English Words for "Negative and Neutral Attitude" | SAT Vocabulary

Here you will learn some English words related to negative and neutral attitudes, such as "scoff", "brazen", "apathy", etc. that you will need to ace your SATs.

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indignation [noun]

a feeling of anger or annoyance aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean

Ex: The community 's indignation grew as the scandal unfolded .

skepticism [noun]

a doubting or questioning attitude towards ideas, beliefs, or claims that are generally accepted

Ex: Despite the company 's assurances , there was widespread skepticism among the employees about the new policy .

cynicism [noun]

a doubtful view toward others' honesty or intentions

Ex: Cynicism often leads individuals to question the sincerity of others ' actions , suspecting that ulterior motives drive even the most seemingly altruistic behaviors .

complacency [noun]

a feeling of self-satisfaction or contentment, often accompanied by a lack of awareness of potential dangers

Ex: She warned against complacency , urging her colleagues to stay vigilant and proactive .

contempt [noun]

the disregard and lack of respect for someone or something seen as insignificant or unworthy

Ex: The politician ’s contempt for his opponents was clear during the debate .

disdain [noun]

the feeling that someone or something is not worthy of respect or consideration

resentment [noun]

the feeling of anger and dissatisfaction because one thinks something is unfair

mania [noun]

an intense enthusiasm or obsession for something, often to an excessive or uncontrollable degree

Ex: The artist 's mania for perfection was evident in every detail of his work .

brazen [adjective]

behaving without shame or fear and refusing to follow traditional rules or manners

Ex:

morose [adjective]

having a sullen, gloomy, or pessimistic disposition

Ex:

sullen [adjective]

bad-tempered, gloomy, and usually silent

Ex: She greeted his cheerful " good morning " with a sullen nod , still upset about their argument the night before .

mercurial [adjective]

prone to unpredicted and sudden changes

Ex: The weather in the region is known for being mercurial , shifting rapidly .

sheepish [adjective]

showing a lack of confidence or courage in an awkward way

Ex: She felt sheepish during the interview , stumbling over her words and avoiding eye contact .

sarcastic [adjective]

stating the opposite of what one means to criticize, insult, mock, or make a joke

Ex: The sarcastic tone of his voice made it clear he was not impressed with the proposal .

snobbish [adjective]

displaying an attitude of superiority toward those perceived as inferior, often due to social status, wealth, or education

Ex: The restaurant 's snobbish staff made the diners feel unwelcome and undervalued .

offhand [adverb]

In a dismissive or indifferent manner

Ex:

pejorative [adjective]

having a negative or belittling connotation

Ex: His pejorative remarks alienated the audience .

willful [adjective]

stubbornly disregarding rules, advice, or the wishes of others

Ex: The willful teenager refused to follow the school dress code , wearing whatever she liked .

disgruntled [adjective]

feeling dissatisfied, often due to a sense of unfair treatment or disappointment

Ex: The disgruntled passengers complained about the delayed flight and lack of communication from the airline staff .

pessimistic [adjective]

having or showing a negative view of the future and always waiting for something bad to happen

Ex: He had a pessimistic view of the economy , believing that a recession was imminent .

to mistrust [verb]

to have doubts, reservations, or uncertainties about relying on someone or something

Ex: He is mistrusting his instincts lately and second-guessing all of his decisions .

to belittle [verb]

to speak or express derogatory remarks about someone

Ex: If the mistake happens again , the manager will likely belittle the employee .

to patronize [verb]

to speak or behave in a way that implies that one is more knowledgeable, experienced, or intelligent than the other person

Ex: The salesperson was patronizing the customer , making them feel inferior and inadequate .

to snicker [verb]

to laugh quietly in a sneaky or mocking way

Ex: As they watched the clumsy dance , a few audience members began to snicker .

to mock [verb]

to ridicule someone or something in a disrespectful manner

Ex: His friends would mock him for being overly cautious , not realizing it was due to past experiences .

to scoff [verb]

to mock with contempt

Ex: The critics scoffed at the new invention .

to scowl [verb]

to frown in a sullen or angry way

Ex: The teacher scowled in disapproval .

