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sat words F-L

146 words

Terms

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harangue
1. (n.) a ranting speech (Everyone had heard the teacher's harangue about gum chewing in class before.) 2. (v.) to give such a speech (But this time the teacher harangued the class about the importance of brushing your teeth after chewing gum
laceration
(n.) a cut, tear (Because he fell off his bike into a rosebush, the paperboy's skin was covered with lacerations
incorrigible
(adj.) incapable of correction, delinquent (You can buy Grandma nicotine gum all you want, but I think that after sixty-five years of smoking she's incorrigible
fortitude
(n.) strength, guts (Achilles' fortitude in battle is legendary
fabricate
(v.) to make up, invent (When I arrived an hour late to class, I fabricated some excuse about my car breaking down on the way to school
flout
(v.) to disregard or disobey openly (I flouted the school's dress code by wearing a tie-dyed tank top and a pair of cut-off jeans
kudos
(n.) praise for an achievement (After the performance, the reviewers gave the opera singer kudos for a job well done
inexorable
(adj.) incapable of being persuaded or placated (Although I begged for hours, Mom was inexorable and refused to let me stay out all night after the prom
interminable
(adj.) without possibility of end (The fact that biology lectures came just before lunch made them seem interminable
guile
(n.) deceitful, cunning, sly behavior (Because of his great guile, the politician was able to survive scandal after scandal
façade
1. (n.) the wall of a building (Meet me in front of the museum's main façade.) 2. (n.) a deceptive appearance or attitude (Despite my smiling façade, I am feeling melancholy
hypothetical
(adj.) supposed or assumed true, but unproven (Even though it has been celebrated by seven major newspapers, that the drug will be a success when tested in humans is still hypothetical
indigenous
(adj.) originating in a region (Some fear that these plants, which are not indigenous to the region, may choke out the vegetation that is native to the area
limpid
(adj.) clear, transparent (Mr. Johnson's limpid writing style greatly pleased readers who disliked complicated novels
incisive
(adj.) clear, sharp, direct (The discussion wasn't going anywhere until her incisive comment allowed everyone to see what the true issues were
forestall
(v.) to prevent, thwart, delay (I forestalled the cold I was getting by taking plenty of vitamin C pills and wearing a scarf
inquisitor
(n.) one who inquires, especially in a hostile manner (The inquisitor was instructed to knock on every door in town in order to find the fugitive
genial
(adj.) friendly, affable (Although he's been known to behave like a real jerk, I would say that my brother is an overall genial guy
implement
1. (n.) an instrument, utensil, tool (Do you have a knife or some other sort of implement that I could use to pry the lid off of this jar?) 2. (v.) to put into effect, to institute (After the first town curfew failed to stop the graffiti problem, the mayor implemented a new policy to use security cameras to catch perpetrators in the act
inarticulate
(adj.) incapable of expressing oneself clearly through speech (Though he spoke for over an hour, the lecturer was completely inarticulate and the students had no idea what he was talking about
implicit
(adj.) understood but not outwardly obvious, implied (I know Professor Smith didn't actually say not to write from personal experience, but I think such a message was implicit in her instruction to use scholarly sources
fetter
(v.) to chain, restrain (The dog was fettered to the parking meter
hierarchy
(n.) a system with ranked groups, usually according to social, economic, or professional class (Women found it very difficult to break into the upper ranks of the department's hierarchy
indolent
(adj.) lazy (Why should my indolent children, who can't even pick themselves up off the couch to pour their own juice, be rewarded with a trip to the mall?)
