Vocabulary
Root Word
(Greek & Latin root words, suffixes, prefixes)
Meaning
ante-auto-bio-cap-, -capt-, -cept-, -cip-cede-, -ceed-, -ceas-, -cess-chrom-chron-, -chronoCom-, conDe-, dis-dem-, -demo-dermEquiExtraFore-, pre-gnos-graph-, -graphy-, -gramGress
Hyperil-, im-, in-, non-, un-
before
self
life
take
Happen, yield, go
color
time
Together, with
Lower, opposite
people
skin
equal
Outside of
Before, ahead of time
know
write
step
Over, excessive
not
In-, imInter-ject-log-, -logueMalMicroMini-mis-, -miss-, -mit-, -mittPhil-phon-, -phone-, -phonoPhot-pol-, -polisPort
PostReScriptSemiSubSuperSyn-theThermTransUn-vert-, versvita-voc-, -vok-
In, into
Among, between
throw
Speech, word, reasoning
bad
small
Short, small
send
Like, love
Sound, voice
light
City, state
carry
after
Back, again
To write
half
below
above
together
Put or place
heat
across
not
To turn
life
call
Sample Word
Antebellum, antedate
autograph
biography
Capitulate, captive, concept, recipient
Precede, proceed, decease, cessation
Monochrome, chromatic
Chronic, chronological
Compatriot, contact
Devalue, disloyal
Epidemic, democracy
Dermatology, epidermis
equilateral
extraordinary
Forewarn, preplan
diagnostic
Graphite, autobiography, telegram
Progress, regressive
Hyperactive, hypersensitive
Illegal, impossible, inactive, irregular, nonsense,
unable
Inhale, import
Interactive, Internet
eject
Logic, dialogue
malicious
Microcircuit, microscope
Miniskirt, miniseries
Promise, missile, transmit, intermittent
Philosophy, philanthropy
Phonics, telephone, phonogragh
photosynthesis
Police, metropolis
Portable, transport
Postdate, postscript
repeat
Scripture
Semi-annual
submarine
supernatural
synchronize
parentheses
thermometer
transcontinental
Unpredictable
Versatile, invert
vitamin
Vocal, invoke
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-1
1. abdicate (verb): to surrender or repudiate
synonyms: relinquish, give up, renounce, withdraw
2. circumspect (adjective): examining carefully all circumstances and possible consequences
synonyms: careful, concerned
3. diffident (adjective): lacking in self-confidence
synonyms: modest, shy, bashful
4. ebullient (adjective): overflowing with excitement or liveliness
synonym: enthusiastic
5. innocuous (adjective): having no harmful qualities or ill effects; harmless
synonyms: naive, pure, innocent
6. noisome (adjective): offensive to the point of arousing disgust; foul smell
synonyms: reeking, stinking
7. ostentatious (adjective): characterized by pretentious show in attempt to impress others
synonyms: showy, pretentious
8. propensity (noun): an often intense natural inclination.
