Digital SAT R&W Vocabulary Flashcards
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[h] Digital SAT R&W Vocabulary Flashcards
[q] Abate
[a] Abate
v. to become less active, less intense, or less in amount. As I began my speech, my feelings of nervousness quickly abated.
[q] Abstract
[a] Abstract
adj. existing purely in the mind; not representing actual reality. Julie had trouble understanding the appeal of the abstract painting.
[q] Abysmal
[a] Abysmal
adj. extremely bad. I got an abysmal grade on my research paper!
[q] Accordingly
[a] Accordingly
adv. in accordance with; in a way that is appropriate to the particular circumstances. All students must behave accordingly.
[q] Acquisition
[a] Acquisition
n. the act of gaining a skill or possession of something. There is a popular myth that language acquisition is easier for kids than it is for adults.
[q] Adapt
[a] Adapt
v. to make suit a new purpose
v. to accommodate oneself to a new condition, setting, or situation. The US has adapted many foreign foods to better suit the tastes of Americans. Dogs are known for their ability to quickly adapt to their environments.
[q] Adept
[a] Adept
adj. having knowledge or skill (usu. in a particular area). Beth loves playing the piano, but she’s especially adept at the violin.
[q] Adequate
[a] Adequate
adj. having sufficient qualifications to meet a specific task or purpose. Though his resume was adequate, the company doubted whether he’d be a good fit.
[q] Advent
[a] Advent
n. the arrival or creation of something (usu. historic or religious). The world has never been the same since the advent of the light bulb.
[q] Adversarial
[a] Adversarial
adj. relating to hostile opposition. An adversarial attitude will make you many enemies in life.
[q] Advocate
[a] Advocate
n. someone who promotes or defends something
v. to defend or promote something (usu. a belief, theory, opinion, etc.) I am an advocate for free higher education. Environmental protesters often advocate for cleaner energy practices.
[q] Aethetic
[a] Aethetic
adj. relating to beauty or refined taste. The aesthetic decorations at the wedding reception made you feel as if you were a character in a fairy tale.
[q] Afford
[a] Afford
v. to be able to buy. v. to be able to spare. He’s saving money so he can afford to buy a new car. I can’t afford to lose any more pencils!
[q] Agitate
[a] Agitate
v. to promote something (usu. a cause). They’re agitating for better health care.
[q] Allow
[a] Allow
v. to permit or consent to. US law allows citizens to speak freely.
[q] Allude
[a] Allude
v. to make a secretive mention of something. She alluded to the problem at hand but didn’t say anything more about it.
[q] Altercation
[a] Altercation
n. a noisy argument or confrontation. Greg got into an altercation with a stranger at the bar.
[q] Ambiguous
[a] Ambiguous
adj. unclear or vague in meaning. Her ambiguous statement made me question whether she could be trusted.
[q] Ambitious
[a] Ambitious
adj. having a powerful desire for success or achievement. Penny is so ambitious, she wants to be president someday.
[q] Ambivalence
[a] Ambivalence
n. the state of being uncertain or stuck between two or more options. His ambivalence prevented him from immediately signing the contract.
[q] Analogous
[a] Analogous
adj. similar but not identical. SAT test is considered analogous to ACT test.
[q] Annihilate
[a] Annihilate
v. to destroy or cause devastating destruction. The dictator sent orders to annihilate the group of rebels.
[q] Anomaly
[a] Anomaly
n. something different from the norm. This result is an anomaly and very rarely happens.
[q] Anticipate
[a] Anticipate
v. assume to be likely to happen. The party was just as fun as I had anticipated it would be.
[q] Antipathy
[a] Antipathy
n. a strong feeling of dislike. Her antipathy toward the professor was obvious: she rolled her eyes whenever he entered the classroom.
[q] Apex
[a] Apex
n. the highest point of something. The spring play was the apex of our school year.
[q] Apprehension
[a] Apprehension
n. fearful expectation of something. Her apprehension to leave her house resulted in her missing the train.
[q] Articulate
[a] Articulate
v. to clearly express in words. She articulated her opinion on the price of the house.
[q] Artificial
[a] Artificial
adj. something made; not occurring naturally. Many candies use artificial flavors to make them taste fruity.
[q] Assertion
[a] Assertion
n. a strong declaration. His assertion that sharks are mammals made everyone laugh.
[q] Austere
[a] Austere
adj. extremely plain. adj. stern and forbidding. adj. relating to self-denial. He lived in a small, austere cabin in the middle of the woods. My boss had an austere expression on her face. An austere lifestyle, like that of monks, isn’t for everybody.
[q] Authenticity
[a] Authenticity
n. the quality of being real and true instead of fake and contrived. The police officer doubted the authenticity of the suspect’s story.
[q] Avenue
[a] Avenue
n. an intangible path or approach to something. The company has decided to pursue other avenues.
[q] Avid
[a] Avid
adj. actively interested in or enthusiastic about something. Gerald is an avid gamer.
[q] Bear
[a] Bear
v. to have as a characteristic. v. to have (a child). v. to bring forth. v. to put up with. She bears a strong resemblance to your mother. Judy will bear her first child last year. My garden is going to bear pumpkins this year. I can’t bear her complaining any longer!
[q] Benevolent
[a] Benevolent
adj. kind, generous. Many cultures believe in benevolent spirits.
[q] Bias
[a] Bias
n. a preconception that prevents objectivity. It’s important to avoid bias when investigating a crime.
[q] Bittersweet
[a] Bittersweet
adj. tinged with a feeling of sadness. The ending of the romance movie was bittersweet.
