oppressive, harmonic, sundry, manageable, meticulous: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 127. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. oppressive · adjective/əˈprɛsɪv/

   burdensome or unjustly harsh treatment that limits freedom or growth

   The oppressive regime imposed strict curfews and limited freedom of speech to silence dissent.

   Synonyms: stifling, burdensome, harsh

   Origin: from Latin 'oppressivus', meaning 'pressing down', from the verb 'opprimere', meaning 'to press down' or 'to subdue'

2. harmonic · adjective/hɑrˈmɔːnɪk/

   relating to or characterized by harmony in music or other forms of art

   The choir's performance was truly *harmonic*, blending voices in perfect unity to create an exquisite sound.

   Synonyms: melodious, consonant, agreeable

   Origin: derived from Middle English 'harmonique', from Old French 'harmonique', from Latin 'harmonicus', from Greek 'harmonikos', meaning 'of harmony'.

3. sundry · adjective/ˈsʌndri/

   various items or diverse things

   At the marketplace, I found sundry goods ranging from handmade crafts to fresh produce.

   Synonyms: various, diverse, assorted

   Origin: from Middle English 'sundri', from Old English 'sundrig', meaning 'separate, distinct'

4. manageable · adjective/ˈmænɪdʒəbl/

   capable of being managed or controlled

   The team divided the project into manageable tasks to ensure they could meet the deadline.

   Synonyms: controllable, feasible

   Origin: Derived from the verb 'manage', which comes from the Italian 'maneggiare' meaning 'to handle' (especially a horse), from Latin 'manuālis', relating to the hand, from 'manus' meaning 'hand'.

5. meticulous · adjective/məˈtɪkjələs/

   showing great attention to detail and being very careful and precise

   Her meticulous attention to detail ensured that every aspect of the project was flawless.

   Synonyms: detailed, thorough, careful

   Origin: from Latin 'meticulosus', which means 'fearful', derived from 'metus' meaning 'fear'