April 12th-16th

Week 3 SAT Words

deleterious: (adj) harmful, destructive, detrimental

The deleterious effects of smoking include greater risk of heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. (Not to mention your clothes will really stink.)

demagogue: (n) leader, rabble-rouser, usually appealing to the emotion, fears or prejudice of people

A classic example of a demagogue is Adolf Hitler, who led the Nazi party to power in Germany by feeding on the power of anti-Semitism and creating conspiracy theories that blamed the Jews for all of Germany’s economic problems.

Variations: demagoguery (n) Hitler’s demagoguery ultimately caused irreparable destruction across Europe.

digression: (n) the act of turning aside, straying from the main point, esp. in a speech or argumentThe teacher was legendary for his habit of digressions from his lectures and instead telling stories about his days as a zombie hunter in pre-war Germany.

Variations: digress (v): The teacher would often digress from his lecture topic to talk about hunting zombies.

discredit: (v) to harm the reputation of, dishonor or disgrace

In an election, politicians will try to discredit their opponents with campaign ads that describe them in the worst possible terms.

Past tense: discredited The candidate successfully discredited his opponent and won the election.Present continuous: discrediting Politicians make a habit of discrediting their opponents.

disdain: (v) to regard with scorn or contempt

Although Prohibition did greatly reduce overall alcohol consumption, the result was widespread disdain for the law.

emulate: (v) to imitate, follow an example

Young and upcoming bands often hope to emulate the success of such groups as The Killers or Nirvana.

Past tense: emulated The band was never successful because they never created their own sound, they merely emulated the sound of bands past.Present continuous: emulating Small children can often be seen emulating their older siblings.

enervating: (adj) weakening, tiring

Perhaps it was the enervating heat of the classroom in the late spring that made it hard for the students to focus.

ephemeral: (adj) momentary, transient, fleeting

One of the hardest things about high school is the often ephemeral nature of relationships, both with friends and romantic relationships.

evanescent: (adj) ephemeral, quickly fading, short-lived, esp. an image

There is nothing beautiful than the evanescent vision of a tropical sunset.

Variations: evanesce (v) The beautiful colors of the tropical sunset evanesce as the couple sits holding hands on the beach.

exemplary: (adj) outstanding, an example to othersThe sleeping

puppy proved an exemplary vision of dedication to the art of cuteness.