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SAT Exam Essential Vocabulary - Literary Words

Here you will learn some English literary words, such as "connive", "pathos", "semblance", etc. that you will need to ace your SATs.

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SAT Exam Essential Vocabulary
acquirement

an ability or skill that has been developed through training or practice

Ex: The acquirement of culinary skills allowed him to prepare gourmet meals effortlessly .
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versed
versed
[Adjective]

knowledgeable or skilled in a particular field or activity, typically as a result of experience or study

Ex: As a historian, she is well versed in ancient civilizations and their cultural practices.
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intrepid
intrepid
[Adjective]

very courageous and not afraid of situations that are dangerous

Ex: Known for their intrepid adventures , the team tackled the most hazardous expeditions .
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temerity
temerity
[noun]

the quality of being foolishly or rudely bold

Ex: She could n’t believe the temerity required to make such bold claims in the report .
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evenhanded
evenhanded
[Adjective]

fair in judgment or treatment

Ex: A good leader remains evenhanded during conflicts , striving to find solutions that satisfy all parties involved .
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accursed
accursed
[Adjective]

condemned to suffer or face misfortune as a result of supernatural punishment

Ex: The villagers feared the accursed forest , where strange occurrences were said to happen after dark .
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trying
trying
[Adjective]

hard to manage or endure

Ex: The trying negotiations lasted for months without progress.
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taxing
taxing
[Adjective]

demanding or requiring a considerable amount of effort and energy to deal with

Ex: Managing multiple deadlines became quite taxing.
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garb
garb
[noun]

the clothes or attire that someone wears, often chosen for a specific occasion or purpose

Ex: The superhero 's iconic garb consists of a mask and cape , concealing their true identity .
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order
order
[noun]

a group of people organized together because they share similar interests or goals

Ex: The political order advocated for social justice and equality among marginalized groups .
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heather
heather
[noun]

yarn or fabric with mixed colors that create muted greyish shades, often with flecks of other colors

Ex: The heather upholstery on the chair blended harmoniously with the room's neutral decor.
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clump
clump
[noun]

a tightly packed or clustered group or mass

Ex: There was a clump of bushes in the corner of the garden .
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feast
feast
[noun]

a meal with fine food, typically for many people, celebrating a special event

Ex: The harvest feast included dishes from local farms .
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bristle
bristle
[noun]

a short, thick, coarse hair growing naturally on an animal or person

Ex: The bristles on the caterpillar can cause irritation .
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sundry
sundry
[Adjective]

a collection of different kinds of items gathered together without any particular order

Ex: The garage sale offered sundry household items like lamps , vases , and kitchen utensils .
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modicum
modicum
[noun]

a relatively small degree of a good and desirable thing

Ex: The project was completed with a modicum of enthusiasm despite the tight deadline .
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to attend
to attend
[Verb]

to manage or take care of a situation, task, or responsibility successfully

Ex: The manager attended to the issue before it escalated.
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to trail
to trail
[Verb]

to be pulled along by a leading force

Ex: As the boat picked up speed , a wake of foamy water trailed behind it .
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tippler
tippler
[noun]

a person who regularly enjoys drinking alcohol, often seen indulging in social settings

Ex: Among friends , he 's considered the tippler who always knows the best places for a drink .
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melancholy

a feeling of long-lasting sadness that often cannot be explained

Ex: He found solace in music during times of melancholy, allowing the melodies to soothe his troubled mind.
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queer
queer
[Adjective]

deviating from what is considered conventional or expected

Ex: The painting had a queer style, blending elements of abstraction with realism.
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stale
stale
[Adjective]

lacking freshness or excitement due to overuse, age, or repetition

Ex: The jokes had gotten stale after being told over and over again .
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stilted
stilted
[Adjective]

showing a formal stiffness, often without a natural flow

Ex: The new employee's interactions with colleagues were initially stilted until they got to know each other better.
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bosom
bosom
[noun]

a person's chest

Ex: The elderly man breathed heavily , his bosom rising and falling with each breath .
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prow
prow
[noun]

the forward part of a ship or boat, typically pointed and leading ahead through the water

