Can You Pass This Basic True/False SAT Word Quiz?

Synonyms for "noxious" include poisonous, unpleasant and toxic. It comes from the Latin word "noxa," which means harm. Now if only we could get rid of that noxious smell in the fridge ...

You might be thinking of the word "remuneration." A "talisman" is actually a magical item believed to bring good fortune. If you bring a lucky rabbit's foot to the SAT, you have a talisman!

"Placid" means calm and peaceful, but something "covert" is secret or concealed. It can also be a noun, meaning a covering or a hiding place. Sometimes students pass notes covertly.

The word "bilk" originated in the 1600s, but no one's sure how it came about. Synonyms for "bilk" include "swindle," "fleece," "dupe" and "rook." Stay smart; don't fall prey to a bilker!

The Labyrinth of Greek mythology was the domain of the fearsome Minotaur. Labyrinths have also appeared in "The Shining," "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and, well, "Labyrinth."

You're possibly thinking of the word "nuzzle." Cats like to nuzzle, not abrogate! "Abrogate," which has a Latin origin, means to repeal or officially abolish something, like a law.

If your principal ever used the word "reprehensible," you knew you were in big trouble! It's a big word, meaning "blameworthy" or "culpable." A judge might call a defendant's crime reprehensible.

While "blasphemy" is speech that offends religious sensibilities, a "plaudit" can mean either strong praise or a round of applause. It comes from the Latin "plaudite," meaning "applaud."

You might be confusing "hasten" with "lacerate." To "hasten" is to hurry, but to "lacerate" means to tear something (usually skin) jaggedly. It can also mean to hurt someone emotionally.

"Tawdry" things are showy and of poor quality, like costume jewelry you might find at a rummage sale. If you want some synonyms for "tawdry," try "meretricious," "chintzy" and "garish."

When something is "blatant," it's glaringly obvious. In other words, you can't possibly miss it. "Blatant" can also refer to an annoyingly loud noise. Turn down that blatant music, whippersnapper!

You wouldn't want to be called "obdurate." It means stubborn or unyielding, or even hardhearted. The word comes from the Latin for "hardened." Synonyms include "obstinate" and "callous."

Actually, "haughty" means arrogant. "Lachrymose" means tearful, like audiences at the end of "Avengers: Endgame." Remember that your lachrymal glands are responsible for producing tears.

You're likely thinking of the word "tedium," which means boredom. A "plethora," on the other hand, is an overabundance. As in, there's a plethora of sequels and reboots at the theaters lately.

"Repudiate" is a strong word to use when you have to reject something as untrue. So when your friend falsely accuses you of taking the last cookie, you can repudiate that repugnant lie!

To decline to vote is to "abstain." To "obfuscate" actually means to purposely make something hard to comprehend. Do you agree that instruction manuals tend to obfuscate the directions?

A carefree person could be called "blithe." But "abstemious" means self-denying, like the sad person who turns down dessert when everyone else is enjoying luscious chocolate cake.

"Lackluster" can mean either lacking in vitality, as in a mediocre performance, or lacking brilliance, as in a dull stare. One thing's for sure: your performance on this quiz isn't lackluster!

You might think of "temper" as a state of anger, leading you to cringe or flinch. But "temper" is also a verb, meaning to soften something. Your mom might temper criticism with words of love!

"Abstruse" is a fancy way of saying "hard to understand." It can also mean esoteric, or only meant for people with special knowledge to comprehend. Good synonyms are "enigmatic" and "obscure."

It's easy to get "loquacious" and "laconic" mixed up! But while "loquacious" means talkative, "laconic" means being brief and to the point. We hope our skydiving instructor is laconic.

Something that "plummets" to the ground may end up destroyed, but you're probably thinking of the word "obliterate." To "plummet" means to drop sharply or plunge, like lemmings jumping off a cliff.

You'll hear the word "accolade" a lot during Oscar season, when films vie for those coveted awards. It also describes tapping a man's shoulders with a sword to make him a knight. Rise, Sir Bedivere!

You can call your klutzy friend a "bungler." A "hedonist," on the other hand, is someone who seeks out pleasure, like college students flocking to the beaches for spring break.

Don't you hate it when someone makes "tentative," or uncertain, plans with you? That is, "Maybe I'll come to your party, but I'm not sure. I may need to wash my hair." "Tenuous" means weak.

When you "curtail" something, you abridge it or cut it short. A baseball game can be curtailed on account of baseball-sized hail. Synonyms include "truncate," "lop" and "retrench."

Many popular comedy sketches, like those of "SNL," lampoon celebrities and politicians. That is, they satirize or mock the person's behavior or traits. The word can be a noun or a verb.

If you've written an essay or two for English class, then you know there are often "nuances," or subtleties, in the words you choose. The word "nuance" comes from the French "nuer," which means "to shade."

"Poignant" can describe something deeply moving, but "acrid" means pungent or extremely bitter. It's a handy word because it can describe a smell, a taste or that super sarcastic person you know.

"Boorish" people are so ill-mannered and coarse that they will burp at a dinner party or insensitively joke about a friend's job loss. A "terse" person, in contrast, is brusque or concise.

Yes, an "epistle" is a written communication, like the Epistles of the Bible. And an epistolary novel is written in the form of letters, like Stephen Chbosky's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower."

Maybe you're thinking of "hieroglyphics"! A "hiatus" is a pause or a break in continuity. How do you cope when your favorite show is on hiatus? Maybe you take a hiatus from work ...

"Adamant" means inflexible, but "timorous" means fearful or cowardly. Think of its similarity to "timid." We can't all be brash and boisterous like Tigger; some of us are more like Piglet!

Like the lumberjack-looking guy on the paper towels packaging, "brawny" means strong or muscular. Women can be brawny too. Just ask Sarah Connor, Ellen Ripley or Brienne of Tarth!

Have you ever tried to skirt around taking the blame for a mistake? You probably "equivocated," meaning you used unclear language. "No, officer, I rolled through the stop sign, but I didn't run it!"

While "debunk" means to expose false ideas, "thwart" means to keep someone from accomplishing something. The Scooby-Doo gang, for instance, was always thwarting the villains' evil plans.

"Obsequious" means fawning or deferential, like the butler you wish you had who would fluff your pillows and serve you breakfast in bed. Sigh. There's always a chance of winning the lottery, right?

No, you're not calling someone a cutie, despite how the word sounds! You may have heard the word "acuity" in reference to a person's mental or visual sharpness. Synonyms include "acumen" and "wit."

"Brevity is the soul of wit," as Shakespeare noted in "Hamlet." Being brief, concise or succinct certainly has its advantages, like when you have to shout, "Where's the fire extinguisher?"

If you're trying to say hardship, use the word "adversity." "Deference" means yielding to the wishes of another person out of respect. Courteous people show deference to their elders.