SAT EXAM REVIEWHendy’s Top 50 Vocab Words

#1

Apparent or professed Syn: purported, alleged Ant: real, true, actual “The ____ reason for the

school closing was a need for asbestos mitigation.”

#1

ostensible

#2

an excessive desire to acquire or possess wealth

Syn: covetousness, rapacity Ant: generosity, openhandedness “Ebenezer Scrooge’s personality

was marked by significant _____.”

#2

avarice

#3

Not religious; worldly; pertaining to the state

Syn: civil Ant: sacred, divine Despite having a devoutly

religious population, Turkey enforces strict _____ laws in public.

#3

secular

#4

Overly self-satisfied Syn: contented Ant: dissatisfied, malcontent “Just because we won the past

five games, this is no time to get _____.”

#4

complacent

#5

Shameless boldness Syn: audacity, impertinence,

nerve Ant: timidity, modesty “Can you believe Cleetus had the

___ to high-five the Queen of England?!”

#5

effrontery

#6

(verb) to speak or argue in favor of (noun) a person who pleads in the

interest or case of an individual Syn: champion, support, defender “The online hacker group

Anonymous is often an _____ for people who are bullied or persecuted.”

#6

advocate

#7

Existing as a natural or essential part of

Syn: intrinsic, implicit, internal Ant: extrinsic, external “For generations, people in my

family have had an ____ tendency toward skin problems.”

#7

inherent

#8

to pretend or give a false appearance of

Syn: fake, sham, simulate “Don’t ____ shock over their

elopement; you knew perfectly well that they were running off to Vegas.”

#8

feign

#9

being or seeming to be everywhere

Syn: omnipresent, pervasive, universal

Ant: rare, scarce “During the holiday season, holly

and tinsel are _____ at shopping malls.”

#9

ubiquitous

#10

To make an accurate line drawing or diagram of; to portray or describe in detail

Syn: depict, set forth “Why don’t you ____ all the

details of your campaign strategy to us?”

#10

delineate

#11

A hindrance or obstruction Syn: encumbrance, obstacle,

handicap Ant: aid, assistance “A lack of financial aid is a serious

____ to my dream of going away to school.”

#11

impediment

#12

Immersed in deep, often melancholy thought

Syn: meditative, reflective, wistful Ant: lighthearted, blithe, jocund “Edgar Allan Poe’s protagonists

were often morose, ____ characters.”

#12

pensive

#13

High in rank; distinguished; outstanding; conspicuous

Syn: prominent, notable, remarkable

Ant: obscure, undistinguished “Dr. Phil is the most ____

psychiatrist on TV.” (even though he’s a hack)

#13

eminent

#14

Indirect or roundabout; long-winded

Syn: winding, meandering, rambling

Ant: direct, unveering “Mapquest is unreliable and will

take you on the most ___ route to Baltimore.”

#14

circuitous

#15

To regard with horror and loathing; to hate intensely

Syn: loathe, despise, detest Ant: relish, love, cherish “I ___ anyone who exploits

workers for his own gain.”

#15

abhor

#16

High-minded but impractical Syn: idealistic, visionary, fanciful Ant: realistic, practical “We engaged on a ___ quest to

find Jack’s beanstalk.”

#16

quixotic

#17

Inactive, as if in sleep; suspended in use, growth, or development

Syn: latent, passive, inert Ant: active, vibrant, thriving “The herpes virus, even when not

active, lies ____ in the body.”

#17

dormant

#18

Subject to or determined by one’s judgment; random

Syn: judgmental, irrational, partial Ant: objective, fair, equitable “Why must I be subjected to your

___ rules about hats and sugar content?”

#18

arbitrary

#19

To overlook or disregard an offense, thereby implying forgiveness, acceptance, or approval of it

Syn: ignore, accept, tolerate Ant: condemn, denounce “The team’s lenient punishment of

Allen Iverson makes it seem like they ____ his actions.”

#19

condone

#20

Deeply learned in a specialized area

Syn: scholarly, profound, knowledgeable

Ant: ignorant, uninformed “Neil deGrasse Tyson is ____ in

the area of astrophysics.”

