Hot SAT Words

Lessons

21-30

LESSON # 27

It just doesn’t matter!

Words Relating to Things of Little Importance or Value

EXTRANEOUSAdj. not necessary; not

an essential part; not relevant

extraneousAre two heads really better than one?

EXTRANEOUSIn your report, include only the

highlights. Leave out all EXTRANEOUS matters.

FRIVOLOUS

Adj. not having substance or a sense of importance or

seriousness; silly, trivial, trifling

FRIVOLOUSLenny sued the chef because

there was a fly in his soup, but the judge threw out the complaint on the grounds that it was FRIVOLOUS.

INCIDENTAL

Adj. less important;

minor

INCIDENTALAn INCIDENTAL benefit of not

having your own car is that you walk a lot and get plenty of exercise.

INCONSEQUENTIAL

Adj. irrelevant; of no significance; unimportant

inconsequentialDuring the term Malcolm failed

one quiz, but the impact on his final grade was INCONSEQUENTIAL.

IRRELEVANTAdj. not relating to the matter at hand

IRRELEVANTThe teacher said that since the

essay was awful, the amount of time I spent writing it is IRRELEVANT to the grade.

NEGLIGIBLEAdj. able or likely to be

neglected or bypassed due to smallness or lack or

importance

NEGLIGIBLEPeter refused the offer because

the increase in salary was NEGLIGIBLE.

PERIPHERALAdj. only marginally connected to what is truly important; minor or incidental; relating to the field of vision

PERIPHERALThe class discussion got bogged

down in PERIPHERAL matters that had nothing to do with the real issue.

PETTYAdj. minor or trivial;

Small in quantity

PETTYTheir argument was about PETTY

matters. There was no big issue between them.

Igor complained about some PETTY flaws like a wrinkled bedsheet.

SUPERFICIALAdj. lacking in depth or importance; on the surface

SUPERFICIALThe wound was only

SUPERFICIAL – just skin deep.I hate the SUPERFICIAL

conversation at parties.

SUPERFICIAL

TRIFLINGAdj. lacking

significance; unimportant

TRIFLINGIn the long run, cutting down one

tree may seem TRIFLING, but once the precedent is set, the whole forest may be cut down.

TRIVIAL

Adj. unimportant; trifling; ordinary

TRIVIALBecause rain is needed badly,

the TRIVIAL amount that fell yesterday is not going to ease the drought.