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800 SAT words to KNOW! (not finished yet)

Terms

undefined, object
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fervor
N.
growing ardor; intensity or feeling.
inert
ADJ.
inactive; lacking power to move.
illusory
ADJ.
deceptive; not real.
abrasive
rubbing away; tending to grind down.

Just as abrasive cleaning powders can wear away a shiny finish, abrasive remarks can wear away a listener's patience.
divergent
ADJ.
differing; deviating.
discriminating
ADJ.
able to see differences; prejudiced.
ignominy
N.
deep disgrace; shame or dishonor.
acclaim
applaud; announce with great approval.

The NBC sportscasters acclaimed every American victory in the Olympics and lamented every American defeat.
futile
ADJ.
ineffective; fruitless.
didactic
teaching; instructional.
illicit
ADJ.
illegal.
abstruse
obscure; profound; difficult to understand.

She carries around abstruse works of philosophy, not because she understands them but because she wants her friends to think she does.
distant
ADJ.
reserved or aloof; cold in manner.
dismiss
V.
put away from consideration; reject.
illuminate
V.
brighten; clear up or make understandable; enlighten.
accolade
award of merit.

In the world of public relations, a "Clio" is the highest accolade an advertising campaign can receive.
founder
V.
fail completely; sink.
disseminate
V.
distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds).
immune
ADJ.
resistant to; free or exempt from.
enigma
N.
puzzle; mystery.
accessible
easy to approach; obtainable.

We asked our guide whether the ruins were accessible on foot.
exemplify
V.
serve as an example of; embody.
discursive
ADJ.
digressing; rambling.
imbalance
N.
lack of balance or symmetry; disproportion.
aberrant
abnormal or deviant.

Given the aberrant nature of the data, we came to doubt the validity of the entire experiment.
forthright
ADJ.
outspoken; frank.
discerning
mentally quick and observant; having insight.
immaculate
ADJ.
spotless; flawless; absolutely clean.
abridge
condense or shorten.

Because the publishers felt the public wanted a shorter version of War and Peace, they proceeded to abridge the novel.
euphemism
N.
mild expression used in place of an unpleasant one.
incline
N.
slope; slant.
immutable
ADJ.
unchangeable.
abate
subside or moderate.

Rather than leaving immediately, they waited for the storm to abate.
galvanize
V.
stimulate by shock; stir up; revitalize.
deride
ridicule; make fun of.
insuperable
ADJ.
insurmountable; unbeatable.
abstemious
sparing in eating and drinking; temperate.

Concerned whether her vegetarian son's abstemious diet provided him with sufficient protein, the worried mother pressed food on him.
euphoria
N.
feeling of great happiness and well-being (sometimes exaggerated).
deprecate
express disapproval of; protest against; belittle.
inopportune
ADJ.
untimely; poorly chosen.
absolute
complete; totally unlimited; certain.

Although the King of Siam was an absolute monarch, he didn't want to behead his unfaithful wife without absolute evidence of her infidelity.
forsake
V.
desert; abandon; renounce.
dispel
V.
drive away; scatter; cause to vanish.
insularity
N.
narrow-mindedness; isolation.
abstract
theoretical; not concrete; nonrepresentational.

To him, hunger was an abstract concept; he never missed a meal.
eclectic
ADJ.
selective in choosing from a variety of sources.
despot
tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler.
insolvent
ADJ.
bankrupt; unable to repay one's debts.
disparage
V.
belittle.
forestall
V.
prevent by taking action in advance.
devise
think up; invent; plan.
infamous
ADJ.
notoriously bad.
dissipate
V.
squander; waste; scatter.
endorse
V.
approve; support.
despondent
depressed; gloomy.
infiltrate
V.
pass into or through; penetrate (an organization) sneakily.
diligence
steadiness of effort; persistant hard work.
foresight
N.
ability to foresee future happenings; prudence.
disputatious
ADJ.
argumentative; fond of arguing.
insatiable
ADJ.
not easily satisfied; greedy.
depravity
corruption; wickedness.
emulate
V.
imitate; rival.
discount
V.
disregard.
insinuate
V.
hint; imply; creep in.
disinclination
N.
unwillingness.
dissonance
N.
clashing or unresolved chords(as in music).
initiate
V.
begin; originate; receive into a group.
detrimental
harmful; damaging.
expedient
ADJ.
suitable to achieve a particular end; practical; politic.
diffuse
wordy; rambling; spread out.
instigate
V.
urge; start; provoke.
disdain
V.
view with scorn or contempt.
flippant
ADJ.
lacking proper seriousness.
indigenous
ADJ.
native.
insipid
ADJ.
lacking flavor; dull.
disband
dissolve; disperse.
duration
N.
length of time something lasts.
disinterested
ADJ.
unprejudiced.
inexorable
ADJ.
relentless; unyielding; implacable.
detached
emotionally removed; calm and objective; indifferent.
foolhardy
ADJ.
rash; heedless.
discrepancy
N.
lack of consistency; difference.
inimical
ADJ.
unfriendly; hostile; harmful; detrimental.
dissent
V.
disagree.
egotistical
ADJ.
excessively self-centered; self-important; conceited.
hyperbole
N.
exaggeration; overstatement.
infinitesimal
ADJ.
exceedingly small; so small as to be almost nonexistent.
derivative
unoriginal; derived from another source.
foster
V.
rear; encourage; nurture.
disclose
reveal.
innate
ADJ.
inborn.
discredit
V.
defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve.
digression
wandering away from the subject.
infraction
N.
violation (od a rule or regulation); breach.
devious
roundabout; erratic; not straightforward.
flagrant
ADJ.
conspicuously wicked; blatant; outrageous.
discordant
ADJ.
not harmonious; conflicting.
intangible
ADJ.
not material; not able to be perceived by touch; vague; elusive.
inequity
N.
unfairness.
extant
ADJ.
still in existence.
deterrent
something that discourages; hindrance.
ingenious
ADJ.
clever; resourceful.
dismantle
V.
take apart.
frivolous
ADJ.
lacking in seriousness; self-indulgently carefree; relatively unimportant.
dissuade
V.
advise against.
ingrate
N.
ungrateful person.
diminution
lessening; reduction in size.
expertise
N.
specialized knowledge; expert skill.
disperse
V.
cause to break up; scatter.
innovation
N.
change; introduction of something new.
disparity
N.
difference; condition of inequality.
fundamental
V.
basic; primary; essential.
dispassionate
ADJ.
calm; impartial.
inherent
ADJ.
firmly established by nature or habit; intrinsic.
analogy
similarity; parallelism.

