SAT Vocabulary
Overview and Unit 1
Vocabulary Overview
• Every week, you will receive 20 vocabulary
words that are often found on the SAT and
ACT.
• You will create vocabulary flashcards for all
20 words; these cards are due on Friday (or
the last day of the week) before you take the
vocab. quiz
• Quizzes are CUMULATIVE
Overview, Pt. II
• 13 of the 20 words will be required for
everyone to know
• 7 of the 20 words will be “Challenge
Words” – you still make flashcards for
these words, but they will only be included
as Extra Credit on vocabulary quizzes
• Challenge Words will be marked with an
asterisk (*) on vocabulary lists – you
should also mark them on your flashcards
Vocabulary Flashcards
• Flashcards should be 4x6 or 5x8 (NO 3x5!)
• Divide your cards on both sides like this:
Side 1
• Upper-Left Corner: Vocabulary Word in
large letters, part of speech in parentheses
next to the word (an abbreviation is fine)
• Upper-Right Corner: Word Forms, or
variations the word has depending on
context and usage (shifts in part of
speech, verb tense, etc.)
Side 1, Part II
• Bottom of Side 1:
– Meaningful Sentence using the word
– Picture illustrating the word
– If the word is pulled from literature, then you
must include a quotation from the text using
the word, along with the MLA citation of the
quotation
Side 2
• Upper-Left Corner: Synonyms
• Upper-Right Corner: Antonyms
– I will give you some synonyms and antonyms
each week. You are responsible for generating
ONE additional synonym AND antonym for each
word to include on your cards
• Bottom of Side 2: Full definition
• 1. approbation: (noun) the expression of approval
or favorable opinion; praise; official approval
Synonyms: commendation, sanction
Antonyms: disapproval; censure; condemnation
• 2. assuage: (verb) to make easier, milder; to relieve;
to quiet or calm; to put an end to
Synonyms: calm, alleviate, relax
Antonyms: intensify, aggravate, exacerbate
• 3. *coalition: (n) a combination, union, or merger for
some specific purpose
Synonyms: alliance, league, federation
Antonyms: splinter group, faction
• 4. *decadence: (n) decline, decay, or deterioration; a
condition or period of excessive self-indulgence
Synonyms: degeneration; corruption
Antonyms: rise, growth, development, maturation
• 5. elicit: (verb) to draw forth; to bring out from a
source
Synonyms: extract, pull out, evoke
Antonyms: repress, quash, squelch, stifle
• 6. *expostulate: (v) to attempt to dissuade someone
from some course of action or decision by earnest
reasoning
Synonyms: protest, remonstrate, complain
• 7. hackneyed: (adjective) used so often that it lacks
freshness or originality
Synonyms: trite, corny, overdone
Antonyms: fresh, original, new, novel
• 8. hiatus: (noun) a gap, an opening, or a break; a
pause
Synonyms: vacation, time off
Antonyms: continuity, continuation
• 9. innuendo: (noun) a hint or indirect suggestion,
often in a negative sense
Synonyms: insinuation, intimation
Antonym: direct statement
• 10. intercede: (v) to plead on behalf of someone else;
to serve as a third party or go-between in a
disagreement
Synonyms: intervene, mediate
• 11. jaded: (adjective) wearied, worn-out, dulled
Synonyms: spoiled, overindulged; sated, cloyed
Antonyms: unspoiled, uncloyed
• 12. lurid: (adjective) causing shock, horror, or
revulsion; sensational; pale in color
Synonyms: gruesome, gory, grisly, horrible
Antonyms: pleasant, attractive, appealing,
wholesome
• 13. meritorious: (adjective) worthy; deserving fame,
praise, or recognition
Synonyms: praiseworthy, commendable, valuable
Antonyms: blameworthy, reprehensible,
discreditable
• 14. petulant: (adj) peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily
irritated and upset
Synonyms: irritable, testy, waspish
Antonyms: even-tempered, placid, serene, amiable
• 15. *prerogative: (n) special right or privilege; a
special quality showing excellence
Synonyms: perk, perquisite
• 16. *provincial: (adjective) pertaining to an outlying
area; local; narrow in mind and outlook; countrified in
the sense of being limited and backward
Synonyms: old-fashioned, naïve, narrow-minded
Antonyms: cosmopolitan, catholic, broad-minded
• 17. simulate: (v) to make a pretense of, imitate; to
show the outer signs of
Synonyms: feign, pretend, affect
• 18. transcend: (verb) to rise above or beyond; to
exceed
Synonyms: surpass, outstrip
• 19. *umbrage: (n) an overshadowing influence
or power; offense, resentment; a vague
suspicion
Synonyms: irritation, pique, annoyance
Antonyms: pleasure, delight, satisfaction
• 20. *unctuous: (adj) excessively smooth or
smug; trying too hard to give an impression of
sincerity
Synonyms: servile, fawning, greasy
Antonyms: blunt, gruff