SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 82

Set 82 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: soften, interrogate, electrify, irritate, obligate. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. soften · verb/ˈsɔːfən/

   to make less hard or firm

   To make the dough easier to handle, you should soften it by letting it rest at room temperature for a while.

   Synonyms: diminish, weaken, lighten

   Origin: from Old English 'softe' meaning 'gentle, mild, or pliable,' related to the Proto-Germanic '*swaftwaz' meaning 'soft.'

2. interrogate · verb/ɪnˈtɛrəɡeɪt/

   to ask questions closely and aggressively in order to obtain information

   The detective decided to interrogate the suspect for hours to uncover the truth about the crime.

   Synonyms: question, quiz, grill

   Origin: from Latin 'interrogare', where 'inter-' means 'between' and 'rogare' means 'to ask'.

3. electrify · verb/ɪˈlɛk.trə.faɪ/

   to charge with electricity or to excite and energize

   The scientist aimed to electrify the new battery technology to improve its efficiency and capacity.

   Synonyms: energize, thrill, excite

   Origin: The word 'electrify' originates from the combination of 'electric' (derived from the Greek 'ēlektron,' meaning amber) and the suffix '-fy,' which means to make or to cause.

4. irritate · verb/ˈɪr.ɪ.teɪt/

   to cause annoyance or discomfort to someone

   The loud music from the party next door really irritates me when I'm trying to concentrate on my work.

   Synonyms: annoy, vex, disturb

   Origin: from Latin 'irritare', meaning 'to provoke, annoy; to disturb' or 'to excite'

5. obligate · verb/ˈɑːblɪɡeɪt/

   to make someone bound to an obligation or duty

   The new regulations obligate employers to provide health insurance for all full-time employees.

   Synonyms: bind, compel, obligate

   Origin: from Latin 'obligare', meaning 'to tie or fasten to'