A well-known analogy compares the body's immune system to an army whose defending troops are the lymphocytes or white blood cells.
extraneous
ADJ.
not essential; superfluous.
consistency
absence of contradictions; dependability; uniformity; degree of thickness.
insurgent
ADJ.
rebellious.
ample
abundant.

Bond had ample opportunity to escape. Why did he let us catch him?
fickle
ADJ.
changeable; faithless.
coercion
use of force to get someone's compliance.
infer
V.
deduce; conclude.
anarchist
person who seekd to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority.

Denying she was an anarchist, Katya maintained she wished only to make changes in our government, not to destroy it entirely.
duplicity
N.
double-dealing; hypocrisy.
incongruous
ADJ.
not fitting; absurd.
intervene
V.
come between.
incidental
ADJ.
not essential; minor.
furtive
ADJ.
stealthy; sneaky.
constraint
compulsion; repression of feelings.
insightful
ADJ.
discerning; perceptive.
archaic
antiquated.

"Methinks," "thee," and "thou" are archaic words that are no longer part of our standard vocabulary.
exploit
V.
make use of, sometimes unjustly.
concise
brief and compact.
intermittent
ADJ.
periodic; on and off.
incentive
N.
spur; motive.
garbled
ADJ.
mixed up; jumbled; distorted.
incoherent
ADJ.
unintelligible; muddled; illogical.
intimidate
V.
frighten.
arbitrary
unreasonable or capriciousl randomly selected w/o any reason; based solely on one's unrestricted will or judgement.

The coach claimed the team lost because the umpire made some arbitrary calls.
ebb
V.
recede; lessen.
clamor
noise.
integrity
N.
uprightnessl wholeness.
inclusive
ADJ.
tending to include all.
frugality
N.
thrift; economy.
concede
admit; yield.
intractable
ADJ.
unruly; stubborn; unyielding.
incense
V.
enrage; infuriate.
exhaustive
ADJ.
thorough; comprehensive.
incontrovertible
ADJ.
indisputable; not open to question.
integral
ADJ.
complete; necessary for completeness.
inclined
ADJ.
tending or leaning toward; bent.
fluctuate
V.
waver; shift.
compelling
overpowering; irresistable in effect.
injurious
ADJ.
harmful.
inadvertently
ADV.
by oversight; carelessly or unintentionally.
esoteric
ADJ.
hard to understand; known only to the chosen few.
inconsequential
ADJ.
insignificant; unimportant.
innoucuous
ADJ.
harmless
incite
V.
arouse to action; goad; motivate; induce to exist.
feasible
ADJ.
practical.
compile
assemble; gather; accumulate.
irreproachable
ADJ.
blameless; impeccable.
impudence
N.
impertinence; insolence.
equanimity
N.
calmness of temperment; composure.
commemorate
honor the memory of.
intrepid
ADJ.
fearless.
inane
ADJ.
silly; senseless.
florid
ADJ.
ruddy; reddish; flowery.
compliance
readiness to yield; conformity in fulfilling requirements.
intransigence
N.
refusal of any compromise; stubbornness.
incisive
ADJ.
cutting; sharp.
eulogy
N.
expression of praise, often on the occassion of someone's death.
civil
having to do with citizens or the state; courteous and polite.
irrational
ADJ.
illogical; lacking reason; insane.
inaugurate
V.
start; initiate; install in office.
fortuitous
ADJ.
accidental; by chance.
composure
mental calmness.
intricate
ADJ.
complex; knotty; tangled.
incessant
ADJ.
uninterupted; unceasing.
exuberance
N.
overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness.
chronicle
report; record (in chronological order).
irreverence
N.
lack of proper respect.
impassive
ADJ.
without feeling; imperturbable; stoical.
figurative
ADJ.
not literal, but metaphorical; using a figure of speech.
confirm
corroborate; verify; support.
invert
V.
turn upside down or inside out.
apprehension
fear; discernment; capture.