Ex: Tourists gathered at the prow to take photos of the stunning sunset over the ocean .
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to abash
to abash
[Verb]

to make someone feel uneasy and ashamed

Ex: The unexpected attention abashed the introverted student , who preferred to blend into the background .
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to connive

to secretly cooperate or conspire with others, typically to commit wrongdoing or deceit

Ex: Tomorrow , they will be conniving to manipulate the stock market for their own gain .
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bondsman
bondsman
[noun]

a person who signs a bond to guarantee another's fulfillment of obligations

Ex: He acted as a bondsman for the construction project , ensuring completion within the specified timeline .
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to flounder

to move clumsily or struggle while walking

Ex: The explorers had to flounder through the swampy area , struggling to maintain their balance .
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throng
throng
[noun]

a large crowd of people gathered closely together

Ex: On launch day , a throng of gamers lined up outside the store at dawn .
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to ransack

to search a place thoroughly, often in a rough or disorderly manner, especially with the intention of stealing or causing damage

Ex: After the storm , looters ransacked abandoned homes for food and supplies .
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to demur
to demur
[Verb]

to express one's disagreement, refusal, or reluctance

Ex: He has demurred on accepting the promotion , unsure if he 's ready for the responsibility .
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to accost
to accost
[Verb]

to approach or address someone aggressively or boldly, often with an intent to engage in conversation

Ex: If we walk through that neighborhood , I 'm sure someone will accost us for money .
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despondency

the state of being unhappy and despairing

Ex: The counselor offered support and guidance to help him overcome his feelings of despondency and find hope again .
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deprecatory
deprecatory
[Adjective]

characterized by remarks or actions that diminish or belittle something's value or significance

Ex: Their deprecatory remarks about the team's efforts were demoralizing for everyone involved.
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to slight
to slight
[Verb]

to treat someone disrespectfully by showing a lack of attention or consideration

Ex: She did n't mean to slight her colleague by ignoring his suggestion during the meeting .
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indigo
indigo
[Adjective]

having a rich color between dark blue and purple

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pyre
pyre
[noun]

a large stack of wood used for burning the body of a dead person at a funeral

Ex: The priest performed rituals before the pyre was lit .
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mirth
mirth
[noun]

a feeling of happiness, joy, or amusement

Ex: The witty remarks exchanged between friends brought about moments of mirth during the gathering .
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to croon
to croon
[Verb]

to sing in a soft, gentle, and melodious manner, often with a sentimental or romantic tone

Ex: The artist crooned into the microphone , adding a personal touch to the song .
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to await
to await
[Verb]

to wait for something or someone

Ex: We await your response to proceed with the project .
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listlessly
listlessly
[Adverb]

in a manner lacking energy, enthusiasm, or interest

Ex: The audience listened listlessly to the speaker , tired after a long day .
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stately
stately
[Adjective]

impressive and great in size

Ex: The stately bridge spanned the river with grace and strength , connecting two sides of the city with architectural elegance .
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to wend
to wend
[Verb]

to travel or proceed on a course, especially slowly or indirectly

Ex: The path wends gently uphill towards the mountain peak.
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to languish

to fail to be successful or make any progress

Ex: The legislation languished in Congress for months , unable to gain the necessary support to move forward .
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to wince
to wince
[Verb]

to show a facial expression that signifies shame or pain

Ex: She tried to hide her wince when she accidentally bumped into the doorframe.
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tempest
tempest
[noun]

a strong and violent storm characterized by high winds, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning

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trace
trace
[noun]

an indication or evidence of the former presence or existence of something

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spoiled
spoiled
[Adjective]

(of a person) displaying a childish behavior due to being treated very well or having been given everything they desired in the past

