SAT Vocabulary Ep. 20: 10 High-Frequency Words, Definitions & Practice Quiz

Celebrate 200 words learned! 10 SAT words about emotion and change - Fickle, Vehement, Wistful, Sardonic & more - practice quiz included.

CRAMBOOKNOTES SAT Vocab Series

SAT High-Frequency Vocabulary

Ep.20 Words in Context - Set 20

High School Grades 10-12 10 Key Words Digital SAT

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Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	SAT Context
Copious Neutral	adjective	Abundant in quantity; plentiful	"The field researcher took copious notes throughout the expedition, filling nearly a dozen notebooks by the trip's end."
Fickle Negative	adjective	Changing frequently, especially in loyalties or affections; unpredictable	"Investors have grown wary of the fickle market, which has swung dramatically over the past several weeks without any clear cause."
Impunity Negative	noun	Freedom from punishment or negative consequences for one's actions	"The report criticized the agency for allowing the violations to continue with near-total impunity for over a decade."
Nascent Neutral	adjective	Just coming into existence; beginning to develop	"The paper documents the nascent stages of the technology, long before it became a standard tool in the field."
Nonchalant Neutral	adjective	Coolly unconcerned; casual, as if nothing matters much	"The pilot's nonchalant tone during the announcement reassured passengers more than any detailed explanation could have."
Precocious Positive	adjective	Showing advanced abilities or maturity at an unusually early age	"The precocious eight-year-old had already read every book in the library's junior science section twice."
Rancor Negative	noun	Deep, bitter resentment or ill will	"Despite years of professional rancor between the two scientists, their published research remained scrupulously fair to each other's work."
Sardonic Negative	adjective	Mocking or scornful in a dry, sarcastic way	"The critic's sardonic review poked fun at nearly every choice the director had made, from the score to the costumes."
Vehement Neutral	adjective	Showing strong, forceful feeling; intense and passionate, often in protest	"The professor's vehement objection to the proposed cuts surprised colleagues who had rarely seen her raise her voice in a meeting."
Wistful Neutral	adjective	Having a feeling of vague or regretful longing, often tinged with sadness	"The memoir closes on a wistful note, as the author looks back on a childhood home that no longer exists."

Look-Alike Words

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Nonchalant

Casually unconcerned, as if nothing really matters.

Vehement

Showing strong, forceful, passionate feeling.

Tip: Nonchalant is a shrug. Vehement is a shout.

Commonly Confused · Similar Meaning

Rancor

Deep, bitter resentment or ill will toward someone.

Sardonic

A mocking, dry, sarcastic tone or expression.

Tip: Rancor is the bitter feeling itself. Sardonic is how that bitterness often comes out - through mockery.

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Nascent

Just beginning to exist or develop.

Precocious

Showing advanced ability or maturity earlier than expected.

Tip: Nascent describes something brand new. Precocious describes something (usually a person) developing faster than expected.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - SAT Vocabulary Ep.20

Practice Quiz

SAT Vocab Ep.20 - Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 13

She took __________ notes during the lecture, filling nearly an entire notebook by the end of class.

Question 2 of 13

The __________ nature of teenage friendships made it hard for the new student to know who to trust.

Question 3 of 13

For years, the company polluted the river with near-total __________, facing no fines or consequences.

Question 4 of 13

The article traces the technology back to its __________ stages in a small university lab.

Question 5 of 13

He gave a __________ shrug when asked about the missed deadline, as if it barely mattered.

Question 6 of 13

The __________ child was already solving algebra problems that stumped kids twice her age.

Question 7 of 13

Years after the lawsuit ended, a quiet __________ still lingered between the two former business partners.

Question 8 of 13

His __________ comment about the weather made it clear he found the forecast overly optimistic.

Question 9 of 13

Her __________ denial left no doubt about how strongly she disagreed with the accusation.

Question 10 of 13

He scrolled through old photos with a __________ smile, missing the friends he hadn't seen in years.

Question 11 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A protester shouting and pounding the podium during a speech is being __________, not nonchalant.

Question 12 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A coworker who rolls his eyes and makes a dry, mocking joke every time a project fails is being __________, which usually points to deeper rancor underneath.

Question 13 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A five-year-old who already reads at a middle-school level is best described as __________, rather than simply nascent at reading.

out of 13 correct

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