infamy
(n.) notoriety, extreme ill repute (The infamy of his crime will not lessen as the decades pass
gourmand
(n.) someone fond of eating and drinking (My parents, who used to eat little more than crackers and salad, have become real gourmands in their old age
inchoate
(adj.) unformed or formless, in a beginning stage (The country's government is still inchoate and, because it has no great tradition, quite unstable
hallowed
(adj.) revered, consecrated (In the hallowed corridors of the cathedral, the disturbed professor felt himself to be at peace
foil
(v.) to thwart, frustrate, defeat (Inspector Wilkens foiled the thieves by locking them in the bank along with their stolen money
intimation
(n.) an indirect suggestion (Mr. Brinford's intimation that he would soon pass away occurred when he began to discuss how to distribute his belongings among his children
figurative
(adj.) symbolic (Using figurative language, Jane likened the storm to an angry bull
flabbergasted
(adj.) astounded (Whenever I read an Agatha Christie mystery novel, I am always flabbergasted when I learn the identity of the murderer
furtive
(adj.) secretive, sly (Jane's placement of her drugs in her sock drawer was not as furtive as she thought, as the sock drawer is the first place most parents look
induce
(v.) to bring about, stimulate (Who knew that our decision to boycott school lunch would induce a huge riot?)
incontrovertible
(adj.) indisputable (Only stubborn Tina would attempt to disprove the incontrovertible laws of physics
innocuous
(adj.) harmless, inoffensive (In spite of their innocuous appearance, these mushrooms are actually quite poisonous
gluttony
(n.) overindulgence in food or drink (Ada's fried chicken tastes so divine, I don't know how anyone can call gluttony a sin
latent
(adj.) hidden, but capable of being exposed (Sigmund's dream represented his latent paranoid obsession with other people's shoes
juxtaposition
(n.) the act of placing two things next to each other for implicit
flaccid
(adj.) limp, not firm or strong (If a plant is not watered enough, its leaves become droopy and flaccid
intractable
(adj.) difficult to manipulate, unmanageable (There was no end in sight to the intractable conflict between the warring countries
insurgent
(n.) one who rebels (The insurgent snuck into and defaced a different classroom each night until the administration agreed to meet his demands
heinous
(adj.) shockingly wicked, repugnant (The killings were made all the more heinous by the fact that the murderer first tortured his victims for three days
inhibit
(v.) to prevent, restrain, stop (When I told you I needed the car last night, I certainly never meant to inhibit you from going out
lurid
(adj.) ghastly, sensational (Gideon's story, in which he described a character torturing his sister's dolls, was judged too lurid to be printed in the school's literary magazine
lethargic
(adj.) in a state of sluggishness or apathy (When Jean Claude explained to his boss that he was lethargic and didn't feel like working that day, the boss fired him
libertarian
(adj.) advocating principles of liberty and free will (The dissatisfied subjects overthrew the monarch and replaced him with a libertarian ruler who respected their democratic principles
fickle
(adj.) shifting in character, inconstant (In Greek dramas, the fickle gods help Achilles one day, and then harm him the next
inundate
(v.) to flood with abundance (Because I am the star of a new sitcom, my fans are sure to inundate me with fan mail and praise
incumbent
1. (n.) one who holds an office (The incumbent senator is already serving his fifth term.) 2. (adj.) obligatory (It is incumbent upon this organization to offer aid to all who seek it
knell
(n.) the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death (Echoing throughout our village, the funeral knell made the stormy day even more grim
inviolable
(adj.) secure from assault (Nobody was ever able to break into Batman's inviolable Batcave
impinge
1. (v.) to impact, affect, make an impression (The hail impinged the roof, leaving large dents.) 2. (v.) to encroach, infringe (I apologize for impinging upon you like this, but I really need to use your bathroom. Now
interlocutor
(n.) someone who participates in a dialogue or conversation (When the officials could not come to an agreement over the correct cover of the flags, the prime minister acted as an interlocutor
innuendo
(n.) an insinuation (During the debate, the politician made several innuendos about the sexual activities of his opponent
inane
(adj.) silly and meaningless (Some films are so inane that the psychology of the characters makes absolutely no sense
gratuitous