haughtily [adverb]

in a manner that shows arrogant superiority toward others

Ex: He spoke haughtily to his coworkers , as if he were the only one capable of understanding the project .

blatantly [adverb]

in an open and unashamed way, especially when violating rules or norms

Ex: She blatantly cut in line without acknowledging anyone .

pretentiously [adverb]

in a manner that tries to impress by pretending to have more importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed

Ex: The critic wrote pretentiously , using obscure vocabulary to seem more knowledgeable .

disposition [noun]

the usual attitude of a person in any given circumstance

apathy [noun]

a general lack of interest, concern, or enthusiasm toward things in life

Ex: Her apathy towards the company 's goals and objectives was reflected in her lackluster performance at work .

reserve [noun]

a tendency to keep one's thoughts, feelings, and personal affairs to oneself

Ex: His reserve in social situations made him appear thoughtful but a little distant .

hesitant [adjective]

uncertain or reluctant to act or speak, often due to doubt or indecision

Ex: The hesitant driver cautiously approached the intersection , unsure of the right of way .

outspoken [adjective]

freely expressing one's opinions or ideas without holding back

Ex: His outspoken criticism of the government policies sparked debates among policymakers and citizens alike .

forthright [adjective]

(of a person) straightforward in expressing thoughts or opinions

Ex: She appreciated his forthright approach to the situation .

blunt [adjective]

having a plain and sometimes harsh way of expressing thoughts or opinions

Ex: The politician 's blunt response to the reporter 's question revealed a lack of diplomacy .

candid [adjective]

open and direct about one's true feelings or intentions

Ex: Despite the discomfort , she decided to be candid about her concerns during the meeting .

bashful [adjective]

shy or timid, especially in social situations, often accompanied by a reluctance to draw attention to oneself

Ex: He became bashful whenever someone complimented his artwork , blushing and looking away .

solemn [adjective]

reflecting deep sincerity or a lack of humor

Ex: The mood in the room turned solemn as they remembered their late friend .

objective [adjective]

based only on facts and not influenced by personal feelings or judgments

Ex: The court appointed an objective mediator to help resolve the dispute between the two parties .

matter-of-fact [adjective]

presenting information in a straightforward, unemotional, and practical manner

Ex: The police officer 's matter-of-fact tone reassured the witnesses during the investigation .

timid [adjective]

lacking confidence or courage

Ex: His timid demeanor made it difficult for him to ask for help when he needed it .

detached [adjective]

lacking interest or emotional involvement

Ex: His detached reaction to the news of his promotion suggested he was not particularly thrilled .

stern [adjective]

serious and strict in manner or attitude, often showing disapproval or authority

Ex: The stern judge delivered a harsh sentence to the defendant , emphasizing the severity of the crime .

withdrawn [adjective]

(of a person) unwilling to talk to other people or participate in social events

Ex:

rampant [adjective]

characterized by unchecked, aggressive, or uncontrollable behavior

Ex: Rumors ran rampant , fueling public panic .

prone [adjective]

having a tendency or inclination toward something

Ex: Athletes are often prone to injuries due to intense training .

apt [adjective]

having a natural tendency toward something

Ex: Children are apt to mimic the behaviors they observe in adults .

resignedly [adverb]

in a manner that shows acceptance of something undesirable or unavoidable without protest

Ex: The team accepted the defeat resignedly , understanding that they had done their best .

impassively [adverb]

in a manner that shows no emotion, feeling, or reaction

Ex: The judge impassively delivered the verdict , maintaining a neutral expression throughout .

SAT Humanities
History and Archaeology	Art and Craft	Performance Arts and Media	Music
Literature and Culture	Social Sciences	Politics and Legislature	Power and Ruling
Law and Obligations	Conflict and Compliance	Business and Management	Religion and Belief Systems
People	Job and Social Titles	Temporary and Relative Roles	Human Qualities and Appearance
Activity and Behavior	Manual Action	Thoughts	Positive Emotions
Negative Emotions	Opinions	Positive Attitude	Negative and Neutral Attitude
Residence and Recreation	Resource and Food	Virtue	Evil
Communication	Interaction