SAT Vocabulary Ep. 19: 10 High-Frequency Words, Definitions & Practice Quiz

Master 10 SAT words about criticism and evasion - Decry, Equivocate, Histrionic, Venerate & more - with a practice quiz.

CRAMBOOKNOTES SAT Vocab Series

SAT High-Frequency Vocabulary

Ep.19 Words in Context - Set 19

High School Grades 10-12 10 Key Words Digital SAT

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Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	SAT Context
Aloof Negative	adjective	Distant or reserved; not friendly or forthcoming	"Classmates often mistook her aloof manner for arrogance, when she was really just intensely focused on her research."
Banal Negative	adjective	So lacking in originality that it fails to be interesting; boringly commonplace	"Critics dismissed the film's dialogue as banal, arguing that every line could have come from a dozen other movies."
Decry Negative	verb	To publicly criticize or condemn something strongly	"Environmental groups quickly decried the proposal, arguing it would undo decades of conservation progress."
Equivocate Negative	verb	To use ambiguous language to avoid committing to a clear position	"When asked directly about the missing funds, the treasurer began to equivocate, offering vague explanations instead of a clear answer."
Guile Negative	noun	Clever but often deceptive cunning; craftiness	"The novel's antihero relies on guile rather than force, talking his way out of nearly every dangerous situation."
Histrionic Negative	adjective	Excessively dramatic or theatrical, especially to attract attention	"The senator's histrionic reaction to the minor procedural delay struck many observers as wildly disproportionate."
Inept Negative	adjective	Lacking skill or competence; clumsy	"The report described the agency's response to the flood as inept, citing missed deadlines and contradictory instructions."
Ominous Negative	adjective	Giving the impression that something bad is about to happen	"An ominous silence fell over the trading floor moments before the market opened."
Prosaic Negative	adjective	Lacking imagination or excitement; dull and ordinary	"Despite its grand title, the report's findings turned out to be fairly prosaic, offering few real surprises."
Venerate Positive	verb	To regard with great respect or reverence	"The community continues to venerate the founder of the school, naming nearly every building after her."

Look-Alike Words

Commonly Confused · Similar Meaning

Banal

So overused or unoriginal that it fails to be interesting.

Prosaic

Dull and ordinary; lacking imagination or excitement.

Tip: Banal emphasizes something worn out from overuse. Prosaic emphasizes something plain and unremarkable by nature.

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Decry

To openly and strongly criticize or condemn something.

Equivocate

To use vague language to avoid taking a clear position.

Tip: Decry is a direct, forceful stance. Equivocate is a deliberate avoidance of taking any stance at all.

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Guile

Clever, often deceptive cunning used to get what you want.

Histrionic

Exaggerated, theatrical behavior meant to draw attention.

Tip: Guile works quietly through cleverness and deception. Histrionic behavior works loudly through exaggerated drama.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - SAT Vocabulary Ep.19

Practice Quiz

SAT Vocab Ep.19 - Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 13

Some new employees found the CEO __________, though longtime staff knew she was simply shy in large groups.

Question 2 of 13

The sequel's plot felt __________ compared to the surprising twists of the original film.

Question 3 of 13

Advocacy groups moved quickly to __________ the new restrictions as soon as they were announced.

Question 4 of 13

Rather than give a straight answer, the spokesperson began to __________ about the company's actual plans.

Question 5 of 13

It took considerable __________ for the negotiator to get both sides to agree without either side feeling like they'd lost.

Question 6 of 13

Her __________ response to a minor scheduling change left her coworkers exchanging confused glances.

Question 7 of 13

The __________ handling of customer complaints led to a wave of public criticism.

Question 8 of 13

Dark clouds gathering on the horizon gave the afternoon an __________ feel.

Question 9 of 13

After months of dramatic headlines, the actual policy turned out to be surprisingly __________.

Question 10 of 13

Students at the university continue to __________ the founder, whose statue still stands at the center of campus.

Question 11 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A review that calls a film's dialogue tired and cliché, recycled from a hundred other movies, is criticizing it as __________, rather than simply prosaic.

Question 12 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A politician who refuses to say yes or no when asked about a scandal, offering only vague non-answers, is choosing to __________ rather than decry the allegations.

Question 13 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A salesman who quietly manipulates the fine print to his advantage, without anyone noticing, is relying on __________, rather than histrionic tactics.

out of 13 correct

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