synonym: leaning, penchant, predilection
9. sycophant (noun): someone who attempts to win favors or advance him or herself by flattery or servile
behavior
synonyms: slanderer, defamer
10. taciturn (adjective): habitually silent or quiet; inclined to talk very little
synonyms: laconic, terse
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-2
1. abstemious (adjective): moderate, especially in eating and drinking
synonyms: temperate, sober, moderate
2. benign (adjective): humane; kind; favorable; humanitarian
synonyms: chivalrous, benevolent, harmless
3. efficacy (noun): power to produce a desired effect
synonym: efficiency
4. furtive (adjective): characterized by stealth; surreptitious
synonyms: secret, stealthy, sly, clandestine
5. glib (adjective): smooth talking; fluent; talkative
synonyms: loquacious, plausible
6. indigent (adjective): impoverished; needy, poor
synonyms: lacking, destitute
7. ludicrous (adjective): laughable or hilarious because of obvious absurdity or incongruity
synonyms: ridiculous, comical, hilarious
8. maelstrom (noun): a violent or turbulent situation
synonyms: whirlpool, vortex
9. temporal (adjective): of or related to earthly life
synonyms: limited by time, secular
10. voracious (adjective): greedy in eating; very eager
synonyms: avid, ravenous
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-3
1. abstruse (adjective): hard to understand
synonyms: obscure, complex, profound, esoteric
2. chicanery (noun): the use of sly or evasive language; reasoning to trick or deceive
synonyms: sophistry, guile, fake
3. evanescent (adjective): vanishing; scarcely perceptible
synonym: fleeting
4. exacerbate (verb): to make worse or bitter
synonyms: irritate, aggravate
5. intrinsic ( adjective): belonging to the true or fundamental nature of a thing
synonym: inherent
6. jettison (verb): to cast overboard; get rid of unnecessary items
synonyms: discard, dump
7. licentious (adjective): lacking moral discipline or ignoring legal restraint, especially in sexual conduct
synonyms: wild, uninhibited
8. mollify (verb): to soothe the temper of; pacify
synonyms: appease, conciliate
9. quixotic (adjective): idealistic to an impractical degree
synonyms: chivalrous, romantic, idealistic
10. recalcitrant (adjective): obstinately defiant of authority or restraint
synonyms: resistant, unruly, incorrigible
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-4
1. anomaly (noun): deviation from the common rule
Synonyms: abnormality, irregularity, aberration
2. bombastic (adjective): pompous or overblown in language; full of high sounding words intended to conceal
a lack of ideas
synonyms: inflated (language)
3. cynic (noun): a person who believes all people are motivated by selfishness
synonyms: pessimist, scorner
4. debilitate (verb): to sap the strength or energy of
synonyms: enervate, weaken, enfeeble
5. emaciated (adjective): make lean by a gradual wasting away of the body
synonyms: thin, wasted
6. iconoclast (noun): one who seeks to destroy traditional or religious beliefs
synonyms: heretic, destroyer, biblioclast
7. myriad (adjective): constituting a very large, indefinite number; innumerable
synonyms: numerous, multitudinous
8. reticent (adjective): habitually silent or uncommunicative; disinclined to speak
synonyms: laconic, taciturn
9. ribald (adjective): characterized by coarse or vulgar joking or mocking
synonyms: earthy, lewd, lascivious, salacious
10. temerity (noun): unreasonable or foolhardy contempt for danger
synonyms: boldness, rashness
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-5
1. acumen (noun): quickness and accuracy of judgment; keenness of sight
synonyms: discernment, insight, sagacity
2. auspicious (adjective): attended by favorable circumstances; marked by success
synonyms: favorable, fortunate, prosperous
3. charlatan (noun): a person who pretends to have special knowledge or skill that he or she does not possess
synonyms: quack, fraud
4. duress (noun): the use of force, especially unlawfully; compulsion
synonyms: constraint, force, coercion
5. eclectic (adjective): selecting and using what seems best from various sources
synonym: selective, various
6. foible (noun): a minor weakness or failing character; a small but persistent personal fault
synonyms: flaw, fault, defect
7. indigenous (adjective): originating and living in an area or environment
synonyms: native
8. lassitude (noun): a state or feeling of weariness, diminished energy, or listlessness
synonyms: lethargy, dullness
9. unfettered (verb): freed from a chain or shackle; liberated
synonyms: unrestrained, unleash, emancipate, free
10. vacillate (verb): sway, totter; to incline first to one course or opinion and then another; waiver
synonyms: hesitate, flip-flop, falter
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-6
1. articulate (verb): to pronounce distinctly; to express well in words
(adjective) expressed clearly and forcefully
2. chimerical (adjective): unreal; imaginary; given to unrealistic fantasies
synonyms: fantastic, visionary
