SAT Vocabulary Ep. 30: 10 High-Frequency Words, Definitions & Practice Quiz

SAT high-frequency vocabulary Set 30: idiosyncrasy, intransigent, loquacious, opulent, querulous, and 5 more words with definitions, look-alike word pairs, and a 13-question practice quiz.

CRAMBOOKNOTES SAT Vocab Series

SAT High-Frequency Vocabulary

Ep.30 Words in Context - Set 30

High School Grades 10-12 10 Key Words Digital SAT

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Word List

Word	Part of Speech	Definition	SAT Context
Idiosyncrasy Neutral	noun	A distinctive or peculiar habit or trait belonging to a particular person	"The biography lingers on the composer's idiosyncrasies, from his refusal to work before noon to his habit of composing only in pencil."
Intransigent Negative	adjective	Unwilling to change one's views; stubbornly uncompromising	"Negotiations stalled for months because both delegations remained intransigent on the same three points."
Loquacious Neutral	adjective	Tending to talk a great deal; very talkative	"The professor's loquacious lecture style meant that even simple questions could turn into twenty-minute digressions."
Opulent Positive	adjective	Rich, luxurious, or lavish in appearance or style	"Historians point to the palace's opulent interior as evidence of the empire's wealth at its height."
Querulous Negative	adjective	Complaining in a whining or peevish way	"The committee grew tired of the querulous emails complaining about minor scheduling changes."
Wanton Negative	adjective	Deliberate and without motive or provocation; reckless and unrestrained	"The report describes wanton destruction of protected wetlands, carried out with no apparent purpose beyond convenience."
Yearn Neutral	verb	To have an intense feeling of longing for something	"By the novel's final chapter, the narrator yearns for a simpler version of the life he left behind."
Equanimity Positive	noun	Mental calmness and composure, especially in a difficult situation	"Even as the market swung wildly, the fund manager approached each decision with remarkable equanimity."
Rue Negative	verb	To bitterly regret something	"The memoir suggests the author came to rue the decision, though he never says so outright."
Notorious Negative	adjective	Famous or well known for some bad quality or deed	"The bridge became notorious for its traffic jams long before the city finally added a second lane."

Look-Alike Words

Opposite Charge · Contrast Pair

Wanton

Deliberately reckless or unrestrained, without any real justification.

Equanimity

Calm composure, especially under pressure or difficulty.

Tip: Wanton behavior is out of control. Equanimity is total control, even when things get hard.

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Querulous

Complaining in a whining, peevish tone.

Loquacious

Talking a great deal, often more than necessary.

Tip: Querulous is about the negative tone of what's said. Loquacious is about the sheer amount being said, regardless of tone.

Commonly Confused · Similar Function

Rue

To bitterly regret something that already happened.

Yearn

To feel an intense longing for something you don't currently have.

Tip: Rue looks backward with regret. Yearn looks toward something missing, whether in the past, present, or future.

Vocabulary Video

Watch - SAT Vocabulary Ep.30

Practice Quiz

SAT Vocab Ep.30 - Practice Quiz

Question 1 of 13

One well-known __________ of the author was his refusal to type; every draft was handwritten first.

Question 2 of 13

Both sides remained __________, refusing to budge even after weeks of mediation.

Question 3 of 13

Normally reserved, he became surprisingly __________ once the topic turned to his favorite hobby.

Question 4 of 13

The ballroom's __________ chandeliers and gold trim left guests speechless.

Question 5 of 13

The customer's __________ complaints about a two-minute wait annoyed everyone else in line.

Question 6 of 13

Investigators described the vandalism as __________, with no clear motive behind the damage.

Question 7 of 13

After years abroad, he began to __________ for the food and language of home.

Question 8 of 13

She handled the surprise inspection with such __________ that no one in the office even noticed she was stressed.

Question 9 of 13

He would later __________ the decision to skip the meeting, which turned out to be the most important one of the year.

Question 10 of 13

The intersection is __________ for its confusing signage, tripping up even longtime residents.

Question 11 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A driver who speeds through red lights for no reason at all is displaying __________ behavior, not equanimity.

Question 12 of 13

Look-Alike Check: A guest who won't stop complaining about the seating chart in a whiny tone is being __________, which is different from a guest who simply talks a lot at dinner.

Question 13 of 13

Look-Alike Check: Looking back at a decision you wish you'd made differently is to __________ it, rather than simply yearn for a different outcome in the future.

out of 13 correct

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

Answer Key & Explanations

1Idiosyncrasy. Refusing to type and writing every draft by hand is a distinctive personal habit, exactly what idiosyncrasy means.

2Intransigent. Refusing to budge after weeks of mediation is exactly what intransigent describes, stubbornly uncompromising.

3Loquacious. Becoming unexpectedly talkative on a favorite topic is exactly what loquacious means.

4Opulent. Chandeliers and gold trim leaving guests speechless is exactly what opulent describes, rich and lavish.

5Querulous. Whiny complaints about a short wait are exactly what querulous describes.

6Wanton. Destruction with no clear motive is exactly what wanton means, deliberate and unjustified.

7Yearn. Longing for the food and language of home after years abroad is exactly what yearn describes.

8Equanimity. Staying calm enough that no one notices stress during a surprise inspection is exactly what equanimity means.

9Rue. Later regretting a decision to skip an important meeting is exactly what rue describes.

10Notorious. Being well known for confusing signage is exactly what notorious means, famous for something bad.

11Wanton. Speeding through red lights for no reason shows wanton recklessness, not the calm control of equanimity.

12Querulous. Complaining in a whiny tone about seating is querulous, distinct from loquacious, which just describes talking a lot regardless of tone.

13Rue. Regretting a past decision is to rue it, looking backward, rather than yearn, which is a longing usually pointed toward the future or something currently missing.

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