Page 228 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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QUICK REVIEW #78 S: SAT Words 219

Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most
nearly the same thing.

1. spectacle a. artificial
2. speculation b. exciter
3. spontaneous c. fine distinction
4. spurious d. unambiguous
5. squelch e. introspective

6. stemming f. exhibition
7. stimulant g. smash
8. straddle h. meditation
9. straightforward i. undermine
10. subjective j. impulsive
11. subtlety k. hedge
12. subvert l. plugging

sully (SUH lee) vt. soil; stain; tarnish or besmirch, especially by disgracing
• Don’t try to sully my reputation as a legitimate trader of riding and
draught horses.
•To sully someone’s name as an honest businessperson is to ruin their ability
to earn a living.
[sullied, -ing]
superficial* (soo pir FISH il) adj. 1. limited to the surface; 2. concerned with
the obvious only; 3. cursory and quick; 4. shallow; not profound
• Jackie’s wounds from her skateboard accident were only superficial, thanks
to her having worn protective gear.
• Frank was only interested in superficial looks and paid no attention to the
inner substance of his dates.
• Barry learned from a terrible experience that the next time he signs a con-
tract, he had better take more than a superficial look at it first.
• The president’s analysis of the economy was, at best, superficial.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. shallow, cursory]
supplant (suh PLANT) vt. 1. to replace; supersede; 2. to uproot and replace
• Instructions for operating a light switch dated 03/09/04 are to supplant
those of 02/18/56 until further notice.
• The white rhododendron in the tub will be used to supplant the purple
rhododendron next to the driveway.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. replace]