a strong, harsh light that is difficult to see through
example
The glare of the headlights made it difficult for me to see the road ahead.
synonyms
glareblazedazzle
word origin — Middle English 'glaren', from Old English 'glerian' meaning 'to shine' or 'to glimmer'
SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 81
Set 81 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: glare, jubilee, vanguard, backwater, obsession. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
glare · noun/ɡlɛr/
a strong, harsh light that is difficult to see through
The glare of the headlights made it difficult for me to see the road ahead.
Synonyms: glare, blaze, dazzle
Origin: Middle English 'glaren', from Old English 'glerian' meaning 'to shine' or 'to glimmer'
jubilee · noun/ˈdʒuːbɪliː/
a special anniversary or celebration, especially one marking a significant event
The community gathered to celebrate the golden jubilee of the local school, marking fifty years of education and service.
Synonyms: celebration, anniversary, festivity
Origin: from Latin 'jubilaeus', meaning 'of jubilee', from 'jubilare', meaning 'to shout for joy'
vanguard · noun/ˈvænˌɡɑrd/
the forefront of an action or movement
The organization is at the vanguard of the environmental movement, pushing for sustainable policies and practices.
Synonyms: forefront, cutting edge, spearhead
Origin: derived from the Middle French 'avant-garde', meaning 'forward guard', from the Old French 'avant' meaning 'front' and 'garde' meaning 'guard'.
backwater · noun/ˈbækˌwɔtər/
a place or condition in which no development or progress is taking place
The small town had become a backwater, untouched by the rapid advancements seen in nearby cities.
Synonyms: slough, stagnation, dead end
Origin: The term 'backwater' originates from the combination of 'back,' meaning 'behind' or 'towards the rear,' and 'water,' referring to a body of water, specifically a part where the current is slow or stagnant. It originally referred to a body of water flowing back or away from the main current, which metaphorically extended to conditions of stagnation or lack of progress.
obsession · noun/əbˈsɛʃən/
an excessive preoccupation or fixation on a person, idea, or activity
Her obsession with perfection often led her to spend hours redoing her projects.
Synonyms: fixation, preoccupation, obsessionality
Origin: derived from the Latin word 'obsessio', meaning 'a siege' or 'to besiege'; from 'obsidere' meaning 'to sit before, besiege'.