Every SAT Word Has A History
The new highway proved to be a(n) ___: it suffered from expensive cost over-runs and failed to relieve traffic congestion.
fiasco
A person who doubts; __ asks questions and lacks faith
skeptic
Literally OUT of the center; departing from a recognized, conventional, or established norm; an odd, UNCONVENTIONAL person
eccentric
E = OUT
Serious in intention or purpose; showing depth and SINCERITY of feelings
earnest
Unaffectedly simple; lacking worldly expertise; overly CREDULOUS; unsophisticated; immature; inexperienced; INGENUOUS
naive, gullible
To deliberately exclude from a group
ostracize
Much of Frederick Douglass' prestige and influence came from his skill with the spoken word; he was a great ___ at a time when eloquent oratory was widely valued.
rhetorician
Feeling DOWNCAST; very dejected; FORLORN
despondent
DE = DOWN
Not cheerful or smiling; serious; gloomy
solemn, grave, somber
The scientist was both ___ and ___: she was always careful to test each hypothesis and cautious not to jump to conclusions.
meticulous .. prudent
The highest point; the peak; APEX
zenith
An expert commentator; an authority who expresses his or her opinion, usually on political issues
pundit
Lacking proper respect or seriousness; disrespectful
irreverent
IR = NO or NOT
Harsh, bitter, sharp, CAUSTIC
Acerbic, acrid
Unselfish concern for the welfare of others
altruism
As a result of the disastrous hurricane, Lindsey was left both ___ and desperate: she lost all of her possessions, and she faced a seemingly hopeless series of problems.
impecunious
As a(n) ___, Ashely delighted in disputed sacrosanct beliefs, questioning established authorities, and challenging long-held practices.
iconoclast
Cautious, conventional, and always careful to follow procedures, Matthew is the very model of a ___ government bureaucrat.
circumspect
CIRCU = AROUND
Feeling or expressing great happiness or triumph
ebullient, elated, ecstatic, euphoric, exuberant
A deadlock; stalemate; failure to reach an agreement
impasse
bowdlerizing
Because Benedict Arnold switched his allegiance to the British, patriots branded him a ___ and even his new allies justifiably considered him an opportunist.
renegade
Gustave Courbet's bitter and spiteful denunciations of critics earned him a reputation for being ___.
acrimonious
OUS = FILLED WITH
Dull; uninteresting; ordinary; commonplace; tedious; PEDESTRIAN; VAPID; BANAL; HACKNEYED; unexceptional
prosaic, mundane
The Post-Modern architectural style is a(n) ___: it combines diverse elements, including classical columns, Baroque ornamentation, and Palladian windows.
amalgam