paradigm: A typical model or pattern; a framework of ideas
paradox: A statement or situation that seems to contradict itself yet may be true
pragmatic: Practical rather than idealistic
precarious: Dangerously unstable
precedent: An earlier case used as a guide
prodigious: Remarkably large or impressive
proficient: Skilled; competent
proliferate: To increase rapidly in number
prudent: Wise and careful about the future
pervasive: Spreading widely through everything
placate: To calm someone's anger
plausible: Seeming reasonable or probable
polarize: To divide into sharply opposed groups
pretentious: Trying to seem more important than one is
quell: To put an end to, usually by force
rebuke: To criticize sharply
recalcitrant: Stubbornly resisting authority
reclusive: Avoiding other people
refute: To prove wrong
reiterate: To say again
relinquish: To give up or let go
reproach: To express disapproval of
repudiate: To reject as untrue or unacceptable
resilient: Able to recover quickly
reticent: Reluctant to speak
revere: To feel deep respect for
rhetoric: The art of persuasive speaking or writing
rudimentary: Basic; undeveloped
sagacious: Wise and showing good judgment
sanction: To approve; also, a penalty
scrutinize: To examine very closely
serene: Calm and peaceful
skeptical: Doubtful; questioning
solemn: Serious and formal
spurious: False; not genuine
squander: To waste
static: Not moving or changing
stoic: Enduring pain or hardship without complaint
substantiate: To support with evidence
subtle: Delicate or hard to notice
succinct: Briefly and clearly expressed
superfluous: More than is needed
supplant: To take the place of
surmise: To guess on limited evidence
tangible: Able to be touched; real
tenacious: Holding firmly; persistent
tenuous: Very thin or weak
terse: Using very few words, sometimes rudely
thwart: To prevent from succeeding
tranquil: Free from disturbance
transient: Lasting only a short time
trivial: Of little importance
ubiquitous: Seeming to be everywhere
undermine: To weaken gradually
unprecedented: Never done or known before
vacillate: To waver between choices
validate: To confirm as correct or worthy
venerate: To honor deeply
verbose: Using more words than needed
versatile: Able to do many different things
vindicate: To clear of blame; to prove right
volatile: Quickly changing, often explosively
wary: Cautious about possible danger
whimsical: Playfully odd or fanciful
zealous: Full of eager enthusiasm
abstain: To choose not to do something
acquiesce: To accept something reluctantly without protest
acrimony: Bitter, sharp feeling in words or manner
admonish: To warn or scold gently
aloof: Distant and unfriendly in manner
ameliorate: To make something better
antipathy: Strong dislike
appease: To satisfy by giving in to demands
ardent: Passionate and enthusiastic
assuage: To ease or soothe
banal: So ordinary it is boring
belligerent: Eager to fight
bolster: To support or strengthen
bombastic: High-sounding but meaningless
brevity: Shortness of expression
burgeon: To grow or flourish quickly
cacophony: A harsh mixture of loud sounds
coalesce: To come together into one
conundrum: A confusing problem
copious: Abundant

Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/tp-sat-vocab-3