Play SAT PREP - Strongmemo

Advocate

to provide public support for a person, cause, or policy Gina is a tireless advocate for human rights and freedom

apologist

one who argues for a particular, often controversial, position We were surprised to discover that a few of the history professors seemed to be apologists fro fascism

appease

to yield to demands in order to conciliate We must not appease belligerent dictators

bolster

to strengthen or support The case was bolstered by the testimony of three eyewitnesses

buttress

a projecting support for a building, usually of stone or brick, any strong support Each buttress on the cathedral was over forty feet long

cajole

to persuade through flattery or coaxing Theo could not be cajoled into accepting the position

circumlocutory

inclined to speak evasively, speaking as if to avoid the subject We expected the candidate to give a circumlocutory and politically correct answer to the question, but were surprised to hear her give a direct and candid response

circumscribe

to define the limits of something, often an issue or problem Although the Reimann Hypothesis has yet to be proven , many mathematicians believe that the problem is so well circumscribed that it soon will be

cohesive

forming a united whole A good jazz band must be cohesive, because its members must communicate instantaneously with subtle musical and gestural cues

conjecture

a guess based on incomplete information Our controversial conjecture on the nature of the newly discovered planet turned out to be incorrect

consensus

general agreement The senators were happy to finally reach consensus on the bill

contentious

causing or likely to provoke an argument Carl's accusation was as contentious as it was false

credulous

willing to believe None of Dave's friends were credulous when he said he was going to start his own business

criteria

principles or standards by which something is judged or decided The candidate did not meet our criteria for a management position

cursory

hasty and superficial Marco was only able to take a cursory glance at the report before making his presentation

debunk

to expose the falseness of a belief Harry Houdini debunked all of the mediums who claimed to be able to talk to his dead mother

delineate

to describe or portray precisely The committee delineated the rules by which future officers would be chosen

dispel

to drive away, to eliminate a rumor, misconception, or bad feeling Even the trip to the fair did not dispel Jerome's sadness

disputatious

fond of having heated arguments: likely to start arguments Ron was ostracized from the group because of his disputatious attitude

elucidate

to make clear, to shed light on The mysterious disappearance was elucidated by the discovery of the ransom note

enticement

something that attracts or tempts, particularly because it offers pleasure or advantage The School offered an Ipod as an enticement to the student who sells the most candy bars

enumerate

to list one by one We calmy enumerated our complaints to the comittee

equivocate

to speak ambiguously so as to avoid commitment Sheila complained about her boyfriends tendency to equivocate when the conversation turned to marriage

exhortation

a strong plea, usually through an urgent speech The mayors exhortation that we conserve water seems to have fallen on deaf ears

exonerate

to absolve someone of blame or fault The testimony of the eyewitnesses exonerated the defendant

fallacious

based on a mistaken belief or unsound reasoning The argument presented by the defense is fallacious because it is founded on an invalid assumption

harangue

a lengthy and bombastic speech The dictators harangues were designed to inspire fear as much as patriotism

incongruous

not consistent with expectations or surroundings An incongruous football shaped telephone sat amid the otherwise tasteful and expensive auction items

induce

to bring about The doctor had to induce vomiting after Helen accidentally swalled drain cleaner

inexorable

unpreventable we cannot stop the inexorable march of time

infer

to conclude from evidence the fossil record allows us to infer the existence of reptiles during this era

insinuate

to suggest or hint at something, usually something morally dubious The lawyers released the racy photographs in order to insinuate that the defendant was not as morally upright as he claimed to be

intransigent

stubbornly unwilling to compromise or agree with someone the peace talks reached an impasse when the rebels became intransigent with their demands

irresolute

hesitant showing lack of a certainty or determination this irresolute and inept congress seems unable to put aside its petty bickering and do what is best for the country

litigious

unreasonably prone to suing as a means of settling disputes I try to appease my customers whenever they are angry, because i know how litigious our society is

obstinate

stubbornly refusing to change one's position He obstinately refused to accept the plea bargain

Partisan

prejudiced in favor of a particular party, typically a political one I dont watch cable news because it is so partisan

placate

to pacify with conciliatory gestures The angry customer could only be placated by the offer of a full refund and a sincere apology

precedent

a previous occurrence that is used as an example particularly in a legal context There are few precedents for truly interactive textbooks

Prevalent

abundant and widespread in a particular area Be careful poison ivy is prevalent in this forest

propensity

a natural inclination to behave a certain way Warner has a propensity for needles exaggeration

provocative

intended to cause a strong negative emotional response Daniels protest was designed to be provocative rather than informative

pugnacious

quarrelsome prone to fighting Senator McGinley was a pugnacious defender of his causes, but a sweet and gentle man outside of chambers

qualify

to moderate statement to make it less extreme I should qualify my statement so that i dont seem to be advocating total anarchy

rebut

to respond to an accusation by asserting or proving it false, refute The candidate spent as much time rebutting her opponents accusations as she did describing her own positions

recalcitrant

stubbornly uncooperative The entire kindergarten class was finger painting, save for one recalcitrant toddler

refute

to prove something false Just because a claim has yet be refuted does not mean that it is true

resolute

unwaveringly purposeful and dutiful Despite the threat of violence, the marchers were resolute about making their voices heard

rhetoric

the art of persuasion through language he was an expert orator, skilled in rhetoric

specious

seemingly plausible, but actually incorrect Becks specious theories are informed more by hysteria than by reason

Speculation

a guess based on meager evidence The theory was based more on speculation than on fact

steadfast

dutifully firm and unwavering The steadfast solider held his post for days without sleeping

strident

annoyingly loud and harsh particularly when presenting a point of view The political operatives were instructed to take very strident tones at the town hall meeting, to make it seem as if their views were widely held

subjective

based on personal feelings or opinions Movie reviews are highly subjective

substantiate

provide evidence for The scientists could not substantiate their hypothesis because they could not replicate the results of their experiment

tennous

flimsy very weak or slight the link between lowering taxes and stimulating business is more tenuous than most people think

tirade

a long angry and critical speech His tirades against communism are well known

viable

capable of working successfully We did not want to invest in a company that had not yet shown that it was viable

vindicate

to clear of blame or suspicion Victor was vindicated when another suspect confessed to the crime

zealot

a fanatic one who is uncompromising and vehement in pursuing ideals The party zealots had take over the meeting so compromise had become impossible