(adj.) uncalled for, unwarranted (Every morning the guy at the donut shop gives me a gratuitous helping of ketchup packets
inoculate
(v.) to introduce a microorganism, serum, or vaccine into an organism in order to increase immunity to illness; to vaccinate (I've feared needles ever since I was inoculated against 37 diseases at age one; but I have also never been sick
forsake
(v.) to give up, renounce (My New Year's resolution is to forsake smoking and drinking
lithe
(adj.) graceful, flexible, supple (Although the dancers were all outstanding, Jae Sun's control of her lithe body was particularly impressive
fortuitous
(adj.) happening by chance, often lucky or fortunate (After looking for Manuel and not finding him at home, Harriet had a fortuitous encounter with him at the post office
iconoclast
(n.) one who attacks common beliefs or institutions (Jane goes to one protest after another, but she seems to be an iconoclast rather than an activist with a progressive agenda
judicious
(adj.) having or exercising sound judgment (When the judicious king decided to compromise rather than send his army to its certain death, he was applauded
interject
(v.) to insert between other things (During our conversation, the cab driver occasionally interjected his opinion
lucid
(adj.) clear, easily understandable (Because Guenevere's essay was so lucid, I only had to read it once to understand her reasoning
impassive
(adj.) stoic, not susceptible to suffering (Stop being so impassive; it's healthy to cry every now and then
iridescent
(adj.) showing rainbow colors (The bride's large diamond ring was iridescent in the afternoon sun
facile
1. (adj.) easy, requiring little effort (This game is so facile that even a four-year- old can master it.) 2. (adj.) superficial, achieved with minimal thought or care, insincere (The business was in such shambles that any solution seemed facile at best; nothing could really helpit in the long-run
fathom
(v.) to understand, comprehend (I cannot fathom why you like that crabby and mean-spirited neighbor of ours
languid
(adj.) sluggish from fatigue or weakness (In the summer months, the great heat makes people languid and lazy
innovate
(v.) to do something in an unprecedented way (Because of the stiff competition, the company knew it needed to pour a lot of energy into innovating new and better products
linchpin
(n.) something that holds separate parts together (The linchpin in the prosecution's case was the hair from the defendant's head, which was found at the scene of the crime
inextricable
(adj.) hopelessly tangled or entangled (Unless I look at the solution manual, I have no way of solving this inextricable problem
hackneyed
(adj.) unoriginal, trite (A girl can only hear "I love you" so many times before it begins to sound hackneyed and meaningless
garish
(adj.) gaudy, in bad taste (Mrs. Watson has poor taste and covers every object in her house with a garish gold lamé
inure
(v.) to cause someone or something to become accustomed to a situation (Twenty years in the salt mines inured the man to the discomforts of dirt and grime
illicit
(adj.) forbidden, not permitted (The fourth-grader learned many illicit words from a pamphlet that was being passed around school
insinuate
(v.) to suggest indirectly or subtly (I wish Luke and Spencer would stop insinuating that my perfect report card is the result of anything other than my superior intelligence and good work habits
harrowing
(adj.) greatly distressing, vexing (The car crash was a harrowing experience, but I have a feeling that the increase in my insurance premiums will be even more upsetting
felicitous
1. (adj.) well suited, apt (While his comments were idiotic and rambling, mine
insipid
(adj.) dull, boring (The play was so insipid, I fell asleep halfway through
foster
(v.) to stimulate, promote, encourage (To foster good health in the city, the mayor started a "Get out and exercise!" campaign
fidelity
(n.) loyalty, devotion (Guard dogs are known for the great fidelity they show toward their masters
implicate
(v.) to involve in an incriminating way, incriminate (Even though Tom wasn't present at the time of the shooting, he was implicated by the evidence suggesting that he had supplied the shooters with guns
fatuous
(adj.) silly, foolish (He considers himself a serious poet, but in truth, he only writes fatuous limericks
hedonist
(n.) one who believes pleasure should be the primary pursuit of humans (Because he's such a hedonist, I knew Murray would appreciate the 11 cases of wine I bought him for his birthday
forage
(v.) to graze, rummage for food (When we got lost on our hiking trip, we foraged for berries and nuts in order to survive
imperative
