SAT Vocabulary Lesson 5
Words like enthrall, diffidence, and mollify — 25 challenging vocabulary words with definitions, exercises, and an answer key.
Word List with Definitions
Study these 25 vocabulary words. Each word includes its part of speech and definition. Use the printable worksheet to practice synonyms, antonyms, analogies, and sentence completion.
| Word | Part of Speech | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| absence | (n) | the fact of being gone or not present |
| ambiguous | (adj) | having two possible meanings; able to be understood in two different ways |
| askance | (adj) | with a sideways glance, as with distrust |
| botany | (n) | the scientific study of plants |
| clumsy | (adj) | moving awkwardly, especially causing collisions, accidents, or mishaps |
| converge | (v) | to come together; to meet |
| decrepit | (adj) | lacking in strength, especially due to old age or illness |
| diffidence | (n) | not trusting or believing in one’s self; self-doubt |
| enthrall | (v) | to hold in a rapt state; to have overpowering influence |
| foresight | (n) | the ability to anticipate future happenings or to plan for the future |
| hypocrisy | (n) | professing beliefs or acting in opposition to one’s true beliefs or actions; insincerity |
| inhospitable | (adj) | ill-disposed toward newcomers; unwelcoming |
| malign | (v) | to talk harshly or critically of, particularly to speak false criticisms |
| mollify | (v) | to calm or pacify |
| obsolete | (adj) | no longer used or useful |
| penitence | (n) | a desire to atone for wrongdoing |
| pommel | (v) | to strike repeatedly; to beat, as with a club |
| pyromania | (n) | an abnormal and unhealthy obsession with fire; often the obsessive desire to start fires |
| regress | (v) | to move backwards, especially to retreat to a former state |
| sediment | (n) | particles that fall to the bottom of a liquid |
| subsequent | (adj) | occurring afterward |
| tortuous | (adj) | having many twists and turns; intricate and difficult to follow |
| undermine | (v) | to work against a project or purpose; to subvert or sabotage |
| vapid | (adj) | lacking in liveliness and flavor; dull |
| waif | (n) | a person, especially a child, with no home or prospects |
Practice Exercises
The printable worksheet includes four types of exercises to reinforce each word:
- Synonyms — Write the word from the list that means the same as the word given.
- Antonyms — Write the word from the list that means the opposite of the word given.
- Analogies — Choose the word that best completes the word-relationship pattern.
- Sentence Completion — Write the correct word to complete each sentence.
Printable Worksheet
The printable PDF includes the word list, all four exercises, and a full answer key.
SAT Vocabulary Quiz — Lesson 5
Test your knowledge of the Lesson 5 words. Select the best answer for each question and submit to see your score.
SAT Vocabulary Quiz — Lesson 5
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Which word means 'to charm or hold the attention of'?
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Which word means 'shyness or lack of self-confidence'?
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Which word means 'to calm or soothe'?
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Which word means 'lacking in interest or ideas'?
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Which word means the opposite of 'straightforward'?