The Essential 500 SAT Words

WISTFUL

sadly thoughtful; pensively REFLECTIVE

VERBAL IRONY

saying one thing and implying something else, usually the opposite of the expressed meaning

ANOMALY

a deviation from a common pattern; a difference from the norm; something that is ATYPICAL and thus ABERRANT ANOMALOUS - unusual, strange; deviating from the normal or standard

DISDAIN

a feeling of intense dislike and great scorn; contempt

SIMILE

a figure of speech comparing two seemingly unrelated things, using "like" or "as"

UNDERSTATEMENT

a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is Antonym: HYPERBOLE

PERSONIFICATION

a figure of speech in which inanimate objects are endowed with human characteristics

METAPHOR

a figure of speech in which two unrelated objects are compared

PUNDIT

a knowledgeable commentator who offers informed opinions on a topic

BIAS

a mental tendency or inclination; especially an unfair preference for a person or group; not objective and therefore PARTISAN

EUPHEMISM

a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept

MENTOR

a person who acts as a wise and trusted advisor

ICONOCLAST

a person who attacks cherished ideas, traditions, and institutions

INNOVATOR

a person who creates new inventions, ideas, or ways of doing things

MISANTHROPE

a person who distrusts and is contemptuous of other people; MISANTHROPY is thus a general hatred of humankind

PROPONENT

a person who fights for a cause, idea, or movement; a CHAMPION

PHILANTHROPIST

a person who gives money or gifts to charities; a wealthy person with a generous nature and concern for human welfare

BENEFACTOR

a person who helps people or institutions

INTERLOPER

a person who intrudes where he or she is not wanted; an uninvited guest

ACOLYTE

a person who is a devoted fan or follower of someone famous

REPROBATE

a person who is depraved, unprincipled, and wicked

HEDONIST

a person who is devoted to seeking sensual pleasure

ZEALOT

a person who is full of enthusiasm and zeal for a cause

NEOPHYTE

a person who is new at an occupation or task; a beginner; a NOVICE

SAGE

a person who is renowned for his or her wisdom and SAGACITY

HERETIC

a person who opposes accepted and established beliefs

PROGENITOR

a person who was an originator or major contributor to an artistic style or trend

CONNOISSEUR

a person who, through study and interest, has a fine appreciation for something

DEMAGOGUE

a political leader who inflames popular emotions and passions

ALLUSION

a reference to a person, place, or thing, historical or literary, that adds to the reader's understanding of the subject

PARADOX

a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true

ANECDOTE

a short story told to illustrate a point

CRITERION

a standard of judging something

DILETTANTE

an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions; a dabbler

PARENTHETICAL EXPRESSION

an expression inserted into the flow of thought and set off by parentheses

CONJECTURE

an hypothesis formed from incomplete evidence; a deduction

SITUATIONAL IRONY

an inconsistency between what is expected or intended and what actually occurs

CONVERSATIONAL

an informal exchange or presentation of thoughts and feelings

PEREMPTORY

an order or command that does not allow discussion or refusal; an arbitrary order

ANTITHETICAL

being exact or POLAR opposites; completely the opposite ANTITHESIS- an exact opposite

SUCCINCT

brief and to the point; concise; LACONIC, TERSE

FLIPPANT

characterized by a casual disrespectful attitude, especially in situations that call for a serious response

CAUSTIC

characterized by a critical tone and biting words that cause hurt feelings

POMPOUS

characterized by a excessive and elevated sense of self-importance; arrogant and PRETENTIOUS

INDIFFERENT

characterized by a lack of interest or concern; APATHETIC

ANALOGOUS

characterized by a parallel similarity that permits the drawing of an ANALOGY

AESTHETIC

characterized by a sensitivity to beauty in art and taste. (UTILITARIAN - useful or functional)

PRUDENT

characterized by a watchful and careful consideration of all potential consequences; cautious and sensible; CIRCUMSPECT

SKEPTICAL and SKEPTICISM

characterized by an attitude of doubt and distrust; DUBIOUS; CYNICAL

AMBIVALENT

characterized by mixed feelings about a person, object, or course of action

VEHEMENT

characterized by strong emotions or convictions; very EMPHATIC

ALTRUISTIC

characterized by unselfish concern for the welfare of others

SANGUINE

confidently optimistic and cheerful

CONVENTIONAL

customary; conforming to established standards

DISCERNING

demonstrating keen insight and good judgment; able to distinguish good from bad

SCHOLARLY

describes a tone that is academic, Learned, and studious

LIGHTHEARTED

describes an attitude or mood that is carefree and cheerful

JOVIAL

describes people who display high-spirited merriment; full of joy; JOCULAR

DIDACTIC

designed or intended to teach and instruct; serving to enlighten and inform

EXHILARATED

filled with excitement and enthusiasm; thrilled

DELETERIOUS

harmful; dangerous; destructive

NOSTALGIA

longing for something in the past

OBJECTIVE

looking at issues in a detached and impartial manner

NONCHALANT

marked by an air of casual unconcern

COHERENT

marked by an orderly, logical, and clear relationship

WARY

marked by caution; a watchful concern that is alert to danger or deception

EARNEST

marked by deep sincerity and serious intent

EMPHATIC

marked by great conviction; forceful and clear; UNAMBIGUOUS

EVENHANDED

marked by impartiality; fair to all sides

OMINOUS

menacing and threatening; foreshadowing ill-fortune or disaster [bad omen]

SUBTLE

not obvious, hard to perceive or understand

FRANK

open and honest; CANDID

INDIGNANT

outraged or angry at something perceived as unjust or wrong

PRESCIENT

perceiving the significance of events before they occur; showing foresight;

PRAGMATIC

practical and realistic (IDEALISTIC - dreams of perfection) (EUPHORIC - JUBILANT, filled with enthusiasm and joy)

EXUBERANT

really happy and enthusiastic; joyously unrestrained

RETICENT

silent and reluctant to publicly express one's thoughts or feelings; restrained and RESERVED in style; not outspoken

WHIMSICAL

spontaneously fanciful or playful; given to chance or whims

REFLECTIVE

taking time to think carefully about things; thoughtful

MEASURED

the quality of being calm and restrained; unhurried and deliberate

PARALLEL STRUCTURE

the repetition of words, phrases, or sentences that are similar in meaning and structure

HYPERBOLE

the use of exaggerated language for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect

SATIRE

the use of wit, IRONY, and sarcasm to make fun of human follies

DIFFIDENT

timid; lacking self-confidence; shy and reserved, especially in social gatherings; SELF-EFFACING

CONCEDE

to acknowledge or admit

REBUT

to attempt to prove that an accusation or theory is false

REFUTE

to disprove an accusation or theory

UNDERSCORE

to emphasize; to draw special attention to a fact, idea, or situation

BELIE

to give a false impression; to misrepresent

QUALIFY

to limit, modify, or restrict

MITIGATE, ASSUAGE, MOLLIFY, ALLEVIATE, PALLIATE

to make less severe or harsh; to moderate, lessen; to relieve

EULOGIZE

to praise with eloquent words EULOGY - A speech or writing that praises someone highly, particularly in praise of someone passed away, in a funeral

LAMPOON

to ridicule with SATIRE

REVERE

to show great respect; to VENERATE

BEGUILE

to trick or captivate someone, with deception or charm; CAJOLE, COAX

UNDERMINE

to weaken; subvert; hinder

FERVENT

very enthusiastic; having or showing great intensity of spirit

SARDONIC

very sarcastic; scornful, MOCKING, and DERISIVE

VIGNETTE

a brief literary sketch or description

ANALOGY

a comparison of an unfamiliar idea or object to a familiar one