[q] Bolster
[a] Bolster
/ˈbəʊlstə/ v. to support, strengthen, or fortify. The boss hired a motivation coach to bolster our work ethic.
[q] Boost
[a] Boost
/buːst/ n. an increase or growth. v. to increase or make grow. The boost in profits was a welcome change. In order to boost profits, you need to cater to your customers.
[q] Brawl
[a] Brawl
/brɔːl/ n. an intense, loud fight. v. to fight loudly and disruptively. A brawl broke out at school today after one student accused another of cheating. The two students brawled for an hour.
[q] Brevity
[a] Brevity
/ˈbrɛvɪti/ n. the quality of being brief or concise. The brevity of their time together made it all the more romantic.
[q] Candid
[a] Candid
/ˈkandɪd/ adj. direct, blunt. Josh is candid about his desire to become an actor.
[q] Candor
[a] Candor
/ˈkandə/ n. the trait of being honest and frank. I admire her candor, especially when nobody else bothers to speak up.
[q] Capitalize
[a] Capitalize
/ˈkapɪt(ə)lʌɪz/ v. to use to your advantage. I’d like to capitalize on your math skills by having your work the cash register.
[q] Capture
[a] Capture
/ˈkæp.t͡ʃɚ/ v. to trap or take possession of. v. to successfully represent or imitate. v. to captivate, mesmerize. v. to catch or seize. The spy was captured by the enemy. Your painting beautifully captures the ephemerality of life. I was captured by her beauty. The cops captured the criminal three days after the incident.
[q] Civic
[a] Civic
/ˈsɪvɪk/ adj. relating to the city or citizens. Voting is a civic duty.
[q] Clinical
[a] Clinical
/ˈklɪnɪk(ə)l/ adj. emotionally unattached (usu. used in medical or scientific setting). Her clinical approach to situations allows her to handle them more effectively.
[q] Clout
[a] Clout
/klaʊt/ n. special advantage or power. Children of rich and famous people often believe they have a lot of clout.
[q] Coarse
[a] Coarse
/kɔːs/ adj. indicating a rough texture. adj. lacking refinement or sophistication. The horse’s mane was coarse, as if it had never been washed. The queen’s coarse way of speaking surprised the other members of royalty.
[q] Coincide
[a] Coincide
/ˌkəʊɪnˈsʌɪd/ v. to happen at the same time. It wasn’t until after I booked my ticket that I realized the concert coincided with my finals.
[q] Commission
[a] Commission
/kəˈmɪʃ(ə)n/ n. the use of payment to request something (e.g., a service or product). This painting was commissioned by a rich merchant in 1589.
[q] Comparable
[a] Comparable
/ˈkɒmp(ə)rəb(ə)l/ adj. able to be compared. This novel is comparable to Huckleberry Finn.
[q] Competent
[a] Competent
/ˈkɒmpɪt(ə)nt/ adj. sufficiently qualified. We need to hire a competent web developer to create a good website for our company.
[q] Concede
[a] Concede
/kənˈsiːd/ v. to be forced to agree or surrender. v. to admit to a transgression. With no chance of winning the battle, the army at last conceded. Dan conceded to pranking his sister.
[q] Conceive
[a] Conceive
/kənˈsiːv/ v. to imagine or come up with. The plan to build the city was originally conceived in the early 1900s.
[q] Condone
[a] Condone
v. to overlook, approve, or allow. She couldn’t condone her daughter’s rebellious behavior.
[q] Conducive
[a] Conducive
/kənˈdjuːsɪv/ adj. able to bring about or be suitable for. The noisy students hardly made the campus library conducive to studying.
[q] Conduct
[a] Conduct
/ˈkɒndʌkt/ v. to control or manage. v. to behave a certain way. The group conducted their research abroad last year. Be sure to conduct yourself accordingly.
[q] Confide
[a] Confide
/ˈkɒnfʌɪn/ v. to share something secretive with someone. She confided all of her biggest secrets in her best friend.
[q] Confine
[a] Confine
/kɒnfʌɪn/ v. to put limits on; to restrict. We are going to confine the use of this drinking fountain.
[q] Consensus
[a] Consensus
/kənˈsɛnsəs/ n. overall agreement. After weeks of debating, the panel finally came to a consensus.
[q] Constitute
[a] Constitute
/ˈkɒnstɪtjuːt/ v. to form or compose (part of) something. The desire for equality constituted the civil rights movement.
[q] Contemplate
[a] Contemplate
/ˈkɒntɛmpleɪt/ v. to think deeply about. She contemplated telling her teacher about the cheating student.
[q] Contend
[a] Contend
/kənˈtɛnd/ v. to maintain or assert (an opinion). The president contends that the US government will not negotiate with terrorists.
[q] Contradict
[a] Contradict
v. to be in contrast with. The camera footage contradicts his ability.
[q] Controversial
[a] Controversial
/kɒntrəˈvəːʃ(ə)l/ adj. highly debatable and causing contention. Millions of viewers watched the controversial debate take place.
[q] Conventional
[a] Conventional
/kənˈvɛnʃ(ə)n(ə)l/ adj. abiding by accepted standards. She lives a conventional life in the suburbs.
[q] Convey
[a] Convey
/kənˈveɪ/ v. to pass on or transfer (information). I have trouble conveying my thoughts in French.
[q] Conviction
[a] Conviction
/kənˈvɪkʃ(ə)n/ n. a firm belief in something. Her religious convictions prevent her from eating meat.
