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rash

adjective/ræʃ/

definition

acting or done quickly and without thought or care

example

Making a rash decision without considering the consequences often leads to regret.

synonyms
recklesshastyimprudent
word origin — The word 'rash' comes from Middle English 'rasch,' meaning 'quick, active,' derived from Old English 'ræsc,' meaning 'quick, unthinking,' of uncertain origin.

SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 300

Set 300 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: rash, complacent, sympathetic, incumbent, coy. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. rash · adjective/ræʃ/

    acting or done quickly and without thought or care

    Making a rash decision without considering the consequences often leads to regret.

    Synonyms: reckless, hasty, imprudent

    Origin: The word 'rash' comes from Middle English 'rasch,' meaning 'quick, active,' derived from Old English 'ræsc,' meaning 'quick, unthinking,' of uncertain origin.

  2. complacent · adjective/kəmˈpleɪsənt/

    self-satisfied and unconcerned, often to a fault

    After winning several awards, the team became complacent and stopped striving for improvement.

    Synonyms: self-satisfied, smug, unconcerned

    Origin: from Latin 'complacent-', meaning 'altogether pleasing, agreeable', from 'complacere', meaning 'to please greatly'.

  3. sympathetic · adjective/ˌsɪm.pəˈθɛt.ɪk/

    showing compassion or understanding for someone else's feelings or situation

    When she heard about his loss, she offered a sympathetic ear, providing him with the comfort he needed during such a difficult time.

    Synonyms: compassionate, understanding, empathetic

    Origin: from late Latin 'sympathēticus', from Greek 'sympatheia' meaning 'fellow feeling', combining 'syn-' (together) and 'pathos' (feeling)

  4. incumbent · adjective/ɪnˈkʌm.bənt/

    holding a specified office or position

    The incumbent president will face a challenging reelection campaign this year.

    Synonyms: current, sitting, holding

    Origin: from Latin 'incumbens', the present participle of 'incumbere', meaning 'to lie upon' or 'to occupy a position'.

  5. coy · adjective/kɔɪ/

    shy or modest in a way that is intended to be alluring

    She offered a coy smile that left him intrigued and wanting to know more about her.

    Synonyms: shy, modest, demure

    Origin: Middle English 'coi', from Old French 'coy', from Latin 'quietus' meaning 'at rest, quiet'