SAT Vocabulary Words – A Noble Lie 

Each Jack Graystone Mystery, SAT Vocabulary Edition, will contain approximately 300 vocabulary words, which are potentially found on the current SAT’s. These words come from several sources including Vocabulary.com, Majortests.com, and Quizlet.com. Since many words have multiple meanings, some words may contain two or more definitions. In most cases, the first definition listed is the definition utilized within the story. Merriam-Webster.com, Vocabulary.com, and Wordsinasentence.com were the primary sources used for the definitions provided.

 131.  Disparate

Very different from each other. Adjective

 132.  Precursor

Something that happens before something else. Noun

 133.  Garrulous

Overly talkative and chatty, mostly about unimportant things. Adjective

 134.  Reticent 

Keeping to yourself; not likely to draw attention to yourself; uncommunicative. Adjective

 135.  Loquacious

Full of trivial conversation, talkative. Adjective

  136.  Provocative 

Serving or tending to provoke, excite, or stimulate. Adjective

  137.  Contentious

Likely to cause disagreement or argument. Adjective

  138.  Dilatory 

Intended to cause delay. Adjective

  139.  Expeditious

Marked by speed and efficiency. Adjective

           Expeditiously

Adverb

  140.  Impecunious

Having little or no money usually habitually: Penniless. Adjective

  141.  Shroud

An object that conceals something or someone. Noun

          Shrouded 

To hide or cover something or someone. Verb

   142.  Laconic

Brief and concise, using few words. Adjective

   143.  Morass

A complicated or confusing situation. Noun

   144.  Marred

Spoiled or damaged. Adjective

   145.  Infiltrate

To surreptitiously penetrate, enter, or gain access. Verb

   146.  Enhance

To make better or more attractive. Verb

   147.  Epistolary

Written in the form of or carried on by letters or correspondence. Adjective

   148.  Maxim

A phrase that is often used as a guiding rule. Noun

   149.  Arcane

Known or knowable only to a few people: Secret. Adjective

   150.  Piqued

To excite or arouse especially by provocation, challenge, or rebuff. Verb

   151.  Nostalgic

Longing for or thinking fondly of a past time or condition. Adjective

   152.  Mundane

Boring, dull, and uninteresting. Adjective 

    153.  Blandishment

The use of flattery and enticements to persuade someone gently to do something. Noun

   154.  Disarming

Having the ability to decrease suspicions and fears. Adjective

   155.  Toady

To try to gain favor by flattering. Verb

One who flatters in hopes to gain favor. Noun

   156.  Circumstantial

Something that seems to be true but is not proven. Adjective

   157.  Surreptitious

Kept secret and marked by quiet and caution: Clandestine. Adjective

In an explicit manner. Adverb

   158.  Meager

Very small or too small in amount. Adjective

   159.  Grandiose

Appearing to be impressive but not really possible or practical. Adjective

   160.  Initiate

To begin, to start, to introduce. Verb

   161.  Tremendous

1. Very great in amount, scale, or intensity.  2. Extremely good or impressive; excellent. Adjective

           Tremendously

Adverb

   162.  Ascertain

Learn or discover with certainty. Verb

   163.  Abhor

Find repugnant: Loathe, Hate. Verb

   164.  Inimical

Not friendly: Hostile. Adjective

   165.  Cajole

Persuade someone to do something; convince with gentle pleading; sweet-talk. Verb

   166.  Obfuscate

To deliberately make something confusing or difficult to understand. Verb

   167.  Circumlocution

The use of too many words to say something, especially in order to avoid saying something clearly. Noun

   168.  Dilapidated

Run down; in bad shape. Adjective

   169.  Inconspicuous

Not prominent or readily noticeable. Adjective

            Inconspicuously

In a manner intended to avoid attracting attention. Adverb

   170.  Diffuse

To spread out; not concentrated in one place. Adjective

   171.  Abject

Very bad or severe, or cast down in spirit. Adjective

   172.  Unkempt

Not properly maintained or cared for. Adjective

   173.  Dichotomy

A difference between two opposite things or ideas. Noun

   174.  Comely

Attractive to the eye. Adjective

    175.  Hapless

Having no luck: Unfortunate. Adjective

   176.  Meticulous

Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise. Adjective

            Meticulously

Adverb

   177.  Scrutinize

Examine or inspect closely. Verb

   178.  Prurient

Characterized by lust. Adjective

   179.  Hastened

To move or act quickly. Verb

   180.  Parched

Deprived of natural moisture. Adjective

   181.  Peevishness

Marked by ill temper. Noun

   182.  Irritable

Easily irritated or annoyed. Adjective

   183.  Complacent

Marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual deficiencies or dangers: Overly content. Adjective