[q] Corroborate
[a] Corroborate
/kəˈrɒbəreɪt/ v. to provide evidence for; to back up (a claim). The note signed by her father corroboratesher claim that she was absent from class that day.
[q] Counteract
[a] Counteract
/kaʊntərˈakt/ v. to work in opposition to. This ingredient seems to counteract the other ones.
[q] Counterargument
[a] Counterargument
/ˈkaʊntəˌɑːɡjʊm(ə)nt/ n. an argument used to criticize or dismantle another argument. Make sure to include a counterargumentin your essay so that you can show you’ve considered the topic from all perspectives.
[q] Counterproductive
[a] Counterproductive
/ˌkaʊntəprəˈdʌktɪv/ adj. hindering the achievement of a goal. Bill’s idea to take a shortcut was ultimately counterproductive: it took us twice as long to get to the train station.
[q] Culmination
[a] Culmination
/kʌlmɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/ n. the final act or climax. The culmination of the performance was unforgettable.
[q] Cultivate
[a] Cultivate
/ˈkʌltɪveɪt/ v. to foster the growth of. Teachers don’t just pass on new information to students—they cultivate their academic potential.
[q] Decree
[a] Decree
/dɪˈkriː/ v. to declare formally and with authority. The president decreed that Halloween would henceforth be a national holiday.
[q] Deference
[a] Deference
/ˈdɛf(ə)r(ə)ns/ n. respect; regard. Her deference to the elderly makes her the perfect candidate for an internship at the retirement center.
[q] Deficient
[a] Deficient
/dɪˈfɪʃ(ə)nt/ adj. not enough in degree or amount. I feel as though the sources for my paper are deficient.
[q] Demonstrate
[a] Demonstrate
/ˈdɛmənstreɪt/
v. to do as an example. v. gives evidence for. Could you demonstrate the dance move for me? This book’s use of words such as “grim” and “bleak” demonstrates the author’s mournful tone.
v. to do as an example. v. gives evidence for. Could you demonstrate the dance move for me? This book’s use of words such as “grim” and “bleak” demonstrates the author’s mournful tone.
[q] Demur
[a] Demur
/dɪˈməː/ v. to object to. She demurred at my request to transfer to a different department.
[q] Deplete
[a] Deplete
/dɪˈpliːt/ v. to (over)use over time (usu. resources). The lost campers quickly depleted their supply of food.
[q] Desolate
[a] Desolate
/ˈdɛs(ə)lət/ adj. bare, barren, empty. The moon is one giant, desolate landscape.
[q] Devise
[a] Devise
/dɪˈvʌɪz/ v. to come up with (a plan). Lana devised a plan to make herself famous.
[q] Dilemma
[a] Dilemma
/dɪˈlɛmə/ n. a problem, usually requiring a choice between two options. The main dilemma is whether to pay for a commercial or not.
[q] Diligence
[a] Diligence
/ˈdɪlɪdʒ(ə)ns/ n. conscientiousness; the quality of being committed to a task. Diligence and confidence will get you far in life.
[q] Diminish
[a] Diminish
/dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/ v. to become smaller in scope or degree. The itchiness of mosquito bites usually starts to diminish after a few days.
[q] Dire
[a] Dire
/ˈdʌɪə/ adj. hopeless; dangerous or fearful. When the police didn’t explain what was happening right away, Jane knew that the situation must be dire.
[q] Discord
[a] Discord
/ˈdɪskɔːd/ n. disagreement. Disputes over money caused intense discord in the family.
[q] Disdain
[a] Disdain
/dɪsˈdeɪn/ n. a lack of respect and strong dislike (toward something or someone). He looked at me with such disdain that I immediately knew the job wouldn’t work out.
[q] Dismay
[a] Dismay
/dɪsˈmeɪ/ n. hopelessness, stress, or consternation. v. to fill with woe or apprehension. To Nick’s dismay, he got an F on the test. Many were dismayed by the town’s implementation of metered parking.
[q] Disparage
[a] Disparage
/dɪˈsparɪdʒ/ v. to belittle or speak down to. A good boss is stern but never disparages his or her employees.
[q] Dispatch
[a] Dispatch
/dɪˈspatʃ/ v. to send off a message or messenger. The mother dispatched her daughter to their neighbor’s house.
[q] Diversification
[a] Diversification
/dʌɪvəːsɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/ n. the act of becoming diverse. Lately, there’s been noticeable diversification of students at higher institutions.
[q] Doctrine
[a] Doctrine
/ˈdɒktrɪn/ n. a principle, theory, or position, usu. advocated by a religion or gov’t. Devoutly religious people often live their lives according to their doctrines.
[q] Dominion
[a] Dominion
/dəˈmɪnjən/ n. power and authority (usu. over a territory). n. a legal territory. The country claimed to have dominion over parts of Russia. Puerto Rico is a dominion of the US.
[q] Dreary
[a] Dreary
/ˈdrɪəri/ adj. sad, gloomy, dull. The gray clouds in the sky made the day feel dreary.
[q] Dubious
[a] Dubious
/ˈdjuːbɪəs/ adj. doubtful, questionable. The man’s claims to the throne were dubious since nobody knew where he’d come from.
[q] Eccentric
[a] Eccentric
/ɪkˈsɛntrɪk/ adj. peculiar or odd; deviating from the norm. She’s a little eccentric but still fun to be around.
[q] Egregious
[a] Egregious
/ɪˈɡriːdʒəs/ adj. extremely bad. After cheating on the exam, Emily began to feel as though she’d made an egregious mistake.
