[TOEFL iBT] Danh sách từ vựng – Vần S

SACROSANCT

Very holy – a shrine. regarded as sacrosanct.

Synonyms: consecrated, inviolable, hallowed

SAGACIOUS

(noun: SAGACITY): Wise; shrewd – proved to be sagacious in his judgment.

Synonyms: perspicacious, astute, sapient, discerning, sage

SALLOW

Sick – a sallow complexion.

Synonym: pallid

Antonyms: rubicund, ruddy, florid

SALLY

(verb): To rush forth suddenly – sallied out to meet the enemy.

(noun): A Witty remark – amused the audience with his sallies against his opponent.

Synonyms: quip, banter

SANCTIMONIOUS

Pretending to be religious – showed his hypocrisy in a sanctimonious display of piety.

SANGUINARY

Bloody – a sanguinary battle.

Synonym: gory

SANGUINE

Of a hopeful disposition; blood-red in color – a perennial optimist, sanguine in temperament.

Synonyms: buoyant, ardent

SARTORIAL

Pertaining to a tailor or clothes – a picture of sartorial perfection.

SATELLITE

(1) An attentive or flattering follower – a prince surrounded by many satellites.

Synonyms: lackey, toady, disciple, adherent; adj., fawning, obsequious, partisan

(2) A country influenced or controlled by another – Freedom is conspicuously absent ,in the Soviet satellites.

(3) A body (natural or artificial) which revolves around a larger body, generally a planet – The moon is the only natural satellite of the earth, but in recent years it has been joined by many artificial satellites.

SCINTILLA

A trace; a particle – not a scintilla of convincing evidence.

Synonyms: iota; vestige

SCOURGE

(verb): To punish severely; to afflict; to whip – a disease that scourged the country.

Synonyms: excoriate, flay

(noun). A whip or other means of punishment; a cause of affliction – The Black Plague was a dreadful scourge of the Middle Ages.

Synonym: tribulation

SCRUTINIZE

To examine carefully -scrutinized the contents of the letter.

SHIBBOLETH

A party slogan – a shibboleth designed to attract votes.

SIMPER

(verb): To smile in a silly or affected way simpered as he greeted each guest.

(noun): An affected or silly smile – stood nervously, a simper on his face.

Synonym: (verb and noun) smirk

SINECURE

Employment entailing little or no responsibility or labor – His job was a sinecure.

SINISTER

Threatening or showing evil; dishonest – the sinisterlook of a gangster.

SLEAZY

Flimsy and cheap – sleazy cloth which is used only in cheap garments.

Synonym: unsubstantial

SLOVENLY

Untidy-severely criticized the student’s slovenly appearance.

Synonyms: slipshod, slatternly, frowzy

SOPORIFIC

Tending to induce sleep – a poorly written novel, soporific in effect.

SORDID

Mean and base; filthy – Sordid motives breed selfish actions.

Synonyms: degraded, vile, ignoble

SOVEREIGN

Supreme m power and authority; independent of the control of any other government – possessing sovereign powers; a sovereign state.

Synonyms: autonomous, imperial, majestic, paramount

SPORADIC

Occurring singly, at irregular intervals; scattered – sporadic cases of illness.

SPURN

To refuse or reject with contempt – an offer that was spurned instantly.

Synonyms: repel, snub

STOIC

Indifferent, calm in bearing pain or pleasure; practising remarkable self-control over emotions – maintained a stoic attitude despite all his trials.

Synonyms: stolid, impassive

STRINGENT

Strict; compelling, constraining stringent regulations; stringent requirements.

Synonyms: exacting, rigid

Antonym: lax

STUPENDOUS

Amazing by, virtue of its immense size, force, or any quality in exceptional degree – The circus is a stupendous spectacle.

Synonyms: astounding, prodigious, monstrous, marvelous, colossal, awful

SUCCULENT

juicy – a succulent steak.

Antonyms; desiccated, vapid

SULTRY

Close, hot, and moist – sultry tropical weather.

SUPINE

(1) Lying flat on the back – resting in a supine position.

Antonym: erect

(2) Inert, inactive, averse to taking action – a supine, ineffective administrator.

Synonyms: listless, torpid