1. (adj.) necessary, pressing (It is imperative that you have these folders organized by midday.) 2. (n.) a rule, command, or order (Her imperative to have the folders organized by midday was perceived as ridiculous by the others
ignominious
(adj.) humiliating, disgracing (It was really ignominious to be kicked out of the dorm for having an illegal gas stove in my room
incessant
(adj.) unending (We wanted to go outside and play, but the incessant rain kept us indoors for two days
fervent
(adj.) ardent, passionate (The fervent protestors chained themselves to the building and shouted all night long
intransigent
(adj.) refusing to compromise, often on an extreme opinion (The intransigent child said he would have 12 scoops of ice cream, or he would bang his head against the wall until his mother fainted from fear
fractious
(adj.) troublesome or irritable (Although the child insisted he wasn't tired, his fractious behavior—especially his decision to crush his cheese and crackers all over the floor—convinced everyone present that it was time to put him to bed
impute
(v.) to ascribe, blame (The CEO imputed the many typos in the letter to his lazy secretary
implacable
(adj.) incapable of being appeased or mitigated (Watch out: once you shun Grandma's cooking, she is totally implacable
legerdemain
(n.) deception, slight-of-hand (Smuggling the French plants through customs by claiming that they were fake was a remarkable bit of legerdemain
impertinent
(adj.) rude, insolent (Most of your comments are so impertinent that I don't wish to dignify them with an answer
lenient
(adj.) demonstrating tolerance or gentleness (Because Professor Oglethorpe allowed his students to choose their final grades, the other teachers believed that he was excessively lenient
incarnate
1. (adj.) existing in the flesh, embodied (In the church pageant, I play the role of greed incarnate.) 2. (v.) to give human form to (The alien evaded detection by incarnating himself in a human form
larceny
(n.) obtaining another's property by theft or trickery (When my car was not where I had left it, I realized that I was a victim of larceny
hardy
(adj.) robust, capable of surviving through adverse conditions (I too would have expected the plants to be dead by mid-November, but apparently they're very hardy
insular
(adj.) separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off (Because of the sensitive nature of their jobs, those who work for the CIA must remain insular and generally only spend time with each other
inimical
(adj.) hostile, enemylike (I don't see how I could ever work for a company that was so cold and inimical to me during my interviews
hypocrisy
(n.) pretending to believe what one does not (Once the politician began passing legislation that contradicted his campaign promises, his hypocrisy became apparent
impregnable
(adj.) resistant to capture or penetration (Though the invaders used battering rams, catapults, and rain dances, the fortress proved impregnable and resisted all attacks
fraught
(adj.) (usually used with "with") filled or accompanied with (Her glances in his direction were fraught with meaning, though precisely what meaning remained unclear
inveterate
(adj.) stubbornly established by habit (I'm the first to admit that I'm an inveterate coffee drinker—I drink four cups a day
goad
(v.) to urge, spur, incite to action (Jim may think he's not going to fight Billy, but Billy will goad Jim on with insults until he throws a punch
liability
1. (n.) something for which one is legally responsible, usually involving a disadvantage or risk (The bungee-jumping tower was a great liability for the owners of the carnival.) 2. (n.) a handicap, burden (Because she often lost her concentration and didn't play defense, Marcy was a liability to the team
inclination
(n.) a tendency, propensity (Sarah has an inclination to see every foreign film she hears about, even when she's sure that she won't like it
frivolous
(adj.) of little importance, trifling (Someday, all that anxiety about whether your zit will disappear before the prom will seem totally frivolous
ingenious
(adj.) clever, resourceful (Her ingenious use of walnuts instead of the peanuts called for by the recipe was lauded by the other garden club members who found her cake delicious
immerse
(v.) to absorb, deeply involve, engross (After breaking up with her boyfriend, Nancy decided to immerse herself in her work in order to avoid crying
idolatrous
(adj.) excessively worshipping one object or person (Xena's idolatrous fawning over the band—following them on tour, starting their fan club, filming their documentary—is really beginning to get on my nerves
iniquity
(n.) wickedness or sin ("Your iniquity," said the priest to the practical jokester, "will be forgiven.")