[q] Eloquent
[a] Eloquent
/ˈɛləkwənt/ adj. having refined or expressive communication skills (in speaking or writing). His speech was not only eloquent but also extremely compelling.
[q] Eminent
[a] Eminent
\ ˈe-mə-nənt \ adj. superior or distinguished; high in position or status. Our town made news when the eminent magician came to perform at our local theater.
[q] Emit
[a] Emit
/ ɪˈmɪt/ v. to discharge, give forth, or release. Plants consume carbon dioxide and emit oxygen.
[q] Emphatic
[a] Emphatic
/ɪmˈfatɪk/ adj. very expressive; using emphasis. Her emphatic smile told me she was excited to ride the roller coaster.
[q] Empirical
[a] Empirical
/ɛmˈpɪrɪk(ə)/ adj. derived from experience, observation, or an experiment. You need empirical evidence to support your claim.
[q] Endow
[a] Endow
/ɪnˈdaʊ/ v. to equip or bestow (usu. a quality or ability). According to the myth, the gods endowed him with the gift of healing.
[q] Endure
[a] Endure
/ɪnˈdjʊə/ v. to withstand, sustain, or hold out against. I can’t endure this wait any longer. Will Stanford accept or reject me?
[q] Entail
[a] Entail
/ɪnˈteɪl/ v. to involve or include. A doctoral program entails long nights and a heavy workload.
[q] Entrenched
[a] Entrenched
/ɪnˈtrɛn(t)ʃt/ adj. firmly established. Her face will forever be entrenched in my memory.
[q] Enumerate
[a] Enumerate
/ɪˈnjuːməreɪt/ v. to specify or count. I can’t enumerate how many times I’ve had to remind my students when their papers are due.
[q] Envy
[a] Envy
/ˈɛnvi/ n. excessive jealousy. v. to admire and be jealous of. His envy of her is quite obvious. She envies her coworker’s social skills.
[q] Erratic
[a] Erratic
/ɪˈratɪk/ adj. having no fixed course; deviating from the norm. The car became erratic after slipping on ice.
[q] Establish
[a] Establish
/ɪˈstablɪʃ/ v. to enact. v. to found (a business, group, school, etc.). They established a law that made it illegal to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol. Our group established a new branch in Chicago.
[q] Evoke
[a] Evoke
/ɪˈvəʊk/ v. to draw forth or call up. Horror movies are great at evoking fear.
[q] Exacerbate
[a] Exacerbate
/ɪɡˈzasəbeɪt/ v. to make worse or increase the severity of. The doctor told me not to run as it can exacerbate my knee injury.
[q] Excel
[a] Excel
/ɪkˈsɛl/ v. to do something extremely well or to be superior in. She was a well-rounded student but excelled especially in science.
[q] Exert
[a] Exert
v. to put into use (usu. as effort). Don’t exert all of your energy at once.
[q] Exhilarating
[a] Exhilarating
/ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ/ adj. invigorating, stimulating, or exciting. The music playing at the club was catchy and exhilarating.
[q] Expend
[a] Expend
/ɪkˈspɛnd/ v. to use up (as in energy or money). Be careful not to expend all your energy in the first half of a marathon.
[q] Exploit
[a] Exploit
/ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ v. to use selfishly or for profit. The shoddy company exploited its workers by paying them extremely low wages.
[q] Facilitate
[a] Facilitate
/fəˈsɪlɪteɪt/ v. to aid the progress of. In grad school, advisors facilitate students’ research and offer constructive criticism.
[q] Feasibility
[a] Feasibility
/fiːzɪˈbɪlɪti/ n. the practicality or possibility of something. The feasibility of her project was doubtful; she’d have to go all the way to Antarctica and back before the school year ended.
[q] Ferocity
[a] Ferocity
/fəˈrɒsɪti/ n. viciousness, violence. The lion is just one wild animal known for its ferocity.
[q] Fiscal
[a] Fiscal
/ˈfɪsk(ə)l/ adj. related to (government) money. Fiscal policy is how the government uses money to influence the economy.
[q] Flourish
[a] Flourish
/ˈflʌrɪʃ/ v. to prosper, grow, or make fast progress. After one year, the tiny plants had flourished into a breathtaking garden.
[q] Fluctuate
[a] Fluctuate
/ˈflʌktʃʊeɪt/ v. to be unstable; to rise and fall. Stocks can fluctuate on a daily basis, making it difficult to determine when to buy or sell one.
[q] Foment
[a] Foment
/fə(ʊ)ˈmɛnt/ v. to stir up. The civilians accused their leader of fomenting political unrest.
[q] Foreseeable
[a] Foreseeable
/fɔːˈsiːəbl/ adj. capable of being predicted or anticipated. I can’t imagine aliens visiting us in the foreseeable future.
[q] Frankly
[a] Frankly
/ˈfraŋkli/ adv. directly, clearly. I frankly don’t see the point in learning to drive.
[q] Freewheeling
[a] Freewheeling
/ˌfriːˈwiːlɪŋ/ adj. carefree. His freewheeling attitude often got him in trouble at work.
[q] Fundamental
[a] Fundamental
/fʌndəˈmɛnt(ə)l/ adj. the most essential or most basic part. A thesis is arguably the most fundamental part of an essay.
[q] Galvanizing
[a] Galvanizing
/ˈɡalvənʌɪzɪŋ/ adj. thrilling, exciting, stimulating. The galvanizing performance left everyone spellbound.
[q] Geriatric
[a] Geriatric
/ˌdʒɛrɪˈatrɪk/ adj. relating to old age. I became interested in geriatric medicine shortly after my grandfather passed away from cancer.
