POWER VOCABULARRY BUILDERTOP 100 SAT Vocabulary Words
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(adj.) 1. not specific or concrete; 2. based on general theory rather than something specific; 3. nonrepresentational (in art); (n.) a summary of a longer text, especially of an academic article; (v.) to develop or conceptualize a line of thought from a concrete reality to a general principle or an intellectual idea
(adj.) theoretical, notional, hypothetical, nonspecific, nonrepresentational, (n.) brief, summary, outline, essence, (v.) extract, isolate, separate
(adj.) concrete, factual, material
I don't like abstract painting because it doesn't look like anything I can recognize. (nonrepresentational) The professor's argument was so abstract that no one in the room could understand it. (theoretical, not specific)
1. very serious or severe; 2. highly perceptive, keen, and intelligent; 3. very powerful and sensitive (such as eyesight)
urgent, critical, dire, severe, keen, penetrating, perceptive, sensitive
obtuse, non-threatening, dull, blunt
John was taken to the hospital, where it was discovered that he was suffering from acute peritonitis. (severe)Dogs have such an acute sense of hearing that they can sense their owner's approach long before the humans in the room notice any sound. (sensitive, perceptive)
(v.) to support, plead for, or speak for someone or something; (n.) 1. someone who supports or speaks for a cause or idea; 2. a lawyer
(v.) champion, promote, support, endorse, (n.) proponent, supporter, champion, lawyer, defender, voice
(v.) oppose, (n.) opponent
The Senator was a tireless advocate of campaign finance reform. (supporter, champion)The chairman's passionate advocacy allowed the project to be financed even after many rounds of budget cuts. (support, upholding [of the project])
(adj.) concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste; (n.) a theory as to what is beautiful
(adj.) tasteful, beautiful, pleasing, cultured, refined, artistic
(adj.) unaesthetic, ugly
It wasn't the prettiest web site, but its user-friendly interface made up for the lack of aesthetic images. (pleasing, refined)Gourmet food should look aesthetic as well as taste wonderful. (beautiful, pleasing)
1. to relieve or lessen; 2. to make easier
mitigate, assuage, allay, lessen, lighten, relieve, ease
aggravate, intensify, increase, augment
The medication instantly alleviated the patient's pain. (relieved, lightened)Jon's weekly phone calls were able to alleviate some of his mother's worry while he was stationed overseas. (assuage, ease)
a state of disorder and chaos, usually resulting from the absence of government or formal control
lawlessness, chaos, disorder, disarray, pandemonium, confusion
lawfulness, order
The lack of leadership caused a state of anarchy among the project team. (confusion, disorder, chaos)Without any leadership, our company will slowly slide into a state of anarchy. (disarray, disorder)
1. the absence of emotion or enthusiasm; 2. inability to feel; 3. lack of interest
unconcern, indifference, stoicism, insensibility, passivism, listlessness
passion, enthusiasm, zeal, curiosity
His apathy toward his job eventually got him fired. (indifference, unconcern)The politician was nervous because he was seeing signs of apathy from his loyal constituents. (passiveness, indifference)
(n.) a person who practices self-denial; (adj.) practicing abstinence
(n.) abstainer, hermit, puritan, (adj.) abstinent, abstemious, austere, restrained, severe
(n.) hedonist, (adj.) self-indulgent, sensuous
Sarah is ascetic in her lifestyle; she doesn't allow herself any luxuries, and her home is very simple and plain. (austere, restrained)Medieval ascetics believed that attachment to earthly possessions was sinful. (abstainers, monks)
able to be perceptive and to make intelligent decisions and judgments
perceptive, discerning, intelligent, clever, cunning, shrewd, crafty, wily, sly
imperceptive, ignorant, naive
Her astute cultural observations made her one of the most noted anthropologists of her time. (perceptive, discerning)The astute investor made even more money in the stock market than in his business. (wily, shrewd)
to increase or make greater by adding something
supplement, increase, expand, intensify, enlarge, enhance
attenuate, decrease, degrade, reduce
The senator's salary was augmented by funds obtained from illegal bribes. (supplemented, enhanced)If you want to augment your investment portfolio, you'll have to take some calculated risks. (expand, enlarge)
1. stern, strict, or harsh in manner; 2. bare or unadorned; 3. indicating self-denial or lack of comfort
severe, strict, stern, harsh, unadorned, plain, simple, forbidding, stringent, ascetic, solemn
luxurious, self-indulgent
With the war abroad, many families faced increased austerity in their home lives. (self-denial, simplicity)The children were nervous in the presence of the austere and intimidating instructor. (stern, forbidding)
1. boring and lacking in originality; 2. repeated too often and therefore overly familiar
trite, insipid, common, hackneyed, unoriginal, dull, obvious
original, fresh, new, uncommon
We need to come up with some better concepts for next week's presentation; everything we've thought of so far is totally banal. (trite, unoriginal)He thinks his ideas are creative and original, but I find them to be rather banal. (common, hackneyed, obvious)
1. hostile, and ready to fight or go to war; 2. taking part or engaged in warfare; 3. characteristic of hostility or readiness to fight
