SAT Vocabulary Ep. 16: 10 High-Frequency Words, Definitions & Practice Quiz

Master 10 SAT words about conflict and deception - Belligerent, Furtive, Insidious, Pacify & more - with definitions and a free quiz.

CRAMBOOKNOTES SAT Vocab Series

SAT High-Frequency Vocabulary

Ep.16 Words in Context - Set 16

High School Grades 10-12 10 Key Words Digital SAT

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Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	SAT Context
Acquiesce Neutral	verb	To accept or agree to something without protest, often reluctantly	"After weeks of debate, the smaller nations reluctantly acquiesced to the terms set by the larger powers."
Belligerent Negative	adjective	Hostile and aggressive; eager to fight or argue	"The ambassador's belligerent tone during the press conference alarmed diplomats who had hoped for a peaceful resolution."
Culpable Negative	adjective	Deserving blame for a wrongful act	"The investigation ultimately found the contractor culpable for the structural failure, citing skipped safety inspections."
Duplicity Negative	noun	Deceitfulness; saying or promising one thing while doing another	"The memoir exposes the duplicity of a diplomat who publicly championed peace while secretly funding the opposing militia."
Furtive Negative	adjective	Done secretly or stealthily, often to avoid being noticed	"Security footage showed the employee casting furtive glances at the exit before slipping out with the missing files."
Insidious Negative	adjective	Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects	"The novel traces the insidious spread of the rumor, which quietly reshaped the town's opinion of the mayor over several months."
Lethargic Negative	adjective	Lacking energy or enthusiasm; sluggish	"The heat left the entire research team feeling lethargic, barely able to finish the day's fieldwork."
Ostracize Negative	verb	To exclude someone from a group or society	"The play follows a young scientist who is ostracized by her colleagues after questioning the lab's official findings."
Pacify Positive	verb	To calm or soothe someone's anger or distress	"The company offered a partial refund in an attempt to pacify customers frustrated by the delayed shipment."
Tacit Neutral	adjective	Understood or implied without being directly stated	"Although no one said it outright, there was a tacit agreement among the committee members to avoid the controversial topic."

Look-Alike Words

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Belligerent

Hostile and aggressive, ready to fight or argue.

Pacify

To calm or soothe someone's anger or distress.

Tip: Belligerent describes someone stirring up conflict. Pacify describes the act of calming that conflict down.

Commonly Confused · Similar Meaning

Furtive

Done secretly, often through quick, hidden actions to avoid notice.

Tacit

Understood or implied without ever being directly stated.

Tip: Furtive describes secretive behavior. Tacit describes an unspoken agreement or understanding.

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Insidious

Causing harm gradually and subtly, often without being noticed.

Duplicity

Deceitfulness - saying one thing while doing another.

Tip: Insidious describes how harm spreads quietly over time. Duplicity describes the deliberate act of being two-faced.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - SAT Vocabulary Ep.16

Practice Quiz

SAT Vocab Ep.16 - Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 13

After hours of negotiation, the union finally __________ to the company's revised offer.

Question 2 of 13

The coach warned the rookie that his __________ attitude toward referees would eventually cost the team a game.

Question 3 of 13

The report made clear that the manufacturer, not the driver, was __________ for the vehicle's brake failure.

Question 4 of 13

Readers were stunned by the character's __________, having trusted him completely until the final chapter revealed his betrayal.

Question 5 of 13

He took a __________ bite of the cake before anyone noticed the missing slice.

Question 6 of 13

The documentary explores the __________ effects of long-term exposure to the chemical, which often go unnoticed for years.

Question 7 of 13

After the long flight, the whole family felt __________ and skipped their planned sightseeing.

Question 8 of 13

The student was unfairly __________ by his classmates after a rumor spread that turned out to be false.

Question 9 of 13

The manager offered a discount to __________ the frustrated customers waiting in line.

Question 10 of 13

There was a __________ understanding between the roommates that whoever cooked didn't have to clean.

Question 11 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A negotiator who calms an angry crowd with a soft, reassuring speech is working to __________ them, not provoke them further.

Question 12 of 13

Look-Alike Check: Two coworkers who never discuss it out loud but both quietly agree to cover for each other's late arrivals have a __________ understanding, not a furtive one.

Question 13 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A friend who smiles to your face while spreading rumors behind your back is practicing __________, rather than simply causing insidious harm by accident.

out of 13 correct

Full explanations for every question appear below after you check your answers.

Answer Key & Explanations

1Acquiesced. Reluctantly accepting the company's revised offer after hours of negotiation is exactly what acquiesce means.

2Belligerent. A hostile, eager-to-fight attitude toward referees that could cost the team a game is exactly what belligerent describes.

3Culpable. Being found deserving of blame for a brake failure, rather than the driver, is exactly what culpable means.

4Duplicity. A character's deceitfulness, trusted completely until a final betrayal is revealed, is exactly what duplicity describes.

5Furtive. Taking a secret bite of cake before anyone notices is exactly what furtive describes.

6Insidious. Harmful effects from long-term exposure that go unnoticed for years is exactly what insidious describes.

7Lethargic. Feeling sluggish and skipping planned activities after a long flight is exactly what lethargic describes.

8Ostracized. Being unfairly excluded by classmates after a false rumor spreads is exactly what ostracize means.

9Pacify. Offering a discount specifically to calm frustrated customers is exactly what pacify means.

10Tacit. An unspoken understanding between roommates that was never directly stated is exactly what tacit describes.

11Pacify. Calming an angry crowd with a reassuring speech is working to pacify them, not provoke them further.

12Tacit. An agreement two coworkers never discuss out loud but both quietly follow is tacit, understood without being stated, distinct from furtive, which describes secretive action.

13Duplicity. Smiling to someone's face while spreading rumors behind their back is practicing duplicity, deliberate two-facedness, distinct from insidious harm that spreads by accident.

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