SAT Vocabulary Ep. 23: 10 High-Frequency Words, Definitions & Practice Quiz

Study 10 SAT words about awareness and warning - Cognizant, Harbinger, Nefarious, Salient & more - with definitions and a free quiz.

CRAMBOOKNOTES SAT Vocab Series

SAT High-Frequency Vocabulary

Ep.23 Words in Context - Set 23

High School Grades 10-12 10 Key Words Digital SAT

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Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	SAT Context
Cognizant Neutral	adjective	Having knowledge or awareness of something	"The report urges policymakers to remain cognizant of the long-term environmental costs of short-term economic gains."
Demure Positive	adjective	Reserved, modest, and shy in behavior or dress	"The character's demure public persona contrasts sharply with the bold opinions revealed in her private letters."
Harbinger Neutral	noun	A person or thing that signals or foreshadows the approach of something	"Historians view the pamphlet's sudden popularity as an early harbinger of the political unrest that followed."
Indolent Negative	adjective	Habitually lazy; avoiding activity or effort	"The critic dismissed the novel's protagonist as indolent, someone who talks about change far more than he ever pursues it."
Livid Negative	adjective	Extremely angry; furious	"Shareholders grew livid after learning the merger had been finalized without any formal vote."
Nefarious Negative	adjective	Wicked or criminal in a way that is shocking	"The trial revealed the full scope of the executive's nefarious scheme to hide the company's mounting losses."
Panacea Negative	noun	A solution presented as able to cure all problems, often used skeptically	"The report cautions against treating the new policy as a panacea for problems that have built up over decades."
Repugnant Negative	adjective	Extremely distasteful or unacceptable; causing strong dislike	"The senator called the proposal morally repugnant, arguing it would punish the very families it claimed to help."
Salient Neutral	adjective	Most noticeable or important; prominent	"The professor asked students to identify the most salient details in the passage before writing their analysis."
Waver Negative	verb	To move back and forth between different opinions or actions; to hesitate	"Despite public criticism, the committee's support for the research grant never wavered."

Look-Alike Words

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Demure

Modest, reserved, and quietly shy in manner.

Livid

Extremely angry; furious.

Tip: Demure is a calm, understated presence. Livid is an intense, visible burst of anger - about as far from demure as an emotion gets.

Commonly Confused · Similar Meaning

Nefarious

Wicked or criminal in a shocking way.

Repugnant

So distasteful that it causes strong dislike or disgust.

Tip: Nefarious describes an action or scheme as evil. Repugnant describes a reaction of disgust toward something, which doesn't have to be criminal.

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Cognizant

Aware of or informed about something.

Salient

Standing out as the most noticeable or important.

Tip: Cognizant describes a person's awareness. Salient describes what makes something worth being aware of in the first place.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - SAT Vocabulary Ep.23

Practice Quiz

SAT Vocab Ep.23 - Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 13

Travelers should stay __________ of local customs before visiting a new country.

Question 2 of 13

She gave a __________ nod instead of announcing the award news to the whole room herself.

Question 3 of 13

Economists viewed the sudden drop in shipping rates as a __________ of slowing global trade.

Question 4 of 13

His __________ approach to studying meant he crammed everything into the night before the exam.

Question 5 of 13

Fans were __________ when the concert was canceled just an hour before doors opened.

Question 6 of 13

The film's villain hatches a __________ plan to sabotage the city's water supply.

Question 7 of 13

The consultant warned the board against treating the new software as a __________ for the company's deeper organizational problems.

Question 8 of 13

Many readers found the character's justification for his actions morally __________.

Question 9 of 13

The editor asked the writer to cut anything that wasn't __________ to the article's main argument.

Question 10 of 13

Her confidence never __________, even after the panel's tough questions.

Question 11 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A customer who slams the counter and shouts at the manager over a billing error is being __________, not demure.

Question 12 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A spy who secretly plots to sabotage an election is engaged in __________ activity, rather than simply doing something people find repugnant.

Question 13 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A single word in a contract that changes the entire meaning of a clause is the most __________ detail in the document, not just something a careful reader is cognizant of.

out of 13 correct

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

Answer Key & Explanations

1Cognizant. Being aware of local customs before traveling is exactly what cognizant means.

2Demure. A quiet, modest nod instead of a loud announcement is exactly what demure describes.

3Harbinger. A sudden drop in shipping rates signaling a larger trend to come is exactly what harbinger means.

4Indolent. Cramming everything the night before instead of steady effort is exactly what indolent describes, lazy or avoiding effort.

5Livid. Extreme anger at a last-minute cancellation is exactly what livid means.

6Nefarious. A villain's plan to sabotage a city's water supply is exactly what nefarious describes, wicked or criminal.

7Panacea. Treating new software as a cure-all for deeper organizational problems is exactly what panacea means.

8Repugnant. A justification readers find morally offensive is exactly what repugnant describes.

9Salient. Cutting anything not central to the article's main argument is exactly what salient means, prominent and relevant.

10Wavered. Confidence that never faltered under tough questions is exactly what waver describes, to hesitate or lose steadiness.

11Livid. Shouting and slamming the counter over a billing error is livid, openly furious, distinct from demure, which describes quiet reserve.

12Nefarious. Secretly plotting to sabotage an election is nefarious, actively wicked, distinct from something merely repugnant, which just means offensive.

13Salient. The one word that changes an entire clause's meaning is the most salient detail, distinct from cognizant, which just describes being aware of something.

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