[q] Hostile
[a] Hostile
adj. harmful, dangerous. The voices around the corner sounded angry, hostile even.
[q] Hypothetical
[a] Hypothetical
/ˌhʌɪpəˈθɛtɪk(ə)l/ adj. supposed; related to a hypothesis. For my physics homework, I must come up with a hypothetical situation.
[q] Ignominious
[a] Ignominious
/ˌɪɡnəˈmɪnɪəs/ adj. publicly shameful or humiliating. The politician’s expensive campaign ultimately ended in ignominious defeat.
[q] Impart
[a] Impart
/ɪmˈpɑːt/ v. to transmit, bestow, or disclose; make (information) known. Parents must impart common sense to their children.
[q] Impartiality
[a] Impartiality
/ɪmpɑːʃɪˈalɪti/ n. the equal and objective treatment of opposing views. To ensure impartiality, we require everyone to follow these general guidelines.
[q] Imposing
[a] Imposing
/ɪmˈpəʊzɪŋ/ adj. impressive (esp. in size or appearance). The old mansion was imposing in its huge size and gothic architecture.
[q] Imposition
[a] Imposition
/ɪmpəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/ n. an unnecessary burden. If it’s not too much of an imposition, could you proofread my paper?
[q] Imprudent
[a] Imprudent
/ɪmˈpruːd(ə)nt/ adj. not cautious or prudent; rash. Backpacking abroad can be fun, but don’t be imprudent about money.
[q] Incite
[a] Incite
/ɪnˈsʌɪt/ v. to encourage or stir up. Her hateful words incited anger in the crowd.
[q] Indifference
[a] Indifference
/ɪnˈdɪf(ə)r(ə)ns/ n. apathy, emotional detachment. The girl’s indifference toward her brother upset their parents.
[q] Indiscriminately
[a] Indiscriminately
/ˌɪndɪˈskrɪmɪnətli/ adv. randomly; with little or no distinction. Lottery winners are chosen indiscriminately.
[q] Indulge
[a] Indulge
/ɪnˈdʌldʒ/ v. to give into; to satisfy or gratify. My friend loves to indulge in cheesy romance movies.
[q] Infer
[a] Infer
/ɪnˈfəː/ v. to guess, conclude, or derive by reasoning. You can infer from this quotation that the writer didn’t care for “pretty” language.
[q] Innovative
[a] Innovative
/ˈɪnəvətɪv/ adj. novel or new (esp. as an idea or invention). Her invention was incredibly innovative and won her multiple awards.
[q] Insatiable
[a] Insatiable
/ɪnˈseɪʃəb(ə)l/ adj. can’t be satisfied. A vampire’s thirst for blood is said to be insatiable.
[q] Inversion
[a] Inversion
/ɪnˈvəːʃ(ə)n/ n. a reversal. The culture’s norms were an inversion of our own.
[q] Invoke
[a] Invoke
/ɪnˈvəʊk v. to call on; to appeal to (e.g., a higher power). The shaman attempted to invoke a demon.
[q] Irreconcilable
[a] Irreconcilable
/ɪˌrɛk(ə)nˈsʌɪləb(ə)l/ adj. incapable of being in harmony or agreed upon. The couple’s differences were ultimately irreconcilable, giving them no choice but to break up.
[q] Lament
[a] Lament
/ləˈmɛnt/ v. to feel sorrow for; to mourn. Susan lamented her missed chance at going to Europe with her high school class.
[q] Locomotion
[a] Locomotion
/ləʊkəˈməʊʃ(ə)n/ n. movement. Physics involves the study of locomotion.
[q] Lucrative
[a] Lucrative
/ˈluːkrətɪv/ adj. capable of making a lot of money; profitable. Writing books isn’t a particularly lucrativecareer, unless you’re J.K. Rowling.
[q] Malicious
[a] Malicious
/məˈlɪʃəs adj. harmful, spiteful. The malicious spirit drove out the inhabitants from their home.
[q] Malleable
[a] Malleable
/ˈmalɪəb(ə)l/ adj. capable of being molded or changed. Children’s minds are malleable but only for so long.
[q] Materialistic
[a] Materialistic
/məˌtɪərɪəˈlɪstɪk/ adj. superficial; focus on material possessions. Many people accuse Americans of being materialistic.
[q] Melodramatic
[a] Melodramatic
/mɛlədrəˈmatɪk/ adj. extravagant or exaggerated (as of a melodrama). The melodramatic play was well liked by the audience.
[q] Modest
[a] Modest
adj. simple and humble. adj. small in size or amount. They moved into a modest house in the countryside. I received a modest sum of money for my help at the company event.
[q] Modify
[a] Modify
v. to change, alter, or tweak. Dr. Nguyen modified the gene so that it wouldn’t carry the disease.
[q] Momentous
[a] Momentous
/mə(ʊ)ˈmɛntəs/ adj. historically significant. Her win in the election was momentous.
[q] Novel
[a] Novel
/ˈnɒv(ə)l/ adj. new, innovative, unusual. We are looking for novel ways to approach the project.
[q] Nuance
[a] Nuance
/ˈnjuːɑːns/ n. a subtle difference in meaning. Body-language experts even understand the nuances of facial expressions.
[q] Null
[a] Null
/nʌl/ adj. void and ineffective; having no legal or binding force. The government declared their marriage null.
[q] Objectivity
[a] Objectivity
/ˌɒbdʒɛkˈtɪvɪti/ n. judgment based on observations instead of emotions or opinions. In scientific research, objectivity is of utmost importance.