The tourist refused to drive his rental car through downtown Miami because he felt some apprehension that he might be car-jacked.
explicit
ADJ.
totally clear; definite; outspoken.
clemency
disposition to be lenient; mildness, as of the weather.
irrelevant
ADJ.
not applicable; unrelated.
implausible
ADJ.
unlikely; unbelievable
frail
ADJ.
weak.
conciliatory
reconciling; appeasing; amiable.
irascible
ADJ.
irritable; easily angered.
implement
V.
put into effect; supply with tools.
expedite
V.
hasten.
conclusive
convincing; decisive.
jargon
N.
language used by a special group; technical terminology; gibberish.
impromptu
ADJ.
without previous preparation; off the cuff; on the spur of the moment.
denounce
condemn; criticize.
charlatan
quack; pretender to knowledge.

When they realized that the Wizard didn't know how to get them back to Kansas, Dorothy and her companions were indignant that they'd been duped by a charlatan.
irresolute
ADJ.
uncertain how to act; weak.
impoverished
ADJ.
poor.
exacting
ADJ.
extremely demanding.
concur
agree in opinion.
jocular
ADJ.
said or done in jest; joking.
implicit
ADJ.
understood but not stated.
converge
approach; tend to meet; come together.
condone
overlook voluntarily; forgive.
arid
dry; barren.

The cactus has adapted to survive in an arid environment.
impartial
ADJ.
not biased; fair.
erroneous
ADJ.
mistaken; wrong.
comprehensive
thorough; inclusive.
intuition
N.
immediate insight; power of knowing without reasoning.
antagonistic
hostile; opposed.

Despite his lawyer's best efforts to stop him, the angry prisoner continued to make antagonistic remarks to the judge.
ineffectual
ADJ.
not effective; weak.
conflagration
great fire.
intrinsic
ADJ.
essential; inherent; built-in; natural.
antidote
medicine to counteract a poison or disease.

When Marge's child accidentally swallowed some cleaning fluid, the local poison control hotline told Marge how to administer the antidote.
extol
V.
praise; glorified.
confound
confuse; puzzle.
introspective
ADJ.
looking within oneself.
appease
pacify or soothe; relieve.

Tom and Jody tried to appease their crying baby by offering him one toy after another. However, they couldn't calm him down until they appeased his hunger by giving him a bottle.
indifferent
ADJ.
unmoved; lacking concern.
confront
face; challenge.
ironic
ADJ.
relating to a contradiction between an event's expected result and its actual outcome; sarcastic.
impecunious
ADJ.
wihtout money.
document
V.
provide written evidence.
consensus
general agreement.
ardor
heat; passion; zeal.

Katya's ardor was catching; soon all her fellow demostrators were busily making posters and handing out flyers, inspired by her enthusiasm for the cause.
antiquated
old-fashioned; obsolete.

Philip had grown so accustomed to editing his articles on word processors that he thought typewriters were too antiquated for him to use.
indulge
V.
humor; treat leniently.
conscientious
scrupulous; careful.
arrogance
pride; haughtiness.

Convinced that Emma thought she was better than anyone else in the class, Ed rebuked her for her arrogance.
impervious
ADJ.
impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed.
dubious
ADJ.
doubtful; questionable.
imperious
ADJ.
domineering; haughty.
inundate
V.
overwhelm; flood; submerge.
antithesis
contrast; direct opposite of or to.

Good is the antithesis of evil, innocence the antithesis of guilt.
curtail
shorten; reduce.
apocryphal
untrue; made up.

To impress his friends, Ted invented apocryphal talkes of his adventures in the big city.
ascendancy
controlling influence.

Leaders of religious cults maintain ascendancy over their followers by methods that can verge on brain-washing.
contagion
infection.
hardy
ADJ.
sturdy; robust; able to stand inclement weather.
appreciate
be thankful for; increase in worth; be thoroughly concious of.

Little Orphan Annie truly appreciated the stocks Daddy Warbucks gave her, which appreciated in value considerably over the years.
elusive
ADJ.
evasive; baffling; hard to grasp.
animosity
active enmity.

By advocating cuts in campaign spending and limits on congressional powers, the reform candidate almost seemed to invite the animosity of the party's leaders.
astute
wise; shrewd.

Expecting Miss Marple to be a woolly-headed old lady, Inspector Craddock was startled by the astute observations she made.
apathy
lack of caring; indifference.

A firm believer in democratic government, she could not understand the apathy of people who never bothered to vote.

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