3. crass (adjective): insensitive and unrefined
synonym: gross
4. decorum (noun): appropriateness of behavior or conduct
synonyms: propriety, etiquette
5. grandiose (adjective): ostentatiously showy
synonyms: imposing, impressive
6. hackneyed (adjective): lacking in freshness and originality
synonyms: commonplace, trite, banal
7. paragon (noun): a model of perfection
synonyms: nonpareil, model, ideal
8. parsimonious (adjective): excessively frugal, stingy
synonyms: thrifty, frugal, skimpy
9. wily (adjective): cunning; sly; using craft or stratagem to accomplish a purpose
synonyms: devious, shrewd, deceptive
10. zealous (adjective): marked by active interest and enthusiasm
synonyms: vigorous, fervent, fervid
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-7
1. circumlocution (noun): the use of more or unnecessarily large words to express an idea
synonym: roundabout speaking
2. extrovert (noun): an individual interested in others; outgoing
synonyms: assertiveness, gregariousness
3. facade (noun): an artificial or deceptive front
synonyms: front, veneer, pretense
4. elusive (adjective): hard to grasp or understand
synonym: baffling, evasive
5. empathy (noun): identifying and understanding the feelings of another
synonym: compassion
6. jocose (adjective): given to jokes and jesting; tending to cause laughter
synonyms: merry, playful
7. lackadaisical (adjective): lacking in spirit or interest
synonyms: listless, indolent
8. precedent (noun): the right to superior honor on a ceremonial or formal occasion
synonyms: priority, antecedence
9. soporific (adjective): inducing sleep
synonym: hypnotic
10. sporadic (adjective): occurring at irregular intervals; having no pattern in time
synonyms: intermittent, irregular
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-8
1. affectation (noun) a show of pretense or artificial behavior, usually intended to impress
synonyms: act, pretense, show
2. coalesce (verb): to come together or to grow as one
synonyms: gather, unit
3. discursive (adjective): covering a wide field of subjects
synonyms: rambling, meandering, roving
4. expiate (verb): to make amends for; atone for (a sin)
synonyms; repent
5. fallacious (adjective): containing or based on a fallacy; not real
synonyms: false, untrue, delusive
6. mitigate (verb): to make or become milder, less severe
synonyms: moderate, alleviate, relieve
7. prolix (adjective): drawn-out; too long, marked by or using an excess of words
synonyms: verbose, wordy
8. quiescent (adjective): at rest; dormant
synonym: inactive
9. secular (adjective): worldly; temporal, as opposed to spiritual
10. surreptitious (adjective): done in a secret or stealthy way
synonyms: furtive, sly, clandestine
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-9
1. aggregation (noun): the act of gathering together into a mass or sum so as to constitute a whole; total
synonyms: combination, composite, conglomeration
2. agile (adjective): able to move in a quick and easy fashion; active
synonyms: limber, active, quick, alert
3. egregious (adjective): gross; evil,
synonyms: shocking, flagrant
4. fracas (noun): noisy quarrel; brawl
synonyms: scuffle, uproar, row
5. incongruous (adjective): lacking in harmony; absurdity
synonyms: incompatible, disparity
6. languid (adjective): flagging, drooping, weak; without animation
synonym: listless, slow
7. pandemonium (noun): wild uproar or disorder
synonyms: tumult or chaos
8. paucity (adjective): smallness of quantity or number
synonyms: scarcity, lack, dearth
9. pilgrimage (noun): journey to a holy place; any long journey
10. vapid (adjective): lacking spirit, liveliness, or zest; flat; insipid
synonyms: colorless, bland
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-10
1. ambiance (noun): pervading atmosphere, surrounding mood
synonym: environment, milieu
2. doleful (adjective): very sad or dreary
synonyms: mournful, sorrowful, dismal
3. effrontery (noun): shameless boldness
synonyms: audacity, insolence
4. fulsome (adjective): offensively excessive or insincere
synonyms: overstated, gross, blatant, obsequious
5. halcyon (adjective): calm and peaceful
synonyms: happy, golden
6. martyr (noun): one who suffers punishment or the sacrifice of his life for
the adherence to principles or beliefs
7. petulant (adjective): peevish; capricious; easily annoyed; having or showing a bad temper
synonyms: irritable, ill-tempered, grouchy
8. superfluous (adjective): excessive; more than what is required or sufficient
synonym: overabundant, excessive
9. tantamount (adjective): equivalent; having the same meaning, value, or effect
synonyms: comparable, identical
10. untenable (adjective): incapable of being held or defended, as an argument or thesis
synonym: indefensible
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-11
1. antithesis (noun): a direct contrast; opposition; direct or exact opposite
synonyms: opposite, contrast
2. clandestine (adjective): kept or done in secrecy for a purpose
synonyms: covert, hidden, latent, private
.
