SOPHOMORE SAT VOCABULARY – UNIT 12
KNOW THE DEFINITIONS AND HOW TO USE THE WORD IN A SENTENCE.
(buh MUZE)
VERB – To confuse or to bewilder
SYN: divert attention
ANT: to enlighten
He did not intend to bemuse the class with his ambiguous remarks.
2. collage
NOUN – An assembly of diverse things to make an artistic composition
(kuh LAHZ)
SYN: abstract composition
1. bemuse
ANT: ----------
My girlfriend gave me a collage representing the time that we have dated.
3. equilibrium
(ee kwuh LIB ree um)
4. ethos
(EE thos)
5. explicate
(EK spluh kate)
6. impudent
(IM pyuh dunt)
7. interred
(in TURD)
8. lionize
(LIE uh nize)
9. mosaic
(mow ZAY ik)
10. polarization
(poe lur eh ZAY shun)
NOUN – A state of balance between opposing forces
SYN: balance, poise
ANT: imbalance
The acrobats need a good sense of equilibrium in order to perform the tricks.
NOUN – The distinguishing character or values of a specific people or culture
SYN: beliefs, attitude
ANT: ---------In the Indian ethos, the young brave was encouraged into manhood.
VERB – To explain, to clarify the meaning
SYN: elucidate, expound
ANT: to fail to clarify
He could not explicate the actions of his son.
ADJ – Disrespectful, characterized by improper bold behavior
SYN: cocky, sassy
ANT: respectful
The student’s impudent act of using profanity toward Mrs. Dove caused him to
be expelled.
VERB/ADJ – Buried
SYN: cover up, entomb
He was interred by the avalanche.
ANT: exhumed; disinterred
VERB – To treat one with importance or as a celebrity
SYN: praise, glorify, honor
ANT: to spurn
The newspapers often lionize a celebrity who visits the city.
NOUN – A picture made by using various small pieces of multicolored material
SYN: collage
ANT: single, identical
The myriad of races and the cultures that make up America is said to resemble
a mosaic.
NOUN – Division into two opposite positions
SYN: contrast
ANT: consolidation
There is a polarization in the school district between those who want smoking
area and those who do not.
11. reciprocal
(reh SIP ruh kul)
ADJ – Mutual, interacting
SYN: common
ANT: different
We have made a reciprocal trade agreement whereby we will sell the country
grain and it will sell us copper.
12. rejoinder
(reh JOIN dur)
NOUN – An answer to a reply
SYN: reply
ANT: a question
Her remarks drew a sharp rejoinder from the man.
13. restive
ADJ – Unwilling to yield or to adjust
SYN: contrary, perverse
ANT: pliable; willing to change
The man was unable to persuade the restive crowd.
(RES tiv)
14. revile
(reh VILE)
15. revulsion
(reh VUL shun)
16. sever
(SEV
ur)
17. surplus
(SUR plus)
18. topple
(TOP ul)
19. vanquished
(VAN kwishd)
20. whim
(HWIM)
VERB – To subject to verbal abuse
SYN: upbraid, scold
ANT: to praise; to acclaim
The woman began to revile her husband in a fit of anger.
NOUN – A strong feeling of disgust or repugnance
SYN: hatred
ANT: attraction; appreciation
Everyone should have a revulsion for child abuse.
VERB – To cut or to separate
SYN: divorce, sunder
ANT: to connect
I decided to sever my relationship with that organization when I found out the
nature of it.
NOUN – An amount that is more than what is needed
SYN: excess, leftover
ANT: shortage
The government purchases surplus wheat so that it is not thrown away.
VERB – To overturn
SYN: fall, knock over, collapse
ANT: to stabilize
The rebels were able to topple the government.
VERB/ADJ – Conquered, overpowered
SYN: crush, overcome
ANT: submitted
Hitler’s armies vanquished Poland with aid from Russia.
NOUN – A sudden and impulsive action
SYN: caprice, crochet, vagary
ANT: plan, thought out
Our trip to Washington was a mere whim.
SAT word lists compiled by Laying the Foundation, Inc.