[q] Obsolete
[a] Obsolete
/ˈɒbsəliːt/ adj. no longer used; rare or uncommon. Historians assumed record players would be obsolete by now, but in fact they’re making a huge comeback.
[q] Omnipotent
[a] Omnipotent
/ɒmˈnɪpət(ə)nt/ adj. almighty and all powerful. Gods are omnipotent beings who can control human destiny.
[q] Onset
[a] Onset
/ˈɒnsɛt/ n. the beginning or early stages. At the onset of her career as a lawyer, things were looking up.
[q] Opine
[a] Opine
/ə(ʊ)ˈpʌɪn/ v. to openly express an opinion. The new employee opined at the company meeting.
[q] Ornate
[a] Ornate
/ɔːˈneɪt/ adj. highly detailed and decorated. That ornate silverware must be worth thousands of dollars!
[q] Oust
[a] Oust
/aʊst/ v. to remove or force out of (usu. a position or office). Sick and tired of putting up with his bad moods, the pirates ousted their captain.
[q] Paramount
[a] Paramount
/ ˈparəmaʊnt/ adj. predominant, superior, most important. Our paramount concern is the safety of our employees.
[q] Peculiar
[a] Peculiar
/pɪˈkjuːlɪə/ adj. strange, bizarre. Upon entering the abandoned house, Kate experienced a peculiar feeling, as if someone was watching her.
[q] Perish
[a] Perish
/ˈpɛrɪʃ/ v. to die; to pass away. According to the news, nobody perished in the fire.
[q] Persecute
[a] Persecute
/ˈpəːsɪkjuːt/ v. to cause suffering to. They will persecute anyone who doesn’t agree with their views of the world.
[q] Petulant
[a] Petulant
/ˈpɛtjʊl(ə)nt/ adj. cranky, pouty, irritable; bad-tempered. Petulant children are especially difficult to care for.
[q] Pinnacle
[a] Pinnacle
/ˈpɪnək(ə)l/ n. highest level or degree. Many believe that composers such as Beethoven and Mozart represent the pinnacle of classical music.
[q] Pitiable
[a] Pitiable
/ˈpɪtɪəb(ə)l/ adj. deserving pity. The frail-looking dog was pitiable, so I gave it some food and took it inside to care for it.
[q] Plausible
[a] Plausible
/ˈplɔːzɪb(ə)l/ adj. reasonable and possibly true. Her story is plausible, but that doesn’t mean she’s telling the truth.
[q] Postulate
[a] Postulate
/ˈpɒstjʊleɪt/ v. to assert; suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief. The literary critic postulates that romanticism and naturalism are actually interconnected.
[q] Potent
[a] Potent
/ˈpəʊt(ə)nt/ adj. having great influence. adj. having a strong, chemical effect. The bald eagle is a potent symbol of the US. The potion was definitely potent—it healed my wounds immediately!
[q] Pragmatic
[a] Pragmatic
/praɡˈmatɪk/ adj. practical, useful. It’s not necessarily more pragmatic to study engineering than it is to study philosophy.
[q] Precedent
[a] Precedent
/ˈprɛsɪd(ə)nt/ n. an example or subject from earlier in time. This change in law is without historical precedent.
[q] Predecessor
[a] Predecessor
/ˈpriːdɪsɛsə/ n. someone who comes before you (usu. in position or office). My predecessor gave me many tips for running the office.
[q] Prescribe
[a] Prescribe
v. to command orders. v. to issue authorization for medications. The directions for our essay prescribe a length of at least ten pages. A doctor must prescribe you this medication before you can begin taking it.
[q] Principle
[a] Principle
/ˈprɪnsɪp(ə)l/ n. basic truth, assumption, or rule. Remember the universal principle: treat others as you want them to treat you.
[q] Prohibit
[a] Prohibit
/prə(ʊ)ˈhɪbɪt/ v. to command against, to outlaw. Alcohol was prohibited in the US in the 1920s.
[q] Prompt
[a] Prompt
/prɒm(p)t/ adj. punctual, on time. n. a cue to begin something; instructions. v. to incite, propel, or cause to act. She is always prompt when it comes to turning in her homework. I had to write an essay based on a prompt. The possibility of a scholarship promptedhim to apply to Harvard.
[q] Promulgate
[a] Promulgate
/ˈprɒm(ə)lɡeɪt/ v. to put into law or formally declare. The ruler will at last promulgate an amnesty with the neighboring countries.
[q] Prosecute
[a] Prosecute
/ˈprɒsɪkjuːt/ v. to bring criminal action against someone (in a trial). The suspect was prosecuted yesterday.
[q] Provocative
[a] Provocative
/prəˈvɒkətɪv/ dj. intending to provoke, inspire, or arouse. Her nude paintings are considered quite provocative.
[q] Qualitative
[a] Qualitative
/ˈkwɒlɪtətɪv/ adj. involving qualities of something (features and content). I noticed a qualitative change in her paintings.
[q] Quantitative
[a] Quantitative
/ˈkwɒntɪtətɪv/ adj. involving quantities (numbers and amounts). We must conduct a quantitative analysis
[q] Quirk
[a] Quirk
/kwəːk/ n. a strange habit. His biggest quirk is his love of old marbles.
[q] Ramify
[a] Ramify
/ˈramɪfʌɪ/ v. to split into two or more branches. Cars ramified throughout the world in the twentieth century
[q] Rash
[a] Rash
/raʃ/ adj. without attention to danger or risk. Her rash decision to pass the car nearly resulted in a crash.
