SAT Vocab 2
Terms
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CONCILIATORY
After arguing endlessly with them for weeks, Connie switched to a more conciliatory tone with her parents once prom season arrived.
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appeasing
soothing
showing willingness to reconcile
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CREDIBLE
The shocking but credible report of mice in the kitchen kept Eddie up all night.
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capable of being believed
plausible
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EXONERATE
Xena was exonerated of all charges.
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to free from blame
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INCONTROVERTIBLE
The videotape of the robbery provided incontrovertible evidence against the suspect--he was obviously guilty.
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indisputable
not open to question
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INDICT
President Nixon's aids were indicted during the Watergate scandal.
- to officially charge with a wrongdoing or a crime
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LITIGIOUS
Letitia was a litigious little girl; at one point, she tried to sue her dog.
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prone to engage in lawsuits
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PARTISAN (adj.)
Today's partisan politics are so antagonistic that it's difficult to reach a successful compromise on any issue.
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devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause
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PARITY
The judges at the Olympics must score each athlete's performance with parity; such impartial treatment is hard since one always wants to root for one's own country.
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equality, as in amount, status, or value
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RECTITUDE
Thanks to his unerring sense of fairness and justice, Viktor was a model of moral rectitude; his hometown even erected a statue in his honor.
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moral uprightness
righteousness
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REMISS
Cassie was remiss in fulfilling her Miss America duties; she didn't even come close to ending world hunger.
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lax in attending to duty
negligent
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REPUDIATE
I repudiated the teacher's arguments about Empress Wu Zetian's reputation by showing him that the reports of her cruelty were from unreliable sources.
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to reject the validity or authority of
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SANCTIMONIOUS
The sanctimonious scholar had actually been plagiarizing other people's work for years.
- feigning piety or righteousness
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SCRUPULOUS
Evan's scrupulous behavior began to annoy his friends when he called the cops on them for toilet papering their teacher's house.
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principled
having a strong sense of right and wrong
conscientious and exacting
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SOLICITOUS
The parents asked solicitous questions about the college admissions officer's family.
- concerned
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SOPHISTRY
The professor's sophistry misled the sophomore into incorrect beliefs.
- plausible but misleading or fallacious argument
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SUBSTANTIATE
The argument was substantiated by clear facts and hard evidence.
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to support with proof or evidence
verify
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VERACITY
Since Vera was known for her veracity, it came as a complete shock when her family found out she'd lied on her application.
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adherence to the truth
truthfulness
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VINDICATE
Mrs. Layton was finally vindicated after her husband admitted to the crime.
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to free from blame
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CAJOLE
The sweet-talking senior cajoled an impressionable junior into seeing The Lord of the Rings for the tenth time.
- to urge with repeated appeals, teasing, or flattery
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CHICANERY
The candidate accused his debate opponent of resorting to cheap chicanery to sway the electorate.
- trickery
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OBSEQUIOUS
Kevin was so obsequious that even his teachers were embarrassed; as a result, his sucking up rarely led to better grades.
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fawning and servile
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SYCOPHANT
Siggie is such a sycophant; he slyly sucks up to his teachers, and reaps the rewards of his behavior.
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insincere, obsequious flatterer
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ALTRUISM
Alta, a model of altruism, gave her movie ticket to someone who needed it more.
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unselfish concern for the welfare of others
selflessness
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EMINENT
Emeril Lagasse is one of the most eminent chefs working today; every TV watcher knows how well-known and highly regarded he is.
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distinguished
prominent
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EMPATHY
Emily is one of my most empathetic friends; she can always relate to my emotions.
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identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives
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EXTOL
Tollivan extolled the virtues of the troll while his teacher looked on amazed.
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to praise highly
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LAUDATORY
The principal's speech was laudatory, congratulating the students on their SAT scores.
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full of praise
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MAGNANIMOUS
The magnanimous prince cared deeply for his country and its people.
- courageously or generously noble in mind and heart
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PHILANTHROPIC
Phil was a philanthropic soul, always catering to the needy and the underprivileged.
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humanitarian
benevolent
relating to monetary generosity
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RECIPROCATE
The chef reciprocated his rival's respect; the admired each other so much that they even traded recipes.
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to mutually take or give
to respond in kind
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DEFUNCT
The theory that the world was flat became defunct when Magellan sailed ot the West and didn't fall off the earth.
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no longer existing or functioning
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ERADICATE
Radcliffe did her best to eradicate the radishes from her farm.
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to get rid of as if tearing it up by the roots
abolish
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EXPURGATE
The Chinese government expurgates nearly all obscene matter from the nation's Internet.
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to remove questionable content before publication or release
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EXTIRPATE
While the family was on vacation, the termites practically extirpated the house.
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to destroy
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QUELL
Nell quelled the fight over the quiche by throwing it out the window--she had long given up on reasoning with her sisters.
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to put down forcibly
suppress
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RAZE
It is difficult to raze a city building without demolishing other structures around it.
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to level to the ground
demolish
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SQUELCH
Sam wanted to keep squash as pets, but Quentin squelched the idea.
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to crush as if by trampling
squash
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SUPPLANT
The ants prepared to supplant the roaches as the dominant insect int he kitchen; their plan was to take the roaches by surprise and drive them out.
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to usurp the place of, especially through intrigue or underhanded tactics
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STYMIE
Stan was stymied by the Sudoku puzzle; he just couldn't solve it.
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to thwart or stump
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ABASE
Bayard's withering restaurant review was an attempt to abase his former friend, the owner.
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to lower in rank, prestige, or esteem
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DERIDE
Derrick was derided for wearing two different colored socks, but he couldn't help it--it was laundry day.
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to mock contemptuously
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DEROGATORY
The unethical politician didn't just attack his opponent's views; he also made derogatory remarks about the other candidate's family and personal hygiene.
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insulting or intended to insult
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DISPARAGE
Wanda disparaged Glen by calling him a cheat and a liar.
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to speak of negatively
to belittle
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EFFRONTERY
The attorney's effrontery in asking such personal questions so shocked Esther that she immediately ran from the office.
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brazen boldness
presumptuousness
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IGNOMINY
Ignacio felt great ignominy after the scandal broke.
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great personal dishonor or humiliation
disgraceful conduct
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IMPUGN
Instead of taking the high road, the candidate impugned his opponent's character.
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to attack as false or questionable
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MAR
The perfect day was marred by the arrival of storm clouds.
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to damage, especially in a disfiguring way
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PEJORATIVE (adj.)
Teachers should refrain from using pejorative terms as numb skull and idiot to refer to other teachers.
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disparaging
belittling
insulting
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VEX
Bex's mom was vexed when Bex was very vague about her whereabouts for the evening.
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to annoy or bother
to perplex
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VINDICTIVE
Vincenzo was very vindictive; when someone hurt him, he responded by vigorously plotting revenge.
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disposed to seek revenge
revengeful
spiteful