obliterate, ameliorate, indulge, salvage, pinpoint: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 29. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. obliterate · verb/əˈblɪt.ə.reɪt/

   to destroy completely or reduce to nothing

   The fierce storm managed to obliterate the small town, leaving nothing but rubble in its wake.

   Synonyms: annihilate, eradicate, eliminate

   Origin: From the Latin 'obliterare' meaning 'to erase, to blot out' (from 'ob-' meaning 'over' and 'literare' meaning 'to write')

2. ameliorate · verb/əˈmiːl.jəˌreɪt/

   to make something better or improve a situation

   The new policy was implemented to ameliorate working conditions for all employees.

   Synonyms: improve, enhance, better

   Origin: derived from the Latin 'ameliorare', which means 'to make better'.

3. indulge · verb/ɪnˈdʌldʒ/

   to allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of something

   After a long week of work, I decided to indulge in a delicious slice of chocolate cake.

   Synonyms: gratify, satisfy, pamper

   Origin: From Latin 'indulgere', meaning 'to be lenient, to spare, to give in to', from 'in-' meaning 'in' + 'dulgere' meaning 'to be soft or tender'.

4. salvage · verb/ˈsæl.vɪdʒ/

   to recover or save something from destruction or loss

   The firefighters worked tirelessly to salvage valuable artifacts from the burning museum.

   Synonyms: rescue, recover, save

   Origin: from Old French 'sauvage', derived from Latin 'salvāre' meaning 'to save'

5. pinpoint · verb/ˈpɪnˌpɔɪnt/

   to locate or identify precisely

   The investigator was able to pinpoint the source of the problem after conducting a thorough analysis.

   Synonyms: identify, locate, determine

   Origin: The word 'pinpoint' originates from the early 20th century, combining 'pin', a small metallic object used to indicate precise locations, with 'point', reflecting the act of indicating or identifying something exactly.