Webster Essential Vocabulary

Quick Review #78.

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

S: SAT Words 219

1. spectacle


2. speculation


3. spontaneous


4. spurious


5. squelch


6. stemming


7. stimulant


8. straddle


9. straightforward


10. subjective


11. subtlety


12. subvert

a. artificial

b. exciter

c. fine distinction

d. unambiguous

e. introspective

f. exhibition

g. smash

h. meditation

i. undermine

j. impulsive

k. hedge

l. plugging

sully (SUH lee) vt.soil; stain; tarnish or besmirch, especially by disgracing

• Don’t try to sullymy reputation as a legitimate trader of riding and
  draught horses.
  •To sullysomeone’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 superficiallooks 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 superficiallook 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 supplantthe purple
  rhododendron next to the driveway.
  [-ed, -ing] [Syn. replace]