[q] Raw
[a] Raw
/rɔː/ adj. unrefined. adj. not processed; uncooked (as in food). He’s got raw talent as a singer, but he needs to work on his performance skills. In some countries, such as Japan, it is normal to eat raw fish.
[q] Readily
[a] Readily
/ˈrɛdɪli/ adv. right away and without difficulty. Water was readily available at different points in the race.
[q] Reconsideration
[a] Reconsideration
/ˌriːkənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/ n. thinking again about a previously made choice. The judges’ reconsideration of her performance resulted in her victory.
[q] Reform
[a] Reform
/rɪˈfɔːm/ n. a change for the better; improvement. v. to improve via change. The reform made it so that only those 18 and older can legally drive. The government reformed its vague policies on marijuana use.
[q] Refute
[a] Refute
/rɪˈfjuːt/ v. to prove to be untrue, unfounded, or incorrect. The student refuted the professor’s claim in class.
[q] Reinforce
[a] Reinforce
/riːɪnˈfɔːs/ v. to strengthen or add support to. We can use these pipes to reinforce the structure.
[q] Reluctantly
[a] Reluctantly
/rɪˈlʌkt(ə)ntli/ adv. somewhat unwillingly. Max reluctantly agreed to see the horror movie with his friends.
[q] Renounce
[a] Renounce
/rɪˈnaʊns/ v. to give up (usu. power or a position). v. to cast off. Our CEO renounced her position yesterday. He renounced his friend after he caught her stealing money from him
[q] Reproach
[a] Reproach
/rɪˈprəʊtʃ/ v. to criticize. The mother reproached her daughter’s school for making students come in during a blizzard.
[q] Repudiate
[a] Repudiate
/rɪˈpjuːdɪeɪt/ v. to refuse to recognize as true. v. to cast off. The father repudiated his son’s marriage. She repudiated her son once she found out he’d married someone without telling her.
[q] Retention
[a] Retention
/rɪˈtɛnʃ(ə)n/ n. the act of keeping something. Water retention can make you weigh more on certain days.
[q] Satiated
[a] Satiated
/ˈseɪʃɪeɪt/ adj. satisfied (usu. in hunger). I felt satiated after eating a snack.
[q] Savvy
[a] Savvy
/ˈsavi/ adj. having practical intelligence or knowledge. My brother is not very savvy when it comes to using public transportation.
[q] Scandalous
[a] Scandalous
/ˈskandələs/ adj. morally offensive, often causing damage to one’s reputation. The scandalous politician decided it was best to resign from office.
[q] Scorn
[a] Scorn
/skɔːn/ v. to look down on with disdain. It’s difficult for me not to scorn those who use improper grammar.
[q] Scrupulous
[a] Scrupulous
/ˈskruːpjʊləs/ adj. paying great attention to detail. I am a scrupulous proofreader and never miss an error.
[q] Scrutinize
[a] Scrutinize
/ˈskruːtɪnʌɪz/ v. to examine carefully and critically. The teacher scrutinized her students’ essays.
[q] Secrete
[a] Secrete
/sɪˈkriːt/ v. to produce or release (a substance). Trees secrete a sticky substance called sap.
[q] Sentiment
[a] Sentiment
/ˈsɛntɪm(ə)nt/ n. opinion. n. a tender or moving gesture. I am of the sentiment that you should never give out your passwords to anyone. Even though I’m not a big fan of porcelain dolls, I appreciated the sentiment.
[q] Sheer
[a] Sheer
/ʃɪə/ adj. so thin that light can shine through. The curtains on the window were so sheeryou could clearly see inside the house.
[q] Simple
[a] Simple
adj. easy; not complex. adj. undecorated. This math problem is so simple even a first grader can solve it. The simple beauty of the ocean is what makes it memorable.
[q] Sinister
[a] Sinister
/ˈsɪnɪstə/ adj. ominous, evil. Medieval peasants believed sinisterdemons could harm humans.
[q] Solidarity
[a] Solidarity
/ˌsɒlɪˈdarɪti/ n. the joining of commonalities or common purposes among a group. I stood in solidarity with other female students by refusing to wear the school’s sexist uniform.
[q] Sparingly
[a] Sparingly
/ˈspɛːrɪŋli/ adv. insufficiently, meagerly, or in a restricted manner. Due to my condition, I must eat salt sparingly.
[q] Spawn
[a] Spawn
/spɔːn/ v. to release eggs. v. to call forth or generate. Frogs typically spawn in ponds. The topic spawned an ongoing debate among his family members.
[q] Spur
[a] Spur
/spəː/ v. to stimulate or incite. Her bravery spurred others to act.
[q] Squalid
[a] Squalid
/ˈskwɒlɪd/ adj. run-down, sordid, or sleazy. The squalid cabin needed a new roof and an exterminator.
[q] Stark
[a] Stark
/stɑːk/ adj. very plain; devoid of any details or features. Looking out at the stark landscape, I felt a keen sense of isolation.
[q] Static
[a] Static
/ˈstatɪk/ adj. motionless. adj. changeless. The ball is static. Her life has been static for the past three years.
[q] Subordinate
[a] Subordinate
/səˈbɔːdɪnət/ adj. lower in rank. n. someone lower in rank. v. to make dependent on or put at a lower rank. The subordinate officers work every day. My subordinate will check you in. You aren’t my boss—you can’t subordinateme to the role of receptionist!
[q] Subsequently
[a] Subsequently
/ˈsʌbsɪkwəntli/ adv. happening later or after something. I subsequently went home.