Ex: It's important for parents to set boundaries to prevent their children from becoming spoiled and entitled.
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smouldering
smouldering
[Adjective]

related to a state of intense or suppressed anger that is simmering beneath the surface, often not openly expressed

Ex: The politician's speech ignited the smouldering discontent among the crowd.
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daredevil
daredevil
[Adjective]

reckless and willing to do dangerous things

Ex: His reputation as a daredevil skateboarder earned him admiration among his peers but concern from his parents .
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bower
bower
[noun]

a pleasant shady place under trees or climbing plants in a garden or wood

Ex: The hiking trail led to a secluded bower by a babbling brook .
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to sequester

to isolate or separate something or someone from outside influence or contact

Ex: The witness was sequestered in a safe house to ensure their protection and prevent any interference .
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basely
basely
[Adverb]

in a manner that is dishonorable, mean, or morally low

Ex: They treated their employees basely by refusing to provide fair wages and benefits .
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to acquit
to acquit
[Verb]

to officially decide and declare in a law court that someone is not guilty of a crime

Ex: The exoneration process ultimately led to the court 's decision to acquit the defendant of all charges .
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leave
leave
[noun]

permission or authorization to do something

Ex: He entered the premises without official leave.
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to apostrophize

to directly address someone or something in a passionate or emotional manner

Ex: In her diary , she apostrophized her deceased grandmother , sharing her innermost thoughts and feelings .
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to swoon
to swoon
[Verb]

to lose consciousness temporarily, often due to strong emotion, heat, or exhaustion

Ex: The audience swooned at the sight of the breathtaking sunset over the ocean .
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wreath
wreath
[noun]

a circular arrangement of flowers, leaves, or other materials, often used as a decoration or tribute

Ex: The wreath of ivy and berries added a touch of elegance to the dining table centerpiece .
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to blight
to blight
[Verb]

to spoil, harm, or destroy something, such as a plant, crop, or place, typically due to disease, pests, or unfavorable conditions

Ex: If left untreated , the infestation will blight the entire garden by next spring .
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stringent
stringent
[Adjective]

(of a law, regulation, rule, etc.) extremely limiting and strict

Ex: The environmental group pushed for more stringent laws to protect endangered species .
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stubble
stubble
[noun]

the leftover plant material, like seed coverings and bits of stem or leaves, remaining after crops are harvested

Ex: Stubble helps keep soil erosion in check.
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pathos
pathos
[noun]

a quality that evokes deep emotions, particularly feelings of pity, sorrow, or empathy

Ex: Her performance on stage conveyed a raw pathos that resonated with the audience 's emotions .
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vatic
vatic
[Adjective]

describing someone or something having qualities associated with prophecy or foresight

Ex: The playwright 's vatic dialogue resonated with audiences , hinting at universal truths .
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anon
anon
[Adverb]

used to indicate that something will happen or be done soon, without delay

Ex: They agreed to meet again anon to continue their discussion.
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edifice
edifice
[noun]

a large, imposing building, especially one that is impressive in size or appearance

Ex: The ancient edifice stood tall amidst the modern city skyline .
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to evince
to evince
[Verb]

to clearly express or show a feeling, quality, or attitude through words, actions, or appearance

Ex: His writings evince a deep understanding of human nature .
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semblance
semblance
[noun]

a condition or situation that is similar or only appears to be similar to something

Ex: Her calm demeanor gave a semblance of control , even though she was feeling anxious inside .
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injudiciously

in a manner that lacks good judgment or discretion

Ex: Injudiciously sharing personal details online can lead to privacy issues .
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clad
clad
[Adjective]

wearing clothes, especially in a particular manner or material

Ex: The soldiers were clad in camouflage uniforms for the jungle mission.
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tavern
tavern
[noun]

a place where alcoholic drinks and sometimes food are served, often for socializing

Ex: The old tavern had a rustic charm that attracted locals .
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to gainsay

to disagree or deny that something is true

Ex: The witness 's testimony directly gainsayed the defendant 's alibi , casting doubt on their innocence .
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