   184.  Multifaceted

Having many facets or aspects. Adjective

   185.  Finagle

To achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods. Verb

   186.  Diligent

Careful in carrying out tasks and duties. Adjective

   187.  Cohesive

Closely united; well-integrated. Adjective

   188.  Inept

Having or showing no skill; generally incompetent. Adjective

   189. Disconcerting

Causing an emotional disturbance. Adjective

   190.  Derogatory

Conveying a poor opinion of something or someone. Adjective

   191.  Incoherent

Without logical meaning or connection; Unable to express yourself clearly or fluently. Adjective

   192.  Assiduous

Showing great care, attention, and effort. Adjective

   193. Persevere

To persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement. Verb

   194.  Ruse

A deceptive maneuver. Noun

   195. Conscientious

Working hard and careful to do things well. Adjective

   196.  Conduit

. A passage (a pipe or tunnel) through which water or electrical wires can pass. 2. A means of transmitting or distributing. Noun

   197.  Intricate

Having many complexly arranged elements: Complicated. Adjective

   198.  Aberration

Deviating from what is normal or desirable, not typical. Noun

   199.  Curtail

Terminate or abbreviate before its intended or proper end. Verb

   200.  Brusque

Blunt in manner or speech to the point of harshness. Adjective

    201.  Affable

Friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to. Adjective

   292.  Proficient

Good at, skilled, fluent, practiced. Adjective

   203.  Quixotic

Foolishly unrealistic and impractical. Adjective

   204.  Derivative

1. A chemical substance that is made from another substance. 2. An object or idea that is produced from something else. Noun

   205.  Viscous

Having the characteristics of being sticky and/or think and slow to move. Adjective

   206.  Dour

Stern, Harsh. Adjective

   207.  Boorish

            Boorishness

Bad mannered, rude, or insensitive. Adjective

Noun

   208.  Assail

To attack violently, either physically, emotionally, in speech or in writing. Verb

   209.  Animosity

A strong feeling of dislike or hatred. Noun

   210.  Berate

To criticize or scold someone in a loud and angry way. Verb

   211.  Auspicious

Showing or suggesting that future success is likely.  Adjective

    212.  Rancor

A feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will. Noun

   213.  Circumscribe

To restrict or confine; OR, to draw a line around. Verb

   214.  Filial

Of, related to, or befitting a son or daughter. Adjective

  215.  Conformist

An individual who follows accepted practices. Noun

   216.  Relinquish

1. Part with a possession or right. 2. To give up, abandon. Verb

   217.  Belligerent

Inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness. Adjective

   218.  Vitriolic

Harsh or corrosive in tone. Adjective

   219.  Instigate

To provoke or stir up. Verb

   220.  Melee

A noisy riotous fight. Noun

   221.  Pugnacious

Combative in nature; ready to fight. Adjective

   222.  Bellicose

Having or showing a ready disposition to fight. Adjective

   223.  Modicum

A small or moderate or token amount. Noun

   224.  Wayward

Off the beaten path: Unpredictable. Adjective

   225.  Trepidation

A nervous or fearful feeling. Noun

   226.  Adroit

Having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations: Clever, Skillful. Adjective

   227.  Epiphany

A moment when you suddenly realize or understand something important. Noun

   228.  Jubilation

A feeling of extreme joy. Noun

   229.  Aesthetic

Concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste. Adjective

   230.  Perplexed

Full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment: Puzzled. Adjective

   231.  Captivating

Very interesting and capable of grabbing your attention. Adjective

   232.  Turpitude

A corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice. Noun

   233.  Cavort

Play boisterously; to move around in an excited fashion. Verb

   234.  Circumvent

To get around something. Verb

   235.  Corollary

A natural consequence, or a result that naturally follows. Noun

   236.  Mitigate

Lessen or try to lessen the seriousness or extent of; make less severe or harsh. Verb

   237.  Debauchery

A wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity. Noun

   238.  Predicament

A difficult, confusing, and unpleasant situation. Noun

   239.  Debacle

A great disaster, or a complete failure: Fiasco. Noun

   240.  Inebriated

Stupefied, confused, excited by a chemical substance (especially Alcohol): Drunk. Adjective

   241.  Inevitable

Incapable of being avoided or evaded. Adjective

   242.  Intuitive

Being able to sense or understand things with little or no information. Adjective

   243.  Somber

Grave or even gloomy in character. Adjective

  244.  Robust

1. Strong and healthy. 2. Marked by richness and fullness of flavor. Adjective

   245.  Sobriety

The state of being sober and not intoxicated by alcohol. Noun