combative, hostile, bellicose, contentious, warlike, aggressive, antagonistic, pugnacious, quarrelsome
friendly, peaceful, neutral, conciliatory
It was impossible to explain myself when he was so belligerent with anger. (combative, aggressive, bellicose)The woman was shocked and embarrassed when her husband became belligerent with her in public. (combative, pugnacious, aggressive)
a tendency to do good or generous things
good, kind, generous, altruistic, charitable, compassionate
malevolent, evil, selfish, insensitive, unfeeling, unkind
He was a benevolent man, determined to do what he could to make life easier and happier for others. (kind, compassionate)John didn't have a selfish bone in his body, and his benevolence won him many friends and admirers. (kindness, generosity)
1. honest, straightforward, and sincere, without reserve; 2. informal and natural
forthright, frank, guileless, sincere, unbiased, straightforward, earnest, informal, improvised, spontaneous, fair
deceitful, devious, indirect, insincere
We need to have a candid conversation about the state of our company and discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly. (frank, sincere)She was very candid with the journalist during the interview and revealed many personal details of her life. (forthright, earnest)
(n.) harsh criticism or condemnation; (v.) to criticize severely or to condemn
(n.) rebuke, disapproval, criticism, condemnation, reproval, (v.) condemn, criticize, castigate, reprove, denounce
praise
The committee issued a censure of the legislature's questionable activities. (criticism, reproval)Those who refused to strike were censured by the union. (criticized, castigated)
overly self-satisfied due to a high opinion of oneself, and therefore, too content
smug, self-satisfied, self-pleased, at ease, indifferent, apathetic, impervious
humble, diffident, on guard
American auto makers became too complacent in the 1970's, allowing Japanese manufacturers to increase auto sales in the US. (at ease, smug)Strong competition keeps companies from becoming too complacent. (comfortable, impervious)
1. the act of obedience to order or law; 2. the act of surrendering power to another
deference, acquiescence, conformity, yielding, adherence
noncompliance, disobedience, nonconformity
The released offender's compliance with her parole officer was to her benefit. (conformity, deference)The rebellious new driver felt that compliance with traffic laws was optional, until he started getting traffic tickets. (acquiescence, assent)
acting in a placating manner to bring about agreement, restore trust and goodwill, or settle someone's anger
accommodating, obliging, appeasing, assuaging, mollifying, placating
antagonistic, belligerent, stubborn
The conciliatory tone of his voice showed that he was ready to end our disagreement. (placating, assuaging)If it's any conciliation, I didn't have any fun at the party without you. (appeasement)
to overlook and accept as harmless, behavior which is considered immoral or wrong--to make allowances for bad behavior, without criticism
overlook, pardon, disregard, tolerate, sanction
censure, condemn, denounce, forbid
To initially condone bad behavior may give truth to the phrase, "give them an inch, and they'll take a mile." (overlook, tolerate)If you condone dishonesty in the company you keep, what's to stop you from becoming untruthful yourself? (disregard, pardon)
1. easily seen--noticeable; 2. trying to attract attention through being unusual or remarkable
obvious, noticeable, blatant, evident, apparent, obtrusive, overt
inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unseen, hidden
The tourist's bright backpack was quite conspicuous and immediately marked her as a foreigner. (obvious, noticeable) If you continue your conspicuous and odd behavior, she will know you are planning a surprise party for her. (obvious, overt)
willful and open disrespect
disdain, dislike, disrespect, hatred, disgust, disregard, scorn, loathing, shame, dishonor, arrogance, defiance
regard, reverence, respect, honor, affection
I have nothing but contempt for people who lie, cheat, and steal. (disgust, loathing)He is very contemptuous of people who don't work hard and complain about everything in life. (expressing disgust)
1. polite respect, especially putting another person's interests first; 2. a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others
homage, obeisance, reverence, submission, respect, consideration
insolence, irreverence disesteem, disfavor discourtesy, incivility, rudeness
Out of deference to our guests, we always ask them what they want for dinner. (respect, consideration)He will defer to his lawyers about whether or not to take the stand during the trial. (yield, concede, submit)
1. showing great moral corruption or wickedness; 2. deviating from what is right, proper, or good
corrupt, degenerate, mean, debased, immoral, wicked
scrupulous, upstanding
He has been a ruthless and mean business man throughout his whole career; I don't think he can change his depraved ways. (corrupt)The depraved club treasurer ran off to Hawaii and spent all the members' dues. (corrupt, immoral)
to ridicule or show contempt for someone or something
gibe, jeer, mock, disparage, ridicule, scoff, scorn
praise, respect, encourage
Bill's friends derided him for his obvious fright during the scary movie. (mocked, ridiculed)...
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