3. elucidate (verb): make clear; explain
synonyms: clarify, expound, illuminate
4. ignominy (noun): personal dishonor or humiliation
synonyms: disgrace, shame
5. impute (verb): to charge with the fault or responsibility for
synonyms: attribute, charge
6. palpable (adjective): readily or plainly seen or perceived
synonyms: obvious, tangible
7. supercilious (adjective): haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a look
synonyms: snobbish, arrogant, haughty
8. tautological (adjective): needlessly repetitious
synonym: redundant
9. torpid ( adjective): having lost motion or the power of exertion or feeling
synonyms: dormant, dull, lethargic
10. ubiquitous (adjective): present or existing everywhere
synonyms: omnipresent
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-12
1. ameliorate (verb): to become better
synonyms: improve, help, better
2. encomium (noun): high praise
synonym: praise, eulogy
3. equanimity (noun): evenness of mind or temper; calmness under stress
synonyms: composure, self-control, poise
4. flaccid (adjective): lacking firmness; soft and limp
synonyms: flabby, sagging, drooping
5. mercenary (noun): a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army
synonym: soldier of fortune
6. predilection (noun): an established preference for something
synonyms: prejudice, partiality, penchant
7. prehensile (adjective): adapted for seizing or grasping especially by wrapping around
8. somnolent (adjective): drowsy; half-asleep
synonym: sleepy
9. staid (adjective): sedate and dignified
synonym: proper, sober
10. tenuous (adjective): having little substance or strength
synonyms: slim, thin, rare
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-13
1. anachronism (noun): an error in chronology
2. equivocal (adj) of uncertain origin
synonyms: ambiguous, dubious, vague, ambivalent
3. eschew ( verb): shun or avoid
synonyms: steer clear of, disdain
4. frenetic (adjective): frantic; frenzied
synonyms: distraught, distracted, frenzied
5. perfidious (adjective): of or relating to or characterized by lying
synonyms: basely false
6. terse (adjective): short; to the point
synonyms: brief, laconic, pithy
7. timorous (adjective): lack of self-confidence or courage
synonyms: afraid, doubtful
8. utopian (adjective): proposing ideal social and political schemes that are impractical
synonyms: dreamlike, idealistic, visionary
9. vernacular (noun): the native language of a place; native to a country
synonyms: dialect, language
10. vicissitude (noun): unpredictable changes in life; ups and downs
synonym: change of fortune; fluctuation
SAT PREP VOCABULARY: 10-14
1. blasphemy (noun): speaking irreverently of God; desecrating by impious talk; taking God’s name in vain
2. consecrate (verb): to set apart for sacred uses; to dedicate
3. hierarchy (noun): categorization of a group of people according to ability, rank, or status
synonyms: chain of command, pecking order, ladder
4. incipient (adjective): beginning to exist or appear
synonyms: beginning, starting; initial
5. misnomer (noun): the act of applying a wrong name or epithet to some person or thing
synonyms: malapropism, solecism
6. myopia (noun): visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred; lack of discernment or long- range
perspective in thinking or planning
synonyms: nearsightedness, having “tunnel-vision”
7. nadir (noun): diametrically opposite the zenith; the lowest point
8. philistine (noun): one with no love of music or painting or any of the arts; an uncultured person
9. volatile (adjective): evaporating quickly; unstable or fickle
synonym: capricious, mercurial
10. wan (adjective): sickly; pale; feeble or weak
synonyms: haggard, pale