[q] Substantial
[a] Substantial
/səbˈstanʃ(ə)l/ adj. very large in amount or degree. I was shocked to find a substantial amount of money beneath the park bench.
[q] Substantiate
[a] Substantiate
/səbˈstanʃɪeɪt/ v. to strengthen with new evidence or facts. It is important for scientists to substantiate their theories whenever possible.
[q] Subtle
[a] Subtle
/ˈsʌt(ə)l/ adj. hard to detect or analyze. I detected in her expression a subtle hint of irritation.
[q] Sufficient
[a] Sufficient
/səˈfɪʃ(ə)nt/ adj. enough; just meeting a requirement. These boxes should be sufficient for our move.
[q] Surly
[a] Surly
/ˈsəːli/ adj. unfriendly; inclined to anger. The bartender was a surly fellow who wasn’t afraid to start a fight.
[q] Surmount
[a] Surmount
/səˈmaʊnt/ v. to get on top of or overcome. They managed to surmount the language barrier by using a translation app.
[q] Susceptible
[a] Susceptible
/səˈsɛptɪb(ə)l/ adj. to be vulnerable (to something). Children are more susceptible to certain illnesses than adults are.
[q] Tactful
[a] Tactful
/ˈtaktfʊl/ adj. skilled at dealing with people. Her tactful attitude toward our class made her one of my favorite teachers.
[q] Taut
[a] Taut
/tɔːt/ adj. pulled tight. The rubber band was taut and ready to be fired.
[q] Teeming
[a] Teeming
/tiːmɪŋ/ adj. abundantly filled (usu. with living organisms). Doorknobs are not as clean as they look and are often teeming with germs.
[q] Temperament
[a] Temperament
/ˈtɛmp(ə)rəm(ə)nt/ n. usual mood or feelings. She had a hostile temperament, making her intimidating to most people.
[q] Tentative
[a] Tentative
/ˈtɛntətɪv/ adj. not yet finalized. We haven’t made any official arrangements yet, but the tentative location for our wedding is Hawaii.
[q] Transparent
[a] Transparent
/tranˈspar(ə)nt/ adj. see-through; so thin that light can shine through. adj. truthful or easy to perceive. Stained window glass isn’t as transparentas regular window glass is. She was transparent about her plans to end her marriage.
[q] Treacherous
[a] Treacherous
/ˈtrɛtʃ(ə)rəs/ adj. dangerous and unstable. The journey was becoming treacherous,but they continued on regardless.
[q] Tremendous
[a] Tremendous
/trɪˈmɛndəs/ adj. very large, good, or bad in degree or size. Tremendous news! You don’t have to repay your loans!
[q] Ubiquitous
[a] Ubiquitous
/juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/ adj. being everywhere at once. Cell phones are ubiquitous these days.
[q] Unadorned
[a] Unadorned
/ʌnəˈdɔːnd/ adj. undecorated, plain. Though the dress was cheap and unadorned, it was by far her favorite one on the rack.
[q] Undermine
[a] Undermine
/ʌndəˈmʌɪn/ v. to weaken or subvert (usu. gradually or secretly). Parents should take care not to constantly undermine their children.
[q] Underscore
[a] Underscore
/ˈʌndəskɔː/ v. to emphasize or give additional weight to. This sentence seems to underscore the overall meaning of the passage.
[q] Undulate
[a] Undulate
/ˈʌndjʊleɪt/ v. to move as ripples or in a wavy pattern
Belly dancers are known for their ability to skillfully undulate their stomachs.
[q] Unilateral
[a] Unilateral
/juːnɪˈlat(ə)r(ə)l/ adj. one-sided. The unilateral decision was deemed unfair by the other party involved.
[q] Unjust
[a] Unjust
/ʌnˈdʒʌst/ adj. unfair; not justified. The court’s decision is unjust—he should not go free.
[q] Unmitigated
[a] Unmitigated
/ʌnˈmɪtɪɡeɪtɪd/ adj. downright, utter, total. My speech was an unmitigated disaster!
[q] Unprecedented
[a] Unprecedented
/ʌnˈprɛsɪdɛntɪd/ adj. completely new and never having happened before; historic. The number of protestors was unprecedented.
[q] Unveil
[a] Unveil
/ʌnˈveɪl/ v. to make visible; to reveal. We plan to unveil our plans for the new company project on Sunday.
[q] Urge
[a] Urge
/ˈəːdʒ/ n. desire or impulse. v. to encourage or persuade. He had the urge to tell his parents about his acceptance to Columbia but decided against it. She urged her sister to apply to Stanford.
[q] Validate
[a] Validate
/ˈvalɪdeɪt/ v. to prove or declare valid. Your selfish actions do not validate your feelings for me.
[q] Viability
[a] Viability
/vʌɪəˈbɪlɪti/ n. ability to be done in a practical or useful way. The viability of the solution is questionable.
[q] Vital
[a] Vital
/ˈvʌɪt(ə)l/ adj. urgently necessary. It is vital that you respond by the deadline.
[q] Vow
[a] Vow
/vaʊ/ v. to promise. My brother quickly broke his vow to never eat chocolate again.
[q] Warrant
[a] Warrant
/ˈwɒr(ə)nt/ v. to prove to be reasonable. Wanting to look cool in front of your friends doesn’t warrant breaking the law.
[q] Yield
[a] Yield
/jiːld/ n. production of an amount. v. to give way to or surrender to. v. to produce or supply. The farmer’s annual pumpkin yield exceeded 10,000. Cars turning right on red must yield to oncoming traffic. Our experiment yielded many unique-looking vegetables.
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