#20

erudite

#21

Arousing fear or admiration because of the unusual size or superiority of the thing involved; difficult to do because of the scale involved

“Running 10 miles through mud and electrical wires is a ____ undertaking.”

#21

formidable

#22

Wavering or uncertain because of an inability to make a choice between two contradictory feelings or viewpoints

Syn: contradictory, conflicting, opposing Ant: definite, firm, unequivocal “I had ___ feelings about the Ravens

winning the AFC Championship; they beat the hated Patriots, but – well, they’re still the friggin’ Ravens.”

#22

ambivalent

#23

To cancel or withdraw Syn: revoke, repeal, retract Ant: affirm, confirm, enforce “If you __ an invitation to a

vampire, does he have to leave your house?”

#23

rescind

#24

Fair and impartial; frank or outspoken; informal or unposed

Syn: unbiased, spontaneous Ant: prejudiced, reserved, ambiguous “While the formal prom photos were

great, my favorites were the ___ shots that showed everyone genuinely enjoying themselves.”

#24

candid

#25

Incapable of being penetrated or affected

Syn: impenetrable, unresponsive Ant: susceptible, permeable “My superpowers make me ___

to your evil magic, Lord Saruman!”

#25

impervious

#26

Foreshadowing evil; menacing or threatening

Syn: portentious, foreboding Ant: lucky, felicitous “The dark clouds rolling in were

an ____ indicator of how the weekend would go.”

#26

ominous

#27

To analyze, explain, interpret, or understand

Syn: deduce, infer, translate Ant: misinterpret “The old hymn can also be ____

as a rallying song for slaves who longed for freedom.”

#27

construe

#28

Highly injurious or harmful Syn: detrimental; malignant Ant: wholesome, beneficial “The oil company’s ____ plot to

cover up the effects of the oil spill will wreak untold havoc.”

#28

pernicious

#29

A strong curse or denunciation; the person or thing cursed; any object of intense dislike

Syn: abomination Ant: blessing “Plagiarists are ___ to academia.”

#29

anathema

#30

Overly short or abrupt Syn: curt, blunt, terse Ant: civil, polite, cordial “Richard Nixon was notorious for

his ____ demeanor.”

#30

brusque

#31

Profitable Syn: gainful, rewarding,

worthwhile Ant: unprofitable, unproductive,

barren “ I hear that derivatives trading is

a _____ field.”

#31

lucrative

#32

To yield to; to agree to Syn: agree, assent, consent,

acquiesce Ant: dissent, demur, balk at “I will ____ to your demands if

you agree to cut taxes on the middle class.”

#33

accede

#34

Inclined to doubt or deny the virtuousness or honesty of human motives

Syn: skeptical, pessimistic Ant: optimistic, sanguine, naïve “Your ___ view of the world would

have us all believe that everyone is greedy and self-interested.”

#34

cynical

#35

Understood by or only intended for a select few; difficult to understand

Syn: occult, private, mysterious Ant: popular, accessible, clear “Your __ references to an

astrological sign are useless in this situation.”

#35

esoteric

#36

To get around or avoid, especially by trickery or deception

Syn: dodge, duck, dip, dive, & dodge

Ant: obey, observe, abide by “The Dude abides; the nihilists

____.”

#36

circumvent

#37

Deeply religious, earnest, or sincere

Syn: pious, faithful, reverent Ant: unfaithful, irreverent,

lukewarm “I am descended from a ___

branch of Quakers.”

#37

devout

#38

Extremely and deliberately conspicuous; glaring

Syn: shocking, gross, brazen Ant: insignificant, minor “After your ___ flouting of school

rules, you are expelled, mister!”

#38

flagrant

#39

Keen of mind and judgement, especially in practical matters; cunning

Syn: shrewd, perceptive, sharp, sagacious

Ant: obtuse, undiscerning, empty-headed

“You are an ___ observer of the human condition.”

#39

astute

#40

Deliberate deception in speech or conduct

Syn: guile, deceit, trickery Ant: honesty, candor, integrity “The ___ of the carnie cost

many rednecks their savings.”

#40

duplicity