frugal
(adj.) thrifty, economical (Richard is so frugal that his diet consists almost exclusively of catfish and chicken liver—the two most inexpensive foods in the store
fallacious
(adj.) incorrect, misleading (Emily offered me cigarettes on the fallacious assumption that I smoked
ingenuous
(adj.) not devious; innocent and candid (He must have writers, but his speeches seem so ingenuous it's hard to believe he's not speaking from his own heart
forum
(n.) a medium for lecture or discussion (Some radio talk-shows provide a good forum for political debate
irrevocable
(adj.) incapable of being taken back (The Bill of Rights is an irrevocable part of American law
instigate
(v.) to urge, goad (The demagogue instigated the crowd into a fury by telling them that they had been cheated by the federal government
fetid
(adj.) having a foul odor (I can tell from the fetid smell in your refrigerator that your milk has spoiled
inept
(adj.) not suitable or capable, unqualified (She proved how inept she was when she forgot three orders and spilled a beer in a customer's lap
idiosyncratic
(adj.) peculiar to one person; highly individualized (I know you had trouble with the last test, but because your mistakes were highly idiosyncratic, I'm going to deny your request that the class be given a new test
florid
(adj.) flowery, ornate (The writer's florid prose belongs on a sentimental Hallmark card
haughty
(adj.) disdainfully proud (The superstar's haughty dismissal of her costars will backfire on her someday
impetuous
(adj.) rash; hastily done (Hilda's hasty slaying of the king was an impetuous, thoughtless action
litigant
(n.) someone engaged in a lawsuit (When the litigants began screaming at each other, Judge Koch ordered them to be silent
grandiloquence
(n.) lofty, pompous language (The student thought her grandiloquence would make her sound smart, but neither the class nor the teacher bought it
imperious
(adj.) commanding, domineering (The imperious nature of your manner led me to dislike you at once
grandiose
(adj.) on a magnificent or exaggerated scale (Margaret planned a grandiose party, replete with elephants, trapeze artists, and clowns
indignation
(n.) anger sparked by something unjust or unfair (I resigned from the sorority because of my indignation at its hazing of new members
lavish
1. (adj.) given without limits (Because they had worked very hard, the performers appreciated the critic's lavish praise.) 2. (v.) to give without limits (Because the performers had worked hard, they deserved the praise that the critic lavished on them
garrulous
(adj.) talkative, wordy (Some talk show hosts are so garrulous that their guests can't get a word in edgewise
indigent
(adj.) very poor, impoverished (I would rather donate money to help the indigent population than to the park sculpture fund
infusion
(n.) an injection of one substance into another; the permeation of one substance by another (The infusion of Eastern religion into Western philosophy created interesting new schools of thought
feral
(adj.) wild, savage (That beast looks so feral that I would fear being alone with it
gregarious
(adj.) drawn to the company of others, sociable (Well, if you're not gregarious, I don't know why you would want to go to a singles party!)
fastidious
(adj.) meticulous, demanding, having high and often unattainable standards (Mark is so fastidious that he is never able to finish a project because it always seems imperfect to him
forlorn
(adj.) lonely, abandoned, hopeless (Even though I had the flu, my family decided to go skiing for the weekend and leave me home alone, feeling feverish and forlorn
fecund
(adj.) fruitful, fertile (The fecund tree bore enough apples to last us through the entire season
impudent
(adj.) casually rude, insolent, impertinent (The impudent young man looked the princess up and down and told her she was hot even though she hadn't asked him
flagrant
(adj.) offensive, egregious (The judge's decision to set the man free simply because that man was his brother was a flagrant abuse of power
insatiable
(adj.) incapable of being satisfied (My insatiable appetite for melons can be a real problem in the winter
largess
(n.) the generous giving of lavish gifts (My boss demonstrated great largess by giving me a new car
jubilant
(adj.) extremely joyful, happy (The crowd was jubilant when the firefighter carried the woman from the flaming building
irascible
(adj.) easily angered (At the smallest provocation, my irascible cat will begin scratching and clawing

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